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Despite their place in the play-offs all but secured, Sunderland could still lose one of their best players after RB Leipzig opened talks to secure his signature this summer.

RB Leipzig open talks to sign Sunderland star

Following a campaign to forget last time out, Regis Le Bris came into the hot seat at the Stadium of Light with plenty of work to do. Not many were sure what to expect. After all, the Black Cats had found themselves in the depths of mid-table in the previous campaign and still reeling from Michael Beale’s failed spell.

A season back in the top half with one eye on the top six would have sufficed in the Frenchman’s debut campaign. However, almost a year on, Le Bris has done more than just keep an eye on the play-off places. He has taken Sunderland from mid-table to Championship play-off contention in a debut season which could yet end with a place in the Premier League.

Sunderland may lose "clever" leader alongside Bellingham & Rigg in PL swoop

A concern for the Black Cats…

By
Tom Cunningham

Mar 26, 2025

But that play-off spot does not come without one major warning. Whilst success would leave them in dreamland, failure to secure a place in the top flight could yet see the Black Cats picked apart by interested parties this summer.

Among those who are reportedly likely to leave is one of Le Bris’ most talented players. According to Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg, RB Leipzig have now opened talks to sign Jobe Bellingham this summer, gathering all the information they need to launch their move. And although his valuation is still reportedly out of their range, the midfielder’s exit remains likely this summer.

Making matters worse, he’s not the only who could leave in the coming months with captain Dan Neil also attracting plenty of attention from the likes of West Ham United and AS Roma in recent weeks. By the time August arrives, Sunderland could have lost two key players.

"Powerful" Bellingham is destined for stardom

The downside of having players as talented as Bellingham at your disposal is that the big clubs will inevitably come calling. And Sunderland are set to learn that the hard way this summer with Leipzig already making their move.

The German club’s interest should come as little shock. After all, it wasn’t so long ago that Borussia Dortmund were benefitting from signing Birmingham City star Jude Bellingham. Now, years on, Leipzig are looking to repeat that genius in the hope that the Real Madrid star’s younger brother is just as talented.

It has also been no surprise that Bellingham has found himself at the centre of Le Bris’ praise this season, with the Sunderland boss describing his midfielder as “powerful” earlier in the campaign. However, whether Sunderland have the chance to see that power in action next season remains to be seen.

Alisha Lehmann posted a goodbye to Juventus team-mate Sofia Cantore after she completed a transfer to NWSL club Washington Spirit.

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• Lehman posts goodbye to Cantore
• Italian will move to USA
• Signed three-year deal with Washington Spirit

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Juventus star Lehmann took to social media to wish departing teammate Cantore all the best after her transfer to NWSL side Washington Spirit was confirmed. The 25-year-old has signed a contract which will run until 2028 and will become the first Italian player ever to feature in the NWSL.

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  Cantore leaves Juve after scoring 38 goals in 128 appearances for the Italian giants, who she joined all the way back in 2017. She most recently helped the Bianconere win a domestic double, scoring in the Coppa Italia final against Roma.

• WHAT LEHMANN SAID

  Posting on her Instagram stories, Lehmann wrote: "So proud of you, keep shining ✨

  "Will miss you so much ❤️ @sofiacantoree"

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  Lehmann previously claimed Cantore could become one the world's best players, saying back in April: "She will become one of the best in the world one day. But she doesn't trust herself, but she, in the head: Wake up, wake up wake up."

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner admits he was "disappointed" to lose Trent Alexander-Arnold and believes Real Madrid have struck a bargain.

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• Liverpool chairman opens up
• Discusses losing Trent to Real Madrid
• Admits "we were disappointed"

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Alexander-Arnold signed a deal with Real Madrid in June, with the club eventually paying a £10m fee to recruit him in time for the Club World Cup. Werner was glowing in his praise of the Liverpool academy graduate and admitted he will be missed.

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  WHAT WERNER SAID

  Werner told The Liverpool Echo: "We do respect the fact that Trent has moved on. He showed me a picture of when he was seven years old, when he was a young kid at the academy, and I have a lot of fondness for all that he has done. It is time for him to move and time for us to replace him. I'll never forget that pass he made, the corner he took, for the fourth goal against Barcelona. That was just a work of genius and as a football fan, watching some of his assists, the way he would pass the ball 30-plus yards to a specific point and create a goal was just…no wonder Real Madrid are delighted!"

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  Alexander-Arnold has made three appearances for his new club at the Club World Cup, growing in prominence with each match he has played. He admits he has been impressed by the talent in the squad, claiming he is relieved to only be facing the likes of Vinicius Junior in training.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD?

  Alexander-Arnold is set to be involved when Real take on Juventus in the round of 16 on Tuesday, with the winner playing either Borussia Dortmund or Monterrey in the quarter-finals.

There are believed to have been multiple causes for the crash which led to the death of Liverpool striker Diogo Jota and his brother Andre.

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• A-52 highway known for unstable surface
• Ambulances avoid changing lanes on it
• Brothers travelled at night to avoid heat

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The two brothers died when the Lamborghini they were travelling in came off the road in the Spanish province of Zamora while they were on the way from Portugal to Santander. They were due to take a ferry to England ahead of Jota reporting for pre-season with Liverpool. And investigators are trying to piece together exactly what happened. Spain's Guardia Civil said on Thursday that the crash occurred due to a tyre in the car blowing out when overtaking, leading to the car going off the road and bursting into flames.

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  has reported that investigators accept there could be 'multiple reasons' for the crash. And the state of the A-52 highway where it took place is now being criticised. Large potholes have been spotted on the 300km-long road and some parts of the carriageway were in such a bad state that ambulance drivers only use the fast lane rather than changing from one side to the other.

• WHAT WAS SAID

  Angel Blanco, a local government official, told a press conference: "I am not going into the circumstances. The car overturned, the car was burnt and the result was lethal: two young people died. There has to be an investigation."
  
  Jose Fernandez Blanco, the mayor of Puebla de Sanabria, told : "For a small town like ours, these tragedies are a source of consternation, anger that such young people, in the prime of their lives, have lost their lives. We express all our sorrow and sympathy for the family, the parents, the wife, the children. These are difficult tragedies to deal with. To talk about it now (the state of the road)… it is not the right time. It will be the time for the expert and police reports."

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• DID YOU KNOW?

  The brothers were driving at night to avoid the worst of the summer heat. They were planning to stay the night in nearby Benavente before continuing to Santander. Jota's wife and his three children were due to meet them in England before he reported for pre-season training. The striker was not planning on going on the club's tour of Japan however as he was recovering from a lung operation.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot issued a deeply moving tribute to Diogo Jota following the sudden and heartbreaking death of the Portuguese forward. The 28-year-old forward and his younger brother, André Silva, lost their lives in a tragic car accident in the early hours of Thursday morning, July 3, in northwestern Spain.

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• Jota died in a car crash
• Tributes continue to pour in
• Slot penned a heartfelt statement

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to authorities from the Guardia Civil, the vehicle they were travelling in caught fire after veering off the road. The Zamora Provincial Council confirmed the details of the devastating scene, marking one of the darkest days in recent football memory.

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• WHAT SLOT SAID

  In a moment of "raw" emotion and heartbreak, Slot admitted he was at a loss for words, expressing a sentiment shared by millions of fans.

  "What to say? What can anyone say at a time like this when the shock and the pain is so incredibly raw? I wish I had the words but I know I do not," he wrote.

  "All I have are feelings that I know so many people will share about a person and a player we loved dearly and a family we care so much about. My first thoughts are not those of a football manager. They are of a father, a son, a brother and an uncle and they belong to the family of Diogo and Andre Silva who have experienced such an unimaginable loss."

  Slot reassured them that they were not alone in their grief, echoing the club’s anthem: "My message to them is very clear – you will never walk alone. The players, the staff, the supporters of Liverpool Football Club are all with you and from what I have seen today, the same can be said of the wider family of football. This is not solely a response to tragedy. It is also a reaction to the goodness of the people involved and the respect that so many have for the boys as individuals and for the family as a whole."

  Reflecting on Jota’s contributions, Slot praised his exceptional qualities, unwavering work ethic, competitive spirit, footballing brilliance, and goal-scoring prowess. He stated that Jota symbolized the true essence of what a Liverpool player should be.

  "For us as a club, the sense of shock is absolute. Diogo was not just our player," he said. "He was a loved one to all of us. He was a teammate, a colleague, a workmate and in all of those roles he was very special. I could say so much about what he brought to our team but the truth is everyone who watched Diogo play could see it. Hard work, desire, commitment, great quality, goals. The essence of what a Liverpool player should be."

  Slot was equally passionate in highlighting the personal side of Jota — a man who built friendships across all corners of the dressing room, who lifted spirits without seeking attention, and who remained grounded despite his fame.

  "There were also the parts that not everyone got to see," he wrote. "The person who never sought popularity but found it anyway. Not a friend to two people, a friend to everyone. Someone who made others feel good about themselves just by being with them. A person who cared deeply for his family. The last time we spoke, I congratulated Diogo on winning the Nations League and wished him luck for his forthcoming wedding. In many ways, it was a dream summer for Diogo and his family, which makes it all the more heartbreaking that it should end like this.

  "When I first came to the club, one of the first songs I got to know was the one that our fans sing for Diogo. I had not worked with him previously but I knew straight away that if the Liverpool supporters, who have seen so many great players over the years, had such a unique chant for Diogo, he must have special qualities.

  "That we have lost those qualities in such terrible circumstances is something we have not yet come to terms with. For this reason, we need everyone at the club to stand together and to be there for one another. We owe this to Diogo, to Andre Silva, to their wider family and to ourselves."

• A JOYOUS SUMMER CUT SHORT

  Just ten days ago, Jota had married his long-time partner, Rute Cardoso, in what was supposed to be the beginning of a new and joyful chapter. Slot also recalled their last conversation, congratulating Jota on Portugal’s Nations League triumph and offering his best wishes for his upcoming wedding.

  "My condolences go to Diogo’s wife, Rute, their three beautiful children and to the parents of Diogo and Andre Silva," he wrote. "When the time is right, we will celebrate Diogo Jota, we will remember his goals and we will sing his song. For the time being, we will remember him as a unique human being and mourn his loss. He will never be forgotten. His name is Diogo."

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  TRIBUTES FLOOD IN FOOTBALL WORLD

  The outpouring of love wasn’t limited to Merseyside. Former clubs, including Porto, Atletico Madrid, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Pacos de Ferreira, all released heartfelt tributes to the Portuguese star. Former Liverpool captain Jamie Carragher and iconic former manager Jurgen Klopp also shared messages for the Jota family. Jota’s international teammates, including global superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, joined the chorus of remembrance.

Marco Asensio has rejected Fenerbahce's big-money proposal but will soon weigh his options, with AC Milan, Inter, and Villarreal all interested.

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• Marco Asensio not part of Luis Enrique's plans
• Spanish midfielder rejected Fenerbahce offer
• Inter, AC Milan and Villarreal keeping tabs on situation

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to Mundo Deportivo, the ex-Real Madrid midfielder has declined an offer worth €9 million (£7.8m) to play under Jose Mourinho at Fenerbahce. The 29-year-old wants to stay and continue in Europe's top leagues, and multiple clubs want to land his signature. Serie A sides AC Milan and Inter have kept the player on their radar. There's also interest from Spain with Villarreal looking to sign him.

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  The Spaniard wants to leave Paris Saint-Germain as he is not part of the club's project anymore. The midfielder has turned down Fenerbahce's offer, even though it would have guaranteed him the playing minutes he's looking for. His desire is to continue in Europe, but if he wishes to join a top-flight club, he will reportedly have to take a pay cut. This is because no club would be able to afford his high wages, which are around €14m (£12m/$16m) annually.

  However, the four-time Champions League winner has shown he is still capable of playing for a top team. He enjoyed a good loan spell under Unai Emery at Aston Villa last season where he scored three goals and grabbed one assist in 13 games in the Premier League.

• TELL ME MORE

  PSG will be looking to offload the player this summer as his contract runs out in June 2026. The Ligue 1 club has one year to recoup a transfer fee, otherwise, he will be free to discuss a move to any other club when he enters the final six months of his contract. The Parisians have reportedly set a price tag of around €10m (£8m/$11m) for Asensio.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR PSG?

  PSG enjoyed a stellar season but tasted defeated to Chelsea in the Club World Cup final. The game ended in a brawl with PSG head coach Luis Enrique involved in the altercations. The French club will face Tottenham Hotspur in the Super Cup on August 14.

Spain left-back Olga Carmona is confident in her team's chances of overcoming the German challenge in the Euro 2025 semi-final.

• Germany and Spain set to lock horns in Euro 2025 semi-final
• Carmona speaks on eve of the fixture
• Promises Spain will go 'all out' against the Germans

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Spain and Germany will renew their rivalry in the semi-final of the Women's Euro 2025 on Wednesday, and La Roja left-back Carmona — while acknowledging that the Frauenteam will pose a "tough" challenge — promised that the world champions will go out all guns blazing in the last-four tie.

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  Spain and Germany have faced each other seven times in the past, with the former failing to register a single win. Indeed, Germany have won four games, while the remaining three encounters ended all square. History heavily favours Christian Wuck's troops, as they have an unprecedented eight titles to their name, compared to Spain's zero. However, Montse Tome's side will be feeling super confident, given they carry the world champions label.

• WHAT OLGA CARMONA SAID

  Speaking to , Carmona said: "We already know them, and they're always tough, but we're a sledgehammer team and we're going to go all out."

  Asked if her team are the favourites to win, she added: "We know that now, you either win or you go home. In all the interviews, I say that word isn't even mentioned internally. We're focused on the day-to-day and we prefer not to get ahead of ourselves in order to perform at our best."

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  WHAT NEXT?

  The two sides will clash at Stadion Letzigrund on Wednesday to fight for a place in the final. The winner of this tie will face the winner of the other semi-final between England and Italy, which will be played on Tuesday.

With the 2026 World Cup less than a year away, GOAL looks at the state of USMNT coaching ahead of next summer

Shortly after the Gold Cup final, U.S. Soccer posted an episode of their Behind the Crest series. That episode showed Mauricio Pochettino's postgame locker room speech to his team in the aftermath of a 2-1 loss to Mexico. With tears in his eyes and with a voice full of emotion, Pochettino was clearly disappointed, but he offered hope for the future.

"This is not going to kill us," he said. "It's going to make us stronger and I want you to never give up. We still have time to be better."

There is still time, yes, and the U.S. men's national team surely needs to get better. Pochettino's side have less than a year until the World Cup. That time is running out rapidly.

When Pochettino arrived last fall, replacing Gregg Berhalter, it was clear that time was always going to be a challenge. He had less than two years to assess the player pool, figure out a plan and, most importantly, win games. It was by definition challenging, but Pochettino is a top coach. That's why he was brought in to lead this charge towards the World Cup in the first place.

As the clock ticks to June of 2026, where does that charge stand? What has Pochettino done well, what needs to be better and when will those changes be implemented?

Post-Gold Cup, GOAL is looking at the state of the USMNT, analyzing the factors that will ultimately define next summer's team. Next up: Coaching.

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  Talking Tactics

  Grading the USMNT's tactics is not straightforward. That doesn't just go for Pochettino but for most international managers and teams. At this level of the game, it's extremely hard to build a tactical identity due to the lack of consistent time with a group and the lack of a reliable, repeatable player pool.

  However, we have seen some different variations of Pochettinoball since he arrived and we've seen how the coach has approached tweaking his systems to accommodate who ii in camp.

  With some version of an A-team, Pochettino will almost certainly use a 4-3-3 – or a 4-2-3-1 if you want to call it that – designed around getting the ball to his talented wingers. When that was not possible at the Gold Cup – due to a virtual starting lineup of absences, including Christian Pulisic, Folarin Balogun, Antonee Robinson, Tim Weah, Sergino Dest and Weston McKennie – Pochettino relied more on the creativity of Malik Tillman and Diego Luna rather than pure pace and skill out wide.

  The system will likely tweak even more when Dest and Robinson are back in camo. That's the point here: the tactics are only as solid as who is asked to execute them, and they'll always be tailored to exactly that. This fall, in friendlies against the likes of Japan and Korea, will be the first time we'll, theoretically, get to see all of Pochettino's principles put into practice as his stars return from injuries or summer absences.

  One thing you can knock, though, is the in-game decision-making, particularly at the Gold Cup. It's understandable that Pochettino didn't fully trust all of the players on his bench in big moments, given the general inexperience. But he was generally far too conservative with his substitutions. It's something that will likely change going forward, but it is a knock, and a big one.

  Grade: C

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  Man management

  Ultimately, this is one of the most important jobs for any coach, particularly on the international level. Buy-in is always key. So, too, are relationships.

  By and large, everyone in and around USMNT camp has said similar things about Pochettino, while adding that they're all getting the same message: Just be you. For the newcomers in the pool, Pochettino has done well to instill confidence. For the familiar faces, he hasn't looked to change much about how they play the game at this level.

  However, there is an elephant in the room here: the Pulisic situation. It was the defining moment of the summer and will be the defining storyline of this USMNT until the American star steps back onto the field in a USMNT shirt. Truthfully, many will agree with how Pochettino handled the whole situation – Pulisic skipping the Gold Cup, the manager making it clear he's the one who makes the roster decisions – which was admittedly a difficult one to navigate.

  But the fact is that the management of one specific player – and most talented and recognizable player on the squad – has become a narrative. Because of that, this grade goes down.

  Grade: B-

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  Talent development

  To be clear, Pochettino's mandate isn't talent development – it's winning soccer games. More specifically, it's winning soccer games next summer. The big picture stuff is up to others at U.S. Soccer. Anything Pochettino can add to that is just a bonus.

  Surprisingly, though, the Argentine has been more focused on pulling in young talent than many would have expected. It's clear that he enjoyed his experience at the annual January camp, which gave him the opportunity to work with a group of young, hungry, inexperienced players. Several of those players – Luna and Patrick Agyemang – became vital to the Gold Cup squad and could very well play at the World Cup.

  More importantly, though, Pochetino addressed some concerns at the higher end of the roster. Malik Tillman took a huge leap this summer, which was crucial considering his lack of memorable moments in a USMNT shirt prior to that. Chris Richards was empowered to be a leader and clearly became one by the time the Gold Cup was over.

  Those were two huge concerns for the U.S. and, while the players and their clubs deserve plenty of credit, Pochettino should be commended,for taking two very good players and helping to make them better.

  GRADE: B+

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  Media responsibilities

  Part of the reason Pochettino was hired was the optimism that he could build excitement around the team, and serve as the face of American men's soccer. The USMNT needed a figurehead, one that could aggressively and positively take the reigns through this 2026 World Cup.

  It helped, too, that Pochettino could embrace that role from a bi-lingual perspective, helping the federation bridge gaps with Latinos that they had never quite been able to.

  It's certainly brought more attention, particularly at the start of his tenure. Pochettino, to his credit, has largely been good with the media, shielding his team from blame in bad times while also using his availabilities to send not-so-subtle messages in the moments in which players needed to hear them. His time some of the world's biggest European clubs clearly taught him how to play the game.

  He plays it well.

  Again, though, the Pulisic situation clouds everything and, while much of that media firestorm was created by the winger's own decision to speak on it after the issue had seemingly been buried, Pochettino was dragged into that discussion – and he engaged. It led to his now-famous "mannequin" quip, one that will surely come back around when Pulisic returns to the team.

  Grade: B

The France international played a pivotal role in Paris Saint-Germain's treble triumph – but only after years of disappointing displays

GOAL's World-Class Club for 2025 has just been published – and there are six new members, including four players from treble-winning Paris Saint-Germain. Ousmane Dembele isn't one of them, though, and his exclusion will no doubt surprise – and maybe even anger – a lot of readers.

After all, Dembele is the clear favourite to win this year's Ballon d'Or – and how could we not consider the 'best player in the world' this year a world-class player? Well, the devil lies not only in the detail of our definition of the very subjective term 'world-class' and the stipulations within our selection process – but also the duality of Dembele.

As we all know, two seemingly conflicting statements can be simultaneously true – and particularly when it comes to one of the most contradictory characters in football, a fantastic but frustrating forward who has belatedly realised his potential and yet still has something to prove…

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  'Wasted' years

  Lionel Messi never had any doubts over Dembele's world-class potential. The winger was, as the Argentine pointed out all the way back in 2018, "a phenomenon on the field". The only problem was how Dembele conducted himself off it.

  There were worrying reports of ill-discipline even during his breakout season at Borussia Dortmund, while his behaviour at Barcelona became a near-constant cause for concern in Catalunya. Even accounting for the fact that he was just a teenager when he joined the Blaugrana, Dembele admitted himself that he "wasted" five years of his career at Camp Nou due to a total lack of professionalism.

  He was repeatedly late for team meetings, with his tardiness attributed to his fondness for playing video games until the early hours of the morning, while his diet was a disgrace for a professional athlete, which contributed to his incessant injury issues. One source told GOAL of countless fast-food cartons found at his house, while a healthy fish dish prepared by his former chef had been discarded.

  "It's a messy life," Michael Naya revealed in an interview with . "I've never seen alcohol, but he doesn't respect the rest periods at all. There's no structure around him."

  So, while Messi felt that the Frenchman had it in him to become "one of the best" players on the planet, the former Barcelona captain rather tellingly added that "it all depends" on Dembele.

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  'Didn't work as hard as I do now'

  There were times during his six-year stay at Camp Nou when it appeared as if Dembele had turned a corner; that he might actually repay Barca's initial investment and continued faith in him. During a good run of form under Xavi in September 2022, he insisted that he had seen the error of his ways.

  "The injuries came because, when I was [younger], I didn't work as hard as I do now," he told and . "If you want to be a great player, you have to work. Your talent is not enough. I didn't know that before, but now I see that it's essential to work hard on and off the pitch.

  "It's clear that if you don't work you can't enjoy football, you're not going to play much and you're going to get injured. Now, I'm stronger."

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  'Disappointed'

  Unfortunately, that particularly purple patch proved nothing more than a false dawn – one of many. And yet Barca continued to believe in Dembele.

  Club president Joan Laporta repeatedly argued that "with these types of geniuses, you have to look after them". "Dembele," the Catalan explained in an interview with Gerard Romero on , "deserves some special treatment" – and so he was given umpteen chances to get his act together, effectively becoming a regular in the last-chance saloon.

  And then he left, in highly acrimonious circumstances, by taking advantage of a clause in his contract that enabled him to leave for just €50 million (£43m/$57m) – half of which he would pocket himself, with the other half going to an blindsided Barcelona.

  Of course, the Blaugrana only had themselves to blame for previously agreeing to such conditions but it was hard not to feel a lot of sympathy for Xavi, who had always stood by Dembele. "I am a little disappointed with Dembele," the coach confessed in the summer of 2023. "He has decided to go to PSG. And there is nothing we can do."

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  'Worst game I've ever seen anyone have'

  Barca, though, really were better off without a €148m (£128m/$169m) signing who had never managed to score more than eight league goals in a single season for the club.

  "I like good players, but I prefer committed players," Laporta advisor Enric Masip told . "Dembele had already demonstrated his lack of commitment when he did not renew. It's very easy to kiss the crest when you score a goal or sell smoke on social media. It's legitimate to want to earn more, but when you are committed, you don't look at the money and you don't say one thing one day, and another the next.

  "So, I'd rather play a kid from La Masia or with Raphinha, who gives his all in every training session, than someone who gives you a performance of 9/10 and a 3/10 the next day."

  Masip's comments may have been motivated by bitterness, but his point about Dembele's maddening lack of consistency was perfectly valid – and gets to the heart of the Frenchman's exclusion from GOAL's World-Class Club because only now, at 28 years of age, is he delivering on a regular basis at the very highest level.

  Remember, we're talking about the biggest waste of money in Barcelona's history (which is really saying something), an attacker who has never scored a single goal at a major international tournament (despite representing France in four). Of course, Dembele is a World Cup winner, but that medal merely serves to underline the duality of Dembele, who only played two minutes during the knockout stages of Russia 2018 and produced a performance of such ineptitude in the final in Qatar four years later that he was hauled off before the break.

  "[Didier] Deschamps had to do something," former England international Stuart Pearce told at the time. "We were watching a car crash. Dembele was having the worst game I've ever seen anyone have."

Arsenal are reportedly willing to let Michelle Agyemang spend another season at Brighton on the back of her Euro 2025 heroics with England.

• Spent last season on loan with Seagulls
• Helped England to historic title triumph
• Gunners willing to sanction another move

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 19-year-old enjoyed a breakout competition in Switzerland, earning Young Player of the Tournament honours. That prize came her way after netting dramatic goals off the bench in quarter-final and semi-final clashes with Sweden and Italy respectively.

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  She also figured in a final showdown with Spain as the Lionesses prevailed in another penalty shootout and successfully defended their continental crown. Agyemang is not, however, guaranteed game time at her parent club.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The talented teenager faces fierce competition for attacking berths at Arsenal from the likes of Beth Mead, Caitlin Foord, Chloe Kelly, Olivia Smith, Alessia Russo and Stina Blackstenius. As a result, she spent the 2024-25 campaign on loan at Brighton.

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  According to , a similar agreement is being discussed this summer. Arsenal are eager for Agyemang to get the minutes her ongoing development requires, with positives being taken from an initial stint with the Seagulls that delivered five goals through 22 appearances in all competitions.