Thursday Morning Hot Links
Look here’s the thing about the Women’s European Championships: You need to absolutely fear Spain, Sweden, France, and England. Any of their games is appointment-level watching.
Leeds United
As it turns out, Newcastle rejected Leeds’ £12 million bid for midfielder Sean Longstaff. Champions League rules say that each team has to have four “club-trained” players on their roster, in which a player has spent at least three consecutive years with their team while they were Ages 15-21. Newcastle doesn’t have many of those types of players, but Longstaff sure is one.
Due to the level of clubs interested, Leeds have apparently given up on signing 6’8” Goalkeeper Vanya Milinkovic-Savic and are turning to Lyon GK Lucas Perri as their New Plan F.
Five Things Seen As Leeds Begin Their Pre-Season.
Former Leeds United Great/USMNT Captain Tyler Adams said the Gold Cup was a “wake-up call” to FIFA ahead of next summer’s World Cup.
Former Leeds Owner/Psychopath Massimo Cellino oversaw the destruction of Italian club Brescia, which was founded in 1911.
Elsewhere
Arsenal have completed the signing of former Brentford captain Christian Norgaard. Meanwhile Manchester United are still confident they can sign Brentford striker Bryan Mbuemo, and it’s fair to wonder if Brentford, having lost their manager, captain, and now possibly striker, could be one of the three teams Leeds has to finish ahead of to ensure Premier League survival.
Are Arsenal walking away from Viktor Gyokeres to focus on Benjamin Sesko?
Crystal Palace are set to get demoted to the Europa Conference League, and the American owner at the center of it classically says it’s not his fault.
PSG beat the hell out of Real Madrid to set up the Club World Cup Final against Chelsea.
Bournemouth, who finished 10th in the Premier League last season, have the 66th-largest stadium capacity in England at Dean Court/Vitality Stadium, with just 11,464 seats. Now, Bournemouth are set to double their stadium capacity. Gateshead, who play in the 6th tier of English soccer, have a larger capacity at 11,800.
What To Watch: Thursday
2pm (Central): Women’s European Championships: Finland v Switzerland. Fox.
2pm: Women’s Euros: Norway v Iceland. FS1.