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Cameron Carter-Vickers is in no rush to head back to the Premier League, with the USMNT star continuing to generate transfer talk.

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Defender left Spurs in 2021Impressed while in ScotlandAttracting interest from afarWHAT HAPPENED?

The 25-year-old centre-half has never appeared in the English top-flight, despite having come through the ranks at Tottenham to make six competitive appearances for the north London heavyweights. He took in a number of Championship loans before heading for Scotland in 2021.

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Carter-Vickers saw Celtic complete a permanent transfer a year after his initial arrival and is thoroughly enjoying his time in Glasgow, telling when asked if a move back south of the border forms part of his plans: “If it comes, it comes, great, but if it doesn’t, I’m happy where I’m at now.”

WHAT THEY SAID

The commanding defender has been a full international since 2017, earning 14 caps for the United States, and is still coming to terms with the fact that he is gracing the biggest stages in sport. Carter-Vickers added: “The camp prior to the World Cup in the summer, I didn't really expect to be called up, but when I was, I felt like I was ready to perform for the national team. Looking back now, I'm glad, I think that summer camp was key to impress the coaching staff here and show them what I can do. That got me called into the World Cup squad, which was a dream.”

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Carter-Vickers figured in both of the United States’ friendlies during the October international break – against Germany and Ghana – and is eager to cement his place in Gregg Berhalter’s plans heading towards Copa America and World Cup tournaments that will be staged on U.S. soil in 2024 and 2026 respectively.

Manchester City star Rodri fired back at Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone over his claim that 'nobody is defending' in the Premier League.

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Simone hit out at the lack of defending in the PLCited recent Man City-Chelsea clash as an exampleRodri disagrees with his former managerWHAT HAPPENED?

The Argentine manager asserted that no Premier League clubs prioritise defending, citing entertaining scorelines like Chelsea's 4-4 draw against City.

“You see English football now and the matches finish 4-4, 5-3, 6-2, or 5-1, which is fantastic for the fans,” Simeone said. “Like Chelsea against Manchester City. These are all games that are fun to watch, but nobody is defending!”

However, his former pupil, Rodri, does not agree with Simeone and offered an alternative discourse.

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Speaking to Cadena Ser Rodri argued: “I disagree a little bit. Not all teams play in the same way, but against Man City there are a lot of teams who look to defend for 90 minutes. Of course, this is not always the case and for other matches there will be more open spaces, but it is a tough league with strong defences.”

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City often comes up against deep-lying defences in the Premier League as teams try to hold their shape against their lethal attack headed by a goal machine in Erling Haaland. Nonetheless, the debate sparks conversations about the evolving nature of football tactics and the balance between offensive flair and defensive solidity in the Premier League.

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR RODRI AND SIMEONE?

Rodri will be in action against Cyprus with Spain in a UEFA Euro 2024 qualifier. Whereas, Diego Simeone will return to Atletico's dugout when they host Mallorca in La Liga on November 25.

Wrexham’s Paul Mullin has revealed why the Katy Perry song ‘Firework’ is so inspirational to him, with said track lifting him in some tough times.

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Striker endured a tough time at TranmereWas introduced to uplifting pop trackRediscovered his spark & never looked backWHAT HAPPENED?

The 29-year-old frontman has not always been the prolific presence that he is today, with a spell at Tranmere seeing goals and regular starting berths prove hard to come by. Mullin was ready to throw in the towel at one stage, but an initial loan transfer to Cambridge got his career back on track – with his mum and pop star Perry playing unlikely roles in the rediscovery of a lost spark.

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Mullin has said in his new autobiography ‘My Wrexham Story’: “One morning I actually said to [my wife] Mollie: ‘I don’t want to go [to training with Tranmere]. I’m not going to play anyway. I can’t be arsed any more. I just want to stay at home.’ Mollie talked it over with me, and eventually I did set off. On the way, mum rang. ‘I’ve just been listening to a song,’ she told me, ‘and it’s definitely about you.’ ‘OK,’ I said dubiously. ‘What is it?’ ‘Katy Perry,’ she replied. ‘Firework’. I put it on in the car and for the first time actually listened to the lyrics. What I heard were amazing words about believing in yourself, unleashing your true potential, finding that spark. It made me really emotional as I thought about why mum was telling me to listen. I know everyone in my family loves me, same as I love them, but in that moment it was something really special – ‘Someone actually thinks that about me.’ It was a really big thing for me when I was feeling so low. After the mental drain of Tranmere, I felt I’d had a whole new injection of energy [after joining Cambridge]. I did everything I could to maintain that feeling, including playing ‘Firework’ as I drove to the ground before every game. At the end of the 2020–21 season, when Cambridge got promoted, mum put it on in her garden to celebrate.”

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Mullin – who was released by Liverpool at the age of 16 and almost signed for Spanish signed Racing Santander before making a senior breakthrough in England – got back into the groove while at Cambridge. He hit 36 goals for them in 56 appearances, with his efforts in 2020-21 earning him the League Two Golden Boot.

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Mullin is back in the fourth tier of English football in 2023-24, with his 47 efforts last season helping to fire Wrexham to a record-breaking promotion into the Football League. He has scored 88 goals for the Welsh club in 111 appearances – with his latest outing seeing him hit a hat-trick, much to the delight of the Red Dragons’ Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

USMNT star Ricardo Pepi started for the PSV second team Monday, leaving many to question if he has been demoted despite his starring role a week ago.

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Pepi demotion questions raisedUSMNT striker starts for second teamScored UCL winner one week agoGetty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?

The USMNT star has been sent down to the second team for their match against NAC Breda. It comes five days after Pepi netted the winner in the UEFA Champions League against Sevilla in stoppage-time – sending them through to the knockout round.

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USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter will hope it's a request from Pepi to get more minutes and not an actual demotion. It would be a baffling move from PSV if true, because the USMNT striker is not only in good form, but has mentioned he is content with his current role in the team. Regardless, it's a move that sees him get starting minutes and a potential confidence booster as well.

DID YOU KNOW?

Pepi grew up in the FC Dallas academy system in MLS. This summer, he joined PSV for €10m, and has linked up with USMNT stars Sergino Dest and Malik Tillman there as well.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR PEPI AND PSV?

PSV Jong (the Dutch club's second team) will finish out their game against NAC Breda before the first-team returns to action on Thursday against SC Heerenveen. Pepi and the USMNT, however, will not return to action until January with a friendly against Slovenia on the 20th.

Jamie Carragher has questioned the hold up in whether Everton's appeal against their 10-point deduction has been successful.

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Everton deducted 10 points for FFP breachesToffees appealing Premier League's decisionCarragher questions delayGetty/Premier LeagueWHAT HAPPENED?

The Toffees were docked 10 points in November for breaching the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules. Everton branded the decision "wholly disproportionate and unjust" and announced they would appeal the verdict. Months on from the announcement, the Merseyside outfit are yet to receive an answer to their appeal, and Carragher has questioned the delay.

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Carragher wrote on X: "What is the hold up on the appeals decision regarding Everton's 10pt deduction? Two weeks have passed, this is surely a matter of urgency for Everton and the clubs around them. I'm sure they and the PL know their decision by now.

"Are the PL waiting until after Everton's home game on Monday because they fear the reaction?"

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While Everton await the verdict, they currently sit 18th in the table – one point from safety. If they are able to have their 10-point deduction reduced, that could provide a huge boost in their bid to stave off relegation. However, the Toffees could reportedly face another points deduction – which could plunge them even deeper into the mire.

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WHAT NEXT?

Sean Dyche's lowly Everton, who next face fellow Premier League strugglers Crystal Palace at Goodison Park next Monday, will reportedly learn whether their appeal has been successful or not later this month.

Luis Suarez will not find it difficult to adapt to life in MLS if he does join Lionel Messi at Inter Miami, says Hector Herrera.

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Veteran striker ready to sever ties with GremioExpected to head north to the United StatesSet to be reunited with ex-Barca team-matesWHAT HAPPENED?

Mexico international Herrera played alongside Suarez for two years at Atletico Madrid between 2020 and 2022. He is now in the United States with the Houston Dynamo and could be about to welcome another familiar face to America’s top division. There are plenty of rumours to suggest that Suarez will make his way to Florida once severing ties with Brazilian side Gremio.

AdvertisementGettyWHAT HERRERA SAID ABOUT SUAREZ

Herrera has told of what Suarez can expect in MLS: “Hopefully he can come to this league and help it continue to grow. With the quality of player he is and as a person, he will surely help any team that he comes to. It would be a pleasure to see him and face him again. He has played in many leagues, in many teams, and I don't think it will be difficult for him to adapt because he is a winner. Obviously we know that he will contribute a lot to the team that he goes to, and to the whole league as well.”

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Inter Miami already have eight-time Ballon d’Or Messi and his fellow former Barcelona stars Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba on their books. The Florida-based franchise won the inaugural Leagues Cup in 2023 and Herrera added on Suarez linking up with the most ambitious of outfits: “I have no doubt that he could go to that team because I know that they are great friends and their families have a good relationship. It makes sense for him to come to Inter Miami. Messi's arrival gave another face and another perspective to the league and will help it grow. We are talking about the current winner of the Ballon d'Or and it is a pleasure to have him in the league, to be able to face him and make MLS continue to grow. We have seen the level that he has shown since he arrived, and surely next year will be even better.”

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Messi is tied to a contract at Inter Miami through 2025, with there the option for a 12-month extension to be triggered beyond that point. He is showing no sign of slowing down at the age of 36, with the 2022 World Cup winner eager to add to a collection of medals that has already made him the most decorated player of all-time.

Non-league side Croydon FC are claiming a Guinness World Record after seeing ex-Crystal Palace and Leeds star Ryan Hall score straight from kick-off.

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Hall boasts Football League experienceTried his luck with first touch of the gameSent the ball looping over goalkeeperWHAT HAPPENED?

The London-based outfit currently ply their trade in the Southern Counties East League, with the two divisions at that level sitting on the ninth and 10th rungs of the league ladder in England. Ex-Three Lions star Kenny Sansom once graced their books, while Hall is another former professional to have headed for the Croydon Arena.

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Hall has competed at Football League level for the likes of Palace, Leeds, Southend, Sheffield United, MK Dons, Rotherham, Notts County and Luton. He was capped by the England C team in 2010 and is now 36 years of age.

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He may have landed himself a place in the history books, with Croydon looking for confirmation from official record keepers. They saw Hall score an outrageous goal direct from kick-off against Cockfosters FC, with the ball hitting the net 2.31 seconds after the whistle.

Sunderland face off against Wycombe at Wembley in the League One play-off final on Saturday with a place in next season’s Championship on offer to the winner.

Alex Neil is in with a shot of securing promotion to the second tier after joining the club midway through the campaign to replace Lee Johnson.

The club were unable to fight their way into the automatic places and Kristjaan Speakman may look back at the business done in the market ahead of the season and wonder what he could have done differently.

It was reported, last summer, that the Black Cats were one of the teams in the race to land Welsh centre-forward Sam Vokes from Stoke.

He ended up signing for the club’s rivals, Wycombe, and has enjoyed a phenomenal season for the Choirboys under Gareth Ainsworth.

Former Potters boss Nathan Jones previously dubbed him a “marquee” player and he has lived up to that tag in League One this season.

He has racked up 17 goals and seven assists in the third tier as he has averaged a sublime SofaScore rating of 7.25 across 45 appearances. The experienced forward has won a whopping 10.7 aerial battles per game as he has provided his team with a focal point at the top end of the pitch.

Vokes has consistently delivered in the final third with all-round performances and goal contributions to lead his team to the final of the play-offs. He is capable of finding the back of the net, assisting his teammates, and beating defenders in the air to hold the ball up or win flick-ons for his fellow attackers to run onto.

Ainsworth claimed that it is “ridiculous” that Wycombe have a player of Vokes’ talents and his aforementioned statistics prove that the word sums up his ability at this level. He has been terrific and Sunderland may now be wondering what a striker partnership consisting of him and Ross Stewart would look like.

Instead of him firing in the goals alongside the Scot, he may be scoring the goal that consigns the Black Cats to another season in the third tier on Saturday.

Vokes’ phenomenal form this season proves that Speakman had a howler by failing to snap him up last summer and a telling contribution at Wembley would represent kicking him whilst he is already down.

AND in other news, Speakman nightmare: SAFC had a disaster on “instrumental” 27 y/o who’s “outstanding”…

Helder Costa is set to return to Leeds United this summer following a poor loan spell in Spain…

What’s the word?

That’s according to LeedsLive reporter Beren Cross, who delivered a fresh update to supporters in a recent Q&A. When asked about the club’s out-on-loan players, he said this of the Portuguese winger:

“Costa’s contract also expires in 2024, but similarly failed to impress in the PL.

“Coverage in Spain suggests Valencia are unlikely to exercise their option on his loan move, but Gestifute will not have too many issues finding their client another club, you would think. Another loan may suit all parties there.”

The 28-year-old cost Leeds around £15m from Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2020.

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Stolen a living

It’s hard to envisage Costa having any way back at Elland Road, even in the Championship, but as Cross explains, there is some hope in being able to offload him thanks to Jorge Mendes’ agency.

His maiden top-flight campaign in a Whites shirt saw him return only three goals and three assists across 22 appearances, taking his total for the club to 17 goal contributions in 71 matches, as per Transfermarkt.

Such form for the club drew plenty of criticism, with former striker Noel Whelan describing him as a “massive flop” and a “real disappointment” to Football Insider.

On a reported £70k-per-week at Leeds, it’s fair to suggest that Costa has absolutely stolen a living from chairman Andrea Radrizzani during his time in west Yorkshire.

It’s evident that he’s just not cut out for the big time as his poor form has continued over in Spain, where he has failed to score in 27 appearances for LaLiga outfit Valencia, also providing only two assists.

Raphinha may be on his way out this summer but Costa is certainly not the answer, Marsch and co must absolutely look to flog the Portuguese flop this off-season, regardless of the division in which they find themselves ahead of the 2022/23 campaign.

AND in other news, Marsch handed huge boost ahead of Brentford clash…

Sunderland striker Ross Stewart is a wanted man after what has been a miraculous first full season in League One with Sunderland.

in 49 League One appearances, including the play-offs, the Scotland international has racked up a staggering solitary assist in 19 appearances for Ross County.

Under Alex Neil, he has turned into a ruthless, talismanic goal-machine, which has attracted the likes of Rangers who have sniffed out the 25-year-old and may offer him the opportunity of a homecoming.

Earlier this month it was said that Rangers were keeping tabs on the Sunderland talisman with Pete O’Rourke telling GIVEMESPORT:

“It looks like he’s obviously on their wanted list, Ross Stewart. It’s been talked about now for quite a few weeks that Rangers are keeping tabs on him.

“If Rangers do come calling, it’s going to be hard for somebody like Ross Stewart – a Scottish player – to turn down their advances.”

Wyke 2.0

It’s not the first time that Sunderland have had clubs sniffing about their top goalscorer.

Just last season, Charlie Wyke put up some strong metrics very similar to the aforementioned numbers from Stewart, scoring four assists in 43 appearances for a Sunderland side that failed to achieve promotion.

He was consequently surrounded with interest and moved on a free transfer to League One rivals and now Champions Wigan Athletic.

Having achieved promotion themselves, the Black Cats will need to do everything in their power to keep hold of a player who is going to be integral to their Championship survival bid next season.

Though, an offer from the likes of Rangers, who narrowly missed out on Europa League glory last week, could prove tempting for the former Ross County man.

Neil must do everything to avoid a ‘Wyke scenario’ again this summer.

In other news: Neil can save millions on “impressive” 29yo SAFC gem, imagine him in the Championship