GAP Connah S Quay FC defeated Bala Town 2-1 in Premier League. The fixture is part of the 1st Phase - 18 stage in the 2019 season. The match was played at Deeside College Stadium in Cei Conna / Connah's Quay, Flintshire. R. Jenkins officiated the match. The full-time result capped a GAP Connah S Quay FC vs Bala Town meeting in Premier League with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for GAP Connah S Quay FC and Bala Town. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Premier LeagueRecorded meetings: 20 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
GAP Connah S Quay FC defeated Bala Town 2-1 in Premier League. The fixture is part of the 1st Phase - 18 stage in the 2019 season. The match was played at Deeside College Stadium in Cei Conna / Connah's Quay, Flintshire. R. Jenkins officiated the match. The full-time result capped a GAP Connah S Quay FC vs Bala Town meeting in Premier League with detailed post-match statistics available on Sportra. This match centre covers lineups, live events, player ratings, team statistics, xG, head-to-head history, and related news for GAP Connah S Quay FC and Bala Town. On Sportra you can view xG, lineups, match statistics, events, player ratings, predictions, head-to-head history, and related news for this fixture.
Premier LeagueRecorded meetings: 20 (available previous meetings, not necessarily all-time).
In a mailbag edition of his newsletter, Jonathan Wilson answers questions about Michael Carrick, VAR and the Premier League’s new teamsSign up for our free newsletter hereManchester United finally seem to have something that resembles stability in the dressing room under Michael Carrick. I feel with quality signings in defence and midfield, they could mount a decent challenge for the Premier League next season. How do you feel they will fare? – Sterling.There’s an odd sense that Michael Carrick’s level of achievement last season was at precisely the most awkward level for the board. United didn’t produce indisputably brilliant football under him but equally 12 wins and three draws in 17 games was good enough that they pretty much had to give him the job. But it’s one thing to turn out those kinds of results when the pressure’s off, you’re already out of both cup competitions and you don’t have any European football; it’s quite another to do it in the heat of a full season. United don’t have to have an especially amazing season to play 15 more games this season than they did in 2025-26.This is an extract from Soccer Desk, a newsletter from the Guardian US. Subscribe for free here. Continue reading...
Inter Milan could sacrifice Davide Frattesi before the transfer deadline as Cristian Chivu continues pushing for Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones. The Serie A champions have identified Jones as a priority addition, but completing the deal appears closely connected to creating both financial and squad space. Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source […] The post Club ready to sell midfielder in order to make place for Liverpool star Curtis Jones appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Michael Carrick during Manchester United’s pre-season camp (Picture: Getty) Manchester United have been told they have already secured one of the signings of the summer ahead of the new Premier League season. Michael Carrick has welcomed Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Karl Karl Darlow to his first-team squad at Old Trafford this summer. Tynan Thompson, Kit Margetson and Cristian Orozco have also arrived at Manchester United but will join the club’s academy. United made Brazilian midfielder Santos their first signing of the summer in a £48m move from big-spending Chelsea. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. The Red Devils raided another Premier League rival in Aston Villa to sign Belgium international Tielemans for £35m. Hundreds of millions has already been spent on midfield reinforcements this summer, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes all sealing lucrative moves. John Obi Mikel rates Manchester United’s deal for Tielemans as the pick of the bunch, however, describing the signing as a ‘f****** steal’. Man Utd summer signing Youri Tielemans (Picture: Getty) ‘For me, it’s Youri Tielemans,’ the Chelsea legend said on The Obi One podcast when asked for his take on the most impressive midfield signing of the summer. ‘Honestly, how the f*** did Manchester United get him for £35m? That’s a f****** steal. I watched him before and during the World Cup, and you can see that this is a player. ‘Obviously, we all know how Tielemans plays, he can play as a six, an eight or a ten and when you have a player that can play anywhere, it gives you the variety to change the way you want to play. Tielemans is that guy. Tielemans during Man Utd pre-season (Picture: Getty) ‘He scores goals, he’s dangerous from set pieces, he’s brilliant on the ball, and he rarely gives it away. The only thing people can say is that he’s not the quickest, but he reads the game so well. ‘He is very intelligent with and without the ball. When I look at all the midfielders that have transferred to different clubs [this summer], the best one is Tielemans.’ Former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld has also praised Manchester United’s move for Tielemans. https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbdvh2TAoys/?hl=en ‘The problem with modern football is that sometimes we look too much at stats like assists and goals,’ he told Hajper. ‘Of course, Youri Tielemans creates assists and scores goals, and can shoot from outside the box and score free kicks, but he is so much more than that. ‘Tielemans is a link up player, and you have to watch him to understand why he is so important to his teams, not just look at his stats, because he is always trying to play the ball forward. Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel (Picture: Getty) ‘You have some midfield players who have a pass success rate of 98% but they are always playing the ball backwards. Tielemans is a guy who turns, opens up and plays the ball between the lines, and that’s very important for a club like Manchester United who need to break other teams down. ‘Even when he’s playing in a deep role, he’s playing it in an attacking way. He’s thinking about going forwards, always. ‘Sometimes he will lose the ball but that’s what happens when you take some risks in games to make things happen, and I think that’s something United need, and he has the mentality to be brave and positive under the big pressure of the shirt. ‘He will put in ultra big effort and say to his team mates, give me the ball and let me change the game for you. He will take the responsibility to take Manchester United forward.’ Carrick is still interested in bringing a third new midfielder to Old Trafford this summer before the transfer window shuts. United drew 1-1 with European champions PSG in a pre-season friendly on Saturday night. Manchester United have two more tun
Nuno Espirito Santo is building a new team at West Ham (Picture: Getty Images) West Ham are are putting together their squad for the upcoming Championship season and are looking at some recognisable names. The Hammers were relegated from the top flight last season but have stuck with manager Nuno Espirito Santo, after finishing the campaign on 39 points. There have been some significant departures, with Mateus Fernandes going to Spurs for £85 million, Crysencio Summerville heading to Al Hilal for £55m and Freddie Potts joining Club Brugge in a £10.2m deal. Callum Wilson also departed on a free transfer and gets another crack at the Premier League by joining Brentford. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. Experienced defender Joel Veltman has arrived from Brighton on a free transfer, while Venezuela international loan signing Keiber Lamadrid has made his move permanent. Espirito Santo will need more numbers, though, and West Ham are making moves for Troy Parrott and Reiss Nelson. Former Tottenham striker Parrott has been excelling at AZ since moving there permanently in 2024, scoring 30 goals in 59 Eredivisie games and 51 in 97 appearances across all competitions. Troy Parrott has been a big hit at AZ (Picture: Getty Images) He has been linked with a string of European clubs this summer, including Porto, but West Ham are hopeful of securing a deal and have made a bid of around £15m, according to the Daily Mail. The 24-year-old has hinted that he is in no rush to return to England, having enjoyed his time with AZ so far. ‘Before I went to the Netherlands, I was completely focused on England,’ he told De Telegraaf. ‘I dreamed of the Premier League. ‘But once in the Netherlands, I discovered that the football world is a lot bigger than England.’ Reiss Nelson has featured for Arsenal in pre-season (Picture: Getty Images) Nelson is also on the Hammers’ radar as he appears to be surplus to requirements at Arsenal. The 26-year-old came through the Gunners academy and has made 90 first team appearances, but has played just once for Arsenal in the last two seasons. He spent the majority of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Fulham and last season on loan at Brentford. The winger is back at his parent club and has featured in pre-season, but is unlikely to get much chance to shine in the first team in the coming campaign. West Ham are reportedly exploring a deal, but Fulham and Benfica are also credited with interest. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Mikel Arteta is dealing with some big injuries before the season has begun (Picture: Getty Images) Mikel Arteta has given the latest on the injury status of William Saliba and Jurrien Timber and it sounds like Arsenal fans will not be seeing either for a while. The Gunners boss was speaking after a friendly against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday at the Emirates which the German side won 3-2. Neither Saliba nor Timber were involved as the Frenchman deals with a back problem and the Dutchman is out with a groin issue. Arsenal are back in action in a friendly with Como on Wednesday before taking on Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. Their Premier League title defence starts with a home game against Coventry on August 21 and it sounds unlikely either injured player will be involved. Asked on their return dates, Arteta told a press conference on Sunday: ‘I cannot be very precise with that. Jurrien is progressing really well, he’s on the pitch, he’s doing quite a lot right now, but is still weeks away, I cannot say how much. ‘William is in rest mode at the moment. For two weeks he had to do almost nothing, don’t aggravate the injury. It’s going to take some time to heal, we know that. William Saliba has been ruled out after the World Cup (Picture: Reuters Connect) ‘As quick as we have more news we can inform.’ Two weeks ago Arsenal released a statement on Saliba, saying he ‘has suffered a back injury which will require a period of rehabilitation.’ The club added: ‘Extensive assessments have concluded that surgery is not recommended, but William should now commence a managed recovery programme. ‘William’s rehabilitation will commence immediately, with continual management of his injury, and he is expected to be out of action for an extended period.’ Jurrien Timber has been training but is not fit to play (Picture: Getty Images) Arsenal are not short of options at the back, with Gabriel, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly also in the squad. However, Arteta accepted that Saliba is a huge loss given his level of influence in the side. ‘We have experienced that in the past, unfortunately,’ the manager said on being without the Frenchman. ‘When he’s been available, his stats are incredible. ‘We know that we have lost an incredible player. Same with Jurrien.’ Arteta was asked if he is looking to add a defender to his squad in the transfer window, but did not suggest this is where he is looking to strengthen. ‘We conceded some poor goals the other day, some poor goals today, in the way we competed especially, but that’s a collective responsibility,’ he said. ‘We need to improve with the players that we have.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Newcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson says the club did not plan to sell Bruno Guimaraes, but their "very emotional" captain wanted to join Arsenal. The Premier League champions are set to complete a £75m move for the midfielder following a breakthrough in talks this week. Although Wilson said it was "disappointing" to see Guimaraes go, he stressed the 28-year-old did not want to "play here anymore".
Speculation has surrounded Wilson Isidor's future at Sunderland since last season. West Ham have shown interest in the forward, but BBC Radio Newcastle's Nick Barnes believes the prospect of playing in the Championship is not a move Isidor would consider. During Sunderland's pre-season tour of the United States, the 25-year-old said he is aiming to improve his tally of six goals scored last campaign.
Today’s rumours broke you once, made you strongCody Gakpo’s performances went south last season and now his entire personage might follow, with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly preparing an offer in the region of £70m to bring him to north London. There appears to be some mixed messages floating around about this potential deal. The Mail say Liverpool “have no plans to sell Gakpo” and that “it would take a huge sum to change their stance”, but these things are fluid. The Athletic say “Liverpool have no intention of selling”, but also, and in the same sentence, that they “would judge his value relative to other deals this summer, including Morgan Rogers’ transfer to Chelsea”. So, in short, Spurs will have to whip out their recently-discovered XXL chequebook if they want to get this one over the line.Talking about Chelsea, “multiple Premier League clubs” have contacted them to ask about the availability of Mykhailo Mudryk, recently freed from a doping ban, says the Mirror. They name only one of them: Coventry City, coached by two-time former Stamford Bridge manager Frank Lampard. The Sun specify that “two more Prem sides are believed to have enquired, while there is interest from three clubs in Europe”. The Mirror’s report on the battle for the Ukrainian’s services is inevitably, but pleasingly, headlined “Mud Fight”. Continue reading...
Mikel Arteta’s team and the Brazilian star could be a perfect match. It also could be a risk that ends in disasterSometimes what is needed is something different.There is a long history in football of counterintuitive thinking being successful, of the benefits of creative tension, of adding grit to the oyster to generate the pearl, but even so, the news that talks between Vinícius Júnior and Arsenal on personal terms are progressing comes as something of a shock. Mikel Arteta’s great followers of a blueprint adding a free spirit like the Brazilian? Really?This is an extract from Soccer Desk, a newsletter from the Guardian. Subscribe for free here. Continue reading...
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic says defender Charlie Hughes is "far away" from a return from injury and has "no hope" of making the first game of the Premier League season against Manchester United. Hughes underwent a hernia operation after last season's Wembley success and complained of discomfort when he returned to first-team training this summer. "Every player, especially from last season who was a main player in our road to Wembley, to the Premier League, has a big role for us."
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In a mailbag edition of his newsletter, Jonathan Wilson answers questions about Michael Carrick, VAR and the Premier League’s new teamsSign up for our free newsletter hereManchester United finally seem to have something that resembles stability in the dressing room under Michael Carrick. I feel with quality signings in defence and midfield, they could mount a decent challenge for the Premier League next season. How do you feel they will fare? – Sterling.There’s an odd sense that Michael Carrick’s level of achievement last season was at precisely the most awkward level for the board. United didn’t produce indisputably brilliant football under him but equally 12 wins and three draws in 17 games was good enough that they pretty much had to give him the job. But it’s one thing to turn out those kinds of results when the pressure’s off, you’re already out of both cup competitions and you don’t have any European football; it’s quite another to do it in the heat of a full season. United don’t have to have an especially amazing season to play 15 more games this season than they did in 2025-26.This is an extract from Soccer Desk, a newsletter from the Guardian US. Subscribe for free here. Continue reading...
Inter Milan could sacrifice Davide Frattesi before the transfer deadline as Cristian Chivu continues pushing for Liverpool midfielder Curtis Jones. The Serie A champions have identified Jones as a priority addition, but completing the deal appears closely connected to creating both financial and squad space. Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a preferred source […] The post Club ready to sell midfielder in order to make place for Liverpool star Curtis Jones appeared first on CaughtOffside.
Michael Carrick during Manchester United’s pre-season camp (Picture: Getty) Manchester United have been told they have already secured one of the signings of the summer ahead of the new Premier League season. Michael Carrick has welcomed Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Karl Karl Darlow to his first-team squad at Old Trafford this summer. Tynan Thompson, Kit Margetson and Cristian Orozco have also arrived at Manchester United but will join the club’s academy. United made Brazilian midfielder Santos their first signing of the summer in a £48m move from big-spending Chelsea. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. The Red Devils raided another Premier League rival in Aston Villa to sign Belgium international Tielemans for £35m. Hundreds of millions has already been spent on midfield reinforcements this summer, with the likes of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes all sealing lucrative moves. John Obi Mikel rates Manchester United’s deal for Tielemans as the pick of the bunch, however, describing the signing as a ‘f****** steal’. Man Utd summer signing Youri Tielemans (Picture: Getty) ‘For me, it’s Youri Tielemans,’ the Chelsea legend said on The Obi One podcast when asked for his take on the most impressive midfield signing of the summer. ‘Honestly, how the f*** did Manchester United get him for £35m? That’s a f****** steal. I watched him before and during the World Cup, and you can see that this is a player. ‘Obviously, we all know how Tielemans plays, he can play as a six, an eight or a ten and when you have a player that can play anywhere, it gives you the variety to change the way you want to play. Tielemans is that guy. Tielemans during Man Utd pre-season (Picture: Getty) ‘He scores goals, he’s dangerous from set pieces, he’s brilliant on the ball, and he rarely gives it away. The only thing people can say is that he’s not the quickest, but he reads the game so well. ‘He is very intelligent with and without the ball. When I look at all the midfielders that have transferred to different clubs [this summer], the best one is Tielemans.’ Former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld has also praised Manchester United’s move for Tielemans. https://www.instagram.com/p/Dbdvh2TAoys/?hl=en ‘The problem with modern football is that sometimes we look too much at stats like assists and goals,’ he told Hajper. ‘Of course, Youri Tielemans creates assists and scores goals, and can shoot from outside the box and score free kicks, but he is so much more than that. ‘Tielemans is a link up player, and you have to watch him to understand why he is so important to his teams, not just look at his stats, because he is always trying to play the ball forward. Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel (Picture: Getty) ‘You have some midfield players who have a pass success rate of 98% but they are always playing the ball backwards. Tielemans is a guy who turns, opens up and plays the ball between the lines, and that’s very important for a club like Manchester United who need to break other teams down. ‘Even when he’s playing in a deep role, he’s playing it in an attacking way. He’s thinking about going forwards, always. ‘Sometimes he will lose the ball but that’s what happens when you take some risks in games to make things happen, and I think that’s something United need, and he has the mentality to be brave and positive under the big pressure of the shirt. ‘He will put in ultra big effort and say to his team mates, give me the ball and let me change the game for you. He will take the responsibility to take Manchester United forward.’ Carrick is still interested in bringing a third new midfielder to Old Trafford this summer before the transfer window shuts. United drew 1-1 with European champions PSG in a pre-season friendly on Saturday night. Manchester United have two more tun
Nuno Espirito Santo is building a new team at West Ham (Picture: Getty Images) West Ham are are putting together their squad for the upcoming Championship season and are looking at some recognisable names. The Hammers were relegated from the top flight last season but have stuck with manager Nuno Espirito Santo, after finishing the campaign on 39 points. There have been some significant departures, with Mateus Fernandes going to Spurs for £85 million, Crysencio Summerville heading to Al Hilal for £55m and Freddie Potts joining Club Brugge in a £10.2m deal. Callum Wilson also departed on a free transfer and gets another crack at the Premier League by joining Brentford. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. Experienced defender Joel Veltman has arrived from Brighton on a free transfer, while Venezuela international loan signing Keiber Lamadrid has made his move permanent. Espirito Santo will need more numbers, though, and West Ham are making moves for Troy Parrott and Reiss Nelson. Former Tottenham striker Parrott has been excelling at AZ since moving there permanently in 2024, scoring 30 goals in 59 Eredivisie games and 51 in 97 appearances across all competitions. Troy Parrott has been a big hit at AZ (Picture: Getty Images) He has been linked with a string of European clubs this summer, including Porto, but West Ham are hopeful of securing a deal and have made a bid of around £15m, according to the Daily Mail. The 24-year-old has hinted that he is in no rush to return to England, having enjoyed his time with AZ so far. ‘Before I went to the Netherlands, I was completely focused on England,’ he told De Telegraaf. ‘I dreamed of the Premier League. ‘But once in the Netherlands, I discovered that the football world is a lot bigger than England.’ Reiss Nelson has featured for Arsenal in pre-season (Picture: Getty Images) Nelson is also on the Hammers’ radar as he appears to be surplus to requirements at Arsenal. The 26-year-old came through the Gunners academy and has made 90 first team appearances, but has played just once for Arsenal in the last two seasons. He spent the majority of the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Fulham and last season on loan at Brentford. The winger is back at his parent club and has featured in pre-season, but is unlikely to get much chance to shine in the first team in the coming campaign. West Ham are reportedly exploring a deal, but Fulham and Benfica are also credited with interest. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Mikel Arteta is dealing with some big injuries before the season has begun (Picture: Getty Images) Mikel Arteta has given the latest on the injury status of William Saliba and Jurrien Timber and it sounds like Arsenal fans will not be seeing either for a while. The Gunners boss was speaking after a friendly against Borussia Dortmund on Sunday at the Emirates which the German side won 3-2. Neither Saliba nor Timber were involved as the Frenchman deals with a back problem and the Dutchman is out with a groin issue. Arsenal are back in action in a friendly with Como on Wednesday before taking on Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday. Get the latest transfer news every morning Sign up to our daily football newsletter for personalised updates on who your team is trying to sign and who won't be around next season. Their Premier League title defence starts with a home game against Coventry on August 21 and it sounds unlikely either injured player will be involved. Asked on their return dates, Arteta told a press conference on Sunday: ‘I cannot be very precise with that. Jurrien is progressing really well, he’s on the pitch, he’s doing quite a lot right now, but is still weeks away, I cannot say how much. ‘William is in rest mode at the moment. For two weeks he had to do almost nothing, don’t aggravate the injury. It’s going to take some time to heal, we know that. William Saliba has been ruled out after the World Cup (Picture: Reuters Connect) ‘As quick as we have more news we can inform.’ Two weeks ago Arsenal released a statement on Saliba, saying he ‘has suffered a back injury which will require a period of rehabilitation.’ The club added: ‘Extensive assessments have concluded that surgery is not recommended, but William should now commence a managed recovery programme. ‘William’s rehabilitation will commence immediately, with continual management of his injury, and he is expected to be out of action for an extended period.’ Jurrien Timber has been training but is not fit to play (Picture: Getty Images) Arsenal are not short of options at the back, with Gabriel, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, Ben White, Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly also in the squad. However, Arteta accepted that Saliba is a huge loss given his level of influence in the side. ‘We have experienced that in the past, unfortunately,’ the manager said on being without the Frenchman. ‘When he’s been available, his stats are incredible. ‘We know that we have lost an incredible player. Same with Jurrien.’ Arteta was asked if he is looking to add a defender to his squad in the transfer window, but did not suggest this is where he is looking to strengthen. ‘We conceded some poor goals the other day, some poor goals today, in the way we competed especially, but that’s a collective responsibility,’ he said. ‘We need to improve with the players that we have.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source
Newcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson says the club did not plan to sell Bruno Guimaraes, but their "very emotional" captain wanted to join Arsenal. The Premier League champions are set to complete a £75m move for the midfielder following a breakthrough in talks this week. Although Wilson said it was "disappointing" to see Guimaraes go, he stressed the 28-year-old did not want to "play here anymore".
Speculation has surrounded Wilson Isidor's future at Sunderland since last season. West Ham have shown interest in the forward, but BBC Radio Newcastle's Nick Barnes believes the prospect of playing in the Championship is not a move Isidor would consider. During Sunderland's pre-season tour of the United States, the 25-year-old said he is aiming to improve his tally of six goals scored last campaign.
Today’s rumours broke you once, made you strongCody Gakpo’s performances went south last season and now his entire personage might follow, with Tottenham Hotspur reportedly preparing an offer in the region of £70m to bring him to north London. There appears to be some mixed messages floating around about this potential deal. The Mail say Liverpool “have no plans to sell Gakpo” and that “it would take a huge sum to change their stance”, but these things are fluid. The Athletic say “Liverpool have no intention of selling”, but also, and in the same sentence, that they “would judge his value relative to other deals this summer, including Morgan Rogers’ transfer to Chelsea”. So, in short, Spurs will have to whip out their recently-discovered XXL chequebook if they want to get this one over the line.Talking about Chelsea, “multiple Premier League clubs” have contacted them to ask about the availability of Mykhailo Mudryk, recently freed from a doping ban, says the Mirror. They name only one of them: Coventry City, coached by two-time former Stamford Bridge manager Frank Lampard. The Sun specify that “two more Prem sides are believed to have enquired, while there is interest from three clubs in Europe”. The Mirror’s report on the battle for the Ukrainian’s services is inevitably, but pleasingly, headlined “Mud Fight”. Continue reading...
Mikel Arteta’s team and the Brazilian star could be a perfect match. It also could be a risk that ends in disasterSometimes what is needed is something different.There is a long history in football of counterintuitive thinking being successful, of the benefits of creative tension, of adding grit to the oyster to generate the pearl, but even so, the news that talks between Vinícius Júnior and Arsenal on personal terms are progressing comes as something of a shock. Mikel Arteta’s great followers of a blueprint adding a free spirit like the Brazilian? Really?This is an extract from Soccer Desk, a newsletter from the Guardian. Subscribe for free here. Continue reading...
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic says defender Charlie Hughes is "far away" from a return from injury and has "no hope" of making the first game of the Premier League season against Manchester United. Hughes underwent a hernia operation after last season's Wembley success and complained of discomfort when he returned to first-team training this summer. "Every player, especially from last season who was a main player in our road to Wembley, to the Premier League, has a big role for us."
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.
