All posts by n8rngtd.top

We independently choose all products featured on our site. We may earn a commission when you purchase something through the links provided.

Meet the 23 products that wowed us this year

Back for the second year running, we present the GOAL 2023 Awards. With the biggest Women’s World Cup to date and some huge moves to Saudi Arabia, 2023 has surely been full of surprises. 

The beautiful game is bigger than it has ever been, and that means our inboxes have once again been stacked full of new drops and exciting product launches.

From unmissable collaborations to the most fashion-forward club kit, we’re here to share our insight into the best products the year has seen. We’ve shared a lot along the way, but this is our closing ceremony for the year 2023.

Introducing, the GOAL 2023 Product Awards.

• The 23 Best Products of 2023

  Fashion Kit of the Year

  Victoria Park Vixens Home Kit

  GOAL / variousAvailable in 2024

  Notable Mentions: Venezia FC Third Kit, Jamaica x Wales Bonner Home Kit.

  An easy win for the Victoria Park Vixens this year. Coming up against some of the biggest names in football, their new home kit dazzled us all.

  Decked in exquisite shades of wine featuring new kit manufacturer Kappa and an all-new logo, the Vixens have truly outdone themselves with this one.

  Looks as good on the pitch as it will on the streets. Up the Vixens.

  Follow the Victoria Park Vixens for updates on the upcoming kit launch and support the Vixens in their 2024 campaign.

• Pre-Match kit of the Year

  Arsenal x Ian Wright Pre-Match Shirt

  GOAL / various$70.00 at Pro: Direct Soccer

  Notable Mentions: Juventus 2023-24 Pre-Match Shirt, Bayern Munich 2023-24 Pre-Match Shirt.

  An iconic shirt for a North London legend. Who knew Ian Wright's 60th birthday would give us a whole Wrighty-inspired collection, and the star of the show, a pre-match shirt for the books.

  Filled with all the great memories and career highlights of the Arsenal legend all over the shirt, it's a tribute worthy of an award.

• Collaboration Kit of the Year

  Arsenal x Stella McCartney Women's Away Kit

  GOAL / various$99.99 at Soccer.com

  Notable Mentions: Pompeii x Kappa, Top Boy x Hackney Wick 2.0.

  adidas and Arsenal linked up once again with British designer Stella McCartney to support Arsenal Women on and off the pitch. Introducing, the first bespoke kit for Arsenal Women, and what a beauty.

  The knockout away shirt takes centre stage with a fusion of geometric patterns and accents of pink and blue. A big win for Arsenal, and an even bigger win for female players.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Boot of the Year

  Under Armour Women's Magnetico Pro 3

  GOAL / various$130.00 at Under Armour

  Notable Mentions:adidas Predstrike Predator, Messi x adidas Crazyfast 'Las Estrellas'.

  2023 was a huge year for women's football, and with the rise came advancements that were long due. Back in the summer, Under Armour unveiled its first-ever football boot designed specifically for the female foot, with global football sensations Alex Greenwood and Kelley O'Hara front and centre.

  If you're tired of boots never fitting quite right, Under Armour’s Magnetico 3 is the answer. A football boot that is specifically tailored to the female foot and equips you with everything you could need to excel when it matters most. It's a 10/10 from us.

How both the Charleston Battery and Phoenix Rising can win the 2023 USL Championship title game.

The Phoenix Rising's 2023 postseason campaign has been an absolute Cinderella story, winning three times on the road and three times taking down a higher seed. Now, they have their biggest test yet as the look to claim their first-ever USL Championship final trophy.

Charleston, meanwhile, are in familiar territory. They are four-time USL champions and are looking to add a fifth in their 31st year as an organization, but their first in the USL Championship division.

The Battery are in their first final since 2012, where they claimed victory, while Rising competed there in 2018, falling just short. Now, both teams are looking to add to the trophy case in Sunday's Championship game.

GOAL takes a look at how each team got to the final and where a potential victory may lie for each respective side.

• USL Championship
  

  The road warriors: How Rising have overcome adversity to make the final

  Despite endng their regular season campaign winless in five matches, Rising have pulled off the unthinkable, and have made it to USL Championship final with three-straight postseason road wins. Phoenix, the no. 6 seed, knocked off favorites San Diego Loyal 4-3 in an Extra-time thriller in game one of the playoffs, and followed it with a round two victory over Orange County SC.

  Emil Cuello's 116th-minute goal in Extra-time secured advancement for Rising once again, with their second-straight hectic playoff match capped off by a winner with minutes to spare before penalties.

  The most stunning result of the playoffs so far, though, was their 2-1 semifinal victory over Sacramento Republic FC. They leveled the game in the 80th minute, but stoppage-time in regulation saw them secure a berth in the final courtesy of Cuello once again.

  Now, the Cinderella story of the playoffs are looking to make it four road wins in four matches, when they head to Charleston.

Advertisement

• USL Championship
  

  Three-straight home playoff wins: How the Battery made the final

  The Battery began the playoffs in stunning fashion, battering Indy Eleven 5-0 in the opening game. The No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference followed it up with a brilliant 2-1 victory over Birmingham Legion in the quarterfinals, where Derek Dodson's 68th minute winner secured them a semifinal berth.

  The Semifinals saw them host No. 5 seed Louisville City, where the home side dominated the entire match in a 2-1 victory. City earned a goal back in second-half stoppage, but the Battery deservedly advanced to the final courtesy of goals from Augustine Williams and Arturo Rodriguez.

  Now, on the heels of three-straight home playoff victories, the Battery have one more game at Patriots Point before they can potentially lift the USL Championship trophy.

• USL Championship
  

  How the Rising can win their first title

  Winning on the road is never easy, but once you figure it out, it seems to stick. That's where the Rising are at right now, too. The pressure isn't on them, it's on the home side who have won three-straight on their own turf. Knowing you're an underdog and knowing that you're at a disadvantage in nearly every scenario can sometimes work in your favor – because soccer isn't just about the physical game, it also focuses on the mental and intellectual sides of it as well. If they play their game and relieve themselves of worry, the levels are instantly even.

  As for performance on the pitch, it's all about feeding their current playoff-run hero Emil Cuello. He's come off the bench twice to win games for Rising during this heroic stretch, so one would expect him to get the nod come Sunday.

  The 26-year-old Argentine is as confident as they come at the moment, but if he isn't utilized from the start, keep an eye on regular season goalscoring sensation Danny Trejo – who found the back of the net 17 times during their campaign.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• USL Championship
  

  What Charleston need to do to earn a fifth club-championship

  Three-straight home playoff wins AND you get to host the final? The Battery are living the dream.

  However, they cannot overlook their advantages and come in overconfident. The Rising are in incredible road form, and the only time the two sides met this season was on opening day; a 1-1 draw.

  For the Battery, though, it's all about feeding the playmakers who are in-form. Augustine Williams led them in scoring during the regular season and has found the back of the net twice this postseason, while Emilio Ycaza also has found the back of the net twice during the three-match span.

  Patriots Point has been a fortress for the Battery this season, and they've won six of their last seven on their home turf. If the Battery can utilize their home support and their goal-scoring form to their advantage, they have a chance to list their fifth club-title and first-ever USL Championship trophy.

Speaking in a Q&A for football.london, Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Alasdair Gold has made an encouraging transfer claim.

The Lowdown: Sell-to-buy…

It is set to be a strange summer at Tottenham, with the club needing to offload players before properly finalising player moves in this window.

Of all the names linked with a summer exit from Spurs, only Juan Foyth has managed to complete a permanent move away so far and help to bolster Tottenham’s transfer kitty.

The other players linked with departures, including potentially Harry Winks, Serge Aurier, Erik Lamela and Moussa Sissoko (football.london), are all still on Spurs’ books.

The Latest: Gold drops encouraging transfer claim…

Speaking in a football.london Q&A, Gold has now explained what Spurs will definitely do if they manage to sell a particular player.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/spurs-latest-updates-2/” title=”Spurs latest updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Indeed, the journalist says that Tottenham will move for a new right-back if wantaway ace Aurier can secure a departure this summer.

“It’s quite simple with Aurier,” Gold says.

“He wants to go, Spurs would be happy for him to go, but they need a reasonable bid (not as high as the 20m euros reported in France last week).

“Tottenham will move for a new right-back if he does head out of the exit door.

“Tottenham like Aarons and they need some homegrown signings but it’s all on Paratici now.”

The Verdict: Encouraging…

Tottenham have long been linked with a new right-back, with reports of interest in Max Aarons dating as far back as last summer.

Spurs were also tracking Turkey international defender Zeki Celik last year and those links have re-emerged over 2021 as well. 

If the Lilywhites are going to initiate a major summer overhaul, supporters may be encouraged by this claim that Spurs will move to immediately replace Aurier if the Ivorian can seal his exit.

In other news: ‘Crazy’ – Fabrizio Romano shares manager update with ‘new name’ now contacted, find out more here.

Cristiano Ronaldo's son has agreed to join Al-Nassr's Under 13 team and has his eye on reaching the senior side to play alongside his father.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Ronaldo Jr signed Al-Nassr deal
• Will wear No. 7 jersey like his dad
• Hopes to play alongside iconic star

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The iconic star's eldest son has signed a deal with the Riyadh club's youth team, according to Fabrizio Romano, and will start training alongside his new team-mates in the next few days.

Advertisement

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The 13-year-old has been training in Saudi Arabia since his dad made the switch to Al-Nassr in January this year. However, he has now become part of the Pro League side's academy.

  The youngster will follow in his father's footsteps even further by wearing the No. 7 jersey that has become part of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner's brand.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  The youngster even hopes to realise his deam of playing alongside his dad, as Ronaldo said in 2019: "Sometimes, my son tells me: ‘Dad, hold on for a few more years, I want to play with you’. But that will be difficult."

  Ronaldo is already 38-years-old, however, so it remains to be seen if he will still be playing by the time his son can make the first-team.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty
  

  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Ronaldo and Al-Nassr are in action again on Saturday when they take on Damac in the Saudi Pro League.

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Tottenham defender Graham Roberts does not believe Manchester United need to sign a player like Harry Winks this summer.

Winks is currently being linked with a move to Old Trafford, with Stretty News claiming earlier this month that the 25-year-old midfielder is a target for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Winks really struggled for game time last season, though his fortunes did improve when Ryan Mason took over following Jose Mourinho’s sacking.

Should Winks be offered no guarantees over minutes by Mourinho’s successor, then he may very well need to consider his future in north London.

Roberts, however, is struggling to see how a move to Manchester United would make any sense. The Spurs legend exclusively told FFC:

“They have [Scott] McTominay, they have Fred. Similar? You know, do they need another one there?

“I would think Man United would be putting all their eggs in a striker or another centre-half, so I think that’s their main agenda.”

As well as McTominay and Fred, United also have Donny van de Beek who can play in that midfield position, and he was barely used by Solskjaer during the 2020/21 campaign.

Winks could easily find himself in a similar position as the United boss continues to opt for the likes of McTominay and Fred.

Does that make the England international a bad player? Of course not, he has his talents, with former manager Mauricio Pochettino once hailing him as “amazing”. But a move to United may not be the best fit for him.

The two-time World Cup winner played her final international match on Sunday after a career that has changed the game on and off the field

Women's soccer has never seen anyone quite like Megan Rapinoe. Hell, the world in general hasn't either. For more than a decade, the United States women's national team star has been a lightning rod of attention and a fireball of a player, one that has transcended the game she plays and the country she calls home.

This summer, though, was her curtain call, her last dance. Not from the bright lights, of course, as Rapinoe will no doubt remain part of pop culture long beyond her playing career. The USWNT star isn't going away, that's for sure. There isn't anything in the world that could truly silence her.

No, Rapinoe, the celebrity, will continue on. As will Rapinoe, the activist. Rapinoe, the player? Well, her days are numbered. Prior to the Women's World Cup, Rapinoe announced that the tournament would be her last as she intends to retire at the end of 2023. At age 38, the time has come. Sunday's match against South Africa was her final in a USWNT shirt before she calls it a career at the end of the NWSL season.

She'll leave the game as one of its most decorated players, with two World Cup triumphs, an Olympic Gold Medal, a World Cup Golden Ball, a World Cup Golden Boot, a Ballon d'Or and a FIFA The Best Women's Player award, just to name a few.

Her time on the big stage didn't end the way she would have liked, however, as her penalty soared into the sky at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium against Sweden in the World Cup last 16, proving that even a star as big as Rapinoe doesn't often get the chance to write their own ending.

On and off the field, Rapinoe has been a dynamo, a superstar unlike any we've ever seen. From the bright hair to the aura of defiance that has so often been stamped out of a less politically-inclined sports landscape, Rapinoe is a one-of-one.

“I’m exactly what they’re familiar and comfortable with, just packaged up differently," she told ahead of the World Cup. "I’m exactly the brash, arrogant athlete that Americans love.” And though her time as that athlete is coming to an end, Rapinoe's legacy on the field is secure as she's solidified her spot as one of the game's most important players.

• Getty
  

  An important announcement

  Rapinoe didn't want it to linger. She didn't want her team dealing with speculation or questions or uncertainty. So, instead, she just came out and said it. She's retiring.

  The announcement came via U.S. Soccer, who released a lengthy statement hailing Rapinoe's accomplishments. World Cup champion, Ballon d'Or winner, LGBTQ+ icon… the list went on and on.

  And that's basically what Rapinoe wanted to avoid: dragging this whole process on and on. She knew the questions would come about her future. She knew that, if she didn't answer them, her teammates would be asked them, too. So, to turn the focus back toward the World Cup, she got ahead of it all.

  "Obviously I'm 38 years old, I'm not going to be playing forever and it just always feels weird for me to have something settled and feel at peace and to not answer a question honestly," Rapinoe said. "I kind of wanted to have that for myself.

  "I think it allows me to focus a lot more, allows the team to focus a lot more. We don't have to get questions every time, every single game. It's just kind of out there and I can just really enjoy it and focus on trying to win the tournament."

  Still, despite Rapinoe's intentions, her team-mates still had plenty to say about her impending exit ahead of this summer's tournament.

Advertisement

• Getty
  

  A tearful goodbye

  Kelley O'Hara started off pretty strong, to her credit. She was full of praise for Rapinoe and what she's meant to the USWNT program. By the end, though, O'Hara's strength was failing a bit. The voice started cracking a bit as the tears began to flow. From the outside, it seemed that, in that moment, it began to hit her.

  "It's hard to put into words, honestly," O'Hara said. "I know that the world sees the Megan Rapinoe that the world sees, but we get to see her up close and personal. The Pinoe that the world sees is an incredible person and human, and that is her up close and personal as well. She brings a sense of humor and lightness, but intensity and empathy.

  "She's one of a kind. There's never been anyone like her, and there's probably never gonna be one close to her, so it's sad to think about this being her last, but she's done such incredible things for this team and for the world, so to be able to see the up close and personal Pinoe and be close to that has been really special, and I hope that we can send her out on a high."

  That sentiment was largely echoed by Alex Morgan, Rapinoe's teammate at four World Cups, with this most recent run serving as their final adventure together.

  “She’s been an advocate for this team. She’s been a backbone for this team,” said Morgan. “Whether it’s going through the equal pay fight, standing up for marginalized communities, she’s someone who is going to stand up for that when it’s not always a popular opinion…She’s true to herself. That’s from the beginning when I met her until now. She says what she thinks, she means what she says. You have to love her for that.”

  Kristie Mewis, meanwhile, did her best before the tournament to convince Rapinoe to stay on for one more cycle. The USWNT might have needed her, after all. "Honestly, she's just such a presence," Mewis said. "That's how I would describe her. She's just such a presence on this team."

  Rapinoe isn't staying. This was it, her last World Cup.

• Getty
  

  Rapinoe's reduced role

  Given her age, it isn't exactly a secret or surprise, but Rapinoe has slowed down. She's not the dominant force she once was, and there was a while when it looked like she may not even be part of the USWNT in the lead-up to this World Cup.

  Rapinoe was one of several World Cup winners excluded by head coach Vlatko Andonovski at parts of this cycle as he looked to facilitate a transition towards youth. All of the old guard was put on notice, even if there was a plan in place to bring them back later on.

  In some places, that youth movement never quite came to fruition, as the U.S. still leaned on the likes of Morgan and Julie Ertz. In other places, it worked, with young stars like Sophia Smith, Alyssa Thompson, Trinity Rodman and Naomi Girma all booking their spot in the squad.

  Rapinoe, meanwhile, accepted her new place as the USWNT's, as she puts it, "fun grandma". The next generation has started to take control, leaving Rapinoe without the starring role she had for most of her career. And she was just fine with that. Rapinoe, by and large, was glad to be along for one last ride before it was all over.

  "These little kids are just good," she said on the Snacks podcast of her rising-star teammates before the tournament. "Everyone’s just good."

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty
  

  'A sick joke'

  "I'm like, 'You've got to be f*cking kidding me'," Rapinoe said after her World Cup came to an end. "I'm going to miss a penalty? I mean, honestly, I can't remember the last time I missed."

  That was it, her last kick of a ball at the World Cup. With the USWNT duelling with Sweden in a penalty shootout, Rapinoe was among three USWNT stars to miss. She hadn't missed in years, but the Soccer Gods don't care about that sort of statistic.

  “This is like a sick joke for me personally," she told after the game. "This is a dark comedy that I missed a penalty. This is the balance to the beautiful side of the game.”

  The miss capped a tough World Cup for the USWNT star, who was never quite able to impact the game from her role as a substitute. She couldn't find a goal or an assist in three appearances as the 38-year-old veteran looked just a step off the pace.

  But no one could have predicted that cruel, cruel ending. Rapinoe herself laughed as she trotted back to her teammates, knowing just how out of character it was for her to miss in that moment. It's an unfortunate swansong for a player that could have, and probably should have, had a better goodbye to the game at this top level.

Bristol City appear to have moved ahead of Celtic in the race to sign Leeds United left-back Barry Douglas after opening talks with the player, Football Insider report.

The Lowdown: Hoops links

The Hoops were name-checked with an interest in the 31-year-old earlier this month by the Lancashire Telegraph.

Rivals Rangers were also credited with an interest in the full-back, whose Elland Road deal expires in a matter of weeks.

Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa called Douglas an ‘impeccable professional’ when he moved to Ewood Park on loan last season, with the Scot going on to make 31 appearances under Tony Mowbray.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-5/” title=”Celtic updates!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

The Latest: Source shares update

Football Insider ran a story on Douglas on Tuesday morning after being informed by a recruitment source.

They claimed that Bristol City have opened talks with Douglas, who also has interest from Turkey and the United States.

The player’s wish is to remain in England, so it seems as if a potential move to Celtic Park has taken a hit.

The Verdict: Postecoglou could do with a left-back

Diego Laxalt returned to AC Milan following his loan spell at Parkhead last month, so new boss Ange Postecoglou could do with a left-back addition this summer.

It appears as if that may not be Douglas following the latest update, with Greg Taylor the only left-back on the books at Celtic Park at this moment in time.

If Postecoglou is after a left-back who is soon to be available for nothing, he could look at fellow Leeds man Ezgjan Alioski, Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand or even Liverpool youngster Yasser Larouci, with the trio just three left-backs at English sides who could be free agents soon.

In other news: Celtic transfer news emerges on ‘excellent’ ace; Postecoglou edging closer to first signing, find out more here. 

The 2023 Women's World Cup runners-up return to action this week with games against Scotland and the Netherlands in Europe's new competition

Thirty-three days after defeat in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, England will be back in action for the first time since that devastating disappointment when they take on Scotland on Friday evening in the UEFA Women’s Nations League. It’s a new competition and a chance for the Lionesses to put the summer behind them, as they look ahead to three trophy chances in the next two years.

The first of those comes in this tournament, in which they will face Scotland, Belgium and the Netherlands in the group stages. The latter, head coach Sarina Wiegman’s home country, will be their opponents in the second game of this international window, in Utrecht on Tuesday.

England will hope to progress to the latter stages of the Nations League for not only a shot at winning the thing, but also to ensure that Great Britain has the chance to take a women’s football team to the Olympics in France next year. They will likely need to reach the final to achieve qualification. The Lionesses need to secure their place at the European Championships in 2025, too, and will do exactly that if they finish first or second in their group.

So, as the focus shifts to new objectives and silverware, GOAL picks out six issues that England will need to tackle as they take to the field again…

• Getty
  

  Walsh's absence

  A minor calf injury means England will start their Nations League campaign without Keira Walsh, the Barcelona star who is an ever-present at the base of midfield. Her absence is something that the Lionesses have rarely had to deal with before, but the Women’s World Cup was a great learning experience in this regard.

  Without Walsh for their final group-stage game against China due to a knee injury, Wiegman brought in Katie Zelem for not only her World Cup debut but her first England start. The Manchester United captain had never started a game for her country before but she played well in that match and seemed to suit the new 3-5-2 set-up much better than Walsh did, even, when she returned for the rest of the tournament.

  Zelem will be hoping to get a chance in there again and will be the front-runner to do so, especially because there are no other natural holding midfielders in the squad. That said, Wiegman may use this as an opportunity to trial one or two others in that role, though she’ll have to be a little careful with any experimentation given the need for results against two difficult opponents.

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Which system to use

  Another interesting thing to watch will be whether or not England line up in that 3-5-2 system. Wiegman switched to it from her usual 4-3-3 after two games at the World Cup and never reverted back, the new set-up getting much more out of the attack while also masking a couple of weaknesses in the team as the Lionesses reached the final.

  There is always the chance that Wiegman opts to go back to her previous formation and figure out how to get England playing at their best again within it. But they showed a lot of promise in the 3-5-2 despite playing just five games in it, with there plenty to build on.

  What’s most exciting for England, really, is that they have this versatility now and the ability to be flexible in how they line up. That could be particularly useful during this upcoming international break, because for the first time since switching shape, they will take on an opponent that also plays three-at-the-back, in the Netherlands.

  That match against Wiegman’s home country will be an even more intriguing test in that sense, then, especially if England are looking to develop the formation that led them to the World Cup final.

• Getty
  

  Daly's role

  Alessia Russo's form has been a hot topic of conversation for almost the entirety of the past year. After scoring just 10 league goals last season – outscored by England's other two centre-forward options in their World Cup squad, Rachel Daly and Bethany England – there were huge questions over whether or not she would retain her place at the focal point of the Lionesses' attack.

  But Wiegman stuck with the 24-year-old and she came good with goals in the quarter-finals and semi-finals, the front two in the new formation clearly helping to get more out of her game.

  As we move into the new season, Russo has a new club, having signed for Arsenal when her Manchester United contract expired in the summer, and she’s made a strong start to life as a Gunner. After looking sharp in her first game back, a 3-0 win over Linkoping, Russo netted twice off the bench against Paris FC a few days later.

  It couldn’t stop Arsenal from a hugely disappointing exit from the Women’s Champions League in the first qualifying round, with Russo missing in the decisive shootout, but the early signs are good for England’s starting centre-forward in terms of getting back to the goalscoring ways that will be needed to fend off competition from others.

  The question is – where does that leave Daly? She played as a left wing-back in the 3-5-2 set-up at the World Cup, a role that got her in and around the box a lot more in an attacking sense but one that could still see her exploited by opponents given she is not a defender.

  Is there another position that Daly can play in the system? Can her and Russo play together? What happens if Wiegman goes back to 4-3-3? Last season's WSL Golden Boot winner is one of England's best attacking weapons, but the coach still faces a conundrum when it comes to how to use her. The decision to rest Russo against Scotland could offer some clues as to what comes next for the Aston Villa star, however, or at least give her the chance to stake her claim for Russo's place in the team.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

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

• Getty
  

  Introducing the next generation

  After major tournaments are out of the way, so to speak, coaches often take the opportunity to call up younger players that just missed out on the last cycle, and that is the case with Wiegman and England for this camp, too.

  Maya Le Tissier, arguably the best centre-back in the Women’s Super League last term; Jess Park, an exciting and versatile forward who has shone since her debut last November; and Lucy Parker, the uncapped defender brought in as an injury replacement for Lotte Wubben-Moy, are all young players that have been given a chance to impress in this window after missing out on the World Cup squad.

  On top of those names, there are also the likes of Esme Morgan, Katie Robinson and Niamh Charles, all members of the group that travelled to Australia but players who will be hoping to get more opportunities moving forward.

  Unlike some of the big nations, England don’t have a big generational change to go through after the World Cup. The oldest player in the squad is Laura Coombs, who is 32, and she is one of only seven players that went to the tournament that are over the age of 30, with two of those having celebrated that milestone birthday in the time since the defeat to Spain in the final.

  How much Wiegman tinkers with her team over the next few months will be interesting, then, as she’ll no doubt be thinking about how she’d like it to look for the Euros in 2025 while also trying to guide England to a successful Nations League campaign.

Carlton Palmer believes that Aston Villa wouldn’t be a sideways move for Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse.

Dean Smith’s side might have finished 12 points ahead of the Saints, but disappointing second half of the season meant they ended up just four places above the St Mary’s outfit.

However, widespread reports believe that Smith is trying to bring the Southampton captain to Villa Park this summer in what would be their latest high-profile Premier League addition.

Villa have already secured the services of Norwich’s Emiliano Buendia for a club-record fee last week, whilst Ollie Watkins and Emiliano Martinez arrived 12 months ago.

Ward-Prowse has enjoyed an impressive season for Southampton, scoring eight times – two of which were stunning free-kicks against Aston Villa – which is more than Jack Grealish, whilst also laying on seven assists for his teammates.

However, his form wasn’t enough to see him named in Gareth Southgate’s 26-man squad for the Euro’s despite an outstanding performance in the final warm-up game against Romania on Sunday.

Palmer told Football FanCast that signing for Villa would be a progressive move for Ward-Prowse despite the club’s both on a similar level:

“Villa are going for it. They’ve just managed to sign Buendia. Villa are a big, big club, and have a top manager in Dean Smith.

“So, from Southampton to Aston Villa, I think that’s a good move. And with Grealish there, I don’t expect Grealish to be going anywhere.

“He’s getting a very good squad of players there, and they could be challenging top six or top seven next season, so that would be a good move for him.”

West Ham United are reportedly facing even more competition for one of their top transfer targets ahead of the summer transfer window…

What’s the word?

Back in April, the ever-reliable Irons insider ExWHUemployee told fans that David Moyes’ first-choice striker target was Tammy Abraham, who is thought to be free to leave Chelsea for around £40m.

And now the Hammers are facing a likely transfer tussle over his signature, especially with the Scot supposedly unwilling to pay such a high fee for a homegrown and proven Premier League talent.

According to the Sunday World, top-flight rivals Crystal Palace are the latest side to be linked to the 23-year-old forward and despite not having a manager in the dugout, there is ‘strong interest’ from their side.

Leicester City, Aston Villa and Wolverhampton Wanderers have also been linked to Abraham in recent months.

Big setback

This will come as devastating news to Moyes, especially if the Chelsea outcast is indeed his no.1 candidate.

It’s no secret that the East London outfit are desperate for additions to their frontline. After the departure of club-record flop Sebastian Haller in January, the 58-year-old was left with only one striker, an injury-prone Michail Antonio.

He has not started in more than 24 games in any Premier League season, leaving Moyes in a sticky spot whenever he’s injured. At times, the likes of Manchester United loan sensation Jesse Lingard and Jarrod Bowen had to be deployed as makeshift centre-forwards.

[snack-amp-story url= “https://www.footballfancast.com/web-stories/read-the-latest-west-ham-news-transfer-rumours-the-latest-gossip-and-much-more” title= “Read the latest West Ham news, transfer rumours, gossip and more!”]

The need for a new talisman has since ramped up, with the Irons qualifying to compete in the Europa League next season. Even the addition of one man may not be enough to keep them competitive in what could be a 50-plus game season.

Abraham is certainly an interesting candidate, given he finished the season amongst Chelsea’s top goalscorers (six) despite rarely featuring under Thomas Tuchel.

In all competitions this season, the six-time England international – who is not on the plane to the Euros – has found the next 12 times, taking his total tally for the Blues to 30 in 82 appearances, via Transfermarkt.

His attitude on the training ground earned praise from club legend John Terry, who coached him during a loan spell at Villa in the Championship. He told the club’s official website that the striker was “incredible” and also added:

“His passion is infectious. We all want results and performances, but supporters want you to work your socks off for the football club. Tammy has that and that’s what you want in the whole group. It breeds a winning mentality and makes you relentless.”

The fact that there is yet another side in the running for him will come as a massive blow to the Irons, especially it could leave Moyes rueing his stubbornness over the fee.

They simply cannot afford to risk going into next season with just Antonio. That would be disastrous.

AND in other news, Moyes must brutally axe £75k-p/w West Ham flop this summer, he’s been “too anonymous”…