Report: Federico Chiesa could yet be handed World Cup lifeline despit… — and more

Federico Chiesa could potentially be recalled to the Italy squad for their World Cup play-off in March, despite not playing for his country in nearly two years.

The Liverpool forward has been capped 51 times by the Azzurri, but the most recent of those came in their 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in the round of 16 at Euro 2024, two months before he joined the Reds.

Current Italy boss Gennaro Gattuso has maintained that, while he’s constantly kept in touch with the 28-year-old, it’s been the player’s decision not to return to international duty in recent months rather than his.

Gattuso remains open to calling up Chiesa next month

According to a report from Calciomercato, the ex-AC Milan midfielder met with the Azzurri’s England-based players for dinner in London recently, with Chiesa among those in attendance.

It’s claimed that Gattuso remains open to calling up the Liverpool forward for the World Cup play-off against Northern Ireland in March despite previous rejections, and the two men have maintained a positive relationship.

However, the Italy coach is insistent that he’ll only select players who are all-in on their country’s mission to reach a first World Cup since 2014, having sensationally missed out on the subsequent editions in Russia and Qatar.

(Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Will Chiesa be ready to end his two-year Italy exile?

Whereas many other coaches may have disregarded Chiesa for good after turning down previous call-ups, at least Gattuso seems willing to leave the door open for the Anfield cult hero, should he wish to end his two-year international exile.

The Azzurri boss is thought to have previously advised the 28-year-old to consider leaving Liverpool in order to boost his national team chances, with the forward being given just his fifth start of the season in the FA Cup win over Brighton last weekend.

Even if the Reds attacker indicates a desire to return to the Italy fold, it’d still be at the head coach’s discretion as to whether or not he’s selected, and our number 14 might be viewed as a gamble considering his sparsity of club minutes.

However, as we’ve seen at Anfield, Chiesa is capable of being the wildcard who conjures up a crucial late goal even if he’s not on the pitch for long, and that quality could be priceless for his nation in a do-or-die World Cup play-off series next month.

This may well be the Liverpool forward’s best chance of playing at the global showpiece, should his country qualify, and that might just persuade him to tell Gattuso that he’s ready to help the Azzurri to atone for missing out in 2018 and 2022.

It’s been nearly five years since he lit up Euro 2020 as Italy went on to lift the trophy. Could we yet see him attempting to inspire his nation to similar heroics in North America in the summer?

Manchester United have reportedly set their eyes on Borussia Dortmund full-back Julian Ryerson, who would provide serious competition for Diogo Dalot down the right flank.

The Portuguese right-back has been a mainstay at MUFC for several years. But while many fans and observers have been praising his improved displays this season, many would argue that the club needs to strengthen this role by signing a top-notch player.

According to Bild, Man Utd have identified Ryerson as the right candidate for the role. The Norwegian was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona in recent months. However, his future could lie in the Premier League, as United and Newcastle have both emerged as suitors, reports the famous German newspaper.

This confirms earlier reports that linked the Old Trafford outfit with Ryerson.

Man United register their interest in Julian Ryerson

Ryerson started his career at his hometown club of Lyngdal before joining Viking FK’s academy. He has been playing his football in Germany since 2018, when he signed for Union Berlin.

After rising to stardom during his spell in the German capital, Dortmund pounced for his services in January 2023, paying €5 million to secure his signature. He remains tied to the Bundesliga giants with a contract valid until June 2028.

(Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images)

While the Norwegian’s attacking stats were relatively modest in previous campaigns, this season, he has emerged as one of the most potent wing-backs in Germany under Nico Kovac’s guidance.

He has already provided his teammates with 13 assists across all competitions, including three in his most recent outing against Mainz, earning the moniker of the ‘assist king’.

Ryerson has outperformed Diogo Dalot this season

If Man Utd are looking to sign a ready-made right-back who’s at the prime of his powers, the 28-year-old Ryerson could be the right answer.

Perhaps he can replace Noussair Mazraoui, who, although versatile, hasn’t been able to lock down a starting role. The Moroccan could remain at Carrington as a squad player since he’s capable of filling various roles.

Moreover, a statistical comparison between Ryerson and Dalot suggests that the Norwegian has outperformed the Portuguese in every area, except for aerial duels.

(Stats by DataMB)

It should be taken into account that the two men have been playing their football in different leagues, and that Ryerson has been deployed in a more attacking position (a wing-back rather than a full-back).

Nevertheless, these numbers paint a clear picture, suggesting that the Dortmund star would add a new weapon to Man Utd’s attacks.

There's an exciting attacker who is going to be heading to Liverpool's first-team soon.

Let's face it, these last few months have been difficult for Arne Slot. Alexander Isak's injury has not made things easy for the Dutchman.

Slot has had to rely on Hugo Ekitike and at times use Cody Gakpo or Federico Chiesa out of position. Even the back-up academy forwards during this time have been injured. Jayden Danns is yet to come back from the knock he suffered earlier on in the season.

Will Wright is still just coming back and getting to grips with playing week in, week out at U21 level.

Thankfully, this headache may be a worry of the past for Slot soon.

Not only because Isak will be back before the end of the season, but also because there is an exciting 20-goal forward who will be training with the club's first-team very soon, and who has the potential to become the third choice option behind Ekitike and the Swedish forward.

For a brief moment, Liverpool were elite at producing forwards in the 1990s. In the space of a few years Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen both walked through the ranks at the Kirkby academy centre and blew the first-team away.

They have become iconic names in English football.

But they have also become Liverpool's only forward academy graduates who have really made it. Since then the likes of Adam Morgan, Jerome Sinclair and Rhian Brewster have come close but none of them have been able to live up to their prolific nature at academy level.

This academy curse might be coming to an end very soon. There's a young striker who is way more prepared and has way more skills under his belt than any of the forwards who have come before him.

Josh Sonni-Lambie is a special player. Not only because he has 20 goals for Liverpool's academy this season, and 27 goal contributions in 30 matches.

Sonni-Lambie is special because he is a different type of striker. The likes of Morgan, Sinclair and Brewster were purely goal poachers.

They thrived inside the box. Sonni-Lambie is a player who thrives both inside and outside the box. He doesn't just score goals but he links up play. He drops back and he likes to take players on in one vs one situations.

In many ways, Sonni-Lambie is a typical Liverpool striker. Very much in the mould of a Hugo Ekitike, or Roberto Firmino and Daniel Sturridge.

The flair that Sonni-Lambie has combined with his vision makes him tailor-made for the way Liverpool's first-team want to play.

At 18-years-old, the world is at his feet. He really has it all.

And having scored 20 goals already this season, it won't be long until he's with the first-team. At this point it feels like Sonni-Lambie is already on his way there.

It will be a better of time until he starts training with Slot, and making his debut at senior level.

Welcome to the latest installment of The Orchid Tales, where your hoddler-in-chief documents the life and times of his orchid. Has it really been 12 months since our most recent edition? That’s way too long! Let’s check in to see how things are shaping up.

For those of you new to this site – this is also one of the longest-running features of the hoddle under your HIC. The first edition of The Orchid Tales premiered on August 19, 2022. That’s almost four years ago!

Catch up on parts 1-11 here:Part I, Part II / Part III / Part IV / Part V / Part VI / Part VII / Part VIII / Part IX / Part X / Part XI

——-

One of the most challenging parts about moving, for me, is understanding how to put my orchid in the best possible position to thrive. A huge part of that means how and where it is going to receive sunlight. That sort of calculus makes it probably a little too challenging for me in how I’m going to set up my entire living arrangements.

At least I’ve figured it now for now, and I’ll be monitoring Planty’s health in the coming weeks.

There aren’t any signs that the orchid is going to grow new buds this season, which is okay. The leaves remain a very healthy green, and the roots are wild and respond well when being watered.

It looks like I’ll be tending the plant for the next few months until it’s time to repot, and then maybe I’ll bring it in to a florist to help me understand how to best plot an orchid that is growing increasingly more horizontal by the month.

It’s also time to bring new plants into the fold. I’ve had a ponytail palm sitting on a shelf for the last 2.5 years, which still looks very healthy. I also plan on bringing in some floor plants into the equation – probably the likes of a snake plant, a fiddle leaf fig or a dracaena.

I’ve got some more space on the bookshelves to add a few smaller plants too.

Is it too many plants? Probably not. You can’t have enough plants. I think they add a tonne of life and colour into the mix.

Fitzie’s track of the day: Waits For Me, by Anjimile

And now for your links:

The Standard: “Igor Tudor will have Tottenham squad ‘running through brick walls’, says former player”

Alasdair Gold: “Everything you need to know about Igor Tudor’s new-look coaching staff at Tottenham”

Matt Law: “Tottenham face ‘catastrophic’ cost of relegation and no European football”

The Independent: “Troy Parrott on becoming Republic of Ireland’s hero, Mourinho’s impact and searching for ‘big moments’”

BBC: “League One Mansfield to host Arsenal in fifth round – full FA Cup draw”