4:56 AM ET The FA Cup third round begins on Friday with Swindon Town hosting Manchester City — (stream all games LIVE on ESPN+ in the U.S.) — and as England‘s biggest teams enter the competition, it means we’ll get a good look at the next generation of young stars set to break through. The
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4:00 AM ET Ralf Rangnick is dealing with increased player unrest at Manchester United — ESPN’s Insider Notebook has the latest. PLUS: Ed Woodward’s big United regret. Jump to: Woodward’s Kane disappointment | Benzema shirt in demand at Alcoyano | Ruthless Conte plans major Spurs clear-out | Red card romance Rangnick battling with Man United’s
3:12 AM ET Associated Press Midfielder Sebastian Lletget, defender Miles Robinson, forward Paul Arriola and goalkeeper Sean Johnson are rejoining the USMNT for a 19-man training camp ahead of the next World Cup qualifiers. The four were given time off after the Major League Soccer season and missed last month’s exhibition against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
4:06 AM ET Sam Marsden Moises Llorens Aston Villa have agreed a deal to sign former Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho on loan from Barcelona until the end of the season, the Premier League club announced on Friday. Sources told ESPN that five Premier League sides held talks with Coutinho’s camp, with Villa and one other
3:06 AM ET Alex Kirkland Rodrigo Faez Newcastle United have completed the signing of Kieran Trippier from Atletico Madrid, the club announced on Friday. The England full-back returns to the Premier League after a successful two-and-a-half year spell in Spain. – Stream ESPN FC Daily on ESPN+ (U.S. only)– Don’t have ESPN? Get instant access
4:52 AM ET Arsenal’s jersey will not be available for sale and instead will be donated to good causes. Adidas Arsenal will wear a once-off all-white kit for their FA Cup tie against Nottingham Forest on Sunday in a bid to raise awareness about the high levels of knife crime among young people in London. The
1:42 PM ET Caitlin Murray FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, insist that their brewing plan for a biennial World Cup will be a good thing for soccer. The problem is that when they say that, they seem to be talking about the men’s side of the sport. As usual with FIFA, the women’s game
5:34 PM ET Atletico Madrid thrashed third-tier Rayo Majadahonda 5-0 away in the Copa del Rey to reach the round of 16 on Thursday. – ESPN+ viewers’ guide: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, FA Cup, more A year after Atleti suffered a humiliating 1-0 loss to Unio Esportiva Cornella in the last-32, manager Diego Simeone played a
7:25 AM ET Rob DawsonCorrespondent Manchester City are dealing with an outbreak of COVID-19 which has forced 21 players and staff to isolate, including manager Pep Guardiola. City announced on Thursday that Guardiola and assistant Juanma Lillo have both returned positive tests ahead of the FA Cup third round tie at Swindon Town. – Stream
7:00 AM ET Ed Woodward will leave his role as executive vice-chairman at Manchester United at the end of January, nine months after announcing his intention to step down from the position in the wake of the failed attempt by several European clubs — including United — to launch a breakaway Super League. The 50-year-old,