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Bayern Munich came close to matching their own record set under Pep Guardiola in 2014 during Saturday's win over Heidenheim.

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• Bayern made close to 1000 passes vs Heidenheim
• Second to Guardiola's record from 10 years back
• Bundesliga leaders won 4-2 in Bundesliga

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Jamal Musiala came off the bench to strike twice as Bayern clinched a 4-2 win over Heidenheim in a Bundesliga clash on Saturday. During the match at Allianz Arena, Vincent Kompany's side played a whopping 988 passes as they came close to matching their record from 10 years back. In the last two decades, only once had the Bavarian club played more than 1000 passes during a Bundesliga clash – against Hertha Berlin under current Manchester City boss Guardiola's tutelage.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  In March 2014, during Guardiola's maiden season in charge of the German giants, the club played 1109 passes as they outclassed Hertha 3-1 courtesy of goals from Toni Kroos, Mario Gotze and Franck Ribery. Kompany, who spent three seasons playing under the legendary Spanish manager at City, is heavily influenced by his mentor and is trying to implement a similar possession-based style at Bayern.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The Bundesliga giants remain unbeaten in the league and are now six points clear at the top of the table. Star striker Harry Kane missed Saturday's fixture due to an injury, but the England captain is inching closer towards a return to action.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR BAYERN MUNICH?

  Kompany's men will be back in action on Tuesday as they take on Shakhtar Donetsk in a crucial Champions League clash.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are keeping a close eye on an up and coming defender who enjoyed an excellent 2023-24 campaign and is currently at the Olympics, it has been reported.

Wolves yet to replace their captain

Gary O'Neil has lost his captain this summer with Julen Lopetegui pouncing on the 27-year-old defender, shelling out £40m to take the centre-back to Premier League rivals West Ham United.

It comes as a blow to the Old Gold, not solely due to his ability but also his availability. Across the past three seasons, Kilman has missed just nine games, while he played every minute of the 2023-24 campaign and all but one game the season before.

It leaves Wolves looking light in the heart of defence ahead of their Premier League opener against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. As it stands, Toti Gomes, Craig Dawson, Santiago Bueno and returning defender Yerson Mosquera are the only options that O'Neil can call upon.

Wolves continuing to monitor £10m titan who'd be great for Toti

Gary O’Neil looks to add another defender to his squad this summer…

By
Ross Kilvington

Jul 29, 2024

As a result, a new defender is expected, and there have been long-term links with FC Porto centre-back David Carmo, who was on loan with Olympiacos last season and seems surplus to requirements at the Estadio de Dragao.

However, they also have other options in case the 25-year-old cannot be prised out of Portugal this summer, and now a new name has entered the fray.

Wolves eye Olympic defender

Now, Givemesport have claimed that they are keeping a close eye on Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera as they look to bolster their ranks ahead of the new campaign.

The 20-year-old defender made 33 La Liga starts last season, earning a call-up to the Spanish U21 team and being selected as part of the Spanish Olympic side this summer, appearing in their 2-1 loss to Egypt.

He still has plenty of room to improve, but was hailed as "the type of CB who loves to battle with physical attackers and thrives in ground duels due to his physical maturity" by Football Analyst Ben Mattinson on X.

"He’s technically secure and loves to carry the ball out the defence", Mattinson added, which would certainly come as a major bonus to O'Neil's side.

The £2.5k per week centre-back would not come cheap though; he is under contract until 2026 as things stand, and is valued at a massive 30m euros (£25m) by transfer site Transfermarkt.

Givemesport claim that "Mosquera is ‘back in the picture’ for Wolves’ higher-ups after impressing in his side’s pre-season campaign", and that they could make a move for him should they fail in a move for Carmo, though long-term target Nico Elvedi is also under consideration.

Stepping into Kilman's shoes would be a major ask for a player with less than 100 senior appearances to his name, but were Mosquera to deliver on his promise, Wolves would have a future superstar defender on their hands.

Leeds United are ready to submit a new bid as they look to add a little more magic to their frontline in the wake of Crysencio Summerville's exit this summer, it has been reported.

Farke facing tough choices

With the opening game of the Championship season looming, Leeds look far from the finished article but are without any immediate injury concerns. They face Portsmouth in their opening clash as they look to return to the Premier League at the second time of asking, and Daniel Farke revealed that he has a fully-fit squad to choose from.

"Everyone is available, it's good news," the Leeds boss explained. "I've rarely had this situation in my life as a manger where for the first game (of the season) everyone is fit and ready to go."

It means that Farke will be able to field a front three including Wilfried Gnonto and Georginio Rutter should he wish, a luxury that few would have expected at the beginning of the summer when both players were being strongly linked with a move away.

He can also call on impressive striker Mateo Joseph, who began to break into the first team last season but has truly excelled this pre-season. The 20-year-old finished pre-season as the club's top goalscorer, and could well pick up the mantle from the ageing Patrick Bamford this season in what could prove a breakthrough campaign should he be able to sustain it.

But there remains a major gap in the side on the left-hand side, with last season's Championship player of the year Summerville having left for West Ham United and yet to be replaced at Elland Road. Though unlikely to be replaced in time to welcome their south coast opponents on Saturday, Leeds are still looking for a solution.

Leeds ready to up offer for forward

Now, Sky Sports report that the Yorkshire outfit are ready to submit a new and improved offer for Norwich City forward Jonathan Rowe. The 21-year-old excelled in his first full season of professional football last time out, scoring twelve goals and grabbing two assists to help the Canaries into the playoffs.

He has long been tipped for success, with his academy coach Greg Crane revealing he always stood out at youth level: "Jonny always had a bit of a wow factor. What you're seeing in the first team, I still think there is more to come, and I'd expect a lot more from him."

The next Gray: Leeds looking at signing “exceptional” young PL gem

Leeds United are keeping a close eye on this young gem as a potential buy.

By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 9, 2024

But the youngster is down to the final 12 months of his £4,600 a week contract at Carrow Road, and Leeds are looking to poach him from their Championship rivals ahead of the transfer window closing.

They have already had one offer knocked back as Norwich hold out for £15m, but Sky journalist Lyall Thomas claims that they are "still negotiating" for the youngster. Indeed, they add that Leeds are "willing to increase the amount they can pay and get closer to Norwich's valuation".

Rowe may still only have one full season of Championship action to his name, but he could well prove a bargain should he continue to improve, and Leeds will be hoping he does so at Elland Road.

Antony's 'own personality' is holding him back at Manchester United, says ex-coach Rene Meulensteen, who believes the club should sell him in January.

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• United told to 'cut their losses' on Antony
• Brazilian has failed to impress at Old Trafford
• Concerns over 24-year-old's personality

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Antony has flattered to deceive during his two years in Manchester. The Brazilian, bought from Ajax by former manager Erik ten Hag in 2022, has scored just 12 goals in 89 appearances – an outlay that certainly doesn't justify his £85 million ($108m) price tag.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 24-year-old's solitary goal this season came from the penalty spot in a 7-0 win over Barnsley in the EFL Cup. New head coach Ruben Amorim will be keen to gain a full evaluation of his entire squad before making any decisions, but former assistant Rene Meulensteen, who served under Sir Alex Ferguson, believes United should offload the winger in January as his personality doesn't "sit very well with some of the other players", among other concerns raised by the Dutchman.

• WHAT MEULENSTEEN SAID

  “Manchester United might have to bite the bullet and cut their losses with Antony in January, because I don’t think he has the attributes to contribute to what Ruben Amorim wants,” Meulensteen told Lucky Block. “I find it difficult to see where he fits into this team. I think he’s been one of the biggest misfiring transfers in the Premier League in recent years.

  “He’s another example of a player who comes from the Dutch league – which I know really well – where you can win seven out of ten games with two fingers up your nose and you don’t have to break a sweat. In the Premier League, you have to be absolutely top class in every game you play.

  “I think the biggest thing that has held Antony back is his own personality – he’s got certain characteristics that don’t sit very well with some of the other players. Away from that though, there’s a lack of effectiveness as a player – he’s very predictable in the way he wants to cut in on his left foot. We hardly see any quality assists or chance creation from him and I think we could see him elsewhere by the end of January.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ANTONY?

  Antony started in last month's win over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League and he'll likely be in action against Viktoria Plzen on Thursday as Amorim's side, 12th in the league phase table, try to climb the standings.

Newcastle United are among the clubs plotting a late transfer move for a contract rebel, according to a new report.

It has been a low-key transfer window for the Magpies so far, as the club has had to endure to PSR, and that has meant the finances have been tight for Eddie Howe to make some big moves in the transfer market.

However, that hasn’t stopped the club from getting off to a good start in the Premier League, as they have picked up four points from a possible six, beating Southampton and drawing with AFC Bournemouth despite somewhat unconvincing performances.

Newcastle line up late move for £40m Wilson upgrade

Eddie Howe faces a busy few days ahead

By
Ross Kilvington

Aug 27, 2024

Newcastle United transfer news

As Friday’s deadline gets ever closer, Newcastle United are currently going to go into September with five new signings on board. As stated, it hasn’t been a very busy summer for the club, as PSR has meant the Tynesiders have had to be patient and careful with the business that they have done.

However, with two days of the window remaining, it appears that Newcastle’s business isn’t completely done, as they eye a few more deals. One player that has been on the club’s radar for a while now is Burnley shot-stopper James Trafford, with the club chasing his signature much earlier in the summer.

It has now been reported that the Magpies are ready to revisit a deal for Trafford, with the player himself believing he could join the club this week. Furthermore, personal terms are said to not be an issue, but the transfer does hinge on Newcastle either loaning or selling at least one, if not both of, Odysseas Vlachodimos and Martin Dubravka.

As well as looking to sign Trafford, Eddie Howe and Newcastle are also said to be weighing up a move to sign midfielder Santiago Hezze before the end of the transfer window. It has been claimed that the Premier League side are preparing a bid worth £17 million in order to secure his signing before the deadline.

Newcastle plotting a late move for Dominic Calvert-Lewin

According to Football Insider, Newcastle United are plotting a late transfer move for Everton striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin. The report states that Everton have seen multiple contract offers for the striker rejected, and with his current deal set to expire in 12 months, meaning he can sign a pre-contract agreement in January, this summer presents the last chance the club has of selling the striker for a decent fee, which is necessary given their financial troubles.

Newcastle’s owner, PIF, pursued a move for Calvert-Lewin earlier in this transfer window but ended up walking away as they were not willing to pay the £40 million that Everton wanted. But in this report from Football Insider, it states that the Merseyside club will be forced to reevaluate their demands in these final days of the window given their situation and inability to extend his contract.

This comes after it was reported earlier this week that Newcastle boss Eddie Howe is a big fan of Calvert-Lewin, as the club now prepares to make a late move for the striker, so it appears PIF have pulled a masterstroke by waiting in the wings for their manager's top target to become available after their initial interest.

The in-form England international turned in a completely anonymous display, as the Blues were disappointed on Merseyside.

Chelsea were held to a 0-0 draw by Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday, as Enzo Maresca's side were left frustrated throughout by Sean Dyche's men.

On the half-hour mark, a superb corner delivery was headed against the post from close-range by Nicolas Jackson. The ball came to him quickly, but it was a dreadful miss. With the ball bouncing away, Jordan Pickford slid in on Malo Gusto, leading to a penalty shout, but VAR rejected the appeal.

Everton tested Robert Sanchez in Chelsea's goal before half-time, forcing an excellent save from the Spaniard with a low 20-yard drive.

Sanchez was once again at his reflexive best after the restart, stopping Jack Harrison's close-range effort with his feet.

In the 76th minute, Everton looked poised to take a deserved lead, but Tosin Adarabioyo made a superb, stretching block to keep Chelsea's clean sheet intact.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Goodison Park…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Robert Sanchez (8/10):

  Superb save to deny Orel Mangala from range and another elastic stop at the feet of Harrison after the restart. Chelsea's best player.

  Axel Disasi (6/10):

  Doesn't look fully comfortable at right-back but remains a physical, solid presence.

  Tosin Adarabioyo (7/10):

  Brilliant block kept Chelsea level in the second half. Great on the ground and in the air.

  Levi Colwill (6/10):

  Sparked a clash with Everton's defence after an encounter with Pickford. Distributed well.

  Malo Gusto (6/10):

  Appealed for a penalty after being taken out by Pickford in goal but VAR denied the claim. Took a couple of pot-shots from range.

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  Midfield

  Moises Caicedo (7/10):

  A remarkably strong presence defensively. Dominated in midfield at the 6.

  Enzo Fernandez (6/10):

  Constantly busy in midfield, snapping into tackles and keeping the ball moving. A dynamic, strong runner.

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  Attack

  Pedro Neto (5/10):

  A mixed afternoon. Capable of beating his man but struggled to do so with regularity. Subbed.

  Cole Palmer (4/10):

  Surprisingly anonymous. Just couldn't get into the game.

  Nicolas Jackson (3/10):

  Missed from two yards as he headed against the post. His confidence took an understandable knock and he couldn't get into the game. Subbed.

  Jadon Sancho (6/10):

  Gave Young plenty to think about throughout, regularly jinking by him. Mucked in defensively too; Chelsea's most effective attacker.

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  Subs & Manager

  Noni Madueke (N/A):

  On for Neto. Didn't have the time needed to grab Chelsea a winner.

  Christopher Nkunku (N/A):

  Replaced Jackson. Couldn't test Pickford.

  Enzo Maresca (5/10):

  Chelsea were nowhere near as fluent as usual, and it likely comes down to the poor performance from Palmer. Everything usually goes through him, and with him off his game, Maresca couldn't turn the tide. A disappointing result, and a disappointing managerial display.

Manchester United outcast Marcus Rashford is looking to leave the Red Devils this January and Serie A side Como are reportedly in the race.

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• Rashford on his way out of Man Utd
• Como interested in signing Rashford
• Varane could help smooth over talks

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Rashford has been a fan favourite at Old Trafford over the last few years as he came up through the youth ranks. However, the last couple of seasons have not gone well for the 27-year-old and new boss Ruben Amorim's decision to drop Rashford in recent weeks has sparked rumours about a potential January departure, with the England international said to be keen on leaving.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rashford has been heavily linked with AC Milan this winter with Manchester United said to be in talks. However, as per Gianluca di Marzio, another Serie A side are now interested in signing the 27-year-old. Newly promoted side Como are said to be discussing the signing of Rashford with boss Cesc Fabregas interested in incorporating the winger into his side.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Rashford is said to earn close to £315k-a-week ($397k) wage wouldn't be an issue for Como as per the source after their mutual contract termination of Raphael Varane earlier this season – with the Frenchman taking on an ambassadorial role at the club. Como are certain that Varane could help smooth over talks for Rashford's January move.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR RASHFORD?

  The England international is unlikely to join Como this season as AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund remain the top candidates to sign the 27-year-old. Rashford is unlikely to play again for Manchester United this season with Amorim not favouring the winger.

Celtic are said to be exploring a last-gasp deal to sign a young player with "great passing ability", according to a fresh update from Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph.

Celtic transfer news

The Hoops are looking to seal some late summer business on deadline day, as Brendan Rodgers aims to bring in the odd new face to make his squad as formidable as possible. The Scottish Premiership champions have reportedly made a last-minute attempt to sign Lausanne-Sport youngster Alvyn Sanches, after their efforts to snap up Mateusz Bogusz from Los Angeles FC fell through. They are even believed to have tabled a £2.5m offer for the 21-year-old.

Mahamadou Diawara has also been linked with a summer move to Celtic in recent days and a loan offer is thought to have been made by the Scottish giants. Sadly, his current club Lyon have rejected their advances, however, not wanting to let him leave during the current transfer window. Now, a fresh Hoops transfer update has emerged, with further business being eyed up in the remaining hours of the window.

Celtic could sign new target with "great passing ability"

According to Sky Sports' Joseph, Celtic are exploring a deal for West Ham midfielder Andy Irving late on deadline day, with Dundee ace Luke McCowan also mentioned as a potential target and an approach now made for the latter.

"Celtic are in pursuit of another midfielder before tonight’s deadline. They are working on potential deals with several targets… They are also exploring a loan deal for West Ham midfielder Andy Irving. However, it’s understood the Hammers are not keen to let the 24-year-old go in this window."

The update also states that Irving "would be classed as homegrown for the Champions League criteria", acting as an added bonus for Celtic. The 24-year-old could be a perfect addition before deadline day ends, with former Hearts manager Robbie Neilson heaping praise on him during their time together at the SPL club.

"He’s got great passing ability, as you seen with the pass for the goal. It’s great to have him in. He’s still learning the game. I was really pleased with him. Obviously coming down here, we knew what the pitch was going to be like, we knew the physicality was going to be like, I thought Andy handled it very well."

It seems clear that Irving has no future at West Ham, considering he has never even made an appearance for them since arriving from Austria Klagenfert in 2023, so a switch to Celtic could be an ideal outcome for all parties.

McGregor 2.0: Celtic make last-gasp move for "highly-rated" £4m star

The Hoops are looking to add another midfielder to their ranks before the deadline.

1

By
Dan Emery

Aug 30, 2024

He also has Scottish Premiership experience from his Hearts days, making 21 appearances in total, so there shouldn't be an issue with him coming in and hitting the ground running, adding creativity for Rodgers in the middle of the park.

The international break couldn't have come at a better time for Manchester United this month.

While Erik ten Hag's side picked up all three points at home to Fulham in their opening game of the Premier League season, they then lost in back-to-back matches against Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool.

Now, in the game at the Amex at least, the Red Devils did create chances to claim all three points, but wantaway finishing cost them, so had Rasmus Hojlund been fit, it might have been a different story entirely.

The Danish striker enjoyed a broadly positive debut campaign with the club last season and certainly looks like a player who could go on to do great things at Old Trafford, but interestingly, he was outscored by a former United ace who left the club a couple of years ago.

Hojlund's 23/24

So, after being linked with him for months, United finally paid Serie A side Atalanta a hefty £72m transfer fee to secure Hojlund's services last August, and while it could be some time yet until that number looks reasonable, the Dane has adapted to life relatively well in England.

For example, while the club crashed out of the Champions League in the group stages in embarrassing fashion last season, there was a point in which the then 20-year-old was the joint-top goalscorer in the competition, with an impressive tally of five goals in six games.

However, things weren't quite so easy in the Premier League, and it took him until the Boxing Day game against Aston Villa to open his account, although after that, his quality was clear to see, and he would score six goals in his next five games.

In all, the København-born poacher ended the season with a respectable tally of 16 goals and two assists in 43 matches, equating to a goal involvement every 2.38 games. However, a former United marksman outscored him.

Edinson Cavani's 23/24

Yes, the striker in question is Uruguayan icon Edinson Cavanai, who joined United on a one-year deal from Paris Saint-Germain for free in October 2020.

The veteran goalscorer's stint at the Theatre of Dreams went about as well as it could have in the 20/21 season, so he signed on for another year the following summer, but recurring injury problems and supposed homesickness meant his sophomore season was slightly underwhelming.

That said, considering he was a free signing, a return of 19 goals and six assists in 59 games has to be seen as a success, although in May 2022, he left the club to join La Liga side Valencia for nothing, where over the following season he found the back of the net on seven occasions and provided two assists to boot in just 28 matches.

However, while he was reasonably effective in Spain, the Salto-born "genius", as he was dubbed by Match of the Day pundit Dion Dublin, made the move back to South America last summer to join Argentinian giants Boca Juniors in what has proven to be a brilliant decision.

In 25 matches for the Azul y Oro last season, the 37-year-old dynamo scored 17 goals, meaning that even in the twilight of his career, he is averaging a goal every 1.47 games and outscored Hojlund by a single strike as well.

Ultimately, while having an experienced striker such as Cavani on the books to help guide United's youngsters like Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, leaving in 2022 was probably the right decision, and even though he's outscoring the Dane now, we wouldn't be surprised to see the 21-year-old become one of the best strikers around in the coming years.

Rashford is now being outscored by Man Utd flop who was sold by Solskjaer

The talented winger couldn’t make it work at Old Trafford.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 11, 2024

GOAL US writers discuss Neymar to MLS reports, whether Chicago could be a good fit and impact for Miami

It appears that Neymar to MLS may no longer be the pipe dream it was once considered. The Brazilian has reportedly entered discussions with the Chicago Fire about a potential move, and while talks are very much preliminary, there is reason to believe that a MLS transfer could actually happen.

At this point, it is worth slamming on the brakes and thinking practically. Neymar would be immensely expensive. He makes hundreds of millions every year at his current club Al Hilal. Chicago, who are reportedly willing to break the bank to sign him, is reportedly only offering something around $20 million. And don't forget, there are other potential global destinations.

There also remain broader questions about his fit in the Windy City. Does Neymar really want to play in frigid temperatures? Has anyone told him how cold it is in Chicago? Furthermore, with Messi, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets all playing for Inter Miami, does it not make far more sense for him to play in South Florida?

It's all rather intriguing, with inevitable twists and turns to come. GOAL US writers break it all down in a Neymar-specific edition of… The Rondo.

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  Does Neymar to MLS in general make sense?

  Tom Hindle: It's a no-brainer. Neymar's days at the top of football are long gone. A mixture of injuries and a lackadaisical attitude toward the sport have made him a perfect candidate to keep the good old-fashioned "retirement league" stereotype going. It is also worth mentioning at this point that MLS is not an easy ride for anyone these days. The Brazilian won't be able to stroll through games. But the distinction here is that he seems convinced that he be able to do so. He's also tailormade for the American glitz of this all. Add the fact that he's shown a real reluctance to get back to his best following a hamstring injury, and this all looks perfect.

  Ryan Tolmich: From a marketing perspective, obviously. From an on-field perspective, TBD. Neymar's injury issues have been obvious. They're essentially the reason he's available now in the first place. His move to Saudi Arabia has gotten Al-Hilal little return on investment on the field and, until he proves otherwise, there are legitimate concerns on how he's fare in MLS, where travel is longer and where some fields have artificial turf. Would it be fun to watch? Absolutely. Is it a guaranteed success? Not by a long shot.

  Jacob Schneider: In every single world, it makes sense. He is arguably the best Brazilian footballer since Pele himself, and arguably a top-five player of his generation. He sells jerseys, he’s the face of a club, and he becomes an instant top-20 celebrity athlete in the United States – if not higher. There’s just so much about it that makes sense.

  Alex Labidou: From a marketing perspective, Neymar to MLS makes complete sense. Since its inception, MLS has struggled to crack the TV ratings puzzle, and in a crowded American sports landscape, star power drives attention. However, from a playing perspective, there are significant concerns. Neymar hasn’t played more than two-thirds of a season since his final year at Barcelona in 2017. MLS already saw the impact of Messi missing half of last season – can the league afford for its potential second-biggest star to appear in just one-third of a season while commanding a salary upwards of $20 million?

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  Is there any real chance he goes to Chicago?

  TH: Technically, based on where things are in talks, yes. Chicago have his discovery rights, and there is even talk of a specific salary they would be willing to offer (around $20 million.) But logically, it's hard to see. Neymar needs a warm, sunny place, where he can go to the beach, go clubbing and enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. With all due respect to the Windy City, this isn't it.

  RT: Depends. Does Neymar want to be THE guy or does he want to play with his friends? At Inter Miami, he'd be with the Barca Boys, which could be fun. However, dating back to his move to PSG, Neymar has shown a desire to be out of Messi's shadow and be his own man. It's why he left Barcelona to begin with, and it's partly fueled by ambition and partly fueled by ego. Moving to a Fire team that has struggled for years is a way to prove he can be that game-changer in a big city in a country he has an obvious affinity for. Will that desire outweigh the power of friendship, though? Only he knows the answer.

  JS: Sure there is. Does it make sense? Not at all. It’s cold, and windy and it is a club that, for lack of a better word, has been mediocre for way too long. Of course, the Fire are undergoing a new era under Gregg Berhalter, but it feels like this is a potential disaster waiting to happen from a performance perspective. He would be a brilliant marketing campaign to make them relevant again, but if he doesn’t turn out on the pitch the way they want, it feels like it could be all for nothing considering they are revamping their entire roster in hopes of competing with MLS’ elite in 2025.

  AL: This all unfortunately feels like a smokescreen for an inevitable move to Inter Miami. Throughout his career, Neymar has always typically shied away from situations where cold weather is involved – remember, Chelsea tried to get him twice and failed with weather being a factor. Money and opportunity do talk and Neymar could reach iconic status in Chi-town, but it's tough to envision him playing in the winter in the Windy City.

• Imagn
  

  Why would Chicago want Neymar?

  TH: Well, that's actually hard to say. There are two elements to this all. The first is Neymar the brand. No matter where he plays, shirts will fly off the shelves. They will see spikes in attendance, jersey sales, social media following, and pretty much every single revenue stream that doesn't come from a TV deal. In that sense, they should throw whatever money it takes to make happen.

  For Neymar the footballer, things might be a little trickier. The Fire would have to tweak their roster and surround the Brazilian with some reliable legs to minimize the pressures put on his already nonexistent defensive work rate. But when you swing big, you have to be prepared for everything that comes with it. There's also every chance Neymar doesn't care about football anymore. If Chicago isn't stupid, it will have a plan here.

  RT: Why wouldn't they? Chicago is a big city that, right now, lacks a big player on the soccer field. The Fire are always fighting for relevance, and bringing in a legitimately famous world-renowned star would certainly put them in the spotlight. It's something this team hasn't really had in years, but it's something that the club clearly yearns for. On-field, figuring it out will be tricky but not impossible, particularly if Berhalter can surround Neymar with runners and workers, but the on-field balance would be very important to making this move work.

  JS: Why wouldn’t anyone want Neymar? In sports, there’s often a risk with most moves when it comes to trades and transfers. In the NBA this year, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded away Karl Anthony Towns in hopes that their return would see them better off and it has gone awful as they sit eighth in the West. It’s the perfect example of a move gone wrong. Then, there are moves gone right that were risky at first, like the LA Dodgers acquiring Mookie Betts in 2020. He has since helped them to two World Series titles.

  For Chicago, they’re banking on the fact that he is arguably the best South American footballer we’ve seen in nearly 50 years, and on his best day, he is limitless. However, the risk at hand is he has rarely been seen over the past few years. Regardless, though, this feels like a move they have to at least try to make.

  AL: Michael Jordan. Walter Payton. Patrick Kane. Chicago has had some great sporting icons in its history and Neymar has the chance to join that fraternity. Let's face it, the city right now is hurting in the sports scene. Caleb Williams didn't exactly change the Bears' fortunes this year, the Bulls haven't been relevant since Derrick Rose tore his ACL and the 2024 White Sox were literally the WORST team in baseball's 100-plus years history. Neymar's arrival would finally give the Fire a chance to make some inroads in the city and give its biggest sports star. Will that be enough to sell Neymar on coming there? Time will tell.

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  Is he the perfect Miami player?

  TH: Yes. Next question.

  RT: He's the perfect big-city player. No disrespect to the smaller markets in MLS, but Neymar, more than anyone, is a player built for the bright lights. Given the flair he brings, on and off the field, he's a player that needs to be in a major market, whether that's Miami or elsewhere. Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, LA – these are the types of cities Neymar will clearly gravitate to, particularly knowing that the big reason he'll be coming here is for the lifestyle. By and large, the Brazilian star will want a comfortable life, things to do and, perhaps, to play with his friends so, in that regard, it's easy to see why Miami would make sense.

  JS: He’s the perfect Diego Gomez replacement. Whether or not he’s the perfect player for Miami is another discussion, though. That is a lot of personality in one team, and you have to ask the question: Does he really want to live in Messi’s shadow again? Depending on that answer determines whether or not he’s the perfect player for them. If he is OK playing second fiddle to the Argentine then it’s an absolutely brilliant move. But if not, it could spell disaster on the pitch.

  AL: No. But he'll certainly line up David Beckham and part-owner Lionel Messi's bank accounts if he joins. The problem with Neymar's arrival is he adds another aging star to a team that already has shown susceptibility to pressing teams and athleticism. Miami doesn't need Neymar, it needs pace and guys who can track back when an attacking sequence blows up.

  Furthermore, it wouldn't be great for MLS if Neymar were to join Miami. The league needs more stars and more stars in bigger markets. Right now, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Dallas, and Houston are all major top 10 markets in the U.S. that don't have a frontline star who generates traction from ratings or a putting butts-in-seats perspective. That needs to change this season.