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Four key battles on the pitch, and one on the touchline, highlight what to watch for ahead of NWSL final Saturday afternoon.

The 2023 NWSL Championship is set to be contested between two teams, New Jersey/New York Gotham FC and OL Reign, that have yet to lift the league’s top trophy.

The match will pit two contrasting styles against each other: the possession-oriented football implemented by Coach of the Year Juan Carlos Amorós at Gotham against league veteran Laura Harvey’s highly disciplined defensive press.

OL Reign were in better form heading into the playoffs, with a win and two draws in their final three matches whereas Gotham recorded a draw and two losses in their last three regular-season contests. New Jersey, however, is peaking at the right moment, having beaten the No.3 and No.1 seeds, North Carolina and Portland, to reach the final.

GOAL takes a look at the key battles that will decide the 2023 NWSL Champion.

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  USWNT fullback Sofia Huerta vs NWSL Rookie of the Year Jenna Nighswonger

  Rookie of the Year Jenna Nighswonger is new to the left back position this season, but she’s readily taken to her defensive responsibilities, leading her team in tackles and tackles won. She also contributes going forward, leading her team—and ranking in the top five leaguewide—in successful crosses, and has notched three goals this season.

  Playing on the same side of the field will be OL Reign right back Sofia Huerta, a converted forward whose name is synonymous with pinpoint long-range crosses. Huerta’s service from the right is a key component of the Reign attack, who lead the league in headed goals with 11. The Idaho native also has years of experience at this level, having competed in five previous NWSL playoff tournaments.

  Shutting down Huerta’s service into the box as much as possible is key to stymieing the Reign attack, and that responsibility will fall to the youngster.

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  Two USWNT legends in their final career matches: Rapinoe vs Krieger

  Two legends of the game will play their final match today, and although they won’t necessarily face off directly on the field, their influence as leaders shouldn’t be overlooked.

  At 38 years old, Rapinoe has remained a major component of Reign’s attack in her final year as a pro. Setting up on the left wing, her famous crossing has been a mainstay in head coach Laura Harvey’s attack. The two-time World Cup champion is one of three “Reign originals” alongside Fishlock and defender Lu Barnes, and has played in two previous NWSL championships, but has yet to come out on top.

  Krieger is also no stranger to this stage, having faced the Western New York Flash in the championship when she played for Washington Spirit in 2016—a game she lost. She’s been a bulwark for Gotham this season, ranking first on the squad in interceptions and clearances. Her veteran leadership both on the back line and in the locker room is a massive asset to a team that’s taken on an entirely new system this year.

  Both Krieger’s and Rapinoe’s teammates say they want to lay it all on the line for their retiring veterans—so the one thing that’s certain is a hard-fought battle.

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  Veteran Jess Fishlock vs former Golden Boot winner Lynn Williams

  Gotham’s fluid movement makes it difficult to guess which opponent will be tasked with marking who at any given moment, but one crucial component of Reign’s defense in the center of the pitch is Jess Fishlock, the 36-year-old Welsh international who has been with the club since 2013. Fishlock can play throughout the central midfield, but with No. 10 Rose Lavelle back in the team, the veteran has dropped deeper and taken on a more defensive role.

  Williams, meanwhile, who has played across the forward line at different moments in her career, is the top scorer for Gotham. A No. 9 on paper, she often finds her way into games by dropping deeper to both defend and serve as the connective tissue between Delanie Sheehan or Yazmeen Ryan and Midge Purce or Esther. In addition to her seven goals, she also ranks first on the team in successful duels.

  For Fishlock, the key will be controlling the space in the midfield and not letting Gotham dictate her defensive movement. That’s going to be a difficult task, but as one of the most intelligent players in the league, she’s the right woman for the job.

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  USWNT star Rose Lavelle vs midfield cornerstone Nealy Martin

  Reign’s wild card in the playoffs has been the return of Rose Lavelle, the enigmatic USWNT midfielder who was injured early in the season at a national team camp and sat out almost the entire regular season. Entering as a substitute in the final half-hour of Seattle’s quarterfinal against LA, Lavelle provided an immediate spark. She started against San Diego in the semis and looked just as good. In short, Lavelle’s passing vision and skill on the ball immediately change any team she steps into, and Gotham can’t expect this match to go the same as their last meeting with Reign, a 4–1 win on the road.

  Martin, a defender in her time at her last club, Racing Louisville, has been instrumental stepping into the No. 6 role for Gotham. Her defensive skills have beefed up her team’s aggressive press, as she works with Ryan and Sheehan to squeeze opponents off the ball. Only Ali Krieger has more interceptions for the team.

  Lavelle, though, is the kind of Swiss Army Knife player who presents a puzzle to opponents: take away one option, and she’ll find her way into the game some other way. Whether Amorós will trust his press to keep her quiet or assign a player to man-mark her remains to be seen, and both are a roll of the dice.

Manchester United CEO Richard Arnold will leave Old Trafford before the end of the year as the club prepare for Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment.

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• United CEO Arnold to leave
• Sir Jim Ratcliffe investment imminent
• Patrick Stewart to take over duties in the interim

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Arnold replaced Ed Woodward as United CEO just 21 months ago, but it appears that Sir Jim Ratcliffe sees no place for him at Old Trafford. As confirmed by United on November 15, Arnold will leave the club, with Ratcliffe's Ineos Group set to confirm its acquisition of a 25% stake imminently.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Arnold has held several positions at United since 2007, with his short tenure as CEO coinciding with Erik ten Hag's spell as manager. That has seen him come under fire for how United conducted themselves in various transfer windows, with the club's worst start to a season in over 60 years having following the most recent transfer period. Indeed, this summer alone United have brought in Rasmus Hoijlund, Mason Mount, Sofyan Amrabat, Andre Onana, Jonny Evans, Sergio Reguilon and Altay Bayindir, with the majority of those players having come in for criticism at times in what has been a turbulent campaign so far.

• WHO WILL REPLACE ARNOLD?

  United's general counsel Patrick Stewart will step in as interim CEO, with Arnold initially offering support until his departure. Stewart will continue to perform his existing duties and it remains to be seen who will be brought in as the long-term successor for the CEO position, with the Red Devils confirming, via a statement, that "a search process will be carried out".

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• WHAT HAS ARNOLD SAID?

  The outgoing CEO commented on the club's official website: "It has been an incredible privilege to serve this great football club for the past 16 years. Through highs and lows, the constant has been the dedication of our employees and fans. I would like to thank all of them for their loyalty and commitment, and wish everyone associated with the club the very best for the future."

Paul Mullin is more than a “fox in the box” for Wrexham, with former team-mate Jake Hyde explaining how the prolific frontman exceeds expectations.

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• Striker joined Dragons in 2021
• Has been a prolific source of goals
• Impressed those around him

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 28-year-old forward has been a revelation for the Dragons on the back of his 2021 transfer from Cambridge United. Mullin was the reigning League Two Golden Boot winner at that point, but stepped down into the National League in order to form part of the ambitious project being pieced together by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Mullin has hit 82 goals for Wrexham through 105 appearances, with 47 netted when securing promotion in the 2022-23 campaign. He was signed in the same window as Hyde – who joined Wrexham from FC Halifax Town a matter of days earlier – but it is the Merseyside native that has made the biggest impact in North Wales during an exciting era for the club.

• WHAT THEY SAID

  Hyde has told the of having to compete with Mullin – someone he considers to be the complete striker: “I signed for a fee and then Mulls came in three days later. Don’t get it twisted, what Mulls did the season before, he was definitely coming in as the talisman and the main man. But you have your own confidence, your own swagger about you, your own beliefs. I have never gone into a football club – doesn’t matter what club it is – and thought ‘you know what, I might not be the leading goalscorer this season’. I believe that is what I’m going to be. But it was more than that for me, it was about being in a side that was moving one way and getting promoted and somewhere that I thought I could be for a long time and that was building a relationship.

  "Parky made it very obvious that he wanted the front two, that was the way he was going to play, he wanted two goalscorers and we both had different roles in the team. It wasn’t a threat, it was more building a relationship. To be honest, I was surprised playing with Mulls how good a player he was. I knew he was a goalscorer, but in the lower leagues, usually absolute goalscorers – foxes in the box – that’s their whole game, they haven’t got too much else around the box, maybe they aren’t creative, they aren’t hard working, they are literally there to score goals.

  "I believed Mulls maybe didn’t start the season the player he is today, so he had to do other things – he’d drop short, create chances and I thought ‘this lad is a proper player’. Then he went on to prove how good he is in front of goal. When he first came in, the thing I remember is thinking ‘I’m going to like playing with this lad because he’s got that creative side’. He was better than I thought he would be.”

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Hyde saw injury problems prevent him from making the desired impact at Wrexham, as he moved out on loan to Southend United last season and to Yeovil Town on a permanent deal ahead of the current campaign. Mullin, meanwhile, is still going strong for the Dragons after recovering from a punctured lung suffered over the summer.

A “priceless” Lionel Messi shirt has been donated to charity, with pop star Selena Gomez set to host the auction at which the jersey will be sold.

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• South American giving away World Cup shirt
• Plenty of interest being shown
• Bidding war sparked for Messi memorabilia

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner has agreed to part with one of the tops that he wore at the 2022 World Cup. Messi helped Argentina to ultimate glory at that tournament in Qatar, allowing him to complete a remarkable medal collection and cement his standing among the all-time greats.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The shirt in question has been handed to the Rare Impact Fund, with the money raised from its sale set to help fund mental health access and education for young people all over the world. Gomez will be hosting a fund-raising event titled ‘A Night of Radiance and Reflection’ on Wednesday, with there suggestions that Messi could be in attendance.

  Rare Impact Fund

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The jersey that Messi has made available saw bidding opened at $1,000. Unsurprisingly, it has not taken long for interest in the much sought-after piece of memorabilia to build, and it is currently going for $6,000. That price is expected to rise even further, with the lot in question considered to be “priceless”.

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  WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

  Gomez has already crossed paths with South American superstar Messi on one occasion in 2023, with the 31-year-old singer and actress among the A-list guests to have attended Inter Miami’s MLS clash with LAFC in California on September 4 – with a video of her reaction to a save which prevented Messi from hitting the net going viral.

The two Americans are splitting time in one position on the club level as they make their return to the international stage.

Weston McKennie said it in a joking tone, with his trademark smile on his face, but there was truth to his statement. Sat next to Tim Weah, his club and international teammate, McKennie offered a blunt assessment of their careers right now, all while managing to poke fun at the irony of the situation.

"You're looking at the starting right wing-back and the backup right wing-back right now!" he quipped. And that really is the best way to describe it right now. The current situation at Juventus sees the two U.S. men's national team stars competing for the same spot, one which neither of them are expected to play on the international level. Both McKennie and Weah see the fun in it all, and both are seemingly enjoying the chance to compete with and against someone that they've long called a friend.

It's a fun, short-term subplot. Weah, Juve's big summer signing, is expected to play in that wingback spot for years to come after the departure of Juan Cuadrado. McKennie, recently returned from his loan spell at Leeds, is hoping to play his way back into a long-term future in the midfield. In the here and now, if you tune into a Juve game, it's almost guaranteed that you'll see a USMNT star on the field making things happen on that right-hand side.

That's the short-term, though. What about the long? As both McKennie and Weah prepare for this 2026 World Cup cycle, there are questions about where and how they'll fit in with this USMNT. The 2022 cycle is over, and both played massive parts in the leadup to and after the World Cup but, as they both adjust to their own situations at the club level, their adaptation back to the USMNT is one of the storylines to watch throughout the coming year leading up to the Copa America.

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  2022 heroics and 2023 changes

  Both McKennie and Weah came into the fold following the USMNT's 2018 World Cup qualifying disaster, and both were ever-present on the road all the way to Qatar.

  The two were both starters for the USMNT leading up to and during the World Cup, with Weah famously scoring the opening goal in the tournament-opening draw with Wales. McKennie, meanwhile, was a key figure in the U.S. midfield, putting in a fantastic shift in the draw with England.

  However, as 2023 began, both found themselves in difficult places with their clubs. Never quite a starter at Lille, Weah began a transition to wing-back that would prove career-altering. McKennie, meanwhile, went out on loan to Leeds, having lost his place in the Juve midfield.

  McKennie's move to England to play alongside Tyler Adams and Brenden Aaronson did not go to plan. However, by returning to Juventus this summer, McKennie has been given the opportunity to link up with another USMNT teammate: Weah

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• Weah's move to Juve

  Weah's move to wing-back was basically due to an emergency. With Lille dealing with a slew of injuries, the club turned to Weah, who wasn't quite able to crack the club's starting XI on the wing due to his lack of goals.

  It was his time at wingback that caught Juve's attention, though, as the Italian giants quickly identified him as a player that could step right into their XI. With longtime starter Juan Cuadrado on his way out, the club paid a relatively cheap fee of €12 million ($13.15m/£10.3m) to sign Weah.

  The American jumped at the chance. Not only would a move to Juventus be a massive step up in his career, it would also give him a more feasible route to more playing time than he had at Lille. It would also give him a chance to play in a league he's dreamed of since childhood, having grown up hearing stories of his father, George, dominating with AC Milan.

  And finally, it gave him the chance to link up with McKennie, who has been key in helping him adapt to life in Turin.

  "I think it's definitely a big positive because we already have a pretty good understanding," he said. "I understand how he plays, he understands how I play, so our chemistry is really good. Now that we're on the same team training everyday, it's just going to make it even better when we come into U.S. camp. It's all very fluid, so hopefully that translates to the games.

  "We're just happy. We're happy to be in this moment. We're happy to have each other in Turin and in the national team, so we're just gonna take it step by step and enjoy."

  As for McKennie, he's relishing the chance to play with one of his teammates again. Despite generally feeling comfortable with life abroad due to a military-influenced upbringing that produced frequent relocations, McKennie is glad to have a friend like Weah alongside him in Turin.

  "We're together every day, obviously," McKenne said. "I know, outside of the field, that maybe I can be a little bit too much for him at some times! On the field, though, like he said, we have a good understanding of each other and coming into [USMNT] camp, it's good to have a travel partner."

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  Life at wing-back

  Since his arrival, Weah has been Juventus' primary right wing-back, starting two of the club's three games on the right-hand side. Thus far, he's thrived in the role, showing all of the attacking qualities that have made him so important for the USMNT.

  Pace is obviously one of Weah's big assets, and that is certainly important in that wide position, but the 23-year-old American is also comfortable when the ball does get to his feet. His crossing has looked improved during the start to the season, and he's never been afraid to take people on.

  "It's been interesting," Weah said of his adjustment to the position. "Last season, getting my first experience playing that position was fine. It was still very much a learning phase for me and coming into Juve, it was fun. It was huge.

  "Wes was helping a lot with just understanding a lot of things, but I think Juve was more of a defensive team last year and the club definitely brought me into to be more play more of an attacking role coming out of the back, which is there's something I love doing: making runs at the defense and just applying pressure. That's really fun.

  "[Juventus boss Massimiliano] Allegri has basically allowed me to do whatever I want while still keeping the importance to whatever technical work we have. It's not that different. I just have to defend a little bit more but I'm having fun. I'm basically doing the same things I'm doing as a winger, so it's definitely fun."

  As for McKennie, he started Juve's most recent match, a win over Empoli, after coming off the bench to replace Weah in each of Juve's first two games. As he said, thus far, he's Weah's backup, but he's done well in the role so far.

  McKennie is not as dynamic as Weah by any stretch, but he is an intelligent and physical presence. His ability on set pieces is world class, and he could have had a few chances on the back post this season if he had been spotted by teammates. While he doesn't have the on-ball ability of Weah, he is a better defender, which makes sense given his years spent in the midfield.

  Still, while Weah's situation is simple enough, McKennie's, in the long-term, isn't quite ideal, especially when it comes to the USMNT.

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  Differing USMNT roles

  For the USMNT's two upcoming friendlies, McKennie and Weah will almost certainly revert back to their familiar positions. McKennie will start in midfield, either in a two or three-man group, depending on the tactics. Weah will be played on the right-wing, with U.S. Soccer's press officer pointing out on Thursday that he is, in fact, listed as a forward among this group.

  "Obviously, our roles in the national team are a little bit different," McKennie said. "Here, I'm seen as an eight, Tim is seen as a winger. On our club team, we're right wing-back and right wing-back/midfielder, I don't really know!"

  For Weah, the transition will be relatively simple. He'll be asked to do many of the same things, just further up the field. He'll be asked to run down that side, create havoc and, at times, drop back a bit to help protect Sergino Dest when the PSV star goes on his own journeys forward.

  McKennie, too, can carry his skillset back and forth. He's not being asked to play in goal or anything; he's simply moving back to his favored position, the one he'd ideally like to be playing at the club level.

  "With us being able to play so many different positions and being able to adapt to so many situations, I think it's a good quality to have," McKennie said. "I don't think that we really stress that much about it. We both love one thing, that I know for sure: to win. We're those types of players that I feel are very unselfish and kind of feel like 'I want to do anything that I can to help the team win.'

  "Whether that's being supportive from the bench, whether that's playing out of position, whether that's not being on a roster, it doesn't really matter. The success of the team is most important, I believe.

  The two players aren't the least bit concerned about moving from one position to the other, and Gregg Berhalter likely won't be either. For Berhalter, the most important thing is to see as many of his players as possible on the field as much as possible.

  After this camp, though, the question becomes what that will look like for Weah and McKennie as they continue to split minutes.

Leeds United midfielder Kalvin Phillips has been linked with a shock summer move to Juventus, as his reputation continues to soar.

The Lowdown: Phillips shines for England

The 25-year-old has been exceptional for the Whites over a sustained period now, playing a major role in them returning to the Premier League.

Phillips has taken his club form with him to the international stage, producing a Man of the Match performance in England’s Euro 2020 opener against Croatia last weekend.

The midfielder is again expected to start when the Three Lions face Scotland on Friday night, looking a key man for the rest of the tournament.

The Latest: Juventus linked with move

Phillips’ form has seen his stock rise hugely in a short space of time and Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid have been linked with signing him.

Now, Juventus are also believed to be in the mix, with Tutto Juve claiming that the Serie A are keeping tabs on his current situation.

Manchester City and Tottenham are also mentioned as potential suitors, in what could become a bidding war for the Leeds hero.

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The Verdict: Expect him to stay put

The current links are predictable, considering Phillips is shining on a huge stage, but it would be a major shock if he departed Elland Road this summer.

He is a loyal player who will surely believe he still has unfinished business with the club who raised him, as they look to push towards the European places next season.

Should Leeds struggle to kick on in the next year or so, Phillips may then eye up a fresh challenge at a Champions League club. But for now he appears to be perfectly happy, and if he keeps performing like he is, the price will only increase from here, so there is no rush to cash in.

In other news, a pundit has given some interesting insight into one Leeds player – read more here. 

Every summer, GOAL will publish its exclusive list of the 25 players who have proven themselves truly elite by consistently producing top performances

World-class… It's an invisible but important tag, one that separates the good from the great. But it's such a subjective term. Every football fan has their own definition, their own set of criterion, leading to endless but thoroughly enjoyable debates in stadiums, dressing rooms, cafes, bars, pubs and clubs all across the world.

So, we at GOAL have decided to get in on the fun by compiling a list of the 25 players that we believe represent the game's elite, the best of the best, the women that have been producing stellar performances over a sustained period of time.

In order to avoid focusing solely on attackers – which, let's face it, nearly always happens when it comes to individual awards and accolades – we've decided that there must be at least three players from each position group (goalkeeper, defence, midfield and attack), but a maximum of nine from each.

We'll also be updating membership on an annual basis to take the preceding year's performances into account, meaning players will come and go from this most exclusive of footballing clubs.

But who makes this year's women's list? Who are the 25 members of the inaugural World-Class Club? Find out below, and be sure to express your approval – or outrage – in the comments…

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  Selma Bacha (Lyon)

  One of a number of top full-backs to have thrived in France in recent years, Bacha can operate on the left of the defence or further forward, and is fantastic in both roles. At 22 years old, she’s still only young and can get even better – but that she's a key part of Lyon's XI tells you all you need to know.

  Bacha has already got four Champions League titles to her name as a result and is so often a player who can deliver a real moment of quality in those big games, particularly with her crossing ability.

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  Ona Batlle (Barcelona)

  While still only 24 years old, Batlle is arguably the best player in the world in her position. There might not be a full-back on the planet that balances the defensive and attacking elements of that role better than she does, while her physical attributes developed well, too, during three years in England with Manchester United.

  That Barcelona, the European champions, saw it fit to bring Batlle back to the club this summer says all you need to know about how good she is.

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  Aitana Bonmati (Barcelona)

  Unsurprisingly, a number of Barcelona midfielders feature on this list, such is the club’s ability to form world-beating technicians in that area of the park. Bonmati was the pick of the lot in the 2022-23 season, with no player involved in more goals in the Women’s Champions League as the Catalans won a second title.

  She is not just about goals and assists, though. That Bonmati has a very well-rounded game, making her an asset defensively as well as in attack, is what makes her one of the best in the world.

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  Kadidiatou Diani (Paris Saint-Germain)

  Maybe because of Lyon’s dominance in France and Europe, PSG forward Diani hasn’t always got the credit she’s deserved, which is a shame because she’s one of the best in the business. With great speed, skill and decision-making, she provides wonderful service for her team-mates from out wide but, having hit double figures for league goals in each of the last five seasons, she's also a massive goal threat.

  With Marie-Antoinette Katoto out injured, Diani filled the No.9 role at PSG during the 2022-23 campaign and picked up the Golden Boot at its end, stepping up when her team needed her most.

Fulham are interested in a deal to bring Josh Windass to Craven Cottage this summer.

What’s the talk?

That’s according to a report by the Sheffield Star, who claim that the Cottagers are one of a number of Championship clubs considering a move for the 27-year-old attacking midfielder in the summer transfer window, with Fulham believed to have reaffirmed their interest.

The report goes on to state that, as a result of Sheffield Wednesday’s precarious financial situation, the interested parties are hoping to land the £1.44m-rated forward on something of a cut-price deal.

However, the Sheffield Star also claim that Fulham’s bid for Windass may be put on hold while the situation of Scott Parker’s future, with the 40-year-old being heavily linked with the Bournemouth job, is resolved.

Khan must move

While Sheffield Wednesday had something of a campaign to forget last season, with Darren Moore’s side unable to overcome a points deduction and subsequently suffering relegation to League One, Windass nevertheless impressed for the Owls.

Indeed, over his 41 Championship appearances last term, the £10k-per-week attacking midfielder scored nine goals, registered six assists and created seven big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.9 shots and making 0.7 key passes per game.

These returns saw Windass earn a seasonal SofaScore match rating of 6.80, ranking him as Wednesday’s seventh-best performer in the second tier of English football.

As such, should the 27-year-old – whom his father, Dean, dubbed an “explosive” player – go on to make a move to Craven Cottage this summer, the upgrade in quality between the respective squads of Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday would only appear to improve the chances of Windass going on to better his already impressive returns of goals and assists from last season.

So, it would appear highly advisable for Tony Khan to do all he can to get a deal over the line as quickly as possible for the potential bargain signing this summer, or else he risks missing out on the forward to one of Fulham’s Championship rivals.

In other news: Forget Parker: Khan can continue Fulham project by moving for “quality” 41 y/o

United are taking a close look at American football stadia during their tour of the U.S. as the club considers renovations to the Theatre of Dreams

Manchester United's pre-season tour of the United States is in full swing and Erik ten Hag's side got off to a flying start with an impressive 2-0 win over Arsenal at a sold-out MetLife Stadium in front of 85,000 fans, a record crowd for a football match in the state of New Jersey.

But while Ten Hag is fine tuning his squad in preparation for the looming Premier League campaign, senior United figures are also making the most of the experience. According to the , the club are analysing the stadiums they are playing in during the tour and looking for inspiration as they consider upgrading the historic, but outdated, Old Trafford.

United have appointed the architects who designed the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to come up with plans for their home ground, with Spurs' shiny and impressive ground, which opened in 2019, having been modelled on U.S. stadia and now hosts NFL matches annually.

As United gear up to play Real Madrid at the NRG Stadium in Houston before finishing their tour against Borussia Dortmund at Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium, GOAL takes a closer look at the arenas they have been playing in and the design features they could potentially mimic when they eventually renovate Old Trafford…

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  Moveable turf

  The Allegiant Stadium is the NFL's newest arena and became the new home of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020 after the franchise moved from Oakland to Sin City. The stadium cost an estimated $1.9 billion (£1.5bn) to build, and its construction took just under three years.

  Its most notable feature is a retractable pitch, allowing the two teams who call it home, the Raiders and UNLV Rebels, to play on different surfaces. There is a tray underneath the stadium, weighing 9,500 tonnes, which is called into action when the surface needs to be switched.

  The tray is powered using 72 electric motors, moving one pitch outside the stadium and the other into it. While the astroturf surface – favoured by the UNLV rebels – is being used, the grass field can receive natural sunlight and water.

  The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium also has a retractable pitch so it can host NFL matches as well as Spurs games. United could use a retractable pitch if they ever wish to rival Tottenham in hosting NFL games or hold other sporting events there.

  Old Trafford already hosts the Super League Grand Final each year, and in the past the match has left the turf in a rotten state. Having a retractable pitch could prevent that from happening in the future.

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  Energy from cigarette butts

  Yes, really. This is another feature of the Allegiant Stadium. Since the arena opened, more than 60,000 watts of energy have been created thanks to its cigarette waste-to-energy collection programme. The discarded cigarette butts are put through a combustion chamber to collect the ashes, which in turn are used to create power through a generator.

  As well as creating energy, the programme ensures the cigarettes do not get into the waterway and it reduces litter in the local area. And it has helped the stadium achieve top-tier sustainability status.

  Old Trafford is a smoke-free stadium, although fans still smoke outside it. However, with many supporters' smoking habits switching from cigarettes to vaping lately, this programme might struggle to get off the ground in Manchester.

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  Multiple sports arenas in one place

  When United arrive at the NRG Stadium in Houston to play Real Madrid, they will be flanked by sports arenas from all angles. The Astrodome, home to baseball World Series champions Houston Astros, is adjacent to the stadium, and just around the corner is the NRG Arena, an indoor venue which hosts livestock shows and rodeos.

  In the US it is quite common to have different sporting stadiums in the same vicinity, and the sight is also familiar in Manchester after United's rivals City completed work on their new training ground in 2014, moving from Carrington to just a stone's throw away from the Etihad Stadium.

  As well as being the place where Pep Guardiola puts his side through their paces each day, the City Football Academy houses the women's and youth teams' stadium and training pitches, giving the club all sorts of logistical advantages.

  United have floated the idea of constructing a smaller stadium next to the revamped Old Trafford which the women's team and academy sides could call home. That would allow them to move from their current site at Leigh Sports Village, which is a 40-minute drive from Old Trafford and very difficult to access via public transport.

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  Air conditioning and climate control

  The NRG Stadium and the Allegiant Stadium both benefit from air conditioning, although the latter's system is more modern than the former, which was built in 2002. The Las Vegas stadium is a fully enclosed, climate-controlled dome, and as well as air conditioning it provides heating, air purification and ventilation.

  The air conditioning will come in handy when United play Madrid in Houston, with temperatures set to reach 34 degrees Celsius, and especially when they face Dortmund in Las Vegas, where it could be as hot as 44 degrees Celsius.

  With Manchester experiencing one of the wettest and coldest Julys ever this year, air conditioning is unlikely to be a priority at a modernised Old Trafford. But then again, in this age of climate change and ever rising temperatures, you can never be too sure.

Liverpool could secure the man who can return them to the summit of English football after it was reported that Lautaro Martinez has been put up for sale by Inter.

What’s the story?

The Italian giants desperately need to raise a significant sum of cash through player sales this summer due to off-field issues, and the 23-year-old is one of the stars available for transfer over the coming months, according to The Guardian.

Liverpool have been linked with a move for Martinez in the past as Jurgen Klopp looked to add more firepower to his stuttering attack, meaning a move for the deadly striker could still be on the cards.

Klopp needs him

Martinez has been sensational since arriving at San Siro, scoring 49 goals and providing 20 assists in 132 appearances for the Nerazzurri.

The Argentina international played a pivotal part in Inter’s first Serie A title for 11 years in 2020/21 as the youngster formed an unstoppable strike partnership with Romelu Lukaku.

However, due to the Milanese outfit’s owners incurring financial trouble, the South American’s time in Italian football appears to be drawing to a close.

Martinez’s exploits at Inter haven’t gone unnoticed, though, with his impressing performances attracting the attention from the continent’s biggest clubs, as well as his international teammate Lionel Messi.

“He’s spectacular. He has impressive qualities. You could tell he was going to be a great player, and he is showing that,” said Messi.

“He’s very strong, really good one on one, scores a lot of goals, and in the area he fights with anyone, holds it up, he can turn, scrap to win it all on his own. He has a lot of quality. He’s very complete.”

Any player receiving such praise from arguably the world’s greatest ever footballer must be extremely talented, and that is definitely the case with Martinez.

Liverpool struggled in several areas of the pitch throughout the recently concluded campaign, although perhaps most surprisingly of all, the Reds’ attack suffered a severe drop-off in productivity.

While Mohamed Salah continued to put the ball in the back of the net on a regular basis, the same can’t be said about Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

Klopp was able to call upon the impressive Diogo Jota on several occasions to relieve the strain on Mane, but a lack of strength in depth up-front meant Firmino was rarely allowed a rest.

Therefore, the German manager needs a player like the £63 million rated Martinez this summer as the Anfield outfit aim to regain their Premier League crown, meaning director of football Michael Edwards must sanction a swoop for the highly sort after hitman.

And, in other news…Get rid: Klopp must ruthlessly axe £120k-p/w Liverpool flop, he’s not good enough