The Supreme Court of India has said there is, on first impression, a charge of perjury that can be laid against BCCI president Anurag Thakur and the board’s general manager of game development Ratnakar Shetty for lying under oath.The court also reserved its order on the Lodha Committee’s suggestion to remove ineligible BCCI office bearers and appoint former civil servant GK Pillai as an observer to oversee business operations of the board. After the BCCI rejected Pillai during Thursday’s hearing, the court asked the board to submit, by December 23, the names of three people who could replace the existing office bearers and govern the BCCI.The court suggested former India allrounder Mohinder Amarnath as one of the names. It is expected to hear the matter again after the winter vacation, which ends on January 2.The issue of perjury arose because Thakur, in an affidavit, had denied that he sought a letter from the ICC stating that the Lodha Committee’s recommendation to have a member of the Comptroller and Auditor General’s office on the apex council of the BCCI amounted to government interference in the board. Thakur’s request had been revealed by ICC chief executive David Richardson in an interview to an Indian TV channel.Thakur had said he only asked ICC chairman Shashank Manohar what his stance on the matter had been when he was the BCCI president. “I pointed out to the Chairman of the ICC, Mr Shashank Manohar that, when he was President of BCCI, he had taken a view that the recommendations of the Justice Lodha committee appointing the nominee of the CAG on the Apex Council would amount to governmental interference, and might invoke an action of suspension from ICC,” Thakur had said in his affidavit. “I therefore requested him that, being the ICC Chairman, can a letter be issued clarifying the position which he had taken as BCCI President.”Shetty, in an affidavit on October 7, had denied that Thakur had sought ICC intervention at all. Observing there was a “variance’ between Thakur and Shetty’s submissions, the court said: “Mr Shetty in his response to the status report claims that the CEO of ICC had ‘falsely’ stated in his interview that the President of BCCI had requested ICC to issue a letter stating that the intervention of this Court amounted to governmental interference. The version of Mr Shetty is at variance to what is alleged to have been stated by the CEO of ICC.”On Thursday, the court said there appeared to be evidence against Thakur and Shetty of lying under oath and asked the BCCI to submit relevant documents to avoid perjury. “Prima facie it seems that Anurag Thakur has perjured and lied under oath because of the letter to Manohar. It is a case of prosecution,” Chief Justice of India TS Thakur said during the hearing. “You had no occasion to approach Manohar. Where was the occasion to raise the issue once we had pronounced on this. This amounts to perjury.”The court asked Kapil Sibal, the lawyer representing the BCCI president, to “apologise” if Thakur wanted to “escape” an adverse order against him.Anurag Thakur (left) has been put in a tight spot by the Supreme Court•Hindustan Times

Sibal explained to the court that his client’s question to Manohar was not against court intervention but whether appointment of the CAG official on the Apex Council would amount to government interference.According to Lodha Committee secretary Gopal Sankaranaryanan, there was a discrepancy in the affidavit submitted by Thakur and the letter submitted by Manohar. “In [Anurag] Thakur’s version of events it is a clarification he had sought. In Manohar’s version of events, he said as ICC chairman I was asked to give a letter, not a clarification, saying that this amounts to interference. For me this amounts to variance.”The Gopal Subramnium had in earlier hearings told the court that Thakur was playing an obstructionist role and impeding the implementation of the Lodha Committee’s recommendations. “The whole issue is that of there is a person [Anurag Thakur] obstructing and in contempt of court. Then should he head the BCCI?” Chief Justice Thakur said on Thursday. “We have given opportunities and time. Don’t do something unpleasant.”Sibal reiterated the BCCI’s point that it could not force the state associations to accept the Lodha recommendations, and that a majority vote was needed to pass them. At several board meetings, the states had voiced opposition to most of the Lodha Committee’s recommendations: in particular, the one-state-one-vote policy, the age cap for office bearers, and the limits on tenure.The court replied by saying that one option was to supercede the office bearers, as suggested by the Lodha Committee. “You supercede them,” the court said. “Who should be appointed in your place, give us recommendation in next one week.”The Lodha Committee – comprising former Chief Justice of India RM Lodha and retired Supreme Court judges Ashok Bhan and R Raveendran – was formed in January 2015 to determine appropriate punishments for some of the officials involved in the 2013 IPL corruption scandal, and also to propose changes to streamline the BCCI, reform its functioning, prevent sporting fraud and conflict of interest.In January 2016, the committee released its report, which recommended an exhaustive overhaul of the BCCI’s governance and administrative structures. On July 18, the Supreme Court approved the majority of the recommendations and directed the Lodha Committee to supervise the BCCI’s implementations of the same. However, despite the Lodha Committee laying out timelines and other directives, the board has not cooperated because its state associations objected to the recommendations.

Brighton and Hove Albion starlet Moises Caicedo is “very interested” in joining Arsenal this summer, according to journalist Charles Watts.

Who will Arsenal sign this summer?

Of the plethora of targets linked with a move to north London recently, Caicedo features among the most prominent, with reports suggesting that central midfield additions are of top priority.

Arsenal missed out on a first league title in nearly 20 years to Man City last season, despite being in pole position for much of the campaign, and it is the task of transfer chief Edu to back Mikel Arteta with fresh faces.

There is a case to be made that injuries to the likes of William Saliba hampered their momentum towards the back end of 2022/2023 – emphasizing the need to strengthen in key areas.

Premier League stars are attracting serious interest from Arsenal, namely West Ham’s Declan Rice and City captain Ilkay Gundogan, with Caicedo also regularly mentioned by the press.

As well as the aforementioned names, the Gunners could look abroad for right-back signings, as Galatasary’s Sacha Boey and Real Valladolid’s Ivan Fresneda enter the forefront of Arsenal’s thinking.

Going back to Caicedo, reliable reporter Watts, formerly of GOAL and football.london, has shared an update on Arsenal’s links to the 21-year-old.

Ecuador’s star, who has dazzled for Brighton last season under Roberto De Zerbi, is apparently “very interested” in joining Arsenal.

However, while he is open to a north London move, Arteta and co may have to act quickly as Chelsea are also very much in the frame to sign him.

Who is Moises Caicedo?

The South American ace, who featured at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar last year, has been called one of Brighton’s “exceptional” players by members of the press.

As per WhoScored, this certainly holds up, with Caicedo standing out as a key defensive player last season.

The midfield enforcer averaged more tackles and interceptions per 90 than any other Brighton star over 2022/2023, backing his real quality and imperiousness in front of a back four.

If Arsenal are indeed keen to provide some cover in that position, Caicedo may well stand out as a real potential asset, though reports suggest the Gunners may have to spend around £70 million.

The Sri Lanka captain, who has come under fire, following the team’s poor showing in Tests in South Africa, has said he is ready to continue as a player even if he is removed as captain

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jan-2017

Angelo Mathews, who is nominally in charge of Sri Lanka until after the 2019 World Cup, has said that he would have no protests if he was sacked from the captaincy following his side’s horrendous Test showing on their tour of South Africa.Sri Lanka lost all three Tests by heavy margins, leading for calls for Mathews to resign even though the limited-overs leg of the tour is barely underway.Mathews, who became Sri Lanka’s youngest Test captain, at 25, left the tour after the second T20 in Johannesburg on Sunday after suffering a sprained ankle but he dismissed suggestions that he had given serious consideration to stepping down after four years in charge.”I haven’t thought about it,” he said in an interview in the Colombo . “I will not run away from pressures. Anyone can say anything. If I feel this is the time or if the selectors say, I’m open to it. Whatever others say, I’m not bothered.”It’s not in my control. If the selectors or Sri Lanka Cricket think they need a change and believe someone else is ready to do the captaincy, it’s not at all a problem for me. As long as I enjoy the game, I will keep playing. I just want to try and perform well as a team and I will always help whoever is captain in the future as well.”Sri Lanka Cricket’s CEO Ashley de Silva also stated that prior to the tour Mathews had indicated he might need time off for family reasons. His wife Heshani is expected to give birth to the couple’s first child shortly. Injury had brought the date of his departure forward a little.After a third T20 in Cape Town on Wednesday, with the series tied at 1-1, Sri Lanka and South Africa embark upon a five-ODI series, with Upul Tharanga taking over from Mathews. A stronger performance over 50 overs would leave Sri Lanka in better heart ahead of the Champions Trophy in England later this year.”I know I am answerable but, as captain, I have done the best possible,” Mathews said. “I worked closely with the coach [Graham Ford]. I always discussed with the selectors when it came to the team. It has been a collective effort. But if someone wants to put the blame on me, so be it.”Mathews’ early experience of the job was a good one. He led Sri Lanka to a first Test win against England and had support from players of the calibre of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Those senior players have gradually retired from view, leaving him to lead a largely inexperienced side which struggled to compete in the South Africa Test series.”Players like Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva have not played much Test cricket, forget about playing outside Sri Lanka,” Mathews said. “So, we need to give them opportunities. Let everyone blame me, it’s fine. I can take it but let’s not blame the other players. They need support and encouragement and not to be put down.”For the moment, he continues to lead in typically pugnacious style, tries to win matches and awaits his fate in philosophical fashion.”I’m not here to be captain forever and I will never be captain forever,” he said. “This is just a passing cloud. I am not afraid to lose it and I don’t need it forever. I’m not afraid to step down or lose it or to keep it. I can play under any captain no matter who he is. As long as I perform, I have a lot more to give to the team and the country.”

Crystal Palace are keeping tabs on Steve Biko FC striker Adama Bojang ahead of a potential move to the Premier League, according to reports.

Who is Adama Bojang?

Bojang appears to be an exciting up-and-coming talent who plays his football for Abdoulie Bojang’s side in his homeland and the GFA League First Division, but it’s more so his performances for his country that have been catching the eye of potential suitors from all across Europe.

The Gambia international recently participated at the U20s World Cup in Argentina and reports have claimed that he wants to take these opportunities to put himself in the shop window in the hope of securing a move to a more high-profile club over the summer.

Back in April, The Daily Mail first credited the Eagles, and by extension chairman Steve Parish and sporting director Dougie Freedman, with an interest in the 19-year-old and suggested that they could look to sign him and then send him straight back out on a loan to further his development, and it sounds like Roy Hodgson is still very much hatching a plan to bring him to Selhurst Park.

Are Crystal Palace signing Bojang?

According to The Evening Standard, Bojang is being “monitored” by Crystal Palace and Chelsea, whilst Wolverhampton Wanderers have also joined the race alongside an “unnamed” fourth potential suitor in the Premier League. The SE25 outfit are “keeping a close eye” on the forward who is additionally grabbing the attention of Ligue 1 sides Eintracht Frankfurt and Lens, so this could be one to watch in the weeks and months ahead.

Should Crystal Palace sign Bojang?

Crystal Palace will know that Bojang is still in the very early stages of his development so sending him out on loan rather than throwing him straight into the first-team would be a more sensible option, but regardless, he could be a massively exciting signing for the future of the club.

Steve Biko’s “complete” striker, as lauded by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has clocked up a mightily impressive seven goal contributions (six goals and one assist) in nine international appearances since bursting onto the scene with Gambia's youth side so is already making a great name for himself.

Standing at 6 foot 3, the centre-forward could also be an ideal target man in the final third, providing a real focal point for his fellow teammates when it comes to getting on the end of long balls and set pieces, and there’s no doubt that he’s got a promising career ahead of him.

Western Australia allrounder Hilton Cartwright has been included in the Australia squad for the second Test against Pakistan at the MCG

Brydon Coverdale and Daniel Brettig20-Dec-20160:49

Quick Facts – Hilton Cartwright

Australia’s selectors have pushed still further towards youth, ignoring Mitchell Marsh in order to draft his Western Australia team-mate Hilton Cartwright into the Boxing Day Test squad as all-round cover for a bowling attack heavily fatigued by their Gabba exertions.Cartwright, who had already been included in the Chappell-Hadlee ODI squad to face New Zealand but did not play, is an allrounder whose virtues have been pushed by the interim selector Greg Chappell in particular, as part of the developmental Cricket Australia XI that first played in the Matador Cup two summers ago.Last season he graduated to the Western Australia state side and performed strongly with the bat in the Sheffield Shield, something he has backed up this season to average 44.50 across 16 first-class matches. His bowling record is less notable, with a career tally of 15 first-class wickets at 41.93 and only four wickets at 74.75 in the current Shield campaign.

Test squad

David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith (capt), Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson, Hilton Cartwright, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers

However, the acting selection chairman Trevor Hohns emphasised the desire for a batting allrounder to take a place in the top six, a role Marsh has been unable to adequately fill over time. The decision also means the incumbent No.6, Nic Maddinson, could face the axe after three Test innings of 0, 1 and 4 in Adelaide and Brisbane.”The bowlers got through a high workload in Brisbane and although everyone has pulled up okay, on reflection we wanted to give ourselves the option of including an allrounder in Melbourne to ease that workload somewhat,” Hohns said.”To do that, we wanted a batting allrounder, someone to bowl seam-up and capable of batting in the top six as well, and after considering several names we came to the conclusion that Hilton fits that bill. We have seen plenty of him, he has performed well this season and we believe that if called upon he will do an excellent job.”Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood each bowled 56 overs during the win over Pakistan at the Gabba, which for both men was their biggest workload not only in a Test match but in any first-class game. Jackson Bird sent down 45 overs, his highest tally in a Test. As such, the selection shift away from an allrounder, which took place when Marsh was dropped following the first Test of the summer, has been rethought.”It depends on what sort of wickets you play on,” Australia’s coach, Darren Lehmann, said after the win in Brisbane. “You would have probably liked to have an extra bowling option in this game but we went with the six batsmen, four bowlers and they got the job done, albeit a lot of work into our quicks.”Should Cartwright become Australia’s 450th Test cricketer when the XI is confirmed for Boxing Day, it would mean an uncertain Test future for Maddinson. On debut at Adelaide Oval, Maddinson was bowled for a 12-ball duck by Kagiso Rabada, while at the Gabba he was dropped on 0, then caught behind for 1 in the first innings. In the second, he was caught hooking for 4 as Australia sought quick runs and a declaration.”We’ve had two pink-ball Test matches, so red-ball Test coming up and we know he’s a fine player,” Lehmann said of Maddinson on Monday, before Cartwright was added to the squad. “He’s just got to believe at this level. I actually thought he did a really good team thing the other day [in the second innings].”I know there was some talk in the commentary and media that he probably could have gone up the order and done that, but Steve’s really strong on keeping the batting order very similar. So he came in for two balls, tried to get the game moving as quickly as he could. So I disregard the second innings of this one, and we’ve got some red-ball cricket coming up, so I’m sure he’ll do okay.”Another member of Australia’s new-look side who will be keen to justify the faith of the selectors is wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, who replaced Peter Nevill ahead of the Adelaide Test. The selectors preferred Wade’s batting fight down the order and although he scored two Test centuries in his previous incarnation in the baggy green, he has not made double figures since his recall.Wade’s work behind the stumps has also left a little to be desired. In Adelaide, he failed to move for a chance when Hashim Amla edged Mitchell Starc and first slip Matt Renshaw ultimately spilled the chance with his left hand. At the Gabba, Wade missed a stumping chance off Nathan Lyon when Sarfraz Ahmed had 31 in the first innings; he went on to make 59 not out. He also appeared to miss a possible catch when Yasir Shah tickled down leg off Starc late in Pakistan’s chase.”Obviously his batting ability, although he hasn’t got any runs at the moment,” Lehmann said when asked what Wade brought to the squad. “He’s been working pretty hard with that. And his energy behind the stumps. He’d like to keep better obviously, but I thought he’s improved his keeping out of sight in the last 12 to 18 months from where we were.”Peter Nevill is obviously a very good keeper as well. It’s a tight call whichever way you go. But Matthew’s got the chance to nail down the spot and we’ll see how he goes in Melbourne.”

After reaching four successive tournament finals, the Dutchwoman has been linked with a number of top jobs in the men's game

England head coach Sarina Wiegman has long been a history-maker and a record-breaker. Whether in her playing days, during which she became the first Dutch footballer to reach 100 caps, or in her managerial career, which has seen her lead both the women’s teams of the Netherlands and England to their first major tournament triumphs, Wiegman’s incredible achievements have so often been significant milestones. But, as she led England to a first Women’s World Cup final earlier this year, rumours began to swirl of another first, one of an entirely different nature.

No men's international team has ever offered a job to a female coach but, in the build-up to that final, Mark Bullingham, the chief executive of the Football Association (FA), said that he believed Wiegman “could do anything she wants in football” when asked if she could be a contender to replace Gareth Southgate, the head coach of the men’s team, in the future.

A few days later, it became evident that the English FA was not the only federation thinking in that manner. A report from said that Wiegman was also being considered in the Netherlands, her home country, to coach the men’s national team.

Having carved out a reputation as one of the best managers in the women’s game, winning the last two European Championship titles and reaching the last two World Cup finals, in some ways it’s no surprise that Wiegman is being linked with such historic appointments in huge jobs. U.S. Soccer is also rumoured to be an admirer of the Dutchwoman as it searches for a replacement for Vlatko Andonovski, who left his post as head coach of the U.S. women’s national team after a dismal World Cup campaign.

But in the men’s game, cases of female coaches are few and far between. If England’s record-breaking leader was to become the latest one, it would certainly be the most high-profile instance to date.

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  A man’s world

  While women’s football has grown massively in recent years, there is still a very small female presence in the men’s game. Female officials, physios and technical staff remain in small numbers, despite that not being the case for men in the women’s game.

  In terms of coaches, you have to drop to the 10th tier of the men’s football pyramid in England to find a female manager. At the professional level, every single team is led by a man. Of course, that’s not a massive surprise given that the number of women in coaching remains small in comparison to the number of men, simply because the sport has historically been more welcoming for men than women.

  As that begins to change, the hope is that there will be more women coming into the men’s game – in academies, as part of first-team staff and more. Diversity is always positive. It brings different styles, ideas and skills to the table. And as someone like Wiegman has shown, there are some truly excellent female coaches out there.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  'A stepping stone'

  But despite successful female coaches in the women’s game not yet taking up high-profile roles in men’s football, there have been several examples when it comes to male coaches doing so. John Herdman spent seven years in charge of Canada's women's team before being named the head coach of the men's team in 2018. After five years in that job, which saw him guide the North American nation to a first-ever appearance at a men's World Cup, Herdman left to take charge of MLS team Toronto FC just last month.

  Phil Neville, meanwhile, had no experience in women’s football when he was appointed the head coach of England’s women’s national team in early 2018. Three years later, he would secure the job as head coach of MLS side Inter Miami.

  A few months after it was announced that Neville was to leave the England role, the former Manchester United defender came in for plenty of criticism for comments in which he described the role as essentially a stepping stone to club football. "The fact that you can come out and say you were using our national team as a stepping stone, that disappointed me," Fara Williams, England's most capped footballer, told . "I just think it shows a little lack of respect for our game, and where it was and where we are trying to get it to."

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  An 'insult' to women's football

  That idea of the women's game being a step towards the bigger honour of managing in the men's game has sadly come up a few times. In recent years, the name of Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has regularly been mentioned when there have been vacancies in men's football. Hayes has transformed Chelsea into the dominant force in English women’s football, winning 15 trophies since joining the club in 2012.

  In early 2021, she was linked with the job at AFC Wimbledon, a club third-from-bottom in League One, the third tier of English men's football. In a press conference, it was put to her that there had been talk of a step up to the men’s game, which she wasted no time in shutting down.

  “Women's football is not a step down from anything,” Hayes said. "Fran Kirby, Pernille Harder, Beth England, Magda Eriksson, Millie Bright, Maren Mjelde – do you want me to keep going? These are world-class players. It's an insult to them that we talk about women's football being a step down, with the dedication and the commitment and the quality they have.

  "When the football world is ready to adhere to the diversity codes, so that BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) communities, plus women, get the opportunities in football, then I’ll see that as a step forward," she added. "This is not a conversation about Emma Hayes and AFC Wimbledon, but we should be having larger conversations around creating opportunities across the diverse spectrum so that opportunities in the men’s game are not limited to those in privileged positions."

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  Slowly but surely

  It’s a huge positive that Hayes and Wiegman have been linked with these jobs. It shows that their quality is being recognised. There is nothing insulting about someone thinking you would be a good coach.

  It’s positive, too, that someone like Lydia Bedford, the former head coach of Leicester City’s women’s team and part of the coaching staff at Arsenal, has recently moved into the academy set-up at Brentford, coaching the Under-18 men's team.

  Hannah Dingley's appointment as the caretaker manager of League Two club Forest Green Rovers, meanwhile, attracted a lot of attention – some unwanted – when she became the first and only woman to have been in charge of a professional men's team in English football in July. Even though she didn’t get the permanent role, it shone a light on her achievements as the first woman to coach a men's academy team in England.

  “It frustrates me that female coaches might think the female game might be their only opportunity in the game,” Dingley told in 2021. “There are lots of opportunities in the men’s game, academy football is massive. I was told I got the job because I was the best person for it.”

  The more cases like this, the more that aspiring female coaches can see that there is a path for them into men’s football as well as women’s football. It means there are more opportunities for them to get to where they want to be and more avenues to take. Given how long football has been seen as a man’s game, though, it will take time for a significant increase in gender diversity to become apparent.

Liverpool will be searching for the best talent on the globe to enrich the club's underbelly, and Turkish Fenerbahce sensation Arda Guler could be the answer.

That's according to Turkish outlet Aksam (via Sport Witness), who claim that Jurgen Klopp's Reds – alongside Barcelona – 'want' the 18-year-old prospect after his stunning start to life in the Turkish Super Lig and that they have 'accelerated attempts' as the 22/23 campaign concludes.

A dynamic ace, Guler's availability is complicated by Fenerbahce's desire to keep him at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium for one more year, with two seasons remaining on his existing contract.

Liverpool would be expected to pay around £20m for the teenage talent to pluck him from Turkish clutches, and while this might seem somewhat steep for a starlet so soon into their career at top level, his discernible aptitude as a first-rate prospect should warrant a swoop from one of Europe's biggest clubs, and Klopp would be wise to ensure that he is brought to Anfield.

How good is Arda Guler?

It's been an impressive season for this young gem. Having posted three goals and assists apiece from just two starting appearances in the league last term, Guler has carried on his feats into the present campaign and has scored six goals and supplied six assists from 34 appearances across all competitions.

It's the regularity of his brilliant performances at the maiden stage of his career that will have been so arresting to the likes of Klopp and co, with Sofascore recording Guler's average league rating this season at an impressive 7.48, with his seven direct contributions from just 11 starts complemented by an average of 1.7 shots and two key passes per game, an 85% pass completion rate and an illustration of his defensive work with 1.3 tackles per match.

Guler's strength across a variety of positions – namely the right-wing, attacking midfield and centre of the park – bears a certain resemblance to that of one Kevin De Bruyne, with the Manchester City phenomenon also playing as a winger in his early days before dropping centrally and deeper as he progressed into the prime of his career.

Indeed, preceding his £55m transfer to the Citizens, De Bruyne would frequent the flanks alongside his usual deployment as a central attacking midfielder, with the treble-winning Belgian now one of the most distinguished modern gems with an incredible seasonal haul of ten goals and 31 assists from 49 matches this season.

Guler, who already has an eye for goals and assists and a steady creative output – with his two key passes per game – is a "serious talent", according to Duncan Castles, and could be moulded into one of Europe's best under Klopp's wing.

The German manager has done it before – Gini Wijnaldum and Harvey Elliott were both moved from more attack-focussed roles, Alexis Mac Allister will likely be featured as a robust and industrious central option after signing this summer, veering away from his abilities further up-field.

And Guler, who has been riding the crest of a wave during his early years and hailed as a prospect with "no limit" by Andrea Pirlo, could be the latest addition, emulating someone of De Bruyne's ilk and flourishing as a devastating force for years to come on Merseyside.

The USMNT striker has opted to stay in Ligue 1, giving him continuity and comfort, but is that a good thing for him ahead of the Copa America?

Folarin Balogun has finally got his move away from Arsenal. It took nearly the whole summer, but we always knew it was a matter of where and when, not if. After his breakout on loan with Reims last season, someone bigger would come knocking, and we have waited until the final days of the window to find out who that someone would be.

In the end, it was Monaco, who have completed a deal to keep the U.S. men's national team star in Ligue 1, the league he dominated last season despite playing for its 11th-best team. In moving to Monaco, he's certainly moved up the ladder, although he hasn't taken the leap into the unknown it felt like he would at different points this summer.

That, of course, comes with positives and negatives. On the plus side, the task in front of Balogun will be a somewhat familiar one, as a bigger Ligue 1 club will now ask him to simply continue his goalscoring form from last season. On the negative side, though, is the thought that Balogun could have potentially found himself at a new challenge in a new league, one he hasn't already lit up for 20-plus goals so early in his career.

Either way, this move kind of feels like the move before the move, a gradual step up the ladder that allows him to make an even bigger one if he proves last season wasn't a one-off. He'll face some new challenges at Monaco as he looks to break into a significantly better team, but Balogun's new situation seems set up for him to show what made him a rising star in his old one.

GettySummer of rumors

Midway through last season, it became clear that Balogun was going to be a wanted man. With 21 top-flight goals to his name before his 22nd birthday, clubs all over the world took notice. His parent club, Arsenal, was among them, as rumors frequently swirled about his future at the club. Could he unseat Eddie Nketiah as the club's homegrown back-up, or would his future lie away from the Emirates?

In the end, the answer was the latter, and Arsenal were paid a pretty penny for it. The Gunners will collect a massive €40 million (£34m/$43m) fee for the young striker, a significant chunk of money for an academy player who made just 10 first-team appearances for the club.

All summer, though, it was unclear which club would win the sweepstakes. Would be Inter or AC Milan? Could it be RB Leipzig? Chelsea, Tottenham and Fulham were among the Premier League teams linked; could the allure of staying in England be too much for other clubs to compete with?

Monaco, though, eventually won out. By signing with Les Rouge et Blanc, Balogun takes a step up the ladder, although it isn't the massive leap many thought he could take.

AdvertisementGettySituation at Monaco

Balogun may have dominated Ligue 1 last season, but he won't just walk into the Monaco XI. The club has a solid group of forwards, headlined by French star Wissam Ben Yedder, the club's talismanic striker.

Ben Yedder, who joined the club in 2019, has 102 goals in 170 games for Monaco, including four in three games to start the Ligue 1 season. It has to be said, though, that the forward is facing potential legal trouble after reportedly being charged with rape, sexual assault and attempted rape. Ben Yedder has denied the allegations and has continued to play.

Aside from Ben Yedder, who is 33, Monaco has young Dutch forward Myron Boadu, who, like Balogun, is just 22. Thus far, he's scored just nine goals in 58 appearances in all competitions, though. You can also add Swiss star Breel Embolo to the mix, but he's set to be out for some time after injuring his ACL in pre-season.

There is competition, for sure, but Monaco didn't spend all of that money on Balogun for no reason. The striker is the club's joint-most expensive signing, after all, alongside James Rodriguez. They didn't sign a bench-warmer, they signed a goalscorer, and that's what they'll expect of him this season.

GettyWhat to expect from Balogun

The most exciting part of this move is that, in theory, it should be seamless. Balogun knows exactly what to expect in Ligue 1 and, having taken a step up in size of club, he'll have better team-mates around him than he ever did at Reims.

He scored one of his goals last season against Monaco, an 87th-minute game-winner back in March, so they'll be plenty familiar with his game. He also scored against fellow powerhouses Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille last season, as even the heavy-hitters weren't immune to Balogun.

Because of that, the transition will be much easier than if he, say, moved to Milan or Leipzig. He knows the league, the stadiums, the defenders… the only thing left to do is simply prove that he can do what he did last season all over again.

Unfortunately, unlike the Milan clubs or Leipzig, Monaco do not offer the prospect of European soccer. There's no Champions League, no Europa League and no Conference League to look forward to. Balogun's big challenge is to get Monaco back to that level after they stumbled in 2022-23.

Can he be a Golden Boot contender in Ligue 1? Why not? He was one last year and, with players like Takumi Minamino and Aleksandr Golovin feeding him, there's no reason to believe he can't be in the mix again this season.

Those are the expectations he laid out for himself with his form last season and, by returning to Ligue 1, Balogun has acknowledged, whether consciously or subconsciously, that he believes that was only the beginning.

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GettyThe USMNT angle

The USMNT's forwards have been snake bitten for the last several years; that's one of the big reasons there's so much hype around Balogun. For the first time in so, so long, the U.S. seemingly has a forward that is of the level, or perhaps better, than his team-mates in this rising generation.

Too often the U.S. has seen strikers have their confidence sapped by poor transfers. Ricardo Pepi's transfer to Augsburg effectively cost him a World Cup spot and it took a loan spell at Groningen for him to find his touch again. Josh Sargent's move to Werder Bremen was a disaster and his first few years at Norwich City weren't much better, even if he is thriving now. Daryl Dike has been cruelly plagued by the injury bug since moving to England, while Jordan Pefok cooled off a bunch after a hot start at Union Berlin.

Because of that, the USMNT should be just fine with this decision by Balogun. For strikers, the most important factors in any move are playing time and confidence, and Balogun should be able to find plenty at Monaco.

A move to a different league or club would have come with unknowns. How would he adjust, on and off the field? How would he fit in the league stylistically? Could he replicate his 2022-23 season? The move to Monaco, though, should remove those doubts. It's a new club in a familiar setting, and that gives Balogun the chance to keep on rolling.

For the USMNT, that is paramount. They can't afford another striker to be crushed by a crisis of confidence. With the Copa America looming, and Balogun still needing good minutes on the international level to adjust to the program, it's key that he comes into every camp happy, healthy and ready to score goals.

Because of that, it's probably for the best that he didn't take some crazy risk. The U.S. will be just fine seeing Balogun light up the French league for another few years, as long as he's able to carry that sort of form right back with him to the international stage.

Celtic are on the lookout for a new first-team manager after Ange Postecoglou opted to depart Parkhead in favour of a switch to the Premier League.

The 57-year-old's exit was confirmed earlier this week, and this has left majority shareholder Dermot Desmond and chairman Peter Lawwell, alongside the rest of the board, in need of finding a replacement.

The Hoops are coming off the back of winning a domestic treble, thanks to their success in the Scottish Premiership, League Cup and FA Cup, and could use their platform as a team that is able to win trophies on a regular basis to lure an excellent manager to the club.

One manager who has recently been linked with the vacant post is Italian coach Francesco Farioli, who could be a superb appointment by the Scottish giants.

Who is Francesco Farioli?

The 34-year-old boss is out of work after deciding to leave Turkish side Alanyaspor at the end of the 2022/23 campaign after finishing fifth and tenth in the Super Lig and the tinkerer could be Desmond's own version of Brighton & Hove Albion's Roberto De Zerbi at Parkhead.

Prior to joining the Seagulls, the Italian had finished eighth or lower in five of his last six league seasons as a coach – winning the title with Shakhtar Donetsk in the other.

He then led the Premier League side to a sixth-placed finish and secured European football in his first campaign in England, whilst playing exciting progressive football.

Farioli, who was hailed as a "talented coach" by journalist Fabrizio Romano, is known in Italy as the 'young De Zerbi' after working with the Brighton boss for three seasons at Benevento and Sassuolo.

He soaked up knowledge from the now-Premier League chief and used his experience with him in the Serie A to form his own coaching career, with both managers deploying a high-pressing 4-2-3-1 system that encourages brave play on the ball from technically gifted attacking players.

Speaking about his style of play, Farioli once said: "I think it's important to build a team of players with passion for what they do. They must enjoy the ball, approach the game in a brave and proactive way."

The Italian is yet to win his first trophy in management at the incredibly young age of 34, but he is a coach with potential who could go on a journey with Celtic and build something special in a similar way to how De Zerbi has transformed Brighton into a European side.

It would not be a safe or easy appointment for Desmond to make but it could be one that is a gamble worth making if he can instil an exciting brand of football and become a success at Parkhead in the years to come.

The summer transfer window officially opens for business this week and Aston Villa could be in the market to bolster their squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Unai Emery was able to add Jhon Duran and Alex Moreno to his roster in January and now has multiple months to work with the club to add more quality across the pitch.

The Spanish head coach is set to lead the Villans into European football next term after qualifying for the Europa Conference League and the prospect of playing in that competition could tempt the manager to improve his options in the coming weeks.

One player who could come in as an upgrade on what Villa already have at their disposal is Barcelona winger Ansu Fati, who could be put forward to the club by agent Jorge Mendes this summer.

How did Ansu Fati perform his season?

The 20-year-old winger found it difficult to nail down a regular starting spot with the Spanish giants but his performances in LaLiga suggest that he would offer far more than Leon Bailey in the final third.

Fati started 12 games in the league for Barcelona and contributed with seven goals and three assists from out wide, whilst he also produced three goals in seven domestic cup appearances.

The forward, who has racked up 22 goals and four assists in 32 LaLiga starts since the start of 2019/20, has shown plenty of promise in his limited game time with Xavi's side, whereas Bailey has struggled to be a consistent performer in the Premier League for the Villans.

In 22/23, the Jamaica international scored four goals and provided four assists in 26 starts with that coming after the 25-year-old scored one goal and assisted two in seven starts in the previous campaign in the top-flight.

Therefore, the Villa dud has averaged a direct goal contribution every three starts in the Premier League. Whereas, Fati has only needed 1.23 starts on average to register a goal or an assist in LaLiga for Barcelona.

These statistics suggest that the Spain international, who is also five years younger than Bailey, has the potential to make a bigger impact on matches for Emery next season.

The £230k-per-week wizard, who was described as a "generational" talent by Xavi, ranks in the top 1% of players in his position in the Men's Big Five Leagues over the last 365 days for non-penalty xG per 90, meaning that the forward is excellent at putting himself in good positions to generate goalscoring opportunities.

Bailey, on the other hand, is not in the top 35% in the same group of players, suggesting that the Villa winger is not as intelligent at creating chances for himself with his movement in the box, something that is also reflected in their respective goalscoring records.

Therefore, Emery could land a big upgrade on the former Bayer Leverkusen ace by securing a deal to sign Fati from Barcelona this summer.