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Leicester City could land their ideal heir to Wes Morgan this summer in the shape of Club America defender Sebastian Caceres.

What’s the story?

The Foxes are believed to be in the market for a new centre-back after the retirement of their former captain and have identified the 21-year-old as an ideal candidate, according to Football Insider.

Caceres would cost Leicester around £20 million following a string of impressive displays for the Mexican giants, meaning he would be their third big-money signing of this window.

Fans will be buzzing

Patson Daka and Boubakary Soumare have already arrived from RB Salzburg and Lille, respectively, as Brendan Rodgers looks to bolster his first-team squad.

A final day defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur saw the Midlands outfit miss out on Champions League football for the second consecutive campaign, but they’ve wasted no time in preparing for another assault on the top four.

However, the departures of Morgan and Christian Fuchs have left Leicester seriously lightweight at the back, and Rodgers is thought to be in the market for at least two defenders to replace the experienced duo.

Caceres has emerged as a potential candidate to plug the gap at the King Power Stadium after catching the eye in Liga MX last season.

The youngster started his career with Liverpool Montevideo in Uruguay’s capital before moving north to Mexico where he joined America in January last year. Caceres has gone from strength to strength since then, making 38 appearances for his current club and scoring one goal.

Although he’s yet to make an appearance for the Uruguayan senior side, Caceres has an abundance of caps throughout the youth levels, including four for the Under-21 team, and is one of his countries brightest prospects.

With his contract not expiring until December 2024, America will be under no pressure to sell their prized asset, but the lure of the Premier League should help Leicester’s cause.

News that the FA Cup holders are targeting yet another youthful, exciting prospect will surely have the club’s supporters buzzing, and Rodgers could be set to add another highly-rated talent to his side ahead of the upcoming campaign.

And, in other news…Journalist drops exciting Leicester City transfer update, Rodgers will be buzzing 

The Uruguayan provided a crucial goal to cap a stellar display in a tricky home win as Bellingham failed to score for the first time this season.

Jude Bellingham can't run the show every game. It is good for Real Madrid, then, that they have a few other midfielders in their ranks. This week, it was Federico Valverde who ran things, with the Uruguayan scoring Madrid's equaliser and turning in his best showing of the season in a 2-1 comeback win over Real Sociedad.

But it wasn't a comfortable start at the Santiago Bernabeu. A former Madrid man got things going for La Real. Takefusa Kubo, who Los Blancos let go on a permanent deal last summer, played an incisive pass through the Madrid defence, which Ander Barrene bundled over the line — despite Kepa Arrizabalaga's best efforts. Kubo had the ball in the net again 10 minutes later, but saw his curled effort ruled out after it glanced the body of an offside Mikel Oyarzabal.

Joselu rattled the bar with the goal gaping shortly after, but Madrid created little for the remainder of the first half. They only needed 43 seconds after the break to change things, though. Valverde levelled the scoreline with a fine side-footed strike into the net from the edge of the box. The second came after an hour, as Joselu headed Fran Garcia's cross into the bottom corner.

There were further chances for Madrid. Toni Kroos curled a free-kick narrowly wide. Valverde saw a good opportunity for a second deflected past the post and Bellingham was denied late on. Still, although they were far from convincing in the first half, Madrid, led by Valverde, did enough to grab three big points and maintain their perfect start to the 2023-24 Liga season.

GOAL rates Real Madrid's players from the Santiago Bernabeu…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Kepa Arrizabalaga (7/10):

  Almost made an excellent save to deny La Real's opener. Had little to do otherwise.

  Dani Carvajal (7/10):

  Involved in an exciting battle with Kieran Tierney — one he won most of the time. His attacking thrust was vital, especially given Carlo Ancelotti's injury woes.

  Antonio Rudiger (6/10):

  Completely lost his man on the opener. Redeemed himself after with an otherwise solid performance.

  David Alaba (6/10):

  Didn't offer much cover as Kubo ran rampant. Not his best showing.

  Fran Garcia (6/10):

  Had a rough go of things against Kubo, who ran rings round him. But he was excellent going forward, assisting Valverde and Joselu.

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  Midfield

  Aurelien Tchouameni (6/10):

  Won his tackles, pressed well. But he failed to cover some key spaces in the defensive third, and gave Kubo time to work magic.

  Federico Valverde (8/10):

  The usual off-ball work was there, and he offered an injection of pace from the midfield. Scored a wonderful goal to equalise — his first of the season. Bellingham was surprisingly quiet, and Valverde took it upon himself to handle the creative load from the midfield.

  Toni Kroos (7/10):

  Gave away some silly free-kicks. Madrid's lack of width in the first half limited his creative tendencies. Better in the second as his side grew into the game.

  Jude Bellingham (7/10):

  Didn't get a goal or assist, but was involved in pretty much everything else. If this is Bellingham at his worst, Madrid won't have much to complain about.

• Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images
  

  Attack

  Rodrygo (6/10):

  Tried to make everything a one-man show — such is his lack of understanding with Joselu up front. Worked for short stints, but he really needs support in the final third.

  Joselu (6/10):

  Missed a sitter shortly after La Real's opener. Scored Madrid's second out of nowhere. He causes problems with his energy and industry but doesn't have the pace or technical quality to be anything other than a reliable backup.

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• Subs & Manager

  Luka Modric (6/10):

  Not a bad option off the bench. Lacking rhythm having fallen behind Bellingham and Valverde in the pecking order.

  Eduardo Camavinga (7/10):

  Steadied things, and helped Madrid gain control when he came on.

  Nacho (6/10):

  Valuable legs for a tired Fran Garcia.

  Lucas Vazquez (6/10):

  Late defensive cover to shut it down.

  Brahim Diaz (N/A):

  Didn't have time to make an impact.

  Carlo Ancelotti (7/10):

  Went for arguably his strongest side given the injury situation. Madrid weren't woeful, but certainly short of their best, and need to find an attacking rhythm. Still, he will take the three points against a tricky opponent.

The Catalan coach opted to play without a striker just two seasons ago, but is now embracing a more old-fashioned system at the Etihad Stadium

Last year, a panel of top former players on paid tribute to Pep Guardiola for transforming English football. Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Glen Hoddle all praised the Manchester City manager for getting the nation to embrace European ideas, claiming that since the serial-winning Catalan had arrived in England in 2016, he had helped change the culture for the better.

"We have now embraced that European way of playing and our ideas about football,” Ferdinand said. "Being in and around the academies, the coaching is so different compared to when we grew up when it was all shouting and dragging people left and right. Whereas now, it’s very much that culture of Guardiola, who has had a huge influence on that style of football." Hoddle added: “We were stuck in our ways of playing 4-4-2 back in the 1970s and 80s."

Guardiola has always played down this idea whenever it has been brought up, claiming he has not changed English football and never wanted to. "Absolutely I didn't change it. Every manager has his own ideas, I didn't change anything honestly," he said last May.

But he has admitted that English football has changed him and that he has taken "many things" from his adopted home. "Here changed me, of course. I got to know new players, new styles, new managers, new ways to relate with the media, with my players. Every manager is a better manager than you were in the beginning."

Last season, Guardiola adopted an old idea of Tony Pulis, who would normally be seen as his philosophical opposite, by playing four centre-backs in some games and turning Nathan Ake and Manuel Akanji into full-backs. And this season, he has embraced another old idea: playing the 4-4-2 formation Hoddle talked about as a sign of how dated the English game had become.

A lot of thought and planning goes into every Guardiola innovation, however, and the thinking behind his latest tactical scheme is very simple: it is a way to accommodate his two world-class strikers, Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez.

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  Two transfer coups

  In 2022, City pulled off two transfer coups, one in each window. In January, they signed Alvarez, who was practically unknown outside of South America, from River Plate. They paid around £15 million ($18m) for a player who at the time was 21 years old and allowed him to remain with his club until the summer. Alvarez had been the top scorer in the Argentine top-flight and in May, just before he moved over to England, he scored six goals in one match against against Allianza Lima.

  Later that year, City announced they had agreed to sign Haaland, who had averaged a goal per game with Borussia Dortmund and had lit up the Champions League. It was a sensational move for City, especially at only £51m ($63m), but spelt bad news for Alvarez, who was now competing for a place in the team with the most feared striker in the world.

  The one game Alvarez did start alongside Haaland early on, however, could hardly have gone better as the Argentine scored twice and the Norwegian grabbed a hat-trick in the 6-0 mauling of Nottingham Forest.

  However, Alvarez started only three Premier League games before the World Cup and had to make the most of substitute appearances while the Norwegian made a blistering start to life in English football, crushing almost every goalscoring record imaginable.

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  'Need other types of players to create chances'

  Alvarez's lack of minutes with City did not affect his standing with Argentina and he played every game at the World Cup, scoring four goals, including a stunning individual strike in the semi-final against Croatia. Now that he had conquered the world as Lionel Messi's strike partner, Guardiola was under more pressure to find a way to fit him in.

  However, he still resisted starting he and Haaland together in most games, believing that playing two strikers would impact his side's chances to create scoring opportunities overall. The coach explained in January: "It can happen [Haaland and Alvarez playing together]. The ball arrives there [in the box] and you have two strikers there so you can score a goal. But to create these chances we have to make the process and sometimes for that you need other types of players to create these chances.

  "If I had the feeling we were creating these chances, and you have two or three in the box, that is top. But maybe you are there with Haaland and all the processes aren’t correct and we have a lot of people up front, we have more transitions and after we have a problem. But of course they can play together – especially against five at the back."

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  'Incredible weapon'

  Alvarez did get his chance towards the end of the league season, starting with Haaland against Fulham, West Ham, Leeds and Everton, although he played more as a wide forward than a central striker. His best performance was at Craven Cottage, where he fired in a sensational long-range goal which proved to be the winner, while also earning a penalty which Haaland converted.

  This time, Guardiola waxed lyrical about the benefits of playing both his forwards, remarking: "To have two strikers is an incredible weapon that we have." However, Guardiola still used this "incredible weapon" sparingly. Alvarez ended the campaign playing 31 Premier League games but with just 13 starts. Only eight of those were alongside Haaland.

  He made no starts in any of City's Champions League knockout matches and played no part in the final against Inter, or the FA Cup final against Manchester United. Despite his sparse playing time, he ended up scoring 17 goals in all competitions and added three more trophies to his World Cup winners' medal. Not a bad first season, was it?

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  Ideal strike partnership

  This season, however, Alvarez has started – and finished – every match so far, leading the line alongside Haaland. In the 5-1 thrashing of Fulham before the international break, Haaland scored three goals and provided one assist, while Alvarez got one of each.

  Of City's 11 goals so far, the Argentine has scored two and set up two, both for Haaland. The Norwegian has scored six and set up one, for Alvarez. It is still early days and never underestimate Guardiola's capacity to revolutionise his favoured line-up mid-season, but for now it looks like the ideal partnership, at least in terms of statistics.

  However, it should not be forgotten that the win over Fulham was far from a complete performance from City. Juanma Lillo, deputising in the dugout while Guardiola was recovering from back surgery, explained that the performance "lacked fluidity" and that City were not "fresh with the ball".

  And he had to encourage Haaland to stay positive at half-time. “A game like this isn’t easy for anybody, but for a No.9 with these characteristics, it is even harder because it’s hard to find the right moment to link up with the others," he said. “In fact, at half-time, I told him that this type of game is not easy for a striker with your characteristics, but you can have a bad game and still help us with goals."

  Of the partnership between Alvarez and Haaland, he added: "Their characteristics mean they push more towards the opposition goal than contribute to the game itself, so if the team is not giving the number of passes that we need to get closer to them then it makes it even more difficult for them.

  "Julian is not shy to keep attacking, he is always ready, and so is Erling. So I think that overall the characteristics of this performance itself affect this type of player a lot."

Neymar claims to have experienced “hell” alongside Lionel Messi at Paris Saint-Germain, with the pair failing to “make history” in France.

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• Brazilian moved to France in 2017
• Joined by Argentine great in 2021
• Failed to deliver Champions League glory

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Both are now taking on new challenges away from Parc des Princes, with moves made in the summer of 2023. Messi has, after two years with the Ligue 1 champions, rediscovered his spark in the United States with Inter Miami. Neymar, meanwhile, has traded PSG for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia some six years on from his record-breaking €222 million (£190m/$240m) transfer that rocked the footballing world.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Neither enjoyed the best of times in France, with Neymar telling of being reunited with former Barcelona team-mate Messi and why their dream turned into a nightmare: “I was very happy for the year he had, but at the same time very sad, because he lived both sides of the coin, he went to heaven with the Argentina team, won everything in recent years, and with Paris he lived hell. We lived through hell, both he and I. We get upset, because we're not there for nothing, we're there to do our best, be champions, try to make history, that's why we started playing together again, we came together there so we could make history. Unfortunately, we didn't make it.”

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Neymar added on Messi’s decision to walk away as a free agent, with the seven-time Ballon d’Or needing a fresh start in order to start playing with a smile on his face again at club level: “Messi left in a way that, for football, he didn't deserve. For everything he is, everything he does, anyone who knows him knows, he is a guy who trains, who fights, if he loses he gets angry, and he was unfairly treated in my opinion. But at the same time I was very happy that he won the World Cup. As you said, football was fair this time, since the Brazilian team lost, Messi deserved to end his career like this.”

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  There had been talk of Messi and Neymar returning to Camp Nou this summer, but they have decided to spread their wings elsewhere as they help to raise the profile of domestic games in America and the Middle East.

Steve Howey reckons that Leicester should cash-in on James Maddison this summer.

According to Football.London, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admires the attacking midfielder, with the Gunners making him their top summer target following Martin Odegaard’s return to Real Madrid.

Maddison has been a key player for Leicester since joining from Norwich three years ago, but lost his place in the team towards the end of the campaign and found himself on the bench for both the FA Cup semis and final.

He featured in both but failed to build on an impressive January and February period.

Maddison didn’t contribute a single goal in any of his final 10 matches in all competitions and was overlooked by Gareth Southgate, leaving him on just the one England cap which came almost two years ago.

He did manage 11 goals and 10 assists last season, but with his inconsistencies on show once again, Howey thinks that the £60m fee that’s being reported by the Daily Mail would be good business for the Foxes.

He exclusively told Football FanCast:

“It’s a decent amount of money. It depends on what the manager wants, the owners trust him.

“If he feels it’s right for the club, then I think he would be quite happy with that. Does the player want to move or is he happy at Leicester? There are loads of things that could stop the deal, but on paper it looks a decent deal.”

Introducing Soccer Cities 2023 – the best destinations for football fans this year

Soccer Cities 23 is here!

Across five continents and 10 countries, we are bringing you on journey to some of the most incredible places around the world to experience football as a football fan.

We'll be looking at cultural landmarks, football heritage, major derbies and the overall package of why these cities are the best destinations for fans of the game this year.

Whether it is a must-see football pilgrimage for a die-hard fan or the home of the game's newest blood, GOAL takes a look at the best Soccer Cities to see in 2023!

• GOAL
  

  10Prague 🇨🇿

  Situated at the heart of Europe, Prague is a city that boasts a rich and complex history, with its origins dating all the way back to the eighth century.

  An array of Baroque, Gothic and Renaissance architecture means that the Czech capital has no shortage of monuments to visit and sights to see, while its diverse nightlife has ensured it is a popular venue for group getaways, as well as those seeking a quiet city break.

  The City of a Hundred Spires is also a hotbed of football, with rival teams Slavia and Sparta contesting a derby that traces its origins to the 19th century, while legendary players such as Tomas Rosicky, Patrik Schick and Jan Koller all hail from there. Ballon d'Or winner Pavel Nedved's journey took him through Prague, too.

  Indeed, Prague’s football legacy has been recognised by UEFA, with the Fortuna Arena hosting the 2023 Europa Conference League final between West Ham and Fiorentina, having previously hosted the 2013 UEFA Super Cup.

  👀 Check out our guide to Prague

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• GOAL
  

  9Budapest 🇭🇺

  Budapest is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a truly remarkable historic cityscape which sprawls elegantly along the Danube river.

  A city famous for its luxurious thermal baths, visitors flock to memorable sites such as the Great Market Hall, Parliament Building and Heroes' Square.

  Mention Budapest to an avid football fan, however, and they might tell you all about Ferencvaros or regale you with the story of the Mighty Magyars.

  They might mention that it was the homeplace of icons like Ferenc Puskas and Sandor Kocsis or, if they really know their stuff, the fact that the classic football film was filmed there.

  Football is imbued in the city’s history and, thanks to the state-of-the-art Puskas Arena, it has now become a destination for some of the biggest games in Europe, including the 2023 Europa League final and a number of games at Euro 2020.

  🏟 Visiting the Puskas Arena? Here's what to do in Budapest

• GOAL
  

  8Wellington 🇳🇿

  Nestled at the southern tip of New Zealand’s North Island, peering over the Cook Strait, lies the nation’s capital, Wellington.

  A compact, yet diverse city with a cosmopolitan feel, it is widely regarded as a cradle of culture and creativity. With good reason, too.

  There is no shortage of Oscar winners, for example, with the likes of Peter Jackson and Taika Waititi hailing from the city, while a vibrant cafe scene – they say this is where the flat white was perfected, if not invented – has blossomed to the point where it now has more coffee shops per capita than New York City.

  Film buffs will be aware that Wellington is where films such as Lord of the Rings and Avatar were produced, and it is unique from a sporting perspective in that it is home to the A-League’s only representative team from New Zealand: Wellington Phoenix.

  There will be an unprecedented buzz in Wellington this summer, as Phoenix’s Sky Stadium will host a number of games at the Women’s World Cup, including a crunch clash between behemoths USWNT and the Netherlands.

  Check out the must-see New Zealand cities hosting games at the Women's World Cup!

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• GOAL
  

  7Sydney 🇦🇺

  Known as The Emerald City, Sydney truly is the jewel in Australia’s crown, with an effervescent social scene, a breathtaking coastline that is famous for its surf and deep cultural resonances extending throughout the region and beyond.

  The capital of New South Wales, it is home to Port Jackson, the biggest natural harbour in the world, where the iconic Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge can be found.

  Culture enthusiasts who visit Sydney will have their appetites sated by the city’s multitude of galleries and museums, while a thriving live music scene has spawned rock bands such as AC/DC and Wolfmother.

  Sydney is a famously sporting city too, with cricket, rugby union and Australian rules football among the most popular sports, while football has grown impressively over the past few decades thanks to the efforts of teams like Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers, along with A-League and Football Australia.

  Indeed, 2023 will see the city lay on a veritable football feast, with the awesome 83,000-seater Stadium Australia hosting the Women’s World Cup final in August. You won’t want to miss that!

A number of Liverpool supporters want Kostas Tsimikas to stay at Anfield beyond this summer, following a report claiming that he could leave.

The left-back arrived from Olympiakos last summer, with Jurgen Klopp seeing him as someone who could provide competition for Andy Robertson.

It turned out to be a hugely frustrating first year at Liverpool for Tsimikas, however, with the Greece international limited to just six minutes of Premier League action. It meant that Robertson’s workload became too great and the Scot was unable to maintain his usual world-class standards as fatigue eventually set in.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport [via LFC Transfer Room on Twitter], Napoli are keen on a loan move for Tsimikas this summer, with Klopp ‘never convinced’ by him last season.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/the-latest-liverpool-transfer-news-copy-2/” title=”The latest Liverpool transfer news!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

Liverpool fans call for Tsimikas to stay put

It remains to be seen if the Reds are willing to sell, but these fans took to Twitter to say that the Greek defender should stay at the club ahead of next season given the lack of cover for Robertson elsewhere.

“No chance surely”

Credit: @passingmfer

“Then what if Robbo’s injured? Milner can’t play there for 90 mins at that age”

Credit: @JoeW_FIFA

“We have to keep Tsimikas. Idc if there’s even reasonable bids that would give us a profit. He’s done well in the few games he was given. Missed half a season due to injuries and then without any CBs Jurgen wanted keep playing Robbo for experience. He will be needed more next season”

Credit: @TaintlessRed

“Shut up, no”

Credit: @_iseult

“Not on my watch”

Credit: @alfleila

“Loaning him out would be ridiculous”

Credit: @kat_lfc13

In other news, some Liverpool fans have been bemoaning one transfer rumour that has appeared. Read more here. 

According to a report by TUTTOmercatoWEB, Serie A giants SS Lazio could now make approach for West Ham United midfielder Felipe Anderson ‘in days’.

The Lowdown: Anderson’s woes…

The Brazilian couldn’t contribute in West Ham’s journey to Europa League qualification with manager David Moyes shipping him out on loan to FC Porto for the entirety of 2020/2021.

Over his temporary spell in Portugal, it’s safe to say he endured a nightmare at the Estádio do Dragão.

Indeed, the 28-year-old started just one Liga NOS match all season for the club whilst playing a meagre 128 minutes in total (WhoScored).

This has lead to reports linking him with a move away from West Ham as news emerges of another club now interested in the player.

The Latest: Lazio could now approach ‘in days’…

As per news outlet TUTTOmercatoWEB, Lazio could now make an approach for Anderson ‘in days’ as a ‘concrete lead’ emerges.

[web_stories_embed url=”https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/west-ham-latest/” title=”West Ham latest!” poster=”” width=”360″ height=”600″ align=”none”]

New boss Maurizio Sarri is looking to start a fresh era at the Stadio Olimpico and is subsequently eyeing new signings for the Italian capital club.

He ‘continues to push’ for Napoli winger and Italy international star Lorenzo Insigne, but he is a ‘complicated option’ given his current salary.

Anderson, on the other hand, is far more realistic and Lazio could make contact in days to discuss the ‘feasibility of his return’.

The Verdict: Time to go…

Moyes reportedly has three signing priorities for West Ham and it is arguably wise to move Anderson on and recuperate as much as money as possible through outgoings.

Striking targets like Tammy Abraham could cost as much as £40m and West Ham now face a fight to sign Jesse Lingard on a permanent deal from Manchester United.

Duje Caleta-Car is said to be on the radar of West Ham as they also eye a new centre-back, but if the club wish to make these signings a reality, shifting deadwood is crucial in this climate.

In other news: West Ham now want this colossal 23-goal powerhouse who will ‘push hard’ to leave club, find out more here.

The American put up some of the best minutes-per-goal numbers in European soccer, but was limited to mostly substitute appearances

To put it lightly, the last year-and-a-half or so has not been kind to Gio Reyna. It began with a slew of injury issues that derailed his progress. It continued on to a World Cup overshadowed by an unfathomable controversy that included blackmail and betrayal. And then, on Saturday, with a chance to end the season on something of a high, Borussia Dortmund totally threw away the Bundesliga title, with Reyna powerless as his side handed Bayern Munich another trophy.

One one of the lasting images from the draw with Mainz was Reyna clearly shaken after the final whistle. It’s become something of a common sight, a teary Reyna, as unfortunate as that is. For a player that is so naturally talented, nothing has gone right for quite some time.

Which leads us to the future, both immediate and long-term. Reyna will soon join up with the U.S. men’s national team most likely, giving him a chance to distance himself a bit from the disappointment in Dortmund. The German giants will then tour the U.S. this summer, where Reyna will likely be a star attraction in the club’s friendlies.

The Bundesliga season will then begin as Dortmund and Reyna will have to go again in yet another attempt to take down Bayern. And, for Reyna, 2023-24 is his most important season yet.

After several years of setbacks, missteps and disappointments, next season should be the season Reyna finally makes the leap as he begins his age 21 season. And next season should be the season that Dortmund finally unleash Reyna and let him flourish after stifling him for so long.

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  A limited role in a big moment

  Edin Terzic, several times, called on Reyna to be patient. Injuries had slowed his progress and limited his fitness, the Dortmund manager said, and, because of that, Reyna had to be willing to accept a supersub role.

  Accept it he did. He thrived in it, too, coming on several times to swing games in Dortmund’s favor or lock up results with major goal contributions. It was Reyna who nearly single-handedly lifted Dortmund to their title on that last day. With his side needing three goals to win the game, and earn enough points to hold off Bayern, Reyna provided assists for both of the home side's goals.

  Moments after coming on, Reyna swung the game back in Dortmund’s favor, breaking down a Mainz defense that previously looked quite unlikely to be broken down. He found Raphael Guerriero for Dortmund’s opener, bringing much-needed life into Signal Iduna Park. He assisted Dortmund’s second, too, although that one was a bit less dramatic. By the time Niklas Sule scored in stoppage time, Dortmund knew it was all but over. There would be no miracle.

  But it does beg the question: where would Dortmund be if Reyna had been given a little bit more time? And where would Dortmund be if Terzic had just trusted him a bit more than he did down the stretch with the title on the line?

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  Supersub or super mistake?

  Terzic was content to keep Reyna as a supersub, and super he was. In 22 league appearances, Reyna scored seven goals, with five coming off the bench. He also provided two assists off the bench to go with two assists in the Champions League.

  Only four Dortmund players – Julian Brandt, Donyell Malen, Sebastian Haller and Jude Bellingham – scored more goals than Reyna. Haller played the fewest minutes of that quartet with 1,225, with Brandt and Malen, the two leading scorers with nine goals each, played 2,397 and 1,706 minutes, respectively.

  Reyna, meanwhile, played just 625 total minutes. He averaged a goal involvement every 69 minutes. Those are astounding numbers for any player.

  That’s better than Golden Boot winner Christopher Nkunku, who was the only Bundesliga player with more xG per 90 than the American star. Only Erling Haaland had a better minutes-per-goal ratio in Europe’s top five leagues.

  Terzic was careful with Reyna, and, at times, he was right to be. The American does have an injury history and he was dealing with some post-World Cup disappointment. But Dortmund were clearly a better team with Reyna on the field, and their title push would have been better off with the American playing a bigger role.

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  'It was in our hands'

  Over the last six months or so, there have been far too many disappointed statements made on Reyna's social media accounts. The latest, obviously, came after the Mainz draw that doomed Dortmund to second place. "It was in our hands," Reyna began, "and we let something we worked so hard for, slip away."

  That Dortmund did. Both Bayern and Dortmund, numerous times, tried to hand the Bundesliga title to one another, seemingly playing hot potato with the trophy all year long. In the end, it was Dortmund that were burned as they tossed an 11th consecutive title right back to Munich.

  Dortmund and Reyna were, obviously, heartbroken by it all as the club fell short once again, this time in the most heartbreaking fashion yet. "Remember that setbacks are a part of life," Reyna continued, "and even though it may be tough right now, it’s important to keep pushing forward and learn from the experience. Sorry to the fans and city of Dortmund, but we can’t thank you enough for the incredible support shown throughout all the ups and downs."

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  The next step

  Reyna and Dortmund will no doubt already be thinking about going again, about using the 2023-24 season to finally take down Bayern. They'll say that this season was a warning shot, a step forward, even it still ended a step short of where it should have ended.

  For Reyna, though, next year has to be the year, the one where he takes the big leap. It'll be his fifth season with the Dortmund first team and, despite being just 21, it's time for Reyna to shred the young player label and become a star.

  He's seen those around him do it, players like Haaland and Bellingham. While those two have elevated their game into a different stratosphere, Reyna has been forced to watch on, hit by injuries on the bench.

  For Reyna, the time is now. Bellingham is set to leave, the latest starlet that used Dortmund as a launch pad to a life-altering, big-money deal. And, while there will be competition for attacking places, it's time for Reyna to do what his predecessors have done: become elite.

  He'll be motivated to do so, no doubt, after the disappointments for club and country. And, if he looks at his numbers from this past season, he should see confidence lifted by them. He was fantastic nearly every time he was on the field.

  The key for Reyna is to stay on the field, stay healthy, stay active. If he does, he can be Dortmund's next star. If he doesn't, there will be questions about his future and what comes next.

The USWNT won its friendly against Ireland on Saturday, but likely lost a player who would have starred this summer.

It was a match that could have been, and should have been, a vital building block for the U.S. women's national team ahead of this summer's World Cup. The team saw several stars return and a goal from an unexpected regular as it, eventually, battled to a 2-0 win over a World Cup-bound Ireland.

A good win, for sure, but one that will matter little given what else happened in Austin on Saturday afternoon. On a day where the U.S. fine-tuned for the World Cup, it also lost a player the squad has been counting on for this summer in Australia and New Zealand.

Mallory Swanson's devastating knee injury in Saturday's match will be the story of this two-game set, as it leaves the U.S., potentially, without a star. Swanson was far and away the USWNT's most in-form player so far this year, with seven goals in five games entering this two-game set.

Now, though, Swanson's World Cup is in doubt.

There were some positives to be taken from this, for sure, despite the overwhelming negative that looms over it all. Sophia Smith returned, as did Julie Ertz, who could make a late run at a World Cup spot. And then there's Emily Fox, the unlikely goalscorer in the first half, and Lindsey Horan, who sealed the result with a penalty in the second.

GOAL rates the USWNT's players from Austin…

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  Goalkeeper & Defense

  Alyssa Naeher (7/10):

  The USWNT probably didn't expect to rely on Naeher here, but it certainly did, especially in the first half. Naeher made several big stops as Ireland pushed for the opener.

  Crystal Dunn (7/10):

  Strong on the left side, notably teeing up Rodman for a chance early in the second half. The debate will rage on over her best position, but it can't be denied that she is one hell of a left back with this team.

  Becky Sauerbrunn (7/10):

  Solid as always. You know what you're going to get with the 37-year-old veteran.

  Naomi Girma (7/10):

  Two goal-line clearances on a crazy scramble in the first half. Girma has nothing left to prove. She is the present and future of the USWNT.

  Emily Fox (8/10):

  Doesn't score many, but this was a good one. A fantastic finish from the full back, who has grown into one of the most reliable players in a USWNT shirt even when she isn't on the scoresheet.

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  Midfield

  Lindsey Horan (7/10):

  Shook off an early knock to stay in the match. Was solid enough, but nothing spectacular until drawing and, ultimately, converting a penalty in the second half to seal the win.

  Andi Sulivan (7/10):

  A good night for Sullivan, who got the assist on Fox's goal. A solid, physical performance from a player battling for a spot in the starting XI.

  Rose Lavelle (8/10):

  So damn smooth on the ball, Lavelle put in a typically solid performance. Could have had an assist or two, but it wasn't to be.

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  Attack

  Mallory Swanson (6/10):

  Forget the rating as it simply doesn't matter. This was a nightmare day for Swanson, whose World Cup hopes may very well be over after a catastrophic knee injury. That's bad news for the USWNT and even worse news for Swanson, who has been in the form of her life this year. Fans will nervously await test results.

  Alex Morgan (5/10):

  Aside from a goal-line clearance early, it was very, very quiet from Morgan. Nothing to worry about, though. It happens.

  Sophia Smith (6/10):

  Had one absolutely magical sequence down the right that saw her beat three defenders. So smooth on the ball, but nothing too dangerous in her return to the national team.

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  Subs & Manager

  Trinity Rodman (6/10):

  Had several golden chances in the second half, but couldn't quite get them on target. Dangerous as can be, but just lacking that end product.

  Ashley Hatch (6/10):

  Was seconds late to a rebound on her best look of the day. Great hustle and effort, but didn't quite shine and, given the state of the USWNT forward pool, she may be running out of time to do so.

  Emily Sonnett (6/10):

  A few good runs after replacing Dunn, but nothing special.

  Julie Ertz (7/10):

  She's back! In her first game in over 600 days, Ertz looked like her old self. The U.S., even now, is simply a better team with Ertz as the No.6, as crazy as that is after all of this time without here.

  Ashley Sanchez (N/A):

  Replaced Lavelle with just a few minutes left.

  Vlatko Andonovski (6/10):

  Getting closer and closer to figuring out a starting XI, although he'll now have an extra decision to make should Swanson be out for the summer.