Arsenal are poised to hold talks with a marquee forward about joining Mikel Arteta’s side as the Gunners plan to be active in the January window, according to a new report.

Arsenal squad depth attracts praise after busy summer

Arsenal’s current campaign is increasingly defined by their excellent squad depth, arguably the best in the Premier League.

Despite consistent injuries in key areas, Arteta’s side have shown an ability not just to cope, but to thrive.

The summer’s heavy investment in new faces is already paying dividends, with Arsenal five points clear at the top of the table and on an unprecedented 18-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

Arsenal sealed a 2–0 win over Brentford on Wednesday, tightening their grip on the title race.

The routine win came courtesy of an early header from makeshift number nine Mikel Merino, who scored his 21st goal this calendar year, and a late strike from Bukayo Saka — despite Arteta enforcing an array of personnel changes.

What stands out is how Arsenal have seamlessly filled the gaps when injuries arise.

Arteta noted this week that this is one of the club’s “worst” injury spells in recent memory — and yet, the squad’s backup options have all stepped up to do their jobs.

Key defenders and attackers are still sidelined, and further absences could stretch the squad.

Gabriel Magalhaes is still weeks away from returning, and Arteta is waiting to discover the true extent of Cristhian Mosquera’s injury after he was hauled off against Brentford.

Kai Havertz also won’t be back for weeks after suffering a setback in his recovery from a knee problem.

£282k-a-week star expressing wish to join Arsenal as agents open talks

His exit is a real possibility.

By
Emilio Galantini

Dec 4, 2025

That being said, Arsenal look better equipped than ever before to handle a long, demanding season — and, crucially, to maintain their push towards a first league title in 22 years.

Arsenal to 'directly contact' Juventus star Kenan Yildiz about joining

Despite their plethora of options right now, a report from Turkish Football now claims that Berta and Arteta are planning for the January window, and one man attracting their serious attention is Juventus sensation Kenan Yildiz.

The Serie A rising star is currently Juve’s top performer, bagging four goals and three assists in the Italian top flight already this season after finishing last campaign as their standout attacker as well (WhoScored).

The 20-year-old is a wanted man in the Premier League, with Fabrizio Romano stating that Chelsea are big fans of Yildiz.

However, a lot of reports centre around Arsenal’s interest.

Corriere dello Sport stated earlier this week that Arsenal have held ‘new’ talks with Yildiz’s entourage, and this is backed up by Turkish Football.

The Gunners have already made their interest known to the player’s agents, but it is now believed that Arsenal will also ‘directly contact’ Yildiz about joining them after speaking to his representatives.

Yildiz’s ability to perform on the wing or almost anywhere across the front line — combined with his recent performances for club and country — make him an attractive target, with Juve still unwilling to meet his contract demands.

The impetus for the approach appears twofold.

On one hand, Yildiz’s contract renewal talks at Juventus have stalled, opening the door for Berta. On the other, Arsenal’s management seems determined to boost attacking depth — even after a major summer recruitment drive — perhaps aiming to add more youthful creativity and unpredictability to their forward line.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are also out of contract in under two years, and Yildiz would be a stellar option to replace them.

The Old Lady are poised to demand an eye-watering fee, though, reportedly around £88 million for their prized asset who ex-Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri called a ‘special talent’.

Juve may not find a club willing to shell out that much on Yildiz, but what’s crystal clear is that English sides are taking note of his exploits.

Tottenham Hotspur returned to winning ways on Saturday, marking their first victory in the Premier League since the final weekend of October.

It was a win that lifted huge pressure off the shoulders of Thomas Frank, who, despite being in the dugout for a matter of months, was already facing questions and scrutiny about his job.

It’s another big week for Spurs who face Slavia Prague in the Champions League on Tuesday evening before coming up against Nottingham Forest next Sunday.

Heading into those games, Frank has received some positive and negative injury news.

The latest injury news out of Spurs

French forward Randal Kolo Muani has started to find his feet in Spurs colours in recent weeks, notably bagging against PSG in the Champions League.

However, he was withdrawn during the weekend’s win over Brentford and was spotted limping as he left the stadium.

Fortunately, he trained on Monday and looks set to play a part in Europe this midweek.

For James Maddison, things continue to look tough. The attacking midfielder featured on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football for their coverage of Wolves vs Manchester United and he may have to get used to off-field duties for now.

There is no specific time frame,” Frank began. “It will be a long time unfortunately before he [Maddison] is available.”

Spurs star will now miss the rest of 2025

While there is more positivity about Spurs heading into this week’s run of fixtures, there has been bad news on the injury front for Italian full-back Destiny Udogie.

The young defender has attracted criticism in recent weeks for his displays but missed the win against Frank’s former employers due to injury.

Speaking about the problem, the manager said: “Destiny picked up a hamstring injury at the end of the Newcastle game, so he’s out until January unfortunately.”

Ahead of their clash with Slavia Prague, a late call will be made on Brennan Johnson’s fitness but Yves Bissouma is set to miss out once again after his latest off-field controversy.

The Mali midfielder has not been seen in Spurs colours under Frank after he was dropped from the UEFA Super Cup squad for persistent lateness.

To make matters worse for Bissouma, a report at the weekend showed footage of the Spurs man allegedly inhaling nitrous oxide, more commonly known as laughing gas.

Commenting on the matter this week Frank said: “It’s an internal matter that we are dealing with at the moment and when we have dealt with that, then I will comment on it.”

Spurs flop "needs to wake up", he's fast becoming the new Ryan Sessegnon

A number of Tottenham stars have flattered to deceive this season.

2 ByAngus Sinclair 3 days ago

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has conceded in his pre-Leeds press conference that the Reds need to get Alexander Isak more involved in games.

Isak, 26, joined the Anfield side this summer for a British record £125m fee. Last season, Jamie Carragher declared him “the best striker in the Premier League”. He scored 27 goals in all competitions for Newcastle United, including the winner in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, against Liverpool.

25/26 – LFC

17.1

5.6 (65%)

24/25 – NUFC

33.3

14.9 (77%)

23/24 – NUFC

26.8

12.6 (80%)

22/23 – NUFC

29.5

12.5 (78%)

But he’s toiling away at his new club, and to little avail at that. This speaks of the wider tactical imbalances at the club right now, with the forwards all struggling and the midfielders and defenders too.

Change is needed, but with new and elite centre-forward options strapped in, FSG are turning their attention to Liverpool’s attacking flanks.

Liverpool lining up a wide forward

Last month, Slot was quizzed on Liverpool’s transfer plans ahead of the January transfer window, as the dismal form raged on. That stain has only spread since, but the coach hinted that the Premier League champions’ priority lies not with the rearguard but on the wing.

Liverpool didn’t replace Luis Diaz when selling the versatile Colombian to Bayern Munich in August, and that was clearly a mistake. Cody Gakpo knows where the back of the net is, but he’s somewhat one-dimensional, with fans annoyed by the regularity of his cutting inside when the ball finds him down the left lane.

Perhaps that is why rumours have resurfaced of Liverpool interest in Real Madrid star Rodrygo, with TEAMtalk suggesting this week that Anfield is one of the few places the Brazilian would consider joining; Arsenal have also been mooted.

Rodrygo may be undergoing a divorce with superstardom at Los Blancos, but that doesn’t mean Florentino Perez will let the 25-year-old leave on the cheap, tentatively transfer-listing him for around €90m (£79m).

Why Liverpool should sign Rodrygo

It’s no secret that Liverpool are interested in signing Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo in January, but Rodrygo is cut from finer cloth, the Brazil international having conquered Europe and Spain too during his time with Real Madrid.

Across 286 senior appearances, he has scored 68 goals and supplied 53 assists, and last year, Jude Bellingham said “he’s probably the most gifted player in the squad”, with frightening speed and deadly finishing and a versatile take on the attacking game.

Though he has served Real Madrid’s wishes out on the right flank for most of his career, Rodrygo actually prefers playing off the left. The right-footer believes he is at his most clinical in that role, and last season, though he struggled on the whole, he scored six goals and supplied six assists across just 12 outings.

Right winger

148

34

31

Left winger

89

23

18

Centre-forward

85

22

8

Attacking midfield

4

–

1

Rodrygo would surely displace Gakpo and cement a regular starting berth under Slot’s wing at Liverpool. Gakpo, scapegoated at times this season, is still not the multi-faceted wideman that Diaz was, and Rodrygo would restore that presence that FSG are so intent on replacing.

Hailed as a “world-class superstar” by former teammate Luka Modric, he is the real deal, alright, with pedigree on the biggest stage and so much more still to give. Rodrygo has lost his way in Spain, but at Liverpool, he could become a leading man, especially with Mohamed Salah ostensibly winding down.

He is a man of many dimensions, and indeed has more in his locker than Gakpo, even with the Dutchman averaging 2.2 created chances per game in the Premier League this season, the most frequent of any Liverpool player and the fifth-highest average in the division.

But Rodrygo, even at his lowest ebb, ranks among the top 2% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues for pass completion, the top 15% for shot-creating actions, the top 5% for progressive carries and the top 18% for tackles won per 90, as per FBref.

There is little question that Rodrygo would raise Liverpool’s level, adding width and pace and dynamism down the left flank and maybe serving out on the right when called upon.

Gakpo enjoyed plenty of success last season, scoring 18 goals and supplying seven assists across all competitions. He is a potent threat. But he also needs a counterpoint to jockey with out on the left, and Rodrygo would provide that presence and then some.

Wirtz will love him: Liverpool could hire "one of the best managers in the world"

Liverpool’s title-winning head coach is skating on thin ice this season.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 5, 2025

Hardik hasn’t played any professional cricket since the Asia Cup in September, and will be hoping to prove his fitness ahead of the T20Is against South Africa

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Dec-2025

Hardik Pandya will appear for Baroda in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT), India’s domestic T20 tournament, marking his first appearance in professional cricket since the end of September. National selector Pragyan Ojha is expected to be in attendance for the two games- against Punjab and Gujarat on December 2 and 4, respectively – to assess Hardik’s match fitness.Hardik’s last appearance was for India, at the Asia Cup, during their Super Fours match against Sri Lanka on September 26. He has been out of action since then owing to a left quadricep injury. He arrived at BCCI’s Centre of Excellence, in Bengaluru, to begin his rehabilitation on October 15, and after a three-day break for Diwali, he has continued working with them on his fitness during the stretch from October 21 to November 29.He appears for Baroda at the SMAT with the BCCI selectors at the cusp of announcing the squad for the five-match T20I series against South Africa. ESPNcricinfo understands that the selectors are expected to name a squad for the series in the next couple of days. Hardik’s availability for Baroda, and whether he can appear for any further fixtures, will depend on if and when he is called up to join the India squad for preparation.Baroda lost their opening encounters against Bengal and Puducherry at the SMAT – by six wickets and 17 runs, respectively – but have bounced back to win against Himachal Pradesh.

Opener adapts his game to go deep and delivers when it most matters

Alan Gardner14-Sep-2025Will Smeed was relieved to have finally produced the goods when it mattered for Somerset after his perfectly paced innings of 94 off 58 balls helped secure the club’s third T20 Blast title, and second in the last five years.Smeed had never previously scored a half-century in a T20 knockout match – a record that stretched back to his breakthrough season in 2021, and encompassed 13 innings for Somerset (five quarter-finals, five semi-finals and three finals), as well as one for Birmingham Phoenix in the Hundred.He fell one hit away from becoming only the second player to score a century on Blast Finals Days – after Chris Lynn broke new ground for Hampshire in Saturday’s second semi-final – and the first to do so in the final of the competition. But he said he was happy to hand over to his captain, Lewis Gregory, whose ruthless five-ball onslaught sealed the game for Somerset with an over to spare.Related

• Dickson: 'It was a fire within me to prove they made the wrong decision'

• 'Ludicrous' scheduling leaves T20 Finals Day shorn of star billing

• Kohler-Cadmore 81 sees Somerset past Lancashire in first semi-final

• 'Wanted six sixes more' – Lynn makes history with first Finals Day hundred

• Smeed 94 powers Somerset to Blast glory in record 195-run chase

“To be honest, I just wanted to win the game. I was gutted about not getting us over the line, but Lewis did it, so now I couldn’t care less. I just wanted to make sure we won it. That was the main thing.”Asked if it was his best innings, Smeed said: “It’s the first time I’ve done it in a knockout game. So it’s nice to nice to get that under my belt, and hopefully can take that on going forward. But tonight I’m just gonna celebrate with my mates.”The innings was also evidence of Smeed’s efforts to “add a few more dimensions” to his game as an all-or-nothing power hitter opening the batting. He was 18 off 15 balls when losing opening partner, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, and steadily increased his tempo through the chase, reaching a 35-ball fifty. His first and only six of the night came in the 17th over, from the 53rd ball he had faced.Lewis Gregory and Sean Dickson celebrate the moment of Somerset’s victory•Getty Images”We knew one of the top order had to take it deep, just the way the game panned out meant I had to take some more sensible options than I’m used to,” he said. “But it felt like you could hit fours if you hit gaps.”I think that’s been something I’ve tried to work on this year, is trying to add a few more dimensions to the game, as opposed to going gung-ho. TKC did it in the first game brilliantly [with 81 off 52 to set up victory over Lancashire], and I tried to take some learnings from that. We’ve got so much faith in guys down the order that if the rate does creep up, we can always get it back down. So yeah, it worked out today.”The absence of Tom Banton with England, which led to Kohler-Cadmore moving up from his usual berth at No. 3, “probably put a bit more responsibility on me,” Smeed said. “But we’ve not exactly got bad players filling in for him, we’ve got guns coming in. So yeah, it doesn’t change much in terms of the balance of the team or anything. I think that’s been our strength, everyone knows what the team needs from them, and they just go and try and do that.”In the middle alongside Gregory for the moment of victory was Sean Dickson, twice Somerset’s top-scorer when they prevailed on Finals Day in 2023 and the man who dragged them through the quarter-finals last weekend with a scintillating innings against Birmingham Bears. This was likely his last innings for the club, having agreed a move to Glamorgan after not being offered a new contract.”He’s been unbelievable for us. I think, probably the best number five in the country, and I think he shows that time and time again. So yeah, gutted to be losing hm, I’m not looking forward to playing against him next year. But yeah, he’s been so good for us, he brings that calm composure and the ability to execute under pressure, and he can smack any kind of bowler. So he’s a serious, serious player. We’re very grateful for what he’s done for the club over the last few years.”Smeed hailed Sean Dickson’s influence after his key role in the campaign•Getty ImagesHampshire, who were aiming for a record fourth T20 title, had appeared to be favourites after posting the joint-highest total in a Blast final on the back of Toby Albert’s 85 and a partnership of 97 off 59 balls with their captain, James Vince. They squeezed Somerset’s requirement up to 12.66 an over, with six overs left in the game, only for Smeed and Dickson reel it back in as dew descended and it became harder for bowlers to hold the ball.”They obviously got off to a flyer, but we bowled so well, like we have done in the last few games, through that middle period. At the halfway stage, we felt really in the game. We knew we’d have to bat well, but we felt in it. It was a great wicket and the outfield got quicker. So yeah, just absolutely buzzing to have won.”Both teams were playing at Finals Day for the 11th time – a joint-record – and while Somerset have the better record of reaching the final (this was their eighth), Hampshire had never previously been beaten with the trophy on the line.”They’re a great side. Every time we play them, it seems like a really close game, so I’m sure we’ll have lots of close games in the future. You’ve just got to look at their side, they’re full of good players. They know how to win, they know how to get to finals day, and it’s nice to get one over on them this time, but I’m sure they’re going to come back with a vengeance next year.”

The trophy belongs as much to the current players as the past, who represented India with limited means, often shuffling between jobs to make ends meet

Vishal Dikshit03-Nov-2025

India’s world champions celebrate with Jhulan Goswami and Anjum Chopra•Getty Images

The most ironic celebratory scenes unfolded as the victorious Indian team took the ODI World Cup trophy around the ground in Navi Mumbai to Mithali Raj, Jhulan Goswami and Anjum Chopra and they all said “Thank you”.As a weeping Goswami towered over captain Harmanpreet Kaur on one shoulder and vice-captain Smriti Mandhana on the other, she whispered those two words with her eyes shut, almost not knowing how else to appreciate the gigantic effort of finally bringing the trophy home. Mithali then held the trophy high with the squad surrounding her, offering rapturous applause. She had come so close to winning it herself eight years ago. Now that she had it, she cuddled it as tight as she could, big, beaming smile on her face.Chopra threw her arms around Harmanpreet with “you have done it,” not long after she had said, “finally, finally, finally” on commentary, just as the Indian team’s celebrations had begun. Perhaps she was counting the two World Cup finals India went down in, in 2005 and 2017, and that the third time was the real “finally” that sparked an endless celebration for the players and their families, both at the ground and the adjacent team hotel, all the way to the wee hours of Monday morning.Related

Harmanpreet: 'There is nothing bigger than this in our life as a cricketer'

'Numb' Harmanpreet tries to grasp enormity of India's greatest day

The night Shafali Verma defied her destiny, and then owned it

BCCI to give India women INR 51 crore cash prize for World Cup win

They took the trophy to Reema Malhotra as well, who turned out 64 times for India, and was Harmanpreet’s senior in the 2009 and 2013 World Cups. The duo reunited and sang “”, a popular Hindi song that means “give me my rights, here and now,” and largely symbolises rebellion and struggles against social and political norms.The irony of thanking the current side lay in the fact that these former players were the ones who had paved the way, laid the foundation and groomed some of these players who were wearing World Cup medals around their necks.It is the current fast bowlers who should be thankful to Goswami, who convinced her parents to let her play cricket as a teenager, for which she had to take a train every morning before dawn from her hometown in Chakdaha to Kolkata (about 80 kilometres away).It is the current batters who should be thankful to Mithali for smashing a Test double-century four months before she turned 20 and then taking up the India captaincy at 21, chaperoning the side to two World Cup finals.It was under Goswami that Harmanpreet made her international debut in 2009; it was under Mithali that Harmanpreet became vice-captain and then took over after Mithali’s departure in 2022. Chopra, too, had shown a young Harmanpreet the ropes more than 15 years ago and now fondly calls her protégé , an Indianised version of captain.8:05

‘What dream? We’re living it’

“Yes, Jhulan was my biggest support,” Harmanpreet said after the final. “When I joined the team, she was leading it. She always supported me in my early days when I was very raw and didn’t know much about cricket.”I used to play with boys, and the school principal picked me up, and within a year, I started representing the country. In the initial days, Anjum supported me a lot. I always remember how she used to take me along with her team. I learnt a lot from her and passed it on to my team.”Both of them have been a great support for me. I’m very grateful that I got to share a special moment with them. It was a very emotional moment. I think we all were waiting for this. Finally, we were able to touch this trophy.”Even though Harmanpreet was feeling “numb” at the press conference, she explained how this historic feat belonged to a myriad of people behind the scenes – families, close friends, coaches, who stood by them through the highs and lows. And all the former players, some of whom laid the foundation stone of women’s cricket in India decades ago.Two of them are Diana Edulji and Shantha Rangaswamy, who watched the players from the stands at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday night. They are two pioneers of the game who started with nothing and continue to contribute in administrative capacities to date.Rangaswamy was India women’s first official captain in 1976, and was the first to lead them to a Test series win. Born in a family full of academicians, Rangaswamy didn’t have the means to take a bus to college but went walking around Bangalore (now Bengaluru) to study and train for multiple sports. Early in her career, she even played with her father’s broken bat against Australia before establishing herself as an allrounder.Edulji, just two years younger than Rangaswamy, forced her way into boys’ cricket teams in South Bombay and came from the generation that had to raise funds on their own for India women’s first overseas tour of New Zealand in 1976-77.Mithali Raj has been a role model for a lot of the current players•ICC/Getty ImagesExpectedly, the finances accrued weren’t enough and they were forced to stay in the houses of a few Indian families and local players, which then became the norm for some of the future tours. Edulji was the first to lead India in a Women’s World Cup, in 1978 at home, before Rangaswamy did it in 1982.The trophy that the Indian team are still shooting reels with, perhaps belongs as much to the players who represented India, not just without contracts or match fees but especially under the Women’s Cricket Association of India (WCAI), a body set up by lovers of the game in 1973.The WCAI’s history is dotted with its own share of financial difficulty before every overseas tour, before every World Cup – which even made India miss the 1988 edition – and until the BCCI took the women’s game under its wings in 2006. By then, India had featured in six World Cups without much formal support or money.The prize money of INR 51 crore that the BCCI announced the day after the World Cup glory in a way also belongs to those who shuffled between jobs to make ends meet while playing cricket. To those who defiantly fought against gender norms and initial administrative hurdles to set in place a system for girls to start thinking about cricket professionally, even after the likes of Harmanpreet and Mandhana had picked up their bats.”This one’s for those who were before us and set the foundation,” Jemimah Rodrigues wrote on her Instagram on Monday.It has taken generations of players, their parents, close friends and relatives to make all these efforts materialise into a World Cup trophy. The role of the media to popularise the game was also not lost on Harmanpreet.As soon as she finished her press conference after the final, she called some reporters to the podium – especially those who have contributed to the coverage of women’s cricket – and took selfies with nearly all of them holding the trophy. Coincidentally, they used the same words everyone around Harmanpreet had been saying: “Thank you.”

Crystal Palace are now weighing up a January move for a goal-scoring midfielder, who enjoyed a very impressive 2025 campaign.

Palace join race for new midfielder

Palace have fared very well recruiting young players in recent years, with Adam Wharton one of the best examples, most recently assisting Eddie Nketiah’s opening goal in the 2-1 victory against Fulham, which helped send Oliver Glasner’s side up to fourth in the Premier League table.

However, the Eagles seem to be in a constant battle to retain the services of their star players, with Eberechi Eze joining Arsenal in the summer, while Marc Guehi remains of interest to the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City and Real Madrid.

Wharton is also attracting interest from some of the world’s biggest clubs, with Manchester United and Liverpool being named as potential suitors, which means Glasner may have to start thinking about bringing in a long-term replacement before too long.

According to a report from Football Insider, Crystal Palace have now set their sights on a new target, with it being revealed they are weighing up a January move for UCD midfielder Adam Brennan, who has enjoyed a fantastic 2025 campaign.

Indeed, Brennan has amassed 13 goal contributions for the League of Ireland First Division side this term, registering nine goals and four assists in 28 outings, meaning a whole host of English clubs are now lining up to secure his signature.

Hull City invited the 18-year-old on trial last month, but the Tigers have now been joined by Birmingham City, Wrexham and the Eagles in the battle for his services.

Brennan could be one for the future

Despite competing in the second-highest division of Irish football, it is still impressive that the teenager managed to find the back of the net so regularly at such a young age during the 2025 campaign, showcasing that he could be a future star.

Related Crystal Palace could now sign £80k-a-week "warrior" in "good value" January deal

There has been a new update on the Eagles’ pursuit of a defender.

Posts ByDominic Lund Dec 3, 2025

That said, with the Irishman yet to prove himself in the top tier, it could be a while before he is ready to test himself in the Premier League, and Palace should look to hold on to Wharton for as long as possible.

The former Blackburn Rovers man remains under contract until 2029, which means the Eagles should be in a strong negotiating position, and if they manage to keep the core of their squad together, they could make a real success of the current season.

Palace currently find themselves in the Champions League places, and managing to qualify for Europe again could convince Glasner to stay, amid previous interest from the likes of Man United and Tottenham Hotspur.

With the Austrian’s contract up in the summer, Palace retaining their top players could be the best course of action when it comes to keeping hold of their manager, but Brennan could also be a shrewd long-term addition to the squad.

Ahead of MLS Cup, Fray joins GOAL Convo to talk growing up near Chase Stadium, playing with Messi and Co., and what this moment means for him and Inter Miami.

Ian Fray laughs when asked what it’s like to get a pep talk from Inter Miami manager Javier Mascherano. It’s intense, he admits. It comes in both English and Spanish. More importantly, it works. Fray believes Mascherano’s “passionate” approach has sparked Miami’s surge this season.

“Mascherano brings this fresh, young energy,” Fray tells GOAL. “I don’t fully understand the Spanish parts, but you get it when he’s yelling and his face turns red. You get fired up, even if you don’t totally understand. You get fired up!”

It isn’t only Mascherano – or the shot at a championship – that drives him. Fray grew up just 15 minutes from Chase Stadium in Coconut Creek. Representing his community, and doing it the right way, has always mattered to him. It’s part of what has pushed him through setbacks along the way.

“Going from the academy to the second team, doing the whole process here, and now to see it all come to fruition – look, we’re in MLS Cup,” he says. “This is exactly what I dreamed of when I joined the academy.”

Ahead of Saturday’s final, Fray joined GOAL Convo, a weekly Q&A with central figures in North American soccer, to talk Mascherano, Messi, overcoming adversity, and why he believes Jamaica will make the 2026 World Cup.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  ON REACHING THE MLS CUP FINAL

  GOAL: MLS Cup is this Saturday. What are your emotions as you head into this match against Vancouver?

  FRAY: This is exactly what we all dream of for all season. Eleven months and yeah, super excited.

  GOAL: You’ve been here since 2021 and seen almost everything with this club. What does this journey mean to you, especially as someone from the area?

  FRAY: I grew up 15 minutes down the street from the stadium, you know, I lived, lived and grew up in Coconut Creek. Went to high school. I went to elementary through high school, all the way here. I've lived here my whole life. And just to see the stadium, even this stadium being built, you know, going from the academy, the second team did the whole process here and now to see it all come to fruition. Look, we're in MLS Cup. This is exactly what I've dreamed of since joining the academy.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  ON PLAYING WITH LIONEL MESSI AND SUPERSTARS

  GOAL: You play with some well-known legends, you know, ranging from Lionel Messi to Jordi Alba on defense. What is that whole experience like? For someone who doesn't get to see the locker room, what are the things you can share about that experience?

  FRAY: I don't know if it's something [about the game] that they don't know. It just shows in their game and they hold you to the highest standard possible. And a lot of people will crumble under that and say it's too intense or whatnot, but they, they do all this, and they're hard on you because they want you to be right there with them. They want you to compete just like them. And that's the best thing you could want. You want someone who has been at the highest level, like kind of forcing you to be on their level as well. And it just brings the best out of the players. 

  GOAL: Can you share an example of how they keep the team accountable?

  FRAY: Yeah, I can. Even for the last game against New York City, as I came in, I lost two balls I shouldn't have lost. And all them kind of just look at you, and they're like, 'Come on, let's go. This isn't a joke.' When they show that intensity, and then you can either crumble or you can go above that.

  GOAL: There are so many different cultures in your locker room. How do you guys, kind of, you know, come together and make it, you know, communicate and just build that, that chemistry that you need as a team?

  FRAY: Yeah, I feel like it's more just like [finding ways to get] laughter, even though a lot of us can't understand each other, it's more just like laughter. They say a couple of words that you know, and you can say a couple of words that they kind of know, and [it all clicks]. It's all at practice too. You know, it brings everyone together. Training on the field. Everyone's in the heat, training, all this, everything we've been through, just brought the team closer.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  ON MASCHERANO

  GOAL: You've played for a lot of high-profile managers here, Phil Neville and Tata Martino, and now you have Javier Mascherano. What makes him unique and special?

  FRAY: All of them [who you mentioned] are great managers, by the way. I think Mac brings this, like fresh, like young, he's a he's a defender too. So you can tell, and I'm a defender, I love to defend. And he's just, he has a lot of love for the game. And it just, it shows in practice he's really passionate. And that brings out, if your manager is passionate, and you can see it every day in practice, it brings out the best of the players.

  GOAL: Now, when he was a player, he was seen as, like, a combative type of, you know, lack of better word, a little crazy, right?

  FRAY: [Laughs] We need that! It fires everybody up.

  GOAL: What's a pep talk from him like?

  FRAY: I don’t fully understand the Spanish parts, but you get it when he’s yelling, and his face turns red. You get fired up, even if you don’t totally understand. You get fired up!

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  ON OVERCOMING ADVERSITY

  GOAL: You’ve fought through injuries before, suffering three torn ACLs. How do you stay mentally strong and keep moving forward when setbacks happen?

  FRAY: So yeah, I've been through a couple of those, and I always knew what I wanted to do ever since I was younger. And I've been through things maybe not like that before. And it's just I always know if I get past this, then nothing's gonna be able to stop me. And then it happened again, I'm okay, but if I get past this one, then nothing's gonna be able to stop me. So I think that's just more of what just more of what it is. I'm not gonna let anything stop me from my dreams.

  GOAL: Is there a ritual, tradition, or a mentality you have to help you navigate through that all?

  FRAY: I always, usually look back to something that I overcame before, like, for all the injuries. And when I had the first one, it was like, 'OK, maybe I got cut from Weston when I was 15, and I ended up at inter Miami.' Yeah, that's what I looked at….I overcame that. I can overcome this ACL injury. And then the other ones, I just looked back at the first one, okay, I went through the first one. Why can't I do it again?

CA chief executive believes there is no correlation between Khawaja’s injury and the three days of golf he played in the lead-in to the Test match

Alex Malcolm22-Nov-2025Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg has defended Usman Khawaja saying it is “drawing a long bow” to suggest that his decision to play golf prior to the Test match impacted the back spasms that he suffered on the opening day in Perth.Khawaja, 38, has come under scrutiny after the issue forced him off the field late in England’s short first innings on Friday. His absence was ill-timed as England then collapsed while he was stretching to overcome the spasm and it left stand-in captain Steven Smith calling for Khawaja to come back onto the field.Khawaja eventually did return to the field for the end of the innings but, according to ICC rules, had not returned for the equal amount of time he had been off and therefore was ineligible to open the batting. It meant Marnus Labuschagne was forced to open and Smith batted at No.3. Khawaja eventually batted at No.4 and was dismissed for just 2.Khawaja fielded for all 15 overs Australia bowled prior to lunch on day two and looked unaffected. But he dropped a catch at slip after lunch and then jumped for another and his back seized up again. He left the field for the last 48 minutes of England’s second innings and was unable to open again, with Travis Head walking out for the fourth-innings chase alongside Weatherald.”Unfortunately Uzzy is not moving too well,” Cummins told Fox Cricket on Saturday afternoon. “His back flared up again in the slips going for a jump above his head so he’s unable to open.”We were trying to work out whether we shuffle everyone up like the first innings, but Trav ran off and he was keen to give it a crack.”He’s done it quite a bit in white ball cricket so we switched those roles.”Hopefully Uzzy can still fill in a role in the middle order at some point.”Don’t think we’ll see him until after Marn and Smithy.”CA stressed it was a new injury that he had not suffered prior to Friday. Khawaja had played golf on Tuesday and Wednesday either side of Australia’s training sessions. He skipped Thursday’s optional session, with only four of Australia’s XI doing any training, to play golf alongside Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. Several of Australia’s coaching staff also played in the afternoon after the main session.Greenberg, an avid golfer himself who sat with Perth-born professional golfer Min Woo Lee at Perth Stadium on Friday, said there was no correlation between Khawaja’s golf and his back issue.”[Golf] has held him in good stead over the last couple of years. It’s not uncommon for a lot of them to play golf a day prior,” Greenberg told SEN. “Did that correlate to any of the issues? I personally don’t think so.”Usman’s a very seasoned campaigner, he knows his body well, and he knows how to get himself prepared for cricket. So I think that is drawing a long bow. A lot of people talk about cricket being played between the ears.”So getting some time away from being in your hotel or at training I think is really important. I noticed Mitch Starc played golf with him, so it certainly didn’t impact his performance.”Golf is a huge part of Australia’s team culture, as it is for their opponents England. They play regularly in the lead-up to Test matches at home and abroad. The entire squad had a team-bonding trip to northern Scotland to play a week of golf before the WTC final, which they lost to South Africa.CA’s medical and strength and conditioning staff have long sanctioned it, especially for the fast bowlers, as low impact time on their feet that also provided a mental reprieve from the grind of cricket training and playing.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Cruzeiro fez uma proposta por quatro milhões de euros (R$ 22,86 milhões) pela compra de Kaio Jorge, da Juventus. De acordo com a “Goal”, a Raposa aguarda uma resposta dos italianos.

continua após a publicidade

➡️ Clique para assinar o Premiere por 30 dias grátis!

A Velha Senhora não deu sinal positivo com relação a uma oferta de empréstimo pelo atleta, uma vez que pretende negociá-lo em definitivo. Por outro lado, o clube mineiro tem conversas adiantadas com o entorno do centroavante em busca de um acordo.

Formado no Santos, Kaio Jorge tem 22 anos e nunca conseguiu se firmar na Juventus. Além de ter tido uma grave lesão no joelho, o atacante foi emprestado ao Frosinone, da Itália, mas também não convenceu.

continua após a publicidade

Além do jovem, o Cruzeiro deve buscar outros dois reforços para o setor ofensivo visando fortalecer o elenco para 2024. Atualmente, a Raposa ocupa a 9ª colocação do Campeonato Brasileiro.

Tudo sobre

CruzeiroJuventus