Author: Joe Soriano

Newcastle United qualified for the Champions League back in the 2022/23 season, which was their first under Saudi Arabian ownership, but they failed to repeat the trick in 2023/24 despite improved attacking output from breakout superstars Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon. In that 2022/23 season, Newcastle didn't have the greatest attacking reputation, but they had, by far, the best defense in the Premier League, anchored by the center back duo of Fabian Schar and Sven Botman. After Botman's injury to close the 2023/24 season, Newcastle have realized the importance of adding depth in central defense. And even though they signed a starting-caliber central defender in Lloyd Kelly of Bournemouth for free, they are interested in a more ambitious signing. Crystal Palace star Marc Guehi...

Aston Villa have one of the best center back partnerships in the Premier League between Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres, the former impressing at the Euros for England and the latter impressing everywhere he goes despite a relative lack of fanfare. The Lions are set with their starters at center back, but with ambitions to compete in the Champions League this season and repeat their qualification for next season, Aston Villa know that it takes a lot more than good starters to put together a winning side every year in the Premier League, especially with the additional gruel of Champions League games. As Aston Villa continue to look for more attacking options to help the current crop, led by Premier League Player of the Season candidate Ollie Watkins at striker, Unai Emery and Co. are also l...

Aston Villa swapped Douglas Luiz to Juventus this summer in exchange for Samuel Iling-Junior, Enzo Barrenechea, and cash, giving the Bianconeri one of the most talented defensive midfielders in the world as part of their plan to overhaul the position. Juventus remain keen on adding Teun Koopmeiners to a talented group that already contains Manuel Locatelli, Khephren Thuram, and Luiz, and they have to be satisfied so far with the foundation they have given new manager Thiago Motta. Meanwhile, Aston Villa made a major midfield signing of their own this summer in Amadou Onana, as well as signing English veteran Ross Barkley from Luton Town. But they may be coming away quite disappointed with the returns on the Douglas Luiz transfer, which was, in truth, a move forced on them by the B...

Bayern Munich have turned winning into a tradition, to the point where their success is taken for granted more than at any other club in world football. One of the best-run organizations in professional sports, Bayern's excellence has recently been called into question after a host of rash managerial decisions, poor signings, and dysfunctional executives. But Bayern's track record of success in the 2010s decade speaks for itself, and looking at their list of transfers over the last 15 years provides a clear example of why they achieved consistent Champions League success and perennial Bundesliga dominance. Here are the 10 best transfers in Bayern Munich's recent history since 2010, ranked in order. 10. Leon Goretzka, CM Leon Goretzka helped lead Schalke to an unlikely second-pla...

Here are the 10 best strikers in Serie A right now in 2024 based on a combination of recent success and overall pedigree. 10. Andrea Pinamonti, Sassuolo Andrea Pinamonti has been one of the most perennially disappointing strikers in Italian football because on the basis of talent alone, he should be in the top five of the best strikers in Serie A. Instead, Pinamonti does find himself in the top 10, as he has turned out to be a decent striker in his own right, capable of utter brilliance when inspiration strikers and his best quality comes to the fore. 9. Duvan Zapata, Torino After a poor final season in Bergamo, the iconic Duvan Zapata got a new lease on life in Torino and proceeded to dispatch 12 goals with 4 assists to rebound somewhat and regain his reputation as one of the bette...

Although Manchester United have a storied history, the No. 9 is synonymous with just one player, and that is the most important player of the club's past, Sir Bobby Charlton. In the Premier League era, the No. 9 kit has been given to some high-profile transfers, but, in many ways, it has bounced around since 1992, with even the likes of Paul Scholes and Roy Keane donning it. More recently, Manchester United have tried giving the iconic shirt to players like Anthony Martial and Romelu Lukaku after they were marquee signings, but neither ended up panning out. Big-name short-term signings like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Radamel Falcao have worn the No. 9 kit, too, but they made even less of an impact at Old Trafford. Here are the five strikers who wore the No. 9 at Manchester United a...

Here are all the biggest Juventus transfer rumors and news updates you need to know for the summer 2024 window, sorted in order of recency. 7/7: Juventus in talks for Jadon Sancho Report: According to a report from journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Juventus engaged in detailed discussions with Jadon Sancho's agent. There is "strong" mutual interest in getting a deal done, but, right now, Juve have other priorities. Analysis: The other priorities are likely elsewhere in the squad as they relate to acquiring Atalanta star Teun Koopmeiners and then potentially Jakub Kiwior of Arsenal as an alternative to Riccardo Calafiori, who is effectively choosing the Premier League over Serie A. Sancho would come in as the Federico Chiesa replacement, and if last season is anything to go off of, Sancho...