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Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah was fortunate to avoid injury after being targeted by pitch invaders during Egypt’s World Cup qualifier with Sierra Leone.

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• Reds forward in World Cup qualifying action
• Pharaohs pick up welcome win
• Injuries avoided when fans take to the field

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Pharaohs were out on the road as they endeavour to make their way towards FIFA’s flagship event in 2026. They emerged victorious on the day, with Trezeguet bagging a brace in a 2-0 win that has them perched at the top of CAF Group A with six points from two games.

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• WATCH THE CLIP

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Salah played the full 90 minutes for his country, with Premier League employers back at Anfield keeping a close eye on how he is getting on. They will have been less than impressed at seeing supporters take to the pitch during shocking scenes in Sierra Leone.

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Punches were thrown as fans tried to get near superstar performers – with some clearly having Salah in their sights – and security staff had their work cut out trying to remove unwelcome guests from the field of play.

No talks have taken place between Lewis O’Brien and Leeds United over a summer move, according to Yorkshire Post journalist Leon Wobschall.

The Lowdown: O’Brien linked with Leeds move

O’Brien has been a key player for Huddersfield Town in recent years, making 80 Championship appearances in the last two seasons.

The 22-year-old has been linked with a summer move for Leeds, however, with Marcelo Bielsa potentially seeing him as a good squad depth addition with plenty of room to develop at such a young age.

[freshpress-quiz id=“359346″]

The Latest: Journalist provides update

Despite the Whites’ apparent interest, however, a fresh update has been provided by Wobschall on Twitter.

He confirmed Huddersfield head coach Carlos Corberan’s comments regarding a possible move to Elland Road, saying there have been “no talks with Leeds United”.

That suggests O’Brien could stay put at the Championship club and leave for free next summer, with his current deal expiring in 2022.

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The Verdict: Not a must-need signing

Not signing O’Brien would be no great loss for Leeds, considering he is unlikely to come in as a key man for Bielsa’s side.

That being said, acquiring the midfielder’s signature would still represent positive news, considering he would add depth in the middle of the park behind Kalvin Phillips and won Huddersfield’s Player of the Year award in 2019/20.

The fact that the Terriers could lose O’Brien on a free transfer next year could make them more willing to accept an offer, so it will be interesting to see if anything develops over the final weeks of the window.

In other news, a fresh update regarding Leeds’ interest in one player has emerged. Find out who it is here.

Kristie Mewis appears to have confirmed that Emma Hayes will be the USWNT’s new head coach despite no official announcement being made as yet.

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• Demanding coaching role needs to be filled
• Various candidates considered for it
• Proven winner being lured away from Chelsea

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The United States are in the market for a new manager after parting company with Vlatko Andonovski on the back of a disastrous 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign that saw a global crown surrendered in spectacular fashion by the four-time champions.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Various candidates have been considered to fill the most demanding of roles, with Hayes emerging as the leading contender due to her remarkable record at WSL side Chelsea. Over the course of 11 years and more than 300 games in west London, Hayes has delivered six Super League titles, five FA Cup wins and a couple of League Cup triumphs.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Gotham FC star Mewis is looking forward to seeing what Hayes will bring to the USWNT fold, with the experienced midfielder telling reporters of an imminent appointment that is yet to be confirmed by U.S. Soccer: “She’s an outstanding coach and she has led Chelsea to so many championships and so many wins, and she’s a world respected coach. I'm super excited to see what she can bring to the team. She's exactly what we need and I really just think that she's going to take the team to the next level and, yeah, I’m just excited to see what she brings.”

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Hayes – who has previously worked in the United States with the Long Island Lady Riders, Iona College, the Chicago Red Stars, Western New York Flash and Washington Freedom – has been at Chelsea since August 2012 and was awarded an OBE in the 2022 New Year Honours list for her services to football.

PSG claim Kylian Mbappe is still “helping us to build our future” following Real Madrid’s latest statement in a long-running transfer saga.

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• Superstar forward running down his contract
• Linked with a move to Santiago Bernabeu
• French champions still hoping he will stay put

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Blancos continue to be heavily linked with the World Cup-winning forward as he runs his contract at Paris Saint-Germain down towards free agency in 2024. The Liga giants have, however, claimed that no negotiations are taking place. They have said: “Given the information recently issued and published by different media outlets, in which there is speculation about alleged negotiations between the player Kylian Mbappe and our club, Real Madrid CF would like to state that this information is completely false and that no such negotiations have taken place with a player who belongs to PSG.”

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has maintained throughout that he has no intention of discussing Mbappe’s departure from Parc des Princes, and that remains the stance from the very top of the club. Al-Khelaifi has told when asked about the latest comments coming out of Madrid: “I haven’t seen their statement, we’re all focused on ourselves and our football, not on others.”

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Al-Khelaifi added on the role that Mbappe has to play in the present and future at PSG: “Kylian continues to achieve great things and maybe people take him for granted, but nobody has played two World Cup finals and even scored a hat-trick. I’ll say it again: Kylian is the best in the world, and it’s great to see him at the helm of PSG and France. He’s having a positive effect on our young people, helping us to build our future.”

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  While Real have distanced themselves from Mbappe for now, they are expected to make a play for the France international at some stage. PSG will not be backing down without a fight, though, and the Ligue 1 title holders are still hoping to get the talismanic 24-year-old – who is the club’s all-time leading goalscorer – to sign a new contract.

West Ham United have been handed their biggest boost yet in their pursuit of Tammy Abraham this transfer window…

What’s the word?

According to The Sun, Chelsea are prepared to lower their asking price for the out-of-favour England international, who manager David Moyes has among his top targets, after struggling to find any club willing to pay £40m.

The Hammers, along with Arsenal and Aston Villa, have all shown interest in the 23-year-old striker, but none of those have the funds to splash out on his current valuation.

Abraham also needs to be sold to help fund new signings at Stamford Bridge, so it’s claimed that the Blues’ hierarchy will now reluctantly consider reducing their demands by at least £5m.

Big boost

This will come as a massive boost to Moyes and the East London outfit as it edges his no.1 striker target to a more feasible price tag and much closer to the number the Irons boss has in mind.

Claret and Hugh claimed last month that the Scotsman valued Abraham at just £25m.

It’s no secret that West Ham are absolutely desperate for a new forward to provide the perfect foil to Michail Antonio. Indeed, they cannot afford to risk going into a potential 50-plus game campaign with one senior, and injury-prone, striker.

The 31-year-old has never started more than 24 league games since arriving at the London Stadium in September 2015.

Abraham’s experience and proven track record in the English top-flight since breaking through at Chelsea is one reason why he’d be a very safe option for the Hammers.

As per Transfermarkt, the 23-year-old has scored 30 goals in 82 appearances for the Blues, which includes 21 goals in the Premier League and four in the Champions League.

In the past, Abraham has been lauded as a “phenomenal player” and a “goal machine”, so the Irons would be getting a player who is very much still held in high regard despite his lack of game time under Thomas Tuchel.

It is now surely on GSB to act amid this encouraging update and that should leave many supporters absolutely buzzing, especially as the Hammers faithful have been clamouring for the club to sign the £36m-rated Blues talisman for several weeks now.

AND in other news, Moyes could save GSB millions by unleashing West Ham’s rarely-seen “exciting talent”…

Wrexham are only just recovering from the “psychological effect” that Paul Mullin’s pre-season injury had on the squad, says Jordan Davies.

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• Star striker sidelined in pre-season
• Punctured lung suffered
• Dragons now boast strength in depth

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Dragons saw their prolific frontman – who hit 47 goals last season when firing the club to promotion back into the Football League – suffer a punctured lung during a supposedly friendly outing against Manchester United on a summer tour of America.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Wrexham have a number of other strikers on their books, but covering Mullin’s absence was always going to be tricky. Phil Parkinson’s side struggled for consistency without their talismanic No.10, but have battled their way to precious points over recent weeks and now boast the strength in depth that allows them to remain competitive regardless of who is stuck on the sidelines.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Home-grown star Davies has told of Wrexham responding to losing Mullin and pulling together as a collective: “Essentially, we have two XIs. The gaffer has done really well to recruit the players to fill those two XIs. If someone is not playing well or gets injured, we have people capable of stepping in for every position. That can only serve us well going forward. Training every day is incredible. Even if the starters aren’t playing, the level is sky-high. Standards are top-notch. That comes from the togetherness we have here. There are 24 people here, all champing at the bit to play. Things do seem to be coming together now. Pre-season wasn’t ideal, with the schedule in America and Paul Mullin’s injury. That had a psychological effect on the team because we lost our top scorer. But now we feel to be getting people back fit, getting people back in form and the best is yet to come.”

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Mullin has only registered two goals for Wrexham since returning to fitness – with both of those efforts coming in the same game against Crewe – but the Dragons have moved up to fifth in the League Two table and are on course to challenge for back-to-back promotions under the guidance of Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

Despite it being Julie Ertz's big night, Lynn Williams quietly stole the limelight with a brilliant two-goal performance.

All eyes were on Julie Ertz, and rightfully so. The U.S. women's national team legend was here to say goodbye, one last run and one last game for a player that has had so many important ones over the years. With her 2023 World Cup teammates around her, Ertz made way early on to a much-deserved ovation.

But, while this was Ertz's day, it was also Lynn Williams', too. A player that was overlooked at the World Cup could not be overlooked on Thursday night, even with all the fanfare around Ertz' goodbye.

Williams scored two of the three goals in the USWNT's 3-0 win over South Africa, offering the attacking spark that the U.S. needed so badly at the World Cup. Both goals, as unlikely as it may seem, came via set pieces, with Williams the surprising goalscorer on both.

Trinity Rodman's goal, though, was a display of the threat that the U.S. so desperately lacked Down Under. It was a lovely attacking move, one capped by a pass from Alex Morgan to Rodman for a simple finish.

In the first game of the post-Vlatko Andonovski era, the U.S. put out a lineup not unlike the one we saw at the World Cup. What that team lacked in the attacking end a few months back seems behind them, though, as this USWNT played the way that many expected them to this summer.

GOAL rates USWNT players from TQL Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defense

  Alyssa Naeher (6/10):

  Had just about nothing to do for the bulk of this game. Could this have been a good one to get a look at one of the other goalkeepers?

  Crystal Dunn (7/10):

  A solid game at fullback/wingback. When the lineup came out, there was hope she'd be in midfield. No luck, though, as she exited after 45.

  Naomi Girma (8/10):

  How many better defenders are there in the world today? Had to get back and stop a few South Africa attacks, but she did so effortlessly every time.

  Alana Cook (7/10):

  Totally solid, which only makes it more puzzling as to why we didn't see her more at the World Cup.

  Emily Fox (6/10):

  Helped keep South Africa quiet on that right-hand side. Nothing crazy, but a good performance overall.

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  Midfield

  Emily Sonnett (7/10):

  Was a secret weapon in that last World Cup game and she looked good again in a midfield role here. Ran plenty and helped the U.S. in possession.

  Lindsey Horan (8/10):

  Involved in all three goals and was fantastic on set pieces. About as good of a performance as you can expect from a midfielder.

  Julie Ertz (6/10):

  Was given her start, but it didn't last long before she was taken out to a standing ovation. Came oh so close to getting a goal from a corner kick, but it just wasn't quite to be.

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  Attack

  Trinity Rodman (7/10):

  Fantastic run and and great finish on a sequence that would have been very, very welcome at the World Cup. Should be a good one for her confidence after some ups and downs Down Under.

  Alex Morgan (7/10):

  No goal, which isn't ideal given her World Cup drought but, an overall good performance from the USWNT striker. Fantastic pass on Rodman's goal, a good display of what she can do in her role.

  Lynn Williams (9/10):

  Could the U.S. have used Williams in the XI at the World Cup? On this evidence, it sure looks like it! Williams was absolutely fantastic and, for a team that saw their attack sputter Down Under, that will be even more frustrating given her lack of minutes.

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  Subs & Manager

  Mary Alice Vignola (7/10):

  A very good first impression for the hometown defender, who did enough to show she can play at this level.

  Ashley Sanchez (6/10):

  Stop me if you heard this before: Could we have seen more of her at the World Cup?

  Ashley Hatch (6/10):

  Got her chance after missing the World Cup, and looked okay, but it'll be tough to hold off some of the young forward options behind her.

  Casey Krueger (N/A):

  Came on a bit too late to make an impact, replacing Fox at right back.

  Alyssa Thompson (N/A):

  Got a 15 minute cameo in place of Rodman as she looks to find more USWNT experience.

  Twila Kilgore (7/10):

  Did exactly what you want from an interim manager: made minor changes that produced big results. The next manager can reinvent the wheel, but it's Kilgore's job to make sure that it keeps moving.

Hamza Choudhury is keen to join Newcastle United on loan in pursuit of game-time, according to The Northern Echo’s Scott Wilson. 

The lowdown

Newcastle had hoped to agree a temporary deal for Choudhury in January, only for Brendan Rodgers to stand in the way, and the 23-year-old remains on the Magpies’ shortlist.

He was limited to just four Premier League starts last season, making a further six appearances off the bench (via WhoScored).

Rodgers has hailed Choudhury as ‘one of the best’ at winning the ball back and also described him as a ‘tough’ individual.

The latest

According to Wilson on Twitter, Choudhury is ‘ready to push’ for the move ‘to ensure he plays next season’ and has told his representatives to take the necessary steps.

Newcastle are aware of this development and are prepared to open talks with Leicester, but only once ‘they know where they stand’ with Joe Willock.

As Wilson explains, only two domestic loans are allowed at any one time, and Newcastle are looking to strike a season-long deal with Arsenal. If they’re successful, they would need to decide whether to use their second domestic loan slot on another midfielder.

The verdict

It’s easy to understand why Newcastle are hesitant. Steve Bruce is working within what’s been called a ‘meagre’ transfer budget this summer, so loans will be key to strengthening the squad and staving off the threat of relegation.

Willock has to be to the top target, having proven his value to the Magpies following a hugely successful loan spell earlier this year. That move would halve Newcastle’s domestic loan quota, but they shouldn’t necessarily shy away from Choudhury simply because he too is a midfielder.

Where Willock offers a box-to-box presence and a goalscoring threat, Choudhury is a different kind of player. He is more destructive and excels at protecting a defence, so he could complement the Arsenal man’s skillset nicely if both players end up at St James’ Park for the 2021/22 campaign.

In other news, Mark Douglas says Newcastle have been offered this player.

Chelsea and Tottenham will reportedly have to pay more for Folarin Balogun than transfer rivals, with Arsenal setting different asking prices.

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• American striker is a wanted man
• Linked with clubs across Europe
• Any deal will not come cheap

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Gunners are aware of the mounting interest being shown in United States international Balogun. He was expected to have been on the move before now after hitting 21 goals while on loan at Ligue 1 side Reims last season.

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  Balogun is eager to find regular first-team football and has been edging his way towards the exits at Emirates Stadium – with leading sides from across Europe mulling over moves for his services. Chelsea and Spurs are said to form part of that pack, but the claims that they will need to meet a full £50 million ($63m) valuation in order to get a deal done.

• AND WHAT'S MORE

  That is because Arsenal are reluctant to do business with a Premier League rival – particularly London neighbours – and will not offer any discount to domestic foes. With that in mind, Monaco remain favourites to land the highly-rated 22-year-old after already seeing one offer knocked back.

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Balogun has not been included in Arsenal’s matchday squad at the start of the 2023-24 season, while spending time training away from the rest of Mikel Arteta’s squad, and is set to form part of a mass exodus from the Emirates before the summer deadline passes on September 1.

It was a night to remember for the European champions in Adelaide, and it was their 21-year-old superstar who stole the show again

England secured top spot in Group D and a place in the Women's World Cup last 16 on Tuesday in Adelaide after beating China, the Asian champions, 6-1 in an intriguing and exciting display. Goals came from Alessia Russo, Lauren Hemp, Lauren James, Chloe Kelly and Rachel Daly, with James getting two in a fantastic performance.

Lionesses head coach Sarina Wiegman opted to change her team's system for this match and it worked brilliantly, with there only four minutes on the clock when Russo broke the deadlock. From there, it was a one-sided contest, Hemp's cool finish coming before the half-hour mark while James made sure it was 3-0 at half-time with a gorgeous effort from the edge of the box.

China got back into the game when Wang Shuang netted from the spot after Lucy Bronze was penalised for handball, but James restored the three-goal cushion with a delightful side-footed volley before Kelly and Daly put the icing on the cake late on.

GOAL rates England's players from Hindmarsh Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Mary Earps (6/10):

  Too harsh to say she was at fault a little for the penalty, in pushing Bronze towards the ball? Maybe. Made a great late save to deny China a second.

  Jess Carter (7/10):

  Solid at the back upon her return to the side. Played in a wonderful cross for James' second goal.

  Millie Bright (7/10):

  Excellent battling and determination to plat a key role in Hemp's goal. Strong at the back, too.

  Alex Greenwood (7/10):

  Came up with a number of good headers and defensive interventions when China did get forward. Picked out James well to set her up for her first goal of the night.

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  Midfield

  Lucy Bronze (7/10):

  Wing-back really suited her and allowed her to bomb on down the right, getting into the box a lot to cause problems.

  Katie Zelem (7/10):

  Looked comfortable and composed on her first ever start for England and took good set-pieces, too.

  Georgia Stanway (6/10):

  Solid again before being subbed at half-time to protect her from getting a yellow card that would've suspended her in the last 16.

  Lauren James (9/10):

  Excellent footwork was on show throughout, allowing her to get out of tight spaces to create chances, and her two goals were sublime. Star of the show, again, with three assists also to her name.

  Rachel Daly (8/10):

  She wasn't playing as a centre-forward but she took up a lot of positions that one would, with this system really helping to make her stand out in attack, as showcased by her late goal.

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  Attack

  Alessia Russo (8/10):

  Scored a brilliant goal that will've done her confidence so much good given her recent struggles in front of goal. Was truly excellent in possession, too, with this system suiting her to a tee.

  Lauren Hemp (7/10):

  Occupied a lot of good positions in the box, especially with Russo roaming, and finished superbly for her goal.

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  Subs & Manager

  Laura Coombs (5/10):

  Replaced Stanway at the break but couldn't get into the game.

  Niamh Charles (5/10):

  Came on with 20 minutes to go as part of a triple sub but wasn't as much of a force as Bronze in the right wing-back role.

  Bethany England (5/10):

  The second name in that triple sub, she could've had a chance at goal almost immediately but elected to pass to Kelly. Otherwise didn't get much of a look in the box.

  Chloe Kelly (6/10):

  Completing the trio of changes, Kelly didn't have much time to get on the scoresheet but she still managed to do so, profiting from some poor goalkeeping to finish into an empty net.

  Ella Toone (N/A):

  Came on for the final 10 minutes, so didn't have time to make an impact.

  Sarina Wiegman (9/10):

  This was the perfect game for Wiegman to mix things up and what she experimented with suited the strengths of so many of the players in this team that had been underwhelming in the tournament so far. It certainly unlocked England's attacking potential, too, and showed that the Lionesses do indeed have a Plan B.