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Real Madrid are being sued for up to £14m (€17m/$18m) over a luxury 'VIP bar' that has yet to open at the Santiago Bernabeu.

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• Renovated stadium includes SkyBar
• Luxury venue has yet to open
• Legal action has been taken

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per , Anastasia Gourmet have launched legal action against Real Madrid, suing the club for up to €17m. The company had been contracted to run the luxury SkyBar at the newly-renovated Santiago Bernabeu, but the hospitality area has yet to open.

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  In documents supporting their case, the company claim they have been refused access to the SkyBar since September and have only been allowed to enter for maintenance reasons. They claim Real have terminated the "lease agreement" and want the premises to be handed over by Anastasia free of charge. The company has debts to settle, however, namely with suppliers, including drinks brands Schweppes and Heineken, and could enter bankruptcy if it cannot recoup at least a portion of the €4m (£3m/$4m) it has invested into the venue.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The SkyBar was designed to be an ultra-exclusive space that could also host DJs and transform into a nightclub after the final whistle. Boxes can be hired out within the venue, with prices ranging from €2,000 to €3,000.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Real have not publicly commented on the legal proceedings. On the pitch, they face Leganes in La Liga this weekend before a mouthwatering Champions League tie against Liverpool.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will surely be hoping to go through the summer transfer window without having to sell one of his key players.

The Northern Irish boss lost Jota to Al Ittihad and Carl Starfelt to Celta Vigo ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, and is currently at risk of losing Matt O'Riley this time around.

After an impressive year in the Scottish Premiership, the Denmark international is now attracting interest from elsewhere ahead of a potential exit from Parkhead.

How much Matt O'Riley is worth

Sky Sports reported earlier this month that Celtic believe that the midfielder is worth a club-record transfer fee of at least £25m, which was the same fee that was paid for Kieran Tierney and Jota by Arsenal and Al Ittihad respectively.

The outlet claimed that Atalanta and Juventus are both interested in a potential swoop to sign the former MK Dons central midfielder this summer.

Interest from Europe in O'Riley should not come as a surprise to anyone after his terrific exploits in the Premiership for Rodgers and Celtic last season.

As you can see in the table above, the 23-year-old magician produced consistent quality at the top end of the pitch with a staggering 31 direct goal contributions in 37 games.

Celtic, though, could have had another player worth as much as O'Riley if they had not had a howler with academy talent many, many, years ago.

Celtic's Andy Robertson howler

Current Liverpool star Andy Robertson revealed back in 2013 that the Hoops let him go at U15 level as they deemed him to be too small to make it as a professional footballer for them.

He then enjoyed spells with Queen's Park and Dundee United in Scotland before making a move to England to try his luck with Hull, which then earned him a big switch to Liverpool in the summer of 2017.

Since his move to Anfield, Robertson has racked up 11 goals and 65 assists in 297 appearances for the club in all competitions, with his 300th Liverpool outing seemingly to come this season.

The Scotland international has won the Champions League and the Premier League during his time in Merseyside, alongside two League Cup successes and an FA Cup.

At the time of writing, Transfermarkt currently has his market value at €30m (£25m) and this means that he is worth as much as Celtic believe O'Riley to be worth at this moment in time.

This illustrates the howler the Scottish giants had when they decided to send him on his way at U15 level for being too small. Instead of waiting to see how he physically developed across the next few age groups, they parted ways with the talented youngster.

4/10 Celtic man should fear for his future after pre-season howler

The Hoops dud failed to put in a strong performance in the 4-3 win over Manchester City.

By
Dan Emery

Jul 24, 2024

Their loss ended up by the gain for multiple clubs and he has gone on to become a "world class" – per Jurgen Klopp – player in England, as he has won trophies and become an influential player for a huge club in the Premier League.

Hopefully, the Bhoys have learned from that mistake and will not dismiss potential talents due to their height at such a young age in the future.

Everton are believed to be preparing an offer for a 20-year-old international midfielder "in the coming days", according to a new transfer rumour.

Everton transfer news

Blues supporters will be desperately hoping that Sean Dyche and his players are about to embark on happier times, following three Premier League relegation battles in a row at Goodison Park. New signings were always going to be needed to ensure that happened, and the likes of Iliman Ndiaye and Jesper Lindstrøm have already joined, with the latter coming in on a season-long loan from Napoli.

Kalvin Phillips has emerged as an option for Everton, as he looks to seal a move away from Manchester City, but the Merseysiders have been rocked by the news that Aston Villa are also trying to snap him up. The 28-year-old could be seen as a great replacement for Amadou Onana, but they face a real battle to get their man from the team who swooped in for the Belgian.

A deal is also thought to be in place for the Blues to sign Lyon central defender Jake O'Brien, who could come in and provide strong competition for the likes of Jarrad Branthwaite and James Tarkowksi. The latter is now in his 30s, so the Republic of Ireland youngster will be eyeing his spot in the team when looking at the long-term picture. A medical is even being lined up, suggesting it is only a matter of time until the move goes through.

Reinforcements are needed in various positions for Dyche though, including in attack, and Chelsea striker Armando Broja has been backed to seal a switch to Everton ahead of the 2024/25 season.

Everton planning bid for 20 y/o international

According to L'Equipe [via Sport Witness], Everton are interested in signing Strasbourg attacking midfielder Habib Diarra, and could even make an offer "in the coming days". While the 20-year-old has a contract that runs until the summer of 2028, the report hints that Strasbourg may find it hard to resist an "English offer", even though they would rather he stay put.

Diarra may not be a household name to Everton fans, but he has the potential to be a really effective signing, should they go through with their offer and convince his current club to accept it.

At just 20, the Senegalese starlet still has the vast majority of his career ahead of him, but he has already shown that he can shine in one of Europe's big five leagues, scoring three times in 28 starts for Strasbourg in Ligue 1 last season. He has been called a "beast midfielder" in a profile by 90 Minutes Football, too.

Everton dealt blow as Aston Villa also want to sign their Onana replacement

This could be a real setback for Sean Dyche.

By
Henry Jackson

Jul 29, 2024

Diarra has won four caps for Senegal since changing his allegiance from France, and his ability to thrive as both an attacking midfielder and left-sided player means that Dyche would immediately see his squad added with versatility.

The end of Man City's Financial Fair Play saga is in sight, with the efficiency of the ongoing trial meaning an outcome is now expected in February.

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• Trial due to end this week
• Outcome expected in February
• Likely to be appealed after

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  City are currently facing trial after being charged with 115 counts of breaching the Premier League's financial rules in February 2023. The trial started on 17 September and has reportedly stuck to a tight schedule, meaning that there are no significant delays as it stands and the closing arguments are likely to conclude this week, according to . This would mean an outcome is expected in February 2025.

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  City's FFP saga has been rolling on for a long time, but the end is now in sight. However, it's important to note that after the outcome is revealed in February it is highly likely that either the Premier League, which brought the charges against City, or the club itself, which has consistently denied all wrongdoing, will appeal the verdict.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Present this week at the International Dispute Resolution Centre in London, where the trial has taken place, were two prominent Premier League barristers, Andrew Hunter KC and Adam Lewis KC, both of whom had been involved in the battle against Everton which ultimately led to the Merseyside club's points deductions last season. Whether their case against City will be a success remains to be seen.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN CITY?

  Pep Guardiola and his players have continually assisted that this activity behind the scenes has not been a distraction, but the club's dismal recent run suggests the financial saga and general unrest may be having a psychological impact. City face Crystal Palace this weekend and once again the first team will have to put this off-the-field turmoil to the back of their minds and concentrate on the task ahead.

Tottenham Hotspur are set to kickstart their Premier League campaign on Monday night with an away trip to newly promoted Leicester City, and while that's no easy task, they should go into the match full of confidence.

Ange Postecoglou's side have enjoyed a relatively successful preseason on the pitch this summer with a handful of comfortable wins and a couple of closely fought losses to Bayern Munich, and off the pitch, they've done brilliantly.

Daniel Levy and Co have sold unwanted players like Joe Rodon and Emerson Royal, signed a couple of exciting youngsters in Archie Gray and Yang Min-Hyeok, and, most importantly, secured the services of Dominic Solanke for £65m.

The former Bournemouth star could be the perfect striker to help take Spurs to the next level this season, although, based on recent reports, the club could still be looking to bring in another quality nine to bolster the squad.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from the Independent's chief football writer, Miguel Delaney, Tottenham remain in the picture for Brentford striker Ivan Toney despite signing Solanke earlier this month.

Delaney claims that, alongside several other teams, including Manchester United and Chelsea, the North Londoners are still considered an outside option for the Englishman.

The main barrier for the Lilywhites, and other sides for that matter, is that the Bees are sticking to their £60m valuation of the striker, although with his contract expiring next year, that price could come down as the final day of the window approaches.

It would certainly be a surprise to see Spurs sign Toney this summer, especially at that price, but if they can wait for a couple of weeks, they may be able to secure his services at a steep discount. And what's better than having one recently signed top-quality striker in the team? Having two, of course.

Why Toney would be a great signing

While this seems like an unlikely transfer, recent reports like the one mentioned above make it clear that Spurs are still in the running to secure Toney's signature this summer, and though some may think his arrival would impact Solanke's game time, that doesn't have to be the case.

There are more matches in today's game than ever before, meaning stars are often played into the ground before a season ends, preventing them from operating at their best throughout the year.

Just look at James Maddison last season. He was on fire at the start of the campaign, racking up eight goal involvements in his first nine games, but only produced five in his final 17, and while that was partly due to injury, it was clear that he was also in desperate need of a rest.

This problem will only be more acute in N17 as well, as in Postecoglou's incredibly high-energy system, it would be surprising if his attacking talent weren't exhausted by the end of a gruelling season. So, while the former Cherries star looks set to be the club's number-one striker this year, having another top-quality centre-forward in the squad who can come off the bench or start the occasional game to keep him fresh seems like a no-brainer.

Furthermore, while Toney had a mediocre campaign last year due to the impact of his eight-month football ban, the 28-year-old "monster," as manager Thomas Frank dubbed him, has proven himself to be a fantastic forward at this level, racking up 36 goals and 11 assists in 83 appearances for the Bees.

Lastly, in certain situations, starting two clinical strikers in the same team could help give the Lilywhites an advantage over other sides.

Imagine if the team needed a late winner in an incredibly tight match, bringing the Brentford star on to play with Solanke, or vice versa, would completely change the game, and we saw in England's game against Slovakia at the Euros that the former Newcastle United ace can provide opportunities for a strike partner.

Ultimately, while some would potentially see this transfer as a frivolous waste of money, you can never have too many quality goalscorers in a squad. Moreover, if the club wants to get the absolute most out of Postecogolu's all-guns-blazing style of play, then having the opportunity to start a front two of Solanke and Toney is the perfect way to do so.

Kulusevski upgrade: Spurs looking at 'one of the best talents' in Europe

The £34m star would be an incredible signing for the Lilywhites.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 14, 2024

There are five Lionesses in GOAL's best XI, plus one player who recently earned a first call-up from Emma Hayes over in the United States…

Chelsea might have be unbeaten through all 10 of their Women's Super League outings in the first half of this 2024-25 campaign, starting their post-Emma Hayes era in flying form under new coach Sonia Bompastor, but as the division comes to its winter break, that doesn't mean there haven't been eye-catching stories or impressive performers elsewhere.

It's no surprise to see Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United all in the top four places in the table alongside the Blues, with the Gunners doing particularly well to recover from a sloppy start that led to Jonas Eidevall's departure. Just below the Red Devils, meanwhile, is the surprise package of this campaign, with Brighton continuing to catch the eye under new boss Dario Vidosic.

Those are the five clubs represented in our WSL Team of the Season so far, but who from each side has got the nod? Without further ado, here is GOAL's best XI from the first half of the campaign…

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  GK: Phallon Tullis-Joyce

  Following in the footsteps of Mary Earps, winner of The Best FIFA Women's Goalkeeper award in each of the last two years, would not be an easy task for any goalkeeper. Yet, Phallon Tullis-Joyce has risen to the challenge remarkably well and has been the most impressive goalkeeper in the first half of this WSL season.

  Man Utd have the best defensive record as the league heads into its Christmas break, conceding just three times in 10 games despite their expected goals statistic against sitting at over 11. With a league-leading save percentage of over 90 per cent, Tullis-Joyce has played no small part in that great record.

  But it's not just about the American's ability as a shot-stopper, with her distribution and consistency also standing out. She's been so good since inheriting the starting gig, in fact, that she earned her first call-up from Emma Hayes to the United States women's national team back in November. That says a lot, given the depth the U.S. has.

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  RB: Lucy Bronze

  When Lucy Bronze signed for Chelsea in the summer, there were a lot of people who questioned whether it would be a good deal for the champions. With Ashley Lawrence and Eve Perisset both already at the club, they didn't need a right-back, while others simply just didn't believe that the 33-year-old had the level in her to be a consistently competent performer in a Blues team looking to go to the next level and win a Champions League. It's fair to say she's proved her doubters wrong so far.

  Nailing down the starting role, Bronze has been superb for Chelsea through the first half of the season, with Katie McCabe, who takes set pieces for Arsenal, the only defender who has created more chances than the England star, and one of just three players overall in the league to have done so. But it is actually in her defending, the part of her game that her critics question the most, that Bronze has really stood out.

  The full-back has consistently showcased her experience with her discipline getting forward, knowing when to go and when to stay, and leads the league in interceptions thanks to how well she has been reading the game. Perhaps the biggest compliment that can be paid to the summer arrival is that arguably her most impressive performance of the season came in the 2-0 win over title rivals Man City, emphasising the fact than Bronze can certainly still hang with the best.

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  CB: Maya Le Tissier

  It's not just because of Tullis-Joyce that Man Utd have a great defensive record this season. While her opportunities for England continue to primarily come at right-back, Maya Le Tissier is having another fantastic campaign at the heart of the Red Devils' back line. That she is producing such stand-out form in her first season as captain of this club says a lot about her character and the manner in which she can step up when the pressure is on, despite being just 22 years old.

  A fantastic distributor of the ball, and taking up a role in that sense which is vital to the way Man Utd play, Le Tissier also takes some beating in a physical battle, no matter who her opponent is. Leading her team in aerial duels won and interceptions, the young defender continues to catch the eye.

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  CB: Millie Bright

  While Alex Greenwood has been widely regarded as the Lionesses' best centre-back for a while, and has been having herself another strong season, it's her England team-mate, Millie Bright, who gets the nod ahead of her in this XI. Boasting a defensive record of just six goals conceded in 10 games, Chelsea have been strong at the back this term and Bright's ever presence has certainly helped, especially while those around her have often been rotated.

  There's been no one particularly impressive performance from the Blues skipper but rather a very good showing week after week, as she leads the squad for aerial duels won and ranks fourth for interceptions made, while also boasting two assists for rather different reasons. The first came from Bright doing as she always does, in causing problems attacking a corner, while the second was a perfect cross-field ball that Johanna Rytting Kaneryd volleyed home just as brilliantly.

Mohamed Salah provided a concerning update on his future after starring for Liverpool against West Ham.

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• Salah offers update on his future
• Yet to agree a new deal with Liverpool
• Starred in Reds' 5-0 win over West Ham

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Egyptian winger's red-hot form continued as the Reds beat West Ham 5-0 to end the year with a dominant victory. Salah scored one goal and provided the assists for Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota's strikes as the Merseyside club increased their lead to eight points over second-placed Nottingham Forest at the top of the table, with a game in hand.

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  Amid the club's terrific run of form in the 2024-25 campaign, fans continue to remain concerned over Salah's contract renewal and on Sunday, the 32-year-old attacker provided a concerning update over his future at Anfield after the West Ham clash.

• WHAT MOHAMED SALAH SAID

  Speaking to , the Egyptian said: "No, we are far away from that. I don't want to put something in the media and people start saying stuff, but nothing really [has] moved on but for now I'm focused on the team and hopefully we win the Premier League."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

  The Premier League leaders will hope to resolve the Salah contract situation as soon as possible. In January, the player will be able to negotiate deals with clubs outside England as he will enter the final six months of his existing deal. Arne Slot's side will be back in action on January 5 when they take on rivals Manchester United in a league clash at Anfield.

Ipswich Town are turning their attention to signing a £10 million defender after their recent captures, according to reports.

The Tractor Boys finally got their Premier League season underway on Saturday, as they played host to Liverpool. It was always going to be a tough start for Ipswich, and that turned out to be the case, as they were beaten 2-0.

However, Kieran McKenna is not going to judge his side too much on games like that, as he knows their chances of success against the big opponents will be slim.

Ipswich Town also in talks to sign another £30m forward alongside Szmodics

It could be a busy end to the window.

By
Charlie Smith

Aug 16, 2024

Ipswich Town’s latest signings

As soon as Ipswich confirmed their promotion to the top flight, it was expected that the club would be very busy in terms of making changes to the squad as they try to adapt as quickly as possible to the new league.

So far, the Tractor Boys have brought in nine new players in this transfer window, while they have also seen a lot of players depart the club, either as contracts have expired, they have been sold, or they have been sent out on loan for the campaign.

Some of those arrivals for Ipswich include Omari Hutchinson, who spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Portman Road. The winger has also been joined by Liam Delap and Jacob Greaves, who both played at Hull City last season, and Ipswich have added Arijanet Muric to their goalkeeping department.

The club has also made more additions, with the likes of Ben Johnson and Conor Townsend joining in this transfer window. But Ipswich have been very busy in the last week or so, as the club has made three new signings, with Kalvin Phillips joining on loan for the season from Manchester City, Sammie Szmodics joining in a big money move from Blackburn Rovers, and Jens Cajuste arriving on a loan deal from Serie A side Napoli.

McKenna will hope all three players can improve his team as they bid to beat the drop to the Championship. But despite just adding these three players to the squad, it appears as though Ipswich’s transfer hunt isn’t over yet, as the club is eyeing a £10 million deal for a defender.

Ipswich Town hold an interest in Dara O’Shea

According to reliable journalist Alan Nixon, relayed by The 72, Ipswich Town are interested in signing Burnley defender Dara O’Shea in a £10 million switch.

The report states that the Tractor Boys are eying up a deal for the defender, which could be worth £10 million, as they look to beat Brentford to the signing, as they have also been credited with an interest in the player.

Nixon goes on to say that the Irish defender may be patient in deciding where he next wants to go to play, but that risks the possibility of Ipswich and McKenna moving on to other transfer targets.

The 25-year-old joined the Clarets in the summer transfer window last year from West Bromwich Albion. O’Shea played 37 times for Burnley last season in all competitions, with 33 of those games coming in the Premier League.

The defender scored four goals and chipped in with four assists last season, and he has already got off to a good start in this campaign, as he netted in the club’s opening league game against Luton Town.

Manchester United winger Antony's agent has confirmed that the Brazilian is not short on offers in the January transfer window.

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• Antony is yet to realise his potential at Man Utd
• Amorim's arrival hasn't changed fortunes
• Winger mooted for a January exit from OT

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arriving at Old Trafford with the reputation of a dynamic and skillful player under then-United boss Erik ten Hag, Antony has struggled to live up to the hype. Over two and a half seasons, the 24-year-old has managed just five Premier League goals, leaving fans and pundits questioning his impact.

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  Antony’s struggles have continued under new manager Ruben Amorim, who replaced Ten Hag earlier this season. The winger has found game time limited, with his second start coming during United’s Carabao Cup clash against Tottenham. However, his performance in the 3-0 defeat fell short, leading to his substitution after just 55 minutes. Amorim is expected to overhaul the squad in the upcoming transfer windows, and Antony’s future at the club has been a topic of speculation. The Brazilian winger has been linked with a potential exit, with several clubs reportedly monitoring his situation closely.

• WHAT ANTONY'S AGENT SAID

  Junior Pedroso, Antony’s agent, has confirmed that there is genuine interest in his client ahead of the January window. Speaking to GiveMeSport, Pedroso stated: “Many clubs have approached us for Antony’s move in January. These clubs wanted to understand the situation for Antony, so I can confirm that there’s concrete interest."

  Pedroso emphasised that Antony’s immediate future depends on United’s decisions regarding his role in the squad. He added: "To be fair, Manchester United have never expressed any interest to sell or loan out Antony to us. We never received this sort of communication so far. Man United management never told us that they want Antony to leave, despite the reports we see around about our client."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Pedroso also hinted at the possibility of a loan move if the club believes it would benefit both parties.

  “I can say that Antony’s future is very much tied to Manchester United's interests," he added. "If the club thinks it would be a good idea to loan Antony out in January so he can get more minutes and regain his trust, we will work together on that option. Otherwise, Antony is working hard to regain his place and show his best skills under the new coach Ruben Amorim.”

They've left it late this summer, but Manchester City could reportedly welcome a replacement for Julian Alvarez after securing the return of Ilkay Gundogan before the transfer window slams shut.

Man City transfer news

Fresh from making history with a fourth consecutive Premier League title win, Manchester City suffered a surprising exit when Alvarez left for Atletico Madrid in an attempt to emerge out of Erling Haaland's shadow to become the main man elsewhere. The Argentine's exit worth a reported £82m has at least opened the door for incomings, and a monumental return for Gundogan.

Man City could land dream signing for Savinho in swoop for £60m PL star

The Cityzens have been linked with an interest in the attacking midfielder this summer.

By
Dan Emery

Aug 20, 2024

The German bid an emotional farewell just one year ago but is now set to make his return in a shock departure from Barcelona. At 33 years old, he will add a wealth of experience in his second stint in Manchester on top of his invaluable knack for important goals.

Meanwhile, as a familiar face arrives, the Cityzens have reportedly turned their attention towards replacing Alvarez. According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City have held initial talks to sign Kyogo Furuhashi from Celtic in the final days of the transfer window and are considering a move to welcome the forward, who can also play on either wing.

"Manchester City are considering a move for Kyogo Furuhashi from Celtic, one of the options for winger position. Initial talks took place this week as @hughmurray1894 and @samlee reported. City want to get Ilkay Gundogan deal done as priority and then decide on winger."

That said, Celtic could prove to be tough negotiators, given how stubborn they've been in Atalanta's pursuit of Matt O'Riley, sticking to their £25m valuation amid a number of reported offers from the Serie A club.

Man City could be wise to sign "excellent" Kyogo

In a deal that is unlikely to break the bank, for their standards, Kyogo would be an impressive addition to Pep Guardiola's squad. At 29 years old, even as a stop-gap replacement for Alvarez, the Japan international could do an adequate job as a proven goalscorer with 144 goals for club and country to his name.

Brendan Rodgers was full of praise for his forward last season after he scored and assisted in a 3-1 win over St Johnstone, saying via STV News: “Adam (Idah) has been very good when he came in and that is what Kyogo and every player needs. They need competition. But I thought he was bright, his movement was good. Sharp.

“He was very brave at the first goal. He makes a run and comes back onside and obviously some strikers would maybe move their head out of the way with the keeper coming through but he didn’t and he scored the goal. And it was a great cross for the second one. He was excellent.”