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FC Cincinnati star Luca Orellano was in David Beckham mode during his latest MLS appearance, with the Argentine scoring a stunning goal from halfway.

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• South American hit stunning strike
• Caught goalkeeper off his line
• Keeps Cincy just behind Inter Miami

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 24-year-old has stolen the limelight with legendary countryman Lionel Messi currently away on Copa America duty. The Inter Miami icon is not the only man from Argentina capable of producing moments of magic in the United States.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Orellano is currently on loan at FC Cincinnati from Brazilian outfit Vasco da Gama, and has been making quite the impact with an impressive haul of goals. He operates as a left winger and is proving to be a useful creative influence.

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Orellano hit the back of the net in spectacular fashion when lining up against the Philadelphia Union. There appeared to be little on when he picked up possession just inside his own half with an hour on the clock, but the South American spotted Oliver Semmle off his line and proceeded to float a long-range effort over the German goalkeeper’s head.

Leeds United have reportedly made an official approach to sign a new defender late in the January transfer window.

Leeds transfer rumours

The Whites are yet to make any additions to Daniel Farke’s side this month but have been in fine form on the pitch, remaining unbeaten in 2024. A 1-1 draw with Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup on Saturday wasn’t exactly ideal for Leeds, though, who already have trips to Home Park, Bristol City and Swansea City to deal with this month.

EFL Championship done deals: Every January 2024 transfer

As the January transfer window closes, FFC has you covered for every in and out involving your club in the EFL Championship.

By
Luke Randall

Feb 1, 2024

New signings in defence appear to be the main priority in the final week of the transfer market, especially at full-back after Djed Spence and Luke Ayling left the club earlier in the window.

Archie Gray also suffered an injury in the week against Norwich City, with Liverpool’s Calvin Ramsay, Tottenham Hotspur’s Ben Davies, West Ham’s Ben Johnson and Burnley’s Connor Roberts all linked with moves to Elland Road in recent weeks.

However, Ben Godfrey of Everton has also been mentioned as a target, with rumours circling over a loan-to-buy deal, and it appears as if the 49ers Enterprises have now made a formal move.

Leeds make Ben Godfrey approach

According to Football Insider reporter Pete O'Rourke, Leeds have now made an “official” approach to sign Godfrey, who seems surplus to requirements at Everton with Sean Dyche happy for him to leave.

“Leeds United have made an official approach to Everton over a late-window loan deal for defender Ben Godfrey, sources have told Football Insider.

“Leeds turned their attention to landing Godfrey after his move to Serie A side Atalanta collapsed earlier this month due to Italy’s tax break abolishment.”

Farke would know just what he is getting if Leeds managed to secure Godfrey’s service before the deadline. The German managed the player at Norwich both in the Championship and Premier League, with Godfrey a part of two second-tier title wins under the current Leeds boss.

The 26-year-old has played everywhere across the backline and even as a holding midfielder during his career, so he could prove to be the ideal option for Leeds in the run-in, offering cover at full-back and challenging the likes of Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Liam Cooper at centre-back. Farke previously hailed Godfrey as well, saying:

“You can speak about the best centre-backs in the world now but at 19 and 20 they will have made mistakes. The best ones learn. Ben is playing without mistakes and that is outstanding.

“He is a pretty emotional player and I like that a lot because it means you are capable of finding another gear. When he played in the holding [midfield] role he was able to drag his team through, but playing at centre-back if we are losing or having a difficult period and he starts to get the red mist we have to calm him down. Now he is able to calm himself down, to focus and control his emotions.”

Leeds United progressed through to the next round of the FA Cup 4-1 on Wednesday night, beating Plymouth Argyle on their own patch convincingly even without Daniel James being available for selection.

James had been a key first-team presence for the promotion-chasing Whites until an injury curtailed his impactful season against Norwich City, scoring ten goals and picking up seven assists from 29 appearances up to that point.

It's even led to James gaining deserved recognition by being nominated for Championship Player of the Month for January, despite being in the Elland Road treatment room now.

Daniel Farke could well have James available at his disposal again soon, but if the Welshman picks up another injury further down the line even when he does return, the German manager could look towards the youth talents in West Yorkshire to step up to the mark.

Connor Douglas' numbers at youth level

Able to play down both channels much like the injury-stricken former Manchester United attacker, 18-year-old Connor Douglas could well begin to bang down the door for some senior action soon.

Douglas' form for the U18s during the 2022/23 season would have caught the eye of those with close associations to Leeds, scoring six goals and picking up three assists from 15 games in total.

This season, bumped up to the U21 fold, Douglas has excited those in the youth set-up even more – scoring against Man United U21s in a 2-1 win back in August, a standout result for the exuberant Whites.

Described as being "impressive" when netting two goals on his U21 debut before the Red Devils win by journalist William Jackson, Douglas is yet to get a taster of men's football even despite sticking out with eight outings under his belt in Premier League 2 this term.

That lack of senior action could well change soon, especially with Farke showing that he can shake things up by regularly including the likes of Archie Gray in his starting lineup.

Leeds' next Archie Gray

Douglas making waves in the current Leeds first-team lineup and staying there could well be a stretch still, even with James failing to play in his side's last three matches.

The plethora of attacking talent Farke can call upon in the blink of an eye is rather frightening, utilising the likes of Wilfried Gnonto and Jaidon Anthony if needed when the seasoned first-team presences are in need of a breather.

Yet, nobody expected Gray to make such an impact as a 17-year-old this campaign when gifted his first chance.

Now, Gray is a regular first-teamer whilst still only being a teenager – the versatile gem now onto 32 appearances in all competitions, despite only breaking through into the senior side just this campaign.

Douglas will take some encouragement from Gray's career trajectory, knowing that his time could come soon if everything falls into place.

In the long-term, the 18-year-old could well explode onto the first-team scene when the likes of Summerville and James have potentially moved on from Elland Road.

All eyes are on the USMNT at Copa America, but can this team prove itself on the big stage in advance of 2026 World Cup?

The stars of the U.S. men's national team are whisked into a conference room to meet reporters inside of the team's Dallas hotel. One by one, they sit down to discuss the upcoming Copa America. Held on home soil, the tournament is the beginning of a watershed moment for American soccer, the start of a new revolution led by this golden generation that culminates in the 2026 World Cup, to be held in the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

The immediate focus, though, is on the tournament at hand. Yes, the 2024 Copa America is part of a bigger picture, one that leads to 2026, but this isn't just a stepping stone. This is a huge tournament in its own right, and a huge opportunity for the U.S. to not just prove where they're going, but where they are.

The USMNT's stars give varying answers about the tournament, but one word came up time and time again: Results.

It's a key word for the USMNT this summer. The time for moral victories, progress and performances this over. This tournament is about wins.

Since missing out on the 2018 World Cup, the definition of success for this USMNT group has never quite been clear cut. There's always been a bigger picture that mattered more than wins and losses. Every setback was a lesson. Every triumph was a step forward. Every game, even those at the World Cup, was part of an overall process.

That time is coming to an end. The U.S. begins it's 2024 Copa America journey against Bolivia Sunday night in Arlington, Texas, and the definition of success is changing for this group – rapidly. This summer, the results matter. The pressure is now on the USMNT, and Copa America is the litmus test.

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  A pre-tournament humbling

  By the end of this summer, the USMNT's match against Colombia will either look like the world's biggest blessing, or an ominous sign of things to come.

  To kick-start their preparation for the Copa, the U.S. took on Colombia, a team that they could run into again in the quarterfinals of the tournament, if everything goes well. They were embarrassed. Colombia ran away as 5-1 winners, dampening the USMNT's Copa America preparations in humiliating fashion.

  "I think a lot of times, especially playing in CONCACAF games, we can kind of get away with just being individuals," said U.S. defender Chris Richards. "And I think you saw it in the Colombia game. That's why we got killed: we were just playing like it was a CONCACAF game. I think that was kind of a warning for us, kind of an eye opener that if we want to be able to beat big teams, if we want to be able to compete with big teams, we can't just go play however you want to play.

  "You have to play as a team. I think that's something that we want to show going into the tournament."

  The U.S.quickly took a step forward with their second friendly, earning a 1-1 draw with Brazil. It was a significantly better performance, one that helped silence some of the alarm bells that were rightfully ringing after the Colombia result.

  "I think we had to really look at ourselves and hold ourselves to a higher standard," said UWMNT forward Christian Pulisic, the undeniable face of American soccer in this current generation. "There were some conversations within the team and with the coaches and everything and I think they were really positive ones. We said that 'This isn't us, that that that wasn't us.' You can't go out and and wait and see what's going to happen. We needed to go out and take it to them right away and show that we're here to play and, whatever happens, we have to respond.

  "It happened again – Brazil scores a goal on us, but how did we respond? We hung in there. We got a goal back. We suffered through moments together. We understand that, when we're playing the best teams in the world, we're not gonna have the ball the whole game. We're going to have to suffer."

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  Pursuit of a signature win

  Since missing out on the 2018 World Cup, the U.S. has taken multiple steps forward, particularly individually. However, one thing remains missing from their collective resume: a signature win.

  Sure, there have been memorable results: the draw with England at the World Cup, the three CONCACAF Nations League triumphs, the draw with Brazil ahead of this tournament. There have not, however, been any of those big-time results over non-CONCACAF opponents that had become the hallmarks of prior generations of U.S. teams. Despite regularly being underdogs, those previous teams often found ways to emerge with unexpected wins.

  There was Spain at the Confederations Cup, a win that ended La Roja's legendary run. There was the Portugal triumph at the 2002 World Cup that set the stage for a historic tournament. Under Jurgen Klinsmann, the U.S. enjoyed friendly wins over Germany and the Netherlands to go with their memorable World Cup run.

  This team is in need of similar results. Could they come at Copa America?

  "Everybody sees the news, everybody sees the the papers, the podcasts," Richards said, "but we try not to look at it like that. We're just focused on what's ahead of us. Eventually you win some of the games, and then all of them kind of end up being the staple wins. Our biggest thing is just making sure that we're taking care of business each game we have."

  The opportunity for such defining wins will be on the menu. Uruguay is the USMNT's final group stage opponent and after that would be a likely rematch with either Brazil or Colombia. The U.S. wants to be on the level of those teams and there's only one way to prove it.

  "I think results in tournaments is all you really need at the end of the day," said UWMNT midfielder Gio Reyna, who could play a key role in elevating the team during Copa America. "Of course, it helps when you have good performances and it makes it easier, when you perform well, to win games, but we're in this tournament to win. We can have three great performances and lose, but no one will really care at the end of the day. It's all about results.

  "We're talking about the Euros and how these teams manage games, and Argentina throughout the World Cup. It's not always going to be easy, but I feel like we've learned how to struggle in games and not concede goals and stick together through tough times."

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  Pressure on Berhalter

  For a segment of USMNT supporters, the outcome of this tournament may not change opinions on Gregg Berhalter. The USMNT coach is divisive – as many international coaches are, to be fair. The U.S. fanbase is, at minimum, split on the prospects of Berhalter as he heads into this second massive tournament in charge of the national team.

  He has successes on his resume, notably the dominance of the CONCACAF region. He also achieved the primary objective of the 2022 cycle: return to, and perform well in, the World Cup. However, that lack of success against non-CONCACAF teams remains a talking point.

  Berhalter isn't necessarily on the hot seat this summer, but there is massive pressure to perform. This is a defining moment for American soccer, one this program can't afford to squander. And, if it is determined that Berhalter is not the right man for the moment, it would almost certainly have to happen post-Copa – or not at all before the World Cup.

  The USMNT enters Copa America with the fourth-longest odds to win the tournamentamong the 16 participating teams, behind Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay and tied with Colombia and Mexico. Yet fan expectations are even higher. And the USMNT coach admits that he feels the weight that comes with leading this team into this moment.

  "It's about the team," he said when asked about his job. "It's about us believing in ourselves and going out and having a really good tournament. We know that, if we take it game by game, I think that's the best route for success. We hope to get to the knockout round and really take everything we've learned over the course of this and put in a performance. That's all we can control and, personally, that's what I'm focused on.

  "I think this whole tournament is an opportunity for this group to show how we've improved with our experience in these tournaments and what we can do against top opponents."

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  A responsibility to grow the game

  In a perfect world, the tournament would just be about the tournament. That's the world most other national teams live in. But that's not the case for the USMNT. Beyond what happens on the field, there's an additional pressure that comes with establishing a culture.

  Soccer is still an ascendent sport in the U.S., and the wider fanbase coalesces largely around major tournaments. For many fans, their exposure to the USMNT is predominantly through major events. To a large segment of the fanbase, those are the only games that matter.

  The USMNT also deals with a unique circumstance – because of the diversity of soccer fans in the U.S., the USMNT are not always the "home team" when playing on home soil. Stadiums are regularly packed with opposition fans who have either traveled to the game or live in the U.S., but remain loyal to their heritage. That often means there is no home-field advantage for the USMNT.

  Americans love winners, and the best way to get people to buy in? Win on the biggest stages – especially when those events occur on home soil. The 2024 Copa America and the 2026 World Cup are perfectly positioned to provide those opportunities – and this team knows it.

  "We want to grow the game here and the best way to do it is, obviously, is holding more events here," said USMNT midfielder Weston McKennie., whosetight friendship with teammate Tyler Adams is part of the fuel that propels the UMNT. "The World Cup is coming in 2026. I think just us as a as culture here in America, we're are trying to push that envelope. But ultimately, I think it's going to be kind of up to us. Everyone in America loves a winning team and our performances and our results do matter in terms of growing the game here."

Tottenham Hotspur last won successive victories in the Premier League right before Christmas, defeating resilient Everton 2-1 in the capital.

The ebb and flow that has since prevented Ange Postecoglou's side from cementing a spot in the top four stem from some poor away form, last week's trip to Goodison Park resulting in a draw after Jarrad Branthwaite's last-gasp header.

Four wins on the trot at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is impressive, however, and Saturday's visit of Brighton & Hove Albion presents a fantastic opportunity to return to winning ways, with Roberto De Zerbi's side yielding just four victories from 17 Premier League fixtures.

Fourth-placed Aston Villa, two points and one place above Spurs, host improving Manchester United on Sunday too, and Tottenham must now ensure they secure three points to reclaim their place in the top four.

Key players are returning from international duty and Postecoglou could make four changes to the team that drew against the Toffees last time out.

1

GK – Guglielmo Vicario

Guglielmo Vicario has started every game in the Premier League since transferring from Empoli for an initial £17m last summer and that's not going to change tomorrow.

He's been excellent and will be crucial in preventing the free-scoring Joao Pedro from stifling Tottenham's progress.

2

RB – Pedro Porro

Pedro Porro will star at right-back as per, having arguably been Tottenham's best player this season. He won the club's goal of the month for that strike in the FA Cup against Burnley but his all-encompassing displays truly have been a thing to behold.

As per Sofascore, the Spaniard has registered seven assists across 22 matches in the Premier League this season, completing 80% of his passes and averaging 1.8 key passes, 2.9 tackles, 5.5 ball recoveries, 2.5 clearances and 5.1 successful duels per game.

3

CB – Cristian Romero

It's a shame that injuries and suspensions have inhibited Cristian Romero from playing with regularity this season; the Argentine is undoubtedly one of Europe's first-rate centre-halves.

The 2022 World Cup winner has been heralded for his "Rolls-Royce" role in the rearguard by pundit Martin Keown and has completed 92% of his passes and succeeded with 68% of his duels in the top-flight this year, imposing and dynamic.

4

CB – Radu Dragusin

The first half of the 2023/24 campaign illuminated the desperation in Tottenham's need for a new centre-back, so the £27m transfer of Radu Dragusin from Genoa came as a surprise to no one.

Hailed for his "complete & dominant" defending by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the 21-year-old has played three times in the Premier League so far but is yet to start, and could now be handed his first opening berth against Brighton, his aggressive qualities shining.

Romero and Micky van de Ven are the undisputed starters in central defence but cannot be expected to start every game.

5

LB – Destiny Udogie

Destiny Udogie is enjoying an exciting first campaign in English football and plays with the electric alacrity of a seasoned superstar, such is the innate ability buzzing at his core.

The Italian full-back ranks among the top 19% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 15% for pass completion, the top 10% for progressive carries, the top 9% for successful take-ons and the top 12% for tackles and interceptions per 90, as per FBref.

6

CM – Yves Bissouma

Yves Bissouma has only just returned to England after Mali's quarter-finals African Cup of Nations exit earlier in the week but the 27-year-old played only 30 minutes in the knockout phase and will be raring to go for the Lilywhites.

7

CM – Pape Matar Sarr

One of the brightest emerging talents in the Premier League, Pape Matar Sarr will benefit from Bissouma's return and Postecoglou will be eager to rekindle the partnership that found such success over the early months of the campaign.

8

RW – Dejan Kulusevski

Dejan Kulusevski was benched for the first time this season last time out but he will likely return from the outset against the Seagulls, with his energy and penetrative presence on the right flank crucial against De Zerbi's men, who are only behind Manchester City for most possession in the division this term.

The Swede's return to the starting line-up will mean Brennan Johnson must return to the bench, the Welshman hooked after an hour against Everton and handed a 4/10 match rating by football.london's Alasdair Gold following an ineffectual effort.

9

AM – James Maddison

A few weeks ago, James Maddison returned from an ankle injury that had ruled him out for two months but you wouldn't know it.

The England international has produced some masterful creative performances over the past few weeks and continues to flourish as one of Europe's superlative playmakers since his £40m move to Tottenham last summer.

10

LW – Timo Werner

Timo Werner returned to the Premier League on loan with Spurs last month and has started all three matches thus far, bagging two assists on the way and impressing with his pace and energy, albeit displaying some signs of ring rust.

Heung-min Son's South Korea fell to a surprise defeat against Jordan in the Asia Cup semi-finals on Tuesday but the club skipper will likely start from the bench tomorrow.

Kevin De Bruyne was sent a touching birthday message from his wife Michele Lacroix while the Manchester City star is on Euro 2024 duty with Belgium.

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• De Bruyne turned 33 on Friday
• Receives birthday message from wife
• Man City ace playing for Belgium at Euros

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  De Bruyne has been away from his family while he plays in Euro 2024 for Belgium. Incidentally, the former Wolfsburg star turned 33 on Friday and now his wife, Michele, has sent a loving message to him on Instagram.

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• WHAT MICHELE LACROIX SAID

  In her Instagram story, she posted a photo of De Bruyne and his three kids, with the words: "Happy birthday to our day 1. We love you Kevin De Bruyne."

  She also posted an old photo of the couple together.

  InstagramInstagram

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  De Bruyne has proven to be one of the best players in the world over much of the last decade. But, time waits for no one and the Belgium international is nearing the end of his career. He, and his supporters, will hope he still has a few more years left in him yet.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  De Bruyne will be focusing on securing Belgium their first-ever major international trophy at the Euros this month. His side take on one of the tournament favourites, France, in their last-16 tie on Monday evening.

Jude Bellingham felt England put in a "really good performance" against Slovakia after coming from behind to win 2-1 at Euro 2024.

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• England win but fail to impress again
• Bellingham scores vital equaliser
• Real Madrid star says team played well

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  England were forced to come from behind to see off Slovakia at Euro 2024 and book a spot in the quarter-finals. Bellingham's last-gasp equaliser forced extra-time, before Harry Kane netted the winner to end Slovakia's dreams of European Championship glory.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  England may have won but fans were once again critical of their team's performance, particularly in the first half as the Three Lions went in at the break 1-0 down. Bellingham's equaliser came in the 95th minute and was England's first shot on target, which highlights the team's problems during the game. However, speaking after the win, Bellingham said he felt his team had played well and claimed they had been in control of the match.

• WHAT BELLINGHAM SAID

  He told ITV Sport: “A good win, through to the next round. Very happy. It’s been tough the last week or so to keep the negative energy out of the camp. I think today they will have been ready for us. We showed the character that England’s missed. It’s very important to get through.

  “I think the performance was really good until their goal and even after. We had massive control of the game, always threatening in the final third, maybe just lacking the final touch to create big chances. It’s going to be important for us going forward, definitely.

  “Look at who came on. We’ve won this game together. Not me, not Harry, not the individual moments. It’s the likes of Ivan Toney, Eberechi Eze, Cole Palmer – Bukayo Saka going to left-back. It’s the sacrifice you make for the team and that’s the energy we need to keep regardless of what goes on.”

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND

  Bellingham has been in inspirational form for club and country this season and England will look to the 21-year-old again in the quarter-finals. Southgate's side face a Switzerland team fresh from beating reigning champions Italy next but will surely need to improve on their showing against Slovakia if they are to progress.

Last week's 2-0 home defeat to Brentford was an afternoon to forget for Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The defeat was bad enough on its own, but the injury to Matheus Cunha made the day far worse.

Later today, the Wanderers will attempt to bounce back from their loss by beating Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham Hotspur.

Gary O'Neil is unlikely to make mass changes to his starting XI despite losing last time out, but nevertheless, there may be as many as two tweaks in the potential lineup that the boss could field at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

1

GK – Jose Sa

Jose Sa has started 22 Premier League matches this campaign, and he will start in between the sticks again despite keeping just three clean sheets.

2

RCB – Max Kilman

Max Kilman is the leader of the Wolves side, and he will start this weekend wearing the captain's armband.

The 26-year-old has started every game this season.

3

CB – Craig Dawson

Craig Dawson is also a frequent starter for the Wanderers, with the boss valuing his experience.

The 33-year-old has played 22 Premier League games this campaign.

4

LCB – Toti Gomes

The final player to complete the usual back three is Toti Gomes, who has worked his way into the side this season.

5

RM – Nelson Semedo

Nelson Semedo has started all but one game this season in the league, and he will start over Matt Doherty.

The defender ranks third in the Wolves squad for interceptions and tackles per game.

6

CM – Mario Lemina

Mario Lemina has been an engine in the middle of the park this season, and he will feature from the off.

Over his 21 Premier League games, the 30-year-old has scored four goals and averaged 2.8 tackles per match.

7

CM – Tommy Doyle

The on-loan Manchester City man could come into the side having replaced Joao Gomes on the hour mark last time out, the latter man having 'struggled' against the Bees – in the words of the Express and Star's George Bennett.

In place of Gomes, Doyle won both of his ground duels and enjoyed a 90% pass accuracy rate in his 27-minute cameo, indicating that he could be deserving of the nod today.

8

LM – Rayan Ait Nouri

Rayan Ait Nouri was fantastic last weekend, making three key passes, having 99% pass accuracy, and winning 11 duels.

The Algerian is guaranteed to start.

9

RF – Pablo Sarabia

Pablo Sarabia came off the bench to hand Wolves the win over Spurs in the reverse fixture with a goal and an assist.

This time around, the Spaniard will have the opportunity to cause chaos from the off.

10

LF – Pedro Neto

Pedro Neto has been electric this season and is the main creative outlet for Wolves, as highlighted by his eight assists, the most in the squad.

His pace on the break will be vital, and he will look to score his first Premier League career goal against Spurs.

Manchester United are seemingly after a centre-back this summer and Juventus' Gleison Bremer is one of their biggest targets. It emerged last week that United are "willing" to make a bid that the Bianconeri won't be able to refuse.

Erik ten Hag and co. have identified Bremer as a priority for the upcoming window, and encouragingly, Juventus are already beginning to look at potential replacements. One possible solution may be to place faith in 18-year-old Dean Huijsen, who's currently on loan at Roma, but it turns out United could throw a spanner in the works there too.

United battle Spurs for Huijsen

According to Italian outlet ASRomaLive, via Sport Witness, Manchester United have made an approach to sign Huijsen. They're not the only club to get in touch with Juve over the teenager – Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur and Bundesliga club Borussia Dotmund also get a mention.

Man Utd are being bled by Ten Hag signing who earns 5x more than Garnacho

He is one of the highest earners at Man United.

By
Tom Lever

Feb 26, 2024

Huijsen's displays this season have left a number of big European clubs "bewitched", with Atletico Madrid and PSG both waiting in the wings too. Juventus won't loan him out again but they're ready to consider a sale for a fee in the region of €30m (£26m).

Roma have given Huijsen the platform he needs

In the first half of the season, this was a player that few outside Italy, or even outside Juventus, would have been aware of. Huijsen only made one appearance for the senior side before Christmas, coming on as a substitute in a 1-0 win over AC Milan, and he tended to make the matchday squad without getting a run-out. Most of his action was actually coming in Serie C with the Turin side's youth team.

However, Roma have taken a leap of faith, starting him three times and introducing him from the bench on four occasions since his mid-season arrival. He even made the XI for a clash with table-toppers Inter at the Stadio Olimpico.

Both United and Spurs will have taken note of a glowing appraisal from their former manager Jose Mourinho, who brought Huijsen to the capital before losing his job. He said: "He is one of the highest quality prospects in European football at this age level. He will be a great footballer in the future."

The Dutch-born defender, who's now poised to represent the Spanish national team instead, announced himself with an extraordinary goal against Cagliari, picking the ball up on the halfway line, driving to the edge of the box (having beaten two players along the way) and bending the ball into the far corner. It was a glimpse into the unique skill-set that has dazzled some of the continental elite ahead of an intense battle for his signature this summer.

Jude Bellingham shared an emotional message on social media addressing England fans and Gareth Southgate.

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• Bellingham's pens emotional note for fans and Southgate
• Apologised to Three Lions supporters for Euro 2024 loss
• Southgate resigned as England manager

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Real Madrid star, an integral part of the Three Lions squad that faced a heartbreaking defeat in the Euro 2024 final against Spain, penned an emotional letter where he apologised for not being able to fulfil his aspirations at the European Championship. He also thanked Gareth Southgate, who left the manager's role after eight years in charge, for his services to the national team.

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• WHAT JUDE BELLINGHAM SAID

  Taking to Instagram, the 21-year-old wrote, "Still trying to process the final but the overriding feelings are sadness and disappointment. The fact is that we came up against a great opponent and fell short, it hurts that we were so close to history and yet couldn’t deliver for the England fans that backed us throughout the highs and lows of the tournament whether that was from back home or out in Germany in the stadiums.

  "For that, we can only hold our hands up and apologise. Being in such a tight bubble for so long means that sometimes it’s easier to get caught up in the negatives of playing at a major tournament but some of the atmospheres and celebrations I witnessed were a constant reminder of the love you guys have for this team, those images will live with me forever and I couldn’t be more thankful for that. I’m sure the aftermath will be intense but please understand that this group of players and every single member of staff gave absolutely everything to try and make our dreams come true. Whilst it’s frustrating to keep writing in this manner after tournaments I genuinely believe that this team, using these heartbreaking experiences, has the potential to finally get over the line and bring silverware back to England at some point. Until then, stick with us and continue to support the lads like you have done for so long."

  He added, "Finally, I’d like to thank Gareth and his staff for the great memories during his tenure. From the point of view of a fan who has become a member of the squad, it’s been a rollercoaster of amazing emotions that has instilled hope and joy back into our country. It was a privilege being led by someone who is so dedicated and passionate, not only is Gareth easily one of the best coaches in the history of the national team but also an unbelievable human being. Thank you for everything and all the best in the next chapter, Gaffer."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Three Lions had a tumultuous journey in the recently-concluded Euros as they faced immense criticism throughout the campaign due to their poor style of play. Despite this, the team managed to reach the final for the second time in a row. However, they once again failed to get over the line in Berlin, having lost to Italy at Wembley three years' prior.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

  With Southgate gone now, several top coaches are in reckoning to replace the 53-year-old as the next manager of the England men's national team. The Football Association is expected to finalise their new head coach in the coming months.