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Whilst Liverpool struggled with injuries, their academy stepped up at the most important moment to play a part in their last-gasp victory over Chelsea to win the Carabao Cup final. And now, the Reds could be about to add to their list of impressive youngsters in the form of a South American gem.

Liverpool transfer news

By the time that Virgil van Dijk rose highest to head home Kostas Tsimikas' corner in the 118th minute, Liverpool had as many as six academy graduates on the pitch. Jarell Quansah, Bobby Clark, Jayden Danns, James McConnell, Harvey Elliott and Caoimhin Kelleher all shared the celebrations in what is an ultimate reflection of the legacy that Jurgen Klopp leaves behind.

That said, it's not just in their own academy that Liverpool can find gems for the future. With a new era set to begin when Klopp departs at the end of the season, the Reds could turn their attention towards reinforcements from elsewhere. And that includes South America – a place where the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo have emerged to star in the Premier League.

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Whilst Brighton & Hove Albion were the initial benefactors of Mac Allister and Caicedo, it could be the Reds who next reap the rewards, cutting out the Brighton-shape middle man. According to Brazilian media, Liverpool have sent representatives to Brazil to hold talks with Luis Guilherme and his agent, with a bid now expected in the coming days.

After initial reports suggested that Liverpool were in pole position to land Palmeiras' 18-year-old, those at Anfield are seemingly pushing ahead with their deal, which could cost around €35m (£30m), despite the midfielder's reported €55m (£47m) release clause. A player for the future, Guilherme may quickly prove to be a bargain buy for the Reds.

"Fast" Guilherme can spearhead next Liverpool era

As Liverpool prepare for life without Klopp, they could yet turn to Xabi Alonso with reports indicating that contact has already been made ahead of potentially welcoming the Bayer Leverkusen boss. If it is to be the Spaniard, then his 3-4-2-1 system, which uses two advanced midfielders, will shape Liverpool's direction when it comes to incomings this summer. And that's where Guilherme would come in.

The young Brazilian – an advanced midfielder who can also play as a winger – could thrive in the role that Alonso has used to get the best out of Florian Wirtz this season to hand Liverpool an instant star.

The teenager certainly has his fans in Brazil too, with Transfermarkt Area Manager Brazil Marcos Watts saying via Transfermarkt: “Luis Guilherme highlights the success of Palmeiras’ youth academy. Only 17, he is already capable of being influential as a no.10 in Brazil’s Série A and is also capable of playing as a winger. He is one of Brazil’s biggest talents.

“He is very fast—both physically but also mentally—and has an excellent left foot. If he keeps developing along the same path, then he is more than capable of becoming a top player in Europe. I think there is a chance he could become the future no.10 of the Seleção.”

Emi Martinez swapped lewd for love in his Copa America Golden Glove celebration, with the Argentina goalkeeper sounding a trophy warning to rivals.

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More individual and collective honoursRetains hunger to win even moreHoliday time after Olympic dream dashedWHAT HAPPENED?

The shot-stopper is a now a two-time winner of the prestigious Copa crown, having first helped the Albiceleste to continental glory back in 2021. Martinez starred at that event, with his penalty-saving reputation being enhanced.

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More heroics were delivered at the 2022 World Cup, en route to a global title, with wild celebrations sparked at the end of each triumph. Martinez became famed for a bizarre routine that saw him hold the Golden Glove to his crotch on that occasion.

WHAT MARTINEZ SAID

There were no such theatrics after helping Argentina to a 1-0 win over Colombia in 2024, with Martinez telling of the insatiable appetite for success that exists within Lionel Scaloni’s squad: “Being a two-time champion is a very nice thing for this team, for this country. We wanted to give the people another joy, we put a lot of effort into it. They thought that by winning titles we were going to relax, but we showed once again the kind of team we are.”

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Martinez, who is now preparing to head off on a family vacation, added on focus now being shifted towards the next piece of silverware that is up for grabs – and another that Argentina claimed in 2022: “We are now playing the Finalissima against Spain and we have the chance to win another title. It has been shown that we have everything.”

After welcoming veteran defender Ashley Young, Ipswich Town are now reportedly prioritising a summer swoop to sign a La Liga forward and welcome a much-needed replacement for Liam Delap.

McKenna: Young's "achievements speak for themselves"

At 39 years old, Young has made the latest move in a career that has seen him with the Premier League, Serie A, and become one of the most experienced players that English football has to offer. Dropping down to the Championship, the former Inter Milan man will be hoping to ensure that Ipswich complete an instant return to the Premier League.

Speaking to the club website after welcoming Young, Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna said: “Ashley has had a fantastic career and his achievements speak for themselves. He has maintained an extremely high level of professionalism and competitiveness through his career and he is still playing at a very good level.

“We feel his leadership and experience will be valuable to the group this season and he is very hungry to contribute on and off the pitch. It’s a very strong signing for the group and the club.”

The defender himself, meanwhile, also had plenty of praise for McKenna after putting pen to paper. He said: “He’s a winner and you see that on the training pitch.

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“On the sidelines at the games, I get to see that day in, day out. He was a massive pull. Obviously, I worked with him at [Manchester] United. I knew his beliefs, I knew what he wants to do with the club, I’ve seen what he’s done with this club as well.”

After adding crucial experience to their side, however, Ipswich’s summer business looks unlikely to end there. Reports are now suggesting that they’ve set their sights on a replacement for ex-star striker Delap.

Ipswich prioritising Romero move

According to reports in Spain, Ipswich are now prioritising a deal to sign Isaac Romero, who would be arriving to replace the departed Delap this summer. Sevilla are reportedly open to the forward’s departure, which should hand those at Portman Road the chance to come swooping in at the right price.

The 25-year-old striker struggled to adapt to La Liga last season after scoring 11 goals in 15 games in Spain’s second tier in the campaign prior and could now be on his way out of the club.

If his agent’s eye for marketable talent is anything to go by he’s certainly got potential however – his AS1 group also represent £115m Chelsea star Moises Caicedo, Liverpool winger Luis Diaz and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.

On paper, his arrival would be a risk for Ipswich but perhaps one worth taking. At his best, Romero starred in Spain’s second division and a return to a similar level may yet see him rediscover that clinical form.

Whilst Romero won’t steal the same headlines as Delap’s arrival did last summer, he could prove to be the clinical goalscorer that McKenna desperately needs in the Championship next season.

Inter Miami are set for another blow as Uruguay's Luis Suarez will join team-mate and Argentina icon Lionel Messi at this summer's Copa America.

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Copa America runs from June to JulyMessi to play for Argentina in tournamentMiami team-mate Suarez gets Uruguay call-upWHAT HAPPENED?

Days after Messi was named in Argentina's squad for the Copa America, which takes place in the United States and runs from June 20-July 14, 37-year-old Suarez has made it into Marcelo Bielsa's 26-man group for the upcoming tournament – despite ongoing knee issues for the striker.

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Inter Miami currently sit top of Major League Soccer's Eastern Conference but not having Messi and Suarez for the best part of a month will be a big blow for them. Suarez has scored 12 goals and bagged five assists in the MLS this season and Messi has found the net on 12 occasions and turned provider nine times – so losing both could greatly impact the club's campaign.

DID YOU KNOW?

Argentina kickstart their campaign on June 20 when they entertain Canada and also have Peru and Chile in their group. Conversely, Uruguay take on tournament hosts the US, Panama and Bolivia in their group.

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Before the Copa America begins, Argentina take on Ecuador on Sunday night in a friendly, followed by Guatemala on June 14. Uruguay, on the other hand, are not in action again until their tournament opener against Panama on June 23.

Afghanistan’s wristspinners, together with Mohammad Nabi, combine to prevent Bangladesh from building any momentum in mammoth chase

The Report by Mohammad Isam08-Sep-2019Afghanistan are four wickets away from a remarkable Test win over Bangladesh after they reduced the hosts to 136 for 6 at stumps on the fourth day. A third bout of rain, however, forced the players off an hour before the scheduled close of play. The start of the morning session was delayed by two hours while the lunch break was extended by 40 minutes, both due to spells of rain. There is more rain in the offing on the fifth day, leaving the visitors with what looks like some tight sessions to squeeze through the remaining wickets.Afghanistan did a good job of taking the six wickets on the fourth day. Left-arm wristspinner Zahir Khan made twin strikes immediately after the lunch break. Liton Das missed a delivery that spun back at his pads from over the wicket, while Mosaddek Hossain was caught at wide long-off in an attempted inside-out shot to a wide delivery.Soon, Mushfiqur Rahim fell to Rashid Khan for the second time in the game, and the sixth time in nine innings across formats. After he had struck a few boundaries with the sweep, Mushfiqur was lbw after missing the ball on the forward press. Mominul Haque, who scored 52 in the first innings, became Rashid’s second victim when he too was given lbw to a legbreak that spun back sharply from around the wicket.Shortly before the tea interval, Rashid dropped Shakib Al Hasan’s return catch, but on the other side of the interval, Bangladesh lost two more wickets in quick succession. Mohammad Nabi removed Shadman Islam, who had lasted 114 balls for his 41, before Mahmudullah completed the Test with a pair of sevens, this time getting caught at short leg off Rashid.Shakib remained unbeaten on 39 off 46 balls, as he walked off in the rain with Soumya Sarkar, demoted all the way down to No. 8 due to a batting order shake-up, who is yet to open his account.The day’s first two hours and ten minutes were lost to rain, after which Afghanistan added 23 runs to their overnight 237 for 8. They were bowled out for 260 in their second innings, with Afsar Zazai remaining unbeaten on 48 off 110 balls. After half-centuries from Ibrahim Zadran and Asghar Afghan on the third day, Zazai stretched Afghanistan’s score by resuming on 34 before Yamin Ahmadzai was run out for 9 and Zahir handed a catch to forward short leg for a two-ball duck.

Humphrey Ker has explained what will happen to hit show Welcome to Wrexham if the team endures a "seven-game losing streak" in League One.

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Welcome to Wrexham is a huge successClub preparing for life in League OneKer says the club's lows make the documentary betterWHAT HAPPENED?

Co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney introduced the first season of Welcome to Wrexham in October 2022 and since its release it has been a huge success. The documentary has chartered their failed attempts to get out of the National League, followed by winning that division, and now their successful League Two promotion campaign is hitting TV screens in series three. Now, executive director Ker has spoken about how the team's ups and downs make the show more compelling, as they prepare for life in League One in 2024-25.

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When asked if Wrexham hadn't been such a success story, would that go in the documentary, Ker replied on The Chris Moyles Show on Radio X: "Oh yeah. So, I love the bits in the documentary where we win and get promoted and all the nice stuff, and it’s amazing to have this record of this thing that you’ve been part of. But actually, the best stuff in it, for me, is the stuff about the people, the fans, the real people, the trials and tribulations. I mean, football clubs are amazing things – it’s like a fishing net, and it runs through the whole community, and you scoop up all of these amazing people and stories and things, and that’s the best stuff.

"We do get asked, ‘what happens when you get stuck in League One for three seasons and you can’t do this and that?’ But actually, I still think it will be compelling, because there will still be on these triumphs and tragedies and us dealing with the difficulty. It’s been easy street for two-and-a-half years for us really. And at some stage it won’t be, and I think that’ll make very compelling television. You’ll see me go from Mr Cheerful, cracks jokes, to ‘oh no!’ You know, we’re on a seven-game losing streak."

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Thanks to Reynolds, McElhenney, and the documentary, Wrexham have been able to gain a worldwide following and that has led to extra sponsorship deals and more revenue streams for the club. That has played a big part in them reaching League One but their toughest task is about to begin when they take on the English third tier.

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While Wrexham's players are currently enjoying their summer breaks after their League Two promotion success, behind the scenes the Red Dragons are trying to recruit the right players for next term. The first-team squad will then begin their pre-season campaign late next month.

Parkinson claims 6-23 as Maxwell bounces back from World Cup exit with 4-41 to bowl Sussex out for 127

Paul Edwards13-Jul-2019People long in thrall to cricket sometimes watch two games. The first is the one before them; the second comprises moments from past matches, fragments of idolatry, to borrow the title of David Foot’s wonderful book. As the Sussex openers began their side’s innings this high-clouded morning at Old Trafford there was every reason for Lancashire supporters to succumb to illusion. Before them, Phil Salt was cracking boundaries through midwicket off Richard Gleeson and Graham Onions; yet in a heartbeat it was a warm Sunday afternoon in the late 1960s and Lancashire were winning one of those new-fangled 40-over games, their efforts directed by this diminutive bloke who didn’t bowl and only batted around seven in the order.Jack Bond died on Thursday evening. He was mourned by every Lancashire player under whom he had played and his passing was marked by a minute’s silence before our cricket got under way at Old Trafford. Less than an hour and a half hour later Sussex would collapse to Lancashire’s spinners, losing five wickets for 11 runs before lunch, all ten for fifty and being bowled out for 127 forty minutes after lunch. Matt Parkinson, a leg-spinner of great ability and remarkable potential, took a career-best 6 for 23 and Glenn Maxwell, as if assuaging World Cup woe, 4 for 41. Yet the members who stood to applaud Parkinson had also stood in perfect quiet over three-and-a-half earlier in the red-bricked pavilion when they might have been remembering two other slow bowlers, Jack Simmons and David Hughes, throttling the life out of batting orders on distant afternoons from dreamy childhood summers. “Lancasheer, la la-la laaa, Lancasheer, la la-la laaa.”Parkinson has more natural ability than either Simmons or Hughes. Presented with a used pitch offering only a little turn, he puzzled most of Sussex’s batsmen and dismissed half a dozen half of them. The googly which David Wiese let hit his pad was a highlight and the efficiency with which Parkinson removed Sussex’s tail was Rashidesque. That said, Sussex hardly helped themselves. Too many balls requiring commitment, either on the front or back foot were met with indecision. Varun Chopra, having made 32, played for turn but didn’t get to the pitch and the ball went straight on. By then Salt had fallen to Maxwell for 40 when sweeping the off-spinner straight to Josh Bohannon at deep square leg. Sussex were 77 without loss the moment before that wicket fell. They were bowled out less than 30 overs later. Their players must be tired of hearing their coach, Jason Gillespie, use the word “unacceptable” but the solution is in their hands.Dane Vilas needed to do little more than bring on Parkinson and Maxwell and keep them on. Bond would still have enjoyed watching it all, partly because he was the proudest of Lancastrians and partly because he probably reckoned skippers should have a few easy days to make up for those when they have to think non-stop for six hours and make literally thousands of decisions.Bond knew what the hard years and tough days were like. He had learned his cricket in the 1950s when at least one Lancashire captain was effortlessly malevolent and the committee were reminiscent of barons administering Henry II’s feudal estates. The offer of the captaincy, when it came in February 1968, was less than effusive. “We’ve just had a committee meeting and they want you to take the captaincy on a caretaker basis while they look for somebody else,” the new skipper was told by the secretary, Jack Wood.Ben Brown is as loyal to Sussex as Bond was to Lancashire and he might have appreciated some advice this afternoon. A first innings of 127 poses its own problems but things got worse for Sussex when Luke Wells dropped Alex Davies at third slip on 4 and Chris Jordan was forced to limp off with a leg injury after eight overs. The rest of this Saturday saw Lancashire build a position from which they should win the matchHome supporters watched it all and luxuriated in their side’s complete dominance. The flags, all of them flying at half-mast, unfurled themselves in the brisk breeze. We played with the thought that these spectators might be recalling other Saturdays of greater glory, early Septembers at Lord’s, for example, when Bond led Lancashire to three successive Gillette Cups. He skippered a side filled with players of international class but he was the man who held everything together and who reminded any potential Billy Bigbollocks that no cricketer could win a game by himself. His Lancashire teams won five trophies in four yearsBond was a great captain because he had been shown how not to do it and because he was a good, generous man who understood men in all weathers. A devout Methodist, he always preached the value of community and pitched his team on the side of the supporters and against the hierarchy. “We had an unbelievable never-say-die attitude and it was born of dissatisfaction,” recalled David Lloyd. “Jack got us together and it was almost us against them but the ‘them’ were the committee. We were such a tight unit and we all had the red rose on our blazer and, crikey, did that mean something.”The six martlets mean just as much to players like Luke Wells, Ben Brown and Will Beer. Sussex are in a desperate run of form at the moment and they will do well to wrench themselves out if it sufficiently to win promotion. Lancashire’s openers, displaying proper professional ruthlessness, displayed no pity at all. Davies’ two thumping drives off Abi Sakande took Lancashire into a lead on first innings but next over Sussex received blessed relief for their woes when he was caught behind for 72 when trying to cut a short ball from Delray Rawlins. But a Wagner opera could not have set the tone of this day more strongly and Keaton Jennings collected his fifty just before the closeBond was a small man but, as Neil Fairbrother pointed out, he was a giant of Lancashire cricket. His players loved him but they might not have put it those terms. Then again, they didn’t need to. The current Lancashire team, none of whom were near to being born when Bond last played, also stood this morning. They know the former skipper, partly because his words are on the dressing room wall: “The future of this great club is in your hands.”But maybe the most touching sight was that of David Lloyd, standing silent with his memories. And crikey, that meant something.

Batsman bounces back from being dropped on 0 to post career-best 229 at Wantage Road

ECB Reporters Network03-Jun-2019Billy Root made the highest score by a Glamorgan batsman against Northamptonshire to put his side in complete command at Wantage Road. Root’s career-best 229 helped his side recover from 120 for 5 to close the second day 452 for 9, leading by 243.Badly dropped by Ricardo Vasconcelos at second slip on 0 – a chance that would have left Glamorgan 21 for 4 – Root took full advantage, hitting 30 fours and a six in his third innings over a hundred in the County Championship and second against Northants this season after his 126 in Cardiff back in April.He played a number of eye-catching cuts and drives, the pick of which was crashed through cover point off Nathan Buck, and ran superbly between the wickets with one exception – a sharp single attempted to Buck at mid-on would have seen Root run out for 90 had Buck thrown down the stumps, but the fielder failed to gather.It allowed Root to go through to a fourth first-class hundred in 121 balls with 16 fours and after tea he extended it to a double-century in 230 deliveries with 26 fours and a scooped six over backward-square off Ben Sanderson.He initially battled Glamorgan away from danger in a stand of 83 with Charlie Hemphrey that took up most of the morning session before adding another 87 for the sixth wicket in the afternoon put Glamorgan in the lead.Dan Douthwaite was the second game partner for Root in making 44. He produced a beautiful high elbow to strike three on-drives for four before hoicking Rob Keogh’s off-spin over midwicket and top-edging a hook at Luke Wood for another boundary as 172 runs were added between lunch and tea.Douthwaite flicked Keogh to short-midwicket but was only the second afternoon wicket to fall after Kieran Carlson fell for 7 to the ninth ball of the session, edging a lifting delivery from Buck to second slip. At 120 for 5, Northants had hopes of getting back in the game, only for Root to take it away from them.The home side made the perfect start to the day with three quick wickets for Sanderson. He made the breakthrough with the 13th delivery of the morning with one that nipped away to feather the edge of Nick Selman, who fell to the first ball he’d received on day two.Sanderson then angled balls back into the right-handed Marnus Labuschagne and David Lloyd, who both shouldered arms and both lost their off stumps within 11 balls of each other. Had Root then been caught, Northants would have been right in the match but the miss proved the worst sliding doors moment imaginable for the hosts.

Marcus Rashford has been selected to model England's Euro 2024 clothing range from Marks and Spencer, despite being left out of the squad.

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Southgate did not pick RashfordModels M&S range with Aaron Ramsdale and Conor GallagherTournament begins next monthWHAT HAPPENED?

Rashford has been pictured modelling England's Euro 2024 clothing range along with Ramsdale and Gallagher. While the Arsenal and Chelsea stars have been included in Gareth Southgate's provisional squad for the tournament, Rashford has been left out after a disappointing season for United.

AdvertisementMarks & SpencerTHE GOSSIP

M&S are long-term sponsors of the England team and Rashford modelled a beige jacket and trousers combination that is worth £150. Per the Daily Mail, the shoot took place before Southgate's squad announcement, with the retailer banking on the forward being included. He has won 60 caps for the Three Lions, scoring 17 goals.

DID YOU KNOW?

Rashford's United season was disappointing, as he only managed to score eight goals and provide five assists in 42 games in all competitions. The Red Devils' season is not over, however, as they face Manchester City in the FA Cup final this weekend.

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Rashford will hope to prove Southgate wrong at Wembley this weekend as United go in search of a trophy to cap an underwhelming campaign. Manager Erik ten Hag has insisted that the forward is fully focussed ahead of the showpiece occasion despite his England snub.

Mauricio Pochettino reportedly had doubts over big-money midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo during his time at the club.

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Fernandez and Caicedo signed for huge feesPochettino had doubts over both playersPreferred Conor Gallagher to duoWHAT HAPPENED?

Chelsea have invested heavily in players under Todd Boehly and Co., notably splashing out more than £100 million ($127m) each on Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. However, Pochettino had doubts over the two midfielders while at Chelsea despite their massive transfer fees, according to . The Argentine had question marks over whether Fernadez was "destructive" enough to play as a No.6 or had enough creativity to play further forward. Pochettino also felt Caicedo lacked "positional discipline" and felt both players did not have the "size and power" required to thrive in the English top flight.

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The report adds that Pochettino's favourite midfielder was actually academy graduate Conor Gallagher, who regularly captained the side last season in the absence of Reece James and Ben Chilwell. The Blues are believed to be willing to sell the 24-year-old this summer due to concerns over meeting Profit and Sustainability Rules.

DID YOU KNOW?

Caicedo struck his first goal for Chelsea on the final day of the season with a stunner from the halfway line against Bournemouth, while Enzo missed the end of the campaign having undergone surgery on a hernia.

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Chelsea will now search for a replacement for Pochettino. Ipswich Town managerKieran McKennaand Leicester City boss Enzo Maresca have emerged as possible options for the Blues. Meanwhile, Pochettino is thought to be interested in taking over the England job from Gareth Southgate or heading to Manchester United to replace Erik ten Hag.