It hasn't been an easy season for the club, but they now face their toughest test yet – surviving without Pulisic
The moment Christian Pulisic hobbled off the pitch during Milan's loss to Atalanta, the trajectory of season changed. Whether it changed a little bit or a lot? That's still to be determined but, right now, Milan will have to handle crunch time without the team's top attacking star.
Logistically, Pulisic was somewhat fortunate with his injury, which was diagnosed as a calf issue. No stranger to untimely injuries, Pulisic is set to miss a few weeks with this latest ailment. It is both a relief and a blow for AC Milan. The club will be losing him for some time, but that amount of time, thankfully, isn't wildly significant. Pulisic, if all goes to plan, will be back in early 2025.
The big question: what he'll return to? Even prior to Pulisic's injury, Milan found themselves in a tough spot in the league, struggling to compete at the very top of Serie A. Any bad results will be a damaging to their title chase, if not fatal. There's a worst-case scenario here where Pulisic returns to a Milan team that has fallen totally out of the top-four picture, and the knock-on effects of that would be staggering.
Pulisic has spent this whole season proving that he can be the star at AC Milan. Now, that he's on the shelf, it's up to Milan to prove that they can stay afloat without him. If not? That's the question.
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Milan's spot in the table
AC Milan always expect to be among the best, at the minimum, in Serie A. They're Italy's most successful club, with 19 Scudettos, seven Champions League trophies, and countless other accolades and awards.
Over the last few years, though, the level has dipped. They've won the league just since 2011, lifting the trophy in 2022. Last season seemed like a step toward contention, though, as they finished second in what has now turned into a wide-open Serie A race.
Gone are the days of Juventus' unrelenting reign. Now, several teams believe they can compete for a title, from traditional powers like Milan to this season's league leaders Atalanta.
Milan, though, are quickly falling out of that race. Following the 2-1 loss to Atalanta over the weekend, sit seventh in the league, 12 points behind the league leaders. Standing between them are also Napoli, Inter, Fiorentina, Lazio and Juventus, a group of heavy-hitters and Serie A elite.
The title might already be gone, with Milan on just 22 points through 14 games, but the question is now about the top four. Milan are nine points behind Lazio in that race, although they do have a game in hand.
Generally, Milan's season has been up-and-down but, when breaking it down, a lot of the ups have come from the feet of Pulisic.
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The Pulisic effect
There really is no underselling how important Pulisic has been for Milan this season. With five goals in just Serie A, Pulisic is the club's leading scorer, one ahead of second-place Alvaro Morata. With his four assists, Pulisic is leading that category, too, level with Rafael Leao. No player at Milan has contributed to more goals than Pulisic, and that isn't a new phenomenon.
Last season, Pulisic was second on the team in goals, as his 12 trailed only Olivier Giroud's 15. Giroud, of course, is now in MLS with LAFC. When it came to assists, Pulisic finished level with Giroud with eight, with Leao's nine leading the team. In total, Pulisic contributed to 20 Milan goals. Only Giroud impacted the scoresheet more than the USMNT star.
The American has been huge in the Champions League, too. His goal against Liverpool is the only one the Reds have surrendered in Europe this season. His assist against Real Madrid continued his tormenting of the Spanish giants. No matter the competition, Pulisic is the main man. Even Zlatan Ibrahimovic is saying it.
"He is known for being 'Captain America', but he doesn’t like to be 'Captain America'. He doesn’t maybe see himself like a superhero," Zlatan said in the new Pulisic documentary on Paramount+. "He is playing low profile and with his feet on the ground, but you are 'Captain America'. I don’t give a sh*t what you say, you are. If that is more pressure on you, I don’t care. It is his own fault – if you weren’t so good, we wouldn’t ask anything from you."
Milan won't be able to ask anything of Pulisic likely until 2025, and there will be some big games between now and then. The question is obvious: how do you replace him?
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An injury crisis
Milan, as one of the world's biggest clubs, has depth. They have plenty of players that can step into a starting XI and contribute. They probably don't have anyone that can do what Pulisic does, though.
Milan boss Paulo Fonseca, who has come under fire for the team's start this season, has options to replace Pulisic during his temporary absence. Seeing Pulisic as a No. 10, the manager said he'd rely heavily on Ruben Loftus-Cheek to pick up the creative slack from midfield.
"They are different players, but the role is the same and I want the same things," Fonseca ahead of the Champions League. "We can do the same things with Pulisic. In the Champions League the games are a little more open, so maybe there is a little more space for him".
That plan is already out the window, though. Loftus-Cheek was forced out just 28 minutes into Milan's Champions League battle with Red Star Belgrade, prompting Fonseca to turn to Samuel Chukwueze. The winger can start out wide opposite Rafael Leao but, without Pulisic or Loftus-Cheek, there really isn't a creative midfielder in the team.
Fonseca could also start two strikers, putting some combination of Morata, Tammy Abraham or Noah Okafor up front. That seemed like a great plan until Morata, too, was forced out with an early injury on Wednesday, with Abraham taking his place and scoring the eventual winner late on.
Even with these absences, Milan will likely be favored in their upcoming games, which only adds to the pressure on the team as they head into this Pulisic-less period.
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Big games on the horizon
Pulisic already missed Milan's Champions League win over Red Star Belgrade, a game that put them one step closer to the Champions League's knockout rounds. It's Serie A, though, that the club has to worry about. The American looks set to miss at least three Serie A games and, while it isn't quite fair to call them must-wins, they're pretty close.
Up first, Milan will host Genoa, who sit 14th in the league. That's the type of game they'll need all three points from if they want to contend at the very top. After that comes a visit to Verona and, with or without Pulisic, Milan cannot afford to drop any points against a team currently in the relegation zone.
And then, in the final game of 2024, they'll face Roma, a big club that is struggling in the bottom half of the table this season.
To open 2025, Milan will travel to Saudi Arabia for the Supercoppa Italiana, where they'll face Juventus in the semifinal. The hope is that Pulisic can be back by then, but by the time that game rolls around, where will be?
Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior was named The Best FIFA Men's Player of 2024, just two months after controversially losing out on the Ballon d'Or.
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Madrid star wins FIFA prize
Key in La Liga & UCL success
Lost out on Ballon d'Or
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Vinicius scored 24 goals to help lead Madrid to Champions League and La Liga success last season, including the second goal of their 2-0 win against Borussia Dortmund in the European final. He beat fellow Madrid stars Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Federico Valverde, Kylian Mbappe and recently retired Toni Kroos to the award, as well as Lionel Messi, Rodri, Erling Haaland, Florian Wirtz and Lamine Yamal.
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The Brazilian will feel vindicated after the fallout that surrounded the Ballon d'Or in October. The Madrid players and staff refused to attend the ceremony after news broke that Manchester City's Rodri was the winner instead of the 24-year-old. The Brazil star spoke out shortly after the ceremony with a defiant message, posting on social media: "I'll do it 10x if I have to. They're not ready."
WHAT VINICIUS SAID
Vinicius held himself up as an example to children around the world as he accepted the prize, saying: "It was so far away that it seemed impossible to get here. I was a kid who only played soccer barefoot on the streets of Sao Goncalo, near crime. Being able to get here is very important to me. I am doing this for many children who think it is impossible, but who can get here. I would like to thank my family, who gave up their dream to live it for me. Now, I would like to thank my team, who helped me get here. I want to continue playing for Real Madrid for a long time, which is the biggest club in the world. I couldn’t forget to thank Flamengo, who saw me on the fields and on the streets. I couldn’t get here without Flamengo."
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WHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS?
The forward will look to add another trophy to his collection this week when Madrid take on Pachuca in the Intercontinental Cup final on Wednesday.
Hoping to kickstart their Championship campaign following a disappointing start, Leeds United have turned towards the transfer market, enquiring about the chance to sign a Premier League academy graduate alongside Manuel Benson.
Leeds transfer news
Leeds should, of course, have plenty of funds spare this summer after being decimated by Premier League interest. Daniel Farke has been forced to watch on as Crysencio Summerville, Archie Gray and, most recently, Georginio Rutter, all completed moves to the top flight in the ultimate consequence of last season's promotion failure.
As a result of the search for attacking reinforcements, the Whites have reportedly turned to Benson, who has struggled to break into Scott Parker's Burnley side. In need of the chance to rediscover his best form, a permanent move to Elland Road may well be the best solution for all parties, with the winger keen on a move to Yorkshire.
Benson, of course, played a pivotal role when the Clarets earned promotion in the 2022/23 campaign, before struggling to adjust to the Premier League. Now, he could turn into the catalyst behind Leeds' climb back into the so-called promised land.
Leeds working to sign left-back with Rutter and Summerville replacements
It is set to be a busy few days at Elland Road.
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Ben Browning
Aug 21, 2024
He's seemingly not the only option that those in Yorkshire have turned to, either. According to Graeme Bailey for HITC, Leeds have also enquired about signing Carlos Forbs on loan from Ajax this summer, only for the Dutch giants to so far turn their nose up at their attempts.
The Eredivisie side only signed Forbs last summer in a deal worth a reported £12m from Manchester City and may hope to see the 20-year-old take significant steps in Francesco Farioli's starting side. Given that Forbs has also attracted the interest of Wolverhampton Wanderers this summer, it looks likely to be a big season for the City academy graduate.
"Exciting" Forbs is one to watch
Whilst a loan deal currently seems unlikely, anything can still happen in the remaining 10 days of the summer transfer window. Leeds could still land the 20-year-old in a deal that could replace Summerville in Farke's frontline.
Leeds winger Crysencio Summerville
The former Manchester City man showed glimpses of his potential output levels last season, scoring four goals and assisting a further five in a struggling Ajax side. With that potential, a return to England may just boost those numbers even further.
Forbs has earned plenty of praise since his Manchester City days, including from Ben Mattinson, who described the forward as "one of the most exciting wingers at youth academy level".
Whether it's Jonathan Rowe, Benson or, indeed, Forbs, there's no doubt that Leeds must welcome attacking additions before the transfer window slams shut, having seen their star-studded squad picked apart in recent months.
Arne Slot cannot guarantee that Trent Alexander-Arnold will still be at Liverpool come the end of January amid Real Madrid's interest.
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Real Madrid interested in Alexander-Arnold
Reds still hopeful of keeping right-back
La Liga giants formalise interest
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Real formalised their interest in Alexander-Arnold earlier this month as they made a bid for the right-back and are said to be weighing up a second offer. Reports suggest that Real remain confident of signing the England international in the summer on a free transfer if they cannot agree a deal this month. Now, though, Slot has claimed that he cannot guarantee the England international will still be a Reds player next month.
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Slot says Alexander-Arnold remains "fully committed" but there are question marks hanging over a number of players at the club. Along with the full-back, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk also have contracts that expire at the end of the season and the Egypt international has claimed this is his "last year" at Liverpool.
WHAT SLOT SAID
Speaking to reporters, Slot would only commit to Alexander-Arnold playing against Manchester United on Sunday.
He said: "I can tell you that he's playing on Sunday and hopefully he'll bring the same performances as he's brought in the last half year. I think everybody saw how great a first half of the season he had, how much he is here, how much he wants to win here.
"I see him on the training ground, working every day. He is fully committed to us and he will play on Sunday."
The Dutchman added: “I am convinced that he is playing for us on Sunday and I think it is so difficult in football to talk about what happens in a month or in six months. You can also ask me the question: ‘Are you convinced that Virgil [van Dijk] and Mo [Salah] are here next season?’
"It is such a difficult question to answer because there is hardly any long term in football, especially not for a manager, so your only focus is on the short term. The only thing I do know is that he [Alexander-Arnold] is fully focused and ready to play for us on Sunday and as long as he is here.”
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WHAT NEXT?
Liverpool face United on Sunday. While Alexander-Arnold will play, it remains to be seen if he will still be at the club next month.
Chelsea are working on a deal to sign Victor Osimhen from Napoli before the transfer window slams shut tonight, but there is a possibility the deal could collapse, with Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli also in hot pursuit.
Napoli star Victor Osimhen
Osimhen's reported £480k-per-week salary demands proved to be an early roadblock in negotiations – especially since Al Ahli are willing to fork out as much. Chelsea are desperate to sign a striker; if the deal falls through, an alternative has been lined up.
Chelsea ready for last-minute drama
According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are ready to move for Brentford centre-forward Ivan Toney, despite making headway in negotiations to sign Osimhen.
Enzo Maresca is hoping to see his club complete several outgoings before the day is done, while a Premier League-proven star like Toney could make a world of difference – for £40m, the Blues might be inclined to make this move.
Why Toney would thrive at Chelsea
Toney is a top-class striker with the brawn and bullish attitude to succeed at the front of Maresca's attacking line, having actually been praised for having the "mindset of a lion" by Thomas Frank in the past.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney
Toney's well-documented, long-term suspension last season precluded him from taking to the field until January, and while a resounding return saw four goals and an assist plundered across his first five games back, his influence waned as the Bees failed to fly as high as recent seasons.
Injuries were prominent, but Toney showcased his quality the year before upon devastating Premier League defences in 2022/23, scoring 20 times and actually only being outscored by Erling Haaland (36) and Harry Kane (30).
Brentford: All-time Top Scorers (Premier League)
Rank
Player
Apps
Goals
1.
Ivan Toney
83
36
2.
Yoane Wissa
103
27
3.
Bryan Mbeumo
99
22
4.
Mathias Jensen
100
8
4.
Vitaly Janelt
105
8
Sourced via Statbunker
With such strength in his focal role, lashing goals past hapless goalkeepers and using his physicality to reign supreme in the final third, he could be the perfect addition at Stamford Bridge, perhaps more so than Osimhen, who will need to acclimatise and missed large chunks of the 2023/24 season due to injury.
He could restore Jadon Sancho, who might be joining him on his potential Chelsea venture. The Manchester United winger has flattered to deceive since signing from Borussia Dortmund in a £73m package three years ago, having been ostracised from the team under Erik ten Hag and only having nine top-flight goals to show for his troubles.
Still, there's a player in there, as the England international's short-lived return to the Yellow Wall last year proved, for Sancho's fleet-footed aura, crackling with electricity, was revivified, a glimpse of the once and former prodigy received once more.
As per FBref, he ranked among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers in the Champions League last season for successful take-ons per 90 (4.19), which effectively means that he beat his man, ball pinned to his feet, with frightening constancy.
With Raheem Sterling expected to depart Chelsea today and Arsenal and Man United interested, the way could be paved for Sancho's arrival, for the west Londoners are indeed hoping to complete a merry-go-round scenario and secure Sancho's signature.
His penetrative presence and once potent goalscoring and creative threat speak highly of Sancho's potential to succeed once more, and next to Toney, he could be a menace indeed.
Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
Who knows if either will make their way to Stamford Bridge before the sun sinks this evening, but either would be a credit to Maresca's project and would be an utter menace if bonded into one deadly offensive force.
Their answer to Saka: £40m "phenomenon" now wants late move to Chelsea
The Blues are looking to tie up some loose threads before the deadline…
Celtic continued their perfect start to the Scottish Premiership campaign with a convincing 3-0 win over their Glasgow rivals in the first Old Firm clash of the season on Sunday.
The Hoops won, thanks to goals from Daizen Maeda, Kyogo Furuhashi, and Callum McGregor, and have won all four of their league matches so far.
Brendan Rodgers' side, who also won the title in the 2023/24 campaign, are yet to concede a single goal in the division and have scored 12 past Hibernian, Kilmarnock, St Mirren, and Rangers.
One player who has been key to the club's Premiership success, particularly their impressive clean sheet record, has been central defender Liam Scales.
Liam Scales' impressive form this season
FFC published an article after the Old Firm clash on Sunday describing the Ireland international as undroppable, after he won 100% of his duels against the Gers.
The former Aberdeen loanee has proven himself to be a dominant figure on the left side of the Celtic backline this season and has played a pivotal role in their perfect defensive record so far.
23/24 Premiership
Liam Scales
Appearances
4
Goals
1
Pass accuracy
93%
Tackles + interceptions per game
2.5
Duel success rate
68%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, Scales has won the vast majority of his physical contests in the Premiership across his four outings this term, which shows that opposition attackers have found it difficult to get the better of him.
The Irish colossus, who has also been a reliable passer with his 93% success rate, has not been the only star of the season, though, and there is an argument to be made that Nicolas Kuhn has been the true hero of the campaign so far.
Nicolas Kuhn's wizardry on the flank
The German winger is in his first full season with the Hoops after joining from Rapid Wien in January ahead of the second half of last season.
He recorded two goals and an assist against Premier League champions Manchester City in pre-season and has carried that form over into competitive matches.
Nicolas Kuhn
The left-footed star has been on fire in the Premiership with a return of two goals, two assists, four 'big chances' created, and 1.8 key passes per game in four appearances.
No Celtic player has been involved in more goals (four) than Kuhn in the top-flight this term, which illustrates his importance to the attack, whilst he also added a goal and an assist against Hibernian in the League Cup.
Kuhn ranks within the top 100% of Premiership players in his position for xG (0.77), shots on target (1.83), and touches in the opposition's box (11.34) per 90 respectively, which shows that he has been one of the most dangerous attackers in the league.
Celtic are being rinsed by a player who earns 2x more than Scales
The Hoops appear to have blundered by signing the central defender last summer.
1
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Dan Emery
Sep 3, 2024
The 24-year-old maestro, who has scored three goals and provided three assists in all competitions, has been the true hero of Celtic's season so far due to his exceptional attacking quality and influence in the final third, both in the league and in the cup.
Liam Delap has been backed to become Harry Kane's England understudy as Jamie Carragher thinks he could be a "handful" for defenders.
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Ipswich striker ticking the right boxes
Has seven goals and two assists this season
Carragher believes in his potential
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Ipswich Town closed out 2024 with an impressive 2-0 victory over Chelsea, marking their first Premier League win at Portman Road since 2002. This landmark win capped off a stellar season for Delap, who has silenced critics after initially facing scepticism over his £20 million ($25m) transfer from Manchester City in the summer. Many doubted his ability to adapt to the Premier League given his underwhelming performances in the Championship during stints with Stoke, Preston, and Hull.
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Despite the doubts, Delap has been a revelation for Ipswich, directly contributing to half of their 18 league goals this season. In fact, with seven goals and two assists to his name, the young forward has become the driving force behind Ipswich's attack.
WHAT CARRAGHER SAID
Given his form, it was little surprise that Carragher singled him out as a potential candidate who could fill Kane's shoes for England in the years to come.
Speaking to Carragher observed: "Centre-forward, you've got Harry Kane but after him, you've Ollie Watkins. You know he is a really good Premier League striker but I wouldn't say absolute elite. Harry's obviously getting to that stage in his career where people would probably start questioning whether should he be in the team. Should he not? So you're thinking who's the next generation of strikers?
"He (Delap) is a handful. he is one of those ones where you wouldn't think to play against him every week. Whether he'll have in the end, maybe the finesse or class that you need to be England's striker, we'll see. But he certainly looks a rough diamond."
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DID YOU KNOW?
Having represented England at every age group since the Under-16s, Delap appears well-positioned to transition into the senior national squad. His current tally of seven Premier League goals is the highest for any player from the three promoted clubs this season, further solidifying his credentials. With England lacking a clear successor to Kane, Delap’s development has come at a crucial time.
Lamine Yamal has been told he is "so Brazilian" after his dazzling display for Barcelona in their Copa del Rey rout of Real Betis.
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Yamal stars in Copa del Rey win
Winger scores and assists for Barca
Neymar brands him as "so Brazilian"
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Yamal was in irresistible form for Barca in their 5-1 over Betis in the last 16 of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday. That led to high praise from the 17-year-old's childhood hero and Al-Hilal forward Neymar.
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WHAT LAMINE YAMAL AND NEYMAR SAID
After Yamal took to Instagram to post a handful of photos from the game, he wrote: "Disfrutando💫💫🕺🏾 (Enjoying myself)."
In the comments section, Neymar then put: "Estás muy brasileño 👏😂 baila craque 🇧🇷🔥("You’re so Brazilian. Dance, crack!")."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Yamal enjoyed a stunning 2024, winning the Euros with Spain and being named the world's best young player of the year at the most recent Ballon d'Or awards. Every time he plays, the youngster seems to draw more plaudits, including from some modern greats.
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WHAT NEXT?
Neymar may keep a watchful eye on Yamal's performance when Barcelona travel to Getafe on Saturday night in their next La Liga fixture.
Sunderland now reportedly face a nervous wait to find out the severity of the injury sustained by one of their summer signings after he attended a public event wearing a protective brace over his knee.
Sunderland injury news
Regis Le Bris’ side hit their first stumbling block in his otherwise perfect reign so far when they suffered shock defeat up against Plymouth Argyle. Wayne Rooney’s side became the first to take points off the Black Cats this season in what those at the Stadium of Light will hope is not a regular occurrence in the coming months.
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Sunderland were left underwhelmed by what this dud actually offered.
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On that front, Plymouth aside, it looks as though victory is likely to come more often than defeat, given that Sunderland won four of their first five which included a 1-0 win over recently relegated Burnley. But there is of course plenty more work to do and as the Championship fixtures begin to come thick and fast ahead of the packed festive schedule, Sunderland will hope to have their full squad available.
Before that period, however, they’re at least likely to be without one player this weekend as Middlesbrough travel to the Stadium of Light. As reported by The Northern Echo, Alan Browne was spotted wearing a protective brace in a recent question and answer session with Sunderland fans.
The summer signing was quick to downplay the brace as a mere precaution, but the result of his knee scan will paint a better picture as Sunderland face a nervous wait over the severity of Browne’s injury.
It could be a case of a short-term blow for the sake of long-term availability for Browne, who has reportedly been complaining about discomfort in his knee, which has been through several tests. The scan results will tell Sunderland just how long they’ll be without their midfielder, but the protective brace suggests that he’s likely to at least miss the Middlesbrough game this weekend.
"Dynamic" Browne will be a frustrating miss
An experienced midfielder and former Preston North End captain, Browne arrived ready to make an impact at Sunderland in the summer, signing a deal reportedly worth £15k-p/w. Just months into his move, however, and the 29-year-old could be set for an extended spell on the sidelines.
The injury blow would come at a frustrating time too, given that Browne is yet to earn a nailed-on starting place in Le Bris’ side, playing from the start just twice in five Championship games, though scoring his first goal for the club in his first full 90 minutes against Portsmouth.
Sunderland sporting director Kristjaan Speakman was quick to praise the veteran midfielder as he put pen to paper in the summer, saying via Chronicle Live: “Alan is a dynamic and versatile midfielder, who will complement the players within our squad and bring fresh qualities to our midfield.
“His availability is something we have closely followed throughout the last eight months and his ambition was at the forefront of our discussions. He believes he can fulfil those ambitions at Sunderland and after seeing our potential, he wants to play an important role in creating future success. We are delighted to welcome him to the club.”
Manchester City and Pep Guardiola will replace Rodri by promoting two current Etihad stars to bigger roles as well as a potential January signing, according to a recent report.
Rodri injury update from Man City
The Spaniard, who has been such an influential member of City’s squad in recent years, suffered a serious injury during the 2-2 draw with title rivals Arsenal on Sunday.
Rodri needed to be replaced by Mateo Kovacic after going down under a challenge from Thomas Partey at a corner, and it looks as if damage sustained to his right knee could be season-ending for the £220,000-a-week star.
Speaking earlier in the week, Guardiola said: “Still, we don’t have the definitive. He’ll be out for a long time, a while, but there is some opinions that maybe it will be less than we expect.
“Unfortunately he was injured. Right now, still, I cannot tell you [how long] because we’re waiting the last phone calls from him and the doctors to know exactly what, definitely, he has and the type of surgery that he has to get.”
Since then a Man City statement has read: “Assessment remains ongoing to ascertain the full extent of the injury and expected prognosis. Everyone at the club wishes him a speedy recovery.”
After initial tests in Manchester, Rodri has travelled to Spain for further assessments, but in the meantime, City will have to deal without the star midfielder, with Guardiola’s plans already being shared.
Man City identify Rodri replacements
According to Football Insider journalist Pete O’Rourke, Guardiola is planning to use Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes in central midfield to replace Rodri throughout the season.
The injured star may not return for the rest of the campaign, and it is added that Ilkay Gundogan’s return is seen as a boost to those at the Etihad.
Meanwhile, O’Rourke also claimed that ‘Man City are also expected to evaluate the transfer market during the upcoming January window to see if there are any possible options to bolster Guardiola’s options’.
TEAMtalk goes one step further and names four potential transfer targets for City officials. Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi, who was wanted by Arsenal and Liverpool over the summer, is thought to be one possible option.
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Meanwhile, Inter Milan’s Nicolo Barella has been a player City have watched for a number of years but commands a price tag of at least £70m. Atalanta midfielder Ederson, who has previously been linked with Liverpool and Manchester United, is the third player listed, with Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton the fourth and final midfielder mentioned.
Wharton’s ‘age and profile are attractive for the club and he is seen as a player who could not only fill in for Rodri but become his replacement over time’, so those four names are ones to watch in 2025, but for now, it’ll be down to Lewis and Nunes to impress in midfield, starting this weekend against Newcastle United at St James’ Park.