Thursday Morning Hot Links
Leeds-linked Manchester City man James McAtee is being targeted (but, like, in a good way) by Champions League-bound teams in Germany.
Leeds have apparently made a “juicy” offer in an effort to keep Junior Firpo at the club, instead of going to Real Betis or Lazio.
Christian Pulisic will not play for the USMNT in this summer’s Gold Cup.
Absolute scenes in the 8th-Tier Isthmian League Division One South East as 1st/2nd, respectively, Jersey Bulls and Redhill were each docked three points for playing an ineligible player, leaving the title to AFC Whyteleafe.
FourFourTwo: What every Premier League club has to play for this weekend.
Tottenham Hotspur did it! They beat Manchester United in a thoroughly un-thrilling Europa League Final 1-0. It was, frankly, a terrible game. It’s Tottenham’s first major trophy since 2008.
But it’s a good opportunity to talk about how Former Leeds Great/Future Champions League Legend Archie Gray even ended up at Tottenham Hotspur in the first place:
Archie Gray joined Leeds’ academy (youth program) before he turned nine years old.
His great-uncle, Sir Eddie Gray, is one of the greatest players in Leeds United history. His 2nd goal against Burnley on May 4, 1970 is one of the greatest goals ever scored, not just for Leeds United. Eddie Gray made 454 appearances for Leeds United between 1966 and 1983 and was twice Leeds’ manager.
Archie Gray was sold by Leeds to Tottenham in July 2024 for about £40 million, despite just having turned 19 this past March. He’s exactly what you want in a player - a player you developed, who has ties with the club dating back 60 years. Why would they sell him?
Because the Premier League has Profit & Sustainability Rules, as European soccer’s governing body EUFA has their own (Financial Fair Play) that clubs have to observe. Why? To keep Saudi Blood Money from sportswashing themselves with prominent teams. This recently happened with Newcastle United in 2021, and Manchester City is currently facing a host of allegations in every season from 2009-2023 for inaccurate financial reporting.
The Premier League’s PSR essentially says that clubs can’t lose more than £105 million over the previous three seasons. You can get creative with the accounting: owners raising more funding (which Leeds are currently doing) through shares and whatnot, and owners putting in their own money. Of course it’s complicated. But one way to avoid accruing losses is to sell your assets when their value is fairly high, and this is where we get to Archie Gray’s £40 million sale to Tottenham. That revenue offsets losses from other player purchases.
And if you sell a homegrown player, the club didn’t technically have to spent anything on a transfer fee to acquire them, so that counts as Pure Profit.
How the Premier League came up with a way to incentivize selling players they’ve put years into developing is a truly stupid set of decisions, but that’s Sports!
Archie Gray’s younger brother, 16-year old Harry, played the final 13 minutes for the England U17 team against Belgium in the European Championships on Tuesday night.
What now for Manchester United’s worst-ever season?
Elsewhere (I don’t know how to make the indentation go back to the way it was)
Can’t wait for May 2026 and the Enhanced Games where athletes are allowed, nay encouraged, to use PEDs.
Wired: Three teens almost got away with murder, then police found their Google searches.
Pitchfork: Into the horrid depths of Instagram Reels music
How to quit just about anything.