Wednesday cannon fodder: favorite sponsorship recall

Premier League/England

Liverpool: Boston’s blueprint has brought soccer silverware back
The team’s American owners believe they’re just getting started.

Kieran Trippier: Tottenham defender unsure on Spurs future - BBC Sport
Tottenham’s Kieran Trippier “doesn’t know” whether he will stay at the club, following reports linking him with a move to Serie A.

Sarri admits to missing Italy amid growing Juve reports - Football365
Maurizio Sarri admitted he misses Italy amid growing reports he will leave Chelsea to become Juventus boss.

Is Virgil van Dijk now the favourite for this year’s Ballon d’Or? | FourFourTwo
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the top spots for the past decade.

Sky: Lo Celso wants Tottenham move - Cartilage Free Captain
So much for Spurs not being active in the transfer market.

Nick Hornby: Was Emery’s first season at Arsenal better than Wenger’s last? (Spoiler alert: Not really)
Arsenal’s first season under Emery proved, once again, that the Gunners will always flake out when it matters, no matter who’s playing or coaching.

England: Football Association agrees £50m sponsorship deal with BT - BBC Sport
The Football Association announces a five-year sponsorship deal worth around £50m with BT.

Europe

Emmanuel Macron angers UEFA president over UCL plan critique | SI.com
UEFA to Macron: stay in your lane

Santi Cazorla stunned by Spain recall aged 34 and 1,299 days after last cap | Football | The Guardian
Santi Cazorla has described his return to the Spain squad as “unthinkable”, 1,299 days after he last played for the national side.

Julen Lopetegui: Sevilla appoint former Real Madrid and Spain manager - BBC Sport
Former Spain and Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui is appointed as Sevilla manager on a three-year contract.

Valladolid v Valencia on final day of La Liga ‘was fixed’ | Football | The Guardian
This seems fine

I love this so much:

MLS/Americas

USWNT fights for equal pay as team begins Women’s World Cup - Washington Post
The U.S. women’s soccer team, in France for the World Cup, has a big challenge back home: a battle against gender discrimination.

USA upset France with late goals to return to U-20 World Cup last eight | Football | The Guardian
The United States reached the last eight of a third straight U-20 World Cup after scoring a pair of late goals in a 3-2 victory to eliminate France.

Are the Portland Thorns the ideal template for a women’s football club? | Football | The Guardian
The Thorns attracted 19,000 fans to their home opener, and that figure was no anomaly.

Rest of the World

‘Is it too much to ask?’ Matildas take fight to Fifa over fair Women’s World Cup pay | Football | The Guardian
Players’ union demands an immediate doubling of prize money at the World Cup.