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Brighton left it very late to sink the Red Devils but fully deserved their win against Erik ten Hag's lacklustre side

Brighton avenged their recent shootout defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final by scoring the latest of penalties to secure a thoroughly deserved 1-0 win over the Red Devils.

A VAR review spotted a handball by Luke Shaw after the five minutes of added time had been played, in a reversal of what happened in this fixture in the 2020-21 campaign, when Bruno Fernandes scored a penalty after the final whistle had initially been blown.

Alexis Mac Allister dispatched his 98th minute spot-kick ruthlessly to boost Brighton's hopes of qualifying for Europe and simultaneously harm United's hopes of securing a top-four spot early.

Although United were unfortunate to lose so late in the game, this was yet another poor away showing by Erik ten Hag's side, who could have taken an early lead but were left to rue Antony missing a real sitter after being played clean through by Bruno Fernandes.

GOAL rates Man Utd's players from the Amex Stadium…

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  Goalkeeper & Defence

  David de Gea (7/10):

  Took an early whack on the head from Mitoma's shot but stayed focused and made a fine save late on to keep out Alexis Mac Allister's low drive, also parrying a last-gasp shot from Caicedo. Could do little about Mac Allister's emphatic penalty.

  Aaron Wan-Bissaka (8/10):

  Dealt expertly with Kaoru Mitoma, keeping tight on him without committing himself and getting beaten. United's man of the match.

  Victor Lindelof (5/10):

  Shaky in possession, gifting a clear chance to Mitoma. Improved as the game went on.

  Luke Shaw (4/10):

  Was not very commanding and made a big mistake by leaving his hand in the air to give away the penalty.

  Diogo Dalot (6/10):

  Had very little joy in attack but was sound defensively.

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  Midfield

  Fred (5/10):

  Brought energy to the midfield but was unable to prise open Brighton and United missed the creative passing of Christian Eriksen, who dropped to the bench.

  Casemiro (7/10):

  A strong stabilising force although the Brazilian picked up a first-half booking for a tactical foul and then lived on the edge, still diving into tackles and risking getting a second yellow card.

  Bruno Fernandes (6/10):

  Created the early chance for Antony but did not get much freedom in attack, having to work hard defensively instead.

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  Attack

  Antony (4/10):

  Wasteful and ineffective. Missed the target with a great early chance and grew increasingly frustrated with his inability to get beyond Brighton's defence. Booked for kicking out at Mac Allister.

  Anthony Martial (5/10):

  Made very few runs behind defence and struggled to link the play or hold the ball up.

  Marcus Rashford (6/10):

  The only United attacker who looked a threat. Got in down the left wing a few times but his only real shooting chance was saved by the leg of Jason Steele. Took a whack on the ankle from Caicedo.

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  Subs & Manager

  Jadon Sancho (5/10):

  Unable to help United put Brighton under any real pressure.

  Marcel Sabitzer (5/10):

  Barely got involved in the game when he came on.

  Wout Weghorst (N/A):

  Only introduced for the final six minutes.

  Erik ten Hag (4/10):

  Made the wrong call in dropping Eriksen for Fred, meaning United struggled to keep the ball for long periods and allowed Brighton to take the initiative. His changes came too late and offered very little.

Here's where you can watch Portland Timbers vs Seattle Sounders in MLS on TV or stream live.

When Seattle Sounders plays Portland Timbers on Saturday night at Providence Park, they will be hoping to build on their impressive start to the MLS season.

With 16 points from their first seven games, Seattle is in first position, while Portland has had a difficult start to the season and is currently in 12th place.

▶ Watch every MLS match, including the playoffs, here

▶ Buy MLS tickets from Ticketmaster, here

Last season, Portland finished one point outside of the playoff spots. However, after a very poor start to the season, they will need to significantly improve if they are to finish in a similar position this year.

The Timbers have only amassed five points thus far, and they haven't won a match since defeating Sporting Kansas City 1-0 at Providence Park in their season opener.

Having suffered a crushing 5-1 loss away at Atlanta United back in March, Giovanni Savarese's team has conceded 12 goals in the MLS to this time, the second-highest total of any team in the Western Conference.

On the other hand, Seattle Sounders finished 11th last season and has made significant strides thus far this season. They are now top of the table after winning five and drawing one of their first seven games.

A particularly pleasing aspect of Seattle's performances for manager Brian Schmetzer will be their defensive record, conceding just three goals up to this point, the fewest of any side in both the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference.

That said, Saturday's game will be a real test of how far Schmetzer's side has come, as they have an abysmal record in recent games against Portland, drawing one and losing three of the last four meetings between the two sides.

GOAL brings you everything you need to know about where to watch the game on TV and stream live online.

• Portland Timbers vs Seattle Sounders date & kick-off time

  Game:	Portland Timbers vs Seattle Sounders
  Date:	April 15, 2023
  Kick-off time:	10:30 pm ET
  Venue:	Providence Park

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• Where to watch Portland Timbers vs Seattle Sounders on TV & live stream online

  Fans in the United States & across the world can watch MLS with Apple TV MLS Season Pass.

  Country	TV channel	Live stream
  US	N/A	Apple TV

  • Check out GOAL's soccer on U.S. TV guide

• Team news & squads

  Portland Timbers team news and squad

  For Portland Timbers, Cristhian Paredes, Tega Ikogba, Yimmi Chara and Felipe Mora will miss out through injury.

  Portland Timbers possible XI: Ivacic; Miller, Zuparic, McGraw, Rasmussen; Moreno, Chara, Gutierrez; Mosquera, Boli, Niezgoda

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Ivacic, Bingham
  Defenders	Bravo, Mosquera, Bonila, Zuparic, McGraw, Mabiala, Miller, Rasmussen
  Midfielders	Moreno, Asparilla, Blanco, D. Chara, Williamson
  Forwards	Niezgoda

  Seattle Sounders team news and squad

  Seattle Sounders will be without Obed Vargas and Kelwyn Rowe, but the rest of the squad is available for selection. Jordan Morris is the MLS top scorer with eight goals.

  Seattle Sounders possible XI: Frei; Roldan, Gomez, Ragen, Nouhou; Rusnak, Atencio, Roldan, Lodeiro, Ruidiaz; Morris

  Position	Players
  Goalkeepers	Frei, Cleveland
  Defenders	Tolo, Arreaga, Andrade, A. Roldan, Cissoko
  Midfielders	Lodeiro, Rusnak, Morris, Chu, Roldan, Paulo, Leyva, Teves
  Forwards	Montero, Heber

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• Useful links

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Everton Football Club has always been on the periphery when it comes to the pre-eminent teams in the Premier League. Even when considering the traditional top-six clubs of Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham, it appears Leicester has the best chance of breaking into that group (if they already haven’t).

This year is no different, except West Ham has taken advantage of a stuttering Arsenal and currently sit in the top-six of the Premier League table. Everton’s only finish in the top four was in 2005 under David Moyes and they haven’t been in the top six since a 5th place finish in 2014 under Roberto Martínez. However, since the Farhad Moshiri majority takeover in 2016, the club has poured money into the squad in an attempt to qualify for the Champions League. The spending hasn’t always been intelligent; however, under Carlo Ancelotti, what signings could Everton make to crack the top four?

Gianluigi Donnarumma

At first glance, this may appear to be another superstar signing that won’t translate to Everton. The Toffees have been stung recently by high profile additions which just haven’t panned out.

However, Donnarumma would be an excellent acquisition. Pickford remains questionable, even if Gareth Southgate selects him for England. Everton could start moving forward confidently with a strong, commanding presence between the sticks and the Italian seems to be unsettled at A.C. Milan, despite their improved table position. Many of the top clubs are settled for their first-choice keeper, and Ancelotti could make the transition to the Premier League easier for the 22-year-old.

Making an intelligent signing of a young player who can still develop, rather than the marquee buy, would be a step in the right direction for the club. Everton has brought in too many players in the same position recently, simply due to their name. A more coherent transfer strategy formed with long-term planning in mind and aided by an extensive scouting network will see the club develop for years to come. There are a multitude of areas where teams can look to use external services such as scouting agencies and data analytics companies to influence decision-making. However, this isn’t just limited to football or big clubs as there are services in industries such as automotive, online casino and airlines. For example, websites like Auto Trader comprise lists of used and new cars across the country for sale, making it easier for buyers and some websites compile the different online casinos and sort them into sections like best bonuses or best mobile casinos, as bonusfinder explains clearly.

Sven Botman/Matthias Ginter

Everton needs a centre back, and this section suggests two, just in case one doesn’t work. Sven Botman currently plays for Lille and fits the bill for youth as he is just 21-years-old. Despite his age, the Dutch defender is a commanding 6 ft 4 in player who can lead a backline. He may be a wanted man, especially with his strong season at Lille. However, Ginter would be a suitable second option. The German is still relatively young for a centre-back at 27 and could instantly transform Everton’s defence.

Leon Bailey

Finally, we have Leon Bailey, who is taking the Bundesliga by storm with Bayer Leverkusen. The pacy wide man would be a stellar addition to create a fearsome three-headed attack with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison. They would all be around the same age and could lead the line for Everton into the future.

Everton has had a decent first full season under Carlo Ancelotti; however, if they are to make the next step and break into the top-four, they need to be shrewd in the transfer

The Bianconeri have won a minor battle in their war against allegations of financial irregularities, but the fighting could continue into next season

Just like the rest of us, Jose Mourinho knew what was coming.

The week before Juventus' appeal against a 15-point penalty deduction, the Portuguese manager was asked about Roma's strong position in Serie A.

"Are we third in the standings?" Mourinho asked on DAZN. "Are we sure that Juve don't have 59 points? We are in Italy…"

And so it unsurprisingly came to pass on Thursday afternoon that Juve's penalty was revoked, for the time being at least, and the table changed dramatically.

Juve jumped from eighth to third, pushing Mourinho's Roma down into the fourth and final Champions League spot, with AC Milan dropping to fifth, and Inter to sixth.

After leading the Old Lady past Sporting CP and into the semi-finals of the Europa League late in the evening, coach Massimiliano Allegri called it "a beautiful day" – and it was certainly positive from Juve's perspective.

However, Mourinho's colleague at Roma, sporting director Tiago Pinto, was less impressed and admitted to Sky Sport Italia: "I have to laugh, so I don't cry…"

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  The original ruling

  The Bianconeri had initially been sanctioned in January for "financial irregularities" and "false accounting" in relation to past transfer dealings, such as the infamous swap deal involving Miralem Pjanic and Arthur Melo.

  The severity of the sentence surprised many in the media, not least because the chief prosecutor had only requested a nine-point penalty.

  Juve predictably appealed to CONI's (the Italian Olympic Committee) Collegio di Garanzia, the country's highest sporting court, with their lawyers claiming that the deduction and bans issued to 11 past or current club directors constituted "a clear disparity of treatment against Juventus and its managers compared any other company or member".

  Remember, 11 clubs and 59 executives had been implicated during the original investigation into breaches of rules relating to 'plusvalenza' (capital gains) – essentially, allegations that clubs were inflating transfer fees in order to balance the books.

  They were all initially cleared of any wrongdoing, partly because of the difficulty involved in objectively establishing the value of a footballer.

  It was even revealed that prosecutors had relied too heavily on values derived by the website transfermakt.com, which hardly inspires confidence in the sporting justice system in Italy.

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  New evidence comes to light

  The case was reopened, though, because of new evidence brought to light by the separate criminal investigation overseen by the Turin Public Prosecutor, called 'Prisma', which focuses on alleged breaches of "the integrity of sporting competition" and, far more significantly, false accounting related to salaries.

  According to widespread reports, prosecutors came into possession of a 'black book' owned by former Juve sporting director Fabio Paratici, which allegedly contains all of the true numbers involved in the transfer deals at the centre of the affair.

  It was also claimed that the investigators have unearthed admissions of guilt via wiretaps involving several Juventus directors, including former president Agnelli and CEO Maurizio Arrivabene.

  Consequently, the FIGC prosecutor, Giuseppe Chine, appealed the previous ruling and the case was reopened in December.

  This time around, only nine of the original 11 clubs were implicated, but Juve remained the focus of the investigation because of the apparent weight of evidence against them, and their allegedly repeated attempts to circumvent the plusvalenza regulations.

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  A lack of clarity

  However, during a three-hour hearing on Wednesday, CONI prosecutor Ugo Taucer admitted that the original ruling lacked a level of "clarity that must be appreciated and evaluated by a new judgement."

  Essentially, the case will go back to the Italian Football Federation's (FIGC) Federal Court of Appeal.

  The hope is that the matter will be resolved once and for all within a month – before the end of the Serie A season on June 4.

  But there is no guarantee of that actually happening, not least because Juve could, in theory, take the case back to CONI if the FIGC appeal goes against them.

  In such a nightmare scenario, the case would not only drag on into the summer but potentially into next season, evoking memories of the Calciopoli scandal of 2006.

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  Juve have won the battle but not the war…

  The net result is uncertainty, because every outcome is possible: the deduction could be quashed, reduced, upheld or even increased.

  There's also the prospect of finishing in the top four of Serie A and yet being blocked by UEFA from competing in next season's Champions League if the club is subsequently found to have falsified its accounts.

  So, while Juventus have effectively won a minor battle this week, the war is far from over, and not just because of the ongoing threat posed by the far more serious Prisma investigation.

  As many financial experts have pointed out, the plusvalenza affair still might end badly for the Bianconeri, particularly as the FIGC has essentially been told through the CONI hearing where it needs to firm up its case.

  We've also learned that if Juve are found guilty, any sanctions imposed will have to be consequential, making it highly unlikely that they'd be stripped of a top-four finish no matter what.

Leicester City have been linked with a move for Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham ahead of the upcoming transfer window.

What’s the story?

The 23-year-old England international has been heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge after struggling for game time with his boyhood club since Thomas Tuchel arrived back in December.

According to the Leicester Mercury, the Foxes are among several Premier League clubs interested in Abraham’s services, with a £40m fee reportedly required to prize him away from west London.

Replacement for Vardy?

Although Jamie Vardy remains an extremely useful asset for Brendan Rodgers, bagging 15 goals and providing nine assists in all competitions this season, the 34-year-old is undoubtedly slowing down and it’s time that the club start thinking about getting a replacement in.

The former England international has only scored one goal in his last 13 top-flight appearances, and Leicester’s lack of strength in depth up-front significantly limits their options compared to many of their domestic rivals.

Rodgers has often had the luxury of a top-class striker to call upon throughout his managerial career, Luis Suarez at Liverpool, Moussa Dembele and Celtic and then Vardy at the King Power Stadium, but the latter’s powers are certainly on the wain.

Abraham could provide the perfect solution to Leicester’s striking problem, while the new FA Cup holders could offer the 6 ft 2 forward the ideal way out of his Chelsea nightmare.

It’s a transfer the Midlands outfit’s board must sanction if they want to provide Rodgers with his next natural goalscorer and carry on the incredible progress that the Northern Irishman has overseen during his short time at the club.

Before Abraham made enjoyed success in the Chelsea first team, he made a name for himself on loan at Aston Villa, where he played under John Terry after impressing the former Blues captain during their time together at Cobham.

“I know him very well, having played with him at Chelsea. He’s been incredible here.

“He was the Academy player that when coming over to train with the first team, me and Gary Cahill used to think, ‘oh no, here we go!’ You knew he was going to come over and put himself about – run the channels, score goals, be hungry, be passionate,” recalled the Villa assistant.

“As one of the older ones in the group, I just wanted a nice easy day against a middle-aged striker! Tammy always posed a big threat, and I knew he’d go on and do well.”

Abraham is too good to rot on the Chelsea bench for any longer, and with European football of some description guaranteed for Leicester next season, it’s a move that the Foxes simply have to make.

And, in other news…Leicester City must sanction audacious swoop for “world-class” £120k-p/w workhorse – opinion

Speaking to Football Insider, pundit and Sky Sports regular Kevin Phillips has reacted to claims involving West Ham United star Declan Rice after club insider Claret & Hugh shared Manchester United’s rather bizarre new transfer stance.

The Lowdown: United interest cools for Rice

Recently, insider C&H shared news from United in regards to a swoop for star man Rice – with the outlet claiming that Red Devils scouts are having second thoughts over the price tag and his lack of pace.

This comes after heavy links with a move to Old Trafford, with the 22-year-old West Ham star also attracting recent interest from the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Any club that comes in for Rice would have invest heavily, however, as GSB apparently value him upwards of £100 million.

The Latest: Phillips reacts to Rice claim

In reaction to C&H’s claim involving United scouts and West Ham’s star asset, Phillips is amazed over the alleged stance on Rice from United officials.

However, he also believes this could come as ‘great news’ for the Irons overall.

“I do not think it is a fair assessment saying Rice is too slow,” he explained to FI.

“I think he covers the ground quite well. He is a bit like Jordan Henderson. It is not his kind of role.

“It amazes me when people say he is too slow. Look at McTominay, I’d say Declan is a bit quicker than him.

“It is great news for West Ham though. The more that pull out the better for them! David Moyes will be hoping they all think he is too slow!”

The Verdict: West Ham should be overjoyed…

One big fear for West Ham is losing Rice in the summer and it’s safe to say his exit would be a huge blow to manager David Moyes.

A lot will depend on whether the Irons secure European qualification at the end of this season, and a previously unprecedented surge into the Champions League places could increase the odds of Rice committing his future.

C&H’s news that United scouts have took a bizarre fresh stance on star man definitely comes a boost given that’s one less horse allegedly dropping out of the race.

Phillips certainly has every right to call it ‘great news’ for West Ham.

In other news: West Ham fans want this prolific star signed, find out more here.

John Henry has dropped a bombshell by revealing Fenway Sports Group (FSG) has no plans to sell Liverpool, so what does that mean for the Reds?

Liverpool owner John Henry had been thought to be willing to sell the Reds but has now announced that it's investment he's after, rather than a sale.

FSG claimed in November 2022 it would "consider new shareholders", which had prompted speculation there could be a takeover at Anfield.

Yet a sale is now very much off the table, so what does it mean for the club, manager Jurgen Klopp, potential transfer targets and the future? GOAL takes a look…

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  Will FSG be willing to fund Bellingham deal?

  Borussia Dortmund starlet Jude Bellingham is expected to have his pick of top sides this summer after becoming a vital player for club and country at the grand old age of 19.

  Liverpool are set to battle the likes of Manchester City and Real Madrid for Bellingham's signature and have already made the midfielder their top summer target.

  Yet the Reds will be well aware that Bellingham will not come cheap. Liverpool will likely have to break their transfer record and make the midfielder their highest-paid player if they are to bring him to Anfield.

  The money will obviously be an issue, particularly if investment is not forthcoming, and the big questions fans will be asking is whether FSG are willing to fund a big-money move for Bellingham in the summer.

  Liverpool are also in the midst of a difficult campaign both at home and abroad. Failure to qualify for next season's Champions League will impact the club financially and on a sporting level.

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  Fans frustration to continue

  The news that FSG are not selling up will be met with frustration by some sections of the Liverpool support.

  Fans have been angered during FSG's reign by hikes in ticket prices, a failed attempt to trademark the name 'Liverpool' and the decision to furlough non-playing staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. That decision came just six weeks after Liverpool announced pre-tax profits of £42 million and was very swiftly reversed.

  There was also the European Super League fiasco which brought another U-turn from Liverpool after players and supporters made it clear they were completely against the idea.

  There's no doubting that FSG have done a lot for the Merseysiders, but the team is struggling on the pitch which will leave many fans wanting serious investment in the summer to strengthen the squad.

• Liverpool FC
  

  FSG to complete Anfield redevelopment

  FSG have long wanted to redevelop Anfiled and are not far off seeing their plans realised.

  Work on the new Anfield Road End Stand began in 2021 and remains on track to be completed in time for the new 2023-24 season.

  FSG's redevelopment plan will see the famous old ground's capacity rise by 7,000 to 61,000 spectators, making it the fifth-biggest stadium in England and the third largest in the Premier League.

  Liverpool's owners have made mistakes during their tenure but their work to redevelop the ground certainly shows plenty of ambition.

  It will also have attracted jealous glances from neighbours Manchester United who are eager to see their dilapidated Old Trafford redeveloped.

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  Big-name departures?

  Given FSG are still rooting around for fresh investment in the club, it won't fill people associated with Liverpool with confidence that their will be funds available to keep everyone happy.

  If the Reds don't show ambition in the summer, or simply aren't able to because their hands are tied by financial constraints, that could provoke an exodus – especially if they fail to qualify for the Champions League.

  Although he signed a new contract last summer, Mohamed Salah's future is still fairly uncertain, while other such as Luis Diaz and Ibrahima Konate could be tempted away by big-money offers from elsewhere.

Former Leeds United striker Noel Whelan believes that Robin Koch can continue to shine in a midfield role for the Whites moving forward.

Leeds lost 2-0 away to Brighton on Saturday afternoon in what was a rare off-day after an impressive recent run of form. Koch took up a defensive midfield role in the absence of Kalvin Phillips, performing solidly despite the disappointing nature of the result as he won 11 duels and five tackles.

Koch tipped to continue as midfield option

Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan claimed that the ‘magnificent’ 24-year-old could carry on being an option in midfield for Marcelo Bielsa, as well as his preferred centre-back position. The pundit said:

“I’ve seen enough from Koch to suggest he could play that role long-term.  Even though he has only played in that position a couple of times you can see that he has the capabilities to do it. I have no doubt about that.

“He was competitive in midfield against Brighton. He was getting on the ball and trying to find space.

“I felt sorry for him though because it is difficult to gauge whether he can play in that role long-term when everyone else is playing below par. I cannot be 100 per cent confident that he can understudy for Phillips on that performance because everyone around him was a six out of 10 and some of them not even that.

“Could Koch step into an international’s role? The signs are encouraging. I think he has all of the attributes.”

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Transfer Tavern take

While Koch can fill in at the base of midfield when required, it is still important that Leeds sign a more natural backup to Phillips, as has been rumoured in recent days. The German has his limitations in that position, only keeping possession 79% of the time against Brighton and playing no key passes on what was his first appearance in defensive midfield for Bielsa’s side this season.

Phillips, in comparison, averages an 84.8% pass completion rate and 1.3 key passes per match this season – if he were to get injured for a long period in 2021/22, Koch wouldn’t really be a reliable enough deputy over a sustained period despite Whelan’s endorsement.

In other news, Leeds are believed to be interested in signing an alternative to one player this summer. Read more here.

The country's greatest-ever player couldn't deliver Portugal the biggest prize of all, so can the next generation now step up in four years' time?

And so it's (probably) official: Cristiano Ronaldo, for all his greatness, will end his career having never won the World Cup. Portugal's wait for the biggest trophy of them all goes on, their campaign in Qatar ended as Morocco made history in the quarter-finals.

This might not the blast we see of Ronaldo at a major tournament. While he has hinted at international retirement, the European Championship is just 18 months away, and Ronaldo will certainly believe he has something offer, even at 39.

Playing at another World Cup when he reaches the age of 41 is, however, surely above even the great man, and so the Selecao must now start planning for the next generation to carry the torch for their country.

The good news is, there are loads of talented players coming through in Portugal, with some already established internationals while others are just making their way into first teams at their clubs.

But who among them has a chance to be in the line up the next time the World Cup is played in 2026? GOAL breaks down their options…

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  GK: Diogo Costa

  Costa only recently took over as Portugal's No.1 goalkeeper, but the Porto shot-stopper looks primed to be the man between the sticks for a long time given he only recently turned 23.

  His excellent penalty-saving record certainly makes him an asset for tournament football, and though he still has some improvements to make to his game, Costa profiles as one of the next generation's best 'keepers.

  In terms of younger players to watch, Benfica duo Samuel Soares (20) and Andre Gomes (18) are both highly-rated, and are the current No.1s for Portugal's Under-21s and U19s, respectively.

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  RB: Joao Cancelo

  Cancelo had a World Cup to forget in Qatar, as the Manchester City man struggled for form before being dropped to bench for the knockout stages.

  His quality, however, is clear, while his versatility is also helpful at tournaments, and so while he will be 32 by the time the next World Cup kicks-off, it would be a shock were he not still in contention to start.

  Diogo Dalot (23), who replaced Cancelo at right-back over the past couple of weeks, is the obvious alternative, especially if he can continue to be a starter for Manchester United.

  There are high hopes, too, for Sporting C.P. teenager Goncalo Esteves, who has already played in both the Portuguese top-flight and the Champions League before his 19th birthday.

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  CB: Antonio Silva

  Silva's rise has been meteoric, as he went from making his first-team debut for Benfica at the end of August to starting for his country in the World Cup just over three months later.

  Perhaps unsurprisingly, the 19-year-old is now being linked with the great and good of European football, with Benfica likely to make a huge profit on yet another homegrown talent in the next couple of years.

  Others who could factor in the centre-back discussion over the next four years include Lille's Tiago Djalo (22) and Braga's David Carmo (23), both of whom were called-up to recent Portugal squads before failing to make the World Cup roster.

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  CB: Goncalo Inacio

  Ruben Dias may seem like the obvious answer when it comes to Silva's long-term partner at the heart of the Portugal defence, but there are some concerns that he has struggled to replicate his form from the 2020-21 season over the past 18 months.

  The Manchester City man will be 29 when the next World Cup kicks-off and should be in his prime years, but for now we've gone for the younger man in Sporting's Inacio.

  The 21-year-old has been linked with Manchester United and Barcelona in recent months, and though he is yet to be capped by his country, that should change now that the likes of Pepe and Jose Fonte will be moving on.

  Others who will be hopeful of pushing on and earning international recognition before 2026 include Hoffenheim's Eduardo Quaresma (20) and Servette teenager Diogo Monteiro (17).

Speaking exclusively to Football FanCast, former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie has admitted that he is worried about his old side losing Jack Grealish this summer.

The 25-year-old attacking midfielder has had a bright campaign, scoring six goals and creating a further 10 in the Premier League, and is now attracting interest from other clubs.

In fact, according to Football Insider, Grealish is Manchester City’s top target for the next transfer window, with the player said to be open to the idea of joining Pep Guardiola’s side.

It has now left Hendrie fearing the worst, with the ex-Villa player sharing his concerns in an exclusive interview with FFC.

When asked whether the Villans are at risk of losing some of their star names this summer like Ollie Watkins, he said:

“There’s always that element of do you lose your big players [once they reach England international level]. To be honest with you, out of that Villa squad, I’m more worried about losing Jack Grealish. That’s the main one because I feel that he sets the bar really for that whole Villa squad.”

Manchester United are another club who are said to be admirers of Grealish, meaning there could be a real transfer tussle for the England international if Villa do decide to sell in the summer.