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Spain and AC Milan forward Alvaro Morata has discussed his battles with depression ahead of Euro 2024.

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• Morata was Spain captain at Euro 2024
• Struggled with depression months before
• Feared he would have to quit football

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Months before he went on to win Euro 2024 with Spain, the ex-Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid striker went through a battle with depression that was so strong he feared he would have to bring a premature end to his playing days.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 31-year-old opted to leave Spain for the third time in his career by joining AC Milan, having previously enjoyed spells at Juventus and Chelsea outside of his time with the Madrid clubs. However, earlier this year he had fears that he would never play another game.

• WHAT MORATA SAID

  "I thought I wouldn’t be able to put my boots on and go out on the pitch again. I received a lot of help from people, like Diego Simeone, [Atletico captain] Koke and [president] Miguel Angel Gil, and my psychiatrist," he said on .

  "What you see on TV or social media often is not real and is just an image because it is your job, but often I could not do simple things like lacing up my boots and there were times I went home early because I could not speak and my vision became blurry."

  He added: "I didn’t know what was happening to me but it was very complicated and delicate. At that moment you realise that what you like most in the world is what you hate the most, it is complicated."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MORATA?

  Morata went on to score one goal and set up another as captain of La Roja as they went on to claim the European title, adding to the two La Liga and Serie A crowns, among other trophies, he already has to his name.

Levi Colwill has been branded a “bumbling oaf” by Chelsea fans after conceding a clumsy penalty in the Blues’ Premier League clash with Liverpool.

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• England international fouled Jones
• Fans frustrated at clumsy tackle
• Salah made no mistake from the spot

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  The England international defender found himself the wrong side of Reds midfielder Curtis Jones when trying to repel a first-half attack at Anfield. Colwill was always going to find it difficult to get at the ball, and ended up tripping Jones inside the box.

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• WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

  Supporters have been quick to condemn Colwill’s actions. @GoonerKal said: “Levi Colwill went from a highly revered prospect at Brighton to a bumbling oaf at Chelsea. He is awful.”

  @Trslimshady__ added: “Take off this colwill. Two reckless challenges in the space of five minutes. Is he nuts??”

  The criticism continued, with @rayxkilli saying: “Colwill has no brain cells, he got away with the first one then did nonsense again.”

  On a similar theme, @MannyArchived said: “Colwill gets off with one and he does it again???? He’s so stiff.”

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  Colwill was forced to watch on helplessly as, after a long delay, Mohamed Salah made no mistake from the resulting spot-kick. Liverpool’s Egyptian talisman sent Robert Sanchez the wrong way as he crashed a penalty into the back of the net.

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• WHAT NEXT?

  Liverpool thought they had earned another penalty in first-half stoppage-time, as Jones was sent tumbling again, but a VAR review determined that Sanchez had got to the ball first and the original on-field decision was reversed.

Celtic have just under three months left to improve their squad before the summer transfer window, which officially opens on Friday, slams shut at the end of August.

The Hoops ended the 2023/24 campaign with two pieces of silverware added to the cabinet as they won the Scottish Premiership title and the SFA Cup.

It was a solid return to the dugout at Parkhead for Brendan Rodgers, who replaced Ange Postecoglou last summer, as the Northern Irish boss ensured that the club's dominance in the league continued for a third straight year.

The former Leicester City boss may, however, now look to push on and achieve more in Europe after a dismal campaign in the Champions League.

Celtic finished rock bottom of their group, below Lazio, Feyenoord, and Atletico Madrid, and could hope for more success in the new structure next term, which will see them play eight games against eight different teams – half at Parkhead and half way – in the league phase to qualify for the knockouts.

Rodgers could now dip into the market to improve his squad in order to push on and achieve better results in Europe, and the Scottish giants are already reportedly looking to add a new number nine to the team.

Celtic's interest in Championship star

According to the Bristol Post, the Hoops are one of a number of teams interested in a possible swoop to sign Bristol City centre-forward Tommy Conway.

Rodgers is eyeing up a potential deal to sign the Scotland international to bolster his attacking options in the final third, but is set to face competition to land his signature.

The report claims that Glasgow rivals Rangers and Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers are also keen on the young marksman ahead of next season.

It does not, however, state how much the Robins are set to demand for his services this summer, with his contract currently set to expire next year.

The Bristol Post reveals that the Championship side are open to offers for the 21-year-old attacker as they do not want to risk losing him for a small compensation fee in 2025.

It states that Rangers and Celtic would only have to pay £300k in compensation if they swooped to sign Conway when his contract expires next summer.

Rodgers could now repeat the blinder he played with the signing of Adam Idah in January by securing a deal for the Bristol City ace, whether that is in the current window or for £300k next year.

Celtic's Adam Idah masterclass

The Scottish giants sealed a late swoop to snap up the Ireland international on loan from English Championship side Norwich City on deadline day at the start of February earlier this year.

Rodgers plucked the 6 foot 3 marksman up from the second tier of football in England and it turned out to be a masterclass from the Northern Irish boss.

The Canaries academy graduate hit the ground running in Scotland and proved himself to be a lethal goalscorer in the Premiership in his short time with the Bhoys.

Idah had scored six goals in 28 Championship appearances for Norwich, starting 12 of those games, during the first half of the season, and outperformed his xG (5.83) in the process.

He carried that finishing quality over to the Premiership with a return of eight goals from 6.86 xG. Of players at Celtic during the second half of the campaign, only Matt O'Riley (18 goals from 14.86 xG) overperformed his expected tally by more than the Yellows loanee.

As you can see in the table above, Idah was more prolific than Kyogo Furuhashi in the Scottish top-flight as he found the back of the net more frequently and efficiently.

These statistics show that the loan signing was a huge success for the Hoops, which was backed up by his winning goal in the SFA Cup final against Rangers at Hampden Park in his last appearance.

Rodgers could now repeat that trick by dipping back into the Championship market to seal a deal for Conway ahead of the Gers and Wolves this summer.

Why Tommy Conway could be Adam Idah 2.0

Much like Idah, Conway is a young centre-forward with room to grow and improve, which means that the Bhoys boss could work to develop him on the training ground.

At the age of 21, the Bristol City starlet, who was once dubbed "clinical" by Statman Dave, would come in as a long-term signing as well as a player who has the quality to make an immediate impact on the pitch.

The big difference, however, would be that the Scottish youngster would come in on a permanent deal, rather than a loan, and this would give the boss more time to improve the right-footed ace.

The talented whiz is in the Scotland squad for Euro 2024 this summer and that could give supporters, and the club, an opportunity to see how he performs on one of the biggest stages, to see if he would be up to the task of leading the line at Parkhead.

Conway's form in the Championship for the Robins this season does, however, suggest that the potential is there for him to be even better than Idah for the Scottish giants.

As you can see in the table above, the 6 foot 1 star outperformed his xG by more than the Irishman did for the Canaries, which shows that the finishing quality is there for him to be ruthless in front of goal in a Hoops shirt.

This shows that the club could repeat the blinder they played with the Yellows forward as they could land another impressive, young, finisher from the English second tier to light up the Premiership next season.

Rodgers lining up bargain Celtic swoop for "smooth" O'Riley partner

The Hoops are reportedly interested in a deal to sign the central midfielder this summer.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 10, 2024

Conway could, therefore, be a fantastic alternative to Idah, who Football Insider claimed is set to be assessed by new Norwich boss Johannes Hoff Thorup before they make a decision on his future, amid interest from Celtic.

Thomas Frank defended Erik ten Hag as the Brentford boss argued that the Dutch manager is not to be blamed for Manchester United's poor form.

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• Man Utd struggling in the Premier League
• Find themselves two points behind Brentford
• Frank had Ten Hag's back before the press

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite United spending approximately £200 million ($261 million) during the summer transfer window to strengthen their squad, they find themselves in the lower half of the Premier League table after seven matches, sitting three places and two points behind Frank’s Brentford side.

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  United’s disappointing run has included several poor results, with their most recent home match resulting in a humbling 3-0 defeat to Tottenham last month. This weekend's fixture against Brentford is the Red Devils' first at Old Trafford since that loss, and the pressure on Ten Hag has only increased as the team has struggled to find consistency. Following that defeat, United drew back-to-back matches, first against Porto in the Champions League and then at Aston Villa, before heading into the international break.

• WHAT THOMAS FRANK SAID

  Despite the dwindling results, Frank believes that the growing criticism aimed at Ten Hag is unwarranted.

  "It's incredible how much scrutiny he's had to face," he said. "As a head coach, I acknowledge how it feels to be in a situation like this. I think [the criticism] is too much. He's clearly a good coach, he's won two trophies in two seasons.

  "But I understand how it is: if the team wins, the head coach is absolutely fantastic; if the team loses, the head coach is absolutely sh*t! Whereas it's probably somewhere in between. It's never only the head coach, or the players, or the fans, or the board – it's a combination of all of these things."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Interestingly, Frank himself has been mentioned as a potential successor to Ten Hag should United decide to make a managerial change. However, the Brentford boss was quick to dismiss such talk. In a recent interview with , Frank reiterated his happiness at Brentford but left the door slightly open for future opportunities.

  “I’ve said many times I’m very happy here,” he said. “Who knows what happens in the future? I’m open, but right now, I’m just working hard every day to make Brentford better.”

It could be a busy summer of transfer business, in the window that officially opens later this month, for Leeds United after they failed to earn promotion from the Championship.

Daniel Farke's side were not able to secure a top two finish to automatically move up to the Premier League and had to go through the play-offs.

The Whites beat their manager's former club, Norwich, 4-0 on aggregate over two legs before falling short at the final hurdle as they were beaten 1-0 by Southampton at Wembley in the play-off final last month.

Farke is now at risk of losing some of his key performers from the 2023/24 campaign as teams from around Europe are said to be circling around.

German giants Bayern Munich have been linked with an interest in teen starlet Archie Gray, Wilfried Gnonto is reportedly keen on a move to Italy, and star winger Crysencio Summerville has been linked with Premier League side Liverpool.

The Yorkshire-based outfit could, therefore, need to dip into the market over the next couple of months to sign replacements for their stars in order to ensure that their squad is not significantly weakened heading into next season.

Leeds United's interest in Eredivisie star

According to Voetbal International, as relayed by Voetbal Zone, Leeds are one of a number of clubs lining up a deal to sign Excelsior forward Couhaib Driouech, as Farke looks to bolster his attacking options.

The report claims that Sevilla and PSV are also in the running to sign the 22-year-old star, with around ten clubs interested in the talented young whiz.

This suggests that there is plenty of competition for the former Heerenveen youngster's signature, which could make this a difficult deal for the Whites to get over the line.

They may have to convince the player to drop down to the second tier amid interest from teams in top divisions across Europe, including Sevilla in LaLiga.

The outlet states that Driouech would like to sign for PSV but the Dutch giants have only offered a fee of around €2m (£1.7m) and that is significantly lower than Excelsior's valuation of the midfield maestro.

It reveals that the Eredivisie outfit are looking for a fee of up to €4m (£3.4m) to allow their star performer to move on from the club this summer, which is double what the league champions have offered so far.

Leeds could, though, secure their next version of Crysencio Summerville by landing a deal for the exciting winger by bringing in another talented wizard from the Netherlands.

Leeds United's Crysencio Summerville masterclass

Former Whites sporting director Victor Orta reportedly splashed out a fee of just £1.3m to sign the teenage talent from Dutch giants Feyenoord in the summer of 2021.

Summerville had not made a single first-team appearance for the club by that point but had scored five goals and provided one assist in 18 games on loan with FC Dordrecht in the second tier.

Leeds gambled on his potential and the winger eventually became a regular first-team operator during the 2022/23 campaign as he made 28 appearances in the Premier League and chipped in with four goals and two assists.

The 22-year-old whiz then enjoyed his full breakthrough season as a star for the Whites with his terrific performances in the Championship this season.

He won the division's Player of the Season award for his fantastic efforts down the left flank, as the Dutch magician showcased his quality as a scorer and a creator of goals.

As you can see in the table above, Summerville was one of the best, if not the best, Leeds players in a variety of key attacking metrics for scoring and creating in the final third.

The right-footed star proved that he has what it takes to be a constant threat to the opposition as he can score goals on a regular basis and create high-quality opportunities for his teammates to find the back of the net.

However, the ex-Feyenoord whiz only registered nine assists from 17 'big chances' created and 12.53 xA, which suggests that his teammates let him down at times with their wasteful finishing.

Why Couhaib Driouech could be Crysencio Summerville 2.0

Firstly, Leeds could repeat the masterclass they played with Summerville by landing a £3.4m deal to sign Driouech from Excelsior, as they would be dipping into the Dutch market to land another exciting young talent.

Like the current Whites star, the 22-year-old wizard is a talented winger who likes to score and create goals from a left wing position for his side.

The Moroccan dynamo racked up six goals and six assists in 24 starts in the Eredivisie this season, which is one goal contribution every other start on average.

He did not fire in 19 goals like Summerville did for Leeds but the youngster did play for a side that finished 16th in the division and won six games all term.

Whereas, the Whites finished third in the Championship with 27 wins and Driouech could, therefore, have more opportunities to showcase his attacking talent and improve his output by playing in a more dominant team at Elland Road.

As you can see in the table above, the £3.4m-rated ace still managed to assist goals more frequently than Summerville and provided more as a carrier and dribbler of the ball in transition.

He is, therefore, an exciting talent who could be an excellent signing for Leeds as a replacement for the Dutchman, should a move away from Yorkshire materialise over the coming weeks and months.

Leeds could sign a Struijk partner who's a lot like "Busquets"

The Whites have been touted with an interest in the impressive central defender.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 10, 2024

Driouech is a winger who has shown that he has the potential to be a scorer and creator of goals at an impressive rate from a left wing position, and Leeds could now find their next star from the Eredivisie by swooping for him this summer.

Manchester United and Sir Jim Ratcliffe could seal a transfer hijack after talks with a top agent, according to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg.

Man Utd eye signings after Ten Hag stay

After deciding to keep Erik ten Hag as manager, Ratcliffe and INEOS’ full focus will be on their first transfer window in charge at Old Trafford.

There could be a number of incomings and outgoings, with Jadon Sancho, Casemiro, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Mason Greenwood possibly joining Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial out of the club.

Man Utd big name who Erik ten Hag loves tells friends he's ready to quit

He’s earning £150,000-a-week.

By
Charlie Smith

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In terms of arrivals, Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton appears to be at the top of the defensive shortlist, with personal terms already agreed with the 21-year-old. Those on Merseyside want £70m to sell the centre-back after Man Utd made an opening bid in the region of £35m plus add-ons.

Arrivals in attack also appear to be wanted, with Bologna’s Joshua Zirkzee heavily linked in recent months. And now, a move to Manchester is seemingly gathering pace.

Man Utd transfer update on Joshua Zirkzee

According to Plettenberg, Man Utd have held concrete talks with Zirkzee‘s top agent Kia Joorabchian and there is now a “good” chance the Red Devils can hijack AC Milan’s deal for the Bologna forward.

Ten Hag is personally keen on signing his fellow Dutchman, who is at Euro 2024, with United working on a total agreement as a result.

Meanwhile, David Ornstein of The Athletic has said: “Man Utd exploring deal for Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee. Interest advanced + dialogue with striker’s camp – 23yo among multiple options. No club-to-club talks yet but MUFC considering approach + aware of €40m buyout clause in contract.”

It looks as if a Man Utd move for Zirkzee now has a real chance of materialising, and the 23-year-old could provide fierce competition for Rasmus Hojlund going forward.

Valued at a career-high €50m by Transfermarkt, United could be getting themselves a bargain by exercising his £34m release clause ahead of AC Milan. Zirkzee scored 11 goals and registered five assists in 34 Serie A appearances last season, catching the eye of analyst Ben Mattison, who said in January:

“Joshua Zirkzee is one of the most intelligent 9 right now Facilitator of build-up play to escape swamped areas, drops deep to help the team evade the press, elite spatial awareness. 6’4” but turns like he’s 5’9”, loves a Cruyff turn. An elite potential ST.

“Zirkzee has been on fire this season for Bologna One of the most complete ST’s in 23/24. A creator, physical presence, ball-striking, dribbling & taking on defenders, Zirkzee has the fundamentals to compete with the very best strikers.”

High praise indeed, and by the looks of things, we could be seeing the Netherlands forward turning out at Old Trafford next season.

GOAL US takes a look at Americans playing abroad, with big debuts and top players looking to continue memorable seasons

Americans turned in admittedly mixed showings in the Champions League this week: while Christian Pulisic was masterful for Milan, leading his club to a comfortable 3-1 win over Club Brugge, things were less convincing for Weston McKennie, Tim Weah and Juventus, who were bested by Stuttgart thanks to a 92nd-minute winner.

Elsewhere, those in the lower divisions performed, highlighted by a fine showing from Brendan Aaronson in the Championship – his form of late vanquishing memories of a poor international break for the USMNT. There are significant fixtures in Italy that Americans will feature in this weekend, as well as the standard slew of Championship battles and Dutch matchups.

It is admittedly hard to believe that another international break is just around the corner, too, with USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino likely already piecing together the skeleton of his second squad at the helm. This weekend will be big, then, for a number of key actors, chief among them Weah, who will need to deliver if Juve are to push up Serie A. And with Pulisic out after Milan's fixture with Bologna was postponed, eyes will be elsewhere.

GOAL US takes a look at Americans playing abroad, with big debuts on the cards and stars looking to continue memorable seasons.

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  Tyler Adams to return?

  Adams was available to return last week after a long injury layoff, but Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola opted against using the USMNT man in the Cherries' comprehensive 2-0 win over Arsenal. This week, though, that seems likely to change. Adams almost certainly won't start – there's no need to rush a player who has been out for two-plus months. But he should be able to offer some valuable minutes.

  His inclusion would seem to be made more pressing by some grim injury news for Iraola, who will go without midfielder Alex Scott for an extended period. But bad news for Bournemouth could prove to be a stroke of luck for Adams, who now has a clear path into the first team – and hopefully a run of good form ahead of the November international break.

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  Brendan Aaronson to follow up on midweek magic?

  Aaronson may have turned in a couple of patchy performances for the USMNT during Pochettino's first international window, but his club form continues to impress. A magical volley midweek took the U.S. attacking midfielder to four goal contributions on the season – a decent mark for someone deployed in markedly deeper areas than in previous campaigns. That strike – the second in a narrow 2-1 win over Watford – further cemented his credentials as a key player for the Whites this season.

  He will have to continue to provide in the coming weeks, though, as the games in the Championship come fast and thick – and 10th-placed Bristol City are the immediate focus. They have a negative goal difference so far this season, and have struggled to keep the ball out of the net. This could be a fixture for Aaronson to capitalize.

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  Could Tim Weah be the key in the Derby d'Italia?

  Inter vs. Juventus will be a tasty one. Last year's champions are sitting narrowly above in Serie A, and are hoping to hunt down Napoli at the top of the table. It will be Tim Weah and Juventus' task to prevent that from happening. The American has been a bit part player under Thiago Motta this season, struggling with a couple of knocks before failing to crack into the side on a consistent basis.

  This Sunday might present a good opportunity for him to flip that narrative, though. Motta will need the most out of his wide players against Inter's solid back three – and Weah has the kind of individual quality that could unlock that setup.

  Meanwhile, McKennie might have to find his best in central midfield. Inter have plenty of creativity in the engine room, and their three-man system has proved to be a real handful against a litany of opponents. Motta will surely have some sort of plan to ensure that his team isn't outnumbered, but it will certainly be a fixture that requires plenty of legs from the USMNT midfielder.

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  Tillman to get another midfield look?

  Attacking midfielders aren't sexy anymore. No. 10s, these days, are out of vogue. It is unfortunate for Tillman, then, that he has consistently played his best soccer in that position – or a slightly modified version of it, at least. That changed, to an extent, midweek, when PSV lined up in a more defensive way against PSG, with Tillman operating as more of a No. 8. And it worked a charm, as the Eredivisie leaders snagged a hard-earned point against the Ligue 1 giants.

  It will be interesting to see, then, if that setup continues. Players have to be adaptable in the modern game – the more flexible a midfielder is, the better. And if Tillman is to get a move to a bigger league that his potential warrants , then perhaps a few more midfield showings could boost his credentials.

The Herons were poor against Atlanta in Game 2, and are now in danger of suffering an early exit from MLS playoffs

Well, that wasn't supposed to happen. Inter Miami were to make easy work of Atlanta United Saturday, beat the on the road, and give themselves two-plus weeks of rest before returning to action for the Eastern Conference semifinals. At which point they would, presumably, stroll through the rest of the playoffs, ease past everyone else, win their first MLS Cup, and allow Lionel Messi to get his hands on trophy number 47.

Of course, soccer is rarely that simple.

The jeopardy in this sport comes from an inherent uncertainty. And despite Miami's glittering regular season, there is always a chance – in MLS, at least – that something could go wrong. Still, despite those caveats, Tata Martino's side really should be making this a whole lot easier. After beating Atlanta in the first game, they lost the second – and never really looked convincing over the course of 90 minutes.

Instead, this looked like an outfit searching for answers, stretched thin on the road, and, ultimately, uncertain in an atmosphere that was far more hostile than some might have expected (even the pink Messi shirts that dotted parts of Mercedes-Benz stadium were drowned out by the of the home support.)

And so this will need a Game 3 to settle things, the full might of MLS's oft-maligned playoff structure used in full. Miami will still be favorites here, but there are some serious questions to be asked, as a team that looked so dominant in the regular season are showing an air of vulnerability when the stakes are at their highest.

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  Where are you, Leo?

  For some time, as the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo debate raged on through social media forums and in bars around the world, Messi was regarded as a player who couldn't do it in big moments. And his knockout record, in some senses, backed up that thinly veiled argument. He didn't win a major trophy for Argentina until he was 34, while he had to constantly watch from Catalonia and Paris as Real Madrid collected Champions League trophies. Messi didn't necessarily disappear in big games, but his ability to carry a side when everything is on the line had to be questioned.

  That rhetoric has largely disappeared – not least because Messi has now won everything in this sport, and was majestic in Argentina's World Cup triumph in 2022. But those struggles in big games have started to appear again recently. Messi was woeful during the Copa America knockout phase for Argentina, scoring once in elimination play and watching from the sidelines once he got injured as Lautaro Martinez secured the cup for the . And in this series, his impact has been minimal.

  Messi may have assisted Jordi Alba's crucial winner in Game 1, but a look at the play itself. It was a 10-yard roll to a player who smashed one in from 20 yards – showed that he had little involvement in actual chance creation. Otherwise, Messi has struggled to make a material impact. Sure, his chance creation numbers and pass completion percentages are as admirable as ever, but that crucial element – seeing the ball hit the back of the net – is lacking.

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  The loss of Busquets

  There are some issues further back, too. The absence of Sergio Busquets from Game 2 was always going to be cause for some concern. The former Barca man has been crucially versatile for Martino this season – splitting time between a defensive midfield and center back position. He may be aging, and this may be a different league, but the metronomic presence still looks every bit the perfect tempo-setter.

  Miami might have looked two ways without Busquets, who missed Saturday's game due to illness. There was a school of thought that having Busquets out would allow the younger, more athletic midfielders to fly around the center of the park. This was, in theory, a team that could press higher, move the ball quicker, and hit the home side on the break. Instead, everything was simply too frantic. Martino deployed a back three, with a Federico Redondo-Yannick Bright pivot manning the middle.

  And they were both outnumbered and outthought, with Atlanta's more energetic and controlled three-man setup proving too much for the young duo. Dax McCarty played the "Busquets role" perfectly for Atlanta, offering vital calm at the base of midfield, while Bartosz Slisz and Ajani Fortune buzzed around in front of him. Miami didn't lose too many duels, but they didn't really stamp their authority, either. Bright played just one pass into the final third. His replacement, highly regarded U.S. prospect Benjamin Cremaschi was more advanced, but slightly wayward in his pass accuracy.

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  Chance creation woes

  Can Miami really take much of the blame for Brad Guzan turning into something resembling prime Manuel Neuer in Game 1? The veteran goalkeeper, rumored with an exit from Atlanta at the start of the year, turned in the performance of a lifetime in a 2-1 loss, making eight saves and bursting out of his box to constantly deny Miami counters. It might have been three or four had Guzan not kept his side in it.

  But in Game 2, Guzan didn't have to provide such heroics. It was, in fact, his blunder that gifted Miami their only goal. Without his ill-advised punt attempt, which Redondo nicked and turned into an open net, Miami would have finished the game with just one shot on target. They may have had more of the ball, and a higher xG, but the never really threatened in Game 2. There is, indeed, a difference between creating chances, and having good looks on goal. Limiting Messi and Suarez to a combined two "big chances" and just 17 touches in the Atlanta box is a fine mark.

  And then, outside of the statistics, there are the vibes of it all. Some passes were made too late. Others weren't played at all. The body language suggested annoyance. Martino backed that up. "We wanted everything to finish [Saturday], but I am satisfied with how they played, but frustrated with the result," he said after the game.

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• Lack of pace

  Aging legs were always supposed to be a problem for Miami this season. After all, throwing a 37-year-old Luis Suarez with worn knees from almost two decades of playing into a team that already lacked pace seemed a recipe for disaster. But for long stretches of the campaign, the controlled games. They didn't have to cover much ground because, quite simply, they had the ball more than their opponents. They finished fourth in the league in both pass completion percentage and ball possession, according to . In theory, have more of the ball than your opponent – and retain it better – and your aging legs should be able to last longer.

  But Miami also have the most errors leading to a goal in MLS. And on two separate occasions, once in the regular season and again Saturday night, they played right into Atlanta's hands. With six minutes remaining, Martino removed center back Noah Allen, switched to a 4-3-3, and asked his team to kill the series off early. The Atlanta winner was predictable at that point. The were stretched, and Atlanta moved it well. The finish was miraculous, but the opportunity was always going to come. Miami simply cannot play in transition. Atlanta knew this.

Liverpool are reportedly battling one of their rivals for the signing of a "fantastic" Euro 2024 player this summer, following a "multi-million" offer for a Reds superstar.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds continue to be linked with new signings who are perfect for Arne Slot, as the Dutchman looks to make a flying start after replacing the iconic Jurgen Klopp as manager earlier this summer.

Nottingham Forest defender Murillo has emerged as a candidate to strengthen Liverpool's defence, with doubts in centre-back areas going into the campaign. Joel Matip is departing, Ibrahima Konate's injuries are a concern and Jarell Quansah is still maturing, so additions are required.

The Merseysiders are also reportedly in contention to sign Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich this summer, with the Germany international potentially looking for a fresh challenge at this point in his career. The 29-year-old is out of contract at the Bundesliga giants next summer, so it could suit all parties to cash in on him now.

Napoli icon Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has also been backed to seal an incredible move to Liverpool in the coming weeks and months, in what could have the potential to be one of the club's most exciting signings in years. The winger is starring for Georgia at Euro 2024, scoring the opening goal in his country's famous 2-0 win over Portugal on Wednesday evening.

Liverpool eyeing "fantastic" ace after bid for superstar

According to a new report from Spanish publication Marca (via Sport Witness), Liverpool are battling Newcastle for the signing of Georgia and Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. The 23-year-old is another player who is impressing for his country at the Euros alongside Kvaratskhelia, helping them reach the knockout stages.

However, a key aspect of this report is that the Reds' interest has arrived because of a "multi-million" offer for Alisson from Saudi Arabia, with the Valencia ace seen as a strong replacement for the Brazilian should he make a shock exit in the summer. Liverpool are the "first team in line" to get him as things stand.

While Mamardashvili is clearly an excellent young 'keeper with a big future ahead of him, Liverpool must still do all they can to ensure that Alisson remains between the sticks for the foreseeable future.

In the eyes of many, the 31-year-old is the leading player in the world in his position, proving to be a stunning signing for the Reds since arriving from Roma in 2018, and there should be no sign of his peak ending for a long time.

Alisson is bordering on irreplaceable, such is his level, but if the worst-case scenario does happen and he leaves Anfield this summer, Mamardashvili would at least represent a formidable long-term option.

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He has been superb at the Euros, playing a big role in Georgia progressing, with Real Madrid defender Nacho describing him as "fantastic" in the tournament to date, and he should only improve with age.

A lot is going on at Liverpool, though it might not really feel like it. International escapades have dominated football discourse over recent weeks, while the Anfield side have been inactive on the transfer market as Arne Slot works on his squad and identifies where to make improvements.

Sporting director Richard Hughes has been engaged in daily conversation with the Dutchman, formerly of Feyenoord, and fresh faces will arrive this summer. It's a matter of when, not if.

Still, a lot is going on, with midfielder Thiago Alcantara recently returning to the headlines after announcing his retirement from the professional game; his final term at Liverpool was wrecked by injuries, limiting him to just five minutes of action, and the 33-year-old is not going to pen a deal elsewhere.

Given that his on-pitch role was negligible last year, replacing the illustrious Spaniard is not a pressing concern for Slot and Co – last summer's sweeping midfield changes sorted that out. But, his Reds contract has still expired, taking his £200k-per-week salary with him. A shrewd replacement has been identified.

Liverpool lining up astute deal

As per Calcio Mercato, Adrien Rabiot's future is going to be wrapped up swiftly now that France have been knocked out of Euro 2024.

The midfielder's contract with Juventus expired last month, and while the Old Lady are hopeful to tie him down to fresh terms, a host of top European outfits are also sniffing around.

Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are among the contenders, but Liverpool are also named as the sole Premier League club and could now make their move.

Why Liverpool should sign Adrien Rabiot

Rabiot, 29, has enjoyed a trophy-laden career across two outfits in Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, but after 212 appearances in Turin, could try his hand in the Premier League.

A multi-functional midfielder, a perfunctory glance might see the conclusion reached that Liverpool do not need to sign such a player, but if FSG opt against signing a new No. 6 this summer, Wataru Endo will continue to play an important role for the Anfield side and Alexis Mac Allister will be required to perform from a deep-lying placement with regularity.

Rabiot, moreover, would offer an invaluable sense of depth and dynamism for a side that has stepped back into the Champions League after spending last year languishing in the Europa League. Slot will need experience and Rabiot would bring such in hordes.

France weren't exactly great at the Euros this summer, playing with a pragmatic sheen that left observers puzzled. Such riches, such talent. Still, they narrowly lost to imperious Spain and Rabiot performed admirably throughout, showcasing the kind of all-encompassing skillset that Liverpool would benefit from.

His ability to maintain a sharp pass success rate while ushering play forwards, creating, influencing, bears testament to Rabiot's overarching technical acumen. He's been hailed in the past as a "monster" by football writer Robin Bairner, but for all his imposing physicality, his athletic robustness, Rabiot is actually a pretty wonderful technician.

That's the perfect Thiago replacement, right there.

Why Rabiot could step into Thiago's boots

Thiago joined Liverpool from Bayern Munich in the scorching summer of 2020, completing a £20m transfer and bringing one of the most distinguished passing games in Europe to Jurgen Klopp's door.

When fit, Thiago has blessed Liverpool with some of the finest football seen in its rich history, but sustained spells have been few and far between – the two times Champions League winner failed to start more than 20 Premier League games in a single season across his four campaigns as a Red.

What a player though. Pundit Michael Owen once marvelled over the retired midfielder's "staggering" quality and indeed he made such an impact on the fluency and fizz of Klopp's Liverpool team.

As per FBref, Thiago ranked among the top 2% of Premier League midfielders during the 2022/23 season for passes attempted and progressive passes, the top 11% for successful take-ons and the top 10% for tackles per 90.

Rabiot might not be cut from the same silky cloth but he does boast an immense passing game that holds control, creativity culture in equal regard. Former Juventus star, David Trezuguet, even went as far as to label him an "extraordinary player" for such prowess.

His metrics in Germany over the past month underscore the point of comparison, ranking among the top 10% of midfielders at Euro 2024 for shot-creating actions and the top 11% for successful take-ons per 90.

Juventus' stop-start season under Massimiliano Allegri last year precluded Rabiot from finding his finest football, no doubt, but he still maintained a steady level of performance, notably proving his high levels of energy by averaging 4.8 ball recoveries and 5.7 successful duels per game.

Liverpool, let's not forget, have one of the most talented squads in Europe, and Slot will fight feverishly to get his system up and running smoothly, with the finest poise and the greatest efficiency.

Rabiot could be the experienced head perfectly suited to strengthen the side and ensure that silverware can be fought for across multiple fronts.

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