Man City Closes in on Replacement for Mahrez After Reportedly Reaching Agreement to Sign Jeremy Doku 

Belgium's Jeremy Doku in action during the Euro 2024 group F qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Austria at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, June 17, 2023. (AP)
Belgium's Jeremy Doku in action during the Euro 2024 group F qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Austria at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, June 17, 2023. (AP)
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Man City Closes in on Replacement for Mahrez After Reportedly Reaching Agreement to Sign Jeremy Doku 

Belgium's Jeremy Doku in action during the Euro 2024 group F qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Austria at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, June 17, 2023. (AP)
Belgium's Jeremy Doku in action during the Euro 2024 group F qualifying soccer match between Belgium and Austria at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, June 17, 2023. (AP)

Manchester City looks to have found a replacement for Riyad Mahrez with only a few days left in Europe’s summer transfer window.

City and French team Rennes have reportedly reached agreement on a fee for the transfer of Belgium winger Jeremy Doku, who will cost the English and European champions 65 million euros ($71 million) if he passes a medical examination.

Neither club has commented officially about the potential transfer.

The 21-year-old Doku is a fast and skillful winger who has played for Rennes since 2020. Before that, he was at Anderlecht.

City has been searching for an extra attacker to add to the squad after selling Mahrez to Saudi Arabian team Al-Ahli last month.

Defender Josko Gvardiol and midfielder Mateo Kovacic are City’s two signings so far in this transfer window, which closes on Sept. 1.



Gustavsson Out as Matildas Coach After Australia Olympic Exit 

Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson sits on the bench prior to a women's group B soccer match between Zambia and Australia at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nice, France. (AP)
Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson sits on the bench prior to a women's group B soccer match between Zambia and Australia at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nice, France. (AP)
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Gustavsson Out as Matildas Coach After Australia Olympic Exit 

Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson sits on the bench prior to a women's group B soccer match between Zambia and Australia at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nice, France. (AP)
Australia head coach Tony Gustavsson sits on the bench prior to a women's group B soccer match between Zambia and Australia at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Sunday, July 28, 2024, in Nice, France. (AP)

Football Australia on Thursday parted ways with Matildas head coach Tony Gustavsson, following a disastrous Olympic campaign that saw them fail to reach the quarter-finals.

Gustavsson, 50, leaves after four years in charge.

"We thank him for his strong contribution, passion and commitment during that time and wish him every success for the future," Football Australia chief executive James Johnson said in a statement.

The process to find Gustavsson's replacement would "commence immediately", Johnson added.

A 2-1 Olympic defeat to the United States sealed the Matildas' earliest exit from an Olympic Games since their debut in 2000.

It is a sharp fall from grace for the Australian team which finished fourth in Tokyo three years ago.

Under Gustavsson's stewardship, Australia had also reached the semi-finals of last year's Women's World Cup, which they co-hosted with New Zealand.

Australia lost their opening game in Paris 3-0 to Germany and despite bouncing back with a 6-5 win over Zambia, defeat to the United States sealed their exit.

Their faint hopes of scraping into the quarter-finals as one of the best third-placed teams ended when Canada beat Colombia 1-0.

Defending champions Canada went through instead despite being docked six points for a spying scandal.

Canadian head coach Bev Priestman was sent home and hit with a one-year ban from football after a member of her coaching staff used a drone to spy on a New Zealand training session before their opening match.

"It has been a great honor and privilege to have been able to be the head coach of the Matildas over the past four years," Gustavsson said in a statement.

"Australian football will be forever in my heart, and I will be watching on and cheering on your success in the future."