McAvennie believes West Ham can get around £60-80m for Declan Rice

Harry Maguire stunned the footballing world and divided fanbases when he made a record-breaking switch from Leicester City to Manchester United last summer. That little venture made him the most expensive defender in the history of the sport as the Red Devils had to splash around £78m to land their man.

Whether he’s actually warranted such an incredible price tag or not is a story for another time but many have now taken that transfer as a benchmark for any potential future deals. Just like Neymar Junior’s move to Paris Saint-Germain completely destroyed the transfer market for star forwards, Maguire’s switch did the same for defenders.

But this could also be a good thing for a club like West Ham United. David Moyes wants to rebuild the squad a bit but he needs a lot of money to do that. One avenue the Hammers could potentially explore is selling their prized asset, Declan Rice.

And Frank McAvennie believes they will indeed do that if someone matches their asking price. But how much is Rice worth, anyway? According to McAvennie, as much as Maguire. Here’s what he said to Football Insider on the topic: ‘You’re talking about £80 million for Harry Maguire. I think that if he’s worth that then West Ham will be thinking that Declan’s worth somewhere between £60-80 million. But listen, the owners will have a figure in mind, and I think it’s the same with every club, if someone matches that, they will sell him.’

That sum of money would surely go a long way to giving West Ham what they need to acquire the much-needed reinforcements. But is there a team out there willing and able to cough up that figure in the current climate?

Verdict

It goes without saying that West Ham will most likely pull the trigger on their young asset when and if they receive an offer in such a high region. At the moment, however, we still don’t know if there is a club contemplating that course of action.

Still, there have been some whispers of some Premier League clubs monitoring Rice so you never know.

Manchester City: Predicted XI to face Arsenal

Having already secured the Carabao Cup this season, Manchester City continue their bid to retain another domestic trophy tonight as they face Arsenal in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

In the week that they won their appeal against a two-year ban from UEFA competitions, thus paving the way for them to return to the Champions League next season, City will hope to maintain the positive mood by reaching what would be their sixth domestic cup final (not including the Community Shield) since 2016.

Pep Guardiola got the better of his former assistant Mikel Areta when their respective teams met in the Premier League a month ago, taking Man City’s consecutive run of wins over Arsenal to seven in all competitions, although the Gunners came out on top when the sides met at this juncture of the FA Cup three years ago.

Sergio Aguero is the only confirmed injury absentee for Guardiola, who could take the opportunity to switch up his team again from the midweek win over Bournemouth. Here is our predicted Manchester City XI for the match tonight, which shows five changes from the side that started on Wednesday:

Claudio Bravo has been Guardiola’s goalkeeper of choice for domestic cup competitions and could come in to give Ederson a rare night off. With the manager likely to go with a strong XI given that there is nothing more at stake in the Premier League, the full-back duo of Benjamin Mendy and Kyle Walker should be retained. John Stones could also keep his place after a strong performance in midweek, although Aymeric Laporte may be his centre-back partner tonight rather than Nicolas Otamendi.

Fernandinho seems likely to get the nod ahead of Rodri at the base of midfield, with David Silva also a probable starter following his magnificent free kick against the Cherries. Kevin De Bruyne should also come into the side after sitting out the win over Bournemouth, with Ilkay Gundogan the man to make way in midfield.

Guardiola may shuffle the pack with his attacking trio. Gabriel Jesus is again set to start at centre-forward, buoyed by what turned out to be the winning goal on Wednesday, although there could be changes either side of him. Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva both started in midweek, so both might drop out in deference to Raheem Sterling on the left and Riyad Mahrez on the right respectively.

The options are plentiful for Guardiola – it’s just a matter of him deciding what is his strongest team as he hunts down a ninth piece of silverware as Manchester City manager.

Man City fans, is this the team that you would pick for tonight? What changes would you like to see? Join in the discussion by commenting below!

Total Duds: Arsenal signing Lucas Perez for £18m proved a waste of money

This article forms part of our Total Duds feature series, which is where Football Transfer Tavern takes a look at how a player has fared since being signed or sold, using statistical figures and statements from pundits to prove how bad a deal the club got.

Back in August 2016, Arsenal were looking to strengthen their attack and signed Spanish striker Lucas Perez from Deportivo de La Coruña for £18m, per Transfermarkt. The forward had just come off of his best season as he managed 17 goals and 10 assists in 36 La Liga appearances, and it looked like the Gunners had picked up a very prolific finisher.

He made 21 appearances in his first season in all competitions, scoring seven goals and registering five assists, per Transfermarkt, a decent start to his career in England. However, what didn’t bode well was the fact he only managed one Premier League goal in 11 games.

This seemed to be a worry for the club, too, and they decided to loan him back to Deportivo for the 2017/18 season where he managed nine goals and eight assists in all competitions. He managed a decnt goal tally on loan in Spain, but it wasn’t enough for supporters of Deportivo when he only managed five goals in his first 21 appearances, and there were pictures of graffiti from the fan base calling for him to leave the club halfway through the campaign when they were in the relegation zone.

It seemed that he couldn’t replicate his 2015/16 form which saw the Gunners sign him and hinted that maybe it was just a one-off and he couldn’t remain so consistent.

To be loaned out once more at the age of 29 highlighted that Arsenal didn’t see him as part of their plans, and when he returned to north London, fellow Premier League side West Ham bought him from the Gunners for £3.96m, per Transfermarkt.

Perez was only contracted to Arsenal for two years and his only appearances for the club were the 21 games he played in his debut season. That poor return, combined with the loss of just over £14m that the Gunners made from his transfers, highlights that he was an expensive dud at the Emirates Stadium.

Gunners fans, do you think Perez was a total dud? Comment below with your views!

Luke Edwards provides fresh Newcastle takeover update

It’s June 1st and Newcastle United’s prospective £300m takeover is still yet to be complete.The Premier League’s return to action is on the horizon in just a few weeks as the tumultuous 2019/20 campaign appears to be able to finally conclude.However, it’s now fast approaching the two-month mark since news first broke that current Magpies chief Mike Ashley was to sell the club to a very wealthy Saudi-backed consortium fronted by PCP Partners’ Amanda Staveley.A couple of weeks ago, The Sun’s Neil Custis hinted that today could finally be the day that the deal gets announced, but that seems rather unlikely given latest information from the Telegraph’s Luke Edwards, who tweeted the following answer in response to a fan…

He claims that the takeover is still with the Premier League, who have been conducting their owners and directors test for several weeks now. Edwards won’t put a timeframe on it happening – but does suggest that there shouldn’t be any worries over it being off completely.

Think you’re a big Magpies fan? Can you name these former players by looking at their careers? Go on, give it a go…

World Class score: 95% | Expert score: 80% | Veteran score: 65% | Intermediate score: 45% | Amateur score: 30% | Try Again: 5%

It’s merely a long game of patience, and given that the new season isn’t going to start for a few months, it shouldn’t be rushed. There will be plenty of time for the new owners to do what they need in preparation for next term should they eventually be handed the green light.

AND in other news,ÂLee Ryder reveals Mapies ace is “on the brink” of EXIT…

West Ham could seriously live to regret letting Reece Oxford leave in January

As per the club’s official website, Premier League side West Ham let young defender Reece Oxford leave the London Stadium on loan on Deadline Day. The 20-year-old has come up through the ranks at the East London outfit but has only gone on to make 17 senior appearances for the Hammers over the years, with struggles for regular game time this term under Manuel Pellegrini calling his future at the club into doubt.

And it was Bundesliga outfit Augsburg who sealed a temporary deal for the versatile sensation on the final day of the January transfer window, and while Oxford hadn’t actually featured in the West Ham first team in the first half of the season, the late decision to let him leave in January could very much come back to bite the Hammers.

The Breakdown

Ultimately, things haven’t quite worked out for the England Under-20 international since bursting onto the scene as a 16-year-old against Arsenal back in August 2015, with the youngster failing to nail down a spot in the Hammers first team with only 17 appearances to his name, none of which have come this term and only two of which came last time round.

And for someone tipped by many to be the next big-thing coming out of the West Ham academy many years ago, things certainly haven’t panned out as many would have expected, with loan spells at Borussia Monchengladbach and Reading also proving difficult for the 20-year-old in his pursuit of first team football.

On the surface then, another opportunity to play his trade and attempt to get regular minutes under his belt makes complete sense, but not given the current injury situation Pellegrini’s side have at centre back.

Ultimately, Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna are the only senior centre backs fit for selection given the long-term injury to Winston Reid alongside Fabian Balbuena’s recent setback – the Hammers look set to be without the duo until at least the middle of February.

And even when Balbuena returns, as expected, later on this month, that still leaves Pellegrini’s side somewhat short of options in that area of the field – it only takes another injury or suspension to plunge West Ham into a defensive crisis.

Yes, Declan Rice could fill in at centre back if needed given his talents in that position, but doing so would see him vacate a midfield spot that he has made his own this season – what the Hammers would gain with him at the back they would lose greatly from him not being in midfield.

As such, while Oxford didn’t get a look-in under Pellegrini in the first half of the season, he at least provided the Chilean with an option at centre back were things to go wrong in that department – but that option is no longer there.

And with the Hammers stretched enough defensively given injuries to Reid and Balbuena, the club’s decision to let him leave late in the January window could very much come back to bite the East London outfit as the season progresses.

West Ham fans… what do you think? Let us know!

WATCH: Why did angry Kyle Walker & Erling Haaland confront Arsenal coach Nicolas Jover after Man City’s 1-0 defeat at Emirates Stadium & does Pep Guardiola know what happened?

Tempers threatened to boil over at the end of Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester City, with Kyle Walker and Erling Haaland confronting Nicolas Jover.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Gunners prevail in heavyweight encounterEmotions running high in north LondonPlayers & coaches clash after final whistleWHAT HAPPENED?

A solitary effort from Gabriel Martinelli, which deflected in off the unfortunate Nathan Ake, was enough to settle the heavyweight Premier League contest at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners were always going to revel in that success, having missed out on title glory to City last season, and celebrations appeared to go a little too far at the final whistle.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

As City’s players made their way from the field and towards the tunnel, experienced defender Walker turned back to confront Arsenal set-piece coach Jover – who previously worked at the Etihad Stadium between 2019 and 2021. Angry words were exchanged, with prolific striker Haaland also getting involved before members of staff from both sides stepped in and Bukayo Saka tried to act as peacemaker.

WHAT THEY SAID

Pep Guardiola was not involved in the post-game spat, but claims to know what went on and why. He told reporters afterwards: “I know what happened but I won't say anything. They [Arsenal] know it.” Gary Neville, who was on punditry duty for Sky Sports, said of the incident: “Football players don’t like set-pieces on the training pitch, let alone the opposition set-piece coach having a go.”

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Ex-Arsenal winger Theo Walcott added on the potential reasons for Walker and City losing their cool: “We always look at Man City as being very professional and not reacting in situations and that’s where I feel like a nerve has been hit here. He’s caught it there definitely.” Guardiola’s side have now suffered back-to-back defeats in the Premier League for the first time since December 2018, while unbeaten Arsenal sit level on points with Tottenham at the top of the table.

Portugal ratings vs Iceland: Cristiano Ronaldo goes missing but Bruno Fernandes steps up to make sure Roberto Martinez's side finish Euro 2024 qualifying with perfect record

The veteran striker was anonymous for most of the clash, but his ex-Manchester United team-mate was on hand to lift the Seleccao to victory

Portugal had to dig deep to claim a 2-0 win over Iceland on Sunday, in a game that was essentially attack versus defence.

Bruno Fernandes finally broke Iceland's stubborn resistance with a superb goal, as he drove an effort into the bottom corner from the top of the box after a clever flick from Bernardo Silva.

Ricardo Horta emerged from the bench to score the second, all but ending the game as a contest, as he tapped home after a Joao Felix shot was spilled. Cristiano Ronaldo attempted to fire the ball home initially, but only found the goalkeeper's face, and Horta tapped home the second rebound.

Iceland had a late rally, and hit the crossbar, but this was a comfortable evening's work for the hosts. The result ensures that Portugal finish their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with ten wins from ten, and they will surely be among the favourites at the tournament in Germany next summer.

GOAL rates Portugal's players from Estadio Jose Alvalade.

GettyGoalkeeper & Defence

Diogo Costa (6/10):

Barely had anything to do all night until Iceland hit the bar in injury time.

Joao Mario (6/10):

Enjoyed a fair bit of the ball as he routinely drove forward. Wasn't quite able to impact the game in the final third but a strong showing nonetheless. Subbed for Guerreiro.

Ruben Dias (6/10):

A simple night. Dias is simply elite and Iceland had no way past him.

Goncalo Inacio (6/10):

Headed wide from six yards out in the first half but his defensive work could not be faulted.

Joao Cancelo (7/10):

Some superb dribbles down the left flank, switched to the right, and then had some superb dribbles down the right. A class act, who delivered some excellent crosses.

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Otavio (6/10):

A mishit cross looped onto the post early on. Dribbled well but couldn't really impact the play as much as he would have liked.

Joao Palhinha (6/10):

A composed operator in midfield, mopping up whenever needed. Not his most difficult night.

Bruno Fernandes (8/10):

Scored a stunning goal, driving a brilliant effort into the bottom corner from the top of the penalty area. Some exceptional passes, as he ran the show at times.

GettyAttack

Bernardo Silva (7/10):

Assisted Fernandes' opener with an impudent backheel and was always available for a pass. Finds space so well and Iceland struggled immensely to pick him up before his substitution on 62 minutes.

Cristiano Ronaldo (4/10):

Headed an excellent chance over on the half-hour mark. Should have scored after a Felix shot was saved and dropped to him, but his rebound was saved and Horta tapped in instead. Mostly anonymous.

Joao Felix (7/10):

Such a clever footballer and continually found space in the tightest of areas on the left wing. Couldn't score himself but did everything but.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Ricardo Horta (7/10):

On for Silva and scored almost immediately, tapping home after a goalmouth scramble.

Raphael Guerreiro (6/10):

Replaced Joao Mario for the final stages and deflected an Iceland shot onto the crossbar.

Bruma (N/A):

On late on.

Joao Neves (N/A):

On as a late sub.

Roberto Martinez 7/10):

As comfortable as it gets for the Belgium manager. With a perfect record in qualifying, he will be confident of success in Germany next summer.

Lionel Messi still lives rent-free in Cristiano Ronaldo's head! Why CR7's bitter dig at eternal rival & MLS really was 'ludicrous'

The Al-Nassr superstar made some bold claims about the Saudi Pro League, and it was no coincidence they came after the Argentine's arrival in the U.S.

Cristiano Ronaldo is, without question, one of the greatest footballers of all time. He's won everything there is to win at club level across spells at Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, along with a European Championship in Portugal colours, while breaking almost every scoring record in the books.

After earning his fifth and now almost certainly last Ballon d'Or in 2017, Ronaldo told : "I'm the best player in history, in the good moments and the bad ones. I respect everyone's preferences, but I've never seen anyone better than me. I have always thought that. No footballer can do the things I can. There's no player more complete than me."

But that wasn't the statement of a man who feels secure regarding his status in the game. If Ronaldo was truly the No.1, he wouldn't have the compulsion to remind everyone whenever he's in front of a camera.

Lionel Messi has never had the same impulse, because he's always let his feet do the talking. The Barcelona legend has two more Ballons d'Or than Ronaldo, and is a shoo-in for a record-extending eighth award at the 2023 ceremony after inspiring Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar.

Ronaldo and Portugal came up woefully short at the tournament, which likely pushed him into completing a lucrative move to Saudi Arabia. Accepting a contract at Al-Nassr to become the highest-paid player ever was the only way for him to steal the spotlight back from Messi.

But the shock element of the transfer didn't last for long. Ronaldo was unable to lead Al-Nassr to the Saudi Pro League title last season, and his performances did little to convince anyone that he is still capable of delivering at the very highest level.

And now, Messi has taken centre stage once again. After bringing the curtain down on a disappointing two-year spell at Paris Saint-Germain, the diminutive forward took the decision to take on a new challenge in MLS with Inter Miami.

Predictably, Ronaldo has weighed in. But the 38-year-old's latest comments only confirm his standing as a has-been desperately trying to stay relevant.

Getty'Smoking too much Hookah'

Ronaldo made sure to keep himself in top physical condition during his summer holidays, and reported for pre-season duty at Al-Nassr with a spring in his step. But the former United striker came crashing back down to earth after a friendly clash against Celta Vigo on Monday.

Al-Nassr were battered 5-0 by Celta, who finished 13th in La Liga last season – albeit with Ronaldo not on the pitch for any of the goals after coming off at half-time. After the match, the veteran striker attempted to play down the defeat with a staunch defence of Saudi football.

Having seen the likes of Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante and Kalidou Koulibaly follow him to the Middle East in recent weeks, Ronaldo told reporters: "I opened the way to the Saudi League, and now all the players are coming here. In one year, more and more top players will come to Saudi. In a year, the Saudi league will overtake the Turkish league and Dutch league."

Ronaldo was then baited into a swipe at Messi, and he couldn't resist. It was put to him whether he would ever consider a switch to MLS, to which he replied: "No, the Saudi championship is much better than the USA."

It was a bold statement designed to generate headlines, and even Ronaldo will know deep down just how absurd it was. Former Philadelphia Union and FC Cincinnati midfielder Mike Lahoud described the Al-Nassr star's remarks as "ludicrous" in an appearance on , after jokingly accusing him of "smoking way too much hookah".

And Ronaldo's former United team-mate Wayne Rooney, who is currently in charge at D.C. United, perfectly summed up the general consensus on the matter in an interview with . "This league [MLS] has all the capabilities of becoming one of the biggest leagues," he said. "You can see how Saudi are trying to get certain players, so for MLS to get Messi was huge. How better to show it can compete with the Saudi riches than by getting Messi?"

AdvertisementGetty Images'Continuing to defy everyone’s expectations'

MLS has seen a whole host of legendary players grace the pitch down the years, from David Beckham and Thierry Henry to Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Rooney himself. The competition has enjoyed rapid growth since its inception back in 1993, and Messi's arrival in the U.S. is the latest step in its natural progression.

The Saudi Pro League is also now attracting some of the biggest names, but it will still be some time before it can be considered as an elite club-football stage. "I’m not threatened by that at all," MLS commissioner Don Garber said of how quickly football in the Middle East is developing at a roundtable last weekend. "I’ve seen it happen with China, and I wasn’t concerned about that any more than I’m concerned about what’s happening in Saudi Arabia, it’s quite the opposite."

Garber went on to explain why Messi's transfer to Inter Miami is so ground-breaking while revealing how high MLS' stock has risen since his appointment in 1999. “The league has significance, it’s got 30 teams, and it’s got a valuation of $15 billion,” he said. “Think about that, $15 billion, that’s the collective value of all of our teams. When I came in it was $250 million. So I don’t think that there’s any look back. It now is ‘What’s the future going to look like?’

“You have heard us say that we want MLS to be a league of choice, a league of choice for players, for fans, for partners, and ultimately for investors. When you have the best player of all time making Major League Soccer his league of choice, I think it’s a real testament as to where MLS is and where it’s going in the years ahead.”

Garber added: “It’s just continuing to defy everyone’s expectations. And at some point, five years from now or 10 years from now, there will be some player who is thinking about Major League Soccer because he saw the success and experience of Lionel Messi with Inter Miami.”

GettyMessi isn't finished yet

It's fair to say that Messi is now winding his illustrious career down, having celebrated his 36th birthday on June 24. But MLS is not a retirement league, and the Argentina international has a huge task on his hands to transform Inter Miami's fortunes.

Miami are sitting rock bottom of the Eastern Conference after 22 matches, and it will take a miracle for them to bounce back and reach the MLS playoffs. But Messi has been joined at DRV PNK Stadium by former Barcelona team-mates Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba, and he's linking up with a manager he knows very well.

Tata Martino coached Messi at Camp Nou in 2013-14 before a two-year spell in charge of the Argentina national team. And after signing a contract with Inter Miami last month, he will have another opportunity to work with three modern Barca icons.

“When we spoke with Leo, I spoke with Sergio, we talked about arriving to have success, to compete and compete well," Martino said after seeing Messi and Busquets unveiled in Florida. "This happens to us even on a personal level. Sometimes we associate the United States, Miami, holidays — this isn’t that. We want to compete… They are not footballers who are going to come here to not compete."

Indeed, Messi had already confirmed as much in his first appearance in front of his adoring new fanbase. “I can’t wait to start training and competing," he said. "I’m here with the desire I’ve always had to compete, to want to win, and to help the club continue to grow."

The World Cup winner may have turned his back on European football, but he hasn't taken the easy option by joining Inter Miami. Messi will have to perform at his best to lift Martino's team, and it appears he will relish the unique challenge.

Messi also had an offer on the table from Saudi Arabia, as GOAL confirmed that Al-Hilal were ready to hand him a €500m-per-year (£435m/$541m) contract earlier this summer. But unlike Ronaldo, Messi remains one of the best players in the world, and he still has another important chapter to add to his legacy.

"If it had been a matter of money I would have gone to Arabia or elsewhere," Messi told when explaining his choice to sign for Inter Miami. "It seemed like a lot of money to me and the truth is that my decision went another way and not for money."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyThe Pro League reality

This is not the first time that Ronaldo has made outrageous claims over the quality and potential of the Saudi Pro League. "I'm not going to say that the league is a Premier League, that would be a lie," he said in March. "I'm surprised by the strength. It has good teams, it is balanced, the Arab players are good, the foreigners give quality.

"Possibly it will be, in five to six years' time, if they continue this plan, the fourth or fifth-most competitive league in the world." Ronaldo reiterated that stance towards the end of his first season in the Middle East, but the chances of his prediction coming true that quickly are slim to none.

According to , the Saudi Pro League is ranked 68th in the world right now, just seven places above League One in England, while MLS currently sits in the 54th slot. The statistics show that Ronaldo is in Messi's shadow once again, whether he wants to admit it or not. The Pro League is not going to suddenly become a top competition with the addition of a few more ageing superstars. But MLS is genuinely now in a strong position to rise dramatically.

After Inter Miami confirmed Messi's impending free transfer last month, the club's managing owner Jorge Mas said: "I think there will always be a before and after Messi when we talk about the sport in the United States. I have a very, very strong-held belief that we can create in North America and the United States if not the greatest league, one of the top two leagues in the world. I cannot overemphasise the magnitude of this announcement.

"Having the world’s greatest player here is something that is significant for our league, and for the football ecosystem in the United States… Lionel Messi is coming to this country to win cups and make a difference. I think it’s incumbent upon myself and my partners in the league, the other owners, to seize the moment."

That may also seem like a huge stretch, but it's not as far-fetched as Ronaldo's pitch for the Pro League. MLS already has the history, infrastructure and global profile behind it to advance to new heights, and the addition of Messi will certainly fast-track that process.

Kylian Mbappe's return can lift PSG's new-look team from Champions League also-rans to genuine European contenders

The Ligue 1 champions have been busy revamping their squad over the summer, and Luis Enrique now has a much more balanced line up to slot Mbappe into

Kylian Mbappe has never really been specific about what, exactly, he wants to achieve at Paris Saint-Germain. There have been vague platitudes about Champions League success, and generally winning for his hometown club. But when it comes to European silverware, bringing home that coveted trophy, Mbappe hasn't really offered much insight.

He has, in fact, dodged questions on the subject, most recently claiming that: "I don’t know what PSG need to do to win the Champions League, it’s not a question for me. You have to talk to the people who make the team, who organise the squad, who build this club. I just try to do my job the best I can.”

It's ironic, then, that the latest U-turn in what has become a two-year saga regarding Mbappe's future may have left the French champions in the strongest position they have been in the Champions League for some time. PSG have spent 10 years failing in the competition, suffering from poorly-constructed squads, weight of expectation, and, at times, bad luck, to crash out of Europe.

This time, though, there is reason to believe that things might be different, that PSG could force their way to the top of the continental game. The competition's field appears to be weaker than in recent years, and perhaps more importantly, this is a PSG team that appears to be better constructed, defined by a coherent system that just happens to have one of the best goalscorers in football history playing off the left.

(C)Getty imagesAn imperfect player

PSG's Champions League failures aren't entirely Mbappe's fault. It, of course, depends on how you view the game. If you are of the mind, however, that goals ultimately win games, then Mbappe has done his part. Here is a player who, at just 24, has scored 40 goals in 61 Champions League games. If he continues to score at this rate — or improves — he might just end up the competition's all-time top scorer, usurping Cristiano Ronaldo. That 15 of those goals have come in the knockout stages should quell any suggestion that he is unable to perform under pressure (his World Cup final hat-trick should also do away with that notion).

But this sport is played on both sides of the ball, and that's where PSG's problems start. It is far too simplistic to claim that all of the Parisians' Champions League failures come from their attacking players' reluctance to run and press off the ball. Indeed, there are different ways of doing these things, and PSG have never been a furious counter-pressing side in the mould of Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.

Still, for almost two years, the Parisians have had to make up for the apparent disinterest in the concept of defending from three players. While Lionel Messi had an excuse due to his age and Neymar was perhaps a write-off when it came to coaching, Mbappe never really had an excuse for his lack of legwork.

There is history here with Mbappe, too. France were forced to move him to central role in the latter stages of the World Cup due to his lack of defensive work on the left. PSG shifted to a back three under Christophe Galtier, partially to offer extra centre-back cover when their wing-backs were outnumbered.

For long stretches of the last two years, PSG have effectively found themselves playing 7 vs 10 with the ball in play, and Mbappe has to shoulder some of the blame for that. He is still a net benefit — we are talking about one of the best in the world here. But there are undoubtedly imperfections to his game.

AdvertisementGettyBenefits of a Neymar-less team

This is a radically different PSG squad to the one that crashed out of the Champions League in the round of 16 last season, though. Messi is gone, so too is Sergio Ramos, while Marco Verratti could soon follow them.

Meanwhile, it is a rather handsome coincidence that Mbappe's return to the fold came right around the same time that Neymar's move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal started to gain momentum. The pair's conflicts have perhaps been overblown, but there is little to suggest that PSG's star duo have ever been the best of friends.

There is, in some senses, a good reason why. Neymar signed for PSG thinking that he would have sole stardom in the side. Mbappe was brought in just weeks later — ruining Neymar's crusade before it really began. Since then, the two have feuded on and off the pitch, culminating in Mbappe sending sly messages through the press directed at his team-mate.

Neymar, too, is a divisive character. Like Mbappe, he is an immensely talented footballer on the ball. But he has always been disinterested without it, often found peering inquisitively towards the other end of the pitch, watching exasperated team-mates defend. Meanwhile, there are certainly parallels in the sense that they are both significant distractions off the field. In short, PSG wasn't big enough for both of them. And with Neymar gone, Mbappe has the limelight to himself.

Football has always been something of a vanity project for the France captain, more a sport he happens to be very good at than an overwhelming point of passion. Without Neymar around, the onus is on Mbappe alone to make things happen. That can only be a good thing for a player who has never shied away from the big moments.

GettyA rejuvenated squad

But that doesn't mean it'll be easy for the suddenly committed star. Mbappe's paradoxes will not simply go away. Luis Enrique is a good manager, who has a history of clashing with big names. That does not mean Mbappe will remarkably elect to start running off the ball, although that would be a dream scenario. Instead, he likely needs to function in a balanced system, one tactically fine-tuned enough so that any player — not just Mbappe — could slot into a left-wing role with ease.

It's a good thing, then, that PSG appear to have assembled their 2023-24 squad with at least something of an assumption that they would have to make do without their star man. The Parisians exiled him, in one of football's least convincing and shortest shows of strength. But they did enough during his month-long banishment to suggest their new-look side wouldn't need him, at least to continue winning domestically.

The signings look like those of a club looking to revamp and fine tune, not rebuild in the absence of their star man. In attack, they have added Marco Asensio, Ousmane Dembele, Lee Kang-In and Goncalo Ramos. In midfield, they have brought in Manuel Ugarte. At the back, Milan Skriniar has come into the fold — a contender for the transfer window's best value for money signing if he recaptures his old form. Add long-term target Randal Kolo Muani, and perhaps another centre-midfielder to the fold, and PSG will have enjoyed an interesting, perhaps even vaguely exciting summer.

There might not be an obvious tactical thread or archetype running through their signings, but PSG have targeted a mix of young players for big money and older heads on friendlier deals. This should be a hungry group, overseen by a manager who has won in Europe before. Even without Mbappe, there was reason for excitement here. Throw him into the XI, and this goes from a promising team to an excellent one — a good side with a razor-sharp edge up front to provide the goals.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesHow it can work

PSG have been here before, though. There have been summers with smart signings, hirings of tactically-adept managers, and unbridled optimism ahead of the season. The right names have supposedly been brought in, with good vibes abound. Throw in a fancy new kit, massive shirt sales, a big-money pre-season tour, and the Parisians are perennially dubbed contenders once more.

And it all ends in the same way. PSG usually win Ligue 1, breeze through the Champions League group stages, and then fail in embarrassing fashion in the European knockouts. There are, of course, different degrees of disappointment here. PSG lost in the 2020 Champions League final and fell in the semis the year after. Quarter-final exits, although far from ideal, are nothing to be sniffed at either.

The issue is, once spending skyrockets into the hundreds of millions, knockout stage exits shouldn't be accepted. Yes, other teams around Europe spend big — and invariably win the Champions League because of it. Still, PSG have more money than almost all of them combined. There is a difference between having money and knowing how to spend it. But the Parisians should have won the thing by now.

And this year, as with any, hopes will once again be high. In the past, though, the Parisians have thrown their cash at a collective of stars, with space fillers serving as connective tissue. As it turns out, there is only so much Danilo Pereira can do to make up for the shortcomings of those around him.

Now, though, there's something of a team here, with a superstar to give them an edge. And with some of the usual actors having not qualified for the competition or looking comparably weaker than last season, this could be the campaign where it all comes together.

Mbappe will almost-certainly be playing for another team in in 12 months' time. This is his best chance to win the trophy PSG truly want before he goes.

Cristiano Ronaldo to Lionel Messi – Who are the top 10 goalscorers from penalties in the 21st century?

Here are the ten players who have scored the most number of goals from penalties in the 21st century…

Cristiano Ronaldo is the most successful player when it comes to scoring from the penalty spot in the 21st century. Out of the 819 goals the Al-Nassr player scored so far in his career, 146 came from penalties.

Ronaldo is followed by his close rival Lionel Messi and AS Roma and Italy legend Francesco Totti. While Messi has netted 108 times from the penalty spot, Totti has converted 86 spot-kicks in his illustrious career.

Other than Ronaldo and Messi, the other two active players to feature in the list of highest goalscorers from penalties are Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani.

Let us take a look at the ten highest goalscorers from penalties in the 21st century.

Getty ImagesSteven Gerrard

Goals: 46

Teams: Liverpool. LA Galaxy, England.

Tenure: 1998-2016

AdvertisementGettySergio Aguero

Goals: 48

Teams: Indipendiente, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, FC Barcelona, Argentina.

Tenure: 2003-2021

Getty ImagesEdinson Cavani

Goals: 60

Teams: Danubio, Palermo, Napoli, PSG, Manchester United, Uruguay.

Tenure: 2005-present

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesFrank Lampard

Goals: 60

Teams: West Ham United, Swansea City, Chelsea, Manchester City, New York City, England.

Tenure: 1995-2016