Earlier this week, one of the seemingly billions of Manchester United social media fan accounts posted a list of players and their reported asking prices: Anthony Elanga, Joao Pedro, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens. “If that’s what these cost, how much is Garnacho worth?” was the accompanying question.
It’s a rhetorical question you read and hear a lot. To which the answer is always the same and almost always lost in the noise: the agreed point between whatever any buying club is prepared to pay and what any selling club is prepared to accept. This is the only transfer window golden rule.
Alejandro Garnacho is one quarter of the Manchester United Four. The group contains two once-heralded academy graduates(Garnacho and Marcus Rashford) and two wingers (Antony and Jadon Sancho) signed for fees totalling roughly £160m. All four are personae non grata. All four are not just available, but have been placed on the front lawn with sale signs. Terms and conditions apply.
These four also share something else: accused attitude problems during their time at Old Trafford. Three of the four were left out of matchday squads by Ruben Amorim. They have been cast as wastrels, allowing their talent and potential to seep away. Caveat: during loan spells at Aston Villa, Real Betis and Chelsea last season, nobody once mentioned attitude issues.
Sancho is looking for a new club after winning silverware on loan at Chelsea (Photo: Getty)
If that reflects badly upon the individuals, what does it say about Manchester United too? Has any other top-flight club ever had four high-profile first-team players, all senior internationals, so publicly frozen out at once and thus made so explicitly available for sale or loan? None of this is normal.
The Manchester United Four are the work of Amorim and his intended cleansing of the culture within a once broken (still broken?) club. His strategy is one of decisiveness and honesty, presumably because he figures that is the only way to wade through murky water. We cannot move forward until this type of player, or perhaps even this type of person, leaves. Despite his own underperformance (and he’s been farcically honest about this too), Amorim has been afforded the luxury of power.
Amongst most supporters, Amorim’s approach has been popular. You can see the point: United have been so terrible vs historical expectations for so long that reconstructing a coherent, healthy culture is viewed as a necessary component of change for the better. If that means shedding those whose baggage may make it more difficult, so be it. If it’s expensive, they have seen so many millions leave to the benefit of the Glazer family that they do not care.
Towards the players, that mood continues. The onus, fans feel, is on them. There is a World Cup next summer and all presumably harbour some hopes of reclaiming or keeping their place (although that’s probably not true of Sancho). It’s your own time you’re wasting, guys. That feeling has only been propelled by reports that all four will be omitted from the club’s preseason tour in the US.
But Manchester United have a problem too. They need a rebuild; that is no secret. Amorim would quite like his signings to be in place for the start of the preseason tour, but as yet only Matheus Cunha’s arrival has been confirmed. There are conflicting reports on the PSR wiggle room, but at best we can be sure that the nature of the outgoing deals (prices, sale vs loan) will impact their transfer budgets this summer.
Moving on one of these players efficiently might be doable. Moving on four in the same month is a migraine. Manchester United pay higher wages than clubs in Europe’s other four top leagues can reasonably afford. As such, there may need to be financial compromise, probably through subsidised wages for loan deals or low penalties (as per the Sancho deal with Chelsea) for not turning them into permanent deals.
This is where the public honesty of Amorim complicates things: it has played a role in the difficulty to sell because it has lowered the value of these players in the eyes of the buying club. Put it like this: you are interested in a player that the selling club makes clear is a key part of their plans. Answer: “This is gonna cost ya”.
Alternatively, you are interested in a player that the selling club has actively ostracised. You know not only that they want to sell but that they need to sell to move their own plan forwards. Any club that isn’t trying to lowball United to get the best deal for them – either with favourable loan conditions or low transfer fees – isn’t doing this properly. Most clubs do things properly.
They are all in purgatory, a game of wait-and-see vs taking the hit and having the chance to move on quickly. You hear the names – Napoli, Barcelona, Juventus, Betis – but the names are all you hear, never the details. So we, the players, the buying clubs, the selling clubs, Amorim and Manchester United supporters all wait. And waiting helps nobody.
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Three years after England Women achieved a historic first trophy, winning the European Championships on home soil, it is now time for them to begin their defence.
The Euros begin in Switzerland on Wednesday, before the Lionesses’ campaign gets under way on Saturday. Retaining their title requires them to first get over a significant hurdle; they are in the tournament’s toughest group, with France, the Netherlands and Wales as their opponents.
England’s preparation has been far from ideal, with goalkeeper Mary Earps retiring from international football after Hannah Hampton became the Lionesses’ first-choice, Millie Bright withdrawing from selection and mixed performances over recent months.
Without home advantage and with other nations – including Spain, who beat England in the 2023 World Cup final – arguably being in better form, will the Lionesses have what it takes to lift the title once again?
As the Euros approaches, here is everything you need to know about the 16 teams who are competing, the players to watch and how each side may perform.
Group A
Switzerland
Lia Walti will captain Switzerland at Euro 2025 (Photo: Getty)
Switzerland have never made it past the group stage at a European Championship, but the hosts will hope home advantage is on their side this time around.
They are arguably the strongest team in their group, yet they were unable to beat Norway or Iceland in the Nations League. Striker Ramona Bachmann, who has been sidelined with a serious knee injury, will be a big miss but they are strong nevertheless and performed well in qualifying.
Player to watch:Arsenal midfielder Lia Walti is her country’s captain and a true stalwart. Coming into the tournament off the back of winning the Champions League and having impressed once again in the Women’s Super League, her ability to dictate play in the middle of the park could be important.
Norway
Norway were surprising at the last Euros, but for all the wrong reasons: they didn’t make it past the group stage and lost 8-0 to England.
With Englishwoman Gemma Grainger now in charge, they will want to put their past behind them and recent results augur well, with them having beaten Switzerland twice in the Nations League, drawn twice with Iceland and only narrowly lost two games to France. They seem favourites to win Group A.
This is a team who are brimming with talent – including the likes of Chelsea’s Guro Reiten, Arsenal’s Frida Maanum, Manchester United’s Elisabeth Terland and Lyon striker Ada Hegerberg – and they have a point to prove in Switzerland.
Player to watch: Barcelona winger Caroline Graham Hansen is one of the world’s best forwards. She was the Ballon d’Or runner-up last year and has enjoyed a career filled with silverware. In a partnership with Hegerberg up top, she should be a significant danger for defences.
Iceland
Iceland drew all three of their games at Euro 2022 and were defensively solid, but they struggled to find a way to win games. They have never reached a knockout stage before.
They are winless in their past 10 fixtures and with a squad slightly depleted by injuries they may struggle to pick up the needed points in Switzerland. But, if they manage to sort things out up top, then they are definitely capable of causing trouble in their group.
Player to watch: Forward Sveindis Jane Jonsdottir provides Iceland’s best chance of finding match-winning goals. The former Wolfsburg striker has just joined American side Angel City and is definitely talented. Make sure to keep an eye out for her long throws.
Finland
Marko Saloranta is taking charge of his first major tournament as Finland boss and will be hoping his side can set aside some of their recent hit-and-miss form in Switzerland.
They scraped through by beating Scotland in their play-off final and have not been too disappointing in their Nations League fixtures – but they drew with and suffered a defeat by Serbia. They have had injury troubles recently and their squad may lack some sharpness, but they will hope to make the most of a relatively open group.
Player to watch: Leicester striker Jutta Rantala has recovered from injury and if she finds form then she could be Finland’s greatest asset up top. In a side otherwise lacking attacking strength she could be crucial.
Group B
Spain
Aitana Bonmati won the Ballon d’Or in 2023 and 2024 (Photo: Getty)
Spain are among the favourites to win the Euros and it is no surprise. They won the 2023 World Cup and have some of the world’s best players at their disposal.
Anything less than winning their group would come as a major surprise. This is Montse Tome’s first tournament in charge but there are no worries about how she has managed the squad: they have only lost one of their past 10 games.
Boasting the likes of Ballon d’Or winners Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas, Salma Paralluelo, Irene Paredes and Mariona Caldentey and many more in their squad, Spain are a frightening prospect.
Player to watch: It’s tough to pick just one Spain player to keep an eye on, but 23-year-old Barcelona forward Claudia Pina is one who may excel in Switzerland. She turned the game on its head as Spain came from behind to beat England last month and provides an excellent creative presence.
Portugal
Portugal have not made it past the group stage in their past three major tournaments but will hope they can come out on top in a group where it looks relatively open in the battle for the runner-up spot.
They were excellent when they held England to a 1-1 draw back in February but have since suffered a 6-0 defeat by the Lionesses and a 7-1 drubbing by Spain. At the back, they look notably shaky.
Player to watch: Forward Jessica Silva is back to being available for her country after recovering from a serious eye injury and could provide the goals her side need to win their crucial matches against Italy and Belgium.
Belgium
Elisabet Gunnarsdottir is leading Belgium into a major tournament for the first time, marking the start of a new era after 14 years with Ives Serneels in charge.
They finished third – behind Spain and England – in their Nations League group and recorded an impressive win at home to the Lionesses, albeit they lost the reverse fixture 5-1.
It is tough to judge how they will do with a manager who has been at the helm since January, but the Red Flames have already proven they were better than Portugal in their Nations League group which is a positive going into the Euros.
Player to watch: Captain Tessa Wullaert is her country’s best attacking option and if the 32-year-old finds form then Belgium can be tough to deal with. Also keep an eye out for the threat Justine Vanhaevermaet’s height poses from set pieces.
Italy
The Azzurre have a habit of being tipped as dark horses before underperforming at tournaments.
Strong form since manager Andre Soncin took charge in 2023, including a good Nations League campaign may cause people to do the same again, but Italy will be looking to finally put their tournament football troubles behind them and find a path out of their group.
Player to watch: Italy’s midfield is their greatest strength and Roma’s Manuela Giugliano will provide a substantial amount of their creative talent.
Group C
Germany
Lea Schuller is a constant threat for Germany (Photo: Getty)
The Euro 2022 runners-up suffered a shock group-stage exit at the 2023 World Cup and will be looking to show that their disappointing display in Australia was just a blip.
They are unbeaten in 2025 and have the history as one of the best teams in the world. They will be seen as one of the favourites to win the tournament this time around anything less than going far in the knockouts will be seen as an underperformance.
Manager Christian Wuck, who took over in 2024, does not have midfielder Lena Oberdorf at her disposal with her being ruled out with a knee injury but their talent should be enough to be one of the teams to beat.
Player to watch: Bayern Munich striker Lea Schuller has proved her worth up top and – following the retirement of Alexandra Popp last year – will be her side’s key player when it comes to providing goals.
Poland
This is Poland’s first major tournament and it would be surprising to see them find a path out of a tough group C.
They lost all of their qualifying matches and are now in the second tier of the Nations League so have not played many fixtures against top-class opposition, but they achieved a spot at the Euros through the play-offs.
Player to watch: Barcelona striker Ewa Pajor could make the difference for Poland and, if they are to find a shock route to the knockouts, will be important. She netted 25 goals in 28 league games for her club this term and the captain is clearly her country’s most important player.
Denmark
Denmark will likely be vying with Sweden for second place in the group, but a 6-1 defeat by their Scandinavian rivals in the Nations League in their last Nations League game was far from the result they wanted going into the Euros.
The Danes did not make it out of the group stage at Euro 2022 and lost to Australia in the last-16 at the 2023 World Cup. They have performed well at some previous tournaments but recent form has been far from perfect.
Player to watch: Real Madrid striker Signe Bruun netted 12 times and assisted seven goals for her club in the league this season. She will present a strong strike partnership alongside Bayern Munich’s Pernille Harder.
Sweden
Sweden have an impressive record at major tournaments – they have reached the semi-finals at each of their past three.
However, they do not seem to be as strong as they once were and drew twice with Wales in the Nations League and were also held to a stalemate by Italy.
Their 6-1 win against Denmark set the right tone going into the tournament but there are definite question marks over whether Sweden have what it takes to accomplish their former heights.
Player to watch: Barcelona’s Fridolina Rolfo is usually a left-back for her club plays in a more advanced role for her country, being used as a winger who can create and threaten in front of goal. Chelsea’s Johanna Rytting Kaneryd will also be an important part of their attacking line.
Group D
England
All eyes will be on Lionesses No 1 Hannah Hampton (Photo: Getty)
Envisage the ideal preparation for defending a tournament and it probably doesn’t look anything like how the past few months have played out for the Lionesses.
Mary Earps’ retirement, Millie Bright withdrawing, a shock defeat by Belgium, a draw with Portugal and more. It hasn’t exactly been plain sailing.
Sarina Wiegman will hope England can defend their 2022 Euros crown and she will need to draw on her major tournament experience to make the difference. The Lionesses have found a way to click when things haven’t worked in the past and it must happen again.
Player to watch: While a goalkeeper is an interesting pick, the retirement of Earps has given Chelsea’s Hannah Hampton a point to prove and Wiegman will want the 24-year-old to show why she has been picked as the Lionesses’ first choice keeper.
Wales
Rhian Wilkinson has guided Wales to their first major tournament and they have unluckily been handed the toughest group in Switzerland.
Finding a way out of it seems incredibly unlikely and they would need to cause upsets to do so. Their recent draws with Sweden have shown they can cause trouble against top opposition but they will need to do even better to reach the knockouts.
Player to watch: Wales will face a tough group stage but captain Jess Fishlock will be up for the task. She is integral for her country, being their top scorer and record appearance maker. Even at the age of 38, the striker still has the ability to provide up top and has a clear sense of determination.
France have a squad brimming with talented players who have proved their worth for their club, they can trouble any opposition on their day and will be feared at the Euros.
The problem, though, is that their strength has rarely properly translated to performances at tournaments. They have won all of their games in 2025 but will need to hope that manager Laurent Bonadei – taking charge of his first tournament – can find a way to make the most of what is at his disposal.
France are without former captain Wendie Renard and all-time top scorer Eugenie Le Sommer but are still heavyweights. In a tough group, though, they won’t be able to afford any mishaps if they want to make it to the knockouts.
Player to watch: If France are to finally find a way to reach a first major final, Kadidiatou Diani will need to be at her best. The 30-year-old netted 10 times and registered six assists in the league for Lyon this season and her pedigree will be important.
Netherlands
The Netherlands won the Euros back in 2017 and, while they have been handed a tricky group, they could go far if they manage to get out of it.
Their last Nations League matches did not provide the ideal preparation, with them being held to a 1-1 draw by Scotland and receiving a 4-0 thrashing by Germany.
The Netherlands are arguably not as strong as they once were but, with a blend of talent coming through and experienced heads still there, will fancy themselves as one of the best sides in the tournament.
Player to watch: It is hard to look past Manchester City’s Vivianne Miedema. While her role for her club and recent injuries have meant she has not been as potent as in previous years, she remains one of the best forwards in the world. The Netherlands will want to be able to call on her talent in tough games against England and France.
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Textor sold his 43 per cent stake in Palace to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, for around £190m, in an attempt to rectify the situation. But it is thought that this was not enough to satisfy the CFCB, as Textor had not relinquished his stake by the 1 March deadline.
How did we get here?
American billionaire John Textor has sold his stake in Palace (Photo: AFP)
Palace had also tried to argue, during questioning by the CFCB, that while Textor owned a controlling stake, his power was diluted due to the four-way voting requirement of the four owners, and that the club shared no resources with Lyon.
Uefa was due to announce its ruling on the matter by Friday last week, but the decision was further complicated and delayed after Lyon were relegated by the French authorities for breaching financial regulations.
If Lyon successfully overturn their relegation, the French club, who finished sixth in Ligue 1, will play in the Europa League and Palace will be forced to accept a place in the Europa Conference League instead.
Some well-placed sources believe Lyon’s appeal could be heard next week, but they are completely at the mercy of the French football authorities.
Either way, from Uefa’s perspective, the situation must be sorted by 4 August, when the draw for the Europa League playoffs will take place.
It is believed that if Lyon’s appeal has not been heard by the new deadline, the Europa League place will be handed to Crystal Palace.
What’s the latest with Lyon’s appeal?
Lyon were warned by the French football watchdog (the DNCG) in November 2024 that they were provisionally relegated after amassing debts of £200m.
Textor insisted, at the time, that Lyon would not be relegated, a stance he reiterated in an interview with French publication L’Equipe in the week before the relegation was confirmed.
But two weeks later the decision was upheld, throwing Uefa’s ability to rule on the case into chaos.
Lyon said in a statement that it was an “incomprehensible decision” after they had “worked closely” with the DNCG.
Textor, who also owns clubs in Brazil and Belgium, has since resigned from leadership positions at the French club, hinting that he might invest in another English club.
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In April, Keith Andrews was at a career crossroads. Appointed as Brentford’s set-piece coach the previous summer, Andrews applied – and interviewed – for the manager’s job at Milton Keynes Dons. He felt he was ready to take a step forward. MK Dons, then ranked 87th of the 92 league clubs in England, appointed former Derby County manager Paul Warne several days later.
That Andrews is now beginning his first month as a manager is therefore surprising. For the job to be at a club that has just finished in the top half of the Premier League is astonishing. There are benefits to coaching at Brentford, where innovation comes as standard: you might just end up getting promoted all the way to the top.
The involuntary insta-reaction is to scoff and/or wince, even without meaning to be hasty. A top-flight team appointing someone who has never been a permanent manager before is not unique – Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, for starters – but appointing the set-piece coach might just be.
Even if, as we hear, Andrews’ responsibilities went beyond that remit, this all sounds faintly ludicrous. Clubs don’t do this. Clubs who are replacing a long-term manager and who have lost his staff (Justin Cochrane, Chris Haslam, Joe Newton and Claus Norgaard have all also left Brentford) really don’t do this. Clubs who are about to lose their top scorer and their captain definitely don’t do this.
But maybe Brentford do do this. When Frank got his job, he was an internal candidate promoted from Dean Smith’s coaching staff. It is not like Frank was their fourth or fifth choice, so often a prelude to disappointment. Same with Andrews. Frank knew the club and everyone in it; the club and everyone in it knew Frank. This is the same theory.
So much of this remarkable success (and it remains remarkable, by the measure of history, size and budgets) has been platformed by succession plans. Take eight years of centre forwards: Brentford sold Scott Hogan and Jota and bought Ollie Watkins and Neal Maupay; they sold Maupay and bought Bryan Mbeumo; they sold Watkins and bought Ivan Toney. By the time they sold Ivan Toney, they were consolidated amongst the elite and had barely made an expensive mistake.
As such, this summer can have come as no surprise: Frank was a likely target for someone for at least two years and so was Mbeumo. If you think that Brentford’s hierarchy got caught out, spooked and panicked, think on. This may be a misstep, perhaps even a desperate one, but it is taken with purpose.
This week, director of football Phil Giles intimated that Andrews was appointed principally because they believed that he could step up to this role. That might be management speak bluster but external candidates were interviewed, including former Ajax head coach Francesco Farioli.
Giles’ message rang true: “We’re not trying to change everything and go in a totally different direction. It’s all about the details – we’re not looking to revolutionise.” Continuity, continuity, continuity.
If this is a gamble, Brentford have chips to play with. Nobody reasonable – probably even Giles himself – is expecting Andrews to replicate last season after losing (at least) Christian Norgaard and Mbeumo, but the recent struggle of promoted clubs to stay in touch creates breathing space. Brentford took 56 points last season and would need to drop by at least 20 to be relegated. Even Manchester United, who finished 15th, didn’t take 20 fewer points from 2023-24.
We cannot avoid that potential, though. Nor can Brentford. They do magnificent work in their community and they lead the way on Premier League fan engagement and ticket pricing. They have repeatedly proven themselves adept at scouting, recruitment and squad development. But they are still taking a vast risk. They know more than all of us about this situation, but they cannot know everything.
This appointment creates pressure – that much is undeniable. That pressure lies squarely upon Andrews because he is the public face of the club and because he will shortly lead his first ever training session as a manager. That pressure will rush in quickly: Brentford’s first six home league opponents are Aston Villa, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and Newcastle.
As outsiders, we should celebrate. We beg for clubs who do things differently to succeed, particularly those outside of a financial elite. We want promotion of British and Irish coaches because that helps our national teams. We want clubs to back the courage of their convictions and to be interesting rather than play it safe. If any club in England has earned trust to do so, it’s Brentford.
But uncertainty is an inadvertent emotion and it festers in the corners that we cannot fill with confirmed reality. Brentford supporters in panic mode should not be blamed – we would be the same because we crave the sanctuary of certainty. The scariest three words in modern life: I don’t know.
The last time Brentford were without Frank, they had spent £3m on a player only once in their history and had never played in the Premier League. Everything flowed through him. We are about to find out whether, at Brentford, the system truly is the king or merely the magnificent manipulation of one manager.
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Leicester City’s pitch is normally a glorious carpet, one that now looks as if it has been eaten by moths.
The Lionesses’ 7-0 victory over Jamaica was all the more impressive given it came on a surface with huge lumps missing. A send-off fit for European champions in substance, but not in surroundings.
As the ball bobbled awkwardly outside the penalty area, Ella Toone looked as bewildered as anybody as to how she twice managed to score. Leah Williamson watched a tumbleweed of a pass laze along to Alex Greenwood as she tried to mount a counter-attack.
Appalling pitches in women’s football, even for worthier occasions than a warm-up friendly against Jamaica, are nothing new. After the League Cup final at Pride Park, Erin Cuthbert surmised that Chelsea had won their first of three trophies last season in spite of a surface “not fit for a final”.
“You expect in England to have the best groundsmen and pitches in the world,” her manager Sonia Bompastor echoed.
You expect it particularly at Leicester, who until last month were a Premier League team, owned by a family of billionaires. It is always welcome when England take the show on tour, away from the humdrum of Wembley, and especially if it can help them to prepare for a month of unfamiliar surroundings.
But this was a half-hearted attempt to get the King Power ready for a rare opportunity to host the national side in front of local fans. England Men have had their fair share of sub-par pitches away from home – including at last summer’s Euros against Denmark in Frankfurt – but it is hard to imagine them playing on a surface like this in the UK.
It is not only a sign of disrespect to a Lionesses side who have reached the final of their last two major tournaments – pitches of such a low standard not only reduce the quality of the football, they risk causing injury.
They have been questionable, to put it mildly, at the Arnold Clark Cup in the past, but never with such implications for a summer of this magnitude.
Losing anyone to injury was simply not an option for Sarina Wiegman, who started her strongest possible XI in a hint of what her line-up will look like for England’s opener against France on 5 July.
Greenwood, Lauren James and Georgia Stanway are all being quietly nursed behind the scenes. All have had significant injury problems in the past 12 months.
It is just as well England came through unscathed, as Wiegman could have attacked this friendly in two ways. The big question looming over this Euros is whether England have enough depth. We did not really find out.
With Hannah Hampton starting – and surviving a howler that was disallowed due to Jamaican obstruction – the two back-up goalkeepers Anna Moorhouse and Khiara Keating will go to Switzerland without a single cap between them.
When Beth Mead fell to the floor under a late challenge from Natasha Thomas, disaster might have struck. Instead she rallied to score England’s seventh.
These are the moments that mean everything and nothing in the build-up to a major tournament. England hardly need reminding that greater tests lie ahead, especially given that this was a Jamaica side missing Khadija Shaw, Becky Spencer and Drew Spence.
Leicester, too, might feel they have bigger fish to fry as they search for a men’s first-team manager, brace themselves for a potential points deduction and prepare for another season in the Championship juggling myriad, complex financial rules. It might be an idea to get their house in order first.
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England U21s successfully defended their European Championship crown on Saturday, beating Germany 3-2 after extra-time in a thrilling final in Bratislava.
Two years ago, Lee Carsley became the first England U21 manager since Dave Sexton (in 1982 and 1984) to win the tournament, and he has also now presided over back-to-back Euros wins. Carsley’s return to his day job has gone perfectly.
After a slowish start, the U21s grew into the competition and were excellent in the knockouts, beating Spain, the Netherlands and Germany, scoring eight goals in the process.
Thomas Tuchel, watching the final from the stands, presumably would have been impressed. England’s senior manager has been criticised for being too conservative, with the selections of 35-year-olds Kyle Walker and Jordan Henderson especially contentious.
However, Tuchel has also entrusted youth, notably handing Arsenal teenager Myles Lewis-Skelly his first three caps and retaining a clutch of players who broke through under Carsley last autumn.
Here are six U21 stars who could gatecrash Tuchel’s World Cup plans, and the more experienced players they could replace.
Elliott has been immense at the Euros, scoring five goals in six games, including a confident early opener in the final. He was named Uefa’s Player of the Tournament.
The 22-year-old’s versatility makes him an ideal tournament option. Elliott is most effective when cutting in from the right on his favoured left foot, but can also play centrally or on the left.
He needs – and is expected to – leave Liverpool this summer after making just two Premier League starts last season.
Incidentally, that’s as many as Cole Palmer made for Manchester City in the season leading up to the last U21 Euros in 2023. There’s his inspiration for the campaign ahead.
City’s James McAtee, player of the match in the final, faces a similarly decisive summer.
Player at risk? Noni Madueke
Tino Livramento
The right-back was named in Tuchel’s first England squad but hasn’t yet added to his solitary cap, won against the Republic of Ireland in Carsley’s final game as interim manager, since the regime change.
The 22-year-old faces plenty of competition, with Real Madrid’s newest Galactico, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Tuchel favourite Reece James and Walker all battling it out to start.
However, he enjoyed a breakthrough year at Newcastle and has looked equally comfortable on the left and right at the Euros. He is probably the closest in profile to Walker, which could boost his chances of usurping him by next year.
Player at risk? Kyle Walker
Alex Scott
Bournemouth have endured a rough transfer window, with four of their first-choice back five either leaving (Kepa Arrizabalaga, Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez) or likely to leave (Illia Zabarnyi to Paris Saint-Germain).
The good news is that Andoni Iraola still has plenty of talent at his disposal. Alex Scott, currently wearing a bizarre contraption to protect a broken jaw, is poised to become their next breakout act. Unfortunately, Scott went off injured in the final after a poor tackle from Erik Martel.
The 21-year-old started six of the Cherries’ final nine league matches after missing four months with a knee injury. Silky and composed on the ball, Scott has the type of skillset that England have been crying out for.
Player at risk? Jordan Henderson
Elliot Anderson
A different type of central midfielder to Scott, but no less effective. Anderson is tenacious – no Englishman made more tackles in the Premier League last season – and provides unceasing energy in the middle.
He is a driving force as well, ranking third among Nottingham Forest players for attempted dribbles in 2024-25.
Anderson is an archetypal box-to-box English midfielder, and another strong season at the City Ground will surely put him in contention given England’s lack of depth in the engine room.
Tuchel is obviously a fan after choosing Quansah in his first-ever England squad, but the 20-year-old is still uncapped after spending the past year in and around the senior setup.
Similarly to Elliott, Quansah had infrequent starting opportunities at Liverpool, but he will play much more next season after signing for Bayer Leverkusen in a club-record move to replace Jonathan Tah, who has joined Bayern Munich.
Tuchel doesn’t have an abundance of options at centre-back, and one, if not both, starting spots are up for grabs ahead of the World Cup. Impress in the Bundesliga and Quansah could well earn himself a seat on the plane.
Player at risk? Dan Burn
Omari Hutchinson
There is no chance of Hutchinson sneaking into the squad if he remains at Ipswich following their relegation, and even if he gets a summer transfer, it remains unlikely.
Nevertheless, the 21-year-old has shone in Slovakia with his directness and nimble feet. He ran Neraysho Kasanwirjo ragged in the semi-final, so much that the right-back was taken off as an act of mercy at the break, and then scored in the final.
England have an abundance of high-class wingers, but Hutchinson could add something a little different as a paint-on-the-boots winger.
Only five players attempted more dribbles than he did in the top-flight last season, albeit that group contains Morgan Rogers and Eberechi Eze.
Player at risk? Anthony Gordon
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England will begin the defence of their Women’s European Championship title when they head to Switzerland this summer.
The Lionesses secured the country’s first major trophy since 1966 at the 2022 Euros, beating Germany in the final after extra time.
This year’s tournament takes place from 2 to 27 July and kicks off with Iceland playing Finland, before hosts Switzerland face Norway the same evening. It will feature 16 teams competing across eight cities and returns to its usual four-year cycle after the previous tournament was delayed to 2022 due to Covid.
England start with a massive game against France on 5 July in Zurich. They then go on to play the Netherlands on 9 July and Wales on 13 July, hoping to secure a spot in the quarter-finals and beyond.
Dutch head coach Sarina Wiegman, who led England to their historic win in 2022, recently named the 23 Lionesses who will make up her squad this time around – including 13 players who became champions in 2022.
Chelsea star Lauren James has been named despite not making an appearance since suffering a hamstring injury during England’s 5-0 Nations League win over Belgium in April.
However, they will be without Mary Earps and Fran Kirby, who have retired from international football, while Millie Bright has made herself unavailable.
England’s Euro 2025 fixtures
Group stage
5 July: France vs England (8pm, Zurich)
9 July: England vs Netherlands (5pm, Zurich)
13 July: England vs Wales (8pm, St Gallen)
How to watch Euro 2025
Dates: 2-27 July
TV Channel: England’s matches against France and Wales will both be shown on ITV, with the BBC having rights for the game against the Netherlands. Every Women’s Euro 2025 match will be broadcast free-to-air in the UK, with coverage split between BBC and ITV.
Livestream: Streaming will be available on BBC iPlayer and ITVX.
The 16 competing teams were split into four groups of four during the final tournament draw in Lausanne on December 16, 2024. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.
Euro 2025 groups
Group A: Switzerland (hosts), Norway, Iceland, Finland
Group B: Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Italy
Group C: Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden
Group D: France, England (holders), Wales, Netherlands
England’s path to the final
Should England progress out of Group D, they will play either the winners or runners-up of Group C, depending on where the Lionesses finish in their group. Next, that could pit them against Germany or Sweden, who will be the favourites to qualify from that group.
The total available prize money for this year’s tournament stands at €41m (£34m) – a significant increase from the 2022 prize pot worth €16 million (£13.7m).
All competing sides receive a €1.8m (£1.5m) participation fee, with the remaining sum of money going to the quarter-finalists, semi-finalists, runners-up and winners.
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Ruud van Nistelrooy has left Leicester City after the club confirmed his contract has been mutually terminated with immediate effect.
The Dutchman signed a two-and-a-half-year contract in November last year but leaves just seven months into the deal after overseeing the club’s relegation from the Premier League.
Van Nistelrooy, who replaced Steve Cooper, won only four of his 24 league matches in charge, with two of those victories coming after their fate had already been sealed.
The Foxes set an unwanted Premier League record under the Dutchman by going nine home games without scoring a single goal.
Van Nistelrooy said: “I would like to personally thank the Leicester City players, coaches, academy and all the staff I have worked with for their professionalism and dedication during my time at the club and to thank the fans for their support, and take this opportunity to wish the club well for the future.”
Former Everton and Burnley boss Sean Dyche is the bookmaker’s favourite to replace him, with Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Rohl and Michael Carrick, who recently left Middlesbrough, also tipped to be in the frame.
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There was a time not too long ago when Chelsea’s striking options felt more like a long-running issue than a genuine selection dilemma.
Memories of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Romelu Lukaku still weigh heavily on the minds of Chelsea fans, but with the arrival of Liam Delap, the question of who should lead the line for Enzo Maresca next season is suddenly one that provokes real intrigue.
Chelsea’s Club World Cup campaign has undoubtedly brought both significant opportunity and heightened exposure.
The club has already banked approximately £36m from the competition and stands to earn more should they progress against Benfica on Saturday.
However, the combination of an untimely suspension and soaring temperatures has forced Maresca to test the depth of his attacking ranks earlier than expected.
IT'S TWO! JUST THAT FAST FOR THE BLUES!@ChelseaFC with two goals in two minutes!
One player who has seized the opportunity is Delap, the 22-year-old summer signing from Ipswich Town.
The England youth international marked his debut with an assist in the opener against Los Angeles FC, then produced a calm finish against Esperance on Tuesday night local time, offering a glimpse of what Chelsea paid £30m for.
His relationship with Maresca, who coached him at Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad during their Premier League 2 title win in 2020-21, has eased the transition.
“We expect to progress quickly with Liam,” Maresca said. “The reason why is because we know him, and he knows us and the way we want to play.”
Delap himself has dismissed the idea that adapting to Chelsea’s more possession-based system will be a challenge.
“I spent five years at City and every game we were in that position,” he said. “I’ve got a good relationship with the manager. I know how he plays. I’ve played in this system before.”
By contrast, Nicolas Jackson’s progression has been far from linear. While he scored 13 goals and provided five assists in 34 appearances in all competitions last season, moments of promise have often been offset by lapses in discipline.
A red card against Flamengo in Philadelphia, combined with a domestic ban, means that he will miss the Blues’ Premier League season opener against Crystal Palace as well as the upcoming Club World Cup meeting with Benfica, having been forced to sit out the game against Esperance.
Due to his ill-discipline, the Senegal forward was excluded from training with the squad ahead of their fixture against Esperance, as Maresca made it clear that only players available for selection would be involved.
That lapse in concentration handed Delap a golden opportunity.
He offers something different to Jackson – equally mobile, but more powerful and better suited to act as a focal point in attack.
His 12 league goals last season for Ipswich saw him outperform his expected goals tally (xG) by 2.7.
Jackson, by comparison, had a higher xG but only scored 10, falling short of his expected tally.
While both players clearly have value, Delap appears to be the more clinical of the two.
Delap’s path to Chelsea has also been somewhat unconventional. After indifferent loan spells at Stoke City and Preston North End before a more productive stint at Hull City, he then enjoyed a breakthrough season under Kieran McKenna at Ipswich last term.
While his stats so far don’t suggest that he is a generational talent, they do reflect a player who has absorbed the demands of senior football in a way that Chelsea’s young squad could benefit from.
He is ready for the scrutiny that comes with playing for a top side.
That scrutiny is something Jackson is still learning to handle. His red card against Flamengo drew sharp criticism from pundits, including Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel, who described it as a “stupid mistake”.
While the 24-year-old has shown flashes of what is required from a modern-day forward, he must add maturity to his game to justify starting in high-pressure matches.
Meanwhile, the club has been linked with a high-profile move for Hugo Ekitike.
The Eintracht Frankfurt striker finished last season with 23 Bundesliga goal involvements. However, Frankfurt are reportedly holding out for €100m (£85m), and tactically, Ekitike often operates as a wide forward or second striker – less of a natural fit for Maresca’s structured, centralised No 9 role.
For now, Delap looks like the man most in line with Maresca’s vision.
He may not have the flair of Ekitike or the versatility of Jackson, but he offers a rare commodity at Stamford Bridge: simplicity.
A powerful, direct striker with good movement, efficient finishing and a head coach who believes in him.
Whether or not Chelsea go deep in the Club World Cup, Delap’s emergence feels timely.
In a team seeking greater consistency, Delap may be the forward around whom Maresca can build.
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