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Moreno reacted to Pulisic's comments about the "aggression" narrative, tells U.S. star "I'll spell it out for you"

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• USMNT lost to both Panama and Canada
• Christian Pulisic says "aggression" narrative is "easy"
• ESPN's Ale Moreno goes in on AC Milan star

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Following the USMNT's disappointing 2025 Nations League showing, a semifinal defeat to Panama and a third-place match loss to Canada, critics have come in fast and come in harsh on their performances.

  Ex-players such as Landon Donovan and Kasey Keller and Tim Howard have asked for more from the players and staff. ESPN analyst and former Venezuela international Alejandro Moreno joined the chorus.

  "I need to see an improvement – that is obvious to see," Moreno said on ESPN FC. "And while Christian Pulisic said, 'Well, you know, the easiest thing to point out is the aggression' … Yes! Because it's obvious! It's obvious that this team lacks aggression. And so if he wants me to spell it out for him, I will: Christian, I'll spell it out for you, I'll define it for you: 92nd minute, your team is losing 2-1, and you guys are keeping possession in the back line and in the midfield.

  "Again, let me repeat that you're losing 2-1 in a game in which you were supposed to show a response. And you're keeping possession of the ball in the midfield and the back line without actually showing aggression to get the ball forward, to manufacture chaos, to push for a goal your team. The United States never looked likely to score a game-tying goal. In fact, I would argue that Canada looked more likely to score at their own goal themselves."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Moreno's comments were in response to Pulisic, who said after the Canada match that critics asking for the USMNT to be aggressive were giving an "easy" analysis of their performances.

  "It's an easy thing to say we lacked aggression, there's a lot of things that go with that – it's not just fighting and kicking," Pulisic said after the match. "You know the other team, you've got to play better football, you've got to have better ideas, you've got to be more aggressive in the way we attack… just creating more, getting more opportunities and just being more of a threat to the other team."

  The AC Milan star was substituted 69 minutes into their loss against Canada, and played 90 minutes against Panama.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The U.S. failed to win the Nations League for the first time in the competition's history in 2025. They had won all three previous editions.

• Getty Images
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

  The U.S. return to the pitch in June for the FIFA international break, where they will play both Switzerland and Turkey in a pair of friendlies leading up to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Manchester City slumped to yet another defeat at home to bitter rivals Manchester United to leave them 11 points off leaders Liverpool in the Premier League table.

The 2-1 defeat represented Man City’s fifth league defeat in their last seven games with many pundits believing that the champions are now out of the race to defend their crown once again. Their current form is a far cry from their scintillating displays that led the club to four Premier League titles in a row.

It has been a season of ill fortune for the club thus far, Ballon D’Or winner 2024 Rodri has been ruled out of action for the remainder of the season with a ruptured ACL injury and talisman Kevin De Bruyne continues to struggle for fitness and form.

Unfortunately for boss Pep Guardiola, it seems the bad news may not end with his side’s poor run of form-in fact, it could be about to get worse.

Man City star being targeted by Barcelona

Barcelona currently sit at the top of the La Liga table approaching the festive break and striker Robert Lewandowski has been in devastating form with 16 goals in just 17 appearances for the Catalan club so far this season.

However, with the striker having just turned 36, it seems that Barcelona are starting to plan for life after the Polish striker in order to continue their recent upturn in form both domestically and in Europe.

According to reports in Spain, via SportWitness, Barcelona are lining up a sensational summer move for Erling Haaland and the player is believed to be open to the move.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is believed to be in constant contact with Haaland’s agent and it seems next summer is the moment that the Spanish giants could activate the Norwegian’s release clause. Haaland has become disgruntled at City’s recent form and believes a move to Spain could be the next progression in his fledgling career.

The move would come as a huge blow for Pep Guardiola, who would be losing his focal point of attack having scored a staggering 108 goals for the club in just 121 appearances.

The impact of Haaland departing Man City

Despite City’s notable downturn in form this season, Haaland has still amassed 18 goals in all competitions and is currently the Premier League’s joint-top goalscorer.

The £123m rated forward has been involved in 50% of Man City’s goals this season and his departure would leave a gaping hole in the forward line at the Etihad with other performances in that department lacking.

It is clear that Haaland would be irreplaceable at City having scored more goals this term than the four other forward players combined. In addition, the powerhouse striker has the highest expected goals, most shots and highest shots-on-target percentage out of the attacking options Guardiola has at his disposal.

Being the focal point in City’s attack is a crucial role in how Pep likes his teams to play and with Haaland also winning the most aerial duels, he has more than proven his worth to the side in recent seasons.

Manchester City’s season may not be done and dusted yet. However, should Barcelona get their way with the Norwegian come the summer, it could leave a gap that even Guardiola would struggle to fill.

Man City must regret selling their dream Rodri replacement for just £10.5m

Man City made mistake selling their dream Rodri replacement for just £10.5m

By
Connor Holden

Dec 18, 2024

The Gary O’Neil era at Wolverhampton Wanderers is done and dusted, at long last.

Hiring a new manager just a few days after, they got off to the perfect start under Vitor Pereira at the weekend, scoring three goals against Leicester City to secure just their third Premier League victory of the season.

While immediate thoughts will be on the next few league games, the new manager will surely have one eye on the January transfer window, especially as he could bolster his squad by signing a few players.

With this in mind, the Old Gold have been linked with a couple of players, including a Championship defender…

Wolves eyeing move for Championship defender

According to reports from late last week, Wolves are pushing to secure a deal for Sunderland centre-back Daniel Ballard during the transfer window.

They are not alone, however, as Premier League sides Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and Brighton and Hove Albion are all showing plenty of interest in the defender.

Wolves have conceded 40 goals in just 17 games this term in the top flight, which is the worst defensive record in the league, suggesting that a new defender or two wouldn’t go amiss in the winter window.

Could this see Pereira turning to the Sunderland titan next month as someone who could help shore things up?

Why Dan Ballard would be a good signing for Wolves

Ballard came through the youth academy at Arsenal, going on to make a host of appearances for the U18s and U21s without ever breaking into the senior setup.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Loan spells at Swindon Town, Blackpool and Millwall allowed him to gain plenty of first-team experience before he joined Sunderland on a permanent basis in the summer of 2022.

Two and a half years later, Ballard has made 77 appearances for the Black Cats while also accumulating 26 caps for Northern Ireland in the process.

Hailed as a “natural leader” by Michael O’Neil, the defender has enjoyed a rich vein of form recently for his club, despite missing several games during the start of the season due to a knee injury.

He has started the previous seven Championship games for Sunderland, who have lost just once in that run, conceding seven goals in those games.

Not only has Ballard averaged an 89% pass success rate in the second tier this term, but the 25-year-old has also won 5.3 total duels per game – a success rate of 67% – while losing possession just six times per match and making 0.7 tackles each game.

Impressive statistics indeed and this defensive solidity has seen Sunderland move into the playoff spots, as they currently sit in fourth spot, five points behind leaders Sheffield United.

If he can continue to impress over the coming weeks, Pereira will surely be keeping an eye on him, which could see the Old Gold make an approach once the January window opens.

Given the club’s defensive struggles, also shipping the highest number of set-piece goals in the division, the defender could be a dream first signing for the new manager.

Perhaps it might be one to fix their issues at the back and consequently keep them in the division. Time will tell.

Lemina binned for £60k-p/w signing: Pereira's dream Wolves lineup after Jan

The new Wolves boss might look to freshen things up

By
Joe Nuttall

Dec 20, 2024

Jack Grealish has been struggling for form over the last season, and Alan Shearer believes that the 'sensitive' Manchester City star 'needs loving'.

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• Grealish struggling for form at Man City
• Also absent from England squad last month
• Shearer believes Grealish 'needs loving'

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Grealish joined City in the summer of 2021 on the back of his best form with Aston Villa. While the England international has shown glimpses of his abilities from time to time, consistency has been lacking and his struggles have seen him drop down the pecking order in Pep Guardiola's City side.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Grealish's lack of form has often been credited to City's play style not suiting his expressive style of play by a number of former players and pundits, and his form has seen him get dropped by Thomas Tuchel for his first two matches as England boss. Premier League legend Shearer has now claimed that the forward is 'hurting' after being dropped by Tuchel, and he likely needs some 'loving' to regain his form.

• WHAT SHEARER SAID

  Speaking to , Shearer said: "I don't know what goes on inside the walls of Man City. Whether Pep doesn't like his [Grealish] attitude or he doesn't like what he's seeing on the training pitch I don't know. All I do know is that Jack is a really good lad who cares for his family massively, loves his football and loves a good time.

  "I couldn't comment on whether he's been treated unfairly or not but what I do see is a really caring, sensitive person who needs loving. Jack is also someone who loves football and if he's not playing then I can appreciate that he hurts. Jack will want the next game to come today because he'll be on a high, he'll be buzzing. I listened to his emotional interview after the game and it's now a really good opportunity for him to stamp his authority on the Man City team again with Haaland out injured.

  "Goals do wonders for confidence so he'll be flying now and he'll be so excited for the next game and will want Pep to put him in. You know what it's like when you haven't scored in so long. You get one and then more come along so don't be surprised if he scores again at the weekend as well.

  "Jack would've been hurting after not getting a call-up for England. He'll have looked at who was picked, looked at their performances and the goals that have been scored and it will have hurt him but there's only one thing to do as an individual – you have to go out, perform and hopefully for his sake this is the start of a really good run for him."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR GREALISH?

  City are back in action when they take on city rivals Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, April 6. Grealish will be hopeful that he will be in Guardiola's line-up for the clash with Erling Haaland out injured.

Aston Villa’s victory over Manchester City at the weekend means they head into Christmas occupying sixth place in the Premier League table, just three points outside the top four.

It is no secret that Unai Emery wishes to secure a place in the Champions League again for next season, especially given how well the club have performed in the competition so far.

The Spaniard wishes to see more glorious European nights at Villa Park and it is clear that he must bulk up his squad during the January transfer window.

The question is, what positions will he aim to strengthen?

Aston Villa showing interest in Serie A star

In the attacking midfield slot, Emery has been able to call upon the likes of Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia this term, with the former really beginning to demonstrate his class since the campaign began.

According to reports from Caught Offside last week, however, it looks as though Villa are keeping tabs on Atalanta midfielder Charles De Ketelaere ahead of making a potential swoop during the winter window.

The Italian side value the player at around £40m, which shouldn’t pose too much of a problem for Emery, especially if he can sell a player or two during the same window.

He will face plenty of competition for the Belgian, as Premier League clubs such as Liverpool, West Ham United, Arsenal and Manchester City are just a few teams who are keeping tabs on the situation regarding the player.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Atalanta currently sit at the top of the Serie A table, which means it may be difficult for any club to prise away their star players when the window opens.

This might not stop Emery, especially as he could make Jhon Duran unplayable by bringing the midfielder to the club.

How De Ketelaere could make Duran unplayable

The Colombian has been in sublime form this season, managing to find the back of the net 12 times across 25 appearances in all competitions, despite starting only six times for the club all season.

Duran was a wanted man during the summer transfer window, but Emery will be glad that he remained in the Midlands.

The South American has started the previous three Premier League fixtures, justifying Emery’s faith by scoring in all three games.

Rogers has been supplying the centre forward with the goods throughout the campaign, but might a deal to sign De Ketelaere give Duran even more opportunities in the final third?

For example, in the Italian top flight this term, the Belgian maestro has not only created nine big chances in 16 games, but he has also averaged 1.8 key passes per match and succeeded with 1.1 dribbles each game, underlining how impressive he is in the final third.

When compared to positional peers in Serie A this season, the 23-year-old currently ranks in the top 3% for assists (0.41), the top 3% for progressive passes (6.18) and in the top 10% for touches in the attacking penalty area (5.19) per 90, which is yet more evidence of how devastating he is in the opposition third.

These statistics indicate that he would be a dream signing for Duran, being able to link up well with the Colombian by operating just behind him in a number ten role under Emery.

After a stunning display for Atalanta against Young Boys in the Champions League earlier this season, where he scored twice and registered three assists, football talent scout Jacek Kulig said: “A truly magical European night for the 23-year-old Atalanta attacker”

It is clear that the biggest stage doesn’t faze the youngster, which could be yet another quality which would help him settle in well at Villa.

Furthermore, De Ketelaere is also similar to a Premier League superstar who is arguably one of the finest attacking talents in Europe; Bukayo Saka.

If Emery can somehow pull off the signing in January, he could have his very own version of Saka at his disposal, which would bolster their chances of finishing in the top four.

How De Ketelaere compares to Bukayo Saka

Ask any manager in the Premier League and they would love to be able to call upon the services of Saka in their starting XI, including Liverpool and Manchester City.

So far this season, the Englishman has already scored nine league goals along with registering 13 assists for the Gunners as they aim to end their two-decade wait for a league crown.

Even more impressive is the fact he has created 19 big chances in the top flight while averaging 2.7 key passes per game and succeeding with 2.1 dribbles each game, terrorising defences up and down the country.

According to FBref, Saka is the third-most comparable player to De Ketelaere in Europe’s top five leagues, which suggests Emery would be signing an extraordinarily talented player should he land the Belgian.

Indeed, the pair have even registered similar statistics across a range of metrics this season, including goals and assists (17 vs 21), shots on target per 90 (1.19 vs 1.27), goal-creating actions per 90 (0.94 vs 1.32), touches in the final third (88 vs 143) and successful take-on percentage (43.9% vs 42.3%).

These statistics prove that the Atalanta midfielder is certainly on par with Saka in a wide range of attacking metrics, which suggests he would be an excellent addition to the Villa squad from January onwards.

Emery might be looking to sell at least one player to raise some funds for any future transfers, but given their Champions League form, money shouldn’t really be an issue, especially as the fee quoted is around £40m.

For this price, Emery will be able to sign someone who is performing at a level similar to Saka this season, and the move could turn out to be a wonderful piece of business for the club. That’s a certainty.

Aston Villa have struck gold on their £100m star in the making

Aston Villa have “superb” star in their ranks who could be an £100m man in the making

By
Connor Holden

Dec 23, 2024

Riyad Mahrez's wife Taylor Ward claims she "feels safer" in Saudi Arabia compared to England since the former Manchester City winger moved to Al-Ahli.

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• Mahrez's wife says she feels safer in Saudi Arabia
• Marks change in attitude
• Al-Ahli fifth in Saudi Pro League

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ward and Mahrez moved to the Middle East when the Premier League and Champions League winner was signed by the Saudi Pro League side in 2023. The pair, who feature in Amazon's documentary, have been open about their switch. Ward had expressed serious concerns about making the move, but now claims to the that she is happy in Saudi Arabia.

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  WHAT WARD SAID

  Ward explained: "“I feel way safer in Saudi – I can actually sleep at night now.

  “My house in Saudi is ten times bigger than my house in England, and if I had to stay on my own somewhere, I would choose Saudi every day of the week.

  “There’s so many burglaries and bad things going on especially in Cheshire. It’s a massive problem.

  “Living abroad now is great because I don’t bring anything home. It’s not worth it because we’ve been burgled in the past and it puts you off having nice things.

  “I used to say to Riyad, ‘please don’t buy me a watch for my birthday, please don’t buy me these because I don’t want to be a target.’

  “Now that we live in Saudi, you actually get the opportunity to enjoy and wear nice things.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  It must be acknowledged that Ward has not been living a typical life since their move to Saudi Arabia, given her husband is earning a reported £841,708 ($1,087,460) weekly salary. It also marks a sharp change in attitude from a year ago, where she explained: "I feel like it is so hard, there are times I can’t, I just don’t like it.

  "I won’t lie, I had a freak out yesterday. I rang the hotel to ask 'I’m coming with my baby, what do people wear around the pool', I know it is a lot more conservative there and you have to dress a certain way.

  "I said 'I just want to check when I come with a baby what is the best thing to wear, do I need to wear something covered if I am going in the water?'

  "They were like 'oh no sorry, it’s just a man’s pool, it is just a gents pool'".

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAHREZ?

  Mahrez's Al-Ahli are currently fifth in the Saudi Pro League and conceded a late goal on Saturday to Karim Benzema and Al-Ittihad to drop two more points. They travel to Al-Raed on Friday hoping to secure a victory.

The Galaxy posted a captivating animated video on social media, recreating their first MLS match from 1996

• Animated video depicts LA Galaxy's inaugural MLS match
• Cobi Jones, who scored Galaxy's first goal, narrates the video
• Social media release celebrates club's history

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  WHAT HAPPENED

  LA Galaxy posted an animated video on their social media platforms, bringing to life the team's first MLS game played on April 13, 1996, at the Rose Bowl against New York/New Jersey MetroStars.

  The video is narrated by Cobi Jones, who scored the Galaxy's first goal in that match. The game ended 2-1 with Arash Noamouz scoring the Galaxy’s second before Giovanni Savarese added a late goal for New York/New Jersey.

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• WATCH THE VIDEO

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  That season marked the start of a legacy for the LA Galaxy as they went on to finish first in the Western Conference, reached the first MLS Cup final and finished runners-up to D.C. United. In the years since, the Galaxy have won six MLS Cups and four Supporters’ Shields.

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  WHAT’S NEXT?

  While the LA Galaxy have enjoyed countless trophies and accolades over the years, the 2025 MLS season hasn’t started well for the reigning MLS Cup champions. They sit at the bottom of the Western Conference. They face Austin FC next on April 18 which is followed by a home game against the Portland Timbers on April 27.

Vitor Pereira has enjoyed a solid start to life as Wolverhampton Wanderers manager, defeating Leicester City and Manchester United before securing a draw against Tottenham Hotspur in his opening games at the helm.

The 3-0 loss to Nottingham Forest will sting, but considering the Reds are challenging for a place in the top four, perhaps it wasn’t surprising. Pereira will now turn his focus to the January transfer window in a bid to improve his squad, with several areas needing to be bolstered as we enter the second half of the season.

Winter transfer window 2025: All the latest deals from England and Scotland

Find out who is on the move this winter with our comprehensive list of done deals from the Premier League, EFL and Scottish Premiership.

By
Stephan Georgiou

Feb 3, 2025

Much will depend on what budget he will have to make improvements, as he could be forced to sell a player or two if the money is right to raise some funds.

As such, who are the rumoured targets doing the rounds recently? And who might be on the move away from Molineux?

Potential Wolves incomings

Tim Kleindienst (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

If the Old Gold wish to remain in the Premier League beyond this season, adding more firepower is a priority.

Matheus Cunha may have scored ten goals this term, while Jorgen Strand Larsen has chipped in with seven, but more will be needed over the next few months.

According to German outlet BILD (via Sport Witness), Wolves have shown an interest in striker Tim Kleindienst ahead of a potential move this month.

He only joined Gladbach last summer from Heidenheim, scoring a total of nine goals while registering six assists across the first six months of the season.

Wolves have already made an enquiry for the striker, while Gladbach managing director Roland Virkus has claimed there have been other requests, saying: “Of course there are requests, that’s completely normal if you perform well. But we don’t want to let any of the top players go because something is happening here.”

Given he is still fairly new to Gladbach, Pereira might have to break the bank in order to lure the German frontman to the Midlands this month.

Hakim Ziyech (Galatasaray)

According to reports in Turkey (via Sport Witness), Wolves are one of the clubs taking an interest in Galatasaray winger Hakim Ziyech, who has just six months left on his contract with the Turkish giants.

The Moroccan winger enjoyed a fruitful loan spell with the club, scoring eight times while chipping in with four assists in all competitions, and he joined on a permanent basis once the season finished.

This season has been a different story, however. Ziyech has struggled majorly, failing to find the back of the net in 11 appearances and expressing his desire to escape. Could Wolves offer an exit route?

The 31-year-old Champions League winner has Premier League experience, featuring 64 times in the competition for Chelsea between 2020 and 2023, which could indicate that he may still have plenty to offer if he was to return to England this month.

Dan Ballard (Sunderland)

While strengthening his attacking options should be a priority for Pereira, bringing in another defender or two could also be advantageous.

In the top flight this term, the Old Gold have conceded 45 goals, the most in the Premier League, highlighting the need for improvement at the back.

Sunderland defender Dan Ballard was a player linked towards the tail end of 2024, and he could be an interesting signing.

Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace and Brighton & Hove Albion are just a few other clubs keeping an eye on the former Arsenal defender, suggesting competition will be stiff.

The Northern Irishman has made 13 appearances for the Black Cats so far this term, with the club conceding just 13 goals whenever he has featured in the Championship.

Hailed as a “natural leader” by Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill, could Ballard be the centre-back Pereira requires in the second half of the campaign?

Renato Veiga (Chelsea)

According to the Daily Mail, Wolves have emerged as candidates to sign Chelsea defender Renato Veiga this month, with Bournemouth rivalling them for his signature.

Veiga only joined the Blues last summer, but has found chances hard to come by under Enzo Maresca, not helped by an inflated squad at Stamford Bridge. Able to play at left-back and centre-back, he could add some versatility to the Wolves defence.

Across his 17 appearances, the youngster has managed to score twice and grab an assist, suggesting that he can offer a decent attacking threat, which could come in handy for the Old Gold.

Potential Wolves departures

Sam Johnstone (Rangers)

Sam Johnstone only made the move to Wolves last summer, yet he has only made seven Premier League appearances throughout the season, with none coming under Pereira.

The new man in charge looks like he prefers compatriot Jose Sa to the Englishman, and this could perhaps ensure Johnstone’s departure from the club sooner rather than later.

He has recently been touted with a move north of the border to Rangers, but whether the Molineux side will want to let him go so soon after joining remains to be seen, particularly as a swift replacement will likely be required.

Mario Lemina (linked with Al-Shabab)

Mario Lemina was voted as Wolves’ Supporters’ Player of the Season after an impressive 2023/24 campaign which saw him miss just three Premier League matches, scoring four times in the process.

It perhaps comes as a surprise that he could be on his way just six months later, but it appears as though the club are willing to sanction his departure after a rocky patch for the midfielder.

Saudi Arabian side Al-Shabab have been credited with an interest in the Gabon star, who was stripped of the captaincy after the loss to West Ham United a few weeks ago, which placed his future in doubt.

With just a few months left on his current contract, Pereira will ideally seek a fee to move Lemina on this month while managing to get his £45k-per-week salary off the wage bill in the process.

A move clearly makes sense for everyone involved, and it is now a case of just how much Wolves will make on the player they signed in the winter window back in 2023.

Weekly wages: Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 2025/26 highest-paid players

Who is the biggest earner at Molineux?

By
Charlie Smith

Sep 24, 2025

After a dismal run of form in the Premier League over the last couple of months, it’s no surprise to see Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola delving into the market to try and strengthen his squad.

The Citizens went on a run of just one win in their last 13 games before winning three in a row over the last week, as they look to salvage anything they can from the 2024/25 campaign.

They currently occupy sixth place in the Premier League, six points off second place Arsenal, with Champions League qualification possibly still on the cards despite the poor recent form.

With 18 league outings remaining between now and the end of the campaign, anything is possible for Guardiola’s men – but it looks as though they may have to concede the league title to Liverpool given the 12-point game and a game in hand.

However, new additions could inject a fresh impetus into the side, whilst also opening the door for numerous players to depart the Etihad for a new challenge.

The latest on Manchester City's transfer activity

Following the 8-0 FA Cup thrashing of League Two Salford City on Saturday night, Guardiola confirmed that full-back Kyle Walker missed the clash after handing in a transfer request a couple of days prior.

The 34-year-old is undoubtedly coming to the back end of his professional career, possibly having one more final pay day in him, with AC Milan one of the sides reportedly exploring a move for the England international.

Since his switch in 2017, he’s been a fantastic servant to City, making over 300 appearances and winning countless trophies – but it looks as though his time at the club is now coming to an end.

As for incomings, journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed that a deal was edging closer for Eintracht Frankfurt striker Omar Marmoush after personal terms were agreed with the Egyptian forward.

The 25-year-old, who has scored 14 Bundesliga goals in 16 games, has an €80m (£67m) price tag on his head, but Romano confirmed that positive talks were held between the two clubs, with a deal expected to be done next week.

However, Marmoush may not be the last deal completed by the board in January, with rumours murmuring over a potential deal for another star in the coming weeks.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Manchester City's dream Kevin De Bruyne upgrade

Belgium international Kevin De Bruyne will finish his career as one of the best midfielders to ever grace England’s top flight with his stupendous passing range allowing for countless goals during his spell in Manchester.

He joined City in a £55m deal from Wolfsburg back in the summer of 2015, subsequently going on to make over 400 appearances during his near decade as a player at the Etihad.

De Bruyne has registered 165 assists – an average of one every 2.4 games he’s featured in over a 10-year period – a staggering feat, but like Walker, the 33-year-old is entering his final years as a professional with injuries starting to frequently creep in.

As a result, rumours linking Bayern Munich midfielder Jamal Musiala over a move to the Etihad have persisted, with the latest coming last week from German outlet BILD.

His current deal with the German giants expires in the summer of 2026, opening the door to a potential switch to the Premier League to join up with Guardiola’s side either this window or in the near future.

When comparing his stats to current star De Bruyne, the 21-year-old has massively outperformed the experienced ace, potentially being the perfect player to replace the fan-favourite in the North West.

Musiala, who’s previously been dubbed “one of the best players in the world” by Bayern Munich president Herbert Hainer, has registered more combined goals and assists in 2024/25, offering the likes of Erling Haaland and potentially Marmoush more opportunities to boost their already goal tallies.

The German has also completed more progressive carries per 90, whilst achieving a higher take-on success rate, having the quick feet and speed to glide past the opposition, something which De Bruyne may struggle to do towards the back end of his career.

It’s a real shame to be talking about the potential end for such a fan-favourite given all of his achievements since moving to the club, but it’s vital the hierarchy work quickly to identify replacements for such players as their career winds down.

Musiala – who initially came through the academy at Chelsea – has showcased in recent years he has all of the tools to be a success at the very top level for years to come, with the 21-year-old having bags of time to develop further and cement himself as an elite attacking midfielder.

It’s unclear how much a deal for the Bayern star would cost in the current window, but it would be worth testing their resolve given his contract scenario – enabling Pep to land the perfect upgrade on the Belgian superstar.

After Marmoush: Man City chase £70m ace who's "very similar to Bellingham"

After Omar Marmoush, Manchester City are looking to further raid Eintracht Frankfurt for a highly-rated midfielder compared to Jude Bellingham.

By
Ben Gray

Jan 10, 2025

Chivas will face Atlas this Saturday in a must-win match for a spot in the Clausura 2025 Play-In.

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Article continues below

Article continues below

• currently sits in 11th place with 20 points, just outside the top 10, which is the cutoff for qualification
• Chivas have lost their last two matches against Atlas
• are already eliminated from contention

• AFP
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Chivas icon Ramón Morales has voiced his worries regarding the performance and direction of Guadalajara – a team he once captained and helped lead to glory.

  Morales, known for his leadership and deep connection with the club, hopes to see – currently managed by Gerardo Espinoza, though it's unlikely he'll remain in charge next season – return to the top tier of Mexican football.

  “Because of its history and everything it represents, Chivas should always be competing, fighting for the top spots,” Morales told TUDN. “Being in the Liguilla. The fact that the team is now fighting just to get into a Play-In – that’s not what the fans want. It leaves them sad, angry, or disappointed.”

  Chivas sit just outside the top 10 with one match left to play in the Clausura 2025 regular season – a high-stakes showdown against Atlas, a team that has beaten them in their last two encounters. The outcome will decide whether Chivas sneaks into the postseason or faces another year of questions and frustration.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Matchday 17 of the Clausura 2025 still carries major implications. While Toluca has already secured the top seed, several clubs are aiming to either solidify their place in the Final Phase or improve their seeding.

  Nine of the 10 postseason spots have been secured. The final one will be decided this weekend between Chivas and Pumas.

  Chivas will face Atlas at Estadio Jalisco, but their fate isn’t in their control – they’ll need Pumas to drop points when they visit Tigres.

  Both matches will be played simultaneously on Saturday, with the final playoff spot hanging in the balance.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  The longest-standing rivalry in Mexican football features two proud institutions from Jalisco: Chivas and Atlas.

  , which began in 1916, has built over a century of rich history. In the overall head-to-head, Club Deportivo Guadalajara has set the pace in this fierce rivalry.

  Across 293 official matches, Chivas has recorded 110 victories, while Atlas has won 95 times, with 88 draws between them.

  In 172 league matches, Chivas holds the advantage with 63 wins, compared to 52 for Atlas, and 57 draws. During the regular season alone, Guadalajara has won 60 times, and in the Liguilla (playoffs), they’ve celebrated three wins in 12 encounters.

  The only previous Play-In clash between these two rivals was won by Atlas, giving a rare edge in that particular stage.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHIVAS?

  Gerardo Espinoza’s squad will fight for their play-in ticket this Saturday when they visit Atlas at Estadio Jalisco. The last two editions of the have both ended in victories for the