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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has reportedly been offered a return to England, amid reports of long-distance struggles with his partner Perrie Edwards.

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• Oxlade-Chamberlain tipped to leave Besiktas
• Personal issues could tempt former Liverpool man home
• Leicester City make approach to sign the midfielder

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Besiktas signed Oxlade-Chamberlain in the summer of 2023 as a free agent following the end of his contract with Liverpool. Despite having a very strong first season with the Turkish side, the midfielder was an outcast through the majority of the most recent campaign before former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer arrived as head coach. Nonetheless, the England international is considering leaving Besiktas this summer, especially amid reports that his fiancée, Edwards, of Little Mix, is struggling with their long-distance relationship.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Turkish outlet Fotomac has now reported that Leicester City have shown interest in bringing Oxlade-Chamberlain to the King Power Stadium this summer following their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship. Besiktas are reportedly open to selling the 32-year-old as the management believes that his wages are currently too high.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Oxlade-Chamberlain has played under nine managers at Besiktas in the 24 months since joining from Liverpool, with none lasting more than 20 games before Solskjaer returned to the sidelines.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN?

  Reports have also suggested that Besiktas may be open to ripping up Oxlade-Chamberlain's contract to make it easier for Leicester City to sign the 32-year-old. The Turkish side are ready to do so as they are keen to offload the highly-paid Englishman.

Patience is not often a popular thing in football, yet Manchester United have seen its merits in recent times, not least with the rise of a certain Amad Diallo.

The deal to sign the Atalanta teenager was initially announced back in October 2020, prior to his eventual arrival in January 2021, albeit with it having arguably taken until this season for that £19m addition to bear fruit.

Having been on the periphery under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, before spending time out on loan at Rangers and Sunderland, the Ivorian remained a bit-part player under Erik ten Hag, even despite his FA Cup heroics against Liverpool last term.

It has taken the arrival of Ruben Amorim for the 22-year-old’s stock to truly soar, with the wing wizard already registering more goal involvements under the Portuguese than he did under any other previous United boss.

From his dazzling displays at the Etihad and Anfield, to his crucial hat-trick against bottom side Southampton, the £120k-per-week sensation had been the shining light of 2024/25, prior to suffering his cruel injury setback last month.

Regardless of the halt to his impact, Amad looks like a genuine star at Old Trafford. The question remains, why didn’t Ten Hag see it?

How Amad earned his big chance at United

Not every player can follow the Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo route by thrusting themselves straight into the limelight in their teenage years, with the pair notably scoring in last season’s FA Cup final under Ten Hag.

For others, the path to becoming a first-team regular is not quite as smooth, a fact that has also played out elsewhere. Take William Saliba, for example, with the Frenchman signed by Arsenal in 2019, before ultimately making his debut for the Gunners in 2022.

Now part of the “best [centre-back] partnership in Europe”, according to Martin Keown, the 24-year-old – and the north London side – have flourished following that gradual progression. The same could now be true of Amad.

Indeed, the diminutive forward spent the tail-end of 2021/22 in Glasgow, before moving to the Stadium of Light for the following campaign, with that drop into the Championship seeing the youngster score 14 times in what was a breakthrough year.

Frustratingly, an injury sustained on the summer tour of 2023 hampered his involvement back at United at the start of the next season, although even upon his return to action, he was utilised sparingly by Ten Hag, despite netting against Liverpool in March.

After signing off 2023/24 with a notable strike against Newcastle United, Amad was then the star of pre-season after scoring against both Rangers and Real Betis, although after starting the new campaign in the side, he swiftly faded from view.

Since netting a brace against PAOK under Ruud van Nistelrooy – as well as assisting Marcus Rashford in Amorim’s first game in charge – he simply hasn’t looked back, however, taking his chance with both hands and swiftly overtaking the likes of Antony in the process.

The Ten Hag favourite who now needs to be sold

What makes the slow rise of Amad all the more headscratching is that Ten Hag and co were so keen to favour others above him, with Antony having been the go-to man on the right flank under the Dutchman’s watch.

Signed for £86m in the summer of 2022, the Brazilian was almost doomed to fail from the outset amid the sizeable nature of the price tag, particularly considering that United had been quoted around £25m during Solskjaer’s time at the helm.

After a strong start that included three goals in his first three Premier League outings, the polarising winger struggled to maintain that early impact, albeit while notching notable strikes in the Europa League against both Betis and Barcelona.

Antony’s stock plummeted even further in 2023/24 as it took until January to register his first goal away at Newport County, with the only real highlight of that campaign having been his well-taken strike against Liverpool in that 4-3 thriller.

A player who boasts just 12 goals and five assists for United in 96 games in total, the 24-year-old was arguably undeserving of the continued favouritism shown toward him, albeit with ex-coach Benni McCarthy revealing that Ten Hag viewed him to be “better” than the likes of Amad in that wide berth.

That view has already come back to bite Ten Hag considering that Amad has already eclipsed Antony’s goals and assist total from just 57 United games, having contributed 12 goals and nine assists to date.

Journalist Samuel Luckhurst even quipped earlier in the campaign that Amad was playing “like a man suitably insulted by the suggestion Antony should play ahead of him because of his training form”, with Ten Hag having revealed that was the reason why Antony was introduced off the bench ahead of the Ivorian against Fenerbahce.

Having since seen what the one-time Atalanta starlet can do when handed a consistent run of game time, the former Ajax boss may be regretting his handling of the youngster.

As for Antony, having now shown glimpses on loan in Spain – with eight goals and assists in 11 games for Betis – Amorim and co must capitalise on that recent resurgence to find a suitable buyer for him this summer.

Man Utd have already signed Amorim's next Quenda & it's not Dorgu

Man Utd have already moved to ease the blow of missing out on Geovany Quenda

By
Robbie Walls

Mar 26, 2025

Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has blamed 'everyone' for the Italian national team's current crisis as they continue to struggle for form.

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• Italy undergoing a major crisis currently
• Sacked Spalletti after their WC qualifier loss
• De Zerbi blames 'everyone' for the crisis

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Italy have surprisingly struggled for form on the international stage, as despite having won the 2020 Euros, they have missed out on the last two World Cups through the qualification stage. Gli Azzurri suffered four straight defeats before head coach Luciano Spalletti was sacked from his post.

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  Italy are fearful that they may be set to miss out on their third straight World Cup as they are currently third in their World Cup qualifying group. As such, Italian Marseille coach De Zerbi has launched into a rant towards the current crop of talent coming through in Italy, and also blamed 'everyone' for the current crisis.

• WHAT DE ZERBI SAID

  Speaking on Alessandro Cattelan's podcast Supernova [h/t CalcioMercato], De Zerbi said: "Norway-Italy? As an Italian working abroad, it hurts even more. I think differently from what you hear or partly hear. I feel that it is a period in history in which we are struggling to produce players of a certain level. Surely something must be wrong. I am no one to say whose fault it is, certainly not all the coaches who are taking turns on the bench.

  "In the long run I think that it is no longer the time of Totti, Del Piero, Inzaghi, Montella or Vieri in which you did not know who to bring. Now France has these things, Spain but Italy does not. Italy has some strong players like Barella, Bastoni, Tonali, Locatelli; but it is a period in which we are not able to produce a certain level. Against Norway there was no mentality or self-esteem and that is also part of the level.

  "What happened: Italy goes to Norway, where it's colder and finds a very strong team. The championship ended yesterday and the season was tough: it's not easy for everyone to prepare for a match like that. I always start with the player and it's hard to find talent now. I really think the level is low. It's everyone's fault who's part of the system."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ITALY?

  Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina has claimed that Italy are willing to wait to sign a new coach, and are in no real rush to sign Spalletti's successor.

  He said: “There is no meeting today, and I say this with absolute clarity. We have taken time to reflect, not on one name. It’s not a problem of names.

  “We have time available, so we must put together a project that we can then bring into reality and determine whether it can be carried forward.”

Alarm bells are ringing for Mauricio Pochettino's squad with the Gold Cup on the horizon and the U.S. now losers of four straight

There was plenty of blame to go around at Geodis Park on Tuesday night, but Mauricio Pochettino was eager to shoulder as much of it as he could. This was his fault, he said. He took a risk, and that risk didn't work. The result of that? A 4-0 battering and, in this case, a hard lesson learned.

In truth, Pochetitno was far from the only one who will be having flashback about this Switzerland shellacking. Nathan Harriel and Walker Zimmerman made a mess of the first goal. Max Arfsten did little to stop the second. Matt Turner parried the third right into danger, while Mark McKenzie was turned like a top on the fourth.

Those are just the goals. The players on the other side of the ball did little to help, as the U.S. press was nonexistent and the forwards were all too silent.

Pochettino, as the architect of this four-match losing streak, says he'll bear the brunt of the blame. It was Pochettino who selected an experimental and limited-cap XI, one that featured nine changes and few of his established regulars. It was Pochettino that put those players in positions where the struggled to succeed. And ultimately, it was Pochettino who pulled the plug, allowing the U.S. to survive through a 0-0 second half and salvage some form of pride with the veterans thrown into the game.

"It's our responsibility, and my responsibility was the decision of the starting XI," Pochettino said after the game. "I wanted to give the possibility to others on the roster to play. That is the reason we took, but it's something that went in the wrong direction in the beginning. I think that was my first thought. To blame ourselves because it was our decision.

"I think the combination of the starting level of the team, I think wasn't at the pace, but this is about learning and then saying 'Move on.' In the second half, we changed the system and provided more calmness to the team."

At the moment, the mood surrounding the USMNT is anything but calm. Alarm bells are ringing with the Gold Cup on the horizon and the U.S. now losers of four straight, with Pochettino now 5-5 in his first 10 matches. This group, the one that will now head to that Gold Cup, was exposed against Switzerland. From top to bottom, everyone had a bad day.

Can they bounce back? Is there anything they can salvage from the worst loss of this still-new Pochettino era – and worst shutout for the USMNT since they lost 4-0 to Costa Rica in World Cup qualifying in 2016? Pochettino believes so. We'll find out in the Gold Cup, which starts against Trinidad and Tobago on Sunday night.

"I think were are much better players, a much better team and much better coaches after a defeat like this, because you learn," he said. "If you're intelligent, you learn."

The U.S. has a lot of learning to do and little time to do it. The Gold Cup is days away and, after another rough night, the U.S. is limping into it.

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from Geodis Park.

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  LOSER: Matt Turner

  There were question marks before. Now there is considerable concern. When you're mired in a goalkeeper competition, you can't afford to make mistakes, and Turner made a massive one.

  "The last thing you want is for balls to be rippling back into the net like that," Turner admitted, "so, yeah, it was frustrating."

  Excuse him for the first goal, which would have been a tough save, but was possible. No chance on the second, given the collapse that led to it. The third, though? That was all Turner, as he parried the ball straight into the path of Breel Embolo for the world's easiest finish. Could he have caught it? Could he have pushed the shot somewhere else? Would a different goalkeeper have done better with it?

  That last question, in particular, will be the one that will be the talking point. Even with a reported Lyon move looming, Turner's status is on shakier ground than ever, thanks to a underwhelming performance.

  "Obviously, I hope to play every game at the Gold Cup, but I don't think that my performance tonight necessarily warrants being the out-and-out starter all the time," Turner said. "For me, I'm just going to continue to work hard in training and try to earn my opportunities when they present themselves.

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  WINNERS: The second tier watching from home

  When this USMNT Gold Cup squad was announced, Pochettino explained that the reason several notable players were left out was because he believed he had others who deserved a chance to prove themselves. They haven't, at least so far, and those watching at home must be feeling like their temporary exclusion will only be that.

  Players such as Joe Scally, Josh Sargent, Tanner Tessmann, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Alejandro Zendejas and Auston Trusty were among those left out of the team. All are generally part of the USMNT's second tier – not quite starters, but are capable of starting when called upon. All will feel better about their chances after watching those nipping at their heels fall flat.

  That's not to say that each of those guys doesn't have something to prove. All have question marks. That group is, generally, more proven than the one that is involved in this Gold Cup. And through these two games, there's little evidence that group is better. Things can change quickly, of course, and a deep Gold Cup run would enhance those on the squad. But at the moment, it's not been impressive.

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  LOSER: Brian White

  Another case of a newer player going against one of the game's best. Manuel Akanji is a Premier League champion. Brian White is not. That was painfully evident.

  Whenever there was a duel between the two, Akanji threw White aside with ease. It was a different level of strength and skill than White is used to seeing in MLS. Akanji trains with Erling Haaland every day – why would he be concerned about White?

  Pochettino removed him at halftime, turning to the physicality and size of Patrick Agyemang. Fortunately for the Charlotte star, Akanji, too, was off at halftime, although, to his credit, Agyemang instantly tested the Switzerland backline far more than White did during his 45 minutes on the field on Tuesday.

  White is a good player, a talented finisher who makes the most of his opportunities in the box. On Tuesday, he was never allowed to get close, though, exposing some of the parts of his game not at a elite level.

  "It's a good opportunity but, at the same time, you take a risk in competing with this level of opponent," Pochettino said. "Akanji, Manchester City, one year ago wins the Champions League. (Ricardo) Rodriguez, (Granit) Xhaka, so many good players. When you face these types of players and a team that is very solid, like Turkey, yes, it's a risk."

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  WINNERS: Supersubs

  At halftime, down 4-0, Pochettino knew he needed a change. He made several, sending in an army of the players who have no doubt earned his trust.

  Patrick Agyemang, Diego Luna, Tim Ream and Malik Tillman were joined by Pochettino newcomer – but Bundesliga veteran – John Tolkin. From there, the game was more neutral. Was it perfect? By no measure. The U.S. still struggled to create and never really got a foothold. It was better, though, closer to 50-50, which was good even if Switzerland was taking their foot off the gas. The second half was a 0-0 affair.

  It's pretty clear now that this roster can be split into two parts: the players Pochettino knows and trusts and those with something to prove. Those substitutes, by and large, make up the former camp. All will play big parts in the Gold Cup and, potentially, in the games to come beyond this summer's tournament.

While they still have a chance in the Champions League, Arsenal’s domestic season is now all but over.

Mikel Arteta’s side crashed out of the FA Cup and League Cup and are a distant second to Liverpool in the Premier League.

Now, while the vast number of injuries the club have had to deal with this year have undoubtedly played their part in this disappointing situation, the lacklustre form of their attackers hasn’t helped either.

For example, neither Leandro Trossard nor Gabriel Martinelli have been anywhere near their best, and, based on recent reports, that could cost them their place in the side next season.

Arsenal's winger search

According to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are one of several teams interested in signing Feyenoord’s exciting Igor Paixão.

Transfer Focus

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

In fact, alongside the Gunners, the report has revealed that fellow Premier League sides Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Bournemouth have made contact and expressed their interest in signing the exciting winger.

While the level of competition is far from ideal, the good news is that it might not be a particularly expensive deal to complete, with the report claiming that the player is valued at around €30m by the Dutch side, which is about £25m.

In all, while it could be a complicated transfer to get over the line, Paixão’s immense quality makes it one well worth pursuing, especially as he could be the perfect upgrade on Martinelli and Trossard.

How Paixão compares to Trossard and Martinelli

The good news for Arsenal and Arteta is that with Bukayo Saka and now Ethan Nwaneri, the right-wing position could and probably should be covered for years to come.

Unfortunately, this season has proven that the same can not be said for the opposite flank, as Martinelli has carried over his underwhelming form from last year, and Trossard has taken a significant step back in terms of effectiveness as well.

This is where Paixão comes in, as so far this season, he has been superb for Feyenoord, both domestically and in Europe, so he could prove to be a real upgrade on Arteta’s options should he be signed this summer.

The best way to show how much better the Brazilian has been is to simply compare his output to that of his potential new teammates.

For example, in 38 appearances this season, totalling 3176 minutes, the “explosive” 24-year-old, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has scored 11 goals and provided 15 assists.

That means he has averaged a goal involvement every 1.46 games, or every 122.15 minutes so far this year, which is the sort of output Arteta could really do with.

In contrast, the former Ituano gem has scored seven goals and provided four assists in 38 appearances, totalling 2500 minutes, and the former Brighton & Hove Albion star has scored six goals and provided seven assists in 43 appearances, totalling 2665 minutes.

So, that means the Brazilian ace is averaging a goal involvement every 3.45 games, or every 227.27 minutes, while the Belgian is doing marginally better and averaging a goal involvement every 3.3 games, or every 205 minutes, which still isn’t really enough.

Ultimately, Martinelli and Trossard are incredibly talented footballers who, at their very best, can be ruthlessly efficient, but it’s been some time since either was anywhere near their best, while Paixão seems to be going from strength to strength in Rotterdam.

Therefore, Arsenal should do what they can to bring the Feyenoord star to the Emirates this summer before someone else gets him first.

Arteta's "world-class" signing is becoming Arsenal's modern-day Vieira

The exceptional international could be Arsenal’s next great leader.

3

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Mar 21, 2025

Trent Alexander-Arnold has been criticised by sections of the Spanish media following his 'underwhelming' Real Madrid debut against Al-Hilal.

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• Alexander-Arnold makes Real Madrid debut
• Ex-Liverpool man underwhelms against Al-Hilal
• Spanish media rip into English defender

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 26-year-old made his Madrid bow on Wednesday but failed to fire in his new team's 1-1 draw with Al-Hilal at the Club World Cup. The former Liverpool star, who joined Los Blancos this month for £8.4 million (€10m), played 65 minutes before being substituted by Lucas Vazquez, and now, Spanish journalists have criticised the England international's performance. Some said the right-back "failed to contribute offensively", others believed he was "underwhelming", and one in particular gave him a blank mark on the player ratings.

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  WHAT THE SPANISH MEDIA SAID

  SPORT, via Liverpool World, gave Alexander-Arnold a 5/10 for his debut and wrote: “Xabi Alonso positioned him inside with the ball, but he never looked comfortable or created any advantage. Physically far from his best, it wasn't the best debut for the Englishman, who also failed to contribute offensively."

  Football Espana also gave him the same score, writing: "There has been much talk about Trent Alexander-Arnold ahead of his debut, but it was an underwhelming one. He was not at his best defensively, and he struggled to make an impact in attack before being substituted."

  Finally, AS, via Sport Witness, gave him a 'blank rating', with Raul Asencio and Jude Bellingham the only other Madrid players to get that mark. They added that he and fellow summer signing Dean Huijsen have 'much to do' after their debuts, and Alexander-Arnold was signed to ‘terrorise the opposition’ and ‘produce immediately’ – something he fell short of.

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While Alexander-Arnold's display has been met with criticism, it is far too soon to judge how he will fare at Madrid. Most players have a proper pre-season to get used to a new team, something he may not have with the Club World Cup and a shorter summer break. But it will take time to find his feet at, arguably, the biggest club in the world – just as was the case for Kylian Mbappe, before he came good.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Alexander-Arnold, who made an emotional exit from Liverpool last month, could make amends for his patchy performance when Madrid take on Pachuca on Sunday in their second group clash of the Club World Cup.

Pep Guardiola has warned that Manchester City's involvement in the expanded Club World Cup could "destroy" their 2025-26 season, echoing strong criticism from Jurgen Klopp about the tournament's impact. The City boss admitted he's trying not to think about the long-term toll it may take to avoid becoming overwhelmed before the Premier League begins again.

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• Guardiola fears Club World Cup could ruin City’s season
• Klopp’s scathing comments earn Pep’s support
• Man City face Al-Hilal in Orlando amid weather threat

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Cityzens have reached the last 16 of the Club World Cup, but Guardiola has admitted that he is concerned about the effect the tournament in the United States could have on his squad in the long-term. With some players entering the tournament off the back of just five days of rest, Guardiola admitted that the timing of the competition could derail their season before it even begins. He also lent support to former Liverpool boss Klopp, who recently slammed the tournament format.

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  WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID

  Speaking to the media, Guardiola said: “I try not to think about it, otherwise I will be so anxious. We will rest the time the Premier League allows us to. And game by game, month by month, we will see. And maybe in November, December, January, ask me, Pep. I may say: ‘So listen, we are a disaster. We are exhausted. The World Cup destroyed us.’ I don’t know, but it’s the first time in our life that that’s happened [32-team CWC]. So we will see.

  “So I try to be relaxed, to enjoy the days here, the good vibes that we have, the competition, to try to win it. And the most important thing, to recover, to find or re-find ourselves what we were. This is my main target in this tournament.”

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• WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID ABOUT KLOPP'S CRITICISM

  On Klopp's criticism, Guardiola added: “I know where his idea comes from. We fought a lot [together] when we went to the UEFA meetings [or] especially when we discussed the Premier League calendar, about how to add more quality to it. [We discussed] giving the managers and players more rest. So his comments [on the Club World Cup] didn’t surprise me a lot. I understand him. I respect him. I’ve had an incredible relationship with Jurgen for many years as rivals.

  “Now he’s stepped back from that position [as a manager], and I understand his argument, because I would defend his argument as well. At the same time, as managers, we are in a job. We follow the FIFA, UEFA, and Premier League rules.

  “Many, many teams complain about these competitions because they are not here; otherwise, they might love being here. They would have their media and supporters here, and there would be income to be here, and they would be happy to be here. Of course, it’s not an ideal situation for the manager. Would I love to have two months to prepare for next season? Yes. Would I love to be refreshed for next season? Yes. But it is what it is.”

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• J.LEAGUE
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 2025 Club World Cup in the United States marks the first edition of the tournament's major expansion, and it's already under fire. For City, who have already endured long seasons chasing multiple trophies, the additional strain threatens to leave them exhausted before the 2025-26 campaign hits full swing.

Manchester City star Phil Foden is helping a boyhood friend and old fishing partner pursue their boxing dream by sponsoring his training camps.

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• Niall Brown fighting on Eubank Jr undercard this weekend
• Foden and boxer pal grew up together in Stockport
• Pair used to fish in the Peak District before fame

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Niall Brown, a 27-year-old super middleweight prospect, was speaking with before his fight at the AO Arena on Saturday night. Brown has been fighting his way up the ladder since transitioning to professional boxing from muay thai in 2021. Boasting a perfect 15-0 record, his ascent has been thanks in no small part to his childhood friend Foden. The City star has sponsored Brown's training camps for the last few years.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Brown spoke glowingly of his old friend, saying the pair have "been friends forever". Their bond was formed over their shared love of football, but also fishing. The pair used to spend their afternoons angling at their local reservoir or taking longer camping trips in the Peak District. While those trips have become thinner on the ground as the reality of careers in elite sport drain their time, Foden still visits Brown at his gym where he takes time with the younger boxers.

• WHAT NIALL BROWN SAID

  Brown told The Sun: "We’ve been friends forever.

  "So he has always seen the sort of dedication I have and, for the last couple of years, he’s just been helping me and looking after me, sponsoring me and stuff.

  "I massively appreciate it. It’s mint that he’s in a position to be able to do that for me because he’s just a normal lad.

  "We played footy, liked going fishing, everything we liked to do back then, we still do now, but it has to be a bit more ‘behind-closed-doors’."

  When asked who was more successful on their fishing trips, Brown added: "If I have to be honest. It’s him. But if I gave it a bit more time, it would be me! But Phil is just fishing crazy, fishing crazy.

  "And he gives it everything, like you said, he’s not out, falling out of nightclubs.

  "If he’s doing something, it’s probably fishing, which is not detrimental to his sport.

  "He’s a good lad, he’s just a normal lad who happens to have millions of cameras on him.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR FODEN?

  With City knocked out of the Club World Cup, Foden presumably has a chance to head back over to Manchester to watch his old pal take on the biggest assignment of his boxing career.

Chelsea legend William Gallas believes Joao Pedro will force Nicolas Jackson to seek a summer transfer away from Stamford Bridge after impressing on his full debut in the Club World Cup. The Brazilian wasted no time in announcing his arrival when he struck twice — once in each half — to secure a 2-0 victory and propel Enzo Maresca’s side into the tournament’s final.

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• Pedro proved his mettle against Fluminense
• Scored twice to propel Chelsea into the final
• Gallas believes Pedro's form puts Jackson in a fix

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Pedro’s skill set brings a different dynamic to Chelsea’s attack. Having previously impressed during his stint with Brighton, the 22-year-old is now making a name for himself with the Blues in the Club World Cup. This puts pressure on Jackson, who bagged 13 goals and racked up six assists in 37 appearances in the 2024/25 campaign.

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  WHAT GALLAS SAID

  In an interview with Gallas said: "Pedro’s performance against Fluminense put pressure on Nicolas Jackson. And I think when the season starts, that could cause trouble for his place in the starting XI. When you’re the first choice of your manager for any position, it’s like the door is open and you have been allowed inside. You then want to lock the door behind you, so that nobody else can get in there. And what happened here, is I think Nicolas has left the door open."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Gallas opined that Pedro’s quality is not limited to just operating in wide areas or creating chances; he’s equally dangerous inside the penalty box.

  "I saw Joao play for Brighton. He has a real quality, not just outside of the other team’s penalty box but also inside the box. He has shown that already, for Chelsea. And he’s going to give the manager a real headache," he added.

  Adding another layer of complexity to the situation is Liam Delap. Though still young and relatively untested at the highest level, he is another forward eager to prove himself. Gallas pointed out that the English striker may soon be pushing for first-team minutes if his progress continues in the same vein.

  "They also have Liam Delap, who is young and learning, but will be hungry to prove himself as a striker at a higher level than Ipswich," he said. "We don’t know when, but if he develops like Chelsea want him to, he will also give the manager a headache. But Jackson has definitely left that door wide open now, and he only has himself to blame for that."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

  Chelsea's clash with PSG on July 13 will not only be an opportunity to capture international glory but also a potential glimpse into the future of the club’s attack. If Pedro continues to shine, it may become increasingly difficult for Jackson to reclaim a consistent spot in the starting XI. In the world of elite football, momentum can shift quickly, and for Jackson, the clock is ticking.

Club Brugge have not yet responded to the initial proposal sent by AC Milan, with the Belgian side aiming to receive a club-record transfer fee.

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• Milan's move for Jashari on a standstill
• Initial offer not enough for Club Brugge
• Belgian side demand €40 million

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to a report from , the initial €35 million (£30m/$38m) proposal submitted by AC Milan for Jashari is not enough for Club Brugge, with the Belgian side yet to provide a definitive response to the bid. It's a tactic they are employing in an attempt to receive a higher offer, which would make Jashari the most expensive sale in their club's history.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The report adds that Brugge not giving the final okay for the player's departure is a strategy they are using to drive up the price of the Swiss international. The 2024-25 Belgian Cup winners are anticipating a fee in the region of €40m (£34m/$47m) including variables. However, the proposal sent by Milan sporting director Igli Tare can be considered to be final and non-adjustable. Tare and the Serie A giants were expecting some answer from Brugge on Tuesday, but no further developments have taken place as of yet.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Tare, for his part, is heavily reliant on Jashari's desire to make the switch to Italy. Moreover, his strong relationship with the player's camp and family could still sway the operation in the Rossoneri's favour. The Serie A heavyweights have reportedly set a deadline for this transfer, which means they will not push beyond the limits should Brugge keep playing hardball.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Milan are overseeing a major midfield overhaul, with veteran Serie A manager Massimiliano Allegri at the helm. They have already sealed the deals for Samuele Ricci and Luka Modric, although an official confirmation regarding the Real Madrid icon is pending. Adding Jashari to their ranks could bolster the squad even further, but it remains to be seen how longer Brugge can delay the 22-year-old's potential move to San Siro.