Klopp wants Werner at Liverpool more than ever (Sport Bild via Transfermarkt)
Jürgen Klopp has big plans for RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner, and only the current coronavirus apparently still stands in the way of Werner’s transfer Liverpool. Klopp normally meets prospective signings in person before committing so that he can get to know them better. According to Sport Bild at least, the inability to meet during the current crisis makes the transfer impossible.
Klopp intends to replace one of his current top three with Werner in his second year at Liverpool, probably Sadio Mané or Roberto Firmino.
Although Hansi Flick remains a fan of Werner’s, Bayern has not shown further interest in signing him.
Germany prohibits attended games until August 31 (kicker)
The minister presidents of the German states and chancellor Angela Merkel have reached an agreement to prohibit large events until August 31. That includes soccer matches. The measure means that there is no chance that fans may attend games prior to September, but it may still be possible to hold ghost games without fans.
The DFL has currently suspended the Bundesliga season until April 30. What happens after that date remains to be determined. Representatives of the top two tiers of the Bundesliga will meet virtually on April 23 to decide whether and, if so, how the season will resume.
Some new faces in PES
Data Pack 6.0 in @officialpes brought a brand new face to the #FCBayern team!
— FC Bayern US (@FCBayernUS) April 15, 2020
Hey @JoshuaZirkzee, you’re looking in #eFootballPES2020! https://t.co/lI90L6NWHu pic.twitter.com/GCrHMNnDTr
The US Development Academy is dead (MLS, The Athletic)
The coronavirus claimed another victim with a preexisting condition on Wednesday, the U.S. Soccer Development Academy which had served since 2007 to develop young players in the USA in coordination with Major League Soccer and other organizations. The Development Academy had already suspended its season and canceled the Spring Cup.
It is with profound disappointment that we have made the determination to end the operation of the U.S. Soccer Development Academy, effective immediately. pic.twitter.com/DB8Fr1Qkvu
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) April 15, 2020
That leaves the landscape for the development of American talent uncertain. MLS has announced a new youth competition for its club members and others that participated in the Development Academy.
The Athletic reports that there are some differences over the inclusivity of the MLS-led league and concerns about access:
Some MLS club executives...executives wanted an MLS-only league to ensure that all participant clubs would be at a certain standard. That model would have left vast geographic areas of the U.S. uncovered, however, creating an accessibility problem that prompted the ultimate decision to move toward a bigger, more inclusive model featuring non-MLS academies.
How things will turn out in the US is anything but certain. It may very well be a blessing that US Soccer will no longer be in charge of youth development in the US.
Rugani and Matuidi recover from coronavirus (Juventus.com)
Juventus confirm Daniele Rugani and Blaise Matuidi have both fully recovered from COVID-19 pic.twitter.com/zdrRC5ST4O
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 15, 2020
Kepa keeping the Premier League on top
Most individual errors leading to a goal...
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) April 15, 2020
LaLiga - 56
Serie A - 58
Ligue 1 - 70
Bundesliga - 75
Premier League - 105