Transport for London has announced that it will name one of its London Overground lines after the Lionesses to honour the England team's achievements.
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England women honoured with London Overground line
'The Lioness line' will run through Wembley
Follows iconic achievements under Sarina Wiegman
WHAT HAPPENED?
TfL announced last year that it would be renaming six of its London Overground lines and on Thursday it was revealed that one of them will be known as 'the Lioness line', following the remarkable milestones that England have hit under Sarina Wiegman's charge over the last 18 months. The line will run from Euston to Watford Junction and through Wembley.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
It was at Wembley that the Lionesses won their first major tournament in the summer of 2022, lifting the European Championship trophy after beating Germany in extra time. They then followed that up last year with a run to the World Cup final, becoming the first senior England side to get there since the men won the tournament in 1966.
DID YOU KNOW?
When the Lionesses won the Euros in 2022, they did so in front of a crowd of 87,192. That is a record attendance for a Euros match, across both the men's and women's tournaments.
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WHAT NEXT FOR THE LIONESSES?
England will play their first fixtures of 2024 later this month, taking on Austria and Italy in a pair of friendlies in Spain.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola believes Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are "almost unstoppable" amid tight title battle.
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Guardiola says title rivals "almost unstoppable"
Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City in three-way battle
Jurgen Klopp's side lead with two points covering top three
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WHAT HAPPENED?
As the title battle between Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal has started to slowly boil towards the end of the season, Guardiola has admitted that his side will have to strive hard to retain the title as both the Gunners and the Reds do not seem to be in the mood to drop points.
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WHAT GUARDIOLA SAID
Speaking to the media, Guardiola said: "How they [our opponents] are playing, even Aston Villa but especially, Arsenal and Liverpool. They are scoring three, four, five goals a day. So that means they are almost unstoppable."
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
So far in February, Arsenal have defeated West Ham by six goals, scored five against Burnley, and put three past both Newcastle and Liverpool. Meanwhile, Liverpool bagged three against Burnley, and put four past Brentford and Luton Town. Currently, Klopp's men lead the pack on 60 points with City one behind on 59 and Arsenal on 58 with 12 matchdays remaining.
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WHAT NEXT FOR THE TITLE RACE?
Liverpool will have the chance to extend their lead as they are the first of the title contenders to play on the next matchday. The Reds take on Nottingham Forest on Saturday, March 2, while Manchester City take on city rivals Manchester United on Sunday. Arsenal end the matchday with a Monday evening kickoff against Sheffield United.
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 GettyWHAT 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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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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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.
It is never quiet at Manchester United, with the international break having brought with it further controversy for the Old Trafford outfit amid what has already been a turbulent start to the campaign.
The previous weeks and months have seen a prospective sale of the club by the Glazer family fail to pan out, with the Red Devils also coming under fire amid reports of an initial plan to bring Mason Greenwood back into the fold – only for the Englishman to subsequently move on loan to Getafe.
More recently, struggling winger Jadon Sancho hit back at manager Erik ten Hag on Twitter following criticism of his training ground displays in the build-up to the defeat to Arsenal, while fellow forward Antony – who was signed on an £86m deal from Ajax last summer – is now facing a spell away from the first-team, amid worrying allegations of alleged assault and domestic abuse.
Who can replace Antony at Man United?
With it unclear as to if and when the Brazilian will return to Ten Hag's set-up, the Dutchman will have to make do without a player who has been a firm favourite of his in recent times, with the 23-year-old having started all four Premier League games this season.
Although the former Sao Paulo man has not exactly impressed in a United shirt to date, with only eight goals and three assists in 48 appearances in all competitions, it will still leave Ten Hag with something of a headache in that right-wing berth.
While there is an argument to be made that Alejandro Garnacho could be shifted over to that side, there will also be calls for 21-year-old, Facundo Pellistri to fill that void, with the Uruguayan having looked "scintillating" when he has featured in recent times – as per writer Alex Turk.
That being said, the diminutive talent has not exactly been Ten Hag's go-to man in the past with just 12 senior appearances for the club to date across the last three years or so, with it perhaps also wise to consider academy starlet, Omari Forson for that vacant role on the flanks.
Who is Omari Forson?
The 19-year-old notably hit the headlines in pre-season after being withdrawn in just the 36th minute in the defeat to Borussia Dortmund, with Ten Hag making the decision to substitute the teenager following his altercation with Julian Ryerson – a flare-up that the United boss hinted could have been a red card in a normal, competitive fixture.
Despite that obvious low, the fact that the England youth international was able to feature so prominently over the summer is a testament to his "outstanding" talent – as described by Everton youth coach Keith Southern – with big things expected of a player who has dazzled in the youth ranks of late.
The fleet-footed youngster – who can operate on either wing – notably enjoyed an "excellent" 2022/23 campaign, according to journalist Steven Railston, after scoring nine goals and providing three assists in just 25 games in all competitions.
While yet to make his first-team bow, Forson does now boast an overall tally of ten goals and five assists in just 31 appearances for United's U21 squad, with that an impressive return considering he only turned 19 back in July.
Evidently a real threat in the final third, the emerging prospect could represent a more natural replacement for Antony than Pellistri as a left-footer who likes to cut in from the right, with it set to be no surprise if Ten Hag does look his way over the coming weeks and months.
West Ham United have surprised plenty of neutrals this season, remaining unbeaten in the opening four Premier League games, with only Manchester City earning more points than David Moyes' side.
Those at the London Stadium will just be hoping that the international break didn't halt their momentum entirely, and they simply pick up where they left off, starting with a clash against the treble winners at the top of the league table.
It hasn't been an international break full of good news, either, with reports emerging that one key player is now refusing a contract extension, casting doubts over his West Ham future.
What's the latest West Ham United news?
Since losing Declan Rice to Arsenal for a reported £105m in the summer transfer window, West Ham have done well to pick themselves back up, both on and off the pitch.
Only time will tell, of course, whether their spending proves to be smart, but on paper the arrivals of the likes of Mohammed Kudus, James Ward-Prowse, and Edson Alvarez all coming through the door certainly looks like solid business.
The focus now may well be on keeping hold of the players, given that they've just bid farewell to Rice in the summer transfer window. Unfortunately for the Hammers, though, they could be set to suffer another blow.
According to Sean Whetstone, via West Ham Football, Pablo Fornals has decided not to extend his contract at the London Stadium. West Ham Football Tweeted: "Hammer Pablo Fornals has decided NOT to take up an unilateral option to extend his contract at West Ham, nor has he agreed to sign a new contract meaning he will be free to leave next summer.
"Fornals signed a five-year contract in 2019 which will expire next June. He cost the Hammers £24m with up to £6m add-ons. Fornals has made 184 appearances for the Hammers in all competitions."
How has Pablo Fornals performed this season?
West Ham midfielder Pablo Fornals.
It would be some blow for West Ham if Fornals not only left, but left as a free agent next summer. The midfielder is still an important part of Moyes' side, having featured in all four Premier League games so far this season, with the London club leaving many impressed in the last month or so.
When on form, the Spaniard has deservedly received plenty of praise, including from Moyes, who said, via the official West Ham website: "Pablo is a player that we really like. He is a great energetic player who does great work for the team, and he also has a knack for coming up with goals. There was the one at Bournemouth and in the semi-final. He has been a great team player over the last two years, and I have really enjoyed working with him. He is a great boy.”
With that said, it will certainly be interesting to see how the Hammers act when the January transfer window comes around. With Fornals on course to leave for free next summer, they may yet decide to cash in on the midfielder, who has been at the club for four years now.
The Sussex openers added an unbeaten 86 in the 21 overs possible on the opening day
ECB Reporters Network27-Apr-2018 ScorecardSussex openers Phil Salt and Luke Wells made an impressive start to their Specsavers County Championship game against Gloucestershire before rain swept in to ruin the first day at Hove.Salt, 21, was unbeaten on 54 and Wells had contributed 25 to a stand of 86 for the first wicket before rain arrived at 12.30pm. Umpires Martin Saggers and Russell Warren abandoned play at 4pm with no sign of an improvement in conditions after taking an early tea.After losing Chris Nash to Nottinghamshire during the winter Sussex are giving Salt, who is making only his tenth first-class appearance, a run as opener and although he played some false shots there was a lot to admire in his aggressive approach after Sussex had batted first following an uncontested toss.Australian Dan Worrall troubled both batsmen during a lively nine-over burst with the new ball up the slope. Salt came down the pitch to try and smear him through the off side and was then struck on the helmet by the next delivery when he misjudged a bouncer and needed to make repairs to his headgear.But in the last over before the rain arrived, Salt drove Matt Taylor for four then pulled his next ball over square leg for six. A single off the next delivery took him to his second Championship half-century from 59 balls which has included nine boundaries. Earlier, in the tenth over, he had taken three fours off Taylor with two drives through the off side and a pull to the midwicket rope.Wells, fresh from an unbeaten 102 on Monday in Sussex’s last match against Leicestershire, batted with more reserve but looked solid enough. His innings, from 66 balls so far, has included four boundaries.Gloucestershire, who won their opening Division Two game against Kent before losing to Glamorgan last week, used just Worrall, Taylor and Craig Miles and although Worrall in particular beat the bat on several occasions their trio of seamers could not make a breakthrough.Sussex made one change with left-arm spinner Danny Briggs making his first appearance of the season with legspinner Will Beer dropping out. Gloucestershire were without last year’s leading wicket-taker Liam Norwell and David Payne because of injury.
Chelsea's 2024 transfer plans are already taking real shape as a report shares some promising news on their bid to sign a striker for Mauricio Pochettino.
Who have Chelsea signed this season?
The Blues, lead by owner Todd Boehy, alongside co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, oversaw a summer transfer window of serious spending.
Indeed, Chelsea showcased true ambition with the additions of Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu, Robert Sanchez, Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo, Cole Palmer, Djordje Petrovic, Angelo and Deivid Washington – who all joined the club for around £397 million.
To fund this business, many former squad members had to make way, with Kalidou Koulibaly, N'Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Cesar Azpilicueta, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ethan Ampadu and Callum Hudson-Odoi all departing Stamford Bridge.
Pochettino's reign has well and truly begun with the aforementioned arrivals, though it hasn't exactly been the greatest of starts for the Argentine.
Losing to both West Ham and, most recently, Nottingham Forest; Chelsea's only win of the season to date has been a 3-0 victory over newly-promoted Luton Town.
The west Londoners also dropped points at home to Liverpool on the opening day, with defender Ben Chilwell saying there is still a lot of work to do.
"Very frustrating result and everyone is very disappointed in the changing room right now," explained Chilwell after their recent 1-0 loss to Forest at home.
"If you look at the stats we dominated the game, had the possession, but the most important stat is the goals. We lost in that department and lost the game, that is the black and white of it and we need to improve."
Will Chelsea sign a striker?
One position they didn't exactly shore up with a superstar was their striking position, despite links with the likes of Harry Kane and Napoli star Victor Osimhen.
The latter player, who has been in scintillating form for the past two years, has been repeatedly mentioned as a Chelsea transfer target by various sections of the media.
Osimhen is truly one of Europe's most deadly strikers right now, having scored 26 goals in 30 Serie A starts last season. The Nigeria international has continued in that vain this term; already bagging three goals in his first league games.
His signing would be a truly exciting one from Chelsea's perspective, and there has been a very promising bit of news concerning his possible arrival.
This comes courtesy of Football Transfers, who say Pochettino and co are "leading the race" to sign Osimhen over Premier League rivals Arsenal.
As they enter pole position for the 24-year-old, FT sources indicate that there is a "possibility that a deal may already have been agreed upon" with the player.
Presumably referring to personal terms, it appears Chelsea have taken quite the leap forward for Osimhen's signing just under two weeks after the summer window shut.
We believe the African superstar would be near-perfect to lead Pochettino's line, especially going by his imperious goal record and praise from Gianfranco Zola, who called him "devastating".
For all the illustrious success of the Jurgen Klopp era at Liverpool, there are few of a Reds fellowship who will not acknowledge that the journey under the German’s stewardship has not been tumultuous.
Liverpool’s success is steeped in sagacious work, from the furrowed brows of those in the transfer department to the tactical team devising strategies for those plying their trade on the verdant Anfield blades.
Klopp arrived at Liverpool with the club moored in a harbour leagues away from the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and the deteriorating Manchester United, decades without league triumph and yielding just one League Cup honour since the indelible success in the Champions League and FA Cup under Rafa Benitez’s wing in 2005 and 2006, respectively.
Premier League
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Champions League
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FA Cup
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League Cup
x1
FIFA Club World Cup
x1
UEFA Super Cup
x1
FA Community Shield
x1
FIFA Best Men's Club Coach
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PL Manager of the Season
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Trophy list sourced via Transfermarkt
Winning every major honour accessible – aside from the Europa League – since Klopp’s appointment, Liverpool have soared to heights unseen for an age, and the squad that he meticulously crafted has etched its story not only into the club’s lasting history but that of European football itself.
Klopp is the architect, but it is his acquisitions that have had a transformative effect on the pitch, with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alisson Becker, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane staples of rise.
Now entering a new chapter, Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Darwin Nunez and co look to lead the next wave.
Perhaps the shrewdest signing, however, one who very much serves a central role to this day, is Scottish full-back Andrew Robertson , whose signing in 2017 revolutionised the left channel on the red half of Merseyside.
How much did Liverpool sign Andrew Robertson for?
When Robertson was purchased from relegated Hull City for a grand sum of £10m, there was a chorus of contentment from the club’s rivals, mouths twitching skywards in smirk satisfaction, the Reds were not making the lucrative moves to close the gap on those at the top.
The Premier League giants were undoubtedly on the up under Klopp and had welcomed the likes of Salah and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to the fold that summer, though few anticipated what was to come.
Robertson had spent three seasons with the Tigers, joining alongside, interestingly, Harry Maguire in 2014 for just £3m, and forged 115 displays for his former outfit, scoring five goals and supplying ten assists.
Praised as “fantastic” by journalist Ryan Dilks for his role in Hull’s promotion-winning 2015/16 campaign, to say the 29-year-old has gone from strength to strength across his career would be a disservice to his meteoric rise.
Liverpool unearthed a gem, true, but Klopp moulded the flanker into a glimmering diamond, and he is now the “complete player”, as has been said by former Liverpool ace Fabio Aurelio.
How much is Andrew Roberton worth now?
According to Football Transfers', Robertson is currently worth around £48m, which signifies a monumental rise in value of 380% since Klopp acquired his services way back when.
At the peak of his powers, the site's reliable valuation model deduced his worth at a whopping £68m, and while this has depreciated over the past few years, largely due to Liverpool's fluctuating fortunes, he is still the third most valuable full-back in the world, behind only teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold and Chelsea phenom Reece James.
The Scottish star has now made 272 appearances for Liverpool, scoring nine goals and supplying 63 assists, and may well be the greatest left-back in the Merseyside outfit's history, having played a central role in each of the aforementioned major honours won under Klopp's tutelage.
Once noted with bemusement by rival fans, upon transferring to Liverpool, Robertson is now comfortably one of the most important members of the Reds' system and has been integral in the rise to prominence, boasting superlative technical skills and an unrelenting engine to maraud up and down the left channel splendidly.
Hailed as a 'role model' by Sir Kenny Dalglish, the 62-cap international could be the shrewdest signing of the modern era at Anfield.
Why is Andrew Robertson worth that much?
A creative demon, Robertson currently boasts the record of most assists in Premier League history supplied by a defender, with 57 – interestingly, this is just four behind Salah, who joined Liverpool the same summer.
The £100k-per-week machine has been simply incredible, and despite Liverpool's struggles over the past year, still ranks among the top 8% of full-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists and shot-creating actions, the top 5% for passes attempted and the top 12% for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
Described as a "Duracell Bunny" by Liverpool writer Leanne Prescott for his turbo-charged approach, the gem also offers an underrated level of defensive ability, recording a career average of one interception, 1.5 tackles and 1.8 clearances per game, as per WhoScored.
Now 29 years old, the 5 foot 10 ace is still contracted to Liverpool until 2026, and will continue to dominate the left flank for years yet, providing an all-encompassing sheen and allowing the likes of Luis Diaz and Nunez ahead of him to have an unceasing battery of supplementation.
Liverpool's rise under Klopp has been built on astute purchases, with so many diamonds crafted from unrefined rock since the 56-year-old German set to work eight years ago.
Robertson will go down in perpetual Anfield lore as one of the most brilliant captures in modern history, with his acquisition transforming the left-back role and providing a consistent offensive threat and defensive security for years.
Despite raising a few eyebrows after his paltry signing, there will be few outfits at present who would not rue the missed opportunity to sign a player for peanuts, now comfortably one of the best full-backs in the world.
Leeds United's start to the Championship season, when taken in isolation, marks a torrid start towards earning their goal of an instant Premier League return.
They have won just once in five attempts, and the summer window just gone saw them lose plenty of their star men, including Tyler Adams, Luis Sinisterra and Rodrigo.
However, when delving deeper, it is worth noting that not only have the Whites actually played well in those fixtures, but they also recruited shrewdly in the market to plug those holes created. Amidst all the turmoil, Daniel Farke has actually come out the other side relatively unscathed and is now surely ready to truly kickstart their league campaign.
He has a wealth of talent at his fingertips, both young and old, and should the German find the perfect blend whilst mixing around his starting side, it could prove devastating for the rest of the division.
Leeds United manager Daniel Farke.
It is likely that the former will uphold his side though, with the likes of Archie Gray, Wilfried Gnonto, Crysenco Summerville and Jamie Shackleton all growing into mainstays despite their inexperience.
A truly bright future is on the horizon once again at Elland Road, with this newfound hope sure to spur on a year of excitement rather than the gloomy period they endured in the English top flight.
Who are Leeds United's best young players?
With such a starring cast of thrilling youngsters, it marks a very difficult task to choose just one as the outstanding player.
Wilfried Gnonto was the recipient of plenty of interest over the summer, with a £25m bid having even been turned away such was his value to the club. Meanwhile, Gray has been ever-present in the midfield, with the 17-year-old general providing the foundation for Summerville to have enjoyed a frightening start to the new term.
Even Shackleton, who was perhaps a forgotten man after his quiet loan spell last season, has announced himself as a creative utility man capable of deputising in a number of roles.
However, perhaps one of their brightest talents is one which has already performed in the Premier League, and should he be given a chance, would surely be able to lead them back to that level. Joe Gelhardt is the young finisher Farke is craving.
Having joined under Marcelo Bielsa's leadership, the 21-year-old marksman has remained throughout numerous different managers now, having featured for most as a clinical youngster with an exciting future.
The forward was instrumental during the 2021/22 campaign where they narrowly avoided the drop, as his two goals and four assists in the league game at crucial moments to earn them survival.
Then, having been sent out on loan the year following as his chances dwindled, he scored three and assisted three across just 16 Championship starts with Sunderland.
Such persistent proficiency was always bound to draw praise, with journalist Phil Hay even branding him a "goal machine".
This kind of acknowledgement from such a well-respected writer should go a long way towards painting the picture of Gelhardt's talent, which has been well-documented given his meteoric rise to the top of the game.
How much was Joe Gelhardt worth at Wigan Athletic?
However, the Liverpool-born finisher was not a true product of the Whites' infamous academy, with Thorp Arch not quite able to take the plaudits for his production.
It was instead Wigan Athletic who handed the youngster the platform to shine, as his five goals in as many U18s games earned him 21 first-team appearances before his eventual sale.
joe-gelhardt-championship-leeds-united
To emphasise just how far Gelhardt has come, it is worth outlining that Football Transfers valued Leeds' number 30 at just €70k (£60k) in 2019, the year before he moved. Unsurprisingly, his exposure and instant adaptation to top-level football with the Yorkshire outfit has seen that figure skyrocket.
How much did Leeds United sign Joe Gelhardt for?
As the Latics were plagued by crippling financial issues, the likes of which saw them earn points deductions that would send them spiralling out of the Championship, Leeds were one of the beneficiaries who swooped in to acquire their talent for a cut price.
Soccer Football – Championship – Hull City v Wigan Athletic – KCOM Stadium, Hull, Britain – September 14, 2019 Wigan Athletic’s Joe Gelhardt celebrates scoring their second goal Action Images/Ed Sykes EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or “live” services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for
It was impossible for a club in administration to turn down the £1m that Bielsa had offered, and so the young striker moved in the hope that the fee he attained would aid his former employers in their survival bid.
Although the DW Stadium outfit have bounced between the second tier and League One for the past few years, at the very least Shaun Maloney seems set to offer some stability to an institution that has been sorely lacking it in recent memory.
What is Joe Gelhardt's market value now?
To gauge the growth of Gelhardt, it is worth viewing the change in his value, which can be affected by a number of different factors.
His age, the level which he has and currently plays at, nationality and skill level all come into play, but given how lowly Football Transfers once valued him, it is certain that a profit can be guaranteed.
2023
€14.7m (£12.6m)
58% increase
2022
€9.8m (£8.4m)
65% increase
2021
€4.9m (£4.2m)
136% increase
2020
€1m (£860k)
N/A
That is certainly the case when viewing Football Transfer's expected Transfer Value (xTV) for the starlet, which seeks to estimate an accurate fee that might be paid in the current market for a player's services.
The €14.7m (£12.6m) figure they have handed him is a fair representation of his current level and the potential he holds to star in the near future.
In total, across a senior career that has largely spanned across the two valuations mentioned, the 5 foot 9 poacher has seen an 1160% increase in value. Bielsa certainly worked wonders with this deal.
Why is Joe Gelhardt worth that much?
To outline why Gelhardt has seen his valuation soar in such a manner is just to hear the glowing commendation sent his way by former employers and current ones.
Paul Cook, who managed over him at Wigan, was one of the first to issue such glowing praise: "He's got that unique talent to find space in a telephone box. He's such a natural, good footballer. To get a goal like that in front of his own fans was a special moment.
"A lot of young footballers coming into the game are not very nice people. We're just lucky to have a boy with his humility playing for us – the game is easy for him. He'll be starting soon if he carries on like that. He's a young boy that needs minding though. It's a very special goal from a very special player."
Given his growth since then, which is well laid out by these aforementioned shifts in valuation, it remains to be seen just how high Gelhardt could go under Leeds' new leadership.
Malo Gusto has offered his thoughts on Mauricio Pochettino's future at the helm as Chelsea gear up to face Liverpool in the Carabao Cup final.
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Pochettino has just over a year left on contract Gusto backs him to continue as Blues boss Opened up on camaraderie with "big player" James Getty/GOALWHAT HAPPENED?
Despite facing criticism due to Chelsea's inconsistent performances, Pochettino's leadership has received strong backing from Gusto. While the club's hierarchy plans to evaluate Pochettino's performance at the end of the season, Gusto remains confident in the Argentinian's capabilities to lead the team.
A notable aspect of Pochettino's tenure at Chelsea has been his emphasis on fostering unity within the squad. Following consecutive Premier League losses to Liverpool and Wolves, Pochettino rallied the squad, emphasizing his unwavering belief in their abilities. Subsequently, Chelsea players repaid the trust shown by their manager by securing impressive wins against Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, followed by a commendable draw against Manchester City.
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Speaking to Gusto said: "He (Pochettino) helps us a lot. He has tried to show us the desire to win and to keep fighting against every team. He talks to us a lot about tactics and techniques. He is a good person as well. He tries to help us a lot, on and off the pitch. He is a good coach for this young team.
“That’s (the organising of bonding events at the training ground) what he has tried to do to get everyone all together. The most important thing during this new project is: to help each other and stay all together. If we do that, we can win more.”
When asked whether Pochettino should be handed an extension who has a little more than a year left in his contract, with an option for a further 12 months, the full-back said: "Yeah, yeah, yeah. He is here for this. He knows he has to wake up our mentality. To wake up our desire to win everything. We are Chelsea and a big club like Chelsea has to win everything. To keep fighting.”
THE BIGGER PICTURE
In the ever-evolving landscape of football, injuries often serve as opportunities for aspiring talents to step into the limelight. This narrative rings true for Gusto, whose ascent to prominence has been accelerated by circumstances beyond his control.
Gusto's journey at Chelsea initially began with the intention of providing healthy competition for established star Reece James, yet fate had different plans. James' untimely hamstring injury in August forced a recalibration of the club's strategy, thrusting Gusto into a more prominent role sooner than anticipated. Despite the competitive dynamic between him and James, Gusto highlights their mutual support and camaraderie, underscoring their shared goal of contributing to the team's success.
"Reece is a big player," he said. "One of the best players in this position. It’s not good for the team (that he is out injured) as Reece is the captain and it’s not good for everyone in the club. But for me, I have to be ready and take every chance.
“We talk a lot. I try to help him, he tries to help me as well. It’s a good competition between him and me. We are not similar (as players), but when we are on the pitch we try to help the team, keeping a good mentality, to score and assist. That’s what we have to do.”
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As Chelsea gears up for the Carabao Cup final, Gusto's endorsement reaffirms the team's unity and determination under Pochettino's guidance. If they manage to trounce Jurgen Klopp's high-flying Liverpool on Sunday, the victory might usher in a new dawn at Stamford Bridge.