The American has carved out his role despite chaos of headbutting referees, cowboy hats, bullying acquisitions, financial problems
Welcome to Olympique Lyon, European soccer's wildest reality show. Headbutting referees, cowboy hats, bullying acquisitions, financial problems, lengthy suspensions, relegation threats and more – it's all happening at the historic Ligue 1 club. Their ongoing Europa League campaign has taken a backseat to the chaos going on everywhere else.
At the center of it, on the field at least, is Tanner Tessmann, the U.S. men's national team midfielder.
As the chaos has unfolded around him, Tessmann's recent push into the club's starting XI has been overshadowed. After a difficult start to the season, Tessmann is now a regular in Paulo Fonseca's starting XI, having shown his quality for both club and country in recent months. Despite everything threatening the club, Tessmann has seemingly gotten stronger, showing why Lyon spent big to sign him from Venezia this summer.
Suddenly, though, everything is up in the air at Groupama Stadium. Fonseca finds himself in hot water after attacking a referee, earning himself a nine-month ban. The club was threatened with relegation in November and have already served a January transfer ban due to their financial issues. American owner John Textor, who also owns Crystal Palace and Botafogo, has gone to war with PSG brass and continues to poke at French soccer's biggest club.
Meanwhile, Tessmann keeps chugging along as he fights for a World Cup spot. He's already impressed USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino, for sure, but surviving the chaos currently engulfing Lyon might just be his biggest test yet.
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Tessmann's big move
The summer of 2024 was a life-changing one for Tessmann. He went to the Olympics as transfer rumors swirled. His Venezia exit was imminent; the only question was where he'd end up. Inter were the favorites, but disagreements over loan arrangements halted that idea. In the end, he ended up at Lyon, taking a leap to one of French soccer's most historic clubs.
The transition wasn't easy. Under now-former Lyon boss Pierre Sage, Tessmann rarely got a look, with the coach preferring a 4-3-3 with one holding midfielder, Nemanja Matic. He started just two Ligue 1 matches in 2024, although Tessmann was given fairly consistent minutes during the initial phase of Lyon's Europa League campaign.
Even so, Tessmann was arguably the USMNT's biggest winner during the fall. He was one of the standouts against Jamaica in the CONCACAF Nations League, earning plenty of praise from Pochettino for his efforts.
“Tess today was fantastic," Pochettino said after the win in St. Louis. "If you say to me I need to put a number from 0-to-10, it’s nine… eight or nine. He played a fantastic game. I think it was amazing the way he was in two phases, defensive and offensive, with the ball and without the ball. That’s what we expect."
It's something Lyon is starting to expect, too, now that Tessmann has claimed a more regular role.
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Fonseca era brings both good and bizarre
Fonseca certainly endeared himself to USMNT fans during his time at Milan. Under the Portuguese manager's leadership, Christian Pulisic reached his best level. Yunus Musah, meanwhile, had a fairly regular role. Fonseca, ultimately, didn't get the job done and was dismissed just before the calendar turned to 2025, but it certainly wasn't due to the play of the Americans he rightfully put his trust in during his stay in Italy.
Upon arriving in Lyon, Fonseca put trust in Tessmann, too. Switching to a setup with a double pivot, Tessmann has regularly been inserted next to Matic, providing the legs in the center of the field that the veteran midfielder no longer has. The American has started each of Lyon's last four Ligue 1 games, winning three while falling to PSG despite a furious late comeback.
The numbers don't jump off the page – they rarely do for defensive midfielders – but Tessmann has very clearly brought stability to Lyon's midfield. With him next to Matic, French international Corentin Tolisso is freed to go forward. Tolisso has amassed three goals and an assist over those four games, clearly benefitting from the new midfield setup.
Still, Fonseca's reign has now been plunged into chaos. On Wednesday, the coach was hit with a nine-month ban from the French Professional Football League for a confrontation with referee Benoit Millot during Lyon's 2-1 win over Brest last weekend. Fonseca nearly headbutted Millot and had to be pulled away from the official by Tolisso and several other Lyon players.
"He rushed toward me with an intimidating attitude and I decided to send him off directly," Millot told L'Équipe. "There was, it seems, a slight contact with the nose. [It was] a particularly intimidating, aggressive attitude, which one can hardly imagine from a professional coach."
Lyon have announced their intention to appeal and Fonseca was on the bench for Thursday's 3-1 Europa League win over Steau Bucharesti, which Tessmann started. Owner Textor, meanwhile, says the club will stick by the coach.
“I stand with you today, and always. You made a mistake… Your apology was sincere… and your punishment is clearly too severe. You are the right man for OL and we shall persevere. Allez l’OL,” he posted on social media.
Textor, though, has been at the center of his own controversy, largely due to his war with PSG.
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Textor the cowboy
As he walked into the stadium ahead of Lyon's home match against PSG, Textor sported a cowboy hat. He waved it all around to the home crowd. The hat was a not-so-subliminal shot at the day's opponents, a callback to criticism amid an ongoing battle between two of France's most historic clubs.
Footage recently leaked of a July meeting of Ligue 1 owners and that footage showed just how contentious the relationship between Textor and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi had gotten. An argument over TV rights had gotten personal. Textor accused Al-Khealifi of being a "bully" and a "tyrant". Al-Khelaifi responded quickly.
“John, stop talking," Al-Khelaifi said in the video. "You don’t understand anything, you’re from… I don’t know, cowboy. You’re coming I don’t know (from) where, and you’re talking to us.”
Textor has also previously expressed frustration with PSG's funding and spending. Those accusations come amid Lyon's own financial problems, which came into the spotlight in the fall.
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Financial struggles
In November, Lyon were handed a provisional relegation to Ligue 2 following an audit of their finances. The club has also been prohibited from registering new signings, leading to a January transfer ban. The club has until May to get its finances in order if they want to avoid that ban.
That looming threat is, obviously, massive. Bordeaux, another regular in France's top flight for years, lost their professional status in July after being relegated two tiers due to their own financial problems. Both Sochaux and Nancy have been hit with relegation, too. Lyon's potential punishment, though, would send shockwaves through the European game, as they are routinely a club competing at the top levels of continental competition.
Textor, though, is confident and defiant. Despite reported debts of around €500 million, Textor says the club will have its books in order by May's deadline while also taking aim at PSG once again. Lyon sold off several players in January and may still need to offload a few more to balance the books enough to please authorities. Textor has argued that cash registered from the other clubs he owns, Crystal Palace and Botafogo, could also be used to make up the difference, while reports have said he could sell his stake in Palace as well.
"I am confident in our figures," Textor said in November. "I can never be confident in the way a regulatory body considers these things. I believe that the DNCG is independent of some of the pressures that you see. But we have a lot of enemies, you know, on the board of directors, in the league, a big club from Qatar."
Arne Slot has engineered victories over Real Madrid and Manchester City in the past week, dispatching both without conceding a goal and consolidating Liverpool’s position as Premier League and, to a lesser degree, Champions League favourites.
The nine-point Premier League lead over Arsenal and Chelsea, united in second place, bears testament to the Dutch coach’s unflappable mentality and innovative tactics, shaping Jurgen Klopp’s talented team to his own design.
Mohamed Salah for Liverpool
Redmen from all angles have stepped up to bring elation to the Merseyside masses, who can scarcely believe the incredible start to the season that has suggested an illustrious finish is on the horizon.
At the front, though, is Mohamed Salah. The 32-year-old’s future is up in the air but this is hardly affecting his performances, notching a brace against Pep Guardiola’s withered crop to raise his haul to 11 goals and seven assists across 13 top-flight appearances this term. He’s posted six goal contributions from seven matches in further competitions.
1.
Wayne Rooney
Man United
276
2.
Ryan Giggs
Man United
271
3.
Harry Kane
Tottenham
259
4.
Thierry Henry
Arsenal
249
5.
Mohamed Salah
Liverpool
241
It’s clear that Salah wants to renew his £350k-per-week salary, but whether FSG bypasses their strict wage structure remains to be seen. Time’s ticking. Liverpool’s sporting director Richard Hughes is prudently looking at potential successors, and he’s found an excellent choice to possibly replace the Egyptian king.
Liverpool eyeing Salah replacement
The Athletic have reported that Salah is open to extending his Liverpool contract by a single year but is frustrated by FSG’s handling of the situation. It’s not a good look, whichever angle it is viewed from.
The fact is, FSG have their parameters and will not acquiesce to Salah’s demands if they are deemed untenable. If the dreaded eventuality becomes reality for the Reds, Omar Marmoush is the player who is being lined up to take his place according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg.
Marmoush, Salah’s teammate with Egypt, has been in remarkable form for Eintracht Frankfurt this season and carries the kind of dynamic attacking qualities that would allow him to dovetail into Slot’s high-flying system.
The £50m-rated forward has been brilliant this season, for sure, and could forge a deadly partnership with Liverpool’s attacking options, especially Cody Gakpo.
Imagine Omar Marmoush & Cody Gakpo
Marmoush, who is 25, scored 17 goals across 41 appearances for Frankfurt last season as he established himself as one of the most promising forwards in German football.
This season, the Egypt international has been on a different level, harvesting 17 goals and 11 assists across 19 matches in all competitions, meaning that he is incredibly outscoring Liverpool’s very own Salah.
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As per FBref, the 5 foot 9 ace also ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists and the top 2% for shot-creating actions per 90, thus showcasing a creative side to his game that would see him emulate Salah as an elite multi-faceted attacking outlet.
1.
Harry Kane
12
14
7
21
2.
Omar Marmoush
12
13
7
20
3.
Mohamed Salah
13
11
7
18
4.
Robert Lewandowski
15
15
2
17
4=
Raphinha
15
9
8
17
While Marmoush is typically found at centre-forward, his pace and movements allow him to operate on the left wing too, promoting his playmaking side. This could see him flourish alongside Gakpo, whose own positional versatility has been streamlined this term, and he is now reaping the rewards.
Goals against Real and Man City have taken the Netherlands international’s haul to eight goals under Slot’s wing, though it’s more impressive still when seeing that he has actually only been handed ten starting berths.
Cody Gakpo scores for Liverpool
Exclusively posting his strikes from that left channel, it’s fair to say that Gakpo is loving life under his compatriot’s wing, and is actually thriving with Luis Diaz as the pair jockey for placement on the left.
As you can see below, Salah’s defence-splitting arced pass undid the shaky City backline on Sunday, finding the surging Gakpo and sending Anfield into an exultant roar. He had no trouble bundling the ball in, and it’s something that Marmoush might have taken note of.
Gakpo’s hardly just a marksman either, once hailed for his “special skill set” by Klopp’s former assistant manager Pep Lijnders, endowed with physical strength, shifty motions and impressive technicality that might just see him forge an innate bond with the equally dynamic Marmoush.
Though it’s easy to get ahead of the track, Liverpool fans must remember that there is plenty of football still to be played this season, with twists and turns and bumps and blocks all sure to threaten the Anfield side’s place in the ascendency.
Salah might be the cream of the crop, but players such as Gakpo are proving to offer quality fit for the biggest and shiniest titles.
To lose Salah at the supposed height of his powers is unthinkable, and surely must not be allowed to happen, but Liverpool will need to replace their 32-year-old phenomenon at some stage, and Marmoush is blessed with the talent to succeed in his stead.
Alongside Gakpo and co over the coming years, it might even be a move that maintains Liverpool’s position at the very summit of English and European competition.
Fewer touches than Kelleher: Liverpool must boldly axe 8/10 ace after City
Liverpool swatted Manchester City aside in the Premier League to go nine points clear at the top.
Back to the drawing board. In 2022/23, Newcastle United were in their heyday under Eddie Howe, but for a host of reasons, haven’t been able to kick on and find themselves needing more after yet another Premier League setback.
Crystal Palace were the better team at Selhurst Park, limiting Newcastle to one off-target shot and unleashing 16 of their own. xG (expected goals) is hardly the defining factor in assessing a contest’s flow, but the hosts produced 1.76 xG, whereas United mustered a measly 0.04 xG via Sofascore through Joelinton’s blocked shot.
Newcastle United
If a single match was a personification of Newcastle’s struggles, this one would be a fitting emblem. Goals are in short supply and creativity is more so. It was ironic that Marc Guehi, fiercely pursued by the Toon this summer, would turn into his own net to give Newcastle the lead, their sole attacking move of significance across the affair.
But irony’s a fickle thing, and Guehi put in a commanding defensive display and responded with an assist for Daniel Munoz’s last-gasp equaliser, meaning the Magpies are tenth and could be lower still before the day is up.
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Premier League
Liverpool (H)
07/12/24
Premier League
Brentford (A)
14/12/24
Premier League
Leicester (H)
18/12/24
Carabao Cup
Brentford (H)
21/12/24
Premier League
Ipswich (A)
26/12/24
Premier League
Aston Villa (H)
30/12/24
Premier League
Man United (A)
Howe needs to tinker away to recentre his outfit’s fluency, and though changes are needed up front, Tino Livramento failed to bring it all together on the defensive right flank.
Tino Livramento's performance vs Palace
He wasn’t the worst player on the field, but Livramento didn’t enjoy his finest performance. The Shields Gazette acknowledged the right-back’s willingness to get forward but rebuked his lack of quality on the ball and fragility in several defensive moments.
He was handed a 5/10 match score, which is probably about right.
Newcastle signed Southampton’s talented prospect in a deal worth £40m, and while there have been ups and downs, Livramento is patently one of the prized young full-backs in English football and, recently 22, has a wide expanse of growth still to be crossed.
Tino Livramento battles with Marc Guehi
This was evident in south London, with Livramento being dribbled past twice and losing six of his 11 contested duels, as per Sofascore.
Pared down, neither of these metrics is particularly damning, but it’s telling that he failed to make a single key pass, hardly helping Newcastle in their desperate quest to restore some control in creative phases.
16th
Newcastle
13
16
16=
Leicester
13
16
18th
West Ham
13
18
19th
Everton
12
16
19=
Southampton
13
16
The Toon’s lack of playmaking success this season, compared to last, is rather damning, however, and very much indicative of Newcastle’s struggles.
Oh sure, Anthony Gordon needs to do more, playmaking is negligible in the centre of the field and the Magpies’ failure to sign a right winger is biting at them, but when Kieran Trippier is sat waiting in the wings, it’s perhaps time for Howe to unleash his veteran once again. It might bear dividends.
Howe must boldly unleash Kieran Trippier
Curiously, Newcastle ranked joint-second for big chances created (97) in the Premier League last term, level with champions Manchester City. The fact that Newcastle more-or-less have the same parts is more curious still but perhaps comments on the rust that is spreading across a squad crying out for some fresh inspiration.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe
Newcastle are bound to target impactful attacking additions in 2025, with recent reports even suggesting that Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo is on the winter radar.
However, the intervening December period cannot be allowed to sprout rotten results; while Newcastle have been out of sorts, they are only four points behind third-placed Brighton & Hove Albion and could easily spring back into the ascendency with a winter purple patch.
Easier said than done. Fluidity simply isn’t there, and that’s why Trippier must start going forward. The 34-year-old was nearly sold in the summer but has remained at St. James’ Park. He has played just six minutes of Premier League football in two months, but having recovered from a hamstring injury will be desperate to make his mark.
Newcastle's Kieran Trippier
You have to say, his ball-playing skills could have been utilised against a resilient Eagles backline. As per FBref, the £120k-per-week veteran ranked among the top 1% of full-backs in the Premier League last season for assists, the top 2% for passes attempted, the top 4% for shot-creating actions and the top 5% for progressive passes per 90.
Given that not only has the Magpies’ creative wellspring dried up, but their possession has dropped from a 52.5% average to a 49.5% average, as per FBref, you could surmise that Trippier’s reintroduction could have an effect on United and their purchase in passing transitions.
Moreover, Trippier, who has been one of the harbingers of the new era upon joining from Atletico Madrid for a £12m fee in early January 2022, is not as defensively disastrous as he is depicted, for he succeeded with 56% of his ground duels last term and averaged two tackles per game, as per Sofascore.
Recent reports suggest that Newcastle are willing to accept offers for their skipper in January, with his high wages and reduced role not quite justifying his place in the first-team squad any longer.
Kieran Trippier
Why don’t we shelve that for the upcoming month, or perhaps even until the end of the campaign? Trippier is one of the finest playmakers in the Premier League – and don’t Newcastle need some inspiration in that regard?
New role: Howe can replicate Joelinton success with Newcastle sensation
Howe should unleash a rising Newcastle star in a new role to create Joelinton 2.0
Hoping to take a permanent step back among the world’s best, Newcastle United have now reportedly entered the race to sign two Croatian starlets alongside a number of Europe’s elite clubs.
Newcastle transfer news
It’s shaping up to be a busy 2025 for those at St James’ Park if recent transfer rumours are anything to go by. The Magpies have been linked to the likes of Antoine Semenyo and Bryan Mbeumo as they look to finally upgrade on Miguel Almiron and add another attacking spark to Eddie Howe’s side. It could be a much-needed spark too amid reports that Alexander Isak could decide to depart in 2025, recently stealing the headlines on and off the pitch.
After failing in their recruitment last summer, losing Isak would undoubtedly be a major blow – particularly to a Premier League rival. The last thing that sporting director Paul Mitchell needs is to have the job of replacing one of England’s best forwards on top of the targets that he may have already identified, including two Croatian starlets.
Another "brilliant" Newcastle ace to miss several games after injury update
The Magpies’ list of absentees continues to grow…
By
Tom Cunningham
Nov 14, 2024
According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Newcastle are now among Europe’s elite in the race to sign Martin Baturina and Petar Sucic from Dinamo Zagreb. The likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool have all reportedly been keeping tabs on at least Baturina or both of the young midfielders.
Baturina – 21 years old and more of an attacking player – would undoubtedly be a major coup given the interest in his signature. Sucic, meanwhile, who is also just 21 years old but a defensive midfielder, could offer Howe an instant upgrade on Sean Longstaff alongside Bruno Guimaraes at the heart of his Newcastle side next year.
"Talented" Sucic could replace Longstaff
A player at the heart of the current Dinamo Zagreb side, Sucic has more than earned the admiration of several top clubs and now Newcastle could land an instant upgrade on Longstaff, especially for the future. Sucic’s best form is yet to come, but he has still managed to enter the radar of Newcastle’s scouts who may well have the vision of a partnership between the Croatian and Guimaraes in mind.
Unsurprisingly, the young midfielder has earned plenty of praise throughout his recent rise into importance for Zagreb, including from U23 scout Antonio Mango, who described his performances earlier this season as “brilliant” as he also got an assist to his name.
As for Baturina, if Newcastle are looking for an attacking injection then he’d certainly offer that in the middle of the park, having been involved in nine goals in just 17 appearances so far this season.
With all eyes on the future, the Magpies could swoop in and land two of the most exciting players that Croatia has to offer.
Bayern Munich star Harry Kane is excited to take on Inter Milan at San Siro in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final next month.
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Kane embracing Inter challenge in Champions LeagueBayern will take on Serie A leaders in quarter-finalsThinks San Siro is one of the best stadiums in the worldFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Bayern Munich marched on to the quarter-finals of the Champions League after winning their second leg 2-0 against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night. They beat their Bundesliga rivals 5-0 on aggregate and will now face Inter in the last eight, with Bayern's star centre-forward Kane relishing the challenge of taking on the Serie A leaders at San Siro, labelling it 'one of the best stadiums in the world'.
Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The quarter-final clash between Inter and Bayern promises to be a cracker of a tie, with both sides leading their respective leagues. The Bavarians have faced the Nerazzurri at the San Siro Stadium three times, winning all three games and keeping a clean sheet on all three occasions. Kane, however, acknowledged that the second leg in Milan, which will be played next month, will be "tough" game for Vincent Kompany's men.
WHAT HARRY KANE SAID
"It’s going to be tough. Inter are the leaders in their league; they play good football and defend well, and it’s surely going to be tough, especially away at San Siro, one of the best stadiums in the world,” Kane told Sky Sport Italia after Tuesday's Champions League game (h/t Football Italia).
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR HARRY KANE?
England's all-time top scorer has been in phenomenal form this season, scoring 32 goals in 36 games across all competitions. He will next be seen in action on Saturday when Bayern take on Union Berlin with an eight-point lead in the Bundesliga.
Chelsea have had a strong start to life under Enzo Maresca. The Blues are currently sitting fourth in the Premier League but could end up as high as second with a win on Sunday against Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge.
So far, Maresca’s side have won six games, drawn four and lost just two. They are currently unbeaten in their last four games. Their last defeat came away to Liverpool, in a hard-fought performance but one in which the hosts ran out 2-1 winners.
Last time out in top-flight action, the Blues – who did see off Heidenheim in the Conference League in midweek – beat Leicester City 2-1 away from home, with Enzo Fernandez playing a starring role after a tough season so far.
Fernandez’s stats in 2024/25
Once the most expensive British transfer of all time, the jury is certainly out on whether or not Enzo Fernandez has lived up to his £106.8m price tag. The World Cup winner has had flashes of brilliance so far for the Blues but has not shown what he can do over a prolonged period.
He has played 78 games for the club in total, scoring eight goals and registering 11 assists. However, this term the Argentine midfielder has been in and out of the team under Maresca and has certainly not been first choice in the Premier League.
In all competitions in 2024/25, Fernandez has played 16 times, scoring once and grabbing six assists. With that being said, his involvement in the Premier League has been sparse, playing 701 minutes across the top-flight season, the equivalent of 7.7 full 90 minute games and starting just one of the last five games.
That start came against the Foxes, a commanding midfield performance which saw Maresca’s men get a crucial three points. The Blues’ number eight proved to be a key difference maker, with his goal and assist ultimately what won Chelsea the game.
That day, he started next to Moises Caicedo in the heart of the Chelsea midfield, less of a risk given how deep Leicester would likely sit. However, they may not have such an opportunity against Villa; Unai Emery’s side will surely be more expansive and are a side who have plenty of attacking threat.
It certainly means Fernandez might not just walk into the side, despite a good performance last weekend. The man who could replace him is Romeo Lavia.
Why Lavia could start vs. Villa
It has been a very impressive campaign so far for 20-year-old defensive midfielder. The youngster struggled with injuries during his first season at Stamford Bridge but has played far more regularly this term and has kept Fernandez out of the side at times.
So far this season, the Manchester City academy graduate has played seven times in the Premier League, grabbing an assist in a crucial 2-1 win against Newcastle United. He and Caicedo have formed an effective partnership in the centre of the park for Maresca’s side.
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Should he get a start against Emery’s side, the Belgian is likely to have his work cut out against another Cityzens academy star, Morgan Rogers.
The England international, who is an exceptional dribbler, has been sensational this season for the Villans. BBC Sport pundit Pat Nevin described him as a “fantastic” player earlier in the campaign.
However, Lavia is certainly someone well-placed to deal with the Villans star. He has been superb defensively this term, as the stats from Squawka show.
Per 90 minutes, Lavia has won six duels and made 4.2 ball recoveries in the Premier League this season. As football talent scout Jacek Kulig described him, Lavia is an “elite” number six.
Lavia defensive stats in 2024/25
Stat (per 90)
Number
Tackles made
2.9
Ground duels won
4.7
Duels won
6
Ground duel success rate
50%
Ball recoveries
4.2
Stats from Squawka
He is an athletic midfielder and should be able to cope with Rogers’ dynamism in the midfield and win the battle against him. It is certainly a selection that makes sense for Maresca, to ensure his side do not get overrun and can stay within touching distance of league leaders Liverpool.
Maresca now ditch £250k-p/w Chelsea dud who Lampard called "phenomenal"
The Chelsea talent has been unable to showcase his ability in recent years.
Pair share 165-run unbeaten stand with Harris 88 not out at stumps in his last match before the Pakistan Test tour
Alex Malcolm19-Feb-2022
Marcus Harris drives through cover•Getty Images
Marcus Harris made another statement ahead of the Test tour of Pakistan while Peter Handscomb continued his outstanding form as Victoria made the most of a beautiful day-two batting surface at Junction Oval after bowling Queensland out for 349.Harris and Handscomb shared an unbeaten stand of 165 with Harris cruising to 88 not out, coming off his Marsh Cup century last week while Handscomb finished 74 not out at stumps following on from his brilliant match-saving Sheffield Shield century against South Australia.Earlier in the day, 22-year-old Queenslander Jack Clayton made a century on Shield debut while James Bazley made his highest first-class score of 64 to help Queensland post a decent first-innings total.But the afternoon belonged to Victoria’s senior pros as Harris and Handscomb batted with typical control following the early loss of Travis Dean. Both men struck nine fours and Harris added a six as Queensland’s spin duo of Mitchell Swepson and Matt Kuhnemann couldn’t break through after Victoria’s part-time offspinner Matthew Short had earlier claimed four wickets.Harris’ staggering record at the Junction Oval continues. If he reaches 96 unbeaten on day three he will have 800 runs at an average of 100 at the ground, and if he can find 12 more runs for his century it will be his fifth at the Junction Oval in just nine innings. Handscomb is gunning for his third Shield century of the season after revealing during the week that a slight technical adjustment with his feet and hip alignment had been the catalyst for his run glut this season.Earlier, Clayton showed he has the makings of a top-class Shield player after handling Victoria’s experienced attack on debut. He unfurled some outstanding pull shots off the quicks and the spinners bringing up his century of 216 balls. He fell to a pull shot not long after picking out square leg off Will Sutherland who finished with three wickets. Sutherland and Short threatened to clean up the tail. Handscomb took a phenomenal reflex catch at slip to hand Short his third scalp. But Bazley and Kuhnemann added 53 for the final wicket to push Queensland’s first innings just shy of 350, with Bazley making his second career half-century. Scott Boland finished with 0 for 24 from 19 overs having delivered 10 maidens.
Two key partnerships at either end of the day pushed West Indies closer to parity with England on the second day of a to-and-fro Test in Antigua.This match has had not so much the twists and turns of a helter-skelter but the slow, loping swings of a pirate ship ride after England’s recovery from 48 for 4 to a respectable 311 built on Jonny Bairstow’s century and then West Indies’ rapid response via Kraigg Brathwaite and John Campbell as the visiting bowlers failed to penetrate with the new ball.West Indies were enjoying all the fun of the fair at 44 without loss by lunch, Brathwaite going along at a run-a-ball, but by tea they were 127 for 4 and England had wrested back some control. Then Nkrumah Bonner and Jason Holder combined for an unbroken 75-run partnership for the fifth wicket that kept their side in the contest.Chris Woakes was one of the bowlers tipped by England’s interim director of cricket, Andrew Strauss, to blossom as a leader of the attack in the controversial absence of long-time spearheads James Anderson and Stuart Broad. But he endured a torrid day, conceding 23 off his first three overs and only finding relief when he snared the wicket of Jermaine Blackwood moments before the second of several brief showers which halted play intermittently through the day, brought about an early tea break. Woakes was struck for 10 fours in as many overs, which cost 51 runs on a benign pitch that for a second straight day offered little to either side.When he rejoined the attack for two more overs – before yet another of the squalls which had dampened England’s efforts with a reverse-swinging ball brought about stumps – Woakes conceded just three more runs.Spinner Jack Leach had bowled five tight overs until Campbell clubbed him for four over extra cover and Brathwaite thundered a six down the ground in Leach’s sixth as West Indies’ opening swelled to 83. But it was Craig Overton who made the initial breakthrough with a short ball down the leg side that tempted Campbell into a pull and brushed the glove on the way through to keeper Ben Foakes to punctuate West Indies’ keen start.As Shamarh Brooks took West Indies into the nineties with consecutive boundaries off Overton, Ben Stokes entered the attack to bowl for the first time since suffering a side strain during the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney.A single off Stokes’ first ball brought up Brathwaite’s fastest Test fifty – off just 62 balls – but Mark Wood, whose pace and reverse swing kept West Indies’ batters on their toes, struck when the West Indies captain chased a wide delivery only to send it directly to Overton at gully. Then Stokes removed Brooks, edging to Joe Root for a simple catch at slip, and suddenly West Indies were wobbling.Foakes put down a difficult chance diving low to his left off Blackwood, who was yet to score when he got an inside edge to a Wood delivery which found the keeper’s glove but failed to stay there as he went to ground.Blackwood, eventually caught in the gully by Overton, was given not out by umpire Joel Wilson amid hearty appeals from the England side, who swiftly reviewed. UltraEdge confirmed Blackwood had indeed laid bat on ball before it struck his thigh pad and looped into the air as West Indies lost a fourth wicket for 44 runs.Leach bowled nine maidens in all – seven of them on the trot in the evening session – in an excellent comeback from a chastening Ashes tour as Holder and Bonner chose their moments well in a sensible, steadying effort. Holder led the way, picking off six fours and a cracking six – over long-on off Root – to close on 43 not out, with Bonner on 34.Earlier, England resumed at 268 for 6 with Bairstow on 109 but, with the ball only six overs old, West Indies had designs on wrapping up the innings quickly. They did so before lunch, but not before Bairstow had reached 140 and taken the England total into elusive territory – past the 300-mark for the first time since August 2021.Jayden Seales came on in the fifth over and struck with his fourth delivery, an excellent short ball that touched Woakes’ glove and sailed through to keeper Joshua Da Silva, ending his seventh-wicket stand with Bairstow at 71. Seales then made it two in three balls when Overton stabbed a length ball towards short leg, where the crouching Bonner took a roundabout catch via his midriff, thighs and eventually hands.Bairstow continued to accumulate, driving Holder with aplomb through cover moments before feeding him a return catch that bobbled out of Holder’s hands. Bairstow was eventually last man out, top-edging Alzarri Joseph high over backward point, where Holder scrambled around and pouched an excellent catch.
Liverpool fans fear Virgil van Dijk will move on in the summer after he was spotted chatting with PSG chiefs Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Luis Campos.
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Van Dijk into last few months of Liverpool contract
Had chat with PSG chiefs after Champions League defeat
Fans worried he could be set to leave
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Van Dijk's future remains uncertain as the Liverpool defender is out of contract in the summer and yet to agree an extension. The Dutchman has now sent Liverpool fans into a panic after being spotted chatting with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and sporting director Luis Campos after Tuesday's Champions League defeat at the hands of the Ligue 1 champions.
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WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING
Liverpool supporter @iggymaz posted on X: "It's OVER!"
And @YG_Tha_gOD thinks Van Dijk is now heading to France, as he added: "He’s joining this summer. bookmark this."
Another fan @CarlWhite83, felt Liverpool may be to blame, adding: "If we don’t want to give these guys contracts somebody else will."
And @Pxtrlk posted: "Are we supposed to be shocked an soon to be out of contract is talking to the team that’s just knocked us out."
Finally, @RKO4AL thinks it's time for Van Dijk to go and took aim at the club's owners FSG: "He should leave man. He deserves better. He deserves owners with ambition."
WHAT VAN DIJK SAID
The Liverpool star was quick to congratulate PSG after the match. He told Canal Plus: "Congrats to PSG, they’ve been the best team we faced this season so far. Credit to Luis Enrique, he built a very good squad."
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Van Dijk has spoken about his future recently and confirmed he still does not know where he will be playing his football next season. The Dutchman is not the only Liverpool star coming to the end of his contract, with Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold also now just months away from free agency as things stand.
It’s become impossible to ignore: Arsenal’s season is starting to fall apart.
Mikel Arteta’s side have dealt with a number of injuries, unnecessary suspensions and, at best, underwhelming performances on the pitch, which have left them nine points off Liverpool on top of the Premier League.
However, while things look grim for the North Londoners, there is still time to get their campaign back on track, especially if they make the most of the January transfer window.
Fortunately, recent reports suggest that they may well do that, as the latest star touted for a move to N5 is an imposing striker who could be the ideal Kai Havertz replacement and has even been compared to Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland.
Arsenal transfer news
According to a recent report by journalist Rudy Galetti, Arsenal are interested in Juventus’ star striker, Dušan Vlahović.
The respected reporter has revealed that the Serie A giants are “open to letting Dusan go,” and that the Gunners have been “monitoring” his situation and are “expected to meet his agent soon to gather fresh information.”
There is no mention of a potential price in the report, but Transfermarkt values him at €65m, which is about £55m, and with his contract expiring in 19 months, combined with the Old Lady’s willingness to let him go, that seems like a realistic price.
It would still represent a sizeable investment from Arsenal, but given Vlahovic’s ability in front of goal and the comparisons to Haaland and Mbpabbe, it could be one worth making, especially as he could be the dream replacement for Havertz.
Why Vlahović would be an ideal Havertz replacement
Okay, so before we get to the comparison between Vlahović and the man he’d have to displace from Arsenal’s starting lineup, let’s examine this comparison to arguably the best players in the world right now: Mbappé and Haaland.
The comparison stems from an interview with football agent Roberto De Fanti in January 2022, before the Serbian star moved to Turin.
In the interview, De Fanti described the then 22-year-old poacher as possessing “all the attributes to become a big star” and that, due to him being so young and yet so exciting at the time, he was “one of those guys on the list like Mbappé and Halland which all the European clubs will want to buy.”
Now, it would be fair to say that the Belgrad-born marksman has not quite hit the heights of those two just yet, but during his time with Fiorentina, when the comparison was made, it looked like he might, as he left La Viola with an incredible record of 49 goals and eight assists in 108 appearances, equating to an average of a goal involvement every 1.92 games.
With all that said, how does the 31-capped international stack up to the Gunners’ number 29? After all, it’ll be him he needs to surpass to get regular game time in North London.
Appearances
42
47
Goals
14
9
Assists
4
1
Goal + Assists per Match
0.42
0.21
Appearances
38
51
Goals
18
14
Assists
3
7
Goal + Assists per Match
0.55
0.41
Appearances
16
17
Goals
9
7
Assists
1
1
Goal + Assists per Match
0.62
0.47
Fortunately for him, he’s comfortably outperformed the former Chelsea ace over the last few years, as since the start of the 22/23 campaign, the 24-year-old has found the back of the net on 41 occasions and provided eight assists in 96 appearances, equating to a goal involvement on average every 1.95 games.
In contrast, the Gunners’ Aachen-born poacher has scored 30 goals and provided nine assists in 115 appearances, which comes to an average of a goal involvement every 2.94 games.
Unfortunately for the German, not even his average of a goal involvement every 2.34 games for the Gunners is better than the man who may soon replace him.
Ultimately, while it won’t be cheap, adding Vlahovic’s goals to the team in January is a no-brainer, even if it impacts Havertz’s game time. Therefore, Arsenal should act on their interest as soon as possible.
Arsenal must finally sell £3m flop who was supposed to be the next Saka
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