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The Red Devils have made great strides forward under Erik ten Hag, but must clear out some deadwood in order to get back to the very top

Manchester United have undoubtedly made significant progress under Erik ten Hag this season, but the pitfalls of the squad were laid brutally bare against Sevilla in the Europa League.

The Red Devils were stewed in the cauldron that is the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium, crumbling against a side languishing in 13th place in La Liga and exiting the Europa League quarter-finals with 3-0 defeat and a whimper.

🏆 TOP STORY: Ronaldo faces NO punishment for obscene gesture📣 HAVE YOUR SAY: Who should replace woeful De Gea at Man Utd?🚨 MUST READ: What UCL return means for Arsenal

Centre-back Harry Maguire and goalkeeper David de Gea were the culprits for two calamitous goals, while they were dominated in pretty much all facets of the game by their struggling hosts.

If more new faces are to arrive at Old Trafford this summer, it will be necessary for a few stragglers to be cut loose, and GOAL has identified five players that should definitely be on that list of potential outgoings…

GettyDavid de Gea

De Gea has been a great servant for Manchester United, there is certainly no doubt about that.

Since being lured to Old Trafford from Atletico Madrid by Sir Alex Ferguson in 2011, the Spain international has appeared in 530 games for United, which puts him ninth in the club's all-time list.

He surpassed Peter Schmeichel's clean sheet record after recording his 181st shut-out for United in their Carabao Cup final victory over Newcastle, and also has Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League winners' medals on his CV.

However, De Gea has been costing United points on a regular basis for the best part of the last five years. His standards began to slip in Jose Mourinho's final year at the helm, with lazy errors becoming a regular occurrence.

The general consensus among a large section of supporters and pundits is that De Gea has returned to form this season – but those mistakes have not been cut out. His pair of horrendous errors against Sevilla brutally exposed his lack of ability with the ball at his feet, in an era where keepers are expected to do far more than simply make saves.

The reality is, the 32-year-old doesn't offer anything beyond the occasional camera save, and he is actually holding back the current squad. His distribution remains poor and he doesn't command his box, with United's defence often left alone to deal with high balls that would be bread-and-butter for most top-level keepers.

De Gea's current contract is up this summer, but he has made it clear he wants to remain in Manchester, and it has been reported that negotiations with the club are progressing well. United would be wise to pull out of those talks immediately and focus on signing a new No.1 – with the man who has replaced him in the Spain national team, Brentford's David Raya, among those reported to be on the club's radar who would be a much better fit for Ten Hag's side.

AdvertisementGettyVictor Lindelof

Lindelof joined United from Benfica back in 2017, and has since featured in 213 games for the club, with the majority of those outings coming as a starter.

His playing time has been significantly reduced this season, though, with summer signing Lisandro Martinez getting the nod alongside Raphael Varane more often than not under Ten Hag.

Luke Shaw has even been deployed at centre-back ahead of Lindelof at times, with the Swede now filling a backup role that has left him frustrated.

Lindelof spoke out on his future while away on European Championship qualifying duty with his country last week, telling reporters: "Of course, like every player, you want to play every game and obviously I haven’t done that this season. In the summer we’ll re-evaluate and see what is best."

United could let Lindelof remain on the bench until he becomes a free agent in 2024, but cashing in this summer seems like the best option.

It has been reported that Inter could move for the 28-year-old, who might thrive if given a fresh start in Italy in the same way that his former team-mate Chris Smalling has done at Roma.

Lindelof has never quite been up to the required standard of a top United defender, and that remains evident whenever he does feature in Ten Hag's line up. His career at Old Trafford is already as good as over, and he should pursue a new challenge before his stock drops too low.

Getty ImagesScott McTominay

McTominay has often been compared to United great Darren Fletcher since breaking into the first team at Old Trafford, due to his combative style of play and never-say-die attitude.

The 26-year-old could never be accused on not giving his all, but he lacks the same footballing IQ that made Fletcher such a key part of Ferguson's squad in the final decade of his reign.

Ten Hag asked McTominay to push higher up the pitch and man mark Newcastle's star man Bruno Guimaraes at St James' Park on Sunday, but had to abandon that plan after just 15 minutes.

Guimaraes ran rings around the Scotland international, and he was unable to recover when dropped back into a deeper role alongside Marcel Sabitzer as the hosts took full control of the game.

Newcastle have been strongly linked with McTominay in recent months, but he spectacularly failed his audition. He's not good enough to be a regular in the Magpies' midfielder – let alone United's.

McTominay isn't even close to the level of Casemiro, who injected much-needed quality into the Red Devils' engine room after his move from Real Madrid last year. He became a figure of ridicule due to his ineffective partnership with Fred during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's reign, as the Brazilian was unfairly tarred with the same brush.

Fred isn't always first choice under Ten Hag now either, but he is technically astute and his passing range often helps to drive United forward, while McTominay is nothing more than a willing runner.

It has been apparent for some time that he does not belong at this level, and it makes little sense for United to keep him in their ranks, even as a squad player.

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GettyAnthony Martial

Martial finally returned to action for United off the bench against Newcastle after missing 14 consecutive games due to a hip injury, replacing Burnley loanee Wout Weghorst.

Ten Hag has had no choice but to use Weghorst as his first choice No.9 due to Martial's fitness struggles, which have ultimately prevented him from delivering on the huge potential he showed in his debut season at the club back in 2015-16.

The France forward has only appeared in 15 games in all competitions this term, scoring six goals, leaving Marcus Rashford to shoulder the main goalscoring burden for the Red Devils.

Martial was given a clean slate after returning from a dismal loan spell at Sevilla last summer, but Ten Hag knows he cannot rely on the 27-year-old to lead his attack, in the short or long term.

After almost eight years in Manchester, Martial's time is finally up. He's had more than enough chances to prove himself under a whole host of different managers, but has always come up short.

United are reportedly prioritising a new striker in the summer window, with Tottenham's Harry Kane and Napoli sensation Victor Osimhen said to be on their radar. Even when fully fit, Martial would not see any game time ahead of either of those two players.

His body hasn't held up to the demands of elite-level football, but that only tells half the story. Question marks over Martial's attitude have always been there and he's not going to change now.

United have the option to extend Martial's contract beyond its 2024 expiry date, but he is already taking up a valuable spot in the squad – all while pocketing a reported £250,000-per-week in wages.

The time has come for both parties to say au revoir.

Los Blancos have already secured a deal to bring Brazilian wonderkid Endrick to Santiago Bernabeu, but they could still be active this winter.

Real Madrid have already got their big January deal over the line. The Spanish giants have agreed a fee with Palmeiras to sign Brazilian teenager Endrick for €60 million (£53m/$64m), securing the signature of one of the most promising youth talents in the world.

He appears to be an ideal fit, too. Karim Benzema is still among the best strikers out there, but, at 35, he doesn't have too many years of top-level football left.

Endrick, although only 16, is being lined up to be the Ballon d'Or winner's long-term replacement. The bad news for Madrid fans is the striker will have to wait 18 months before he moves to Santiago Bernabeu.

In the meantime, there's work to be done. Madrid have a terrific squad, but there are a few flaws.

Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are world-class midfielders, but both are into their 30s, and at least one could depart this summer.

Furthermore, until Endrick arrives, there's no obvious deputy for Benzema through the middle, which could cause a problem if the Frenchman's injury problems continue.

Multiple sources have suggested that it could be a quiet few weeks for Madrid, although the Spanish giants certainly don't lack the resources to make a deal happen, should an opportunity present itself.

GOAL has taken a look at some potential targets for the month ahead…

Getty ImagesSergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio)

Madrid have been linked with Milinkovic-Savic for a couple of years now, and there are reports that Florentino Perez could step in to make the move happen this winter.

Now might be an opportune time for any potential suitors, too, with Milinkovic-Savic only having 18 months remaining on his contract, and having turned down a handsome extension offer last summer.

Since then, whispers of potential destinations have emerged. Juventus are reportedly in the mix, but with their ongoing financial struggles, a massive deal for the midfielder might be tricky to pull off.

Milinkovic-Savic is 27, and in his prime. He could be brought in to lead Madrid's midfield of the future, and there does seem to be some interest.

That said, Jude Bellingham remains the No.1 target for the summer, with the player keen on a switch to Santiago Bernabeu.

AdvertisementSacha Boey (Galatasaray)

Boey might not be the biggest -type signing, but the right-back has impressed immensely in Galatasaray's Turkish Super Lig title hunt.

A modern attacking full-back with valuable recovery pace, Boey could offer cover for Dani Carvajal and also operate as a long-term starter when the Spaniard retires.

He's only 22, too, so there's plenty of upside, and although Galatasaray have indicated they'd be reluctant to sell, a good enough package could force their hand.

Getty ImagesPedro Porro (Sporting CP)

Another solid full-back option who could serve as back-up for Carvajal, Porro has enjoyed an excellent couple of years at Sporting, generating interest from clubs across Europe.

He seems like the right type of player to contribute down the Madrid right, especially if the Spanish side need some attacking thrust. Porro has tallied five league assists so far in the 2022-23 campaign, while he scored his first goal of the season in the 3-0 win over Pacos Ferreira on December 29.

His defensive game certainly needs some fine-tuning, but with the likes of Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger in the line-up alongside him, there should be plenty of positional support. And at 23, he still has plenty of time to develop his craft.

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Getty ImagesEnzo Fernandez (Benfica)

Most of the talk around Enzo Fernandez heading to Santiago Bernabeu is dependent on how successful Madrid are in the pursuit of England star Jude Bellingham.

Bellingham is the jewel of this year's market and an object of fascination for many clubs across Europe. A lot can change, but Madrid are currently leading the race for his signature.

Should that change, however, that's where Fernandez comes in. The Benfica midfielder – who excelled at the World Cup – could be a viable alternative if Madrid's Bellingham pursuit falls short.

He won't come cheap; Benfica have allegedly placed a €120 million (£105m/$127m) release clause in the Argentine's contract. But his marauding performances in Qatar make him one of the most exciting young talents in the world and suggest he's more than capable of stepping into a high-pressure situation.

There is a chance that any deal for Fernandez could drag out until the summer, with Madrid willing to go down to the wire on the Bellingham pursuit. Or, alternatively, Los Blancos might just buy both, starting with Fernandez now.

Folarin Balogun has explained his celebration after scoring a first goal for Monaco, while Adi Hutter has talked up the striker’s “other skills”.

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Made immediate impact off the bench vs LorientFound the target inside three minutesShared the moment with travelling supportersWHAT HAPPENED?

The United States international stepped off the bench to make an immediate impact during a Ligue 1 meeting with Lorient on Sunday. He had been on the pitch less than three minutes when firing a left-footed effort from a tight angle into the back of the net.

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Balogun, who hit 21 goals while on loan at Reims from Arsenal last season, is now up and running for Monaco and told the of why he chose to celebrate with the away support. He said: “When I scored, I knew the fans were near. So I wanted us all to be together to celebrate this goal. It’s the first time I scored in front of our fans so I wanted to show all my gratitude.”

WHAT THEY SAID

Balogun has been acquired by Monaco to deliver end product, but head coach Hutter claims the 22-year-old beings much more than that to the fold. He said of seeing the American open his goal account: “I’m very happy for him and for his first goal with the club, I think it’s deserved. He had already scored with the USMNT during the international break. He is a player who brings other skills to the attacking third. But we also have players like Wissam Ben Yedder, Myron Boadu, Takumi Minamino and Aleksandr Golovin who can also bring us things offensively.”

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Balogun joined Monaco in a transfer deal worth an initial €30 million (£26m/$32m), with the decision taken to sever ties with Premier League giants Arsenal as he looks to find the regular game time that will aid his ongoing development with club and country.

Deandra Dottin’s second successive fifty and a four-wicket haul from offspinner Anisa Mohammed helped West Indies Women secure a 65-run win in the second ODI against New Zealand Women

ESPNcricinfo staff15-Sep-2014
ScorecardDeandra Dottin scored her second successive ODI fifty•WICB Media/Ashley AllenDeandra Dottin’s second successive fifty and a four-wicket haul from offspinner Anisa Mohammed helped West Indies Women secure a 65-run win in the second ODI against New Zealand Women and, with it, a 2-0 lead in the four-game series.The first three ODIs of the series are also a part of the ICC Women’s Championship and West Indies’ 2-0 lead has helped them establish the third position on the points table behind Australia Women and England Women.West Indies won the toss and opted to bat and their batsmen put in another strong performance, led by an opening stand of 63 between Natasha McLean and Kycia Knight. The scoring rate dipped after McLean fell in the 12th over, as Knight and Shemaine Campbelle added just 16 runs in 8.3 overs, but gradually picked up after Dottin came in to bat in the 20th over.When Campbelle departed for 27, with the score at 120 for 3 in the 33rd over, West Indies needed a push to get moving towards a big score and that momentum came from 97-run, fourth-wicket partnership between Dottin and Stafanie Taylor that came in a little more than 14 overs. Taylor contributed a 41-ball 50 to the stand, striking three fours and two sixes. Dottin, at the other end, steadily built her innings and, once Taylor was out, provided quick runs to steer West Indies to 246 for 5. Her unbeaten 82 came off 99 balls with seven fours and a six.New Zealand’s chase had been effectively nullified by the 15th over, as Shakera Salman, Taylor and Mohammed reduced the side to 56 for 5. Sophie Devine anchored the innings with a steady half-century but she found little support from the lower order as New Zealand crumbled to 181 in the 46th over. Mohammed’s fifth four-for in ODIs was well supported by Taylor, who took 2 for 21, and Shanel Daley, who finished with 2 for 25.

Trinidad & Tobago’s bowlers shot out Combined Campuses and Colleges in 30.4 overs to win a rain-hit semi-final at Queen’s Park Oval and set up a title clash against Guyana

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Jan-2015
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsChristopher Powell claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in only his second List A game•WICB Media/Ashley AllenDwayne Bravo and Bonner fined for dissent

T&T’s Dwayne Bravo has been fined 50% of his match fee for “showing dissent at an umpire’s decision” during his team’s match against Leeward Islands on Tuesday. The charge was brought by on-field umpires Gregory Brathwaite and Nigel Duguid. According to a WICB release, Bravo pleaded guilty to the charge, having made a “gesture with his hands in an aggressive manner after a decision of not-out was given during the Leewards innings”, and so no hearing was required.
Jamaica’s Nkrumah Bonner was fined 25% for a similar offence, committed during the game against T&T last Sunday. He too pleaded guilty to the charge brought by umpires Duguid and Leslie Reifer Jr, and so there was no formal hearing.

Trinidad & Tobago’s bowlers shot out Combined Campuses and Colleges in 30.4 overs to win a rain-hit semi-final at Queen’s Park Oval and set up a title clash against Guyana.T&T were sent in to bat and were 2 for 1 in 1.3 overs – Evin Lewis caught behind off Kyle Mayers for a duck – when it began to rain and the match was curtailed to 32 overs a side. The Bravo brothers – Darren and Dwayne – fell of successive deliveries after the resumption and T&T were 34 for 3 in 6.4 overs. They were the first two of Christopher Powell’s five wickets; the 35-year old bowler completing his maiden five-for in his second List A game.Jason Mohammed top scored with 48 off 56 balls at No. 5 but there was little contribution from anyone else. Keron Cottoy struck vital blows for CCC when he dismissed Kieron Pollard and Mohammed in successive overs, leaving T&T 125 for 6 in 24.2 overs. Powell sliced through the tail to finish with 5 for 22 in seven overs. T&T were all out for 159 in 31.3 overs.Chasing a revised target of 156, CCC got to 13 for 0 before Ravi Rampaul struck in successive overs to dismiss Shacaya Thomas and Kyle Hope. The slide was swift after that. Opener Paul Palmer’s 37 was CCC’s top score and only two other batsmen made it past single figures. Dwayne Bravo and Rampaul claimed three wickets each, while Sunil Narine and Kevon Cooper took two apiece to dismiss CCC for 114 in 30.4 overs.

Change of captaincy did little to change the fortunes of Karachi Kings as they went down by nine wickets to Islamabad United in the PSL eliminator at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Feb-2016
Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsChange of captaincy did little to change the fortunes of Karachi Kings as they went down by nine wickets to Islamabad United in the PSL eliminator at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday.A top-order wobble proved too costly as they slipped and slid to a below par 111 for 9 after being sent in to bat. Islamabad lost Sharjeel Khan early, but two of their experienced overseas professionals – Dwayne Smith and Brad Haddin – made light work of the target, winning with 34 balls to spare. Along the way, they also sounded out a note of caution for Peshawar Zalmi, their next opponent, ahead of the grand finale.That only three Karachi batsmen managed to get into double digits summed up the plight of the side that was led by Ravi Bopara after Shoaib Malik stepped down as captain on match eve.That Karachi were lifted out of the hole they found themselves in at 39 for 4 was courtesy Bopara, who top-scored with a fighting 37 before Mohammad Sami scythed through the lower order to finish with incredible figures of 5 for 8 off his four overs.Sohail Khan gave Karachi a boost upfront as Sharjeel fell for 9 in the fourth over, but Smith, playing in only his second PSL game, drove the chase forward in Haddin’s company; the former Australia wicketkeeper playing the role of an aggressor, hitting an unbeaten 52 off just 29 balls courtesy four fours and three sixes. Smith finished on 50 not out as Islamabad, who began the tournament slowly, appeared to have revved up their engine when it matters the most.

The Brazilian striker was a class act as Mikel Arteta's men got the win in Spain, even though their captain was again not at his best

Gabriel Jesus put in a fantastic performance to inspire Arsenal to a 2-1 win against Sevilla in the Champions League on Tuesday. A sublime piece of skill and an excellent pass sent Gabriel Martinelli through to open the score and give the Gunners the lead right at the end of the first half, and Jesus then smashed in his team's second early in the second period, cutting inside from the left and curling it into the net.

Sevilla pulled a goal back with a Nemanja Gudelj header from a corner – the relatively diminutive Jesus was, inexplicably, the man tasked with marking the tall Serb – and the Spanish side looked up for the fight. With William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Takehiro Tomiyasu looking strong at the back, however, the north London side were able to hold on for the win.

Coach Mikel Arteta will have some concerns with the way captain Martin Odegaard once again was kept quiet and ineffective, while Bukayo Saka was bullied too easily and was too wasteful on the ball before he was substituted near the end.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan…

GettyGoalkeeper & Defence

David Raya (6/10):

One typically awful pass gifted Sevilla a slight chance but was sound otherwise.

Ben White (5/10):

Poor marking when defending set-pieces.

William Saliba (7/10):

Strong and reliable as ever. Nothing got by him.

Gabriel Magalhaes (6/10):

Composed on the ball and looked solid beside Saliba.

Takehiro Tomiyasu (7/10):

Pushed high up to get involved in attack but did a good job tracking runs defensively, too.

AdvertisementGettyMidfield

Martin Odegaard (5/10):

Missed a great chance in the second half and had another tame shot. Not good enough on the ball.

Jorginho (6/10):

Stable in possession and helped keep Rakitic quiet for most of the game.

Declan Rice (7/10):

Excellent in possession as he pushed up to create danger for Sevilla and was there to sweep up at the back.

GettyAttack

Bukayo Saka (6/10):

A bit of a dead end, he struggled up against Sevilla's muscle as he kept on getting knocked down.

Gabriel Jesus (8/10):

A brilliant performance! Amazing turn and perfect pass to set up Martinelli, then a gorgeous finish to make it 2-0.

Gabriel Martinelli (8/10):

Raced forward to get a great early chance but squandered it. Made up for it with his excellent goal on his full debut in the Champions League and was busy defensively.

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GettySubs & Manager

Kai Havertz (5/10):

Replaced Odegaard with under 20 minutes left but barely got on the ball.

Eddie Nketiah (5/10):

A late introduction but did not get much time on the ball as Sevilla pushed up the other end.

Leandro Trossard (5/10):

Had to act more as a defender than a winger after his late arrival.

Jakub Kiwior (N/A):

Came on right at the end as Arsenal resorted to pure defence.

Mikel Arteta (7/10):

Set his team up well to dominate early on and create big chances, but they gave away control halfway through the second half and were scrambling to save the result.

Cristiano Ronaldo has reacted to Portugal’s “historic” Euro 2024 qualification campaign that delivered nothing but '100% victory'.

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Tickets booked to another major tournamentEnjoyed faultless run through 10 gamesStar-studded squad can challenge in GermanyWHAT HAPPENED?

The European champions from 2016 are heading to another major tournament in style, with a faultless run enjoyed through their qualifying campaign. Roberto Martinez inherited the managerial reins with Portugal on the back of a disappointing display at the 2022 World Cup, and the Spaniard has made an immediate impact.

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His cause is aided considerably by the fact that he has the likes of Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva and Rafael Leao to call upon. They have helped to deliver a memorable run towards Euro 2024 that has seen 30 points picked up from 10 games.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ronaldo is delighted to have played his part in those history-making efforts by Portugal, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner posting on Instagram after seeing a perfect record maintained in a 2-0 victory over Iceland: “Historic clearance, 100% victorious! Congratulations Portugal.”

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WHAT NEXT?

Portugal proved too strong for Group J rivals Slovakia, Luxembourg, Iceland, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Lichtenstein. They scored 36 goals through 10 matches, conceding only two, and will fancy their chances of competing for the ultimate prize when the European Championship returns to Germany next summer.

Lionel Messi is reluctant to make Antonio Sanabria famous by discussing a spitting incident that occurred during Argentina’s win over Paraguay.

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All-time great in qualification actionStepped off the bench after nursing knockFocused on picking up three pointsWHAT HAPPENED?

Seven-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi started that game on the bench, as he has been nursing an injury since the last international break, but was introduced in the 53rd minute. That was enough time for him to come close to scoring on a couple of occasions, but an early effort from Nicolas Otamendi ended up settling a tight contest.

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Messi was involved in one unfortunate incident that saw Paraguay striker Sanabria spit in his direction, but the World Cup winner was unaware of those actions at the time and refused to be dragged into a debate regarding them afterwards for fear of giving “importance” to a player that he claims to know nothing about.

WHAT THEY SAID

Messi told of the spitting saga: “My team-mates told me about it in the locker room. It is better to leave the issue alone.”

The all-time great added: “I don't know who this guy is and I don't want to give him importance either, because if he gets that he's going to go out and talk everywhere and he becomes known.”

Messi preferred to discuss the fact that he was able to get more game time under his belt after seeing just 72 minutes of action for Inter Miami since last turning out for his country. The iconic 36-year-old added: “I'm happy to play again and add minutes. It is always difficult to enter and even more so in such a tight game. The important thing is that we won and at times we played very well, especially in the first half.”

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Argentina will be back in 2026 World Cup qualifying action next Tuesday when taking in a trip to Peru, with there a chance that Messi has already played his last domestic minutes of the season for Inter Miami – as they have missed out on the MLS play-offs.

Juventus have been advised to “put Weston McKennie in the midfield, Tim Weah on the wing”, with the father of one USMNT star speaking out.

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Bianconeri have been shuffling their packHave two Americans on their booksDuo competing for the same spot at presentWHAT HAPPENED?

There are now two United States internationals on the books at the Allianz Stadium, with McKennie having returned from a forgettable loan spell at Leeds during which he suffered relegation out of the Premier League. He has been joined in Turin by countryman Weah following a €12 million (£10m/$13m) summer transfer deal.

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The American duo have found themselves competing against one another for game time under Allegri in 2023-24, with both being asked to fill a right wing-back role. McKennie has been getting the nod when it comes to starting berths, with Weah often being brought on in his place.

WHAT THEY SAID

McKennie has done his best in an unfamiliar role, but the 25-year-old’s father feels the time has come to stop putting square pegs into round holes. John McKennie has responded to a post on social media asking if Allegri should be fired before the end of the season by saying: “Put McKennie in the midfield! Weah on the wing. They have proven they play well together in their respective positions!”

McKennie senior went on to add that: “I have my own opinions, but would never wish anyone to be fired. At the end of the day, the coach has a plan. We don’t have to like it! I am also a fan, but he’s the COACH! Let’s not take my words out of context!”

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GettyWHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Juve have picked up 14 points from seven games in 2023-24, seeing them sat fourth in the Serie A table, and Allegri is unlikely to tinker too much with a system that has been delivering results even if performances have not been the most exciting.