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Manchester United legend Sir Alex Ferguson is among those to have paid homage to Pep Guardiola as Manchester City's head coach prepares to join the exclusive '1,000 Club'. The highly-decorated Catalan will join that group, alongside some illustrious figures such as Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger, when reaching four figures in the managerial department.

• Guardiola's coaching career

  Guardiola began his career in the dugout at Barcelona, being promoted from their B team into the top job at Camp Nou in 2008. He oversaw a remarkable era of success there, with the likes of Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta helping the Blaugrana to La Liga and Champions League triumphs.

  After four years in the most demanding of roles, Guardiola’s next port of call came in Germany as he took the reins at Bayern Munich. More domestic trophy triumphs were enjoyed there, with a stint at the Allianz Arena brought to a close after three years.

  In the summer of 2016, Guardiola agreed to fill a Premier League opening in Manchester. He has guided City to 18 honours, including six top-flight titles and a Champions League crown which formed part of a historic Treble in 2022-23. His contract has been extended through to 2027, which will take him beyond a decade of loyal service at the Etihad Stadium.

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• Guardiola proud of achievement

  Guardiola is already assured of a place among the managerial greats, with that standing set to be enhanced when reaching 1,000 games in the dugout. Said milestone will be hit when City play host to old adversaries Liverpool on Sunday.

  Guardiola has told the of the LMA: "Being a member of the League Managers Association is very important to me so I am really, really honoured to join the LMA Hall of Fame 1,000 Club. I am humbled to be inducted into such an esteemed club that includes Sir Alex Ferguson and many managerial peers that I have enjoyed competing against over the years. I am so proud to be reaching 1,000 games as a manager which has always been a special ambition for me.

  "I would like to pay tribute to my family and friends for their support over the years as well as my players, staff and colleagues at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City who have helped me to reach this special landmark."

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  Reaction from Man Utd legend Ferguson

  Former United boss Ferguson, who delivered 13 Premier League titles to Old Trafford during his reign, said of Guardiola: "Pep! I am absolutely delighted to welcome you to join the prestigious LMA Hall of Fame 1,000 Club. Your deep love and passion for the game has always been so evident and you should be very proud of the indelible impact you continue to have across the global game.

  "Reaching 1,000 matches and achieving such longevity in football is a landmark that can never be underestimated and, to continue to deliver league, Champions League and domestic cup titles in three of Europe’s most competitive leagues is outstanding. I look forward to celebrating with you at an LMA gala dinner to formally induct you into the LMA Hall of Fame 1,000 Club."

  LMA Chief Executive Richard Bevan OBE added: "Pep has dedicated his entire career to achieving excellence, driven by an unmatched will to win and a world-renowned style. His achievements and success in Spain, Germany, and England are unprecedented, and his influence continues to shape the game for future generations.

  "Pep’s achievements rank among the most remarkable in football history, and on behalf of the entire League Managers Association, I offer my sincerest congratulations to him on reaching such a prestigious milestone."

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• 1,000 Club: Other names on the list

  Guardiola is set to become the 39th manager in the modern era of English football to reach 1,000 games as a coach. Alongside Ferguson, Mourinho and Wenger, other names on that star-studded list include Brian Clough, Carlo Ancelotti, Sir Matt Busby, Roy Hodgson, Jurgen Klopp, Sir Bobby Robson, David Moyes and Neil Warnock.

Everton are preparing to table a January offer for an “incredible” full-back, with the individual in question seen as a top target for David Moyes and The Friedkin Group.

Ndiaye enjoying new role for Everton

The Blues have made a solid start to the season, even though things certainly haven’t been perfect, with Iliman Ndiaye continuing to shine for them.

Speaking last week about his new right-sided role for Everton, the Senegalese said he is enjoying it, even though it has taken some time for him to adjust to playing on the opposite flank.

“I’m still getting used to it and finding my best ways. The way I’m playing on the left is different from the way I’m playing on the right, but it’s good. I’ve scored two goals playing on the right, coming in at the back post and being alive in there. I feel like I can still do more – score more goals, create goals – but I’m still learning the role.

“It’s new to me because, generally, in the past, I’ve tended to play more off the left or down the middle. I’ve played on the right a few times but not as much. I’ve played on the right for Senegal recently, too.”

Ndiaye looks the part down the right-hand side, allowing Jack Grealish to flourish on the left, and now a right-back has been linked with a move to Everton, possibly linking up with the Senegal international in the near future.

Everton preparing offer for "incredible" full-back

According to a report from Spain, Everton are preparing an offer for Sevilla right-back Juanlu Sanchez, with a move potentially happening in the January transfer window.

The 22-year-old Olympic gold medal winner with Spain is considered a leading target for the Merseyside club, with his profile fitting the “physical and tactical demands of the Premier League.”

Juanlu could be perfect for Everton, coming in as a long-term acquisition who could offer something very different to Jake O’Brien in the right-back role.

The current Blues man is a centre-back by trade, and while he is doing impressively in an auxiliary position under Moyes, the Sevilla ace could bring more natural attacking quality there, having been hailed by former manager Garcia Pimienta for his potential.

“He has played as an inside midfielder [before], we were short on space in midfield due to Saul’s [Niguez] suspension and [Albert Sambi] Lokonga’s injury. I spoke to him, I knew he could do well in that position. Juanlu has an incredible present and a better future.”

Everton's most expensive sales of all time

The Toffees have received some huge fees over the years.

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Charlie Smith

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The fact that a January transfer feels possible is an added boost for Everton, possibly giving Moyes more depth midway through the season.

In truth, there are few negatives to the Blues signing Juanlu, with his £17m price tag potentially looking like a bargain over time, and the Spaniard is even in the top 5% for assists per 90 minutes for full-backs over the past year.

The Detroit Tigers continued one of the most improbable late-season runs in Major League Baseball history on Sunday by surviving the Baltimore Orioles, 4-3. At one point Detroit was 55-63 on the year and back on August 22 they were 62-66 and 9.5 games out of a Wild Card spot. The torrid 27-11 stretch has moved them into all the way past the free-falling Minnesota Twins and level with the similarly disintegrating Kansas City Royals.

Young centerfielder Parker Meadows has been one of the catalysts for the run, doing nothing but play impactiful baseball since returning from the minor leagues. In addition to providing a spark at the top of the lineup, the 6-foot-5 speedster has played tremendous defense.

His latest escapade—a game-saving home run robbery in the sixth inning on Saturday—saw him climb the fence in deep right-center and take away a two-run bomb from Orioles' Colton Cowser.

Once returning to the dugout, Meadows and his teammates gathered around the ol' tablet to enjoy the dopamine hit of several replays. You could say that a few minds were blown.

Jason Benetti mentioned something similar on the telecast but this little vignette is a perfect encapsulation of the improbably run. A bunch of players in their first or second year in the league locked in, astounded what one of their teammates has just done. Something borderline unbelievable that they've grown accustomed to believing.

Italian refereeing chief Gianluca Rocchi has defended his decision to suspend Maurizio Mariani and Daniele Bindoni following the chaotic clash between Napoli and Inter that saw a controversial penalty reshape the game. Rocchi was left angry at the mistakes made by the referee and his assistant, branding the episode a procedural failure.

• Napoli-Inter match derailed by controversy

  The Serie A clash between Napoli and Inter turned into one of Serie A’s most contentious nights of the season so far. A dubious first-half penalty awarded to Napoli after Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s light contact on Giovanni Di Lorenzo shifted the game’s momentum. Initially unsure, referee Mariani was urged by assistant Bindoni to award the spot-kick eight seconds after the incident. VAR operator Valerio Marini upheld the call despite minimal contact, and Kevin De Bruyne converted to give Napoli the lead. Inter’s furious protests grew louder after the officials later ignored a handball by Alessandro Buongiorno. The match ended 3-1 to Napoli, but the focus afterwards was firmly on officiating errors rather than the football.

  The two referee's were suspended by the Italian refereeing chief Rocchi as he backed his decision claiming that the poor choices made by the on-field officials were illogical and needs to be punished to keep it in check with the broader aspect of the game.

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  Rocchi suspends referee for 'illogical mistakes'

  The fallout was swift and public. Serie A’s referee designator Gianluca Rocchi, visibly angered, confirmed the suspension of Mariani, Bindoni, and VAR official Marini.

  "There are mistakes and mistakes. We don't intend to suspend anyone, but I get angry when mistakes are illogical because they go against what we agreed upon. If you overdo it, if you let your self-esteem get the better of you, it's not good. We have to focus on the good of the clubs, on the result, and not on ourselves. In those cases, I get angry and suspend someone," Rocchi said in an interview with

  The Italian referee was further irked by the decision of the two on-field referees but among the two he believes the assistant referee's adamant stance on it being a clear penalty is something Rocchi can't entertain.

  "This episode is very peculiar and involves a procedural issue. The referee may not have seen it, of course, but I must say that we wanted to introduce the assistants to a process so that they can become little referees. What I didn't like at all was the assistant's interference, but they have to intervene in very clear matters in their area of responsibility, and that's not the case here. It's not a penalty; we would have expected an on-field review.

  "The fact that there was contact has nothing to do with it; the 'we must not intervene' is not something we want to hear. In this case, I assign a lot of responsibility to the assistant, then to the match director, and then also to the VAR: I've put them on a scale. We have to be very interventionist on penalties that are of a high standard, and this one is below the threshold. I repeat, the procedure is not normal: if this penalty was seen by Mariani, we would have accepted it more, that's it."

  The blunders cost the officiating trio their Serie A duties. Reports described Rocchi as “furious” over “too serious errors” that influenced the match’s outcome. Bindoni was immediately stood down, facing possible demotion to Serie B, while Marini was moved off top-flight VAR duties.

• The wider fallout of refereeing errors

  Rocchi’s criticism didn’t stop with the match between the Scudetto candidates. He dissected a string of contentious calls across Serie A, each revealing a different flaw in refereeing judgment. In Lazio's clash against Juventus, he confirmed Mario Gila’s foul on Francisco Conceicao was a clear penalty but reminded officials that not all contacts are punishable – “if a player lands on another’s foot in a natural motion, it’s dynamic, not a foul.”

  Rocchi was further questioned about Rafael Leao's controversial opening goal for AC Milan in the 2-2 draw against Pisa last week. The controversy around the goal mainly relates to offside and refereeing interpretations that were scrutinised after the game. In response to which, the Serie A referee designator said: "It's a borderline decision, but from now on we'll focus on offside: the closer you are, the more impact it has on the goalkeeper: in this case, he's straddling the six-yard box and has an impact. [Zachary] Athekame
  's goal, on the other hand, is more correct. In short, distance makes the difference; in this case, [Malick] Fofana is further away inside the box. In short, the closer the offside player gets to the goalkeeper, the more punishable he will be."  

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  When will officials' suspensions end?

  Mariani, who made the first-half error in the Napoli vs Inter clash, was suspended from officiating midweek fixtures but could return as early as the following weekend. Bindoni received a longer suspension, expected to keep him out until the end of November due to his significant role in pushing the incorrect decision. This disciplinary action serves as a strong message emphasising accountability and the need for referees to avoid illogical mistakes that contradict agreed protocols.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has shared a Manchester United update from Old Trafford “sources” on a reported managerial target.

Amorim under Man Utd pressure after poor start

After being backed by INEOS in the transfer market, Ruben Amorim hasn’t had the start he would’ve wanted in his first full season in charge at Old Trafford.

As a result, the Red Devils boss is coming under increasing pressure, with speculation mounting over a potential departure. Following the 3-1 defeat to Brentford in the Premier League last time out, Romano has since claimed that Amorim’s future is “one to watch”, with his Man Utd future not guaranteed.

“The situation of Ruben Amorim is one to watch, for sure. I’m not saying that Ruben Amorim is safe. Amorim’s job is NOT absolutely safe because they have to perform in a different way, because Man United need to see results.

“The next games will be important for Ruben Amorim.”

A number of managers have been linked as targets to replace Amorim, including former England boss Sir Gareth Southgate.

Still out of work after leaving the Three Lions following the Euro 2024 final, there have been claims that Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been in direct contact with Southgate over a move to Man Utd.

Romano shares Man Utd update on INEOS and Southgate

Talking on his YouTube channel, relayed by The Peoples Person, Romano has shared what he knows regarding Man Utd and Southgate, admitting there is already a “very good” relationship between the 55-year-old and INEOS.

Southgate last managed in the Premier League back in 2009 with Middlesbrough. He was in charge at the Riverside for three years, where the club were actually relegated to the Championship.

Favouring an attacking 4-3-3 formation, as per Transfermarkt, Southgate did impress with England, leading them to two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final during his tenure, leading Joe Cole to say Southgate would be “perfect” for United.

Their own Pep: "Incredible" manager favourite to replace Amorim at Man Utd

Manchester United look set to turn to one other manager in their hunt to replace Ruben Amorim.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 1, 2025

Now, it looks as if the rumours of a move to Man Utd won’t be going away anytime soon.

Odsonne Edouard has launched a scathing attack on Ruud van Nistelrooy, claiming the Manchester United legend’s managerial ability fell well short of his playing career after a miserable spell together at Leicester City. The French striker, who barely featured during the Foxes’ relegation season, says he “didn’t get along” with the Dutchman and was frozen out for seven months.

• Edouard and van Nistelrooy's row

  Edouard has broken his silence on his doomed loan stint at Leicester City, pointing the finger squarely at former boss Van Nistelrooy. The Crystal Palace forward joined the Foxes on loan last summer and featured sparingly under Steve Cooper before being completely sidelined once Van Nistelrooy took charge in late November. Despite Leicester’s growing goal drought, the Dutchman ignored Edouard for most of the campaign, with the striker making just six appearances as the Foxes crashed out of the Premier League.

  Van Nistelrooy’s tenure proved disastrous, with only five wins in 27 matches and eight consecutive games without a goal at one stage. Edouard’s exclusion puzzled many, especially given his experience in English football and Leicester’s lack of cutting edge up front. By the end of the season, the Frenchman was out of favour, the team was relegated, and relations between the two had completely broken down.

  The fallout from Leicester’s relegation ultimately cost Van Nistelrooy his job**, as he departed the club in June without another managerial offer on the table since. His failure to revive Leicester’s fortunes, and his handling of senior players like Edouard had become a focal point in post-season reflections. For Edouard, however, the experience appears to have served as both a frustration and a lesson in resilience.

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  Edouard's dig at Man Utd legend

   “The Premier League is indescribable. You have to experience it to understand it, but at Leicester, things went wrong for me. I didn’t get along with Van Nistelrooy,” Edouard told L’Equipe.

  “I was stuck for seven months without playing. Being a great striker doesn’t necessarily make you a great manager,” he added, in what can only be described as a brutal assessment of his former coach.

  He continued: “After training, I would do an even harder session with my fitness coach. I didn’t give up. Leicester had a professional impact on me. I don’t really have any reasons. At the beginning, I played a little [under Steve Cooper], then things didn’t work out with Van Nistelrooy. I didn’t get along well with him. I found myself blocked for seven months without playing.”

  Edouard’s honesty underline a sense of betrayal and wasted opportunity, particularly as Leicester’s lack of goals could have used his experience. His claim that van Nistelrooy’s coaching pedigree did not match his playing legacy has since sparked debate about the Dutchman’s coaching prowess.

• Edouard back in France

  Edouard’s spell at Leicester ended in disappointment, but his career has taken a sharp upward turn since returning to France with Lens. The 27-year-old has rediscovered his scoring touch, recently netting a penalty in a 2-1 win over Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille that lifted Lens to second in Ligue 1. The Frenchman has spoken about feeling “liberated” in his new environment, where he has been trusted to lead the line rather than fight for scraps of playing time.

  Leicester, on the other hand, continue to rebuild under the leadership of Marti Cifuentes following their relegation nightmare, with the club still counting the cost of poor managerial decisions from last season. Van Nistelrooy’s reputation has taken a significant dent, and whether he can restore it will depend on his next move, if one comes at all. 

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  What comes next?

   For Edouard, the focus now lies firmly on maintaining his resurgence with Lens and possibly forcing his way back into the conversation for the French national team. His performances in Ligue 1 suggest he has rediscovered the confidence and rhythm that deserted him in England.

  Meanwhile, Van Nistelrooy’s post-Leicester career has been far less eventful. After his sacking in June, the Dutchman remains without a managerial post despite previous success at PSV Eindhoven, where he lifted the KNVB Cup. His short, unbeaten stint as interim boss at Manchester United last season now feels a distant memory as questions grow over whether he can rebuild his coaching reputation.

Aston Villa return to domestic action in the Premier League later this afternoon as Unai Emery’s side prepare to welcome Fulham to Villa Park.

The Spanish head coach is looking to mastermind the team’s first win in the league this season, having managed three draws and two defeats in five matches so far.

A goal from John McGinn was enough for the Villans to grab the win against Bologna in the Europa League on Thursday night, but it was not a perfect performance.

Emery may look to make some alterations to his starting line-up from that win over the Serie A outfit, and Morgan Rogers is one player who should drop out.

Why Morgan Rogers should be dropped

The England international started in the number ten position against Bologna and was booed by a small section of supporters because he failed to put in an impressive display.

The “harsh”, as Jay Bothroyd said, boos came during a performance that included Rogers losing the ball a staggering 29 times in the match, more than any other player on the pitch, per Sofascore.

A pass completion rate of 42% across 90 minutes of football is not good enough for an Aston Villa player, which is why he should be dropped from the line-up to bring Ollie Watkins back in, with Donyell Malen dropping deeper.

Rogers is not the only player who should be dropped from the XI, though. Emery must also ruthlessly ditch summer signing Evann Guessand from the team to face Fulham.

Why Evann Guessand should be dropped alongside Morgan Rogers

Villa’s England international was not the only attacker who failed to perform against Bologna in midweek, as Guessand struggled badly on the right wing at Villa Park.

The summer signing from Nice, who was described as “electric” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, won three of his 11 duels and completed just six passes in 90 minutes against the Italian outfit, per Sofascore.

Unfortunately, the Ivorian flop’s form in the Premier League since his move to the club has not been much better, having started two of his four outings in the division to date.

As you can see in the table above, Guessand has been incredibly ineffective at the top end of the pitch for Villa in the Premier League, with no chances created in four matches.

A dribble success rate of 11% also shows that opposition defenders have found it far too easy to get the better of him in one-on-one situations, which may be why he has struggled to create or score any goals for the Villans.

His complete lack of impact in the final third in the Premier League could open the door for Emery to bring Jadon Sancho into the starting XI on the wing, after his eight-minute cameo against Sunderland last time out in the division.

The England international created two chances in 74 minutes in his first start for the club against Brentford in the League Cup, which is more than Guessand has created in 348 minutes in all competitions for Villa, per Sofascore.

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This is why Emery must ruthlessly ditch the Ivorian attacker from the starting line-up alongside Rogers, with Watkins and Sancho coming in to replace them.

Xavi Simons is a player who has arrived at the club with huge expectations after the Tottenham Hotspur hierarchy forked out £52m for his signature this summer.

The Dutch international is seen as a huge talent for the immediate and long-term future in North London as the Lilywhites look to reach the next level under Thomas Frank.

Their Europa League triumph last campaign no doubt aided their chances of landing the 22-year-old, who was firmly on Chelsea’s radar before his big-money transfer.

Supporters will no doubt be hoping he can help catapult the club up the Premier League table in 2025/26, after registering a measly 15th-place finish under Ange Postecoglou.

Frank has no reason to be unhappy with the board, especially after their investment during the off-season, hopefully replicating the success of one player from their local rivals.

The suffering Martin Odegaard has inflicted on Spurs

Martin Odegaard, who currently plies his trade for local rivals Arsenal, has been a player who has constantly impressed against Spurs – often causing the fanbase numerous moments of torment.

In his eight outings against the Lilywhites, the Norwegian international has been on the winning side on six separate occasions – subsequently achieving a 75% win rate.

He’s also scored twice and registered an assist, subsequently having a bearing on the result in 50% of the triumphs for Mikel Arteta’s side in the North London Derby.

There’s no denying that the supporters of Spurs will wish that they could have their own version of the star within the side, especially given the suffering he’s placed upon them in recent years.

The summer addition of Simons could certainly help Frank’s hopes of landing a top-level attacking midfielder, but it’s likely that he will need time to bed in to life in England.

However, the hierarchy may have made a mistake in allowing one other former player to depart the club, given his impressive form since moving away from the Lilywhites.

The former Spurs star who could’ve been their own Odegaard

Over recent seasons, Spurs have spent hefty sums on attacking talent to try and bolster the options in the final third – but not all of their investments have paid off.

Bryan Gil cost a fee in the region of £25m back in the summer of 2021, with real expectations that he could provide needed quality off the left-hand side, along with Heung-min Son.

However, the Spaniard only made 43 senior appearances for the Lilywhites, failing to score a single goal and subsequently returning to his homeland and rejoining his former side, Girona.

The 24-year-old wasn’t the only promising talent to join Spurs from LaLiga, with attacking midfielder Giovani Lo Celso moving in a £27m transfer back in January 2020.

Lo Celso racked up 90 appearances over a three-year spell in North London – scoring a crucial goal against Manchester City a couple of years ago, which helped the side claim one of their famous results against Pep Guardiola’s men.

Whilst he racked up 10 goals for the club, it wasn’t enough to keep him in the first-team plans of Postecoglou, resulting in the Argentine making an £8m transfer back to Real Betis in the summer of 2024.

However, since his move back to Spain, the 29-year-old has once again recaptured his best form, leading to FBref labelling him as a similar player to Arsenal star, Odegaard.

When comparing their respective stats from the 2024/25 campaign, Lo Celso massively outperformed the Gunners captain in key areas – highlighting the mistake made in allowing him to depart last summer.

The former PSG star, who’s been labelled “incredible” by journalist Noah Trister, posted a higher goal and assist rate per 90, along with a better shot on target accuracy rate – showcasing the clinical edge he possesses in front of goal.

He also registered more key passes per 90 (2.7) and more passes into the final third per 90 (5.5), subsequently having the creative nature the hierarchy were frantically searching for all summer.

Lo Celso’s dominance over Odegaard is further demonstrated by his higher tallies of crosses per 90 and take-ons completed – numbers which make him a more all-round talent when in possession and breaking the lines.

The decision to offload the 29-year-old for just £8m now appears to be one that the club will love to regret, especially given his remarkable form for Betis over the last few months.

Simons desperately needs to live up to his mammoth price tag in the near future, with the Lilywhites board potentially allowing their answer to Odegaard slip through their fingers for a minimal fee.

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América striker Henry Martín has overcome the knee sprain that has kept him sidelined since Matchday 8 against Chivas. But while he has returned to light training, he is still not fully recovered or match-fit – and therefore will not be included in the squad for Saturday’s clash with Cruz Azul. The Águilas will look to stay near the top of the Liga MX table.

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  Martin's return is getting closer

  Henry Martín has endured the toughest year of his professional career – and one of his worst semesters – having played only six matches so far: three in the Apertura 2025 and three in the Leagues Cup, without scoring a single goal.

  The América captain was seen training on the field this week, a positive sign in his recovery process. But he will still not be part of André Jardine’s squad for Saturday’s match against Cruz Azul at Estadio Olímpico Universitario.

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  When could Martín make his comeback?

  After facing Cruz Azul, América will enter a busy week with a midweek fixture at home against Puebla next Tuesday – the tentative date for Henry’s possible return. However, the final decision will be made on Monday. If he is not yet ready, the club plans to hold him out until Friday, when the Águilas visit Mazatlán.

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  América’s absences for the Clásico Joven

  For the Clásico Joven, América will be without Martín, José Raúl Zúñiga, Isaías Violante and Dagoberto Espinoza, while Alejandro Zendejas remains doubtful. 

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  Who’s available for André Jardine’s squad?

  Álvaro Fidalgo, Allan Saint-Maximin and Sebastián Cáceres have all recovered after missing or being subbed off in the last match against Santos. Jonathan Dos Santos is also ready to go.

  Meanwhile, Luis Ángel Malagón, Kevin Álvarez, Israel Reyes, Ramón Juárez, Alexis Gutiérrez, and Érick Sánchez are expected to be available after returning from international duty with the Mexican national team.

Chelsea are believed to be prepared to fork out a significant sum for an alternative to right-back Malo Gusto this summer, with Enzo Maresca pondering his full-back options ahead of his second full season in charge.

Malo Gusto criticised as Chelsea handed right-back dilemma

Club captain Reece James recently returned from his injury hell to provide Maresca with much-needed reinforcement in the right-back area, but given his history of hamstring problems, there is no telling just how long he’ll be in contention for.

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Chelsea’s Cobham jewel could already be their answer to Liam Delap

1

By
Connor Holden

Apr 15, 2025

The Englishman, who was recently recalled to the Three Lions squad by new England boss Thomas Tuchel, has featured in nine of Chelsea’s last 12 Premier League games since returning from injury, missing one due to illness, so the signs have been positive.

Chelsea will be hopeful that the £250,000-per-week star can maintain this positive run of availability, but there is still a reliance on the out-of-form Gusto.

Gusto has attracted criticism throughout 2024/2025 for some sub-par displays, but Maresca will be cautious about dropping the former Lyon sensation in favour of being too overly reliant on James, as BlueCo tread carefully when it comes to the latter’s fitness.

The 21-year-old is still young and with plenty of room for improvement, though his return of just two assists in 33 appearances across all competitions will also be a concern for Maresca.

Chelsea need more threat from their full-backs on the overlap, and they ideally need a figurehead who can provide that injection of quality when they’re struggling to break sides down in the low-block.

Taking this into account, Barcelona right-back Jules Koundé could be a truly excellent option.

The France international, who can also play at centre-half, has the ability to kill two birds with one stone as Chelsea reportedly look to sign a centre-back this summer.

Arsenal are also very interested in Kounde, according to other reports, following the 26-year-old’s exceptional campaign under Hansi Flick at the Bernabeu. Kounde has started 28 La Liga matches this term, making 50 appearances in all competitions and bagging eight assists in the process – standing out as one of Flick’s key men.

Chelsea prepared to bid £68 million for Jules Koundé this summer

Now, according to reports out of Spain, it is believed Chelsea are ready to match Arsenal in the potential race for his signature.

Indeed, Chelsea are also prepared to make an offer of £68 million for Kounde, and Barca’s current financial troubles could tempt the Catalans into doing business. This bid would represent a significant profit for Barca, at a time when they really need it, and a figure of this magnitude could represent an “unexpected solution” to balance their books.

The west Londoners are apparently ready to outbid Arsenal for Kounde, and “already have a plan in place” to sway Kounde with a move to Stamford Bridge.

One sticking point could be the defender’s £224,000-per-week wages, though, which would place him among Maresca’s highest-earning players.