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Speaking to Football Insider, rival ‘insider’ John Wenham has dropped a claim on Jarrod Bowen – with David Moyes gifted a big West Ham United boost.

The Lowdown: Bowen a wanted man…

As per The Independent, Moyes may have to be wary of his biggest rivals swooping for Bowen as scouts from Tottenham, Liverpool and Leicester all keep tracking the winger.

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Amid his electric start to the season, it appears he is already attracting admirers and the last thing West Ham need is to lose a forward option without a recognised back-up striker.

However, in reaction to this news, a Spurs insider has appeared to alleviate fears that his side could make a move for Bowen.

The Latest: Insider drops possible Moyes boost…

As per Lilywhites ‘insider’ John Wenham, speaking to FI, it appears Moyes and West Ham may not have to worry about losing the forward to one of their biggest London rivals.

“Tottenham and West Ham don’t do business. There is no love lost between the two clubs at boardroom level,” he explained.

“I don’t see West Ham entertaining any bids for Bowen from Tottenham, that one is a non-starter.

“Tottenham may be interested in him but some clubs just don’t do business.

“I would categorically rule that one out now. Even if West Ham said he was available they would turn down an approach from Tottenham.

“From what I’ve heard from people I know in the industry, I just can’t see that one happening.”

The Verdict: Big boost for Moyes?

Moyes having to watch GSB sell to a rival like Spurs would have left a bitter taste, so this news comes as a breath of fresh air.

The 24-year-old has, arguably, been one of West Ham’s players of the season so far alongside star striker Michail Antonio.

No Irons man has averaged more completed dribbles (3) or key passes per 90 (2.4) in the Premier League according to WhoScored, and if he continues this streak he could be a very key player this year.

In other news: ‘What a bargain’…Sky pundit reacts as West Ham eye ‘great signing’ for Moyes, find out more here.

Toronto FC have signed ex-Newcastle United midfielder Matty Longstaff in a shock move for the 23-year-old Englishman.

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• Toronto FC sign Matty Longstaff
• English midfielder joins from Newcastle
• TFC bolster roster with signing

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  TFC announced their newest signing Thursday morning, with Longstaff being inked on a deal through 2025 with an option through 2026. He will be added to the first-team roster pending the receipt of his medicals and his ITC certificate.

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  WHAT TORONTO HEAD COACH JOHN HERDMAN SAID

  “I'm thrilled to welcome Matty to our squad,” said Toronto FC Head Coach John Herdman. “His Premier League experience and dynamic playing style will add depth to our midfield and complement our tactical blueprint.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Longstaff is well known across English football as being a young breakout star in 2019-20 for the Magpies. He was the scorer of an iconic goal for the Toons with a low-driven missile from the edge of the box to defeat Manchester United on his Premier League debut. He earned the EPL Goal of the Month for the hit.

  He'll now look to replicate that with TFC once he returns from injury in 2024.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TORONTO FC?

  Insigne and co. take on the New England Revolution in week two of the MLS season. After a 0-0 draw against 2023 Supporters' Shield holders FC Cincinnati, the club will look for their first goal and win of the campaign.

Fulham failed with a deadline day move to bring Jonjoe Kenny to Craven Cottage.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Liverpool Echo, who claim that Marco Silva made a last-minute enquiry regarding the possibility of signing the Everton right-back.

However, the report continues to state that, despite the 24-year-old having been available for loan and transfer for the past three seasons, Rafael Benitez rejected Fulham’s approach for the defender as the Spaniard could not find a replacement for the former England U21 international.

Silva surely fuming

While Silva is not particularly short of options at right-back, with Steven Sessegnon, Cyrus Christie and Denis Odoi all currently available for selection in the position, the injury to Kenny Tete has left the 44-year-old manager without an out and out first-choice on the right-hand side of his defence.

And, considering how highly Kenny impressed while on loan at Celtic last season, it is clear to see why the Fulham boss was keen on a move for the 24-year-old, and why missing out on his signing would have left the Portuguese manager fuming.

Indeed, over his 14 Scottish Premiership appearances for the Bhoys last season, the £5.22m-rated man helped his side keep eight clean sheets, as well as making an average of 1.4 interceptions, 1.9 tackles, 1.3 clearances and winning 4.2 duels per game.

The defender also impressed for Celtic in a creative capacity, registering two assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, in addition to making an average of 1.4 key passes per league fixture.

These returns saw the man Everton insiders dubbed a “reliable” player earn an average SofaScore match rating of 7.14, ranking him as the club’s eighth-best performer in the top flight of Scottish football.

As such, it is clear to see that Kenny would have made a fine addition to the Fulham squad, as the Everton full-back would have provided Silva with further depth to an already impressive Cottagers backline – which has played a major role in helping their side sit atop the Championship table after five games played.

In other news: Report sheds light on Fulham deadline day disaster, Silva could’ve made a big mistake

Kobbie Mainoo's class act to inspire Manchester United youngsters, following his exceptional display in Luton Town victory, won hearts at Carrington.

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• Mainoo rising rapidly at Man Utd
• Starred in United's win over Wolves & Luton Town
• Met the club's U-8s to inspire them for greater glory

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  Amidst the buzz surrounding his breakout season at United and the potential senior England call-up ahead of the Euros, Mainoo remains grounded, showcasing maturity beyond his years. According to thein a heartwarming gesture, the teenage midfielder surprised everyone by visiting an Under-8s training session on Monday after he was done with the recovery session following the victory at Luton.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Engaging with the young players for an hour, Mainoo shared his experiences of professional football and offered encouragement, leaving an indelible mark on the budding footballers. The pre-academy group also had the privilege of witnessing the first-team training session. As a token of appreciation, the players posed for photos with the youngsters and graciously signed autographs, fostering a sense of camaraderie and unity within the club.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Under the stewardship of manager Erik ten Hag, Mainoo has emerged as a regular starter this season, featuring in 15 appearances and making 13 starts. The stellar performances have caught the attention of England manager Gareth Southgate, who is reportedly contemplating including the 18-year-old sensation in the national squad for the upcoming fixtures against Brazil and Belgium.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  As Mainoo continues to flourish in his footballing journey, his humility, dedication, and talent serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration for United's next generation of players. He will be next in action against Fulham on Saturday.

Lionel Messi has starred in another commercial, with MLS and Apple TV pairing him with an Inter Miami-themed pink goat.

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• Argentine icon moved to America in 2023
• The biggest draw in domestic game
• Fans expecting more fireworks in 2024

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is the undoubted star of the show in American soccer and will be pulling in huge audiences across the United States in 2024. Supporters can follow his every move on Apple TV thanks to a lucrative broadcasting deal.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Unsurprisingly, Messi figures prominently in the latest advertising campaign to hit screens of the television and social media variety. Fans are seen catching a glimpse of the all-time great at the stadium and on streaming platforms, with the 36-year-old portrayed as a literal giant of the game as he tees up club colleague Benjamin Cremaschi.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  After taking a tumble to the turf, Cremaschi opens his eyes and is confronted by an actual pink goat – rather than ‘Greatest Of All Time’ Messi kitted out in a pink Inter Miami kit. Apple TV claim that “you’ve never seen MLS like this” as they look to take fans even closer to the action in 2024.

Mauricio Pochettino bizarrely labelled Cole Palmer as "Brazilian or Argentine" while praising his ability to "adapt so quickly" at Chelsea.

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• Palmer switched to Stamford Bridge from Man City
• Has been key player in Pochettino's Chelsea
• Argentine manager lavished praise on youngster

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Palmer returns to Manchester City for the first time since he changed his base to London as Chelsea take on the reigning champions at the Etihad Stadium over the weekend. The 21-year-old's ability to handle pressure has been showcased abundantly throughout the season and especially when he calmly converted a crucial penalty against his former employers in the previous encounter which ended in a 4-4 draw in west London. However, his rapid adjustment to his new surroundings has been even more surprising forcing Pochettino to compare the Englishman to a South American.

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• WHAT POCHETTINO SAID

  Speaking to reporters, Pochettino said: "One staff member at the club said to me: ‘he’s from Manchester, but he looks Brazilian or Argentine!' He arrived and adapted very quickly. He is smart, intelligent and cheeky. He is emotionally intelligent. He doesn’t care [about playing at City]. He will play well or not well but not because of pressure."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite initial scepticism about Palmer's £42.5 million transfer to Chelsea, he has proven to be a valuable asset and currently leads the club's scoring charts with 12 goals across all competitions. If he puts in an inspired performance against City to help Chelsea snatch a win, his heroics will be celebrated in north London and Merseyside as well as other title contenders Arsenal & Liverpool will be keeping a keen eye on the proceedings in Manchester.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Although Pep Guardiola insisted that he never had doubts about Palmer's quality, the manager fielded him just 41 times, including just six starts, after handing him a first-team debut in September 2020. The forward denied City the full three points in the reverse fixture and dished out a cold celebration in London rain the last time the two sides met and it would not be surprising if he once again does the same, as he would love to make a point to his former club!

Matt Miazga was "forcibly removed" from the officials' locker room after FC Cincinnati beat New York Red Bulls last weekend.

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• Cincinnati advanced to knockout round on penalties
• Miazga handed second yellow in shootout
• USMNT star entered referee's locker room after match

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Professional Soccer Referees Association posted a statement claiming that a player had gained unauthorized access to the officials' locker room and was "forcibly removed" by security.

  They said: "After the Nov 4th NYRB/FC Cincinnati match, a player gained unauthorized entry into the Officials’ locker room & was forcibly removed by stadium security while acting in an aggressive & hostile manner. No one's safety should ever be at risk & we expect MLS to act accordingly."

  The Philadelphia Enquirer followed the PRSA statement with a report that the individual was Cincy defender Miazga . However, the Cincinnati Enquirer then claimed that stadium security was 'not involved at all' in the situation, and that the PRSA report was exaggerated. The Athletic confirmed the report of exaggeration, revealing that a source on the incident said “the entire thing has been blown out of proportion.”

  MLS has begun an investigation of the incident, releasing a statement saying: “The safety of PRO officials must never be compromised and an investigation into this matter is being conducted.”

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The USMNT defender was shown a yellow card during regulation of the match before receiving a second in the shootout; he scored his kick, and then, in the eyes of the official, appeared to mock the New York Red Bulls fans with heart gestures. He also blew a kiss to the crowd.

  Postgame, Miazga said: “I’m annoyed,” he told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “The referee gave me a yellow card. For what? I went to my fans that I played for since I was 14 years old and gave them a heart. I gave them a heart and I was showing them my love. I get a yellow card for that? For what? And I have to take (that) and I’m suspended now. And after the game he gives me a yellow card because I asked ‘what the hell are you doing?’ Everyone’s yelling at the referee. Yeah, of course. I feel singled-out. I was speaking to (Rivas) the whole game normally. He’s talking to me nicely all game.”

  Miazga, per The Athletic report, went to speak with referee Victor Rivas about the yellow card postgame and was then removed from the situation by an FC Cincinnati staff-person, not stadium security.

  Head coach Pat Noonan said that Miazga 'knows better' and should not have put himself in that scenario postgame. “Matt’s suspended for the next game and that shouldn’t happen,” he said. “Matt knows better, we shouldn’t be missing him for the next round, as simple as that.”

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Miazga came through the academy at New York Red Bulls and grew up in New Jersey. There is, therefore, also a suggestion that he was merely paying homage to his hometown after scoring his penalty, but the gesture was not well received by the referee or the home fans.

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  After advancing from Round One of the MLS playoffs after knocking out the New York Red Bulls, the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and 2023 Supporters' Shield winners will host the winner of the best-of-three series between the New England Revolution and Philadelphia Union in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

  As things stand, the Union lead the series 1-0 and game two takes place Wednesday evening.

The Italian is taking football in a new direction and would be even better placed to change the game at the Etihad

It was almost a year ago that Roberto De Zerbi visited the Etihad Stadium for the first time. He arrived already under some pressure after taking two points from his first four matches after replacing Graham Potter, who had been head-hunted by Chelsea for his fabulous record with the Seagulls. De Zerbi had already been criticised by Graeme Souness for having had seven jobs in nine years and no Premier League experience, accusing the Italian of just brushing up on his Brighton knowledge on Google.

His Brighton side fell to another defeat at the hands of Manchester City but after the 3-1 loss to the champions, De Zerbi was given the Pep Guardiola seal of approval.

"The game was one of the toughest we could have faced because they propose a type of game that we are not used to, I would say a few teams are not used to," Guardiola said. "Outstanding the way they [Brighton] play. I’m a big admirer of Roberto and the way they play. We felt it, the players know it, how difficult it was."

Guardiola has a habit of overpraising his opponents after City victories but this time he was not exaggerating one bit and he had seen evidence of what was about to come from this most talented and forward-thinking of coaches. Brighton slaughtered Potter's Chelsea 4-1 in their next game and barely looked back, storming to sixth place in the Premier League and qualifying for Europe for the first time.

De Zerbi's stock has rocketed as a result and it is only a matter of time before he too is head-hunted by a bigger club. And there is every chance that club could be Man City, who may have to find a successor for Guardiola in the next two years as the Catalan's contract expires in 2025.

As De Zerbi prepares to face City on Saturday, GOAL explains why the Italian is the ideal man to take the baton from Guardiola whenever he chooses to step down…

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  Inspired by Guardiola's Barcelona

  De Zerbi would surely love nothing more than following Guardiola at City as the Catalan's work with Barcelona is what convinced him to dive into the world of coaching when he was winding down his career as a journeyman midfielder.

  While De Zerbi was playing out his final years with Avellino and then Romanian side Cluj, Guardiola was presiding over spellbinding football with Barcelona, romping to three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues while playing an irresistible style that had barely been seen before.

  "I became a coach for Guardiola because I loved his Barcelona," De Zerbi said last May. "I studied him a lot, I didn't copy him but I took when I started to be a coach, before when I finished to be a player. Pep is still number one."

  De Zerbi took his first step as a head coach with Palermo in September 2016, just when Guardiola began his stint with City. He only lasted three months in his first job and in his second role with Benevento he inherited a team who had lost every game of the season. De Zerbi made unwanted history as he presided over a 14th consecutive defeat, the worst ever start to a season in Europe's top five leagues for 87 years.

  But things soon turned and although he could not avoid relegation he ensured they ended the campaign in dignified fashion with six wins. It was enough to secure him a job with Sassuolo and it was there that De Zerbi really built his reputation, overseeing a thrilling style of play and successive top-eight finishes in Serie A.

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  Pep adopts De Zerbi's ideas

  Brighton, who are the envy of all of Europe when it comes to recruitment, were attracted to the Italian and after one season in charge of the Seagulls everyone, even Souness, was convinced of De Zerbi's qualities as a coach. Still, Guardiola went a step further when he doffed his cap to the Italian ahead of City's visit to Brighton in May, just after they had clinched the Premier League title.

  "Pay attention to what I'm going to say. I'm pretty convinced I'm right in what I'm saying, I think Roberto is one of the most influential managers in the last 20 years," Guardiola said

  "There is no team playing the way they play, it's unique. I have the feeling when he arrived the impact he would have in the Premier League would be great – I didn’t expect them to do it in this short space of time."

  The City coach, in one of the great role reversals, said he was now being influenced by De Zerbi as he was preparing for the FA Cup and Champions League finals. He even likened him to a Michelin starred chef.

  "He creates 20 or 25 chances per game, better by far than most opponents, he monopolises the ball in a way it hasn’t been for a long time. One of the teams I try to learn a lot from," he added.

  "It is unique, like a Michelin-star restaurant unique. In Catalonia there was El Bulli with Ferran Adria, the best cook for many years and he changed the cuisine. Brighton are playing with something special. The way they move and it’s an incredible challenge to prepare for the two finals."

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  More goals than City this season

  De Zerbi's Brighton are the only team in the Premier League who can come close to City in certain metrics. Since he took charge of the club in September 2022, the Seagulls have the second-best possession stats with 61.6 percent, only trailing City's 63.8%. They are also only behind City when it comes to making sequences of nine or more passes, with 843 compared to City's 1018 and make the joint-fewest share of long passes in the league.

  Brighton have scored 82 goals since De Zerbi took over, only trailing City's 88 and Arsenal's 90. This season, Brighton lead the Premier League's scoring charts with 21 goals from eight matches, four more than City.

  And they visit the Etihad at a time when City are at their least creative. They had just four shots in their 1-0 defeat at Arsenal before the international break, their lowest amount in a Premier League game for 13 years. Brighton, meanwhile, had 14 shots in their compelling 2-2 draw with Liverpool.

  There is an argument to make that right now De Zerbi is a more exciting coach than Guardiola, albeit less successful. And if he is capable of playing this way with Brighton, just imagine what he could do with the talent and financial might City have.

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  'My work is my passion'

  There are further similarities between De Zerbi and Guardiola beyond their style of play and that is in their obsession with the game. When he was coach of Barca, Guardiola once missed his daughter's dance show in order to sit in a small dark room and watch videos of his side's next opponents. The match he was preparing for was not a big Champions League knockout game or a Clasico against Real Madrid. It was against Levante.

  De Zerbi, whose wife still lives in Italy and whose daughter is at university in London, lives alone in Sussex and can feed his football habit with no restrictions. When he gets home from a long day's work at Brighton's training ground, he chooses to watch football on TV with his assistant coach.

  "Football is a hobby, work, passion, it’s my life," he told the . "The problem is when there aren’t any games. I love to spend my time with my assistant watching the Champions League, and for us it’s an honour playing in the Europa League this season because if you live for football and can play in the middle of the week, it’s an honour, a pleasure. I think I’m really lucky in life because my work is my passion. I’m enjoying working."

Arsenal have returned to Champions League competition for the first time in six years, with it noted that UEFA are calling their home Arsenal Stadium.

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• North London giants back in the big time
• Six-year wait brought to a close
• Best possible start made in 2023-24

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Gunners have been at their current north London base since 2006. Back then, they made the short move from the iconic marble halls of Highbury to the plush surroundings of Emirates Stadium – a 60,000-seater venue for the modern era.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Plenty of European football has been taken in since switching address, but elite continental football has been off the agenda since 2017. That barren run has been brought to a close, with Mikel Arteta overseeing a convincing 4-0 victory over PSV as Arsenal returned to the top table in style for 2023-24.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  UEFA have that game recorded as taking place at Arsenal Stadium, as European football’s governing body do not recognise stadium names that include sponsors. Those rules also impact Manchester City – who play at the City of Manchester Stadium, rather than the Etihad – while Austrian outfit Red Bull Salzburg are merely referred to as FC Salzburg.

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Arsenal will not care what their ground is referred to as long as they are winning in it, with Arteta having said of bringing a long wait for Champions League action to a close: “I’m really happy. It was really emotional just listening to the music and the atmosphere that we had in the stadium, it was great. It is a good memory for the first game to win 4-0 and the way we played, I’m really happy.”

USMNT star Luca de la Torre has revealed that he affectionately became known as “Frenkie de Jong from Aldi” during his time at Dutch side Heracles.

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• American impressed in the Netherlands
• Compared to Barcelona superstar
• Is now enjoying life in Spanish football

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United States international made his way to the Netherlands when leaving English football at Fulham in the summer of 2020. He has since earned another step up the footballing ladder when swapping the Eredivisie for Celta Vigo in La Liga.

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  WHAT THEY SAID

  De La Torre has forged a reputation with club and country for being comfortable in possession and progressing the ball forward – much like Barcelona’s Dutch star De Jong. The 25-year-old midfielder has told of his somewhat unusual nickname: “When I was playing in Holland, the fans of the club called me Frenkie de Jong from Aldi. Which is like Frenkie de Jong from a cheap knock-off supermarket. Which I guess was a compliment.”

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  De La Torre is up to 17 caps for the USMNT – forming part of their triumphant CONCACAF Nations League squad over the summer – and expects his game to be taken to even greater heights in Spain. He added: “The level of football is higher here obviously, both physically and technically. As a midfielder when you’re pressing, it’s important to not get beat and to make fouls when you have to. That was something I really had to add to my game when I made this step.”

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  The highly-rated playmaker has become a vital cog in Celta Vigo’s midfield machine, starting 21 games since his switch to Spain in 2022 – with five of those coming through six La Liga fixtures in the 2023-24 campaign.