A "magnificent" Rangers player is believed to be "very keen" on the idea of signing a contract extension at Ibrox, according to a new update regarding his future, with a deal potentially even wrapped up this month.
Rangers contract news
The Gers have got themselves into a great position in the Scottish Premiership, topping the table by two points as we head into the business end of the campaign, despite Saturday's hugely disappointing 2-1 defeat at home to Motherwell.
Once the season reaches its conclusion, Rangers are going to have some big decisions to make regarding a number of players who are out of contract at the club in the summer, in terms of losing them on free transfers or offering them extensions.
Rangers defender Borna Barisic.
Midfielder John Lundstram is one of those, with the Englishman recently turning 30 years of age, and the same applies to Borna Barisic, with the left-back staying put beyond the January transfer window, despite numerous links suggesting he could move on.
Ryan Jack and Kemar Roofe are two other established names whose time at Ibrox could reach its conclusion in the next few months, while 35-year-old Leon Balogun could well see his time with Rangers come to an end, given his age.
"Magnificent" Ranger hero wants new deal
According to a fresh update from Football Insider, John Lundstram is "very keen" on signing a new Rangers deal in the "coming weeks", suggesting it could even be finalised and announced at some point this month.
The Gers are confident that an agreement can be reached in order to keep the midfielder at the club, having arrived from Sheffield United in the summer of 2021, making 141 appearances to date.
Rangers midfielder John Lundstram.
Retaining Lundstram's services has to be seen as a priority for Rangers this summer, even though he may recently have turned 30, as mentioned. He still has to much to offer, having started 26 of his side's Scottish Premiership matches this season, chipping in with three assists.
Appearances
27
Starts
26
Goals
0
Assists
3
Tackles per game
1.6
Key passes per game
1.4
Pass completion rate
88.6%
The midfielder's box-to-box energy can continue to be an invaluable asset for Philippe Clement's side moving forward – Andy Walker has hailed him as "magnificent" in the past – and there is no reason why he shouldn't be in and around his best for the next three or four years.
While new signings are vital in the summer window, retaining the services of some of Rangers' most reliable and established stars is just as important, keeping a stability at the club in the process.
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Whether they extend the stays of the likes of Barisic, Jack and Roofe remains to be seen, but the fact that Lundstram is so happy to stay put and continue contributing means that his extension should be seen as a priority to get sorted as soon as possible.
Gregg Berhalter will reportedly stay on as USMNT's head coach even if they crash out of Copa America
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USMNT lost 2-1 to PanamaBerhalter is under pressure to deliverCould continue as coach even after a group-stage exitWHAT HAPPENED?
The USMNT started off their Copa America campaign with a 2-0 triumph over Bolivia. However, a shock 2-1 loss to Panama have put their Copa America hopes on the line. And now they must not lose against Uruguay in their final group stage matchday and hope that other results go in their favour to keep their chances of securing a knockout berth alive.
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After their defeat to Panama questions were raised about Gregg Berhalter's future as the head coach of Christian Pulisic and Co. However, according to the US Soccer Federation is not contemplating parting ways with Berhalter even if they fail to qualify for the knockouts of Copa America.
In a post on X, Wynalda wrote:
"Confirmation that if the US happen to lose to Uruguay and fail to qualify for the knockout stage of Copa America Gregg Berhalter will continue to be the coach … “Zero chance”of the Federation making a change at this time …People need to just accept the fact that he’s our coach."
DID YOU KNOW?
Panama have emerged as a challenging opponent for the USMNT in recent years. Historically, the US had only lost to Panama once before Berhalter's tenure, during the 2011 Gold Cup. However, since his appointment, Panama has become a thorn in the side of the US team. They defeated the US in World Cup Qualifying in 2021, eliminated them from the Gold Cup last summer (Interim manager B.J. Callaghan was in charge in that match), and most recently, handed them a critical defeat in the Copa America.
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As the USMNT prepare for their final group stage match against Uruguay, the pressure is mounting. A win is crucial to ensure progression to the knockout stages without relying on other results. If they lose, their fate will depend on Bolivia, who have struggled in the tournament, needing to pull off an unlikely victory against Panama.
Após a volta de muitos jogadores que estavam em recesso, o Palmeiras entrou em campo pela primeira vez utilizando os atletas titulares na temporada 2021 e estreou com vitória, por 2 a 1, no primeiro embate da Recopa Sul-Americana. Após o confronto, o atacante Rony, autor do primeiro gol palestrino, concedeu uma entrevista coletiva e comemorou o bom início de temporada do time.
– Estamos dando continuidade no trabalho, todos focados nas tarefas. Acredito que vai ser um ano maravilhoso para a gente. Como o professor fala, temos que proteger nosso sonho, nosso objetivo. Todos de parabéns por este início. Foi um jogo difícil, mas conseguimos nosso objetivo, que era o resultado. Acredito que a volta também será difícil, então temos que focar nas tarefas para conseguir nosso objetivo.
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>> Agora vale título da Supercopa! Veja os capítulos recentes da rivalidade entre Palmeiras e Flamengo
Na sequência, o ponta revelou que a falta de ritmo dificultou o jogo para o Verdão, mas exaltou a exibição dos jogadores que, mesmo assim, conseguiram segurar o Defensa y Justicia.
– Para alguns, foi o primeiro jogo de 2021 e, no começo, a gente acaba sentindo, até porque a equipe adversária já vem jogando, mas conseguimos suportar bem a pressão da equipe adversária e Deus abençoou a gente com essa grande vitória.
Por fim, o atual camisa 7 comentou sobre a sua utilização na posição de centroavante, na ausência de Luiz Adriano, afirmando que, para ajudar o grupo, jogaria em qualquer lugar,
– Em algumas vezes, em 2020, acabei fazendo essa função e eu estou aqui pra ajudar a equipe da melhor maneira possível. Acredito que, independentemente da função, temos que fazer nosso melhor. Não fui só eu, outros fizeram outras funções, e fizeram bem. Se ele me colocar de lateral, eu procuro dar o meu melhor, independentemente da posição.
Após derrotar o Defensa y Justicia, com gols de Rony e Gustavo Scarpa, o Palmeiras viaja a Brasília para disputar a Supercopa do Brasil, no próximo domingo (11), às 11h (horário de Brasília), contra o Flamengo. O confronto decisivo pela final continental ocorrerá na próxima quarta-feira (14), às 21h30, também na capital brasileira.
Manchester City's legal action against the Premier League has put at risk a £900 million ($1.15bn) funding deal for the Football League.
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Man City launch unprecedented legal actionAttempting to scrap rules on sponsorship limitsLegal action to be heard on MondayWHAT HAPPENED?
Manchester City launched their legal action against the Premier League earlier this week. They are seeking to challenge the rules that limit how much can be paid to clubs by companies that are linked to ownership groups. Rival clubs are fearful that City will be successful, in a move they believe could potentially spoil the competitiveness of the top flight, and it could also have a detrimental impact on the EFL.
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reports that between 10 and 12 clubs are supporting the Premier League's defence but sources within the division are now citing the claim as reason for failing to agree a deal with the EFL. The belief is that if the financial rules are scrapped – and also deemed unlawful – they will not be willing to provide handouts.
The EFL were hoping that the 'New Deal For Football' would provide a cash injection of £150m ($192m) per season over six years, but talks first collapsed earlier this year, in March, just months after City filed their legal claim.
DID YOU KNOW?
City are under investigation for 115 Financial Fair Play breaches and the report claims clubs could seek compensation directly from the champions if they are found guilty. The claims could cost the club over £1 billion ($1.3bn), in what could be a nightmare scenario for Pep Guardiola's side. Another potential consequence could see the club relegated.
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Civil war is seemingly underway but the hearing will begin next Monday. Parliament in the UK has continued to pressurise Premier League clubs to pay the EFL but 10 clubs voted against the funding agreement earlier this year. Those in the Championship, League One and League Two will hope desperately City are unsuccessful.
Manchester United are in need of improvement heading into the second half of the campaign after a dismal first few months of the 2023/24 season.
The Red Devils are currently eighth in the Premier League table and have lost nine of their first 20 matches in the division, which has left them nine points adrift of the top four.
Erik ten Hag's side also finished bottom of their Champions League group, with one win from six matches, and do not have knockout football in Europe to look forward to over the coming months.
The January transfer window officially opened for business last week and this has provided the club with an opportunity to give the fans some optimism.
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An impressive signing or two to bolster the squad could improve the mood around Old Trafford and increase the chances of a successful end to the campaign.
Manchester United transfer news – Amadou Onana
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his group appear to be hard at work to do just that as it has been reported that the club are attempting to sign Everton star Amadou Onana.
FootballTransfers claim that United have opened talks with the Toffees as they look to strike a deal to bring the central midfielder to Manchester this month.
The report states that ten Hag identified Onana as a target during the summer transfer window but the Red Devils did not have the funds to snap him up. This led to a loan deal for Sofyan Amrabat from Fiorentina as an alternative.
However, FootballTransfers add that the funds are now there for United to make one significant addition to their squad, whilst any other deals would likely be loans at this time.
Everton midfielder Amadou Onana.
It reports that the Premier League giants appreciate his versatility and ability to play in the number six position, which is why they would like to sign the talented youngster and are now in talks with Everton.
Football Insider, meanwhile, have claimed that fellow top-flight side Arsenal are exploring a possible swoop for the Belgium international and that the Toffees are set to demand a fee of £60m for his services.
If United can secure a deal for Onana ahead of the Gunners then the impressive dynamo could send Scott McTominay packing, due to his superior quality in the middle of the park.
FootballTransfers' report on the Everton star adds that Sean Dyche's team have identified the Scotland international as a major transfer target to improve their team.
Dyche wants proven Premier League performers and the Toffees have a long-standing interest in the United academy graduate, which means that there is enough interest there for the club to shift McTominay on this month.
Ten Hag could bring Onana in and then sanction a departure for the Scottish giant, which the report suggests would benefit both teams with Financial Fair Play (FFP) restrictions.
McTominay's season in numbers
The 27-year-old has featured fairly regularly for the club so far this season with 17 appearances in United's 20 Premier League matches so far.
He has started 12 games in the top-flight and contributed at the top end of the pitch with five goals, zero assists, and one 'big chance' created.
Appearances
24
Sofascore rating
6.70
Goals
One
Assists
Zero
Duel success rate
52%
McTominay does not get too involved in the build-up play in possession. He has averaged 31.43 passes per 90 in the Premier League this season, which is within the bottom 9% of his positional peers.
This means that the Scottish midfielder also ranks within the bottom 15% for progressive passes (2.91) and the bottom 17% for Expected Assisted Goals (0.03) per 90.
These statistics show that the towering number 39 does not offer much quality on the ball to progress the play or to create opportunities for his teammates.
On the defensive side of the game, he has averaged 2.3 tackles and interceptions combined and 3.0 ball recoveries per match to go along with a duel success rate of 51%.
McTominay is not an outstanding operator out of possession and has not showcased his strength as opposition players have almost got the better of him as much as he has of them.
The statistics that show why United should sign Onana
The United dud could now be sent packing by Onana as the Everton star has the potential to offer more on and off the ball in the middle of the park.
Signed from Lille in the summer of 2022, the 22-year-old ace has 18 months of experience in the Premier League under his belt and has proven his quality at that level.
The Belgian whiz, who was once described as a "one-man army" by talent scout Jacek Kulig, could, firstly, offer more to United in build-up play.
Onana has averaged 42.84 passes per 90 in the top-flight this season and has made 4.73 progressive passes per 90 in that time, which means that the Everton star looks to get on the ball to progress play far more often than McTominay does from a central midfield position.
The £60m-rated dynamo ranks within the top 15% of his positional peers in the Premier League this season for Expected Assisted Goals (0.16) per 90 and this shows that his progressive passing has led to him being an excellent creator for his side.
These statistics indicate that the United target would be an upgrade for ten Hag in terms of what he is able to offer in deep build-up and in-and-round the box with his progressive and creative passing in comparison to McTominay.
However, Onana also has the defensive and physical qualities to provide more than the Scotland international out of possession in midfield.
The Toffees titan has made 3.2 tackles and interceptions combined and 6.5 ball recoveries per match to go along with a duel success rate of 65% across 16 Premier League appearances this season.
Tackles per game
2.8
1.7
Interceptions per game
0.6
0.6
Ball recoveries per game
6.5
3.0
Duels won per game
7.0
3.8
Duel success rate
65%
51%
As you can see in the table above, Onana has outperformed McTominay in a number of key defensive metrics this season for Everton.
Couple this with his superior progressive qualities in possession and it illustrates why United can send the Scottish midfielder packing by signing the Toffees star.
Often stealing the headlines in the transfer window, Manchester City could once again splash the cash to land two crucial reinforcements who they previously showed the exit door to not so long ago.
Man City transfer news
With Manchester City second in the Premier League and behind Liverpool by just two points, the January transfer window presents Pep Guardiola the chance to gain an edge over his title rivals. So far, however, not one reinforcement has arrived, despite transfer rumours linking them with moves for Claudio Echeverri, who could be set to complete a move before heading out on loan to River Plate for the rest of the year.
Instead, much of the focus this month has been on Kalvin Phillips' next club, with West Ham, Newcastle United, Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur all linked with moves for the out-of-favour midfielder, though none have secured his signature as of yet.
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When it comes to arrivals, meanwhile, it seems as though City are content with waiting until the summer to splash the cash, which could see two current Premier League stars make a major move. According to Football Insider, Manchester City are eyeing a double swoop to sign Douglas Luiz and Pedro Porro from Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, who value their players at £100m apiece.
Porro, of course, completed a move to the Etihad in 2019, before failing to gain a single minute on the pitch and eventually finding his feet at Sporting Club to earn a move to Tottenham Hotspur. Rising to stardom in North London, the right-back could now finally get his opportunity to impress Guardiola. It could be the same case for Luiz too, who left the Citizens in a permanent move to Aston Villa back in 2019.
With that said, it could be a summer of big spending for City once again, as they potentially look to regain their Premier League throne in the event of conceding the crown to Liverpool or another club this season.
"Bulldog" Porro and "strong" Luiz are the upgrades Man City need
It's difficult to pick out weaknesses in a side that won the treble as recently as last season, but if you were to do so, then City's right-back role and backup for Rodri could come into conversation. As previously mentioned, the Citizens could lose Phillips this month, who hasn't been trusted in the absence of Rodri either way, creating the need for a fresh backup and potentially more.
Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz
Luiz's stats show that he may be the perfect player to turn to when fixing that problem. The Brazilian has won more tackles (25) than Rodri (19) so far this season as well as double the amount of blocks, with 24 compared to 12. Guardiola is certainly a fan too, previously saying:
"He’s a guy who plays all of the minutes. He’s an important player for Aston Villa. A guy who’s clever with the ball, so physically strong. He’s a lovely, lovely guy.”
Given that Kyle Walker isn't getting any younger too, Luiz could be joined by Porro in the summer, who has starred under Ange Postecoglou this season, with teammate Dejan Kulusevski going as far to describe the right-back as a "bulldog".
Arsenal have confirmed that two senior goalkeepers are set to leave, two days after announcing that Vivianne Miedema will also depart this summer.
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Two goalkeepers to follow Miedema out of ArsenalGunners to be in the market for a shot-stopperBut interest in England star Earps has cooledWHAT HAPPENED?
The Gunners will play the final game of their Women's Super League campaign on Saturday and it's already known now that it will be a chance for no fewer than three players to bid farewell to the fans, with goalkeepers Sabrina D'Angelo and Kaylan Marckese set to follow Miedema out of the club at the end of the season.
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Canada international D'Angelo has battled well with Manuela Zinsberger to be first choice since arriving in north London in January 2023 but has largely sat on the bench, playing just 14 games for the Gunners. Marckese, meanwhile, joined in the summer of 2022 but struggled to really make her mark on the pitch. The American only played two games for the Gunners and spent this season on loan at Bristol City before injury cut her time there short.
DID YOU KNOW?
Arsenal will certainly be in the market for a goalkeeper this summer then, though it appears unlikely that they will bring Mary Earps to the club. The England star is out of contract at Manchester United at the end of this season and has long been linked with a switch to the Gunners, but that interest has cooled in recent months. Earps could well stay with the Red Devils after finally winning major silverware in the form of the FA Cup.
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It has been widely reported that head coach Jonas Eidevall has turned his attentions to Aston Villa shot-stopper Daphne van Domselaar instead to reinforce his goalkeeper department, despite the 24-year-old Netherlands international only joining the Midlands side last summer.
The batsmen shared an unbroken century stand for the fifth wicket as Rajasthan were left to rue missed opportunities
ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jan-2019Karnataka v RajasthanIn a tricky chase, against a bowling attack that asked plenty of questions, the class of Manish Pandey and Karun Nair pulled Karnataka through for a six-wicket win on the fourth day of their quarter-final against Rajasthan in the Ranji Trophy 2018-19.Pandey, the captain, had joined Nair when Karnataka lost nightwatchman Ronit More in the fifth over of the day. Karnataka were 56 for 4, and the target of 184 appeared a long way off. But the duo put on an unbroken 129 runs in just 24.5 overs to seal victory in the first session. Pandey’s first few overs were streaky, with boundaries coming off the inside and outside edges against Tanvir Ul-Haq. But he continued to be positive despite that and his shot-making quickly whittled the target down as the pressure shifted onto Rajasthan’s bowlers. Pandey had another slice of luck on 38, when he swiped a looping legbreak from Rahul Chahar straight to mid-on, but Rahul’s older brother Deepak Chahar spilled the most straightforward of chances. Karnataka were then 119 for 4, and neither batsman offered any chance after that.Pandey finished on 87 off just 75 balls, while Nair made a more sedate 61 off 129 – only his second half-century of the season.Rajasthan will rue the dropped catches, but they also had to deal with some questionable umpiring calls. Robin Bist was ruled lbw in the first innings when the ball seemed to strike high on his pads and Mahipal Lomror was given caught behind in the second innings when he didn’t nick the ball. Then during Karnataka’s first innings, Vinay Kumar and More put on 97 for the last wicket from 166 for 9, but two very close lbw shouts against Vinay early in the partnership had been turned down.Uttar Pradesh v SaurashtraHalf-centuries from Saurashtra openers Harvik Desai (83*) and Snell Patel (72) ensured their side were in an advantageous position at the end of day four in their quarter-final clash against Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow. Chasing 372, Saurashtra finished the day on 195 for 2.During their 132-run stand, Snell played the aggressor’s role, while Desai dropped down the anchor. It’s not like the host team didn’t have enough plans but the duo had answers to all of those. When the bowlers pitched it up, they were either driven through covers or flicked through midwicket. Shivam Mavi tried the short stuff but ended up conceding 35 from his first six overs with the batsmen using the pull shot to good effect. Left-arm spinner Saurabh Kumar once again remained wicketless.However, it was Mavi only who provided the breakthrough, getting Patel caught-behind with a fuller delivery. Vishvaraj Jadeja, once again batting at No. 3, and Desai then added 55 for the second wicket before a sneaky stumping by Upendra Yadav sent Vishvaraj back. The decision was referred to the third umpire who felt Vishvaraj’s back foot, although well behind the batting crease, was in the air for the exact moment when the bails came out of their grooves.With around nine overs left in the day, Kamlesh Makvana came out as a nightwatchman and ensured there were no further hiccups before bad light forced stumps.Earlier, Jaydev Unadkat didn’t take long to take the remaining two UP wickets to bowl them out for 194.ALSO READ: Kerala vanquish Gujarat, enter maiden semi-finalVidarbha v UttarakhandVidarbha put themselves in a winning position against Uttarakhand in Nagpur at the end of the fourth day of their quarter-final. At stumps, Uttarakhand were 152 for 5, still trailing by 122.Vidarbha’s marathon first innings finally ended on 629, with a lead of 274. Aditya Sarwate resumed from his overnight 57 and became the third Vidarbha batsman to score a hundred. He and Suniket Bingewar added 49 for the eighth wicket but once Sarvate was dismissed, the next two wickets could add only one run to the total. Five Uttarakhand bowlers conceded more than 100 runs.In response, Vineet Saxena and Karanveer Kaushal gave Uttarakhand a steady start of 72 before Umesh Yadav trapped Saxena lbw for 27. Vaibhav Bhatt failed to open his account and was bowled by Umesh.Kaushal and Avneesh Sudha added 40 for the third wicket before Sarwate hurt them again, this time with the ball. Kaushal was on 76 before he was bowled by the left-arm spinner. Sudha and Vaibhav Singh Panwar fell in successive overs, leaving their side staring at defeat.For the hosts, Umesh was the most successful bowler, picking up 3 for 22 from his 11 overs, while Sarwate picked up 2 for 49.
Reigning NWSL champions Gotham have secured the signing of Chelsea goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger on a one-year deal with an option to extend.
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Gotham sign Chelsea's BergerGerman veteran to compete for Bats starting roleGoalkeeper bolsters roster ahead of title pushWHAT HAPPENED?
The Bats and the Blues announced the deal Friday afternoon, with Berger departing the London-based club after six seasons with Chelsea. The German arrived from Birmingham City in the 2018/19 season and leaves in 2024 as a club legend with the Blues.
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Berger had an illustrious career with Chelsea, most notably winning the Golden Glove in 2021 en-route to a WSL title with the Blues and in 2023, when she made a critical penalty save in the UEFA Champions League against Lyon to send her club to the semifinals of the European competition.
Off the pitch, Berger's story continues. The German is a two-time cancer survivor and despite all the setbacks it brought her during her professional career, she's climbed back to the top each time.
The 33-year-old will be remembered by Blues fans around the world as a club legend, while supporters of the Bats have a lot to look forward to with the signing.
WHAT BERGER SAID
“I am incredibly excited to join Gotham FC for this season,” said Berger. “The NWSL is one of the top leagues in the world right now, and I am very excited to compete and be a part of this league.”
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USA Today Sports WHAT NEXT FOR GOTHAM?
The Bats take on Trinity Rodman and the Washington Spirit this weekend in an NWSL clash of superstar clubs. Gotham will look to earn their second win of the campaign, while the Spirit look for their fourth-straight victory.
Sunderland will hope to appoint a new manager sooner rather than later, getting this weekend's Championship fixture with West Brom out of the way before their chosen man to succeed Tony Mowbray can come in and propel the Black Cats up the division.
Mowbray's sacking does look harsh if you're an outsider casually looking in, Sunderland only three points off the playoffs, currently in ninth spot.
Yet, it's not just all about the immediate results on the pitch for the Sunderland hierarchy and more about wanting to install a manager at the club who is more aligned with the vision of the club going forward.
The Black Cats want to appoint a forward-thinking figure to match the youthful Sunderland squad, Mowbray viewed merely as a competent short-term option.
Sunderland look likely to be going down the route of appointing a left-field manager to replace the outgoing 60-year-old, with a number of unorthodox names linked to the vacancy.
Sunderland manager latest
Kieran McKenna and Will Still were reportedly the favourites amongst a long list of targets to replace Mowbray according to TEAMTalk yesterday, Sunderland's ambitions evident for all to see if they did land McKenna at the expense of Ipswich Town.
Whoever the Black Cats do go for, they will have to fit the ethos of the club outlined by chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus in a statement released after Mowbray was relieved of his duties. Wanting "sustainability and success" as a must, the 34-year-old also spoke of the importance of a "high performance culture" and a "strong playing identity" to be proud of.
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ByKelan Sarson Dec 5, 2023
Mowbray must have fallen short of what the Sunderland chairman wanted, triggering him into axing the manager after an underwhelming 1-1 draw at Millwall.
Louis-Dreyfus will hope this potential name coming in as the new manager can reinvent the Black Cats and help the team gradually move up the division back into the promotion places, OGC Nice assistant manager Julien Sable among those on the club's 'shortlist' – as per talkSPORT.
Unproven as a first-team boss, Sable is, however, still a wanted man for a reason.
Julien Sable's managerial style at OGC Nice
Sable is second in command to Francesco Farioli at Nice, Farioli previously in contention for the Sunderland job in the summer when Mowbray looked likely to exit before this campaign got underway.
The Black Cats are retreading similar footsteps going after Sable, therefore, but the Nice assistant manager is worthy of credit himself.
Nice currently find themselves in second spot in Ligue 1, the French outfit extremely hard to beat and break down with only one defeat next to their name and only five goals shipped in 14 games.
This resilient and dogged approach to games will have been worked on meticulously in training behind the scenes, Sable on the training ground daily implementing this style in drills alongside Farioli.
The Sunderland hierarchy would hope that the promising 43-year-old assistant could get the best out of the attackers at the Stadium of Light too away from helping the defence become more stoic, enabling the likes of Eliezer Mayenda and Nazariy Rusyn to come out of their shell.
Sable has been a caretaker manager before in his career at Saint-Etienne, but he will want to land a permanent manager role soon and Sunderland could well give the Nice man a chance to finally shine as a boss in his own right.
With reports indicating that Still's possible compensation could be a 'stumbling block', turning to another relatively youthful coach from Ligue 1, such as Sable, could well represent an ideal alternative.
The Championship hopefuls would have to give the 43-year-old first-time boss time to adapt to English football, hoping that when things do click he can be the long-term manager they've been searching for who can help Sunderland succeed for many years to come.