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West Ham United could now be offered a PSG player on a loan deal in the January transfer window, allowing them an opportunity to replicate Tim Steidten’s summer deal for Carlos Soler in the winter.

West Ham eye January signings after disappointing start

New manager Julen Lopetegui is under serious pressure at the London Stadium, with the Spaniard guiding West Ham to just three Premier League wins so far amid calls for him to be shown his P45 early.

"Top quality" West Ham mainstay could now leave with Fullkrug in January

It would be quite a surprise.

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By
Emilio Galantini

Nov 21, 2024

West Ham face Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on Monday, a game which represents real significance for Lopetegui as the 58-year-old looks to make the best possible start following the conclusion of internationals and the return to Premier League football.

The Irons have been slammed for their style under Lopetegui, with some members of the media and supporters questioning West Ham’s identity and left “stunned” by how lacklustre they are on the field right now.

Something has to give if West Ham are to make a success of their first season post-David Moyes, and Lopetegui will be hoping that the change won’t result in him losing his position in the Hammers hot seat.

Lopetegui has urged West Ham chiefs to make January signings when the winter window reopens for business, specifically a new striker.

GiveMeSport reported this week that West Ham are exploring the loan market for new forwards, as frustration grows over Niclas Fullkrug behind-the-scenes after the German’s injury-ridden start to life in east London.

West Ham could be offered Randal Kolo Muani on loan

Interestingly, Football Transfers now claim that £204,000-per-week PSG striker Randal Kolo Muani could be up for grabs on a temporary deal.

Indeed, PSG are prepared to offer clubs the chance to seal a January move for the Frenchman, and it is believed West Ham would be most receptive to signing Muani on loan, alongside Monday’s opponents Newcastle.

However, as things stand, it is currently unclear whether the £77 million forward would be willing to join West Ham given their poor start and position in the table.

The 25-year-old was a star at Eintracht Frankfurt – scoring 15 goals and registering 11 assists in 32 Bundesliga appearances over the 22/23 season – but he’s failed to establish himself at the Parc des Princes since his mega-money move.

Josh Sargent may be available at a bargain price this summer, with it claimed that Norwich are demanding €15-20 million for the USMNT star.

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• Striker in fine form for Canaries
• Tied to contract through to 2028
• Offers expected in summer window

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Any deal in that price range would still see the Canaries make a tidy profit on a player that they acquired for €9.5m (£8m/$10m) in the summer of 2021. Sargent’s contribution across the last two campaigns would, however, be expected to have pushed his valuation a little higher.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The United States international hit the target on 16 occasions for Norwich last season, as they made the Championship play-offs, and has 17 goal contributions to his name this term. Those exploits are said to be attracting admiring glances from afar.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Several teams already in the Premier League, or eyeing a step up to that level, are said to be monitoring Sargent – including Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Everton. There is also interest from Germany, where the 25-year-old previously turned out for Werder Bremen.

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  TELL ME MORE

  According to information from : “Josh Sargent’s strong performances have attracted interest from several Bundesliga and Premier League clubs. The 25-y/o striker has scored 12 goals and provided 5 assists in the current Championship season for Norwich. His price for a summer transfer is set at €15-20m. Sargent is planning his next step, with his contract running until 2028 without a release clause.”

Celtic are back in action in the Champions League this evening as they prepare to welcome Belgian side Club Brugge to Paradise in the later kick-off.

The Hoops have enjoyed a strong start to the 2024/25 campaign in Europe’s premier competition, with two wins and one draw in four matches.

Brendan Rodgers’ side won 3-1 against RB Leipzig in their last outing on the European stage, thanks to a double from Nicolas Kuhn and one from Reo Hatate.

They also beat Slovan 5-1 at Parkhead and held Atalanta to a 0-0 draw in Bergamo, although they were also smashed 7-1 by German giants Borussia Dortmund.

The Glasgow giants do head into this game with momentum on their side after they secured an emphatic 4-1 win over Heats away from Parkhead in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday, with all four goals coming in the second half.

Kyogo Furuhashi and Kuhn scored the opening two goals for the Hoops before Adam Idah came on as a substitute to wrap up all three points with two goals.

Despite that comfortable win against the Jam Tarts, there is one Celtic player who did not enjoy an impressive evening in the middle of the park – Arne Engels.

Arne Engels' performance against Hearts in numbers

The summer arrival from Augsburg was not at his best against Hearts, as he struggled to make an impact on the game with his play both in and out of possession in midfield.

Engels was selected as part of a midfield three for Celtic alongside captain Callum McGregor and Japan international Reo Hatate, and registered the lowest Sofascore rating in the team – 6.4.

That rating was so low because of his struggles at both ends of the pitch. Defensively, Engels was almost a non-factor for the Hoops with one duel won out of seven contested, along with zero tackles, interceptions, or blocks combined.

This shows that the Hearts players found it far too easy to get the better of him in physical battles, whilst the midfielder also failed to put his foot in to cut out attacks from the hosts, which played a part in the hosts registering nine shots on goal.

The Belgium international’s play in possession did not make up for his poor defensive work and weak play off the ball. The summer signing ended the match with a pass completion rate of just 79% and failed to create a single chance for his teammates, which shows that he was loose with the ball and lacked creativity.

His current form is not a huge concern for Rodgers, because he has shown plenty of promise this season, but he should be dropped from the starting XI for this clash against Brugge.

Why Arne Engels should be dropped

The 21-year-old gem should be ruthlessly ditched from the line-up as it was his second poor performance in a row for the Scottish giants, having also struggled in the win over Kilmarnock prior to the international break.

Engels played the first 63 minutes of that 2-0 win and was substituted before either of the two goals. He did not create any chances for his teammates, only won one duel, and completed just 70% of his attempted passes.

This means that the central midfielder has started the last two games for Celtic and ended with a combined two duels won and zero key passes, with less than an 80% pass completion rate in both matches, which is why he should be dropped for tonight’s match.

As you can see in the table above, though, Engels has, largely, been an impressive performer on the European stage for Celtic with four goal contributions in four matches.

However, players cannot be allowed to get complacent, especially with the competition and quality within the squad, and that is why Rodgers should drop the Belgian this evening as a result of his last two performances.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast's Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The positive for Celtic is that the manager has plenty of options to pick from and he has a player ready to come into the team and excel in Engels’ role in Portuguese starlet Paulo Bernardo, who should finally be unleashed after five games on the bench.

Why Paulo Bernardo should be unleashed

Firstly, the summer signing from Benfica, who joined on a permanent deal after his loan stint at Parkhead last season, came off the bench to impress against Hearts on Sunday.

The 22-year-old dynamo came on for Engels in the 67th minute and made a positive contribution with his play in and out of possession for the Scottish giants.

As you can see in the clip above, Bernardo provided an assist by creating a ‘big chance’ for Idah, slipping the ball through to the Irish marksman in the box.

The Portuguese ace also won 100% (2/2) of his duels in the game and won as many duels in his 23-minute cameo as Engels won in his last two starts combined.

Bernardo, who was once described as “tenacious” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, is a midfielder who can blend being combative off the ball with creativity and quality in possession, as shown by his form in the Premiership.

As you can see in the table above, the young midfielder has caught the eye with his attacking contributions whilst also being strong out of possession for the Hoops.

Unlike Engels in his last two outings, Bernardo can hold his own in physical duels and cut out opposition attacks on a regular basis, whilst also providing the team with a creative outlet in the middle of the park.

These statistics show that he is the ideal player to come in and replace Engels for this clash with Brugge at Parkhead tonight, and it would be deserved after his impressive cameo on Sunday against Hearts.

Celtic sold "powerful" flop for just £1.4m, now he's on par with Adam Idah

The former Celtic centre-forward has thrived since his move away from Parkhead.

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By
Dan Emery

Nov 26, 2024

Annie Kilner has seen the funny side of a “poisoning men” post after being caught up in drama involving Lauryn Goodman and her husband Kyle Walker.

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• Experienced defender fighting to save marriage
• Move to Italy was intended to aid that process
• Wife's family delivering thinly-veiled jibes

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Despite becoming a mother of four with England international Walker, Kilner has seen her partner father two children with former Love Island contestant Goodman. That affair has placed considerable strain on a long-term relationship.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  There was talk of Kilner filing for divorce towards the end of 2024, but Walker’s loan move from Manchester City to AC Milan was intended to offer the couple a fresh start and clean slate. More unfortunate headlines have been made since the 34-year-old defender headed to Italy.

• Getty/Instagram
  

  DID YOU KNOW?

  Kilner is reportedly willing to give her marriage another go, having made trips to Milan and welcomed Walker back to their family home in Cheshire, but continues to be spotted in public without her wedding ring.

• THE GOSSIP

  A veiled dig now appears to have been aimed at Walker, courtesy of her sister. Annie has shared a post from Sian Kilner which includes the message: “I've cooked for men I should have poisoned. So yeah I do have self control.”

Leeds United will be hoping for an end to their two-year Premier League exile by the end of the season, looking to claim promotion under Daniel Farke.

The German has done a superb job in steadying the ship after relegation in 2023, keeping the core of the squad and adding quality in needed areas to bolster their ambitions.

Departures of key players over the summer such as Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray and Georginio Rutter were always going to make the task of promotion difficult after the play-off final defeat last year.

However, the hierarchy has recruited excellently, adding serious quality with the likes of Largie Ramazani and Ao Tanaka, softening the blow of the high-profile departures.

The impact of the aforementioned duo has allowed the Whites to stay in touch with the leading pack in the Championship, producing some incredible numbers during the opening months of the campaign.

The impact of Leeds’ summer additions in 2024/25

Japanese international Tanaka arrived in a £3.5m deal from German side Fortuna Düsseldorf during the off-season, joining as an unknown quantity to the majority of the fanbase.

However, the 26-year-old has rapidly endeared himself to the supporters, producing some incredible performances and already looking to be worth much more than what they forked out for his signature.

The midfielder has averaged 74 successful passes per 90 so far this season – ranking him sixth in the division – completing 92% of the passes he’s attempted.

Tanaka completed 114 passes in the victory over Luton Town at Elland Road a couple of weeks ago, the most by a Whites player in over a decade – a further example of the quality he’s brought to Yorkshire.

As for winger Ramazani, he was always going to face a difficult task replacing the threat of Summerville, but the Belgian has already proved his worth since his transfer.

The former Manchester United academy ace has already scored three and assisted once in his opening ten league matches for the club – offering Farke a viable option in the final third.

However, Farke must be wishing that he kept hold of one other Leeds star who’s taken his game to the next level after departing Elland Road in the summer.

The former Leeds ace who’s now similar to a £50m star

Midfielder Glen Kamara joined Leeds in a £5.5m deal from Scottish side Rangers back in the summer of 2023, looking to add quality in the middle of the park in the first campaign back in England’s second-tier.

It’s safe to say that the Finnish international did just that during the 2023/24 campaign, featuring 40 times in the Championship last season, often starting alongside Ethan Ampadu at the heart of the side.

However, it would be his only year in Yorkshire, departing for French side Rennes, with the opportunity to feature in a top European league evidently too good to turn down.

The 29-year-old departed in a £8.5m deal, banking the club a £3m profit – allowing them to sign Tanaka who’s so far been an excellent replacement for the departed star.

Despite this, Kamara has impressed in Ligue 1 since his move, so much so that he’s been categorised as a similar player to Manchester United’s £50m signing Manuel Ugarte by FBref.

It’s a huge comparison given the sizeable transfer fee, but when delving into their respective stats from the ongoing campaign, the former Leeds has matched or bettered the Uruguayan in numerous key areas.

The former Leeds star has averaged more passes per 90, with more of his attempts progressive, demonstrating he has the ability to play the ball into forward areas more than the United talent.

Undoubtedly, Tanaka has been a stellar addition, and one that could play a huge role in Farke’s promotion ambitions come May.

However, Kamara – who was previously dubbed a “monster” by Steven Gerrard – has demonstrated numerous key qualities that would’ve massively aided their chances, leaving the idea of what could’ve been had they kept hold of the Rennes ace.

Farke must sell Leeds flop who Marsch was "convinced" would be "great"

The Leeds United defender must be cashed in on at the earliest available opportunity.

By
Dan Emery

Dec 5, 2024

Newcastle United carried their Premier League form into the Carabao Cup and defeated Brentford 3-1 at St. James’ Park to advance to the semi-finals.

It was an impressive performance from Eddie Howe’s men, one of guts and gusto and togetherness. The Bees are no joke; they pack a stinging punch. However, Thomas Frank could only watch as his side were outplayed on Tyneside.

And now. Newcastle are still enveloped by the darkness of the tunnel but at least the light now feels reachable. There’s an anxious wait to see who will be met at the penultimate hurdle, but the Magpies will fear no opponent.

Especially with certain things starting to come together. Newcastle’s frontline looks slicker, and the overall squad synergy more fluent still. Sandro Tonali was at the heart of the performance and finally re-announced himself after a year laden with struggle.

Sandro Tonali's dominant display

It’s been a rocky road for the expensive midfielder since he joined Newcastle in a deal worth £55m in July 2023, having looked patchy throughout the opening months of last season before being hit with a lengthy suspension for betting breaches that ended his maiden campaign in October. He did not return until the start of the current term.

Now, though, the £120k-per-week midfielder is beginning to showcase the quality that shrewd observers have known was latent within all this time.

Against Brentford in the Carabao Cup, Tonali opened his account on his 17th appearance of the campaign, but did so in style and performed exceptionally even without the goals, suggesting that he might be the extra part needed in the engine room.

Tonali, 24, placed a confident assist in the previous round as Newcastle knocked out Chelsea, but it was the all-consuming midfield effort against Brentford that stands as his defining opus in black and white so far.

Two wonderful goals at opposite ends of the first half put the hosts in a commanding position, with correspondent Luke Edwards describing the Italian as “the best player on the pitch by some distance.”

Tonali’s elegance and flowing ball-playing ability make him seem like a dainty maestro at times, but he’s actually an impressive all-action player, with crunching challenges and tireless ground covering two core facets of his skillset.

His goals were nice and all, but Tonali ensured that United got the better of their adversaries in exchanges across the pitch by winning four tackles and six ground duels. His passing was crisp, and he chose correctly when progressing the ball forward once into the danger area.

However, he wasn’t the only Toon star to excel. Indeed, you could say that Anthony Gordon deserves just as much credit, perhaps playing a role that facilitated the Italy international’s triumphant evening.

How Anthony Gordon made Tonali unplayable

This season, Gordon hasn’t returned to the platform that saw him claim Newcastle’s 2023/24 Player of the Year honour, but he has certainly demonstrated flashes of brilliance and indeed offered plenty against Brentford on Wednesday evening.

If you hark back to Tonali’s strike before the break, you’ll note that it was Gordon’s delightful delivery that put the plan in motion, taking Newcastle one step closer to that elusive glory named silverware.

It would be a saving grace for a season that has stuttered, with the stratospheric gains made two seasons back now slowing to something stunted and frustrating. Players such as Gordon will have their sights set on Champions League nights, but this competition presents something to target concertedly.

Tonali was the star of the show, the spotlight stealer after his emphatic brace, but Gordon was brilliant too. As per the Chronicle Live’s Lee Ryder, the England ace was deserving of a 9/10 match rating, noting that he ‘threatened throughout the evening and weighed in with a fine assist for Tonali’s second with a fine corner delivery.’

They simply couldn’t contain the Newcastle players when they got going when they pushed as one hive-minded force. Gordon was withdrawn after 77 minutes having run himself into the ground.

He might have narrowly missed his two shots on the night, failed to complete either of his energetic dribbles, ceded possession 12 times, as per Sofascore, but such factors are immaterial when taking in the impact that the 23-year-old forced onto the affair.

Gordon also looked far happier in his natural left-wing role, having been shuffled about the pack to accommodate various needs this season. With Lewis Hall behind him, there’s a first-class partnership in the making that needs time to develop. It might be to Harvey Barnes’ detriment, but it’s a sure-fire way to bring Newcastle’s cohesion up a level or two.

Newcastle have an assortment of high-quality players, but Howe’s system was at its apex when the club performed as one, the whole being greater than the sum of its parts.

Now we see. We see a Newcastle team that has found the thread of togetherness and is wrapping itself together once again. With Tonali pulling strings alongside Bruno Guimaraes, Gordon bringing electric-paced relief down the flank and Alexander Isak feasting upon the mightiest of defenders at the front, anything can be achieved.

Now we wait. We wait for a draw that might turn out Liverpool, Arsenal or one of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. These are daunting teams, to be sure, but Howe knows and Newcastle certainly knows that on their a-game, the Magpies can best all three.

Saved by Tonali: Newcastle star played his worst game of the season

The Newcastle United attacker did not enjoy his best evening against Brentford.

By
Dan Emery

Dec 19, 2024

PSG forward Ousmane Dembele recently updated his profile photo on Instagram, dropping a possible hint on the future of ex-Barcelona team-mate Gavi.

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• Dembele drops cryptic Gavi update
• Duo were team-mates at Barcelona
• Spanish midfielder not a regular under Hansi Flick

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  After suffering a serious injury last season, Gavi returned to action in October last year, showing no rustiness. However, the midfielder has not yet been able to regain a regular place in the starting XI. Now, PSG forward Ousmane Dembele might have sparked speculation surrounding the Spaniard's future in Barcelona by changing his profile photo on Instagram. His new photo features him seated alongside Gavi from their time together at the Camp Nou.

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  PSG have expressed interest in Barcelona midfielder Gavi, with Dembele potentially playing a key role in influencing the 20-year-old's decision, according to (h/t Football Espana).

  Former Spain manager and current PSG boss Luis Enrique, a long-time admirer of Gavi, would welcome a reunion in Paris. Meanwhile, Barca are reportedly considering a major sale, with Gavi among the names floated.

• TELL ME MORE

  Despite the speculation, it's worth nothing that Gavi recently reaffirmed his commitment to Barcelona by signing a contract extension that keeps him at the club until 2030. Per the same report, Gavi is expected to see more game time in the coming months, with the Catalans viewing him as a future captain. After a year-long injury and a five-month recovery, he is now fully fit. And, with Marc Casado sidelined, Flick plans to increase his role in the season’s decisive phase.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR GAVI?

  Having started in Barcelona's win over Osasuna on Thursday evening, Gavi will next be seen in action on Sunday, March 30, in a Catalan derby against Girona.

Trips to Molineux have often marked notable moments for Manchester United star Marcus Rashford in recent times, with the Red Devils’ Boxing Day clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers having been no different.

Back in December 2022, during Erik ten Hag’s first season in charge, the Englishman was dropped to the bench after he had been late to a team meeting earlier in the week. The forward, then in a rich vein of form post the Qatar World Cup, duly responded by netting a brilliant solo effort after entering the fray at the interval.

That may have been a small infraction due to a missed alarm, yet things had cranked up a notch when the two sides met in the Midlands again earlier this year. Rashford opened the scoring in that dramatic 4-3 victory, having been reinstated to the side after initially being disciplined by Ten Hag for a mid-season trip to Belfast.

Amid a rocky relationship with the former Ajax boss, the 27-year-old was no doubt hoping to enjoy a fresh start following Ruben Amorim’s arrival. Just over a month into the Portuguese’s tenure, Rashford is already nowhere to be seen, with Thursday’s defeat to the Old Gold marking a fourth game in a row without the forward even making the matchday squad.

With Amorim hinting that the academy graduate still hasn’t done enough to win him over in his post-match interview – and with Rashford himself publicly admitting a desire for “a new challenge” – the curtain could soon be drawn on his lengthy United affiliation. A replacement, or even an upgrade, will soon be needed.

Man Utd's search to replace Rashford

The Athletic reported on Boxing Day that a permanent exit in January appears unlikely for the £300k-per-week problem due to his hefty wage, although a loan departure could represent a potential compromise, in the mould of Jadon Sancho’s switch to Borussia Dortmund earlier this year.

Should United’s number ten move on to pastures new, an already waning forward line will be left particularly depleted, hence the need to fill that ‘void’.

With that in mind, reports in Spain have suggested that Amorim is personally pushing for the club to land the star of their midweek defeat, Matheus Cunha, with the 39-year-old viewing the Brazilian as the ‘ideal option’ to bolster his attack.

The suggestion is that the Old Trafford side are ‘leading the race’ for Cunha’s signature at present, although they would likely have to cough up at least €70m (£58m) – as reported elsewhere – to secure a January deal.

How Cunha compares to Rashford

It is no real surprise that Cunha has caught the eye of Amorim and those at INEOS, with the former Atletico Madrid man showcasing everything that United – and Rashford – are lacking during Wolves’ 2-0 triumph.

As journalist Samuel Luckhurst stated during the game, the in-form marksman was simply “sensational” on the day, representing a player that the Red Devils “have to be looking to get” in 2025.

Indeed, not only did Cunha curl in the game’s opener directly from a corner – as well as tee up Hwang Hee-chan for the home side’s second – but his work both in and out of possession was truly remarkable, as indicated below.

Operating behind centre-forward Jorgen Strand Larsen, the 25-year-old was a real livewire, winning 14 duels, drawing five fouls and successfully completing four dribbles.

Described as “world-class” by journalist George Lakin – while also lauded as a “special player” by manager Vitor Pereira – the one-time Hertha Berlin man now boasts ten Premier League goals this season, having also created 11 ‘big chances’ and registered a further four assists, as per Sofascore.

Rashford, for instance, has scored just four league goals in 2024/25, while creating only four ‘big chances’ and providing just a solitary assist. Three of those strikes may have come under Amorim’s watch, although he still clearly isn’t doing enough to impress.

The difference in form and quality can also be seen in their work defensively, with Cunha averaging two tackles and interceptions per game in the top-flight this season. His United counterpart, meanwhile, averages just 0.8 in that regard.

Equally, it’s not as if this campaign is a flash in the pan for Wolves’ talisman, as he also chipped in with 12 goals and nine assists in 2023/24, while Rashford distinctly underwhelmed under Ten Hag, with just seven goals and two assists to his name.

Now outperforming United’s number ten across at least the last 18 months, the in-demand talent would represent the Premier League-proven upgrade that Amorim is craving.

Ronaldo 2.0: Man Utd could land £102k-p/w ace who dubbed Rashford a "model"

Man Utd could land the heir to Cristiano Ronaldo in 2025

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By
Robbie Walls

Dec 28, 2024

England's Euro 2022 hero Chloe Kelly has opened up on how she feels when walking past a tribute to the 'biggest moment in English football'.

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• Kelly recalled scoring Euro 2022-winning goal
• Remembers moment with a 'smile' on her face
• England face Belgium in Nations League this month

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Arsenal forward is currently with the Lionesses squad, who are preparing for their upcoming Women's Nations League matches against Belgium. After a training session at St George's Park, Kelly caught up with Sky Sports for a chat. As soon as the player walked past the photograph of her celebrating the Euro 2022-winning goal, the 27-year-old recalled the memorable moment with a smile on her face.

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• WHAT CHLOE KELLY SAID

  Asked how she reflects on her role in 'English football's biggest moment', the winger said: "Very special moment, I think, for me. Brings back so many great memories that we had in that tournament. A legend is behind me. Amazing person on and off the pitch. I think I just look at it and smile every time I see that picture. It's amazing to see and a memory that will stick with me forever."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Sarina Wiegman's side scripted history on July 31, 2022, as they beat Germany 2-1 to win their first major international trophy. Ella Toone handed England the lead just past the hour mark, but Lina Marie Magull soon scored the equaliser to bring the Germans back into the match. Kelly would become her country's hero in extra time as she bundled home the winning goal in the 110th minute.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

  The Lionesses are set to face Belgium in back-to-back Nations League matches on April 4 and 8, respectively.

Everything you need to know about Uruguayan midfielder Fede Valverde's salary playing for Real Madrid

Real Madrid's Federico Valverde has developed into a major asset for the Spanish side since his arrival in 2017.

The Uruguayan's versatility, strength, and workrate have made him an indispensable part of the dressing room and one of the best midfielders around on the European pitches.

Playing for a top side like Real Madrid, Valverde earns a substantial salary and he is also one of the top earners at the club.

Just how much does he earn at the LaLiga giants, though?

GOAL delved into the numbers with Capology and found out!

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• Fede Valverde’s wages at Real Madrid in numbers

  Valverde's current contract at the club makes him the fifth-highest earner in the squad, with the Uruguayan earning £268,083 ($350,939) per week playing for the Spanish side, while his annual salary amounts to £13.9 million ($18.2 million).

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD
  Fede Valverde	Uruguayan	£268,083	$350,939	£13,940,327	$18,248,826

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• Getty Images
  

  Top earners at Real Madrid

  Taking the top spot on Real Madrid's wage bill is French forward Kylian Mbappe, with David Alaba following him in second place as a surprise entrant.

  In third and fourth place are Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr., who are on identical wages, while Valverde rounds off the list at fifth.

  Player	Nationality	Weekly wages in GBP	Weekly wages in USD	Annual wages in GBP	Annual wages in USD
  Kylian Mbappe	French	£502,556	$657,879	£26,132,886	$34,209,706
  David Alaba	Austrian	£361,840	$473,673	£18,815,678	$24,630,988
  Jude Bellingham	English	£334,983	$438,516	£17,419,136	$22,802,822
  Vinicius Jr.	Brazilian	£334,983	$438,516	£17,419,136	$22,802,822
  Fede Valverde	Uruguayan	£268,083	$350,939	£13,940,327	$18,248,826

• Top earners in La Liga

  When it comes to the top earners in LaLiga, we have Barcelona's veteran striker Robert Lewandowski as the highest-paid player.

  Mbappe makes an appearance at second position, once again followed by Alaba.

  Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid's only entrant in the list is goalkeeper Jan Oblak, followed by Bellingham who is on equal wages with Vinicius at number five.

  Nationality	Nationality	Weekly wages GBP	Weekly wages USD	Annual wages GBP	Annual Wages USD
  Robert Lewandowski	Polish	£536,006	$701,667	£27,872,290	$36,486,704
  Kylian Mbappe	French	£502,556	$657,879	£26,132,886	$34,209,706
  David Alaba	Austrian	£361,840	$473,673	£18,815,678	$24,630,988
  Jan Oblak	Slovenian	£334,983	$438,516	£17,419,136	$22,802,822
  Jude Bellingham	English	£334,983	$438,516	£17,419,136	$22,802,822

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  Highest paid players in the world

  Despite the enormous wages in the league, none of the top LaLiga earners make it to the top-five earners list globally.

  Saudi Pro League players heavily dominate the list, with former Real Madrid forwards Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema at first and second spot, respectively.

  Meanwhile, Riyad Mahrez comes in at number three, followed by Senegalese internationals Sadio Mane and Kalidou Koulibaly.

  Player	Club	Weekly wages GBP	Weekly wages USD	Annual wages GBP	Annual wages USD
  Cristiano Ronaldo	Al Nassr	£3,216,155	$4,210,425	£167,250,468	$218,942,120
  Karim Benzema	Al Ittihad	£1,608,178	$2,105,213	£83,625,234	$109,471,060
  Riyad Mahrez	Al Ahli	£839,469	$1,098,921	£45,652,372	$57,43,893
  Sadio Mane	Al Nassr	£643,271	$842,085	£33,450,094	$43,788,424
  Kalidou Koulibaly	Al Hilal	£558,038	$730,509	£29,017,956	$37,986,458