There will be no bigger transfer in world football this summer than Kylian Mbappé’s. After years of constant speculation, the French forward is expected to finally complete a move to Real Madrid, bringing to an end the most tedious transfer saga in a generation. The sight of Mbappe in all-white has been a long time coming.
So too has the signing of a long-term replacement for Dani Carvajal. Having signed for the Santiago Bernabéu outfit at the age of 10, the right-back has Real Madrid running through his blood. He embodies the capital club’s drive for success and is still an important part of Carlo Ancelotti’s team which is on course for a league and Champions League double.
Now 32, though, Carvajal is into the twilight of his career. A calf injury sidelined the defender for a period of the season and there are concerns about the Spain international’s fading physicality. The way Real Madrid play, they need a marauding right-back who can get up and down the wing at speed and Carvajal won’t be able to do that forever.
While Mbappé will be the most noteworthy player Real Madrid sign this summer, the right-back they end up landing could be the most consequential. The identification of the right player for this role will play a part in ensuring Ancelotti can balance his attack further up the pitch. There is a direct correlation between the two things.
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabéu. The England international is entering the final year of his contract at Liverpool and could feasibly be persuaded to take on a new challenge with Jürgen Klopp leaving Anfield. Alexander-Arnold finds himself at a career crossroads and one of the signs is pointing him towards Spain.
Tactically, though, Alexander-Arnold could be an awkward fit for the team Ancelotti has forged. With Fede Valverde the sort of wide midfielder who likes to come inside to form a box midfield and Rodrygo also possessing the tendency to cut inside, Real Madrid need a right back who can provide width and mobility up and down the flank.
Alexander-Arnold is most comfortable when he is allowed to join the central midfield unit and there might not be much freedom for him to do this as a Real Madrid player, particularly with Eduardo Camavinga permitted to do something similar from his position on the left side of the back four.
Reece James is another English right back believed to be on Real Madrid’s radar. He would be a better tactical fit for Los Blancos with the 24-year-old a full back who likes to stay wide. James is under contract at Stamford Bridge until 2028 and is considered one of Chelsea’s best players. However, FFP and PSR concerns could force the Blues into a sale.
James’ injury record might put off Real Madrid. The 24-year-old has only just returned from a long period on the sidelines and has missed a significant stretch of the last three seasons. If Real Madrid are intent on signing a right back who can perform the role for a long time to come, they better make sure that player plays more games than they are injured for.
Sevilla’s Juanlu Sánchez and Girona sensation Yan Couto have also been mentioned as targets in the Spanish press. They would be cheaper options, but might not immediately dislodge Carvajal from the starting lineup. Juanlu and Couto would be project signings when Real Madrid need someone who can immediately improve the first team.
In an alternative timeline, Achraf Hakimi would be Real Madrid’s starting right back. The Moroccan was on the books at the Santiago Bernabéu, but was sold to Inter on the back of an impressive loan spell at Borussia Dortmund. Now at Paris Saint-Germain, Hakimi is widely considered the best attacking right back in the game right now.
Real Madrid are set for a big summer. Not only is Mbappé set to arrive, Brazilian prodigy Endrick will make the move to Spain with negotiations for Bayern Munich left back Alphonso Davies also under way. The signing of a new right back – whether that’s Alexander-Arnold, James or someone else – would complete Los Blancos’ transition into a new generation.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Most of Europe’s top leagues are all but finished…but there are a few hidden aspects to the 2023/24 season which haven’t gone as you might expect. In fact, there are a handful of leagues, cups and individual clubs which faced decidedly strange situations at the end of their respective campaigns.
The Belgian Pro League: Not as even as it could be
Over to the Pro League first then, a 16-team top flight in Belgium where each team plays each other twice. Then the league splits, similar to the Scottish Premiership but rather than into two, it splits into three. And rather than everyone still playing the same number of games, they…don’t.
Basically, the top six go into the Championship round, where they play another ten games (twice against each opponent) to determine the title-winner and European spots, of which they get four guaranteed in that section. Now, it gets tricky from this point, with the fifth placed finishers goes into a qualifier, and the sixth place finishers go nowhere at all. So no Europe for them. Still with us?
Back to the original league table, teams in 7th to 12th play another mini league and whoever tops that plays the playoff against fifth from the Championship group. Got it?
We’re not done yet! The original league’s bottom four, 13th to 16th, go into the relegation playoff round. They play an additional six games, therefore playing a minimum of two fewer matches than all their divisional rivals across the calendar year. Oh, except, one of them plays more games, because they have a relegation playoff against a second-tier team still to play!
Serie A sides finishing late…very late
Over to Italy, it’s at least all normal in terms of how many matches they’ll play – but not when.
Heading into the final week of the season, there were still teams on 36 and 37 fixtures completed. Bologna will wrap up their campaign by playing both Monday and Friday night, while others will be in the main final day of Sunday 26 May. Fiorentina are still on 36 games played, and they face Cagliari on Thursday night but won’t end the week on 38 – nor will Europa League finalists Atalanta.
In fact, both teams will only complete their season with a game played on 2 June: a full week after everybody else and indeed after the official elite end date of 2023/24, which comes with the Champions League Final on 1 June.
Back in mid-March when the fixture was initially scheduled, Fiorentina director Joe Barone collapsed ahead of the game and the match was postponed. Sadly, he later died. There have since been several midweek gaps when theoretically the rearranged encounter could take place – but as both teams kept winning in Europe, those options disappeared.
As Atalanta are through to the Europa League Final and Fiorentina are in the Conference League Final, not a single free space for either club arose at the same time for nearly three months – so instead they’ll have to wait until way beyond everybody else to conclude their seasons.
Six criteria levels to define relegation!?
Imagine the scenario: You’re in the bottom two, two go down, third-bottom is a relegation playoff. You trail by three points and have a goal difference seven worse, but your rivals above you lose their last game 2-0. You’re winning 4-0…and then, in the 90th minute, score the fifth. Level on points, level on goal difference, and you’ve scored more goals.
But you’re still relegated.
That’s the situation encountered by Lorient in Ligue 1 this year and the reason isn’t even their head-to-head record, either.
Lorient and Metz both took three points in head-to-head games, both had the same goal difference in games against each other and the same goals scored in those matches too. But they are relegated because while they won 2-1 on the road in February, they lost the home encounter 3-2 in November.
In France, the sixth deciding factor on separating teams is away goals scored in head-to-head matches, then it’s goals scored across the whole season. So Lorient are down, Metz have one final chance to save themselves…as a result of an 83rd-minute penalty scored six months ago!
The second-tier team in Europe…again!
OK, here’s a great one. You may know the name Vaduz. You may even know it’s the capital city of Liechtenstein. But as there’s no national division in that country, teams from there play in the Swiss league system.
Vaduz are…not great. They are in the second tier and this year finished third, but a massive 27 points behind second, which is the promotion playoff spot.
And yet they’ll play in Europe, again. Why? Because while there’s no Liechtenstein league system, there is a Liechtenstein Cup. And guess what? It carries a Europa Conference League qualifying place for winning it, basically guaranteeing Vaduz a place every year. They’ve failed to win it only seven times since 1984 and have tallied 50 cup wins overall, a world record!
Bayer Leverkusen? Forget about them
And finally, if you’ve been admiring Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten season, you can stop now. 28 wins in 34 games and zero defeats is lovely, sure. 90 points impressive, definitely. But it’s not the best.
Step forward Welsh outfit The New Saints: 32 played, 30 won, zero defeats, 92 points. Europe’s finest, surely!
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta take on the unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League Final and it is clear that La Dea are once again, back to European prominence after some years away.
For many, the 2023/24 season would be Atalanta’s best season under Gian Piero Gasperini. With the side having returned to the Champions League, they also made it to the final of the Coppa Italia, and they created history by reaching the club’s first European final (tonight!). Arguably, this season has allowed them more chances at winning silverware than any other season in recent memory.
While the Coppa Italia final loss to Max Allegri’s Juventus was quite disappointing, they have another chance at creating history and winning silverware this week. Besides, context is also vital, especially when it comes to La Dea’s identity and recent history.
Atalanta are no strangers to losing players constantly and that is exactly what happened last summer and beyond. Rasmus Højlund, who was catching fire, left for Manchester United and Duván Zapata, who had become a fans’ favourite at Bergamo, departed for Torino late in the window. Later in January, Luis Muriel also left for the MLS and Jeremie Boga had also departed for Ligue 1 in the summer. The Bergamo-based club had to simply reform an attack with the resources they had and the players they were able to sign.
Having said that, Atalanta are no strangers to this process. The club’s strong identity in playing style, tactical approach, and recruitment has made them one of the more prominent European faces from Italy. That sense of identity is something multiple Italian sides have struggled for and while Inter have started to create one, Milan, Napoli and Juventus have failed to have a consistent one. That is where Atalanta flourish and that makes them a very sustainable club. This time around too, La Dea’s recruitment helped them come through a difficult transition.
Charles de Ketelaere, who had suffered a terrible first season at Milan, was roped in on an initial loan deal. Gianluca Scamacca was signed from West Ham after a frustrating and injury-laden spell at West Ham, as Atalanta beat Inter to his signature. Teun Koopmeiners, who had played a much deeper role last season, has been used in the final third and that transition has brought the best out of the Dutchman.
Koopmeiners has shown himself to be a multifaceted force in the middle of the park, showing that he has a keen eye for a pass and even has the ability to dictate play in midfield when dropping deep. He has 12 goals and five assists and it is largely his range of abilities that have caught attention from the likes of Juventus and Liverpool.
While Scamacca and De Ketelaere have witnessed impressive resurgences and have scored a total of 21 goals in the Serie A combined, the Italian’s performance against Liverpool at Anfield caught the eyes of many. While De Ketelaere thrives on taking defenders on and acting as a fox in the box, Scamacca is more of a complete centre-forward. The ex-Sassuolo man has a delightful touch on him, holds up the ball really well, and can also supply the final ball.
At the same time, Brazilian midfielder Ederson has gone up a level and he too, has thrived in a dual role in the heart of the park.
The 24-year-old has six goals but he acts as the crucial link between midfield and attack and that is why he ranks 69 percentile for defensive actions. He has more than effectively replaced Remo Freuler, who departed for Nottingham Forest in the summer of 2022 and is now thriving at Bologna himself.
Ederson – like Koopmeiners, has been linked with Premier League clubs and he is another accurate example of how La Dea operate. He had joined from Salernitana in the summer of 2022 and they seem set to make a profit on the Brazilian.
Another exit from Atalanta in 2023 was that of Merih Demiral, who headed to Saudi Arabia. While it took Atalanta six months to replace him, they seem to have done that perfectly. Centre-back Isak Hien arrived from Verona in January even though Atalanta tried to sign him in the summer until attempts failed. The Swede cost only €9 million and has proved to be one of their best players in the second half of the season.
It wasn’t just a signing made for the sake of it. That isn’t just because he was trailed by Gasperini for months before he was signed, but because he suits the high line setup perfectly.
Like Demiral, Hien has a very good turn of pace during recoveries and boasts a very good reading of the game, helping him be one of the best defenders in the Serie A. He is proactive and also offers good upside on the ball. It is the sort of move one would expect the Bergamischi to make – one that is cheap, suits Gasperini’s approach, and is young enough to generate a future profit.
In a way, it is Atalanta’s consistent playing style which is key to their identity. After all, multiple Italian clubs recruit well owing to the financial constraints upon them. But none of them have a tactical identity which defines them and Gasperini’s constant presence at the Gewiss Stadium has helped in that for Atalanta.
On Wednesday, they come against a side that is arguably the most fearsome in Europe right now and regardless of what Atalanta’s context is, it would be their biggest challenge of the season.
At the same time, it would be another test of whether Atalanta can adapt to situations when it truly matters. The performance against Juve in the Coppa Italia final was rather drab and they created nothing of note, which is quite rare. That makes the Europa League final in Dublin an even bigger test for Gasperini, who is rooted in his ways and there have always been question marks about whether he can adapt when it is truly needed.
Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen have shown that they adapt – constantly. That makes the task even more complex for Atalanta, who could yet bid farewell to Gasperini in the summer. But with Atalanta, there is always this assurance that they will respond and they will always come back and their identity will always allow them to do just that, even if they suffer another Cup final defeat.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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In football, ‘Unprecedented’ has become a synonym for things that are, well, prececented. Not everything is remarkable, but every now and again, a team or a manager come along and change everything. That’s exactly what Bayer Leverkusen and Xabi Alonso have done.
Not since the unification of Germany has a club gone an entire Bundesliga campaign unbeaten, not even the great Bayern Munich sides of yore, led by Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Müller.
This season was meant to be the same. Munich would win the title at a canter, with all opponents rolling over to show plump underbellies, ready to be torn open by Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala, and new star man Harry Kane.
No one could have predicted what Leverkusen were going to do. Instead of rolling over they bore their teeth and Bayern shirked away, tails between their legs squealing, falling into third place as Stuttgart took their advantage.
On Saturday, May 18th, the referee blew his whistle and Bayer Leverkusen’s invincible season was confirmed, beating Augsburg 2-1. The stadium rightfully erupted. They had just won their first ever Bundesliga title without losing a single game.
For football fans across the globe, it’s hard to imagine it getting any better than that. Surely this is the pinnacle? How could this ever be topped? Well, with 51 games and zero defeats, Leverkusen are on the precipice of something truly unprecedented… an unbeaten treble.
The last club to get close was Louis van Gaal’s Ajax in 1994/95, winning the Eredivisie and Champions League unbeaten but ultimately failing after getting knocked out by rivals Feyenoord in the KNVB Cup quarter final.
Many beers will have been sunk after the win against Augsburg by fans, players, and staff alike, now they need to shake off any lingering hangovers and get their game faces back on. Atalanta await in tonight’s Europa League final, and then there’s the DFB Pokal final against Kaiserslautern on Saturday.
It was in the DFB Pokal, Germany’s biggest cup competition, that the run started. All the way back in August, Leverkusen beat Regionalliga North side Teutonia Ottensen 8-0 in the first game of the season. It’s fair to say they haven’t looked back since.
Throughout their European campaign, Leverkusen have had the luck of the draw. In the group stage, they were tied against Azerbaijani side Qarabağ, Norwegian club Molde, and Sweden’s BK Häcken. All huge clubs domestically, but minnows compared to the likes of Leverkusen.
It was up them to make sure they didn’t screw it up, so, in stereotypical German fashion, Leverkusen efficiently dispatched each of their group-stage opponents, winning every single game.
Tactically, Alonso initially strayed from his preferred 3-4-2-1 formation, but the principles remained the same. Fullbacks/wingbacks would provide attacking options while central midfielders would drop back to help defenders deal with opposition counterattacks.
Domination allowed for rotation, and Alonso was able to give minutes to less regular players like Amine Adli and Adam Hložek. Adli was player of the match in their first game against Häcken, scoring once and later assisting Victor Boniface. Hložek would also repay his manager’s faith with a stellar performance in the 5-1 dismantling of Molde, scoring twice.
With the group stage all tied up in a neat little bow, Alonso and co could turn their attention back to matters at home. In the cup, things were looking a little dicey in the second round against Sandhausen. After taking the lead twice, Leverkusen finally got the win after three late goals from Hložek and Adli, winning 5-2.
SC Paderborn’s Sebastian Klaas made things a little tense in the round-of-16 tie when he made the score 2-1 in the 83rd minute, but Patrik Schick would score five minutes later to ease any undue stress.
Late goals would become a running theme throughout Leverkusen’s season and big centre-back, Jonathan Tah’s 90th minute header was one of the most important. In the last minute of normal time, Leverkusen’s corner was cleared away before the ball dropped to Florian Wirtz. The 21-year-old looked up and saw Tah making a run before expertly picking him out. Tah couldn’t miss, and Leverkusen were in the semis.
Qualifying top of their Europa League group meant Die Werkself avoided having to play in the knock-out round play-offs. A round in which each second placed side would face third place Champions League teams to find out which is worthy to progress to the round-of-16.
Funnily enough, Leverkusen would end up drawing a side in the last 16 that they had seen off in the group stage, Qarabağ. The Azerbaijanis were back, and they wanted revenge.
The first leg was in Baku, and Qarabağ were determined to make up for their previous embarrassment. The home side were finally rewarded for their electrifying start in the 25th minute, Algerian playmaker, Yassine Benzia opening the scoring with an emphatic finish.
Just before half-time, Qarabağ doubled their lead. Patrick Andrade’s delightful through ball found Juninho who bounced the ball over Matěj Kovář in the Leverkusen goal before rolling it into an open net.
Qarabağ’s incredible first-half display was frustratingly undermined on the 69th minute as an errant back pass found Wirtz through on goal. The playmaker lobbed the ball over the goalkeeper and Leverkusen were back in it.
Wave after wave of Leverkusen attacks crashed upon Qarabağ’s shores. All of a sudden, the game had done a 180, an equaliser felt inevitable. It finally came on the 91st minute after Schick nodded home a cross from Robert Andrich. It ended 2-2, the tie still in the balance.
In the group stage, Leverkusen beat Qarabağ 5-1 at the BayArena. It was one of their more convincing victories of the season. This time, it would be anything but.
The first half came and went, neither side had any real chances to take the lead and grab the tie by the scruff of the neck. All the drama came in the second. Qarabağ silenced the home fans on the 58th minute, Abdellah Zoubir beating Jeremie Frimpong at the back-post to score an easy header.
Frimpong was through on goal before Elvin Cafarguliyev brought him down. Referee Anthony Taylor initially gave a yellow card, but VAR intervened, and it was changed to a red.
It looked like Qarabağ had shot themselves in the foot once again but four minutes after the red card, they doubled their lead. Juninho, the man who scored a lovely goal in the previous game snuck in front of his marker and scored from close range.
Leverkusen looked shell shocked, but they didn’t give up. Frimpong made up for his previous mistake, scoring an excellent volley on the 72nd minute to bring them back into the game.
The minutes ticked by, Leverkusen were all but out until Schick popped up to once again break Qarabağ hearts. The Czech forward was in the right place at the right time to meet Álex Grimaldo’s cross, equalising at the near post.
The home side smelled blood in the water. Qarabağ were there for the taking and Schick was circling them like a shark. Finally, on the 98th minute, he made the killing blow. This time Exequiel Palacios was the provider, whipping it in for Schick to nod in. Leverkusen had snatched victory from the jaws of defeat.
By the time Leverkusen were due to play West Ham in the quarter finals, they had reached the final of the DFB Pokal. Fortuna Düsseldorf provided little opposition as they were beaten 4-0 thanks to goals from Frimpong, Adli, and two from Wirtz. Alonso and his side had reached their first final of the season.
When we said late goals were a running theme throughout Leverkusen’s season, we meant it. The first game against West Ham looked like it was heading for a goalless draw up until the 83rd minute when Jonas Hofmann finally broke the deadlock with a volley from a corner.
Leverkusen were peppering West Ham’s goal from set pieces; it was only a matter of time until they doubled their lead. Finally, Victor Boniface scored a header to give his side one foot in the semis.
Michail Antonio scored in the 13th minute of the second leg to set up an anxious match, but West Ham couldn’t capitalise and Frimpong eventually equalised on the 89th minute.
Roma away in the first leg of the semi-finals was, on paper, Leverkusen’s hardest match of their Europa League campaign. Rejuvenated under Daniele De Rossi, I Giallorossi had turned their season around after a poor start with José Mourinho at the helm.
Both sides had their chances, Romelu Lukaku struck the crossbar with a header two minutes before Frimpong hit the side netting after a rapid counterattack. Two minutes after that, Wirtz had the ball in the back of the net following some calamitous defending from the home side.
Half time passed with Leverkusen still leading 1-0. The second half was much like the first, each side had their chances, but the visitors were the only ones taking them. Robert Andrich made it 2-0 on the 73rd minute with a thunderbolt from outside the box. Advantage Leverkusen.
Two Roma penalties in the first and second halves of the home leg, both scored by Leandro Parades, made the tie level on aggregate. Once again, Leverkusen left it late to secure their spot in the next round.
Mile Svilar in the Roma goal was having a great game up until the 82nd minute. The goalkeeper was left flapping at a Leverkusen corner before it bounced off Gianluca Mancini and into the back of his own net.
As it stood, Leverkusen were heading to the final, then, in the 97th minute, they made it certain. Josip Stanišić cut inside from the right-wing and slotted the ball in.
Before this season, Bayer Leverkusen had only won two major trophies in their history. Now, they might win three, all without losing a game. When it rains, it pours.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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Bayer Leverkusen have dominated the Bundesliga discourse in recent weeks after becoming the first ever German side to complete an invincible season, and rightly so. However, VfB Stuttgart claiming a second-placed finish is equally deserving of the highest praise. Sebastian Hoeneß’ side have been completely reinvigorated over the last 12 months, transforming from relegation candidates to securing Champions League qualification for the first time since 2009-10.
VfB have been one of the Bundesliga’s finest entertainers across the course of the campaign – notching 78 league goals – their most in the top-flight since 1996-97 (also 78). And at the heart of the side’s commanding displays have been strike duo Serhou Guirassy and Deniz Undav, with the pair tallying a remarkable 57 goals + assists between them. Though while Guirassy has captured most of the headlines, Undav’s belated maiden Bundesliga season has undoubtedly been one of the stories of 2023-24.
The striker’s loan move from parent club Brighton and Hove Albion came as somewhat of a surprise last summer. Undav had closed last term in tremendous fashion, scoring five goals in eight games before the end of the season. With that in mind, Seagulls boss Roberto De Zerbi earmarked his temporary transfer to Stuttgart by stating that Brighton would “look forward to welcoming him back at the end of the season.”
Having said that, the 27-year-old’s start to life at the MHPArena was a rather frustrating one. He was sidelined during the opening weeks of the campaign after suffering knee ligament damage in pre-season training, while he did not make his first Bundesliga start until the end of October in Matchday nine. Undav however, wasted little time in laying down a marker upon his introduction to the side. He scored 18 league goals this term, the most of any German-born player in the ‘big five’ European leagues.
After playing deputy to Guirassy for the opening spell of the season, Undav’s goalscoring exploits were too hard to ignore with seven strikes in his first 10 appearances. Instead, Die Schwaben manager Hoeneß opted to alter his system to accommodate both strikers. A decision that certainly paid dividends. Undav and Guirassy operated in tandem at the tip of the VfB attack, posing an almighty nuisance to defences across the Bundesliga.
Undav would typically assume a more withdrawn strike role, dropping deep to link play and help transition the ball into the final third. Though that is not to say his threat on goal was any less. The 27-year-old’s 18 Bundesliga goals was the fourth-most in the division. His perfectly timed runs into the opposition box would generate a constant option for Stuttgart’s wide players. And they continuously picked him out, time and time again. Undav averaged 4.6 shots per 90 in the Bundesliga, the most of any player in the German top-flight.
The striker has garnered a reputation as a clinical poacher over the last few years, greatly aided by him winning the Belgian First Division A top scorer award in 2021-22. And that tag continued to ring true with Stuttgart this season. The 27-year-old boasted a remarkable average of 1.21 non-penalty goals + assists per 90, the second-most across the big five European leagues, behind only Harry Kane (1.24). Undav also averaged 2.2 shots on target per 90 minutes, which is the highest of any player among the continent’s ‘big five’ divisions. He concluded the season with 27 direct goal involvements in just 30 Bundesliga appearances.
The forward played an integral role throughout Stuttgart’s attacks, picking up pockets to drag opposition defenders out of possession and thus creating more space for Guirassy. The 27-year-old attempted the third most through balls in the league this term (18). Undav has developed into a real attacking all-rounder, providing 0.43 assists per 90 – the sixth most in the German top-flight. He averaged 7.6 attacking sequence involvements in the Bundesliga, more than any other Stuttgart player to have played at least 450 minutes. By dovetailing with Guirassy, the strike duo formed one of the most potent forward-lines in the Bundesliga. In fact, Stuttgart scored 3+ goals in 16 of their 34 league games this term (47%).
Undav enjoyed a stellar maiden campaign in the Bundesliga, winning the Player of the Month award in both November and January. His final third decision-making has also greatly improved, something which will certainly encourage Brighton fans. However, it remains to be seen whether Undav will return to the AMEX Stadium amid reports surrounding Stuttgart’s potential option to purchase the striker. And with a guaranteed Champions League spot next season, it would seem extremely likely that Hoeneß & co wish to keep the 27-year-old as they mount their assault on multiple fronts next season.
There is also the likelihood that Undav’s stock will rise even further in the coming weeks. His fine form saw him earn his first ever call up for the German national team in March. A feat which the 27-year-old did not even achieve at youth level. And the striker has now been selected in manager Julian Nagelsmann’s provisional squad for the upcoming European Championships.
Undav has shot himself firmly into contention to play a huge part in the home nation’s plans this summer.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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It has been three years since Olivier Giroud joined Milan on a free transfer from Chelsea. Since then, he’s emerged as an attacking talisman for the Rossoneri, registered 48 goals and 20 assists in 130 appearances, helping to put an end to an 11-year Scudetto drought in the process. However, at 37 years of age, his time at the San Siro has come to a conclusion, with the veteran striker joining ex-France teammate and fellow World Cup winner Hugo Lloris at MLS club LAFC this summer.
Whilst Milan added two centre-forwards last summer in Noah Okafor and Luka Jović, who scored six goals apiece in Serie A, it is clear that the Rossoneri will need to dedicate a good deal of the summer transfer budget towards finding a replacement for Giroud. Today, we’re going to be taking a look at several potential options that could fill Giroud’s vacancy at the top of the pitch.
To start, let’s lay down some criteria. Whilst Milan reaped the rewards from a short-term option in Giroud, his lack of pace and inability to find the back of the net on a regular basis has seen the Rossoneri miss out on the league title to Napoli and Inter over the past two years. Moreover, Milan’s club-record signing is Leonardo Bonucci at €42 million, and unless they decide to break that record fee by a considerable distance, they will miss out on options like Viktor Gyökeres and Victor Osimhen. As such, we’re going to limit our search to players under the age of 29, and we’re going to cap the release clause value of our potential candidates at €45 million.
Now that that’s over, let’s get our search underway…
Artem Dovbyk, Girona
Girona are headed to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their 93-year history, and one player who has proven essential is Artem Dovbyk. After losing top scorer Taty Castellanos, the Catalan side splurged a club-record €7.5 million fee to sign him from Dnipro-1, and he has paid it off in stellar fashion. Similarly to Giroud, Dovbyk thrives with his back to goal and can act as a magnet when it comes to trapping long balls and facilitating his teammates with a flick-on pass or a through ball.
He’s not just a traditional target man, though, but a speedy forward who’s capable of dropping deep to link up play, turning past his opponent in the blink of an eye. Adept at bursting into the penalty box and getting onto the end of chances, Dovbyk’s combination of quick thinking, incisive off-the-ball movement and composed finishing have made him into one of La Liga’s revelations, whilst his towering physique and relentless pressing are more than enough to strike fear into any defender.
With 21 goals and 28 goal contributions, Dovbyk still has a chance to become the first Ukrainian to win the Golden Boot in Spain. It seems both he and his attacking partner Sávio will be departing the Estadio Montilivi this summer, and with a release clause of €40 million, he is well within the Rossoneri’s price range. At 26 years of age, Dovbyk has what it takes to follow in the footsteps of Andriy Shevchenko and solidify a legacy not only with the Ukraine national team, but AC Milan as well.
Serhou Guirassy, Stuttgart
Over the course of a year, Stuttgart have gone from contesting a promotion / relegation playoff to achieving Champions League football for the first time in 15 years, and perhaps no player has epitomized their transformation quite like Serhou Guirassy. The Guinean had scored just 30 league goals in his previous three seasons, but today, he has emerged as one of the top strikers in European football with 28 goals in 28 Bundesliga appearances – only Harry Kane (36) scored with greater regularity this season.
Guirassy became the second player this century in Europe’s top five leagues to score 14+ goals in the first eight matches of a season after Cristiano Ronaldo in 2014/15 (15), and whilst many expected his form to cool off after heading to the Africa Cup of Nations, he has picked up where he left off, finding the back of the net in nine of his last 14 matches and leading Stuttgart back to the promised land. The complete package, Guirassy is equally capable of dropping deep, holding up his opposing defenders and bringing his teammates into play as he is skipping past opponents and showcasing his world-class close control and ball manipulation. A nimble, physically imposing striker who has a knack for reading the cross to perfection and deceiving his opponent with a quick feint, he has won two penalties this season and has proven effective not only as a goal-scoring threat, but as a playmaker.
After spending the first decade of his career bouncing around France and Germany, Guirassy could very well be set to reap the rewards of his patience and hard work by gaining a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs this summer. With a release clause of €17.5 million, he’s a bargain waiting to be acquired.
Simon Banza, Braga
Last but not least, we turn our attention to northern Portugal and take a look at Braga’s Simon Banza. Having begun his career at Lens, Banza left France for the first time in 2021 and joined Famalicão. Banza impressed with 14 goals in 29 matches, including a brace in a 3-2 comeback win vs. Braga on the final day. This was enough to convince Braga, who signed him on a contract through to 2027 for a fee of €3 million. Banza began the campaign with 5 goals and 2 assists in 4 matches but was unable to find consistency at the centre-forward position, eventually dropping below Vitinha (sold to Marseille in January 2023 for a club-record €32 million) and Abel Ruíz in the pecking order.
This season, however, Banza has taken Portuguese football by storm with an astonishing 21 goals and 4 assists in 28 appearances, bettered only by Gyökeres in the Primeira Liga. Having spent a month away at the Africa Cup of Nations, Banza has scored 12 more goals than any other Braga player, and he ranks amongst the best strikers in the league in various parameters. He’s won three penalties, the joint-most in the league, registered 17 Expected goals and 20.5 Expected goals on target (only Gyökeres has more) and 0.95 goals per 90 (only Paulinho has more), whilst his 0.75 xG per 90 puts him well above Gyökeres (0.70), Paulinho (0.65) or any other player in the championship.
The Congolese striker boasts an intimidating physical prowess, a poacher’s instinct inside the box, as well as cunning movement and aerial supremacy, and he has served not only as Braga’s main inspiration in the final third, but an outlet who can hold up the ball, progress it into dangerous areas, and create space for his teammates.
Braga have already lost one key piece of their attack, with Álvaro Djaló set to join Athletic Club in the summer, and after missing out on Champions League football, they may be forced to cash in on Banza for below his €40 million release clause.
(Images from IMAGO)
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Having just about survived relegation in France last season, Brest completely turned their fortunes around this season as they competed towards the very top of the Ligue 1 table. They held down the runners-up spot for a good stretch of the season but dropped off a little towards the end only to bounce back crucially on the final day to claim the last podium position and with it, direct qualification to next season’s UEFA Champions League.
A typically relegation-battling side qualifying for the Champions League is impressive enough in itself, but the achievement becomes all the more incredible for Stade Brestois who will be making their European debut on the continent’s greatest stage. Indeed, Brest do not have much of a glorious past to speak of despite tracing their history back over 120 years, with no major trophies in their cabinet and just one Ligue 2 title.
They were down in the second division as recently as 2019, when they won promotion as runners-up. They went on to finish in the bottom half of each of the next three Ligue 1 seasons, avoiding the drop by just a point on one occasion. So, as the division trimmed itself from 20 to 18 teams by sending four clubs down last season, the Bretons were among the relegation favourites.
About halfway through the campaign at the turn of the year, Brest found themselves in the drop zone with fewer points than matches played. At this point, they made the eyebrow-raising decision to appoint Eric Roy as their new head coach, giving him his first such role in well over a decade. That proved to be a masterstroke, as the 56-year-old Frenchman comfortably steered them to safety before going on to win coach of the year in 2023/24 for orchestrating an absolutely brilliant campaign.
Defensive Discipline
A solid defence is the key to any successful relegation battle, so that is what Roy prioritised when he moved to Brittany. In his 21 games in charge of the club last season, Brest only conceded a goal per game – a significant improvement from their prior average of nearly 2 goals conceded per game.
The Pirates carried that defensive security this season, maintaining their average of a goal conceded per game which was the joint third-best in the league. They also kept a great deal of clean sheets and grounded out five single goal victories.
Their collective commitment to tracking back was quite impressive to watch, particularly from the wingers who would often drop into a back five in order to support their full-back. Generally, though, Brest’s low block followed a solid 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, with very little space between the two banks of four that defended the box.
This season, however, Brest also looked to defend high up the pitch and started with a press. They did so in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-4-1 shape depending on the opponent’s midfield configuration in order to adopt a player-oriented approach, which proved pretty successful. The Bretons generated the second-most high turnovers in the league and they got stuck into a fair few tackles.
Ultimately, Brest did benefit from a bit of luck at the back too as they conceded just 34 goals despite allowing chances worth 39.4 goals in terms of xG, but even that was the fourth-best tally in the league and better even than champions Paris Saint-Germain. Clearly, their defensive foundations have been supremely solid under Roy.
Direct Attacking
Brest’s tendency to drop into a low block and defend deep after their press is beaten also feeds into their attacking approach, which was pretty direct.
When they were not counterattacking, though, Roy’s side did not mind slowing things down and circulating the ball around the back. Their intention was to lure the opposition out of their block, creating space in behind which could be targeted with long balls. As a result, they had the third-highest possession average in the league and the most accurate long balls by far.
The key player in this respect was former Norwich City midfielder Pierre Lees-Melou, who averaged over 50 successful passes and 6.8 accurate long balls per 90 this season. He was the man who dictated his side’s tempo from the heart of midfield and launched their attacks, making him the team’s most important player by far.
Brest’s attacks were targeted down the flanks as their wingers worked very hard to chase down those long balls and were supported by the full-backs and midfielders who contested the second balls. Ultimately, their moves mostly culminated in crosses, which is why they had a league-high average of 6.1 accurate deliveries per game.
They do have room to improve in this respect, though, as their two main strikers Steve Mounié and Martin Satriano both underperformed their xG by over two goals. This is an area they might want to work on over the summer as they prepare for their European debut.
How Will Brest Fare Next Season?
As impressive as this season has been, it is important to keep in mind that Brest’s capacities and infrastructure are still those of a lower-midtable Ligue 1 club. They had the 5th-lowest player payroll in the division this season, which was about a fifth of the likes of Marseille, Monaco and Lyon, let alone PSG. Their 15,000-seater Stade Francis Le Blé has not been deemed fit by UEFA standards, so they will have to play their Champions League games elsewhere.
The one big upside of Roy’s straightforward approach is that it is not overly reliant on individual quality. Bar Lees-Melou, there is no particularly important or irreplaceable player in this Brest squad even within the constraints of their budget. As a result, they are less prone to getting their players picked off in the transfer window than other overachievers around the continent such as Bologna and Stuttgart, and even if they do lose some players, they should be able to find replacements comfortably.
Even by underlying numbers and Expected Points (xP), Brest performed at a level that should have comfortably placed them in the top half of the Ligue 1 table at the very least, so a relegation battle seems very unlikely unless they suffer a sudden drop-off next season. They ought to strengthen their squad a bit in order to balance their Champions League commitments, where the new Swiss format may well offer them a good opportunity.
As opposed to the previous group stage format where Brest would have had to face three stronger teams (by virtue of being a Pot 4 side) home and away, they will now get an even spread in terms of the quality of their opposition – in theory at least. If that is indeed the case, they will have a serious chance of picking up points in a few of their matches, and as 24 of the 36 group stage contestants will advance to the knockouts, it is not impossible to envision Brest being among them.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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With over 125 senior club appearances to his name, Teun Koopmeiners will go down in Atalanta club history for being one of La Dea’s standout performers during one of their most successful periods, both in Serie A, and in Europe.
After joining the club back in 2021 from Dutch side AZ Alkmaar for a reported fee of just under €15million, he’s now decided to ask to leave his current team this summer and will be looking to finish on a high on Wednesday as the Italian outfit battle it out with Bayer Leverkusen for this campaign’s UEFA Europa League title.
In truth, Koopmeiners options won’t be limited when it comes to taking the next step in his career. Although, that been said, given his overall talent and profile at present, only the biggest clubs in Europe will likely be able to afford his services this off-season, with Atalanta almost certainly demanding a sizeable fee for the Dutchman who still has three years left on his current contract.
But even if a large fee is commanded by the Italian club at some point in the next few months, it could still prove to be a bargain for Koopmeiners.
This season, the 26-year-old has taken another step in the right direction in terms of his progression, anchoring an Atalanta side that look set to qualify for the Champions League again through their Serie A position. On top of that, Coppa Italia and Europa League final berths have meant that this campaign has been another very successful one for Gian Piero Gasperini’s team. Atalanta’s current number seven has played a particularly pivotal part in that success, here’s why.
When it comes to the 2023/24 season in particular there’s only one place to start, and that’s with the Dutch international’s much improved finishing which has seen him net 15 goals across all competitions at the time of writing. Not only is that by far his best return on Italian soil during his Atalanta career to date, but it’s the overall quality of his shooting that has caught the eye.
So far in Serie A this season, Koopmeiners’ 12 league goals have come from just 20 shots on target and 6.37 xG, while his conversion rate stands at 23.1% with two matches to play – a figure that can only be beaten by Albert Gudmundsson, Paulo Dybala, and teammate Charles De Ketelaere amongst attacking midfield players who have netted 10+ goals. And it’s the latter of those players with whom he’s grown a great partnership with in Bergamo this season. That’s a mightily impressive return all things considered, not least because the Atalanta star usually occupies one of the two CAM roles in Gasperini’s now renowned 3-4-2-1 set up. But despite sitting that bit deeper, Koopmeiners has developed into a player with excellent long-range finishing, something that has been witnessed time and time again by the Atalanta faithful this season.
Alongside his fantastic goal output, Koopmeiners has continued to enhance his reading of the game even further this term, an area of his play which is, quite frankly, levels above the average Serie A player. Although his passing accuracy remains relatively low at 81.2% in this season’s league campaign, that can largely be explained by his range of forward passing as he often attempts through balls to the main striker, whilst the majority of passes overall come in a progressive form as he aims to bring attacking opportunities to his side. Both of those aspects of his game really highlight his fantastic vision with the ball at his feet.
As well as progressing possession with his passing, Koopmeiners is additionally adept at making well-timed runs through the opposition’s backline himself, and at driving through the centre of the park – mostly between the lines – to great effect when the chance arises. His 195 progressive carries completed in Serie A this season rank him quite highly in that regard.
Those skills have almost certainly improved as he’s been deployed further forward up the pitch in recent times with Atalanta, something which now outlines Koopmeiners as a truly well-rounded midfield player given that he came into football as a more box-to-box and defensive minded midfielder. That’s something that can be seen with a glance at his defensive output in Italy’s top-flight this season.
When comparing his numbers to all other wingers and attacking midfielders in similar leagues, Koopmeiners ranks in the top 15% percentile for aerial duels won, shots blocked, overall ball recoveries and times winning possession in the final third, the latter acting as something of utmost importance to the way this Atalanta teams operate. His overall versatility in order to take undertake different roles in the midfield to a high degree can be seriously highlighted by the fact that across Serie A this season, the Dutchman is one of just two players to record 35+ tackles, 50+ chances created, 75+ touches in the opposition’s box, 100+ duels won, 100+ ball recoveries and 125+ passes played into the box – the other being Matías Soulé at Frosinone.
So which sides are likely to be in the market for Koopmeiners this summer, based on the above?
Well, the obvious destination on paper would arguably be Liverpool who could be tempted to bring in another midfield addition this summer in order to offer new manager Arne Slot plenty of options in the centre of the park, with a return to the Champions League on the horizon. Slot himself has also previously managed the midfielder during his time with AZ Alkmaar in the Netherlands, helping to aid the now 26-year-old’s growth as a defensive midfielder – whilst also using him at a deputising centre-back – so the Atalanta man’s apparent interest in moving to Anfield this upcoming transfer window seems more than plausible.
Fellow Premier League sides Chelsea and Manchester United are additionally said to have been tracking Koopmeiners in recent months, but as both feasibly need to add to their respective squads immediately in other areas, placing a formal bid could be viewed as a long shot at present.
Elsewhere, Italian giants Juventus also reportedly hold significant interest in bringing the midfielder to Turin this summer. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Old Lady have labelled their rival’s player as their number one target this summer, though they’ll need to bring in a new manager quickly after Massimiliano Allegri’s departure to steal a march on other sides in their pursuit of his signature.
Where Teun Koopmeiners will go next remains a mystery for now, but whichever club is lucky enough to acquire his services this summer will have added one of Europe’s most underrated midfielders to their squad.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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FotMob’s MLS expert James Nalton picks five standout players from Matchday 15, including his two votes for the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) MLS Player of the Matchday.
After several weeks of Inter Miami players dominating the list of standout players, it was a more standard, routine victory for the Florida side this weekend — 1-0 against DC United — meaning the notable names in Matchday 15 came from elsewhere.
In the Eastern Conference there’s a team challenging Miami at the top of the table, and another that is resurgent after a poor season in 2023.
In the West, a team takes the top spot in the conference and one of their players does the same in the goalscoring chart.
But first, here are my NASR votes for this week.
The Top Two
9.7 FotMob rating: Federico Bernardeschi, Toronto FC
Toronto continued to show improvement this year under new coach John Herdman with a convincing 5-1 win against CF Montréal.
Italian Designated Player, Bernardeschi, has emerged as the star of the team and one of the stars of the league, and he netted a hat-trick in this big win in an all-Canadian clash.
Carrying the ball down the right ahead of scoring his first goal, it looked like he would try to fire one left-footed inside the far post.
Montréal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois may have thought the same, but Bernadeschi went high with power inside the near post to give Toronto a second goal inside the opening 15 minutes.
The 30-year-old’s second and third goals came within two minutes of each other around the hour mark in the second half.
One was a cross that evaded everyone and sneaked in at the far post, and the third was finished from close range following a direct Toronto attack.
The team that finished rock bottom of the overall standings last year are now fifth in the Eastern Conference — a big improvement under Herdman.
9.4 FotMob rating: Luciano Acosta, FC Cincinnati
The 2023 MLS MVP is continuing his form into the new season for defending Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati.
A 3-1 win against St Louis this weekend kept them in touch with Inter Miami at the top of the table.
Having played a game less than Miami, Cincinnati actually have a better points-per-game ratio than the league leaders.
Acosta stepped up to take a penalty he had won to open the scoring against St Louis, which was his 150th goal contribution in MLS.
He then assisted a goal for Yuya Kubo with a clever through ball into the area and then assisted another, crossing for Sergio Santos to make it three.
Three more standout performers
9.3 FotMob rating: Cristian Arango, Real Salt Lake
The Rocky Mountain Cup produced an eight-goal thriller as Real Salt Lake ran out 5-3 winners against Colorado Rapids.
It might come as no surprise that Arango was the star of the show given his performances already this season.
He scored twice at key moments in the game, overtaking Christian Benteke and Luis Suárez in the goalscoring charts in the process.
He now has 13 in total for the season and also added an assist in what was a match-winning performance
His first goal came after his side had gone 2-0 down within 20 minutes when he followed up a Braian Ojeda shot. His second came in the 85th minute with the score at 3-2 to Colorado.
His assist was also impressive, feeding a nice pass in the area to Andrés Gómez to make it 4-3 and finally give RSL the lead and the impetus to go on and seal the win.
9.3 FotMob rating: Daniel Gazdag, Philadelphia Union
It has not been the best of seasons so far for the Union, but their 3-0 win at New England Revolution this weekend was one of their best performances so far.
Much of the focus around the Union in 2024 has been on their 14-year-old wonderkid Cavan Sullivan, who recently signed a record-breaking homegrown MLS contract with the club, and already has a pre-arranged transfer to Manchester City.
They were helped in New England by an early sending-off for the Revs after last-man Ryan Spaulding felled Mikael Uhre who was otherwise through on goal.
Gazdag was then on hand twice to secure the win against ten men, scoring two from close range, picking up the pieces in the area and being in the right place at the right time.
The Hungarian attacking midfielder finished the game with 96% pass success, having completed 54 of 56 attempted passes.
8.7 FotMob rating: Jader Obrian, Austin FC
Linking up with the also-excellent Daniel Pereira, Colombian forward Obrian scored twice in Austin’s 3-2 win against Sporting Kansas City.
The pair capitalised on Sporting KC’s error while trying to play out from the back with some neat footwork from Pereira setting up Obrian to fire one in.
Then, the ever-involved Pereira found Obrian in the box from the right, as the forward showed some good footwork of his own to create space for the shot and add his second.
Austin continue to climb up the Western Conference table, where they now sit third, ahead of LA Galaxy.
(Cover Image from IMAGO)
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The dizzying beauty of Lake Como makes it an irresistible holiday destination. Boats owned by George Clooney, stunning mountain scenery, clear blue waters and now? A top flight football team once more.
Cesc Fabregas, Thierry Henry, and Dennis Wise are some of the footballing figureheads involved in the project to transform the newly promoted Serie A club into a future powerhouse.
When asked what attracted Henry to the Italian club, the Frenchman and stakeholder said:
“Everything. The location. Where the club aspire to go. Everyone involved wants the club to be known as much as the lake. We must ensure we do not lose the community and family factor.”
Henry frequently mentions the local community of Como and keeping that unique spirit “Como is going to have to stay Como.” It’s something the former Arsenal striker has made a point of mentioning in every media interview when talking about the club.
Besides its appeal to the rich and famous there is still a local feel to the town. Helping to keep this is a modest wage bill and leaning on players who have been at Como for the entire journey.
The strike partnership is formed of former-Wolves player Patrick Cutrone and long term Como player Alessandro Gabrielloni. Gabrielloni was seen crying on the bench as Como secured promotion, the striker has been with the club since they were in Serie D.
Cutrone is a local lad and after moves to Wolves, Fiorentina, and Fulham didn’t work out, home came calling: “I would’ve only dropped down to Serie B for Como.” The sad passing of his father led the Milan academy graduate to go back home and he’s never been happier “It’s my city, my people. To play for them is an honour for me. I know everything about Como.”
A reboot helped by deep pockets but draped in local spirit
Como boast the richest owners in Italy. Bought by Djarum, a conglomerate group in Indonesia owned by the Hartono Brothers, who made their money through clove cigarettes, inheriting the business from their father. With a combined estimated net worth of $48 billion, the brothers also bought a streaming sports platform: MOLA, which is now the sponsor adorning the team’s shirt.
Long-term plans are what attracted part-owner, first team coach, and all-but confirmed manager again as of next season, Cesc Fabregas. The Spaniard played out the end of his career at the club and quickly moved into coaching the youth side.
When manager Moreno Longo departed in November, Fabregas took over for seven games, before needing to complete his coaching badges and stepping down into an assistant manager role.
On the recommendation of Henry, former Crystal Palace assistant manager, Osian Roberts took over and won promotion.
The Welshman has been the calm unsung hero of Como’s promotion and is highly thought of by Henry and a number of former pros who have worked under Roberts as an instructor on the UEFA coaching course.
Roberts is now set to move upstairs as his protége, Fabragas, takes over the reins in the dugout.
Fabregas has thrown himself into the role, it is clear it isn’t just another ‘pretty city’ for him to live in. He and Roberts have already set about switching Como’s tactics this season, moving to a more possession-based philosophy.
The location may be scenic and glamorous but the former Arsenal playmaker is aware of how seriously a prospect like Como should be taken.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Fabregas explained “This is a proper job. I hardly see my family” when speaking about the long hours of coaching.
The owners and staff, in tandem, are fully attempting to engage with the local community with a local brewery being launched, merchandise being sold nearby, and an initiative for match-going supporters with newborns to get free babygrows.
Games can be watched through ‘Como TV’ which airs in the UK and the US. It is a stunning location to develop a football club, but it feels like the figureheads involved are committed to combining investment and the creation of new facilities to build a sustainable club that Como can be proud of.
It isn’t just a project for the sake of owning a football club, there’s real fervour behind what Fabregas and Henry are doing.
(Images from IMAGO)
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