Raiders hire Mike Sullivan as quarterbacks coach to develop Fernando Mendoza

Clint Kubiak changed his mind.

Three weeks after the Las Vegas Raiders announced their coaching staff would be without a quarterbacks coach – a decision that raised eyebrows considering the decision was coming on April 23 – Kubiak has returned and filled the spot. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo, the Raiders are hiring longtime NFL assistant Mike Sullivan for the role.

Sullivan, 59, has been a quarterbacks coach in this league four times: twice with the New York Giants, once with the Denver Broncos, and most recently with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2021-23. He also has experience as an offensive coordinator with the Buccaneers and Giants. He was set to join Rutgers as a senior offensive assistant before coming back to Las Vegas. The two have history, as Sullivan and Kubiak were on the same Broncos staff in 2018.

Rent matters for an obvious reason. Fernando Mendoza is almost certainly walking through that door as the No. 1 pick in Pittsburgh on April 23 and the Raiders have a complicated history developing young quarterbacks. Sullivan helped bring along Eli Manning during New York’s 2011 Super Bowl run. He has done this before also.

When I wrote about this vacancy in early March, the thinking around the organization was that Kubiak, along with OC Andrew Janko and assistant head coach Mike McCoy, had enough experienced offensive minds in the building to cover the position. This is still true. But adding Sullivan doesn’t hurt. It just means Mendoza has another voice – a dedicated one – when the real work begins.

The question mark on the staff in 2026 was always Rob Leonard on defense, not the QB room. Sullivan’s appointment does not change that. But for a franchise that has often botched quarterback development, getting this piece right matters. Kubiak called. Now we’ll see what Sullivan does with it.

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“Carlos Soler 3.0” – Player explains how he helped West Ham develop the best version of themselves

Real Sociedad’s Carlos Soler says West Ham United helped him improve his game.

The Spain international is a product of Valencia’s academy and has spent six years with their first team.

He left the Mestalla for Paris Saint-Germain in September 2022 and played 1,530 minutes in 35 matches in his first season. In his second season, PSG appointed Luis Enrique.

The former West Ham player played under his compatriot for the national team, but did not enjoy regular minutes under Enrique during the 2023/24 season. Therefore, PSG sent him on loan to the Premier League team in August 2024.

Julen Lopetegui was the manager at West Ham at the time and Soler played 18 matches under his command. The Hammers parted ways with him in January 2025 and appointed Graham Potter as his successor.

Soler scored one goal and provided one assist in 1,487 minutes in 33 matches for West Ham. Below are his statistics per game in the Premier League.

premier league statistics
Big chances created per season6
key passes0.2
tackle0.5
interception0.3
possession won [final third]0,2
ball retrieval2.1

In December 2024, the 29-year-old said he was happy And wanted to remain at West Ham. However, he expressed doubt in March 2025, and the English club ultimately decided against making his stay permanent.

Earlier this month, Soler revealed that his time at West Ham was not successful as it coincided with one of his worst seasons.

“My role at PSG and at West Ham was secondary. I was there for only one season, and it coincided with one of the club’s worst seasons,” He Said.

Differing opinions on West Ham spell

Friday edition of As Has published an interview with Carlos Soler. He gives a different perspective on how his time with West Ham helped him develop his game.

The Spaniard has scored four goals and provided two assists in 29 appearances so far for Real Sociedad. AS asked if they were talking to the same Carlos of Valencia in terms of form? And this is where he talks about West Ham.

“No, because Valencia’s Soler was younger, less mature and less experienced. It is true that at my age, I was already one of the captains of the team. I had been an important player for several seasons,” He said.

“I made the move to Paris. I stayed there for two years, then I moved to London and that helped me develop as a player. Maybe not in terms of playing time. This wasn’t what I expected when I went to Paris or London, but by all means. Leaving the house, being alone with your partner, having different experiences. Being in other leagues, in other locker rooms has helped me a lot.

“This version, I don’t know what to call it, ‘Carlos Soler 3.0’, has nothing to do with the first one at Valencia. I understand the comparisons in terms of statistics, minutes played, etc., but I honestly believe that the current version is a better version.”

Solar contracts, prices and agent information

The Spaniard has signed a contract until 2029, with the option of a further year with the La Liga side and agency AS1 manages his future.

Although Soler’s playing time has improved, his evaluation has not. transfermarket He was valued at €20m when he joined West Ham and will drop to €18m in May 2025.

Since joining La Real, it fell to €12m and then to €8m in December.

#Carlos #Soler #Player #explains #helped #West #Ham #develop #version

“All roads lead to Alisson” – Building plans for the Liverpool keeper, believing move could rapidly develop

Liverpool could once again find themselves drawn into the Italian goalkeeper market this summer. Juventus are increasingly looking to Alisson Becker as the central solution to their problems between the posts.

The Brazilian has been linked with the Turin club in recent weeksInitially as a substitute for Tottenham’s Guglielmo Vicario. However, it seems that talks in Italy have moved beyond that stage. Inside Juventus, talk about rebuilding the goalkeeping department is increasingly pointing towards Liverpool being the No. 1.

Juventus want to start a new cycle and avoid another reconstruction that fails to provide stability. For many inside the club, that reset starts with the goalkeeper position.

The idea has now also gained more popularity in Italy as a local outlet. magazine There have been suggestions that the Brazilian keeper may not remain at the center of Liverpool’s long-term project. For the Bianconeri, as they say, “all roads lead to Alisson”.

He still has a contract at Anfield until 2027, so there is no immediate pressure for a change. However, speculation regarding Liverpool’s succession planning has inevitably fueled discussion in Serie A.

Spalletti revives connection idea

One factor that helped trigger this idea is Luciano Spalletti.

The Italian manager worked with Alisson during his time at Roma. This was before the goalkeeper’s €75m (£64m) transfer to Liverpool in 2018. During that period, Alisson established the form that would later make him one of the Premier League’s most reliable goalkeepers.

That existing relationship is now being seen as a potential lever in Italy. If Juventus were able to initiate negotiations, Spalletti is seen as someone who could help convince the player to consider a move.

Alisson, now 33, remains under contract with Liverpool until 2027 and remains Arne Slot’s first-choice replacement whenever he is fit. There is no suggestion that Liverpool are actively courting him.

Yet, the broader context of the club’s succession planning has not gone unnoticed.

salary and succession

The latest Italian report claims that the financial side of a potential deal would not be prohibitive for Juventus.

Alisson earns around €6m (£5.1m) per season, a figure considered manageable in Turin. Importantly, it would remain below the club’s current salary cap of around €7m (£6m). That limit is set by Kenan Yildiz’s contract.

That combination – experience, availability and financial feasibility – is why Alison has quickly emerged as the idea that many discuss.

On Liverpool’s side, the question remains of timing. Sporting director Richard Hughes approved the signing of Mamardashvili As part of the club’s future plans. However, the Brazilian remains one of the most reliable goalkeepers in world football.

At the moment, there is no sign that Liverpool are ready to open the door. However, the feeling inside Juventus is that if Liverpool were ever willing to discuss a sale and Spalletti managed to convince the goalkeeper, talks could move forward quickly.

In other words, while there is nothing imminent yet, the idea of ​​Alisson becoming Juventus’ next No. 1 is no longer being considered a distant scenario in Italy.

#roads #lead #Alisson #Building #plans #Liverpool #keeper #believing #move #rapidly #develop

Arsenal €10 million offer for Brazilian may change – needs loan to develop

Arsenal have been monitoring Palmeiras defender Luis Benedetti for months, but the Brazilian club could send the young player on loan to gain more experience before any move to Europe.

is according to bolavipWho report that Palmeiras are discussing a possible loan for the 19-year-old centre-back to another Brazilian side, Athletico Paranaense. The move is being considered internally as a way to give the defender more consistent playing time.

Benedetti is already in manager Abel Ferreira’s senior team. However, strong competition in Palmeiras’ defense has limited his opportunities this season.

Loan option emerges in development planning

Bolavip explains that Palmeiras see loans as part of their wider development strategy for young players. The club wants Benedetti to gain regular minutes at a high level.

Negotiations with Athletico continue. The goal is to structure a deal that guarantees the defender’s continued participation during the season.

Internally, Palmeiras believes this type of experience can accelerate his development. The hope is that he will return more prepared to compete for a place in the first team.

To date, Benedetti has made 16 appearances for the Palmeiras senior team. He has scored once and has accumulated nearly 1,000 minutes.

European interests still part of the picture

While the loan idea is being discussed, the defender’s situation has also attracted interest from Europe. Arsenal are among the clubs Who have followed the centre-back.

Brazilian reports previously claimed the Premier League side had hinted at a possible offer around €10m (£8.6m). Palmeiras refused to start negotiations at that level.

The Brazilian club’s stance remains consistent. Benedetti is under contract until 2029 and has a €100m (£86m) release clause.

Our view: Could make sense for loan before PL move

From Arsenal’s perspective, waiting may actually be the most logical outcome. Benedetti is still not a regular starter at Palmeiras. This alone suggests that a direct jump into Premier League football at this stage would be premature.

Therefore, the loan to Athletico could be useful for everyone involved. Regular minutes will allow the defender to develop physically and tactically.

If he performs well with more responsibility, his profile can rise rapidly. In that scenario, Arsenal – or other European clubs – would evaluate a more ready player in the near future.

#Arsenal #million #offer #Brazilian #change #loan #develop