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• Reggae Girl Chantelle Swaby inks two-year deal with Leicester City

  Jamaica's senior Reggae Girl Chantelle Swaby is set to realise a lifelong dream of playing in the Barclay's Women's Super League (WSL), as she was signed by Leicester City on a free transfer.

  Swaby, agreed to a two-year deal with Leicester City after her contract with French club FC Fluery expired recently. 

  The versatile player, who has been capped 38 times for Jamaica, is eager to hit the ground running at the King Power Stadium.

   

  “It feels great to have signed for Leicester City.  I’ve been wanting to come to the WSL for years now, but I just haven’t had the chance to, so I’m happy to be here and can’t wait to get started," she told the club website.

  "I know this will be a really good experience and a great challenge for me, and I'm really excited. Playing as the home team at King Power Stadium will be a whole different experience, and I'm really looking forward to getting started with my teammates and meet the supporters,” Swaby added.

  The 25-year-old made 33 appearances across two seasons and helped FC Fleury finish fifth in the French top-flight league last season. Prior to that, she represented American outfit Sky Blue FC and had a one-year stint with Rangers in the Scottish Women's Premier League, where she won the 2021–22 title.

  Interestingly, Reggae Boy Bobby Reid was recently picked up by Leicester City's male team following their promotion to the English Premier League (EPL).

• Seattle Sounders v Los Angeles FC: Hosts 'flying' with win in 'massive game', says Schmetzer

  The Seattle Sounders will be "flying" if they can beat Los Angeles FC on Saturday.

  That was the message from coach Brian Schmetzer, who is relishing a huge occasion at Lumen Field, where the Sounders have been outstanding.

  Seattle are on a five-game winning run in MLS, with four of those matches coming at home. They have lost in Seattle only once this year, back in April.

  After a slow start, there are now only five teams above them in the Western Conference, but one of those are LAFC.

  It was a defeat in Los Angeles that set in motion the Sounders' five-game winless run to start the campaign, while their 2023 season ended with a defeat to LAFC at Lumen Field.

  Seattle should not be short of motivation then, and Schmetzer is now shying away from the significance of this game.

  "Saturday is such a big game against LAFC," Schmetzer said. "Everyone needs to come out and show up.

  "This is a massive game for us. We've only lost twice in 18 games. That's pretty darn good if you ask me.

  "We come out with a result on Saturday, and we're flying."

  A win would close the gap between sixth-placed Seattle and second-placed LAFC to just four points, with this weekend's visitors wobbling in recent weeks against elite opposition.

  The performance in the midweek draw with Real Salt Lake was merely "a little better" than in the prior humbling 5-1 defeat to the Columbus Crew, according to coach Steve Cherundolo.

  "No, I was not happy with the performance [against RSL]," he said.

  LAFC had won nine of their previous 10 ahead of the Columbus game.

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak

  Rusnak assisted Jon Bell's first Seattle goal in the midweek win over St Louis City, continuing his fine form. That was his sixth consecutive home match in which he had registered a goal contribution.

  Obafemi Martins is the only Sounders player with a longer such streak in a single regular season, with a seven-game run in 2014.

  Los Angeles FC – Mateusz Bogusz

  Olivier Giroud officially became an LAFC player this week, but Bogusz has contributed handily while the team have waited for the World Cup winner to arrive.

  Bogusz has contributed to goals in each of his past five away matches, the longest active streak in MLS. Only Carlos Vela has had goal contributions in more consecutive road games in the regular season for LAFC (six matches in 2018).

  MATCH PREDICTION: LAFC WIN

  Across MLS and the US Open Cup, the Sounders have won six games in a row, their longest winning run since a streak of the same length ended in MLS Cup glory in 2019.

  But LAFC are the Sounders' bogey side right now. They have won three in a row against Seattle and are unbeaten in seven in this fixture.

  The Rave Green have not beaten LAFC since May 2021, and Saturday's visitors will hope to provide another reality check.

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Seattle Sounders – 32.1%
  Los Angeles FC – 42.5%
  Draw – 25.4%

• Potter 'ready' for management return and salutes Southgate amid England links

  Graham Potter says he feels "really ready, really excited" to return to football management, but would not comment on speculation linking him with the vacant England job.

  The former Chelsea boss has not been out of work since leaving the Blues in April 2023 after just seven months in charge at Stamford Bridge.

  Potter began his professional management career with Swedish side Ostersund, who he guided from the fourth tier into the top flight and Europa League during his seven-year spell.

  The former defender then spent a season with Swansea City, before a successful three-year stint with Brighton and Hove Albion.

  Speaking at Leeds Beckett University, where he was receiving an honorary doctorate, Potter revealed his desire to get back in the dugout.

  "Now, I'm in that good place where I'm happy to be ready and looking forward to the next challenge," he told Sky Sports.

  "I've had a great break. The journey from where I started to where I finished doesn't come for free. It involves moving to three countries, with a young family, and all that comes with being a football manager.

  "It was important for me to take a break, reflect and re-energise. It's been a good time to look at other things, other sports, other teams and visit places.

  "I feel really ready, really excited to be back when the right opportunity comes."

  Potter is one of several names linked with replacing Gareth Southgate, who resigned as England's head coach following their Euro 2024 final heartbreak against Spain.

  While the 49-year-old refused to discuss the possibility of him taking over the reins, he paid tribute to the outgoing Three Lions boss, who led them to successive European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final during his eight-year spell.

  "Today is not the day to speak about [the England vacancy]," he added. "I'm proud of the job Gareth Southgate did.

  "As an Englishman in football, I don't think there's anybody who has more respect than he has; how he conducted himself, him and his staff, qualifying for tournaments, going deep into tournaments, getting the country behind the team.

  "He's done an amazing job. I'd like to wish him well. I hope he has a nice break, and wish him well for whatever he decides to do next."