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One Celtic player is keen to leave Parkhead before the deadline, with multiple clubs making contact over a potential deal.

Celtic transfer rumours

The Hoops are on course to win yet another Scottish Premiership title and are impressing in the Champions League. However, despite this, Brendan Rodgers’ side is still being linked with numerous winter window signings.

One player likely to arrive at Parkhead in 2025 is former defender Kieran Tierney. The left-back is surplus to requirements at Arsenal and looks set to sign a pre-contract agreement with Celtic, possibly even joining on loan this month before his deal at the Emirates expires.

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1 ByBen Gray Jan 22, 2025

A number of targets in attack have also been linked such as Brondby’s Mathias Kvistgaarden, Sarpsborg 08’s Sondre Orjasaeter and Aston Villa’s Louie Barry. An offer was even made to bring Barry to Glasgow, however, a £5m payment with £5m worth of add-ons on top wasn’t enough for Aston Villa to accept.

A plethora of forwards have been linked with moves to Scotland amid uncertainty over the future of Luis Palma. The 25-year-old, on £11,000-a-week, had agreed to move to Rayo Vallecano before a transfer fell through.

Now, an update has emerged on Palma’s future at Celtic ahead of the deadline.

Celtic star Palma keen to leave as clubs make contact

As per Football Insider, Palma is keen to leave Celtic in search of regular first-team football, with an exit looking likely. That’s because four Championship sides, Sunderland, Stoke, Swansea and Queens Park Rangers, have all made contact over a move by registering their interest in the Honduras international.

Palma has been used sparingly by Rodgers this season, however, the Northern Irishman did praise the winger back in October after his hat trick in a friendly win against Sligo Rovers. “I was really pleased for Luis the other night. He took his goals really well, especially the last two, where he really got into the areas at the second point where we want him to get into.

“He worked hard, but that’s not an area there’s any doubt. You have to do the work, but that was a nice exercise for him. He wanted to stay in the international break to get the work in and obviously playing this game and it’s been a nice reward for him.

“It’s just about not forcing it. I think sometimes the thing with wingers is, when other players are in the team and scoring and creating goals, you feel you really want to come in and force it a little bit. I think sometimes that’s what’s happened with Luis.

“He’s a very good technician and when he plays for the team and works hard and presses well then he can be a really good player.”

Games

47

Goals

10

Assists

10

Trophies

3

Palma’s preference may have been Spain instead of remaining in the UK, but it looks as if a move south could be one to watch over the coming days.

Of all teams across Europe, Manchester City appear set to be busier than anybody else in this January transfer window.

The Sky Blues are on the verge of three big-money editions this month, with Vitor Reis, Abdukodir Khusanov and Omar Marmoush all now looking likely to arrive.

The rebuild is firmly underway in East Manchester, but could one of the Sky Blues’ longest-serving, most-experienced players fall by the wayside during this window?

Possible departures this month from Manchester City

Rumours have been rife this winter linking Kevin De Bruyne with the exit door. Out of contact at the end of the season, he has fielded interest from overseas, notably in the form of San Diego FC.

While the attacking midfielder’s game time has dwindled in recent campaigns, he’s still been a wonderful servant to the Etihad side and it would be gutting for the fans to lose him.

That being said, the same surely cannot be said of another long-serving face in Manchester.

Following Saturday’s 8-0 FA Cup demolition of Salford City, Pep Guardiola revealed to the assembled journalists that club captain and £50m signing Kyle Walker had asked to leave the club this month, adding Walker wishes to explore options abroad.

The following day, Mike McGrath of the Telegraph reported that AC Milan are close to ‘finalising’ a move for Walker, offering him a two-and-a-half year contract, after a meeting with Zlatan Ibrahimović, who’s now an advisor for I Rossoneri.

Andrea Ramazzotti of Gazzetta dello Sport claims joining Milan is ‘top of Walker’s list of priorities’, with Man City willing to allow him to leave for free as ‘recognition after an incredible career’ with the club, albeit this would get his reported annual salary in excess of £8m of the wage bill.

talkSPORT believes that Walker has turned down a £400,000-a-week offer from an unnamed Saudi Pro League club, with his preference to stay in Europe, now looking likely to be donning a famous black and red striped jersey at San Siro in the coming weeks.

Back in July 2023, Guardiola labeled Walker as “irreplaceable” amid interest from Bayern Munich, with the manager revealing at the weekend his star right-back was pushing for a move to Bavaria back then, but the Bundesliga champions’ offer was ‘not good enough’.

Why now is the right time to axe Kyle Walker

It’s easy to see why Walker is valued so highly, considering he’s made 319 appearances for the Citizens, winning 17 major trophies, including six Premier League titles and the Champions League.

In Guardiola’s coaching career meantime, only Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson and İlkay Gündoğan have featured on more occasions for him than Walker; for context, he’s deployed the English right-back exactly 100 more times than he ever did Lionel Messi.

As noted by Jonathan Liew for the Guardian, Walker has endured a ‘sharp decline in his recovery pace’ this season, while Michael Cox of the Athletic adds that Man City had been ‘overly reliant on his recovery pace’, a quality that has naturally ‘faded’, given that Walker is now 34-years-old.

The most glaring example of this came during Tottenham’s 4-0 demolition at the Etihad in late November, with Timo Werner easing past the full-back to put the ball on a plate for Brennan Johnson to rubber-stamp the victory.

Thus, now might not be the worst time to part ways with Walker, but how does he compare to Man City’s incoming defenders Reis and Khusanov?

Appearances

21

20

14

Minutes

1,404

1,638

1,064

Pass completion %

87.6%

88%

88.1%

Tackles

19

34

15

Tackle success %

53.8%

71.9%

63.6%

Blocks

13

14

17

Interceptions

4

16

29

Clearances

13

85

57

Errors leading to a shot

1

0

0

% of aerial duals won

58.8%

63.6%

69.2%

Walker’s numbers this season do not make for good reading.

His tackle success % means almost half of the time the opposing winger is getting beyond him, while Walker has also won little over half of his aerial duals, and is the only member of the trio to make an error resulting in the opposition having a shot at goal.

In contrast, only 20 players across Europe’s “top five” leagues have made more interceptions than Khusanov so far this season, while Reis ranks in the 82nd percentile for aerial duals won, a very impressive figure for an 18-year-old, described by Joseph Lowery of Total Soccer Show as an “absolute monster in the air”.

Of course, neither Reis nor Khusanov are out-and-out right-backs, meaning Guardiola may be forced to rejig his back-line, albeit he does have Rico Lewis at his disposal, but with two high-quality defenders on their way to the Etihad, Man City can afford to let their captain depart.

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A member of Vincent Kompany's background staff at Bayern Munich is on the hunt for a new girlfriend, preferably one called Nathalie.

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Kompany assistant is "newly single"Doesn't want to have change his tattooExplains error on social mediaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Rodyse Munienge, Kompany's assistant at the German side and officially their team coordinator, shared that he has gone through a break up, posting on Instagram that he is "newly single" and looking for love.

AdvertisementWHAT MUNIENGE SAID

"Newly single man, 40 years old, looking for a woman named Nathalie. So I don't have to redo my tattoo," the Belgian wrote in a humorous post.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Munienge was part of Kompany's staff at Anderlecht and followed him to Burnley in 2022 before joining as his assistant at the German side last summer.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN?

Munienge will have to put his search on hold as Bayern prepare for their Champions League clash against Inter on Wednesday.

Oval Invincibles opener thrashes unbeaten 108 out of 142 as Southern Brave lose third game in a row

ECB Reporters Network14-Aug-2022Will Jacks bludgeoned the highest score seen in the Hundred to guide Oval Invincibles to their third straight victory as they flattened Southern Brave by seven wickets.Jacks, who struck 81 in his previous game against Welsh Fire, bettered that effort with a brutal assault on the Brave bowlers at The Oval – hammering an unbeaten 108 from 48 balls to overtake Will Smeed’s 101 for Birmingham Phoenix four days earlier. The 23-year-old’s innings included eight sixes and 10 fours as the Invincibles coasted home with 18 deliveries unused.It meant a third successive defeat for the inaugural Hundred champions, who laboured to 137 for 6 against some tight Invincibles bowling – a total that never looked sufficient to defend.With the south London skies beginning to look overcast, Invincibles opted to bowl first and trust in Reece Topley’s ability to generate swing. That faith was rewarded as Topley struck an early double blow, with Quinton de Kock superbly caught by Rilee Roussouw racing in from the boundary and Alex Davies playing on in the left-armer’s next set.Marcus Stoinis raised the tempo by pummelling Sam Curran for what turned out to be the only two sixes of the innings as he reached 37 from 27, but the allrounder succumbed to Mohammad Hasnain’s return, top-edging into the hands of mid-off.Skipper James Vince, who shared a partnership of 55 from 43 with Stoinis, looked unusually subdued in his 15 from 22 and, despite a few destructive shots by Tim David (22 from 17) the Brave innings never really gained momentum.Topley returned to have David caught miscuing a straight drive, but it was Sunil Narine and Tom Curran who really stifled the batters, conceding only 35 between them although both went wicketless.There was no relief for Jason Roy when the Invincibles launched their chase – the opener’s wretched run of form extended to a third duck in four innings as he was castled second ball by George Garton’s inswinger.By contrast, Jacks has been in excellent nick and he began by slamming Michael Hogan for two enormous sixes – one of which sailed right out of the ground – before subjecting Stoinis to a similar fate.Roussouw was required to do little more than admire from the non-striker’s end as the pair put on 56 from 37 – a stand eventually ended by a piece of fielding brilliance from David, scything down the stumps with a direct hit from mid-off to run out the left-hander.That wicket made little difference to the course of the game and, although Sam Billings fell to a fine diving catch by Vince at mid-off, Jacks brought up his hundred by smashing Rehan Ahmed for six – and gave the next ball identical treatment to seal victory.

Shaheen Shah Afridi is part of the World Cup squad but is absent from the 18-member side for the England series

Umar Farooq15-Sep-2022A knee injury has seen Fakhar Zaman miss out on Pakistan’s squad for the 2022 T20 World Cup, while Shan Masood, who is yet to play a T20I, has been called up.Fakhar was named as one of the travelling reserves, though, along with Mohammad Haris and Shahnawaz Dahani.Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury, was named in the main squad as Pakistan look to get him fit in time for the global event. Mohammad Hasnain, meanwhile, edged out Dahani.Related

Mohammad Wasim backs Babar, Rizwan to improve strike rate

Pakistan have problems, and they begin at the top

There were no wholesale changes to the side that played the Asia Cup earlier this month. Usman Qadir kept his place despite playing just one match in the tournament and limited match-time prior to it.Pakistan’s squad for T20 World Cup 2022•ESPNcricinfo LtdAfridi and Fakhar were also absent from the 18-member roster for the upcoming seven-match T20I series against England.”Fakhar Zaman has also been rested from the England T20Is so that he can recover from the knee injury he sustained when he landed awkwardly while fielding in the final [of the Asia Cup],” chief selector Mohammad Wasim said.A PCB release stated: “Afridi is expected to resume bowling early next month and will join the squad in Brisbane on October 15. Wasim Jr has been included after recovering completely from the side strain he suffered during the Asia Cup.”Changes can be made to the squad till October 15, without needing the approval of the World Cup’s technical committee.Masood is part of the squad for the England series as well, while allrounder Aamer Jamal and legspinner Abrar Ahmed have received maiden international call-ups. Both impressed in the ongoing National T20 Cup. The first match of the series is on September 20 in Karachi, which will host four games in total before the series moves to Lahore for the final three matches.ESPNcricinfo LtdAfter the England series, the team will head to New Zealand, where they play a T20I tri-series against New Zealand and Bangladesh in Christchurch from October 7-14.Pakistan play their first World Cup match against India at the MCG on October 23. They will also play New Zealand, Afghanistan and two qualifiers in the group stage before the top two sides go to the semi-finals.T20 World Cup squad: Babar Azam (capt), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir
: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Haris, Shahnawaz DahaniEngland series squad: Babar Azam (capt), Shadab Khan, Asif Ali, Mohammad Hasnain, Haider Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Aamer Jamal, Iftikhar Ahmed, Naseem Shah, Mohammad Haris, Khushdil Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Shan Masood, Usman Qadir, Abrar Ahmed

Turning their attention away from troubles on the pitch, INEOS have reportedly received unanimous backing in what has been described as a “transfomational” Manchester United stadium update.

INEOS given green light

When Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS first arrived with the likes of Dan Ashworth in tow, there was more optimism than there had been for a long time at Manchester United. The influence of the Glazers had been weakened and INEOS arrived fresh full of ideas, new transfer strategies and the funds to awaken England’s biggest tiring giant threatening to sleep.

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Almost a year on from the news of their partial takeover, however, and to say that INEOS haven’t exactly been making positive strides would be an understatement. Funding has been cut in a number of areas outside of the matchday squad, including reportedly to the Manchester United Foundation whilst ticket prices have continued to rise.

Meanwhile, on the pitch, those increased ticket prices have not proven worthwhile with Ruben Amorim’s side sat a world away from European qualification and on the end of countless results to forget. But, just as a positive is needed more than ever, Ratcliffe has received some good news.

As relayed by Mike Keegan of The Daily Mail, INEOS have now been given unanimous backing in their plan to build a new Old Trafford from the local authority. Officials at Trafford council unanimously backed the plans which will create a new 100,000-seater stadium.

Dubbed “transformational” by the council, INEOS will now begin their search for a consultant team in an attempt to bring their plan to life and play their part in regenerating the area. It is also believed that the new project will add £7.3bn to the economy and provide over 90,000 jobs and 15,0000 more homes in what should only be seen as something to celebrate for the first time this season.

New Old Trafford a key step for Man Utd

Leaving their failure on the pitch to one side for a moment, Manchester United have been playing at a historic ground which is gradually becoming a decaying antique whilst the likes of Everton and Tottenham Hotspur move on into impressive, modern stadiums. With Old Trafford leaking at the same rate as Amorim’s backline, INEOS had to put plans together to solve at least one problem and it seems as though a New Old Trafford has taken precedent.

Speaking about the proposed plan, Councillor Liz Patel, executive member for economy and regeneration at Trafford council, said: “I am delighted these plans have been approved by the council executive. As the report says, this is one of the most significant opportunities for urban renewal in Trafford and the results will be great for the area and the surrounding region.

“This is a hugely exciting project and working with our partners and private developers, we will be looking to create thousands of new homes, new neighbourhoods, and a world-class setting for the Manchester United stadium.”

GOAL Convo: Carlton Cole talks West Ham, the Premier League and his unique perspective on the American game

It never really hit Carlton Cole just how much time he's spent around American soccer. But as he sits deep in the bowels of Atlanta United's Mercedes-Benz Stadium, it starts to all come together.

There was the MLS All-Star Game back in 2008, when he led the line for West Ham against a team that included David Beckham, Landon Donovan, Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Juan Pablo Angel. There was that brief stay in the USL with the Sacramento Republic at the tail end of his playing career. There was that life-changing week in Raleigh for the initial TST, too.

All unique and, in some ways, weird experiences that have helped him find his own place in the wild world of the American game.

And while he is still eager to pick a fight with anyone that calls the game soccer instead of football, Cole has found his own appreciation for the sport in the U.S., and it's that appreciation that recently brought him to Atlanta. He arrived to represent West Ham, the club near and dear to his heart, as they prepare to embark on their own American adventure this summer.

The Hammers will take part in the Premier League Summer Series alongside Manchester United, Bournemouth and Everton, playing in Atlanta, Chicago and New Jersey in the English league's latest push to market itself to the ever-growing American market. Cole is at the forefront, visiting training facilities, bars and MLS stadiums to, as he so eloquently puts it, "spread the good name of West Ham United".

Now seven years since he's retired, Cole remains totally connected to West Ham, the club he represented for a decade of his life. He scored 68 goals across 293 appearances for the club, living some of his best and worst moments in the claret and blue.

The days of him wearing that shirt are long over, but he's now the London club's renaissance man: part-time ambassador, part-time youth mentor, part-time loans manager and, at least for one summer, part-time player. In some ways, he's Mr. West Ham, which is why he'll be right at the forefront of the club's American push this summer.

"Listen, because of football, I've gotten to travel the world," Cole tells GOAL. "I've met so many different people that all have different perspectives of the game, and it's all been beautiful, man. When you summarize it and add it up, football takes me across the whole world and I still get to enjoy it from a different point of view. It's been a great journey so far, and it's still ongoing for me. That's why I like to say that football has been a joy to my life in all aspects."

Ahead of the West Ham's big summer, Cole discussed the club's aims, the growth of American soccer and the joy of representing his team in the latest GOAL Convo, a recurring Q&A with central figures in soccer.

West Ham UnitedON THE JOY OF BEING A WEST HAM AMBASSADOR

GOAL: You've gotten to experience so many different things with West Ham, particularly in the United States. You've played in an MLS All-Star game and TST. You've gone to bars and events all over the country where you have this connection to fans an ocean away. That's the dream, in many ways, to continue that connection even after you're done playing. What's that like for you?

COLE: I've got to put some respect on West Ham United's name. They didn't have to give me the opportunity to be a coach. They didn't have to give me an opportunity to be the loans manager or a mentor for the club, let alone be an ambassador for the club. That carries a big weight to carry around the world. Basically I'm like a walking badge, a human emblem of West Ham United. I walk around the whole world with that badge on my head, and it does carry its weight. It's a testament to how the fans view me and recognizing I always gave my 100 percent to the club. I never shied away from any type of challenge. I stayed with the club when it was going through bad days and I'll always stay with the club the good days. I'll always be there as long as I live.

I've got to always thank the fans first, because they put me in this position, and yes, with a little bit of help by the uppers at the club, but they recognize how much my connection with the fans would help the club and go to the next level with the club after my career. They saw the potential in me, and then I've run with it. It's just been one of those ones where I really appreciate the love I do get and and the respect I do get being one of the one of the ambassadors of the club to spread the good name of West Ham United.

GOAL: You've been in America plenty of times, but this recent trip is to get ready for the Premier League Summer Series. What are your interactions like with American fans and, particularly, West Ham fans in America?

COLE: You get into these conversations of like "I've got a friend that supports West Ham, can you do a video?" or "I had a friend that had West Ham close to their heart and they died not so long ago." There's something where there's this feeling, like a spiritual connection. It's just about having something in common with somebody. When I go around with my experience, not everyone supports West Ham United, but they respect the sport and that's the main thing. They call it soccer, I call it football and we'll have that argument as well! There's always people to connect with with Americans and this sport.

For me, West Ham United are well respected all over the world. Everyone knows Manchester United. They know Chelsea, Real Madrid. Everyone knows these clubs. I tell people you need to dive in. If you really want to know the sport, you need to delve deeper and understand and connect with some of these clubs, for one reason or another. There's some magnet that draws you to this sport and then you can always get that connection with someone else that loves the sport. There's always something.

AdvertisementWest Ham UnitedON THE GROWING U.S. INTEREST IN WEST HAM

GOAL: Something like the Premier League Summer Series is a real testament to the growth of the league abroad. It's no secret the world's biggest clubs can sell tickets in America, but we're at a point, too, where West Ham can come to America and play in front of thousands of supporters. What has it been like experiencing that growth?

COLE: That was one of our targets a few years back and, actually, we didn't think we could be that big. Football's a growing sport, and to grow it, you have to be a part of the bigger picture. Now, West Ham, we always looked at it and we didn't connect with our fan base over there. We didn't do this. We didn't do that. I think as we started getting into Europe and seeing that, we started to take it a little bit more seriously, because people are starting to recognize it all and now we need to start growing it and building upon it. Sometimes it takes somebody from the club to try and convince the people in the higher ups that this is something worth pursuing, and that's what we are doing now. That's why we're over here.

That's why we're promoting and making sure that we're at the front of the pack when it comes to promoting our club across the world. That's what we're really taking pride in and joy in doing right now. We've got a whole new team dedicated to spreading the club's good name, and that's what we needed, and that's what we're going for. We're growing. We're getting better. I'm not sure we're going to get to Man Utd status just yet, until we win the Premier League, but we're on the way. Hopefully, we can get some good support whilst we're doing that. We're a growing club still. Although we've got so much history, we're still a growing club, and we understand the value of coming to America and making a good go of it to get to the next level with our support and fan base.

GOAL: What are your most looking forward to when West Ham head to the U.S. this summer?

COLE: Listen, the summer is going to bring so much joy. I think Graham Potter next season is going to probably, hopefully, bring in his own players. Some of the players I put out on loan will be returning to the club. Hopefully they get a chance, and you get you guys get to see them live playing here in Atlanta at the Mercedes Benz Stadium. Hopefully, we can see a lot of prospects, plus what the future is going to look like for West Ham.

Plus I'm looking forward to all this stuff that MLS has got to offer for for the season coming up. Also o the World Cup is going to be here soon and you can't forget the Club World Cup. There are going to be so many eyes on the U.S. There's a lot going on for U.S. football at the moment, and I'm looking forward to everything that comes with it.

TSTON HIS EXPERIENCE AT TST

GOAL: You've participated in all sorts of events over here. Is there one that stands out?

COLE: Loads of them. TST was really good. I actually enjoyed it, although we didn't attack it the way we should have attacked it because we thought it was just a vets game! We weren't prepared so we got spanked, really. We were not happy as older pros seeing these younger kids running around us. We didn't look at TST as a success, per se, but what we did get out of it was some good moments.

We had some good times. It was memorable and it was nice to see all of the old veterans get together and try and make something happen. We became tighter as veterans because, after your career, everyone goes about their business and doesn't regroup. We've known each other for so long, and we used that as the catalyst to get our group back together. After that, we've been more united than ever.

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GettyON JARROD BOWEN

GOAL: West Ham have a star right now in Jarrod Bowen, who really has become the face of the club. He's representing the club on the international level, too. How good is he and how important is he for the club both right now and in the future?

COLE: Jarrod Bowen's a player that I admire. He's one of those guys that you can rely on. For me, he's one of those players that you need in your team, because he'll do the running. No matter what, he'll give you at least a 10 out of 10 effort. That all you need and that's all you can ask from any player. If you don't have those type of players in your team, you will struggle. That's why he's been our captain, because he shows the way to put 100 percent in. He's so important for our club at this moment in time. He scored the winning goal, obviously, in the Europa Conference League, which won us our first trophy in so many from so many years, 40 years.

Now we're looking at him and thinking, "OK, go on, what else can you do?" He's playing for England. He's really gravitating towards the captaincy role now. He's really taking that on and embracing it. I'm really excited for his future at the club. He's even marrying into a West Ham United family! Danny Dyer's his father in law now, so it just shows you where his head's at. He's going to be remaining with the club until the day he dies. You can't move because he's West Ham United through and through.

It was a busy deadline day for Manchester City, who, at the eleventh hour, secured their third signing of the transfer window.

Pep Guardiola’s side signed midfielder Nico Gonzalez from Porto for £50m, which saw them spend £180m in total over the course of the January transfer window.

The Citizens also signed Omar Marmoush from Eintracht Frankfurt, and centre-backs Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis from Lens and Palmerias respectively.

It was certainly necessary for the reigning Premier League champions to strengthen their squad, given their poor season. Guardiola’s side sit fifth in the table, already 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool.

Indeed, the signing of Gonzalez will be important to City, largely because they are a midfielder light, and have been for some time, due to the injury to Rodri.

Man City's need for a Rodri replacement this winter

Guardiola said it himself last September; Rodri is an “irreplaceable” midfielder, with City’s legendary manager describing him as “the best midfielder in the world”, something that was confirmed after he won the Ballon d’Or in 2024.

Everyone knows how much of a miss he has been, and will continue to be, for the East Manchester side. He is a destroyer at the base of their midfield, able to break up play with ease and progress play forwards. He makes everything look easy, an effortless midfielder.

He has played 260 games for the club, scoring 26 goals and registering 30 assists in that time. No strike of Rodri’s has been, or perhaps ever will be, more crucial than the goal he scored in the Champions League final against Inter in 2023.

Arguably, the signing of Gonzalez on deadline day was a panic buy, although City had been plotting a move for the final few days of the window. He is also an attack-minded midfielder and has 13 goals and assists so far this season, but is still an important signing to get numbers up.

Perhaps City could have saved themselves the hassle and money of making such a late signing, had they kept an academy star who could have been Rodri’s replacement this season.

The Rodri replacement Man City have already got rid of

The player in question here is Borussia Dortmund Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha. The 24-year-old left the Citizens in 2021 for the Bundesliga, departing City’s academy to join German outfit Wolfsburg.

Now at Dortmund, the Germany international has become a key player for the club, playing 27 times this season, even chipping in with three goals and two assists. That includes scoring once in the Champions League against Celtic.

Dortmund attacking midfielder Julian Brandt explained the Hamburg-born midfielder has “been consistently very good” for the Bundesliga giants this season, a real testament to how hard he has worked in the middle of the park.

Crucially, Nmecha has played as a number six for much of the campaign. Looking back on it, that is perhaps where City could have missed out on their perfect in-house Rodri replacement, had they kept him at the club rather than letting him leave for nothing four years ago.

He did get a taste of first-team action at the Etihad Stadium, playing three times for City over the span of two different seasons, in 2018/19 and 2020/21.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast's Where Are They Now series.

However, he never made a Premier League appearance, instead featuring 86 times for the East Manchester outfit’s academy in total but moved back to Germany after first-team chances alluded him.

Man City

3

73

1

Man City u21s

47

3150

20

Man City U19s

11

505

3

Man City u18s

28

2197

18

Perhaps, looking back on the whole situation, Guardiola wishes the midfielder had stayed at the Etihad Stadium. Not only would he have been a more natural Rodri replacement, because he is a defensive midfielder, but he could have saved them a fortune on the Gonzalez deal.

It was certainly necessary for the Citizens to recruit in midfield this winter, but maybe the time and money could have been saved, had they not made the mistake of letting Nmecha leave almost four years ago.

Man City must regret selling "incredible" star who's like Gonzalez & Luiz

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Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc and David Warner return having missed the India tour

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Sep-20222:48

Hodge: Green might go on to become one of the best Australia has produced

Cameron Green has been retained in Australia’s T20I squad for the two matches against West Indies in Queensland next week as a “cautious” approach is taken with various injuries around the squad.However, Mitchell Marsh (ankle), Marcus Stoinis (side) and Mitchell Starc (knee) all return for the start of Australia’s final stretch into the T20 World Cup having sat out the trip to India along with David Warner who was rested from those three games.Kane Richardson and Ashton Agar, who flew back early from India having picked up minor injuries, won’t be part of the West Indies series on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane but are expected to feature in the three matches against England which follow.Related

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“We have and are taking a cautious approach with the World Cup on the near horizon,” national selector George Bailey said. “To have four key players return gives us the ability to take a conservative path with any minor issues and resolve those well in time for the World Cup. As such we anticipate Kane and Ashton will return for the following series against England.”Green was the standout performer in India with two half-centuries opening the innings for the first time in his professional career. The second of those came off just 19 balls.He is not part of the World Cup 15 but is now the frontrunner should there be the need to make any late changes, or injuries occur during the tournament.”It’s probably opportunistic, the way that he’s coming in with the opening position with obviously Davey Warner not being here and a couple of other players in our World Cup 15,” Australia head coach Andrew McDonald said after the final match in Hyderabad.”Fortuitous, but he’s taken that opportunity. We thought he had the skill when we did our strategy before we come over here. And he’s taken on some of the best bowlers in world cricket. You could argue Jasprit [Bumrah] is one of the best T20 bowlers ever. So to be able to do that, work your way through that situation again tonight, and do it two out of three times is very impressive and bodes well.”Sean Abbott and Daniel Sams, who were also part of the India tour, have been retained for the West Indies matches.Australia squad for West Indies T20Is: Aaron Finch, Sean Abbott, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Sams, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Ruud van Nistelrooy says he doesn't know if he will keep his job as Leicester City manager following the club's Premier League relegation.

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Leicester relegated from Premier LeagueVan Nistelrooy had disastrous spellUnsure if he will be kept on at FoxesFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Leicester were relegated to the Championship following their 1-0 loss to Premier League champions-elect Liverpool at the weekend, rubber-stamping a dreadful season for the Foxes. Despite picking up just eight points from 20 matches under the Manchester United legend, Van Nistelrooy appears to want to stay on at the club but is yet to find out his fate.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesWHAT VAN NISTELROOY SAID

He told reporters that he had sat down with Leicester's owners and the board and told them "how we move forward as a club".

The Dutchman added: "I know what my plan is to bring the club back but I am waiting on alignment. The quicker the better for the football club."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Van Nistelrooy took over at King Power Stadium in November on a three-year deal after replacing the sacked Steve Cooper but a run of 16 defeats in their past 18 games has condemned them to life in the English second-tier. Former England interim manager Lee Carsley has been linked with the post but it may not be smart financially for Leicester to sack another manager in the same financial year at a time when they are potentially in danger of falling afoul of profit and sustainability rules.

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Leicester, who will say goodbye to club legend Jamie Vardy at the end of the season, travel to Wolves in their next Premier League game on Saturday.