OVasco conseguiu mais uma vitória na Justiça. Na tarde desta sexta-feira, o juiz Carlos Sergio dos Santos Saraiva da 43ª Vara Cível extinguiu o processo que um grupos de sócios do clube tinha conseguido uma liminar no Plantão Noturno. Na ocasião, a decisão suspendia os efeitos da reunião do Conselho Deliberativo do último dia 27.
RelacionadasVascoVasco anuncia a contratação do atacante Bruno TubarãoVasco05/08/2022VascoHierarquia na Colina: como fica a estrutura da SAF do Vasco em possível venda para a 777 PartnersVasco04/08/2022VascoDa reforma no estádio à 777 Partners: Prefeito Eduardo Paes fala sobre o Vasco em papo com o LANCE!Vasco04/08/2022
A extinção deste processo faz com que tal liminar não tenha mais eficácia. Na sentença, ojuiz esclarece que a Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (SAF) tem as mesmas características de clube-empresa. Por isso, o magistrado não tem competência para o julgamento do caso.
– A criação da pessoa jurídica (SAF) tem-se que a sociedade anônima se caracteriza em uma companhia específica cuja atividade principal consiste na prática de futebol em sede de competições profissionais, possuindo a mesma características de clube-empresa, razão pela qual falece competência a este Juízo para processar e julgar o feito, devendo o mesmo ser remetido para uma das Varas Empresariais da Capital – considerou o juiz.
Até o momento, o Vasco obteve diversas decisões favoráveis. Com isso, o clube se entende respaldado juridicamente para manter o sigilo dos contratos referentes a venda da SAF vascaína à 777 Partners.
Chelsea have reportedly agreed to pay a huge penalty fee to send Jadon Sancho back to Manchester United after a breakdown in transfer negotiations.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Sancho will head back to Old TraffordChelsea to pay a £5m penalty chargeFailed to agree terms on permanent dealFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The 25-year-old’s season-long loan from Manchester United included an obligation to make the switch permanent for a fee that could rise to £25 million ($34m), but discussions regarding personal terms did not yield a successful conclusion, according to
With no consensus reached between Sancho and Chelsea, the club is now poised to trigger a £5m ($6.76m) penalty clause for declining to complete the full transfer agreement stipulated in the loan deal. The winger will return to United after his loan period expires on June 30.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Sancho’s time at Stamford Bridge may have been brief, but it was punctuated by standout moments. He made a dramatic introduction in September, assisting the winner off the bench against Bournemouth, a moment that sparked chants of support from the Chelsea faithful. He also brought the curtain down on the campaign with a vital goal in the UEFA Conference League final, sealing a 4-1 victory over Real Betis in Wroclaw. However, the lack of consistent impact throughout the rest of the season cast a shadow on his future at Stamford Bridge.
DID YOU KNOW?
In total, Sancho featured in 42 matches for Chelsea across all competitions, contributing five goals and ten assists. His future is now unclear, though, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that he is on a list of players expected to be sold by United this summer as they attempt to raise funds for new signings.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
GettyWAHT NEXT?
Sancho's spell at Old Trafford has been equally underwhelming, with just nine Premier League goals recorded across two-and-a-half seasons. The move to Chelsea offered a chance to reset and rebuild, and while there were highlights, the failed permanent transfer means he will have to search for fresh pastures once again, with it reported that he is unlikely to feature for the Blues at the Club World Cup.
Brothers put on 118-run stand to give south Londoners spoils on derby night at Lord’s
ECB Reporters Network25-May-2023
Sam Curran top-scored with 68 from 47 balls•Getty Images
The Curran brothers Sam and Tom put Middlesex’s bowlers to the sword as Surrey won the T20 Blast London derby at Lord’s by 77 runs.Sam, who’d hot-footed it back to London from an underwhelming stint at the IPL with Punjab Kings, took out his frustration on the Seaxes with 68 off 47 balls, including two big sixes in Surrey’s total of 199 for 6. Tom, playing these days under a white-ball only contract, was if anything even more belligerent with 50 off 33 balls with eight fours as the siblings added 118 in 11 overs. Will Jacks earlier blasted a quickfire 43.Three wickets in the final over for Tom Helm gave him 3 for 38, while left-arm spinner Nathan Fernandes took 1 for 27 from three overs on debut.Jacks then starred with ball in hand, returning 3 for 17, backed up by Gus Atkinson’s 3 for 20 as the hosts could only muster 126 in reply despite some defiant striking by Max Holden who top scored with 43.Jacks, who had made two swashbuckling half-centuries in his last three innings against Middlesex at Lord’s in the format, came out swinging from ball one and while he played and missed at a few the England man took heavy toll of a full toss from Helm, belting it back past the bowler for four.Teenager Fernandes, thrown on in the powerplay, struck second ball when pinch-hitter Sunil Narine hit him straight to cover, but Jacks sent two drag-downs from legspinner Luke Hollman into the stands, before a brilliant catch by Helm on the fence at long-on ended his revelry.The Currans’ progress was steady initially, but the 12th over bowled by Ryan Higgins changed the complexion as Tom Curran dispatched the allrounder to all parts, hitting five fours in succession. Not to be upstaged Sam Curran then cut loose, denting Fernandes’s excellent figures to that point with consecutive sixes.Blake Cullen, back on Middlesex first-team duty for the first time in more than a year, was rusty and his 11-ball over, including a waist-high full toss and four wides only added to Surrey’s momentum.The 100-stand came in 56 balls, and we were in the penultimate over by the time Tom top-edged a steepling catch back to grateful bowler Higgins. Sam, too, left before the end as the south Londoners finished one shy of 200.For Middlesex much depended on skipper Stephen Eskinazi, but he departed for just 1, run out following a mix-up from the fourth ball of the innings.The exciting Joe Cracknell deposited a short one from Sean Abbot into the second tier of the Mound Stand only to perish trying to repeat the feat meaning both openers were gone with 27 on the board.Pieter Malan, back from injury, also found the stands before departing to Atkinson for a breezy 30, and Jacks then struck twice in his first over, removing the dangerous Higgins, caught at mid-off before bowling Hollman round his legs.Throughout this period Holden had hit bravely, smiting two big sixes at a strike rate approaching 200, but when Narine bowled him for 43 the game was up.
They might have had a few years of dire football under previous managers, but Tottenham Hotspur have always been a team that prides itself on playing football the ‘right way.’
Fans want to see exciting, attacking and invigorating football, and while it hasn’t always brought success, that’s what the North Londoners have usually endeavoured to play.
As a result, the club have seen a whole host of incredible attackers play for them over the years, especially on the wing.
Tottenham Hotspur manager AngePostecoglou
Perhaps the most exciting of them all in modern history was the sublime Gareth Bale, and in good news, it looks like Hotspur Way may have just produced the next version of the Welsh legend.
Spurs' great wingers
Before getting to the player who could be Spurs’ next great winger, it’s worth looking at a couple of the club’s greats in that position in recent history, starting with someone who perhaps does not get the recognition he deserves from other fans: Aaron Lennon.
The former Lilywhites ace joined the club for just £1m from Leeds United in the summer of 2005 and remained in North London for almost a decade before he moved to Everton in February 2015.
During his long stint with the club, the Englishman amassed an incredible 364 appearances, in which he scored 30 goals, provided 76 assists and was a part of the last Lilywhites side to win a trophy when he started the 2008 League Cup final against London rivals Chelsea – he scored a couple against the red lot down the road as well.
A winger who looks set to cross the decade mark at the club this summer is Son Heung-min, who put pen to paper and moved to North London in a £22m deal from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015.
Since then, he’s played 448 games, scored 173 goals, provided 95 assists, been handed the captain’s armband, and started in the club’s only Champions League final in June 2019.
Appearances
448
Minutes
31830′
Goals
173
Assists
95
Goal Involvements per Match
0.59
Minutes per Goal Involvement
118.76′
There can be no doubt over the South Korean’s status as a Spurs and Premier League icon for his incredible exploits over the years, but it would be fair to say that neither he nor Lennon could reach the levels Bale did during his peak at the club.
That peak was the 12/13 season, in which he scored 26 goals and provided ten assists in just 44 appearances, totalling 3891 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.22 games, or every 108.08 minutes.
It was a campaign that saw Real Madrid pay a world-record £85m fee for his services, and as things stand, it looks like Hotspur Way might have just produced a young talent who could one day be the club’s new Bale.
Spurs' new Bale
One of the few positives to come out of this season for Tottenham Hotspur has been the development of their youngsters, such as Archie Gray, Lucas Bergvall and academy star Mikey Moore.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The surface-level ones include the fact he’s a left-winger, he made his debut for the club as a teenager and is British, but the most significant is how well he has played in the academy and how those in the know are talking about him.
For example, in just 34 appearances for the Lilywhites’ various youth sides, the “future superstar,” as dubbed by respected analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored a staggering 21 goals and provided 15 assists.
Games
24
5
5
Goals
19
2
0
Assists
13
2
0
Goal Involvements per match
1.33
0.80
0.00
That means the teenage sensation is currently averaging 1.05 goal involvements every game in the academy, which is incredibly impressive.
That’s not all, though, as even though he is still just 17 and has battled to keep fit at points this season, the Southwark-born prospect has made quite the impression in the few appearances he’s made for the first team, and was just named in GOAL.com’s top 50 wonderkids.
GOAL.com's 10 best wonderkids in world football.
Most notably, in the Europa League game against AZ Alkmaar earlier in the campaign, he was unquestionably the star of the show.
Every time he had the ball at his feet, it felt as if he was going to make something happen, and it wasn’t just us who were left stunned, as teammate James Maddison described him as “fearless” and compared him to Neymar Jr of all people after the game. That certainly suggests he could be in the same bracket as a certain Bale as well.
Ultimately, there is a long way to go for Moore, and the pressure is only going to increase, but from what we have seen so far and with how people are talking about him, we would not be surprised to see him develop into a Bale-esque player for Spurs.
Their answer to Odegaard: Spurs favourites to land "sublime" England ace
The talented international could add some real quality to Spurs’ midfield.
Liverpool were put to the sword against Newcastle United, who fully deserved to lift the Carabao Cup title on Sunday evening and end an interminable domestic trophy drought.
Though the Reds gave everything against Paris Saint-Germain in the midweek Champions League exit, Arne Slot will lead something of an inquest into his squad’s shambolic account of themselves at Wembley, so disjointed, error-streaked and uninspiring.
Yet, once again in a crunch fixture, Liverpool’s forwards failed to impress, consigning Richard Hughes and the rest of the transfer committee to a period of reflection after only bringing Federico Chiesa – who scored a late consolation in the final – into this post-Jurgen Klopp world.
Federico Chiesa scores for Liverpool
With the likes of Diogo Jota so abject in the final third right now, it does raise the question as to whether more could have been done.
Diogo Jota's performance vs Newcastle
It’s becoming a grumpy theme, but Jota looks a hollow shadow of himself at the moment, with his latest non-showing making it ten games without a goal for the Iberian striker, usually so dependable in front of goal.
Diogo Jota is substituted off for Liverpool
He skewed a great chance to cancel out Dan Burn’s leaping opener before the break but chances have been few and far between over recent months, with profligacy seeping in to leave Jota clinging to the vestiges of his former quality.
Earlier this month, Sky Germany reported the 28-year-old is among the names deemed expendable by FSG heading into the summer. Instinctive finishing and sharp movements have been negligible, and he must truly be sweating for his starting presence in Slot’s long-term plans.
It’s hard to put the blame on any one man though. Ultimately, Liverpool’s many parts combined for something lacklustre, swept aside by strong-willed Newcastle.
However, there is another member of the frontline who will be dismayed with the outcome and indeed his contribution through recent matches.
Liverpool's biggest loser at Wembley
Liverpool’s talisman is set to finish the 2024/25 campaign with the most remarkable individual haul and potentially a top-flight title besides, but recent matches will have left him feeling numb as wider recognition has been tempered by team failings.
Performance in Numbers
Want data and stats? Football FanCast’s Performance in Numbers series provides you with the latest match analysis from across Europe.
Mohamed Salah couldn’t hold back the tears as Liverpool bowed out of the Champions League, and while he was less outwardly emotional at Wembley, this past week will have cut deep for a world-class player hitherto regarded as the frontrunner for this year’s Ballon d’Or gold title.
But he can have few complaints. If the PSG and Newcastle ties were auditions for the fabled accolade (and they may be at that), Salah would have failed miserably, the imperious structure of his season reduced to rubble with some pretty dismal displays.
Raphinha, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele have been snapping at Salah’s heels in the race for the Ballon d’Or. Now, candidly, you’d have to admit he’s taken quite the knock.
At Wembley, Salah was a shell of himself, failing to take a single shot or create one key pass for his teammates. He felt the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold to be sure.
The Liverpool Echo could do little more than brand him with a 3/10 rating, which tells the tale of perhaps his worst display in Liverpool red.
Minutes played
90′
Goals
0
Assists
0
Touches
23
Shots
0
Accurate passes
13/17 (76%)
Key passes
0
Crosses
1/2
Dribbles
1/1
Duels won
2/3
With 32 goals and 22 assists across all competitions this season, the Egypt superstar hasn’t exactly been misfiring this term, but you feel he had so much more to offer on these big stages. To steal a colloquial term: Salah ghosted when his team needed him most.
And they really did. Part of the right winger’s brilliance across the campaign has been because Slot’s frontline has been so out of sorts, Darwin Nunez, Jota and Luis Diaz having scored one goal between them across ten matches, each flattering to deceive.
Liverpool's Arne Slot and Luis Diaz
It makes Liverpool’s 12-point lead at the top of the Premier League all the more remarkable, but highlights gaping holes in this talented squad just the same.
Suarez 2.0: Liverpool line up move for "the most complete CF in the world"
This free-scoring centre-forward would be an even bigger deal than Darwin Nunez at Liverpool.
Arsenal have now submitted a £59m offer for an “extremely quick” player, who is their top target for the summer transfer window, according to a report.
Gunners' striker pursuit hotting up
As we enter the business end of the Premier League season, the Gunners find themselves 12 points adrift of Liverpool, and while injuries have been a real issue throughout the campaign, the lack of a top striker has arguably been equally costly in the title race.
As such, Mikel Arteta is keen to bring in a new striker this summer, and there has been a promising development in the pursuit of Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, with Andrea Berta now willing to make an “important” proposal for the Sweden international.
The north Londoners are ramping up their interest in a number of strikers, having also held talks over a potential deal for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, while formal negotiations for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres are expected to start soon.
Arsenal plan "imminent move" for one of England's "most exciting" young strikers
The north Londoners are favourites ahead of elite rivals.
ByEmilio Galantini Mar 29, 2025
However, earlier this week, it was revealed that RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko is Arsenal’s top target for the summer transfer window, having impressed in the Bundesliga this season, and there has now been a new development in their pursuit of the Slovenian.
According to a report from Spain, the Gunners have offered €70m (£59m) Sesko, who is ready to leave RB Leipzig at the end of the season, in order to further his career.
RB Leipzig's BenjaminSeskoin action with Borussia Dortmund's Marcel Sabitzer and Pascal Gross
A number of clubs are keen on the striker, but Arteta’s side are among the most interested parties, and they are now said to have made an offer, having made it clear they are willing to pay the release clause in full.
It is now becoming increasingly likely the 21-year-old will move to the Emirates Stadium, with Arsenal moving into a prime position to secure one of the deals of the summer.
Arsenal’s upcoming Premier League fixtures
Date
Fulham (h)
April 1st
Everton (a)
April 5th
Brentford (h)
April 12th
Ipswich Town (a)
April 20th
Crystal Palace (h)
April 26th
"Extremely quick" Sesko impressing in Germany
The Slovenia international is enjoying an impressive season in front of goal in Germany, scoring 17 goals in 37 matches in all competitions, while also picking up six assists, underlining his creative talents.
Moreover, former Leipzig technical director Christopher Vivell believes the youngster is destined for future success, saying: “Benjamin Šeško is among the game’s top young talents and has enormous potential to become a top player. He has all the qualities to do that. He’s extremely quick, has a great jump on him and is strong in the air.”
It is clear to see why Isak is Arteta’s dream signing, with the Swede proving himself over a number of years in the Premier League, but Newcastle are understandably unwilling to sell the 25-year-old on the cheap, and Sesko has proven he could be a viable alternative, making this one to watch.
West Indies are also through but with a handicap, having conceded a game of small margins in front of a bouncing Harare crowd
Madushka Balasuriya24-Jun-2023Before the game, West Indies were favourites. At the halfway mark, West Indies remained favourites. And at the midway point of the chase, West Indies were arguably even stronger favourites. Yet, somehow, improbably, preposterously, it’s Zimbabwe that emerged winners by 35 runs, in front of a raucous crowd in Harare.By virtue of this win, Zimbabwe carry over a strong net run rate into the next round, and two points from this game as well as the same from their win against Netherlands. With a tricky game against Sri Lanka to come in the Super Sixes stage, these could prove vital in boosting their qualification chances – the top two teams from the Super Sixes book their passage to India for the World Cup.West Indies and Netherlands, the other two teams that are through to the Super Sixes from this group, will now battle to carry over two vital points themselves when they meet on Monday.WI fined for slow over-rate
The entire West Indies playing XI have been fined 60% of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against Zimbabwe. They were found to be three overs short of the target after time allowances were taken into consideration.
Players are fined 20% of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time. Match Referee Muhammad Javed imposed the sanctions.
The stats from today will show that Sikandar Raza was yet again Player of the Match, picking up two wickets to go with his 58-ball 68. It will show that the under-fire Tendai Chatara with figures was 3 for 52 was the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers. And it will show Alzarri Joseph with an inconsequential 2 for 42. But this a game that took place within the margins.It all began rather cagily, with Zimbabwe put into bat on a good batting track but one that was expected to provide some early movement for the seamers. The West Indies seamers, particularly Joseph, exploited the favourable conditions expertly, deriving extra bounce off a good length and moving the ball in the air and off the surface. While it wasn’t exactly an overcast morning in Harare, it nevertheless brought out the more cautious side of openers Joylord Gumbie and Craig Ervine. By the end of the 10th over they had reached just 37.Roston Chase chops one onto his stumps•ICC/Getty ImagesWest Indies were playing the part in the field too, hurrying behind every lost cause and throwing themselves around to gain any edge. The pressure eventually would tell midway through the 15th over, when Ervine would chip an attempted loft straight to mid-on. But the chance would be spilled – a theme that would recur throughout the innings.Ervine would eventually fall for 47, but that was 22 extra runs from the point he was dropped. These extra runs would add up. The most egregious missed opportunities though would come off Raza, who was dropped on 1 and 7 off Joseph on the way to what would be a match-winning 68. Ryan Burl would be the other batter to enjoy a second life, being grassed on 39 on his way a fifth ODI fifty.For West Indies, these would be particularly disappointing in that even discounting these missed chances, their bowling was so effective Zimbabwe were still limited to a subpar 268 – a score Ervine and Raza conceded was about 30 runs short of what they would have liked.The final 10 overs of Zimbabwe’s innings went for 75 runs, 25 of which came courtesy a streaky last-wicket stand between Chatara and Blessing Muzarabani. That partnership though highlighted the spirit in which Zimbabwe played this game, as the crowd cheered every run and every extra like it were a boundary.It was this momentum that was carried over into Zimbabwe’s fielding effort, where despite a rollicking start from the West Indies openers – they put on 43 in 6.3 overs – the hosts managed to reel it back, picking up two quick wickets, and then stringing together a period of such sustained pressure that they strung together 16 straight dot deliveries.Sean Williams and Sikandar Raza console Akeal Hosein•ICC/Getty ImagesAll the while, the crowd was amping up, never losing hope. Not even when Kyle Mayers broke loose and struck Muzarabani for a hat-trick of boundaries, nor when his partnership with Shai Hope was reaching threatening levels. And especially not when Mayers holed out at long-off.For a brief period Hope and Nicholas Pooran looked threatening in a 24-run stand, but then Hope was castled by Raza. Pooran then strung together 41 with Roston Chase, inclusive of some monster hits down the ground, but then Richard Ngarava returned to trap him leg before with a dipping inswinger on middle and leg. Was it going down leg? Perhaps. But there was no DRS for it to matter. In a game of such fine margins, it was scarcely out of place.And this would continue to be the pattern of the game. West Indies would chip away, threaten to pull clear, and Zimbabwe would reel them back. The crowd raised their tempo throughout; with each subsequent wicket it would get louder, until eventually the West Indies batters were gradually worn down.When nudging it around and singles would have sufficed, Keemo Paul would be trapped lbw looking to reverse-sweep. Jason Holder, having put together 37 with Roston Chase, would fish outside the off stump and edge through to the keeper. Chase would be the penultimate man to fall, chopping on trying to cut one that was too close to cut. The last would be Joseph, the man who had had so many chances put down, flicking low and hard straight to a catching midwicket, with none other than Raza stationed there.Should West Indies miss out on the big prize – that spot in the 2023 World Cup – it’s a game they will look back on and wonder how it came to be. And so, indeed, might Zimbabwe.
Former Manchester United defender Wes Brown claims the club have "missed" Marcus Rashford and hopes he can be reintegrated back into the squad.
Article continues below
Article continues below
Article continues below
Rashford left United on loan in JanuaryStill has two years on Old Trafford contractBrown hoping for reconciliationFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Former United and England defender Brown has admitted he still hopes head coach Amorim and Rashford can resolve their differences so the England forward can continue playing at Old Trafford. Rashford left the club on loan in January to join Aston Villa, with Amorim revealing he struggled to get his ideas across to the 27-year-old.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Rashford faces an uncertain future, with Villa yet to take United up on the £40m option-to-buy clause that was included in their loan agreement. Barcelona have also been touted as his next club, though sporting director Deco didn't let much on when recently asked about a potential deal.
WHAT BROWN SAID
Brown told , who offer the latest Club World Cup odds: "Marcus Rashford is going to have to start playing really well wherever he goes, first of all. He's done well at Aston Villa, he's got his head back in the game. But he still has two years on his contract at United.
"If he is looking to move, he would obviously want a big club and Barcelona would be ideal. But it's a lot of money. If the club is looking to get rid of him, they're probably wanting to get paid as well.
"It's not an easy one to sort out, talking from my heart, I think it would be brilliant if Ruben Amorim and Marcus could sort things out.
"When he's on form, it's a player United have really missed. I hope they can sort it out in a way that everybody gets what they want. For Marcus personally, he just needs to get his head down and play some football now.
"Hopefully this gets sorted out sooner rather than later."
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR RASHFORD AND UNITED?
Rashford is one of a number of players expected to leave United in some capacity this summer as Amorim plots an overhaul to the squad that could only finish 15th in the Premier League during the 2024-25 season. They are thought to be targeting a new striker and are said to have made contact with Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres.
Aston Villa made two signings during the winter window which could define their season.
Bringing in both Marco Asensio and Marcus Rashford on temporary deals until the end of 2024/25 is turning into a masterstroke by manager Unai Emery.
Asensio has already scored seven goals in just 12 matches for Villa, including three in the Champions League. If he maintains this type of form, the club have a great chance of ending their 28-year wait for a major trophy.
Rashford may not have opened his account for the club yet, but four assists and an England re-call prove he is still contributing effectively.
How Marcus Rashford got back in the England squad
When Thomas Tuchel announced his first England squad nearly two weeks ago there were some surprises. Among them was Rashford.
Tuchel-England-squad
The Villa loanee has caught the eye since moving to the Midlands but hasn’t exactly played regular football. Either way, Tuchel likes what he sees and brought him back into the national set-up. But, why was that?
Well, Rashford’s finest game for Villa came against Chelsea in the Premier League last month and it perhaps gave us an inkling as to why he’s now back on the biggest of stages; the international scene.
Not only did he provide two assists in the eventual 2-1 victory for the club, but the Englishman also attempted four dribbles – succeeding with two – along with making three key passes, creating two big chances and completing 15 of his 16 attempted passes.
It was a joy seeing him perform to his best after struggling during the first half of the season at Manchester United.
The deal, which saw him move to the Midlands on loan, also includes an option to buy for a fee in the region of £40m. If he continues to impress, Emery may well spend the money to keep Rashford permanently.
However, might the club be brewing their homegrown version of the United loanee?
Meet Aston Villa's homegrown Marcus Rashford
There have been plenty of top young talents to walk through the academy at Villa in recent years, Jack Grealish and Jacob Ramsey chief among them.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
The next superstar off the production line could be Cole Brannigan who has a bright future in the game.
The left-winger made waves throughout the 2023/24 campaign for the club. Not only did he score four goals in 20 games in the U18 Premier League, but he also grabbed three assists in the process.
Brannigan then signed his first professional contract last summer with Academy Manager Mark Harrison heaping praise on the teenager
He said: “We have been really pleased with how Cole has developed over the past 12 months, and this is a great reward for his development. He is a skilful wide attacking player who is creative in the final third.”
Cole Brannigan’s statistics this season
Competition
Games
Goals
FA Youth Cup
4
2
U18 Premier League
18
9
Premier League 2
2
0
UEFA Youth League
1
0
EFL Trophy
1
0
Via Transfermarkt
These comments have worked wonders for his confidence this term. The Irishman has played 19 games across several of the Villa youth teams, including U18s, U21s and the Youth League side, scoring 11 goals while registering two assists.
His ability to play across several positions in the final third naturally draws comparisons with Rashford. His eye for goal is also another key similarity.
The 17-year-old might not be in the first-team picture at this moment in time, but surely it won’t be long until Emery begins to take notice of his potential.
Should the £40m prove too expensive to sign Rashford in the summer, Brannigan could well turn out to be the club’s homegrown version of the 27-year-old. That’s a certainty.
Aston Villa's "world-class" star is already becoming Emery's new Duran
Aston Villa may have already found their next Duran with this “world-class” ace
It’s the most agonising, soul-splitting part of football. Liverpool were defeated on penalties against Paris Saint-Germain and are out of the Champions League.
While Anfield responded to Arne Slot’s demands of an atmosphere to propel the Reds through against Luis Enrique’s devastating French side, they just couldn’t find a way past Gigi Donnarumma and paid the price as tired legs showed in extra time.
Alisson Becker and Wataru Endo
The lottery that is a shootout saw Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones miss their spot-kicks after Mohamed Salah coolly converted, but PSG were unerring and held their nerve to advance to the quarter-finals.
It’s a crushing defeat, Salah disconsolate in particular during the aftermath, but the peerless bourn of European glory will have to wait until next season.
The saving grace that Liverpool’s Premier League title charge has turned into a procession will do little to shake the malaise from this defeat, but with Newcastle United waiting at Wembley on Sunday, the Merseysiders must regroup.
It’s a disappointment, but there were a few who staked their claim for a starting spot in the Carabao Cup final.
Wembley awaits for Liverpool
Wembley awaits, but Slot now faces new challenges in the days leading up to the final. Namely, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s availability after he hobbled off in the second half against PSG, having rolled his ankle on the right flank. However, the manager seemed optimistic regarding Ibrahima Konate’s fitness.
Amid the gloom, the performance of Jarell Quansah deserves some praise. The young centre-back impressed at right-back and was involved in a series of promising attacking efforts after being introduced in the 73rd minute.
He also made an important tackle, two crucial interventions while also blocking a shot in extra-time. That’s not forgetting his effort late in the game that hit the woodwork either.
Jarell Quansah for Liverpool
With Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez already sidelined, it looks like he will get the nod at right-back against the Magpies.
Cody Gakpo’s late cameo after injury problems was also more than welcome, and you’d think the clinical Dutchman will be given the nod in the capital to help Liverpool’s goalscoring issues.
Slot's struggling star must not start at Wembley
After winning the aerial duel and placing a perfect pass for Harvey Elliott to convert at the Parc des Princes one week ago, Nunez added to a potential purple patch with an equalising goal against Southampton at the weekend.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
But inconsistency is embedded in the 25-year-old’s Liverpool career, and he failed to inspire up front when introduced against PSG. Sure, his penalty was saved in the shootout, but Nunez also struggled to get to grips with the actual game, skewing a couple of passes.
However, Diogo Jota was the real villain as Liverpool crashed out of Europe’s elite competition. The 28-year-old striker was branded with a 5/10 match rating by The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle after the Anfield clash, with his effort acknowledged but decision-making questioned.
Indeed, as per Sofascore, the Portugal international missed a big chance from a first-half header, failed with all three of his attempted dribbles and lost eight of his nine contested ground duels.
His 33 touches were fewer than Alisson’s 61 and he gave away the ball on 14 occasions across his 73-minute outing. It wasn’t an inspiring evening, making Liverpool’s interest in Alexander Isak all the more clear.
Liverpool striker Diogo Jota
Now that Gakpo’s fit once more, Slot must surely be getting ready to let Jota know he will be returning to the bench for the Carabao Cup final, having now gone eight matches without finding the back of the net.
Moreover, though, he didn’t lead the line as you’d hope for one of Europe’s foremost outfits on a night of epic proportions. Luis Diaz is a tricky customer for opponents and you’d wager Slot will now be restoring him to a moonlit centre-forward role.
Mohamed Salah
42 (40)
32
22
Cody Gakpo
39 (25)
16
5
Luis Diaz
41 (31)
13
5
Darwin Nunez
39 (17)
7
6
Diogo Jota
28 (17)
8
3
Federico Chiesa
10 (3)
1
2
Both centre-forwards have left more than a little to be desired in the final third this season, and FSG must address this issue in the summer, ensuring Liverpool can go one better on the continental stage next season.
For now, Slot must make do with his current crop, but with Gakpo fit once again, Nunez and Jota may both find themselves sat on the bench when Liverpool take on Newcastle at the weekend.
Slot has a new unsellable star at Liverpool & it's not Van Dijk or Salah
He’s become an unlikely hero for title-chasing Liverpool this season.