Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have made quite the impact at Wrexham, with their exploits considered to make rival supporters jealous.
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In January, Jurgen Klopp shocked the footballing world with the announcement that he would step down as Liverpool manager at the end of the 2023/24 season, 21 months after signing an extension that would keep him at Anfield until 2026.
But Klopp ran out of energy, and when the larger-than-life German reveals that his batteries have been depleted, you know there's more than a modicum of truth in the revelation: he meant it; it was time to leave.
It's probably fair to say that there was more than a measure of anxiety coursing through Merseyside as Liverpool prepared for the unknown, but FSG have acted with real purpose, dissembling Anfield and restructuring it in a way that speaks of further success down the line.
Arne Slot has been announced as Klopp's successor but it is the duo of Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes who will prove decisive in recruitment, and given that one of Europe's hottest prospects is being pursued, the club seems to be in safe hands.
Liverpool fighting for elite talent
According to Dutch outlet Eindhovens Dagblad, Liverpool are hoping to sign PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko this summer, who has been valued at £43m by the Dutch Eredivisie champions.
The 21-year-old is also attracting attention from German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, though Liverpool can find early positivity in the latter's reluctance to pay such a sum.
Liverpool have been tracking Bakayoko for over a year and Slot will know him well following his tenure with Feyenoord, so this is definitely one to keep an eye on.
Why Johan Bakayoko is attracting interest
Journalist Ben Mattinson has gushed over Bakayoko's "insane" ability this season, with the right-sided forward enjoying an incredible season after cutting his teeth with PSV's first team last year, scoring five goals and adding as many assists.
Scoring 14 goals and adding 14 assists in all competitions this season, Bakayoko has been an imperious figure down the right channel for PSV, and while his direct contributions speak of exciting attacking potential in a division such as the Premier League, it's the underlying numbers that have arrested Edwards' attention.
Indeed, as per Sofascore, the Belgium international has complemented his 12-goal, nine-assist return in the Dutch Eredivisie this term with 2.9 shots and 2.1 assists per game, ensuring that his output is reflected through his success.
Moreover, an 87% pass completion rate highlights his elite technical skill and crispness, with 3.4 ball recoveries, 2.8 dribbles and 4.7 successful duels per game wrapping up an illustration of high-level athleticism that makes him a factory-crafted fit for the rigours of English football.
Bakayoko is in the maiden phase of a promising career but he has demonstrated enough to suggest that he has what it takes to succeed at the highest level, perhaps even proving to be the dream successor for Mohamed Salah, whose future at Anfield is uncertain.
How Johan Bakayoko could fit in at Liverpool
The Saudi Pro League's pursuit of Salah risks entering the realm of monotony, with The Telegraph revealing that interest in bringing the Egyptian to the Gulf might now be cooled until 2025 when his contract on Merseyside will reach its conclusion.
But considering that by that point Salah will have reached his 33rd birthday, it might not be the worst decision in the world for FSG to allow their £350k-per-week star to enter the twilight phase of his glittering career elsewhere, especially if Liverpool are forearmed with Bakayoko, who will have enjoyed an invaluable year as Salah's understudy.
Bakayoko is an immense talent but it's unclear at this stage if he will ever develop into a free-scoring phenomenon like his prospective predecessor; quite simply, that just might not be his area of expertise, and that's perfectly okay.
Liverpool are evolving and it might prove an imprudent move to shoehorn a player into Salah's position on the right flank, especially given Slot will now look to inculcate his own philosophy into the team.
Instead, Bakayoko could bring his own, all-encompassing attacking game to ensure that Liverpool enjoy a new chapter with a new star down the right channel, different but deadly.
GK – Simon Mignolet
RB – Trent Alexander-Arnold
CB – Joel Matip
CB – Dejan Lovren
LB – Alberto Moreno
DM – Jordan Henderson
CM – Emre Can
CM – Gini Wijnaldum
RW – Mohamed Salah (G, 57')
LW – Sadio Mane (G, 29')
CF – Roberto Firmino (G, 55')
Salah ranks among the top 4% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 1% for assists and touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 20% for shot-creating actions per 90, but he also ranks among only the top 51% for progressive carries and the top 78% for successful take-ons per 90.
As he's aged, the one-time Chelsea starlet has refined his game to fit his slowly but inexorably declining athleticism, which is still elite but finds him more effective in shifting into the danger area, collecting and unleashing.
The spark that Bakayoko would offer Anfield could work wonders in offering something different, with his speed and dribbling prowess seeing the young Belgian rank among the top 6% of positional peers across divisions similar to the Eredivisie over the past year for touches in the attacking penalty area but, crucially, among the top 1% for progressive carries and the top 4% for successful take-ons per 90.
His fleet-footed style has led Bakayoko to be hailed for his "electric" qualities by talent scout Jacek Kulig, accurately portraying a style of play that appears perfect for Slot's high-energy, fast-pressing brand of football.
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Who knows, after spending a season absorbing the fruits of Salah's labour, Bakayoko could grow into his skin without the heavy weight of succeeding one of the Premier League's all-time forwards instantly.
It's a move that has to be made this summer…
Former Premier League chief Keith Wyness has shared what he’s heard about a potential second buyer emerging to complete a takeover of Everton.
The Blues have had a season full of controversy and struggles, having to accept a couple of points deductions in the league, threatening their top-flight status in the process. Thankfully, Sean Dyche has done an excellent job, ensuring his side are all but safe even despite their penalties.
Away from that issue, there is also constant concern over the credentials of 777 Partners as Everton's next owners, with one recent report claiming that Deloitte have been called in seek new backers, following an update from journalist David Hellier.
Meanwhile, a fresh report from BBC Sport on Thursday provided another update regarding the current takeover situation at Goodison Park. They state that "Everton's prospective buyers have held discussions with a private equity firm specialising in 'distressed debt' as they aim to complete a protracted takeover of the club", once again posing further questions over 777's capabilities and funding.
Speaking to Football Insider, 66 year-old Wyness has now talked up the idea of a Tim Cahill-led Qatari takeover of Everton happening in the near future, in a decision that could split opinion: "Tim Cahill has been linked as the face of any potential Qatari bid. Tim has done a great job down there with the Aspire Academy and is very involved at a high level with the Qatar national team and their football plan.
"If he was to get the right ear of people in Qatar, he’s a very forceful personality and has done well in business since leaving football – it could be a possibility. Qatar is not ridiculous. I think it would be well received by fans. There are obviously the political issues which would have to be resolved.
“But of all the nation states, Qatar would be accepted by the Everton fans. As with anything in football, it’s 50/50. 50% will hate it, and 50% will love it – that’s just how it goes."
This is certainly an alternative option that could appeal to Everton supporters, who will no doubt be growing increasingly frustrated with the situation surrounding 777 Partners, considering they agreed to buy a 94% stake in the club all the way back in September.
Not only could the Qataris stand out more financially, but the fact that Cahill is the face of the operation could make it even more ideal.
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The Australian is arguably one of the Blues' most popular players of the Premier League era, scoring 68 goals in 278 appearances, and the fanbase could have faith in him having the club's best interests at heart, which is so important to any takeover.
Liverpool's last lap under Jurgen Klopp has seen a detrimental stumble that has allowed Arsenal and Manchester City to take command in the Premier League title race, with hopes of clinching the trophy minute at this point.
To triumph against the odds would take an incredible nosedive in form from both rivals at the final stage, compounding the recent struggles that have seen Liverpool crash out of the FA Cup and the Europa League.
And while the Carabao Cup was clinched back in February, there is an unavoidable, unshakeable sense of poignancy, of regret, surrounding what teased to be a stunning ending, fitting of the dynasty that the 56-year-old created on Merseyside.
Still, Liverpool have rebuilt following the dismal efforts of the 2022/23 campaign and perhaps it's apt timing for Klopp to stand down, relinquish the reins and allow the club to enter its next phase.
Arne Slot is the man to succeed the German, and he will find the complex situation around Mohamed Salah at the forefront of his concerns when he touches down in Liverpool this summer.
Mohamed Salah's recent form
Last summer, with Liverpool losing their place among Europe's elite, Saudi side Al-Ittihad sought to secure a flagship signing by bringing Salah to the Middle East, though their eye-watering £150m advance was rejected by FSG last August.
Salah, who was respectful throughout the process, remained at Liverpool and proved exactly why keeping him in the squad was such a pivotal success, having plundered 24 goals and 13 assists across 41 appearances for the Reds this season.
The Egyptian star ranks among the top 5% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 1% for assists and touches in the attacking penalty area and the top 21% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
He's been the linchpin of a largely excellent campaign, though this recent decline in form has been concurrent with his side's acute nosedive, with Liverpool's wastefulness in front of goal the crux of the slump.
Indeed, the £350k-per-week forward has scored just one goal across his past six Premier League outings, failing to assist a teammate and winning only two matches.
The 31-year-old still has much to offer at the apex of the great game and pointers suggest that he feels remaining at Liverpool, where he has bagged 298 goal contributions from 346 fixtures, notably winning the Premier League and the Champions League, is the best place for his remarkable career.
However, Salah's imperfections have been accentuated following the recent dip, the fatal blip, and now there is a palpable sense that Slot may not view Salah as the fulcrum of his Liverpool attack when the Dutch manager gets to work on English shores.
Slot and his tactical brand have a semblance to that of his Anfield predecessor, Klopp, but there will of course be changes and his thrash-metal style could see the prolific Egyptian lose that unwavering starting berth that has already cracked, a fissure stemming from his decline and seeing Klopp bench him twice in the past four top-flight outings – erupting in a heated touchline row.
Should Salah remain at the club, as is expected at this point, it's unlikely that a high-profile, high-cost replacement will be targeted this summer, but Dominik Szoboszlai could find himself undergoing a tactical alteration…
Why Slot must unleash Szoboszlai at right wing
Few would question that Klopp knew what he was doing when he fashioned Szoboszlai into a deeper-lying midfield position than he might be accustomed to, signing the Hungarian gem from RB Leipzig for £60m last summer.
Turbo-powered, elegant and enterprising, Szoboszlai proved to be a colossal upgrade on Henderson in the centre of the park, even being declared as an "artist" by talent scout Jacek Kulig for his early exploits in the Premier League.
But injuries and an unrelenting schedule have taken their toll on the 23-year-old, who has been one of the most noticeable strugglers throughout the recent period of inconsistency in Liverpool's campaign, starting only one of the Reds' last three league games.
Still, as per Sofascore, over the duration of the Premier League season, the £120k-per-week dynamo has completed 87% of his passes, averaging 1.7 key passes and 5.6 ball recoveries per game.
But this has all been as an operator in the heart of the midfield, a position that is not his natural placement but necessary to charge Klopp's team – the recreation of players such as Gini Wijnaldum in the past further proves this point.
Slot plays with a 4-2-3-1 formation and, as such, will probably not use Szoboszlai at the base of the engine room, where Alexis Mac Allister would thrive alongside a specialist No. 6.
Right winger
24
8
5
Right midfield
8
0
7
Left winger
7
2
1
Attacking midfield
3
0
0
Central midfield
3
0
0
Hailed as a "generational talent" by journalist Marcel Moeller during his career in Germany, Szoboszlai might just find that in a new system, playing a role that better suits his skill set, he rises to a position of prominence and sustains it under the guidance of Slot.
Last year, with Leipzig, he principally played on the right wing, reaping the lion's share of his direct goal contributions through such means. Salah will hope to hold down his long-time Liverpool position but Slot's football demands energy, movement and multi-functionality.
Salah is averaging 0.8 dribbles per game in the Premier League this season, winning 35%, as opposed to 2.2 per fixture during his historic 2017/18 term, succeeding with 63% of his forward forays. Szoboszlai, clearly, offers more energy than that declining aspect of the Egyptian game.
Ranking among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for shots taken, the top 4% for progressive carries and the top 5% for touches in the attacking penalty area per 90, the 6 foot 1 player is patently pushing toward his favoured role in and around the final third.
He might not have the elite goalscoring ability of Salah, but this style of play could suit the new regime just perfectly, with Trent Alexander-Arnold spraying passes into the danger area that his Hungarian counterpart can latch onto with penetrative pace and power.
Who knows, perhaps Salah might find himself shaping into a new, more central position, where he can maintain his sharpening playmaking ability – no Premier League player has created more big chances than he this term (21) – and benefit from the robust creative qualities of Szoboszlai.
One thing's for certain, Slot has much to chew on when he arrives at Anfield, tasked with leading Liverpool to more glory after the brightest period in generations.
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كشف محمد عثمان محامي إمام عاشور لاعب فريق الكرة بـ الأهلي انتهاء أزمة الأخير مع فرد الأمن والتي تلقي على إثرها حكمًا بالحبس.
وكانت محكمة جنح مستأنف الشيخ زايد قد قضت بمعاقبة إمام عاشور بالحبس 6 أشهر في اتهامه بـ ضرب فرد أمن خلال مشاجرة بأحد المراكز التجارية.
طالع | إمام عاشور يوضح حقيقة خلافه مع حسام حسن.. ويصرح: هدفي في الزمالك الأغلى
وقال محمد عثمان في تصريحات خاصة لـ”بطولات”: “تم التصالح بين إمام عاشور وفرد الأمن وتم تسجيل التصالح في الشهر العقاري وانتهى الأمر تمامًا”.
وتعود تفاصيل القضية إلى مشادة كلامية وقعت بين اللاعب ومسؤول الأمن داخل أحد المولات الشهيرة، وتطورت إلى اشتباك جسدي.
Portugal have had one of the greatest players of all time representing their nation in recent memory in Cristiano Ronaldo, with the forward breaking a number of records.
He is Portugal’s top goalscorer of all time, and it’s no surprise that CR7 also tops the charts for appearances. But who is behind Ronaldo when it comes to caps? Football FanCast has taken a look at the top 20 Portuguese appearance-makers, with a detailed view of the top 10.
All information correct as of 16th May 2025.
Rank
Player
Caps
1
Cristiano Ronaldo
219
2
Joao Moutinho
146
3
Pepe
141
4
Luis Figo
127
5
Nani
112
6
Fernando Couto
110
7
Rui Patricio
108
8
Bernardo Silva
100
9
Bruno Alves
96
10
Rui Costa
94
11
Ricardo Carvalho
89
12
Pauleta
88
13
Simao
85
14
Joao Pinto
81
=15
Ricardo Quaresma
80
=15
William Carvalho
80
=15
Vitor Baia
80
=18
Nuno Gomes
79
=18
Ricardo
79
20
Bruno Fernandes
78
Here is a detailed look at Portugal’s 10 most-capped players:
10 Rui Costa 94 caps
Also one of Portugal’s top 10 goalscorers of all time, attacking midfielder Rui Costa ended his international career with 94 caps.
He made his senior debut for Portugal in 1993 a few days after his 21st birthday and would go on to play until 2004. Unfortunately for Rui Costa, his last appearance for Portugal would come in the final of Euro 2004, suffering heartbreak against Greece.
9 Bruno Alves 96 caps
Centre-back Bruno Alves represented Portugal at the 2004 Olympic Games, but didn’t make his full international debut until 2007 at the age of 25.
Alves quickly made up for lost time, though, becoming a key member of Portugal’s defensive setup for the next decade. A European Championship winner, Alves called it quits in 2018, four appearances shy of triple figures.
8 Bernardo Silva 100 caps
Bernardo Silva has had a glittering international career for Portugal despite missing out on being a part of their triumphant Euro 2016 squad.
Entering triple figures for caps in March 2025, Silva won the inaugural Nations League in 2019, setting up the winning goal in the final.
A regular at tournaments since the 2018 World Cup, he is now one of eight Portugal players to reach 100 appearances.
7 Rui Patricio 108 caps
The highest-capped goalkeeper for Portugal, Rui Patricio made his debut for his country at the age of 22 in 2010 and was an ever-present figure over the next decade.
The former Wolves shot-stopper, who is still available for selection now, won 10 or more caps for Portugal in 2012, 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021. He is no longer first-choice, but will go down as a Portugal legend after helping them win Euro 2016.
6 Fernando Couto 110 caps
Regarded by many as one of Portugal’s greatest defenders, Fernando Couto’s international career lasted 15 years.
It began back in 1990 at the age of 21 after he helped Portugal win the FIFA World Youth Championship a year prior. He was part of the “Golden Generation” and became the first-ever Portugal player to win 100 caps.
5 Nani 112 caps
Former Manchester United winger Nani scored 24 goals and provided 24 assists in his 112 appearances for Portugal.
The first of his caps came in 2006, with his last in 2017, as Nani played in five major tournaments for his country. The last of those, Euro 2016, was certainly the most memorable for the winger, with Nani taking over the captaincy following an injury to Cristiano Ronaldo in the final.
4 Luis Figo 127 caps
Unfortunately, despite winning so much at club level, legendary winger Luis Figo never won a major tournament with Portugal.
The former captain of the “Golden Generation” made his debut for the national side in 1991 and announced his initial retirement in 2004. However, Figo reversed that call a year later, turning out in the 2006 World Cup before once again hanging up his boots.
3 Pepe 141 caps
Centre-back Pepe finally called time on his international career after Euro 2024 at the grand old age of 41.
On the international stage, Pepe, who could have represented Brazil, made his Portugal debut in 2007 at 24 and went on to become an important part of the national side.
He has turned out in nine major tournaments, becoming the oldest player to score in a World Cup knockout game back in 2022.
2 Joao Moutinho 146 caps
A name which may come as a surprise to some, Joao Moutinho sits second in the all-time appearance chart for Portugal, ending his career with 146 caps.
The former Wolves midfielder made his senior debut for Portugal at 18 and would go on to be a regular until 2022, turning out on 10 or more occasions in eight separate calendar years.
1 Cristiano Ronaldo 219 caps
A record that will arguably never be beaten, Cristiano Ronaldo is the only player to have made more than 200 appearances for a senior international side.
Ronaldo’s career for Portugal began in 2003 at the age of 18, and 21 years later, the iconic striker is still going strong. He’s scored a whopping 136 goals during that time, winning Euro 2016 and captaining his country for large parts of his international career.
There are just months to go until Gareth Southgate names his England squad for Euro 2024. This summer’s tournament marks the manager’s fourth major competition as Three Lions boss, and as with every finals squad, there is bound to be room for a surprise or two.
Marcus Rashford famously forced his way into Roy Hodgson’s plans at Euro 2016 despite only scoring his first Premier League goals in late February, while Jude Bellingham proved age was just a number by making the Euro 2020 squad under Southgate at just 17.
Football FanCast has selected ten players who may just catch Southgate’s eye before he has to submit his 23-strong list to UEFA. For this list, we’ve selected players who don’t seem to currently be in the manager’s thinking, regardless of whether they’ve been selected in previous squads.
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So who could muscle their way onto the plane this summer?
Elijah Adebayo (Luton Town) Striker, 0 caps
Elijah Adebayo is having some season for Premier League relegation battlers Luton Town. He has shown all his qualities at the top level, with a hat-trick against Brighton and a goal at St James’ Park a week later, displaying the goalscoring prowess that helped the Hatters to the top flight in the first place.
Add that to his other strikes against the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City, and you have a proven goal threat, not to mention a downright nuisance. This could be the kind of chaos Southgate seeks to deploy against unsuspecting international defences if those we are used to seeing in the forward line are failing to perform.
Who knows what form he’ll be in come May, but if he keeps this up, he’ll almost certainly hand Southgate a decision to make.
Harvey Barnes (Newcastle United) Winger, 1 cap
Harvey Barnes is no stranger to Southgate, with the wide-man making plenty take notice of his performances during his time at Leicester City. That includes current club Newcastle United, who swooped for around £38m to bring him to Tyneside last summer.
He also already has an England cap to his name, making his only Three Lions appearance to date in a 3-0 friendly win over Wales in October 2020. While he has been left in the international wilderness since, he has not been helped by injuries.
Making his latest comeback for the Magpies in February’s 4-4 draw with Luton, Barnes helped his side by netting the all-important equaliser just minutes after coming on. If he can make a similar contribution to England from the bench, he may yet be a very useful weapon indeed for Southgate and co.
Jarrad Branthwaite (Everton) Defender, 0 caps
Jarrad Branthwaite has clearly caught Gareth Southgate’s eye – the Everton defender was called up to the senior side for their recent friendlies against Brazil and Belgium. However, questions have to be asked over the manager’s overall plans for him, after Branthwaite was left on the bench for the entirety of both matches.
His club form – including at PSV last season – has certainly warranted consideration at international level, and we have seen the defensive issues on show in the past couple of games, so it does seem odd that Southgate opted to omit Branthwaite from either starting XI and leave him on the sidelines, particularly given the injuries that befell the Three Lions squad over that period.
There is still time to show why he should be selected, but Southgate would have to do so without having granted the centre-back any minutes himself.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) Striker, 11 caps (4 goals)
He may only have three league goals to his name this term, but Dominic Calvert-Lewin knows exactly what he is capable of. Perhaps crucially, Southgate knows this as well, having selected the Everton striker for Euro 2020 off the back of a 21-goal season in all competitions.
Constant injuries have befallen the Toffees ace ever since, but he has put his best string of games together for some time in recent months as he looks to spearhead Everton’s charge away from relegation trouble. In fact, he already has more appearances this term than in either of his previous two.
While his international experience thus far only amounts to a handful of caps and two substitute appearances at Euro 2020, there is no doubting he could be a valuable squad member – but he has a hell of a lot of work to do before making the 23.
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) Midfielder, 2 caps
Eberechi Eze appears to be in a period of his career where he is improving all the time. Continuing to add goals to his game (he is more than halfway to last year’s total of ten), it is rather telling that Crystal Palace have only won once without him in the squad this term.
So with the 25-year-old looking like he is approaching the peak of his powers, Southgate could well be of the mind to at least call Eze up for the pre-tournament friendlies, though missing out on March’s internationals may throw this into doubt as the squad deadline approaches.
With only a pair of appearances off the bench for the Three Lions so far, it is difficult to argue that he hasn’t warranted another look in England colours ahead of the Euros, though time is running out.
Curtis Jones (Liverpool) Midfielder, 0 caps
Southgate would arguably overlook Curtis Jones’ apparent lack of experience at his peril. While he is yet to debut for the senior international side, Jones has truly broken through this season, having his most impactful campaign at Liverpool to date.
This comes after his heroics in the summer, where he was part of the England Under-21 side that went all the way in the U21 EURO – a campaign in which he played almost every minute as England won every game without conceding.
He has even been hailed as “super important” by Reds boss Jurgen Klopp, which only makes him harder to ignore. Compared to those in the current squad like Conor Gallagher and Jordan Henderson, who haven’t had the greatest seasons for their respective clubs, Jones may even be less of a wildcard and more of a perfectly viable option.
Max Kilman (Wolves) Defender, 0 caps
Max Kilman’s journey to Premier League stardom is certainly an unorthodox one. Wolves picked him up from non-league football and the defender has never looked back.
What’s more is that he has already started his international journey, despite having no England caps to his name. That’s because he has played competitively for England’s futsal team.
Perhaps even more bizarre is that if it weren’t for his futsal exploits, he’d already be an international footballer – for Ukraine. Kilman would be eligible through his father, who was born in the southern city of Odessa. However, because futsal falls under FIFA’s remit, he was unable to switch allegiance when Andriy Shevchenko wanted him to join the squad ahead of Euro 2020.
This leaves an opportunity for Gareth Southgate should Kilman appear on his radar ahead of the summer. Now captaining Wolves, Kilman has matured in the Molineux backline and has been watched by the Three Lions boss in the past, but he is yet to get the call-up he arguably deserves.
Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United) Midfielder, 2 caps
Kobbie Mainoo’s rise to prominence in an inconsistent Manchester United side could turn out to be his and England’s gain. The youngster made his first-team debut against Everton in late November and has since become an integral part of the squad, starting all of United’s last 12 Premier League games at the time of writing.
While there has been little to shout about for his club, he is no doubt one of its shining lights. Dramatic winner against Wolves aside, he has shown a maturity beyond his tender years to gain the trust of Erik ten Hag when he needed players to step up.
This notion will have only been enhanced following his stellar display against Belgium, when Southgate handed him a full debut after earning a cameo appearance against Brazil.
Jadon Sancho (Borussia Dortmund) Winger, 23 caps (3 goals)
Someone in dire need of a career renaissance, there may yet be time for Jadon Sancho to redeem himself before the start of Euro 2024 following his January move back to Borussia Dortmund.
Indeed, it was at the German giants he really made his name and earned his 23 caps to date, but his club and international careers have dwindled since.
He has only appeared once for the Three Lions since the Euro 2020 final, with last October marking two years without an England cap.
His return to Dortmund did see him record two assists in as many games before being struck by injury, but as mentioned, there is plenty of time to make an impact worthy enough to get into the manager’s good books. It seems a tall order right now, but Sancho might be in the environment that enables Southgate to take notice of him once again.
Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth) Striker, 1 cap
With his last – and only – cap coming in a 15-minute cameo appearance against Brazil in November 2017, returning to the England fold would represent quite the journey for the in-form Dominic Solanke.
He has since become the main man for Bournemouth having failed to force his way into the Liverpool setup and now appears as though he is playing his best football – only Erling Haaland and Ollie Watkins have more Premier League goals this season.
In fact, the form of Ollie Watkins – selected once again for March’s friendlies – is arguably the main barrier in his way. It would seem that the role as immediate backup to Harry Kane’s spot in the team is Watkins’ to lose at present, but Solanke and Ivan Toney will be waiting in the wings if Southgate fancies a change of heart.
There hasn't been much to criticise about Arsenal since Mikel Arteta and Edu arrived in north London but one area they need to improve in is player sales.
It's historically been an area of business the Gunners have struggled to thrive in, selling players below their market value, unable to generate many funds to subsequently spend themselves in the transfer market.
Granit Xhaka departed the Emirates to the tune of just £21.4m last summer while Rob Holding, whatever you think of him, is surely worth more than the measly £4m fee attached to his move to Crystal Palace. Alas, Arsenal have made do. You can hardly say they've spent that money in the market unwisely.
#5 Emmanuel Adebayor
Man City
£25m
#4 Cesc Fabregas
Barcelona
£34m
#3 Alex Iwobi
Everton
£35m
#2 Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Liverpool
£35m
#1 Folarin Balogun
Monaco
£38m
That said, the deal surrounding Folarin Balogun's departure has to be celebrated from a business point of view.
Why Arsenal sold Folarin Balogun
Balogun was always a prolific figure at youth level for Arsenal. For the U18s he scored 38 goals in 41 outings. For the U21s, the young striker bagged 37 in 62.
Therefore, when the American-born forward began to thrive out on loan last season it didn't really come as a shock.
Plying his trade with Stade Reims in Ligue 1, the now 22-year-old was simply on fire. Balogun found the net on 22 occasions in 39 outings. For a player who had struggled previously in senior football with Middlesbrough, scoring just three times in 21 games, it was mightily impressive.
However, Balogun wasn't happy to just sit on the bench. He wanted first-team football and with Gabriel Jesus clearly ahead of him in the pecking order was sold for a seismic £38m. It marks a huge success for the Hale End Academy, to bring a player through the ranks to then sell on for a huge fee.
Unfortunately, it hasn't all been sunshine and rainbows for the attacker since departing London on a permanent transfer.
How Folarin Balogun is doing after leaving Arsenal
The striker headed back to France last summer, moving to Monaco where great things were expected of him having thrived in France throughout the 2022/23 campaign.
Sadly, Balogun hasn't hit the same heights during an inconsistent first term in the principality. In 23 games, he has scored six goals and supplied five assists. Those aren't awful numbers, of course, but for someone who was so prolific last season you'd expect better.
Fans wanted the New York City-born star to get a chance in the Arsenal senior squad but it's safe to say they haven't missed him. They do sit top of the Premier League after all.
Such a sale has left some questioning how Edu and Co could generate a similar sum of money. Players like Aaron Ramsdale and Eddie Nketiah have been widely tipped to move away in the summer but there is a left-field option who could be used to generate a hefty payday; Mika Biereth.
Why Arsenal could sell Mika Biereth
Biereth perhaps isn't a name with as much hype attached to it as Balogun's but he's still a supreme looking forward. To suggest he could be sold for anything close to £38m would be a stretch but there is certainly a player in there.
Like Balogun, the 21-year-old, who holds Danish and British citizenship, has been on fire during loan spells away from the club.
The young forward began the campaign in Scotland with Motherwell where six goals and five assists were tallied up in 15 games, coincidentally matching Balogun's total from this season. That temporary move was cut short over the winter with Biereth moving to Sturm Graz in Austria.
He has set the Austrian Bundesliga alight, scoring eight goals in 11 outings for his new club to date. The former Fulham youth product has been particularly impressive in Europe, netting three times in the Europa Conference League.
Appearances
15
11
Minutes
1045'
773'
Goals
6
8
Assists
5
1
If this is a sign of things to come then it'll be exciting to see him develop. Comparisons to both Erling Haaland and Harry Kane should also throw a few million onto any prospective transfer fee.
Speaking to the media a few weeks ago, the Denmark youth international commented: "Like Haaland, all I really care about is scoring goals. If you’d offer me two touches of the ball and two goals I’d take that. For me, it’s all about scoring goals.
“[But] there are different aspects of the game when scoring goals isn’t possible when the ball is deep so then it’s about combining, linking the play, holding the ball up like Kane does. Those are the two different variables on the pitch.”
Whether Arsenal decide to have a look at Biereth in the summer remains to be seen but either way, he will need to prove himself in a league with more quality first, just as Balogun did.
That said, you can't totally knock Austrian football. It was a country where a certain Haaland learnt his trade, notably scoring 29 in 27 for RB Salzburg.
There is a slim chance that Arsenal's rising Hale End star reaches the same illustrious heights but they will no doubt win from his impressive development.
Biereth either becomes a first-team regular or he guarantees them a healthy slice of cash as Balogun did. That doesn't sound too bad, does it?
As the fixtures begin to come thick and fast once more, Rangers will hope to keep ahold of their spot at the top of the Scottish Premiership whilst also navigating a way through Benfica in the Europa League. But that's certainly easier said than done, especially after Philippe Clement's latest injury update.
Rangers injury news
The Gers already have a lengthy injury list, making Clement's recent work even more impressive to leapfrog Celtic at the top of the league. Even before the latest update, Rangers were on course to be without as many as five players ahead of their next game against Motherwell.
Rabbi Matondo
Unknown
Abdallah Sima
Mid April
Alex Lowry
Mid-late March
Kieran Dowell
Late March
Todd Cantwell
Late March
Danilo Pereira
Early April
With Celtic sitting just two points behind in the Scottish Premiership, Rangers can't afford a single slip-up in the next few weeks. As their injury list grows and fixtures keep coming, however, that may prove to be more and more difficult for the Gers.
Making matters worse, Clement confirmed that Oscar Cortes suffered a muscle injury against Kilmarnock and will now see a specialist, with his return date unknown.
Given that the former AS Monaco boss couldn't give an answer as to when those at Ibrox can expect their January loan signing to return, he looks likely to miss Rangers' Europa League last 16 tie against Benfica. The first leg, which comes in Portugal, is as soon as next Thursday, whilst the second leg takes place on March 14 at Ibrox in a crucial clash for Rangers' European ambitions.
Cortes has already impressed at Rangers
With reports suggesting that Rangers will look to make Cortes' loan move a permanent deal this summer, it's fair to say that the 20-year-old RC Lens winger has impressed since arriving in January. Clement hasn't shied away from handing the loanee plenty of praise.
"He is somebody who can help the team and who feels good in his way of football. He had six months in Lens, where they had a different style and he didn’t play many minutes – or almost nothing – but it’s good that our recruitment knew him already for a long time and they said he would fit the team and the squad and he could give something that we need for the next couple of months
"It’s clear already from the first training that he can help us with achieving our goals."
In many ways, Cortes' positive impression makes his injury blow all the more frustrating for Rangers, especially as they prepare to square off against Portuguese giants Benfica. Clement will desperately be hoping to be handed some positive news when the winger sees a specialist over his muscle issue.
England go into the fifth day needing another miracle to sustain their hopes of winning back the Ashes
George Dobell in Manchester07-Sep-2019Trevor Bayliss has called on England’s batsmen to “put their hand up and be the hero” on the final day of the Manchester Test.England go into the fifth day requiring a miracle – another miracle – to sustain their hopes of winning back the Ashes. Set an improbable 383 to win in the final innings – their more realistic target is to bat out the final 98 overs on the last day – they lost two wickets within the first four balls of their reply.While they scraped through to stumps without further loss, the fact that Joe Root and Rory Burns were the men to go will do nothing to increase optimism in England’s chances of survival. Root, who was bowled first ball by a perfect delivery from Pat Cummins, has become the first England captain to register three ducks in a series. If Australia win the game, they will take retain the Ashes whatever happens in the final Test at The Oval.But Bayliss, the England coach, insisted his team could bat out the final day to claim the draw that would sustain their hopes.”It’ll take a couple of our guys to make good hundreds but as we saw in the last Test, anything is possible,” Bayliss sad. “It’s a big challenge, but we’ve got two guys out there who are very good players. We’ve certainly got some players in the sheds who can make hundreds.”I think we can do it. We’ve had a chat in the changing room and we’re certainly not thinking it’s all over. There’s no use playing at this level if you don’t believe you are good enough to bat for 98 overs and save the game.”Also read: Smith transcendent as Cummins puts one hand on the AshesWhile Bayliss could, realistically, hardly say anything else, England’s slim hopes have some substance while Ben Stokes remains. He has already pulled off two near miracles this summer – the World Cup final and the Leeds Test – and is England’s leading run-scorer in the series. England’s supporters will hope he can snare a hat-trick of miracles on the final day.Ben Stokes pulls through the leg side•Getty Images & PA Images
The form of the other remaining batsmen provides less reason for optimism, however. Jason Roy is averaging 12.42 this series, Joe Denly 23.00, Jos Buttler 13.71 and Jonny Bairstow 25.50. But Bayliss hopes Stokes’ success can inspire them with greater belief.”Stokes’ record probably gives the rest of the guys belief,” Bayliss said. “If one guy can do it someone else can do it as well. We’ve already spoken about who is going to put their hand up and be the hero. We know it is going to be hard work, but we’re going out there with the aim to do that.”While Bayliss leaves his role as coach straight after The Oval Test, he does have advice for English cricket: ensure home advantage by preparing pitches that suit their side. England were underwhelmed when they arrived in Manchester to find a slow track with very little grass covering. As a result, there was relatively little help for England seamers – who are, with the exception of Jofra Archer – slower than the Australian trio – and they could find no answer to the excellence of Steve Smith. He also had words of mitigation for England’s seamers, who struggled in trying conditions on the first day.”I’d have liked to have seen a bit more green grass on all of the [Test] wickets this year,” Bayliss said. “We certainly had that in the Ashes here four years ago – except for the one where Australia won at Lord’s. And we won the series.”What’s got to happen in England is that we either play on Test wickets that have some green grass on, like in county cricket, or we play county cricket on flatter wickets with not a lot of grass on so we actually learn how to bat and bowl on flatter wickets.”Why did England’s bowlers not manage the same intensity in the first innings? It was probably the 300mph wind and the minus 10 degree temperature. They were probably the toughest conditions I’ve ever seen cricket played in. That will take a fair bit out of you, those conditions. The wind was very, very difficult.”