Football Shirt Friday

Good Morning,

It’s Football Shirt Friday, Man United crashes out of the Europa League, U.S., Mexico announce joint 2027 WWC bid, Bayern CEO set to be sacked, UEFA reject Madrid’s CL semi-finals request, Juventus back into top 4 of Serie A, Newcastle’s owners might buy another club, and Chelsea will play Wrexham in the U.S this summer since no one wants to watch them at home.

Let’s get on with it.

Table Tops

Fixtures We’re Watching

• Arsenal v Southampton (Prediction & Preview)

• Angers v PSG

• Augsburg v VfB Stuttgart

• Espanyol v Cadiz

• Hellas Verona v Bologna

Full schedule + where to watch

Starting Lineup

• Juventus appeal successful, they get their 15 points back; How the Serie A table changes (FI)

• U.S., Mexico announce joint 2027 WWC bid (ESPN)

• Oliver Kahn set to be sacked as Bayern Munich CEO as fans make feelings known during Man City clash (SUN)

• UEFA turn down Real Madrid’s Champions League semi-final request (FE)

• Wrexham to face Chelsea in U.S. preseason clash (ESPN)

• Barcelona cleared of ‘ineligible player’ charges after Elche complaint is dismissed (FE)

• Premier League 'plan major shake-up of TV coverage with 60 extra games and "meatier" game packages' (DM)

• Football Shirt Friday 2023: When is it, how do I get involved and what is it for? Harry Kane and co help raise money in the fight against cancer (TS)

Transfer Rumors

• Alexis Sánchez looking for improved contract to stay at Marseille (GFFN)

• Inter could lose Barella to Liverpool or PSG if there is no Champions League football next season (FI)

• South Korean international and Mallorca hot-shot, Kang-in Lee, available for just £16m with West Ham planning to swoop (CO)

• Al-Ittihad want to enlist Wolves star, Adama Traore, to compete against Cristiano Ronaldo with juicy contract (SW)

• Napoli hope to land exciting Argentine talent, Thiago Almada, from MLS in the transfer window (FI)

• Chelsea could drop both goalkeepers in order to sign Bundesliga and Dortmund star, Gregor Kobel (CO)

• Betis manager makes signing Leicester man, Ayoze Perez, an absolute priority – Contacts with agents have ‘mulitiplied’ (SW)

• Lyon right-back Saël Kumbedi extends contract to 2027 (GFFN)

• Newcastle keeping tabs on Monza’s Carlos Augusto (FI)

• Burnley planning to spend €15m on player – Club would be ‘only too happy’ to sell him to Clarets (SW)

Data Based

Offsides

• Huge 30-man brawl erupts in crazy Swansea vs Preston clash as subbed ex-Liverpool star, Joe Allen, is sent off (SUN)

• Warring football fans in São Paulo call a truce – for the most unusual reason (TG)

On The Ball

• Newcastle’s Saudi owners in talks to buy second club after attending recent match (SUN)

• Nedved cleared and helps Juventus case, Agnelli and Paratici appeals rejected (FI)

• Bobbleheads, cornhole sets and more: How the USWNT grows into a profitable brand (ESPN)

• FIGC get green light to renovate Coverciano technical centre (FI)

Fantasyland

Throw Ins

• Pros and Cons of Anthony Hudson Possibly Being Made Permanent USMNT Coach (BR)

• 6 current players already working on their coaching badges (PF)

• West Bromwich Albion fans protest against owner Guochuan Lai 'paused' with club eyeing play-offs (BBC)

• Arsenal star Gabriel Jesus reveals the sweet reason behind his iconic phone celebration (SUN)

• How shape shifters are taking over football with teams playing in evolving series of formations (DM)

Injury Time

• Atletico Madrid’s Memphis Depay suffers injury setback days before showdown Barcelona clash (FE)

• Injured Barcelona duo set to start against Atletico Madrid (FE)

• Marco Verratti and Nuno Mendes return to full PSG training (GFFN)

• Sources: Alaba in race to play vs. City, Copa final (ESPN)

• Inter defender Milan Škriniar undergoes surgery in France (GFFN)

• Malang Sarr remains absent for Monaco (GFFN)

Rankings

Meme Brace