Jesse Lingard has said the "love" he felt from Nottingham Forest is what persuaded him to join the newly-promoted side.
Forest are back in the Premier League for the first time since the 1998-99 season, and have signed a number of new players ahead of the upcoming campaign.
The capture of Lingard on a free transfer from Manchester United raised some eyebrows, with the England international reportedly turning down interest from abroad as well as from Everton and former loan club West Ham.
However, Lingard has explained that the efforts made by Forest's owners and manager Steve Cooper to sign him is what led to him making the decision to move to the City Ground.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Lingard said: "I could have gone abroad for a lot of money but I wanted to stay in the Premier League.
"[The club's owners] wanted to come to my house and bring me to London in quick succession to try to get the deal done.
"The manager and owners have been great with me – they've shown the love and intent to get me to the club.
"When I see that sort of love, of course I am going to say 'yes', but it had to be the right deal for me and my family.
"I can see the project they're building and it's going to look good this season. I feel a positive vibe around the camp."
United academy product Lingard struggled to make his mark at Old Trafford last season, starting just twice in the Premier League across the 2021-22 campaign.
The 29-year-old made 22 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice, and was repeatedly linked with a move back to West Ham, where he enjoyed a productive loan spell in the second half of the 2020-21 season, finding the net nine times in 16 top-flight appearances.
Lingard will be hoping to force his way back into Gareth Southgate's England squad ahead of the World Cup in Qatar later this year, and said his main aim now is to have regular football, adding: "Personal goals – it's regular football, as that's how you get the best out of me.
"I've always wanted to be a leader. Over the years, I have become more vocal in the changing room. I am looking to continue that this season.
"I can speak to the younger lads who have never played in the Premier League. It's such a special club and for me to be a part of it. I'm raring to go and am so excited now."
Austin FC v Portland Timbers: Neville wants more from improving visitors
Phil Neville is pleased with the Portland Timbers' recent form but admits they still have a lot to work on as they prepare to face Austin FC on Wednesday.
After a run of nine games without a win in MLS, Portland have now won two of their last three outings, beating Sporting Kansas City 2-1 on Saturday.
That win moved them up to 16 points in the Western Conference, and the Timbers are now just one point behind the ninth-placed Seattle Sounders in a playoff place.
Neville was pleased with his side's reaction to a recent defeat to Minnesota United and is looking forward to building on their upturn.
"We've got two wins out of [last] three and it's what we expect, what we want. We want to keep improving. I think we've seen improvements over the last two or three weeks," he said.
"This group cares, this club cares for its players. And you can never kid a supporter and I think ours realise that we need their help - they did it against [Sporting Kansas City].
"We're building some momentum and it's a nine-point week, a week where you can move. It's a week where you can gain momentum.
"Every game in this league is difficult and now we've got to go on the road to one of the top teams and get a result there."
Austin are unbeaten in their last three matches and sit in fifth place with 23 points. Josh Wolff's side can keep the pressure on the teams above them with another three points at home.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Austin FC – Brendan Hines-Ike
Austin attempted just five shots in their draw with San Jose on Saturday, scoring with their only shot on target, a Brendan Hines-Ike header in the 44th minute. It was the first goal the defender has scored this season.
Portland Timbers – Evander
Evander recorded a goal and an assist in the Timbers' win over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday, his fourth game with at least one of each this year.
He is the second Timbers player with four games with a goal and an assist in a single season after Diego Valeri, who did so three times (2013, 2017, 2019).
MATCH PREDICTION – AUSTIN FC WIN
Austin have won five straight home matches for the first time in club history. Austin have scored in 20 straight home matches in all competitions dating back to last May 31, also the longest streak in club history.
Portland have won four of their last five matches against Austin (one draw) after the Verde won each of the first two meetings. The Timbers have won on their last two visits to Austin, having only managed two wins in their other 30 regular-season matches in Texas.
However, the Timbers are winless in seven straight away matches (two draws, five defeats) including losing the last three in a row. Portland have not had a longer road losing streak in over five years, since losing five straight on their travels in March-April 2019.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Austin FC – 42.4%
Draw – 24.8%
Portland Timbers – 32.8%
Chicago Fire v Orlando City: Lack of goals concerning for Pareja
Oscar Pareja has admitted Orlando City's lack of goals in recent weeks is a cause for concern as they aim to change that against the Chicago Fire on Wednesday.
The Lions have won two of their last five matches but alternated between hitting the back of the net and failing to score during that run, getting shut out by Columbus Crew on Saturday.
Orlando are currently 10th in the Eastern Conference, two points off the playoffs, and Pareja hopes his side can add a more clinical edge against Chicago to close that gap.
"[Not scoring] is a concern, especially when you don't have the accuracy to cross or to find somebody in the box. Or if somebody is in the box but isn't precise to finish it off," Pareja said.
"The concern in the week is how can we polish them. But we have scored before, and we were collecting some games where the strikers start scoring. It's day by day, but today we need to be worried about it."
Chicago sit second from the bottom with just 11 points after only winning two games this season.
The Fire have failed to win any of their previous eight matches but snapped a four-game losing streak with their 1-1 draw against D.C. United at the weekend.
"It's about consistency now to keep going," Frank Klopas said. "We have the level, we've shown it.
"We've got to do it consistently, but [Saturday] was a step in the right direction with the attitude, the mentality, the fight with the group and playing really good football and creating good chances.
"[One] step at a time, we take it, we regroup, and now we need to come out with even more energy on Wednesday."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Chicago Fire – Kellyn Acosta
Acosta scored his second goal for the Fire on Saturday, with both coming from outside the box. The American has scored eight goals from outside the box in his regular-season MLS career, with four coming from his right foot and four from his left.
Orlando City – Nicolas Lodeiro
Orlando have scored nine goals on the road this season, with Lodeiro recording assists on five of them. Lodeiro has 38 career regular-season assists on the road, the most among active MLS players and seventh-most in MLS history.
MATCH PREDICTION – ORLANDO CITY WIN
Orlando have won four of their last five meetings with the Fire (one draw), including the last three in a row. Prior to this run, Orlando had won just three of 14 matches against Chicago (five draws, six losses) in all competitions since joining MLS in 2015.
Orlando have also won three of their last four regular-season road games (one draw), including back-to-back wins over the Philadelphia Union and San Jose Earthquakes. This is the Lions' ninth set of consecutive away wins in MLS league play, though they've never won three in a row on the road before.
Meanwhile, Chicago ended a four-match losing streak with a 1-1 draw against D.C. United on Saturday. Still, the Fire have a club record-low 11 points after 15 matches, a total only one team since 2000 has overcome to reach the playoffs: Inter Miami in the extended playoffs of 2020.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Chicago Fire – 32.1%
Draw – 27.9%
Orlando City – 40%
Tottenham bring Werner back on loan for 2024-25
Tottenham have agreed another loan deal with RB Leipzig for Timo Werner to remain at the club for 2024-25, with the club holding an option to make the move permanent next year.
Werner joined Spurs on loan in January and immediately assumed an important role in Ange Postecoglou's team, contributing two goals and three assists in 14 appearances in all competitions.
He saw his season ended prematurely by a hamstring injury in May, but Tottenham always appeared keen to keep him at the club for next season.
Postecoglou's side will play in the Europa League in 2024-25 after finishing fifth in the Premier League, and Werner will be an option across the frontline again next season.
Reports suggest Tottenham could have made the move permanent this year for £15million, but the extended loan deal includes a buy clause estimated at £8.5million.
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