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Birmingham City are ripping up the transfer rulebook as they reportedly target Champions League players with the Blues chasing a Premier League return. Backed by the deep pockets of Knighthead Capital and the star power of NFL icon Tom Brady, the Blues are no longer thinking like a club fresh out of League One. Instead, they are daring to dream of mixing it with Europe’s elite within the next two to three seasons, and they’re building a plan to make it happen.

Carnall masterminds radical transfer strategy

According to at the heart of this revolution is Joe Carnall, the Blues’ head of recruitment. Promoted from his role as chief scout last season, Carnall is a self-confessed data obsessive who leans heavily on coding and analytics to shape the club’s transfer vision. His model isn’t about gambling on wonderkids who come good. Instead, Birmingham will only sanction deals for players with years of competitive experience behind them, no matter how much potential a younger prospect may appear to have.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportExperience over potential sets Birmingham apart

The shift in recruitment first took shape last season, when Birmingham’s transfer moves powered them to instant promotion back to the Championship. In an era where rivals stockpile teenagers with high resale value, Birmingham are swimming against the tide. The average age of their 14 new recruits this season, including loans, is 26.1. The philosophy is simple: pick players who can handle the pressure of a gruelling nine-month campaign, rather than prospects who might wilt under the spotlight. While rivals squabble over potential gems, Birmingham are quietly stockpiling seasoned campaigners they believe can fire them back into the top flight after 15 painful years away.

Barreiro and Stroeykens meetings raise eyebrows

The Blues have held talks with Benfica’s Leandro Barreiro, a midfielder with 13 Champions League appearances, and Anderlecht’s Mario Stroeykens, widely touted as one of Europe’s brightest midfield talents. While both players ultimately decided against dropping down to the Championship, the very fact that Birmingham got in the room with them is seen internally as proof that the project is gathering momentum.

One name that raised even more eyebrows was Emi Buendia. Not since Scott Hogan’s switch in 2020 has a player dared cross the Second City divide from Villa Park to St Andrew’s. Villa were never likely to sanction a cut-price deal, and Buendia opted to stay put. But with less than two years left on his contract, the Blues may test the waters again.

Wagner and Brady’s role behind the scenes

Chairman Tom Wagner and celebrity investor Brady have been painted as simply bankrolling a spending spree. However, insiders are quick to stress otherwise. Every deal has to pass Carnall’s stringent data filters before Wagner even gets involved. This isn’t about throwing cash around; it’s about targeted, strategic investments designed to fast-track Birmingham back among English football’s elite.

It's crunch time for Arsenal on Sunday, with the Gunners taking on rivals Liverpool in what could prove to be a pivotal showdown in the Premier League title race, with just five points currently separating the two sides in third and first, respectively.

While imperious champions Manchester City are also firmly in the mix and with a game in hand on the two teams either side of them, a win tomorrow would help to lay down a marker for either the north Londoners or the Anfield outfit amid their own pursuit of glory.

The recent announcement of Jurgen Klopp's impending departure from the Merseysiders has likely only heightened their desire for the German to go out with a bang at the end of the season, although those at the Emirates can help to spoil the party by picking up a positive result on home soil.

Having now won their last two games since losing to Klopp and co in the FA Cup at the start of January, there could well be just one change made by Mikel Arteta from the side that saw off Nottingham Forest in midweek.

1 GK – David Raya

There have been shaky moments for David Raya this season – including his two notable errors away to Luton Town back in December – although the Spaniard appears to be truly finding his feet in an Arsenal shirt, having produced 'one of his best performances' in the 5-0 win over Crystal Palace, as per the Standard's Simon Collings.

While Aaron Ramsdale will be chomping at the bit to get back into the side, there would be no rhyme or reason for Arteta to usurp the Brentford loanee.

2 RB – Ben White

The major talking point may have been the Englishman's post-match row with teammate Oleksandr Zinchenko in midweek, although prior to that it had been another smooth outing for the former Brighton and Hove Albion man.

The 26-year-old notably enjoyed an 88% pass accuracy rate and provided one key pass against the Tricky Trees, although will now face a far tougher test up against the lively Luis Diaz.

3 CB – William Saliba

The towering Frenchman could have perhaps done better to prevent Taiwo Awoniyi from firing home amid a nervy climax at the City Ground, yet that was a rare blip in an otherwise "exceptional" spell in north London to date – as lauded by his manager.

If the Gunners are to keep a frontline that has scored 14 goals across their last four games quiet, they will need Saliba to be at his brilliant best.

4 CB – Gabriel

The surprise goalscorer in the reverse fixture at Anfield, Gabriel has 'quietly been one of Arsenal's better players this season' – according to Collings – shaking off summer reports that he looked set for an exit.

Although it is his centre-back partner who usually gets most of the plaudits, the Brazilian brute is seemingly just as important to a backline that has shipped just 21 league goals thus far – the second-best record in the division.

5 LB – Oleksandr Zinchenko

The Ukrainian ace won't have fond memories of this fixture having been branded a "liability" by pundit Gary Neville during the 1-1 draw back in December, yet with Takehiro Tomiyasu still at the Asian Cup and Jurrien Timber still edging his way back to fitness, he'll simply have to start once again.

6 CDM – Declan Rice

It came as no real shock when Arteta confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Thomas Partey had endured a "setback" in his recovery from injury, with that news ensuring that Declan Rice will once again operate in that deep-lying midfield berth.

Although there has been a clamour to see the former West Ham United skipper unleashed in a more advanced number eight role, he has previously outlined his preference for operating as the six, and will be looking to make another big impact in that position tomorrow.

Arsenal may already have their own Onana in Hale End sensation

The failure to land the Everton star could be the catalyst for Arsenal to unleash one of Hale End’s most exciting talents

ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 2, 2024

A previous match winner in a crunch clash with Manchester United at the Emirates, could the 25-year-old replicate such heroics against Klopp's men?

7 CM – Martin Odegaard

The Gunners skipper has only recorded victory once in his career against tomorrow's opponents – while also failing to score in those eight meetings – yet he could be instrumental in changing those fortunes and helping to maintain his side's title charge.

Now without a goal or an assist in his last four league games, the Norwegian maestro needs to step up on the big stage on Sunday.

8 CM – Emile Smith Rowe

Having 'looked sharp' against Forest last time out – as per Collings – Emile Smith Rowe could be deserving of another chance to shine from the start this time around, ahead of summer signing Kai Havertz.

Despite being the subject of interest from West Ham last month, the 23-year-old playmaker could now have a central role to play for the Gunners over the coming months.

9 RW – Bukayo Saka

Another Hale End graduate, Bukayo Saka has begun to hit form again after providing three goals and assists across his last league games, netting what proved to be the decisive goal in Nottingham.

That ensures that the Englishman has now already reached double figures for both goals and assists in all competitions this season, continuing his sparkling rise in an Arsenal shirt.

10 ST – Gabriel Jesus

There were no doubt concerns when Gabriel Jesus limped off in midweek, although having trained with the squad all week, the fleet-footed Brazilian should be fit to feature tomorrow.

With no new striker coming in the door, the Gunners' number nine – who kicked things off against Forest after prodding through the legs of former teammate, Matt Turner – will need to find a clinical edge if the club's long wait for Premier League glory is to come to an end.

The U.S. will play the two South American sides, with Mauricio Pochettino continuing to schedule tricky opponents

USMNT set friendlies with Uruguay, Paraguay for NovemberWill be final games of the year for Maurico Pochettino's side Australia and Ecuador also lined up for October Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The USMNT will play friendlies against Uruguay and Paraguay in November as their pre-2026 World Cup fixtures ramp up, the federation announced Saturday.

Paraguay are up first, with the fixture set for Nov. 15 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Uruguay follow three days later in Tampa, Florida.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The U.S. historically, have fared well against Paraguay, holding a 4-2-2 record all-time against the South American side. Their most recent meeting was a 1-0 USMNT win in 2018.

Uruguay have been a far trickier opponent. The U.S. has a losing record to , most recently falling 1-0 in the 2024 Copa America group stage to seal an early exit from the competition. 

WHAT MAURICIO POCHETTINO SAID

The USMNT manager outlined his excitement at the prospect of playing against two highly-regarded teams.

"The matches against two strong South American opponents are a great opportunity for our players to be challenged against the types of teams we may see in the World Cup," he said. "As we continue to develop our group, we are looking forward to the amazing support of our fans as the excitement builds for next summer."

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR THE USMNT?

The U.S. now have a series of friendlies lined up to conclude the calendar year. After taking on South Korea, they will face Japan, Australia and Ecuador – and then the two November matches – as Pochettino ramps up preparations for the 2026 World Cup, set to be held on home soil.

A total of 37 teams across all three tiers will contest new ‘FA Cup-style’ T20 competition

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Nov-2024A total of 37 teams have learned their paths in the new Vitality T20 Women’s County Cup competition starting in England and Wales next year.The knockout competition will take place across May, involving sides from all three tiers of domestic women’s cricket and using the Bank Holidays at the beginning and end of the month to decide the first domestic silverware of 2025.In the first year of a revamped women’s domestic structure, Tier 1 teams will enter the competition at Round Three. As it is a knock-out contest, teams in Tier 2 and Tier 3 have a chance to eliminate the fully professional Tier 1 sides en route to Finals Day, featuring both semi-finals and the final at Taunton on Monday, May 26.Round One will be played on Monday, May 5, and Round Two on Saturday, May 10. With two Round Three ties featuring clashes between Tier 1 sides – including Surrey vs Hampshire Hawks – on May 17, the competition is guaranteed to have at least two teams from Tiers 2 or 3 in the quarter-finals a week later.England batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge, who recently joined Surrey from the Hampshire-based Southern Vipers, was excited by the prospect of that battle.”I’d love to play in that one,” Wyatt-Hodge said from South Africa where England were preparing to begin their multi-format series with Sunday’s first T20I in East London. “I’m really delighted with my move to Surrey, they are a massive club and it will be an honour to play for Surrey. We’ve got a lot of cricket to play before then, but exciting times ahead for sure.””It’s massive, it makes every game very exciting, FA-Cup style,” she added of the new competition. “Women’s cricket is going to the next level in England so it’s great to see and great to be a part of it.”The highlight of Round One looms as a clash between cross-town rivals Middlesex and Kent, who both missed out on gaining Tier 1 status for their counties during the first phase of the restructure which runs from the 2025 season to 2028.The T20 Women’s County Cup will be played in addition to the Vitality Blast women’s T20 competition featuring only Tier 1 sides, with fixtures to be released on Thursday.T20 Women’s County Cup fixturesROUND ONE (May 5)Match 1: Lincolnshire v CheshireMatch 2: Staffordshire v CumbriaMatch 3: Northumberland – BYEMatch 4: Yorkshire v Derbyshire FalconsMatch 5: Leicestershire Foxes – BYEMatch 6: Shropshire v NorfolkMatch 7: Cambridgeshire v HerefordshireMatch 8: Northamptonshire Steelbacks v Worcestershire RapidsMatch 9: Sussex Sharks v BuckinghamshireMatch 10: Suffolk – BYEMatch 11: Hertfordshire v Bedfordshire & HuntingdonshireMatch 12: Middlesex v KentMatch 13: Cornwall v BerkshireMatch 14: Wiltshire v OxfordshireMatch 15: Dorset v DevonMatch 16: Glamorgan v GloucestershireROUND TWO (May 10)Match 17: Yorkshire or Derbyshire Falcons v Staffordshire or CumbriaMatch 18: Leicestershire Foxes v Lincolnshire or CheshireMatch 19: Shropshire or Norfolk v Northamptonshire Steelbacks or Worcestershire RapidsMatch 20: Northumberland v Cambridgeshire or HerefordshireMatch 21: Glamorgan or Gloucestershire v Sussex Sharks or BuckinghamshireMatch 22: Cornwall or Berkshire v Middlesex or KentMatch 23: Wiltshire or Oxfordshire v Hertfordshire or Bedfordshire & HuntingdonshireMatch 24: Devon or Dorset v SuffolkROUND THREE (May 17)Match 25: Surrey v Hampshire HawksMatch 26: Winner of Match 24 v BearsMatch 27: Winner of Match 19 v Winner of Match 18Match 28: Winner of Match 21 v Lancashire ThunderMatch 29: Winner of Match 17 v EssexMatch 30: Winner of Match 23 v The BlazeMatch 31: Winner of Match 20 v Winner of Match 22Match 32: Somerset v DurhamQUARTER-FINALS (May 24)Match 33: Winner of Match 25 v Winner of Match 32Match 34: Winner of Match 31 v Winner of Match 30Match 35: Winner of Match 27 v Winner of Match 28Match 36: Winner of Match 29 v Winner of Match 26FINALS DAY (May 26, Taunton)Match 37: Semi-Final 1: Winner of Match 35 v Winner of Match 34Match 38: Semi-Final 2: Winner of Match 36 v Winner of Match 33Match 39: Final