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  • 5-star OT Jackson Cantwell sends a message to Georgia

    5-star OT Jackson Cantwell sends a message to Georgia

     

    Could this mean that Georgia is the leader for the No. 1 recruit in the country?

     

     

    Georgia football and the rest of the college football world are entering a recruiting dead period that will last for about a month. That means that recruits are not allowed to visit schools right now which means fans will likely get less updates on how recruitments are going.

     

    However, on the day before this dead period begins, Kirby Smart and Georgia just received great news (and potentially a hidden message) from the top ranked player in the country.

     

    5-star OT Jackson Cantwell

    Jackson Cantwell is a five-star offensive tackle from Nixa, MO. According to the 247Sports composite rankings, Cantwell is the No. 1 player from Missouri and the top ranked offensive takle in the 2026 class as well. That clearly is extremely impressive, but to take it a step further, Cantwell is also the No. 1 player in the country.

     

    Cantwell just released his top six schools, and according to Hayes Fawcett with On3, Georgia made the cut. Michigan, Miami (FL), Missouri, Ohio State and Oregon are the five other teams included in Cantwell’s top six as well.

     

    It’s clear this recruitment will be extremely difficult to win based on this competition, but it is a big deal that Georgia is still in the running. However, based on a social media post from Cantwell himself, Georgia may just be the team to beat.

     

    In the above post, Cantwell is reacting to the original tweet from Fawcett announcing his top six. On the surface it seems like Cantwell is just giving love to the six schools still in the running in his recruitment. But at second glance, Cantwell might be sending a message to Georgia.

     

    Georgia’s “Go Dawgs” hashtag just so happened to be listed first by Cantwell. Now this may mean absolutely nothing considering Georgia was also listed first by Fawcett in his top six graphic, but the order of teams listed by Cantwell does not follow the order displayed by Fawcett. This means that Cantwell chose on his own to list Georgia first.

     

    Now it’s more than likely that this was random and has no meaning whatsoever. But it’s impossible to deny that there isn’t a chance that Cantwell is indicating UGA is his top school right now.

     

    Time will tell if that is the case or not, but at the very least Georgia is still in the running which is a big win.

     

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  • Aaronson on reason behind ‘special’ Gnonto celebration and striker’s extra work

    Aaronson on reason behind ‘special’ Gnonto celebration and striker’s extra work

     

     

    Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565

    Brenden Aaronson has revealed the reasons behind Leeds United’s ecstatic celebrations of their fifth goal against Cardiff City on Saturday.

     

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    The game at Elland Road was largely done and dusted by half-time. Aaronson got the first and Manor Solomon the second, both from Daniel James assists. By the time Gnonto made his appearance as a second half substitute, James had added a goal of his own and then won a penalty which was converted by Joel Piroe.

     

    Gnonto entered the fray on 66 minutes, replacing James, and joined the Welshman on the scoresheet on 67 minutes. In what was his first involvement, the winger picked up the ball on the right near halfway and ran all the way to the edge of the area before sliding a well-hit strike beyond the dive of Jak Alnwick. As Gnonto wheeled away in celebration having ended a seven-game goal drought, his delight was understandable. But his team-mates appeared equally over the moon. Josuha Guilavogui and Largie Ramazani led the warming up substitutes onto the pitch and the rest of the Whites engulfed Gnonto.

     

     

    It might have been the fifth goal of seven but it was special and well worth celebrating according to Aaronson. “I think for Willy it was a special goal, because for him, he hasn’t scored in I don’t know how many games it’s been,” said the American.

     

    “He’s a guy that’s scoring a lot, and when you aren’t scoring for a few games you get down on yourself, your confidence can go down, and it’s not easy. But I think for Willy, he’s another guy that’s so hungry. He’s such a good person and a great human being, and he wants to work harder than anybody else. So I think his goal today was just special, because he always is just an amazing guy, and to come on and – it’s not fun when you don’t start games – but he came on and he scored the goal and that’s why we’re so happy for him.”

     

    The Leeds players looked just as delighted with the sixth goal, which was another important one. Mateo Joseph last hit the net in October against Sheffield United and had gone 18 Championship appearances without a goal. Only three of those had been starts but the drought was visibly wearing on the 21-year-old. It came to an end when Junior Firpo slammed in a perfect cross and Joseph crashed the six-yard box to convert. Aronson is close with Joseph and says the goal is a reward for all the striker’s hard work.

     

     

    “I mean, for Mateo, he’s one of my good friends, first of all, and he’s a young kid, and it’s tough when he’s been struggling with his core goals at the moment,” said Aaronson. “I think everybody knows that. But, players go through this, strikers go through this.

    But the thing that I love about Mateo is he’s so hungry. He wants to keep working every day after training. You know, he’s always asking me, let’s do stuff, let’s do stuff, let’s do stuff today, let’s do stuff tomorrow. So he’s a really hungry kid. He’s got a huge future ahead of him, so hopefully this is a turning point for him, but he’s got to stay hungry, keep doing what he’s doing.”

  • Justin Gatlin gives honest take on young athlete comparisons to Usain Bolt

    Justin Gatlin gives honest take on young athlete comparisons to Usain Bolt

    Promising track and field stars are often likened to the greats of the sport by coaches and the media.

    However, Gatlin believes such comparisons are an issue in the sport, especially when youngsters are put alongside Bolt and Felix.

    The pair won a combined 18 Olympic medals during their careers, including 15 golds.

    Meanwhile, teenage Australian sprinting sensation Gout Gout has been tipped as the ‘next Bolt’ after his breakthrough last year.

    Gatlin has now given his opinion on such comparisons during the latest episode of his Ready Set Go podcast.

    The former USA sprinter explained: “You take these young athletes, you teach them what it is to be a professional athlete, the wins, the losses and please everybody stop saying and telling these young athletes, you’re the next great one, you’re the next [Usain Bolt], you the next [Allyson Felix] or whoever else.

    “It’s the fact of they have the capabilities of doing it, they have a high percentage of doing it of being able to make their mark the same way. Let them walk their path, let them run their path.”

    Gatlin won 100m gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics, one of five medals he won at the Games during his career.

    Those included a silver behind Bolt in the 100m in Rio de Janeiro at the 2016 Olympics.

    The 42-year-old added: “If everything starts crumbling around them, they’re gonna be like, ‘Well wait a minute, I thought I was the next.’

    “And then now the losses become so much pressure on their head and then now these young athletes fade away before they are even 20 years old. So let’s stop doing them a disservice in that way.”

    Bolt and Felix are amongst the greatest track and field athletes of all-time following their own glittering careers.

    The Jamaican sprint icon’s eight gold medals came across three consecutive Games between 2008 and 2016.

    He also still holds the world records in each of the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.

    As for Felix, the American won ten Olympic medals herself, with the first of which coming in 2004.

    Her medal haul includes seven golds after winning the 200m in London back in 2012.

    Felix was also a part of six relay wins for Team USA across the 4x100m and 4x400m events.

    3D simulation shows how 200m race between Usain Bolt and Gout Gout would go
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  • Wasn’t Who We Thought He Would Be’ – CFB Analyst Drops a Reality Check for Quinn Ewers as Longhorns Trust in Arch Manning for 2025

    Wasn’t Who We Thought He Would Be’ – CFB Analyst Drops a Reality Check for Quinn Ewers as Longhorns Trust in Arch Manning for 2025

     

    Quinn Ewers improved in each year while at Texas, but one specific analyst believes the Longhorns’ fanbase was let down by his performances.

    Quinn Ewers improved in each year while at Texas, but one specific analyst believes the Longhorns’ fanbase was let down by his performances.

    ‘Wasn’t Who We Thought He Would Be’ – CFB Analyst Drops a Reality Check for Quinn Ewers as Longhorns Trust in Arch Manning for 2025

     

    Quinn Ewers improved in each year while at Texas, but one specific analyst believes the Longhorns’ fanbase was let down by his performances.

     

    Former Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers was one of the biggest names in college football. Before he declared for the draft, fans and media closely followed his on-field performances and off-field appearances. It seemed college football couldn’t go a week without an Ewers-related headline. Now, there is a noticeable silence as we wait for the 2025 NFL Draft to determine his future.

     

    With Arch Manning set to replace Ewers as Texas’ starting quarterback, fans are naturally looking back at Ewers’ career with the Longhorns and asking, How good was he? Well, On3’s J.D. Pickell doesn’t think Ewers lived up to the hype.

     

     

    College Football Network’s Transfer Portal Tracker follows along with all the movement from the transfer portal, including portal entrants, commitments, decommitments, and more, from all your favorite schools.

    CFB Analyst Claims Former Texas QB Left “Something to be Desired”

    Ewers has been one of the most debated quarterbacks in college football. As a former five-star recruit with a highly touted arm, fans once projected him as a future Heisman Trophy finalist. Now, some are questioning whether he was even a good quarterback. On3’s J.D. Pickell believes Ewers failed to meet expectations.

     

    “In the conference, did Quinn Ewers leave something to be desired through the air? Let’s be real about this—he wasn’t who we thought he would be,” Pickell said.

     

    It’s no secret that fans and analysts have found Ewers’ performance as Texas’ starting quarterback underwhelming at times. However, there’s a reason head coach Steve Sarkisian stuck with him. Ewers led Texas to an SEC title game and a College Football Playoff semifinal despite battling injuries and facing criticism from the fanbase.

     

    It’s easy to forget that Ewers arrived at Texas after Sarkisian’s 5-7 debut season, carrying the expectation of turning the program around. He exceeded those expectations, leading Texas to a 25-8 record, a Big 12 championship, and multiple playoff appearances, including a grueling fight in their SEC title game bid.

     

    Ewers wasn’t perfect, but given his injuries and the weight of expectations, he performed well.

     

    Former Texas Starting QB Quinn Ewers Offers Successor Arch Manning Solid Advice

    As Ewers sets his sights on the NFL, the Arch Manning era officially begins in Austin. Naturally, Manning is already feeling the pressure that comes with being a team’s starting quarterback. However, some advice from Ewers has helped him focus on the bigger picture.

     

    During an interview with ESPN’s Marty Smith, Manning shared the wise words Ewers gave him following Texas’ Playoff semifinal loss to Ohio State.

     

    “Kind of right after the Ohio State game, I was with Quinn in the locker room,” Manning said. “He was like, ‘Enjoy every moment. It goes by quickly. So love on your teammates and have fun.’”

     

    Manning spent two seasons as Ewers’ backup, watching closely and gaining experience. Now that Ewers has passed the torch, it’s up to Manning to lead Texas’ offense and keep the team in championship contention.

     

    In his two starts for Texas against Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State, Manning threw for 583 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions while completing 68.3% of his passes. He led Texas to victory in both games. Fans will expect even more from him next season as they set their sights on a national championship run.

     

    College Sports Network has you covered with the latest from the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, and every Group of Five conference and FBS Independent program.

     

     

  • Nottingham Forest wages: Who is the best paid player at the Tricky Trees and everything you need to know about Forest’s salary bill

    Nottingham Forest wages: Who is the best paid player at the Tricky Trees and everything you need to know about Forest’s salary bill

     

    Everton FC v Nottingham Forest FC – Premier League

    How much does every Forest player earn annually and who receives the most into their account?

     

    The Premier League title race has been intensifying in recent weeks, with Liverpool emerging as the front-runners. However, several other teams are making a compelling case to challenge the Reds for the crown, and one of the most intriguing contenders are Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest.

     

    Forest have surprisingly established themselves as serious top-four contenders, with a real shot at securing a return to the Champions League next season – a competition they have won twice in their storied history.

     

    It’s quite hard to fathom that a team that returned to the top flight just two seasons ago after a 24-year absence are performing as well as they are, especially considering their relatively limited spending power. Their rapid rise is a testament to the quality of their management, squad cohesion, and the resilience they’ve shown in navigating the challenges of Premier League football.

     

    Article continues below

    So, who is the highest earner at City Ground this season? And who is on the opposite end of the spectrum?

     

    GOAL delved into the numbers from Capology and found out!

     

    *Salaries are gross and on an annual basis

     

    Wolverhampton Wanderers FC v Nottingham Forest FC – Premier League

    Getty Images Sport

    Goalkeepers

    Belgium international Matz Sels is the highest-paid goalkeeper at Forest with an annual package of just under £2m. Carlos Miguel as the only other senior goalkeeper in the squad is the lowest-paid keeper at City Ground.

     

    Name Salary

    Matz Sels £1,820,000

    Carlos Miguel £780,000

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    AFP

    Defenders

    Arriving from Fiorentina ahead of the start of the current season, Serbian centre-back Nikola Milenkovic is turning out to be an excellent signing for Forest and is rightly their highest-paid defender.

     

    Former Liverpool full-back Neco Williams finds himself on the second spot, with Willy Boly, Ola Aina, and Murillo jointly sharing the third spot.

     

    Alex Moreno, Andrew Omobamidele, Harry Toffolo, and Morato are the joint-lowest paid defenders.

     

    Name Salary

    Nikola Milenkovic £5,460,000

    Neco Williams £2,600,000

    Willy Boly £2,080,000

    Ola Aina £2,080,000

    Murillo £2,080,000

    Alex Moreno £1,820,000

    Andrew Omobamidele £1,820,000

    Harry Toffolo £1,820,000

    Morato £1,820,000

    Arsenal FC v Nottingham Forest FC – Premier League

    Getty Images Sport

    Midfielders

    James Ward-Prowse, who was signed on loan from West Ham United for the season, is currently the highest-paid midfielder at the club, surpassing Morgan Gibbs-White in terms of wages. This has raised some eyebrows among Forest fans, many of whom would argue that Gibbs-White, with his consistently standout performances, is more deserving of such recognition.

     

    Ivory Coast international Ibrahim Sangare is the third-highest paid midfielder, with the English duo of Lewis O’Brien and Ryan Yates jointly-sharing the fourth spot.

     

    South American duo of Nicolas Dominguez and Danilo are the lowest-paid midfielders at Forest.

     

    Name Salary

    James Ward-Prowse £5,980,000

    Morgan Gibbs-White £4,160,000

    Ibrahim Sangare £3,900,000

    Lewis O’Brien £2,600,000

    Ryan Yates £2,600,000

    Elliot Anderson £2,080,000

    Nicolas Dominguez £1,820,000

    Danilo £1,560,000

    Leicester City FC v Nottingham Forest FC – Premier League

    Getty Images Sport

    Attackers

    This one’s a no-brainer as veteran striker Chris Wood, who is also the club’s top scorer this season, is the highest-paid forward along with Callum Hudson-Odoi.

     

    Nigerian pair of Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis come next on the list, followed by Ramon Sosa.

     

    After struggling to secure a regular spot at Manchester United, Anthony Elanga has finally blossomed into a dangerous Premier League attacker. However, it’s surprising to see that, despite his growing influence on the pitch, he is one of the lowest-paid players at the club, not just in attack, but across the squad as a whole.

     

    Name Salary

    Chris Wood £4,160,000

    Callum Hudson-Odoi £4,160,000

    Taiwo Awoniyi £2,600,000

    Emmanuel Dennis £2,080,000

    Ramon Sosa £1,560,000

    Jota Silva £1,300,000

    Anthony Elanga £1,300,000

    Eric da Silva Moreira £416,000

    Chelsea FC v Nottingham Forest FC – Premier League

    Getty Images Sport

    Top 5 highest-paid Nottingham Forest players

    Many Forest fans might not have wanted to see this, but Ward-Prowse is the highest-paid player at the club, with MIlenkovic coming in at second.

     

    Hudson-Odoi, Gibbs-White, and Wood round out the top five with wages of £4,160,000 each.

     

    Name Salary

    James Ward-Prowse £5,980,000

    Niola Milenkovic £5,460,000

    Callum Hudson-Odoi £4,160,000

    Morgan Gibbs-White £4,160,000

    Chris Wood £4,160,000

    Everton FC v Nottingham Forest FC – Premier League

    Getty Images Sport

    Top 5 lowest-paid Nottingham Forest players

    Not much to dissect here as top two lowest-paid players are Da Silva Moreira and Miguel.

     

    Silva and Elanga jointly share the third spot, with Sosa rounding out the top five lowest-paid players.

     

    Name Salary

    Eric da Silva Moreira £416,000

    Carlos Miguel £780,000

    Jota Silva £1,300,000

    Anthony Elanga £1,300,000

    Ramon Sosa £1,560,000

    Total salary costs Nottingham Forest

    But what does that mean for the overall picture? In which area of the pitch are Forest spending the most money, and how much do they spend annually on salaries for the first team?

     

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  • Unlikely SEC star shared a message about Georgia football’s home atmosphere

    Unlikely SEC star shared a message about Georgia football’s home atmosphere

     

    Every Georgia football fan knows how special of a place Sanford Stadium is. This is especially true on Saturdays in the fall when Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs have a big game taking place on campus.

     

    Every fan will claim that their fanbase and stadium creates the best envorinment in the country. But that can only be true for a handful of programs. So the best way to figure out which stadiums actually make life the most difficult for visiting teams is by asking those players who have played in many of these environments. And that is exactly what Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart was asked during the Senior Bowl this week.

     

    Dart obviously has a lot of options that he could name because there are a lot of great environments in the SEC, but his answer will make every Georgia fan very happy.

     

    “2023 in Athens, Georgia for Brock Bowers’ return. That place was electric.”

     

    Georgia named the best environment by Jaxson Dart

    Not only did Dart mention that Georgia had the most difficult environment he ever played in during his college career, but he even remembers that game very clearly. The game he is referencing took place in 2023 when No. 11 Ole Miss came to Athens in one of the biggest games of the week in college football. However, the Rebels did not live up to the hype as Georgia dominated Ole Miss, winning 52-17.

     

    Dart even remembers that this game was Brock Bowers return, which definitely played into why this atmosphere was so great. Bowers finished the game with three receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown, so it may not have been the best game of his career, but he still was able to get in the end zone.

     

    So next time you find yourself in a debate surrounding which SEC atmosphere is the best, be sure to point out this comment from Dart who clearly knows what he is talking about.

  • Joel Klatt says what the rest of the country is thinking about Georgia football

    Joel Klatt says what the rest of the country is thinking about Georgia football

     

    The entire college football world seems ready to agree on one thing about Georgia football. After the Bulldogs won back-to-back National Championships, Georgia has failed to snif a third title in the last two years. So the average college football fan is quick to say that Georgia is a “has been” program and that they are no longer at the top of the sport.

     

    That however couldn’t be further from the truth. These claims tend to be centered around fans who might be afraid to admit that Georgia is here to stay rather than claims being centered around logic. This is at least what Georgia fans think about these claims, but it’s easy to write off these claims as a UGA fan because we are biased. But Fox Sports’ analyst Joel Klatt had the following to say on the subject.

     

    “I think Georgia had a down year… if we think Georgia is going anywhere, I think we would all be sorely mistaken.”

     

    Georgia’s down year is better than most team’s best years

    Klatt also agrees that this past season was a down year for Georiga, and most Georgia fans would likely agree with that as well. But it’s worth pointing out that UGA’s down year is much better than the best years for most teams.

     

    Let’s look at what’s happened the last two years for Georgia. Two seasons ago saw Georgia go undefeated in the regular season again before losing to Alabama in the SEC Championship game. Georgia unfortunately got left out of the playoff, but they went on to win their bowl game and finish the year 13-1. Then this past season saw Georgia go 10-2 in the regular season, win the SEC Championship game but fall short in the College Football Playoff.

     

    No one can deny that these were down years for Georgia, but 99 percent of programs would be ecstatic with these two seasons. So it’s important to add that perspective when someone says Georgia has had a few down years.

     

    But Klatt’s final point is that he doesn’t think Georgia is going anywhere in the future. Sure the Bulldogs have some questions that need to be answered next season, but Georgia has been a dominant force for nearly a decade now, so that likely will not change anytime soon. Georgia fans can confidently say this because recruiting has remained very strong in Athens as Georgia has signed a top two class in the country three years in a row.

     

    So until Georgia starts to struggle on the recruiting trail or they have a season where they actually lose a lot of games, no one can say that Georgia is no longer at the top of the college football world.

     

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  • Noah Lyles didn’t hesitate when asked whether or not he’ll ever beat Usain Bolt’s world record

    Noah Lyles didn’t hesitate when asked whether or not he’ll ever beat Usain Bolt’s world record

     

    Noah Lyles gave a brilliant response when he was asked whether he could break Usain Bolt’s world record.

     

    Back in the summer, Lyles announced himself on the world stage as he clinched the gold medal in the 100m event during the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

     

    However, the American was left disappointed after he only won the Bronze in the 200m event.

     

    Nevertheless, Lyles is expected to be the man to beat in men’s sprinting in the near future.

     

     

     

    The 27-year-old is more than confident that he has what it takes to break the Olympic legend Bolt’s insane world record of 19.19 seconds that has now stood for almost 15 years.

     

    Speaking about the record in 2023, Lyles said: “I know that I’m going to break it. The second most-popular, favourite hobby of humans − after watching somebody achieve greatness − is watching them fail.

     

    “People love to watch people fail. They just do. I don’t know why. It’s just if somebody says they want to do something great, someone’s right there next to say they can’t do it.”

     

    Lyles added: “I can give zero cares about what other people think. Because they don’t know me, they don’t know my story, they don’t know what I do, they don’t know how hard I work, how talented I am. But I know.”

     

     

     

    Noah Lyles is eyeing the world record. Image: Getty

    Noah Lyles is eyeing the world record. Image: Getty

    Of the 10 fastest 200-metre times in the world since the Tokyo games three years ago, he has run seven of them.

     

    “I’m going to motivate myself regardless,” Lyles continued.

     

     

    “I didn’t need a rival at worlds to run 19.3, because there was nobody close to me when that happened.”

     

    Lyles’ closest attempt at breaking Bolt’s long standing record, set at the World Championships in Berlin in 2009, is 19.31 – a US record which he set in Eugene in 2022.

     

     

  • Texas Quarterback Arch Manning Reveals Celebrity Crush

    Texas Quarterback Arch Manning Reveals Celebrity Crush

     

    Arch Manning’s Texas career is set to take a major step after Longhorns starting quarterback Quinn Ewers declared for the 2025 NFL draft.

     

    Manning has been featured in several games over the past two seasons, but admitted the step between high school football and college was a challenge – at least in the weight room.

     

    “The workouts were no joke,” Manning told GQ. “It was hard! On one of my visits, a player told me to make sure I run a lot and lift before I get to town. I took that to heart, so I was pretty prepared, but they are not easy. I think the intensity, and how often [we did them] was the toughest part. In the summer, we’ll get out there at 6:30 at night, and then you’re back the next morning at 6:30 for another workout. There’s not much time for recovery, but you gotta get the most out of it.”

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    Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

    As he prepares for his first season as a starting quarterback in the collegiate ranks, Manning signed a lucrative deal with Red Bull.

     

    “I really like this partnership,” Manning said. “Everyone at Red Bull has been super nice to me and my family and I can’t wait to get it going. Plus, I like a Red Bull in the morning. We got early meetings — need a little energy.”

     

    The future Longhorns starting quarterback also sat down with Red Bull for an interview where he was asked to name the “Great of All Time” in a number of categories. For the film section he named “Wolf of Wall Street” while dropping Margot Robbie’s name, hinting at his celebrity crush.

     

    During the 2024 college football season, Manning completed 67.8% of his passes for 939 yards with nine touchdowns and just two interceptions while running for 108 yards and four scores.

     

    Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes at Arrowhead Stadium on Jan. 26, 2025.

  • Striker secures ‘dream’ £26.5m AC Milan transfer one year after Leeds United links

    Striker secures ‘dream’ £26.5m AC Milan transfer one year after Leeds United links

     

    When Leeds United were in the midst of a three-horse race for automatic promotion this time last year, the Premier League-seeking side might have allowed themselves to dream, even for a brief moment, about the gifts that promotion could bring.

     

    Twelve months on, with Leeds in the market for a striker once again, their options appeared limited to Championship-proven additions such as Southampton duo Cameron Archer and Adam Armstrong.

     

    And while there remains a lingering sense of frustration at Elland Road as Leeds failed to secure a deal for either Archer or Armstrong, should Premier League football return to West Yorkshire at last in 2025/26, then Daniel Farke will have the luxury of shopping in Waitrose rather than, well, a less upmarket destination.

     

    Promotion, and the financial benefits that brings, will open up Leeds United to a far greater pool of centre-forwards.

     

    Perhaps that was the thinking back in March 2024, when Leeds reportedly added Feyenoord’s Santiago Gimenez to their radar.

     

    Feyenoord’s Mexican forward #29 Santiago Gimenez celebrates after scoring Feyenoord’s second goal from the penalty spot during the UEFA Champions L…

     

    Santiago Gimenez joins AC Milan one year after Leeds United links

    At the time, the Yorkshire giants would have been drawing up two very different shopping lists. An array of targets for the Premier League, and some for the Championship.

     

    Gimenez, due to the massive price tag slapped on his head by the then Eredivisie champions, would obviously have fallen into the former category.

     

    Feyenoord were always going to sell their Mexican marksman for big money. The kind of money Leeds would only have access too if they were a top-flight side.

     

     

    Take, for instance, the fee AC Milan have paid to secure Gimenez’s services 10 months after those Elland Road links emerged. The Argentina-born 23-year-old finally bids farewell to De Kuip after months of speculation and incessant links with countless teams across the continent.

     

    But when Milan made their interest known, paying £26.5 million for their trouble, there was only one club the boyhood Rossoneri fanatic had his heart set on.

     

     

    “When I was a kid, I loved Milan,” an overjoyed Gimenez said during his official unveiling at San Siro on deadline day, exiting Feyenoord after scoring 16 goals in just 19 games this season. “It was my dream. And, when I received the call from the Rossoneri, I said; “Wow”.

     

    “Years ago, I spoke to [club legend and 2007 Ballon D’Or winner] Kaka. He encouraged me. Milan was in my destiny.”

     

    Leeds need Joel Piroe to keep his form after strikerless deadlone day

    Leeds will be hoping their ‘destiny’, meanwhile, lies in the Premier League.

     

    And while the absence of a fresh centre-forward has the more pessimistic supporters concerned about Burnley and Sheffield United closing the gap at the top – Leeds have found themselves in a strong position before and saw promotion slip through their grasp – goalscoring certainly didn’t seem to be an issue when Farke’s side obliterated Cardiff City 7-0 on Saturday.

     

    Leeds’ biggest home win in 53 years, and a timely return to form for Joel Piroe during what was the Dutchman’s most complete performance on the Elland Road turf.

     

    “He’s the best finisher at this football club Joel Piroe, and he proved it,” former Leeds striker Michael Bridges smiled following the most one-sided victory of the campaign. “He makes that penalty look easy.

     

    “He hasn’t got the running power and the pace to be the man who is going to be the ball over the top. What I liked about his performance [against Cardiff], and I admire so much as a striker, is the way that he has understood his role and his responsibility.

     

    “‘I’ll drop in, I’ll make it tough for the defenders to go and mark us. If somebody does, it’s going to [create] a gap’.”