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The 22-year-old helped the Cityzens defeat Arsenal and Chelsea in a huge week, and deserves to continue that momentum with her country

How big a week could this end up being in Jess Park’s career? After making back-to-back starts for Manchester City for the first time in two years and producing a match-winning display in their monumental win over Chelsea, the 22-year-old now heads off to Spain for England’s first two fixtures of 2024 – and Sarina Wiegman is surely looking at granting her an opportunity to continue that momentum.

Park has had to be patient this season. Having thrived on loan at Everton last year, she’s stuck around in Manchester this time and it’s not been easy to break into a team that is now joint-top of the Women’s Super League. However, the reason they now hold that status is in no small part thanks to the England starlet.

Her performance on Friday, at league leaders Chelsea, was outstanding. No one created more chances than Park, who’s delicate through ball set up Khadija Shaw to score the winning goal inside 15 minutes. She did her work on the other side of the ball, too, winning possession back four times and making three clearances, a number only bettered by Laia Alexiandri and Alex Greenwood, Man City’s centre-back duo.

It's always felt like Wiegman has seen something in Park. While still quite young and forging her way in the WSL, she has continued to receive England call-ups on a consistent basis and has been granted a decent number of chances by a manager who doesn’t shake things up all too often.

So as the young forward comes into the Lionesses’ first camp of the year on a real personal high, the likelihood of her being granted just a second-ever start for her country feels big. In fact, Park’s sprightly manner could be exactly what England need as they look to bounce back from the Nations League heartbreak that devastated them at the end of 2023.

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  On the brink of something special

  It was some seven years ago that Park signed for Man City, from York City, with her only 16 years old when she debuted for the club in a Continental Cup win over Doncaster Belles back in the 2017-18 season. She’s had some incredible moments in the time since, scoring a hat-trick against Ipswich Town in the FA Cup in early 2020 and, at the end of the same year, providing the assist that allowed Georgia Stanway to give City the lead in extra-time in that competition’s final.

  But she’s always been on the fringes of a first team that has long boasted an abundance of attacking assets, only once hitting double figures for appearances in the league in her six seasons so far.

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  Learning on loan

  Last season’s temporary switch to Everton was crucial in Park’s development, then. She made 19 starts in all competitions, having racked up just 21 for City in the five seasons prior, contributing five goals and five assists in her first campaign as a regular starter for a WSL team. It was a strong showing from a player who was just 20 years old when the season began.

  “Jess has been great for us and it shows in the minutes we’re giving her,” Everton boss Brian Sorensen said last term. “There are still things in her game she needs to improve but, as a whole, she looks much more confident than when she first came in.

  "She is really trying to develop her physical side, she’s really taking steps in the right direction there. Then it’s just being smart under pressure – and being consistent, always tracking back and doing the right stuff. When she gets that right, you will almost have the complete, finished product, but she still has years to grow and we’re happy to help her with her development.”

  That growth didn’t go unnoticed back at her parent club, either. Speaking about her time on Merseyside, Man City boss Gareth Taylor said on Friday: “There were times last year when I was monitoring her progress and I was like, ‘As much as she's growing and developing elsewhere, we could really do with her here'.”

  But after being on the fringes for so long, the time Park spent playing regularly was important, and it set her in good stead to come back to City and make an impact.

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  Opportunity knocks

  In the first half of this season, though, it felt justified to question why the Cityzens didn’t send Park back out on loan. The 22-year-old had played just 101 minutes in the WSL by the time the winter break rolled around, from six substitute appearances.

  She was doing all she could in the Conti Cup to try and earn a place in the league, scoring twice and providing one assist in five appearances, but that place on the bench on a weekend remained unchanged. She was trying to break into a team that was competing for the title, after all, one with top players performing consistently well.

  But then City were dealt a real blow. Jill Roord, who had thrived since arriving from Wolfsburg for a bumper fee in the summer, ruptured her ACL at the end of January. It was devastating news for the player, of course, and the whole team. Roord’s attacking threat from midfield had helped City thrive and it wasn’t going to be easy to replace.

  Park, some 15 centimetres shorter than the Dutchwoman, is a very different player but she is a threat in the final third in her own way. And since a space has opened up in City’s midfield, she has grabbed the opportunity to fill it with both hands.

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• Stepping up

  Taylor admitted on Friday that if Roord was fit, then “she plays”. But it says a lot that, in her absence, he looked to Park, over Filippa Angeldahl or Mary Fowler, two established senior internationals, to start the huge FA Cup fifth-round clash with Arsenal and then, five days later, the trip to Chelsea in the league. They were her first starts of the season that didn’t come in the Conti Cup, and her first back-to-back in two years.

  “She's always been there,” Taylor said on Friday. “I think she's always been a player that has really interested me. I mean, she helped us win our first trophy together as a team, coming off the bench and showing real maturity from a young age. She's had to be patient, but her training levels and her attitude has been first-class, and I think is a real example for any young player. She's now broken into the England set-up as well.

  "We've adjusted her position a little bit but I've always felt she's capable of playing in between the lines. She picked up some good positions this evening and worked tremendously hard as well.”

  When GOAL noted that it said a lot of Park for her to come in and thrive in what was probably City’s biggest week of the season so far, Taylor showed no sign that he had been surprised. “Yeah but she's capable,” he responded. “You look at Jess and you see, physically, okay, she's not the biggest, but her agility is very good, her ball control and her technique is very, very good.

  "With Jess, the thing that's going to make her world-class will be her final action, but she is improving a lot on that, working hard with Shaun [Goater, the former Man City striker who is part of Taylor’s coaching staff] in training and she's really contributing to the team at the moment.”

Jude Bellingham screamed obscenities at referee Gil Manzano after the final whistle was blown seconds before he scored for Real Madrid at Valencia.

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• Bellingham netted a header
• Final whistle had already blown
• England midfielder sent off for reaction

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Bellingham netted a header with the score at 2-2 but the final whistle had already been blown by Manzano, seemingly before the cross was played in. Bellingham, though, confronted the official after the game in chaotic scenes, and was subsequently shown a red card.

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• WHAT BELLINGHAM SAID

  Per Fabrizio Romano, Bellingham said: "It's a f*cking goal, the ball is in the air, what the f*ck is that?!"

  Bellingham also retweeted a fan's tweet, claiming that it was a "scandal" that the goal was chalked off.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Real had come from 2-0 down to level proceedings, thanks to a brace from Vinicius Junior. They remain top of La Liga after the draw and are now seven points clear of second-placed Girona and nine clear of Barcelona in third. Both chasing sides have a game in hand, however, so the lead may well shrink on Sunday.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Real will reportedly appeal Bellingham's red card and it remains to be seen whether he will be available for next weekend's clash with Celta Vigo. First, they play RB Leipzig in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie on Wednesday; they hold a 1-0 lead.

Aston Villa correspondent Ashley Preece has been reacting to the club’s move for midfielder Boubacar Kamara.

The Lowdown: Five-year deal

Villa haven’t wasted any time in preparing for Steven Gerrard’s first full season in charge. The club secured a permanent transfer for Philippe Coutinho earlier this month and have now announced a deal for Kamara.

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The 22-year-old has signed a five-year contract in the Midlands and will officially become a Villa player when his Marseille contract expires at the end of June.

Kamara, who has recently earned a first senior call-up by France, made 48 appearances in 2021/22 and even captained the Ligue 1 club on multiple occasions.

The Latest: Preece reacts

Preece took to Twitter to give his thoughts on the transfer, describing it as a ‘big, big statement of intent’ due to interest from Atletico Madrid.

The Villa reporter also labelled the move ‘exciting’, with Gerrard ‘getting things in order’ at Villa Park.

The Verdict: Good move

As Preece mentioned, Villa weren’t the only club keen on signing Kamara, so it looks as if they have made an extremely shrewd signing in a position that Gerrard was desperate to strengthen.

Kamara appears to be the ‘specialist No.6’ that the 41-year-old wanted this summer, with NSWE securing a £22.5m-valued midfielder for nothing.

Premier League rivals Newcastle United, Manchester United and West Ham were also keen on the Frenchman, but it looks as if the pull of working under Gerrard was too good of an opportunity for Kamara to turn down.

In other news: NSWE now eyeing yet another move alongside Kamara; Villa chiefs sent to club after Gerrard approves

Aston Villa could pursue Luis Suarez this summer, transfer insider Dean Jones has told GiveMeSport.

The lowdown

Suarez is leaving Atletico Madrid following the expiry of his contract at the Wanda Metropolitano.

The Athletic’s Gregg Evans reported in March that Steven Gerrard would be keeping tabs on his situation.

Suarez, of course, played with Gerrard during his three-and-half-year stint at Liverpool between 2011 and 2014.

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The latest

Jones says that Villa have yet to decide whether to favour the vast experience of Suarez or lean towards an up-and-coming ‘gem’.

If they take the latter route, then he says Lille’s Jonathan David may be an option.

“I think they will sign another centre-forward, and it can go one of two ways.

“The next striker they sign is either someone of ultimate experience like Luis Suarez, or they go in for one of those gems that is tipped to be a star of the next ten years.

“Jonathan David is one of those, to be fair, so it wouldn’t be a bad signing.”

The verdict

How do Suarez and David compare?

Suarez bagged 13 goals in 2,292 minutes of football in 2021/22, averaging more than one every two games (176 mins).

Meanwhile, David, a full 13 years his junior, netted 19 in 3,655, which works out as one every 2.1 matches.

What about the costs? Well, £9million-rated Suarez would be available on a free transfer, but his wages at Atletico are thought to be in excess of £260,000 per week.

Even if he agreed to cut that salary by a full £100,000, he’d still be top of Villa’s earning charts (ahead of Philippe Coutinho on £150,000).

David, meanwhile, is valued at £45million by Transfermarkt but is only earning £35,000 each week.

Perhaps the long-term investment would be smarter.

In other news, a defensive target has also emerged.

An update has emerged on Leeds United’s pursuit of Huddersfield’s Lewis O’Brien heading into the summer transfer window.

What’s the talk?

According to The Sun, Whites chief Victor Orta is plotting a fresh £10m bid to sign the midfielder ahead of the 2022/23 campaign, after missing out on a deal for him last year.

The report claimed that his current club would attempt to offer him a new contract if they won the play-off final but they went on to lose 1-0 to Nottingham Forest at Wembley.

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Big Mateusz Klich upgrade

Leeds can land a big upgrade on the Poland international by bringing O’Brien to Elland Road in the upcoming window.

In the Premier League, Klich averaged an unimpressive SofaScore rating of 6.67 in 33 appearances as he lost 60% of his duels. He failed to turn in good performances on a regular basis and struggled with the physicality of the games, which is why he is currently a weakling in the side.

O’Brien, meanwhile, won 56% of his individual battles in the Championship – winning 7.5 duels per game – and has earned a reputation for being a battler in the middle of the park.

Former Huddersfield goalkeeper Matt Glennon previously lauded the midfielder’s engine, saying: “He closes down until the 95th, 96th minute, still running to the corners, stopping defenders, he’s got unlimited energy.

“Lewis O’Brien wants to put the hard yards in and wants to be at the very top of where he can get to. He’s one of those lads who works ridiculously hard which, for me, is your minimum in any league, but he’s got that quality, the drop of a shoulder, that strength to keep people off him, a low centre of gravity to glide past people, arm aloft when they try to knock him off the ball.”

The gem also impressed in possession as he chipped in three goals and three assists as he created 1.0 chances per game. This is along with his 3.0 tackles and interceptions per match and an excellent average SofaScore rating of 7.00.

He has shown, albeit in the second tier, that he can excel as a box-to-box midfielder and he has plenty of room left to grow at the age of 23. Marsch can work with him over time to help him fulfill his potential but, in the short-term, his statistics suggest that he can be an immediate upgrade on Klich.

O’Brien can offer a level of physicality that the Poland international has been unable to provide, whilst also possessing the quality on the ball to function as part of the team on the ball.

AND in other news, Orta eyeing Leeds swoop for “exceptional” £20k-p/w “example”, Marsch needs him badly…

Everton have been linked with a move for experienced Burnley defender Ben Mee, and with the 32-year-old available on a free transfer, this should be a no-brainer for Frank Lampard.

What’s the word?

According to the Daily Mirror live blog (June 2, 4:07 pm), the Toffees are keen on signing the centre-back as he prepares to leave the Clarets following their relegation from the Premier League.

Aston Villa are also credited with an interest in the experienced centre-back, but following their signing of Diego Carlos from Sevilla earlier this week, you would expect Lampard’s side to be in the driving seat to sign Mee.

Signing Mee would be a no-brainer

Mee initially signed for Burnley on loan from Manchester City in 2011. He signed a permanent deal at Turf Moor the following year and was a virtual ever-present in the decade since, making 376 appearances in all competitions, contributing 12 goals and 12 assists in that time.

Despite Burnley’s relegation this year, the defender enjoyed another solid season for the Clarets, averaging a 6.91 rating from WhoScored for his performances in the top flight, which was better than any of Everton’s defensive options.

The 32-year-old also showed his leadership skills to step up as a coach following the departure of manager Sean Dyche in April, and he would undoubtedly set an example on and off the pitch if he were to make the move to Goodison Park.

Dyche was full of praise for his former Burnley captain in 2020, saying: “He has become a very strong player for us and a good captain.

“This sounds like not strong enough praise but I can assure you it is. He is a very solid campaigner, week in, week out. He is always there for you and delivers and that is a big compliment.

“He is consistent, his values are consistent, a tough-minded fella and a very fair-minded fella and a lot of those qualities don’t just happen off the pitch, they go on the pitch with him.”

According to Salary Sport, Mee was earning £73k per week at Turf Moor; and although he is 32, he would be a cheap and experienced option for Lampard to have in his squad next season as the Toffees look to improve on what was so nearly a disastrous 2021/22 campaign.

Therefore, Everton chairman Farhad Moshiri should see this deal as a no-brainer and do all that he can to bring Mee to Goodison Park this summer.

In other news… Everton can unearth their own Lampard in “absolutely phenomenal” 21-year-old

Gian Luca Rossi has dropped an update on the future of reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Gleison Bremer.

What’s the talk?

In a recent interview with Milan-based television network Telelombardia (via Sport Witness), the Italian journalist revealed that – following Alessandro Bastoni’s agent, Tulio Tinti, revealing the 23-year-old will remain at Inter Milan this summer – Antonio Conte will now turn his focus in the summer transfer market towards the Torino centre-back.

Previous reports had claimed that Simone Inzaghi’s side have already agreed a four-year deal with the 25-year-old ahead of a summer switch from Turin to Milan, however, with Fabio Paratici now set to launch a €50m (£43m) bid for the Brazilian, Inter’s move for Bremer now appears to be in doubt.

Regarding Tottenham’s interest in the defender, Rossi said: “It is no mystery that Antonio Conte likes Bastoni. Indeed, from the information I have gathered, Conte is ready to put a spoke in the wheel at Inter. The message that Conte sent to Inter is more or less: if you don’t leave Bastoni with me, I’ll go to Bremer.”

Inzaghi will be livid

Considering just how impressive Bremer was for Torino this season, in addition to the fact that Inter previously looked to have all but confirmed the centre-back’s arrival at the San Siro this summer, the news that Spurs are now set to make their own move for the 25-year-old is sure to have left Inzaghi livid.

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Indeed, over his 33 Serie A appearances this season, the £31.5m-rated talent was imperious in the heart of Ivan Juric’s defence, helping Il Toro keep eight clean sheets, as well as making an average of 3.2 interceptions, 1.5 tackles, 4.0 clearances and winning 6.6 duels per game.

The £18k-per-week left-footer also impressed in an attacking capacity, scoring three goals and registering one assist, in addition to taking an average of 0.8 shots, making 35.3 passes and completing 0.5 dribbles per fixture.

These returns saw the player who Ryan Taylor dubbed both “unbelievable” and “faultless” average a quite remarkable SofaScore match rating of 7.13, not only ranking him as Juric’s best performing outfielder in the league but also as the fifth-best defender in Serie A as a whole.

As such, should Paratici manage to steal Bremer from under the noses of Inzaghi and Inter this summer, it would undoubtedly come as a huge blow to the Nerazzurri, while also providing Conte with an excellent alternative to Bastoni on the left of his three-man backline at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

AND in other news: Paratici can seal huge Bastoni upgrade as Spurs now eye “extraordinary” £50m signing

West Ham United are now on the brink of completing a deal for Rennes defender Nayef Aguerd, but still face competition from Newcastle United.

The Lowdown: Defensive needs

The Hammers are keen to strengthen their central defensive options ahead of a second consecutive season playing European football, having seen their run to the 2021/22 Europa League semi-final disrupted by injuries to Kurt Zouma, Issa Diop and Angelo Ogbonna.

Irons boss David Moyes is said to view Aguerd as a long-term option to help fill the gaps in his side’s back-line, and the East London club have since identified the Morocco international as a primary target this summer after opening talks over a permanent deal last month.

The Latest: Sheth’s news

Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Sky Sports reporter Sheth shared the latest news concerning Aguerd’s potential move to West Ham. He claimed:

“Rennes central defender Nayef Aguerd has been having first part of medical today. Expected to do second part in London tomorrow ahead of finalising West Ham move. They may have competition, though. Newcastle thought to be interested.”

The Verdict: Get it done…

When compared with positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year, Aguerd’s attacking-from-the-back qualities are immense, ranking in the 93rd percentile for assists and in the 90th percentile for passes attempted (via FB Ref).

Perhaps as a result of his forward thinking fit in the modern game, the 26-year-old has been dubbed “the best value left-sided centre back in Europe”.

According to 90min journalist Toby Cudworth, Aguerd is set to become the ‘first major signing’ of what Moyes hopes to be a busy transfer window for the Hammers, and we would only urge GSB to get a move on with Newcastle looking to swoop in.

In other news: Journalist makes ‘offer’ claim involving Dennis

Newcastle United brought in a number of new players during the January transfer window who ended up helping the club to avoid relegation and finish 11th in the Premier League.

Now that the summer transfer window has opened for business, this could see another flurry of business being conducted at St James’ Park.

In terms of potential outgoings, as Eddie Howe looks to freshen up his squad, one man who we feel shouldn’t continue with the Toon is Ciaran Clark.

Getting just 13 league appearances in 2021/22, the 32-year-old’s final squad inclusion came back in January when he made a 21-minute cameo in the 1-0 win over Leeds United at Elland Road. This doesn’t say much for his chances of playing regularly under Howe next season.

Whenever the Irishman did get a chance to play, he was more often than not a liability for his team, as Jamie Carragher made clear when he slammed the centre-back for his “shocking” defensive error against Manchester City just before Christmas. In the same month, he was given a red card nine minutes into Newcastle’s home clash against Norwich City.

In terms of who could come in to replace Clark, one player who has recently been linked with a £17m move to Tyneside and who could fit the bill is Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka.

Having made 138 appearances for the German club across all competitions, the 22-year-old has scored 10 goals and delivered nine assists, showing that he can be a rather useful goal threat at times.

In terms of his defensive capabilities, the centre-back has racked up a total of 114 successful tackles, 221 blocks, 161 interceptions and 473 clearances for the Europa League holders.

To further highlight how imposing he is at the back, the Frenchman ended his latest Bundesliga season with the highest average of clearances per game (4.1) and the joint-highest average for tackles (1.9) and interceptions (1.6) at his club.

This shows that he certainly has what it takes to be a solid defensive unit and why he could be a great long-term option for Newcastle given his young age.

Labelled an “enormous” player by Frankfurt journalist Christopher Michel, Ndicka should definitely be in the Magpies’ transfer plans should they get rid of Clark this summer.

In other news: Howe could land big Longstaff upgrade as Newcastle now plot bid for £228k-p/w “wizard”

Sunderland are reportedly now eyeing up a move to sign Robbie Brady on a free transfer.

The Lowdown: Out of contract

Brady’s contract at AFC Bournemouth expires at the end of the month, meaning that he can leave as a free agent.

He only managed a mere seven appearances in total for the Cherries last season so looks unlikely to stay put, which has encouraged some clubs to sniff around for his signature.

The Latest: Interest

Writing in his latest piece for TEAMtalk, insider Graeme Bailey has revealed that the Stadium of Light outfit now hold an ‘interest’ in signing Brady, along with both Middlesbrough and Huddersfield Town.

Manager Scott Parker would like him to stay for their upcoming Premier League campaign, but the club have yet to trigger the 12-month option in his deal.

The Verdict: Sign

Dubbed a player with ‘huge quality’ by Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake upon signing him last summer, Brady has four seasons’ worth of experience in the Championship, and so the 30-year-old would add a mentality edge that could help the Wearside club stay up next term.

The Republic of Ireland international is also someone that Alex Neil knows well having coached him at Norwich City, and so the Scotsman will know how to get the best out of him.

He has been full of praise for Brady in the past, calling him ‘dynamic’ with ‘good energy’ and a ‘real danger’ at set-pieces (talkSPORT), and so on a free transfer, this seems like it would be a smart piece of business from the Black Cats.

In other news, find out what big SAFC exit update has now emerged here!