MINNEAPOLIS -- In a private moment last week, Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson sent a text message to one of his heroes. Jefferson had heard that Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss was being treated for cancer, and he wanted to wish him good luck.

A few days later, he made that tribute public. Jefferson gave Moss a shoutout Monday night after catching a 7-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter of the Vikings' 30-12 victory over the Chicago Bears, looking into the ESPN camera and shouting: "We love you, Randy. That's for you."

After the game, Jefferson spoke in heartfelt tones in the Vikings' locker room.

"I'm grateful for what he has done for this game," Jefferson said while wearing a purple replica Moss jersey, "and what he has done for me as a kid. Just watching him and being a fan of him, I've always got to show love to him."

Moss announced Friday that he had undergone a six-hour surgery to remove a cancerous mass from his bile duct, after earlier having a stent placed in his liver. He said he was hospitalized for six days and would be undergoing radiation and chemotherapy treatment while taking a leave from his role as an analyst on ESPN's "Sunday NFL Countdown."

The Vikings opened Monday night's game by sending two of Moss' former teammates, Cris Carter and Jake Reed, to midfield as honorary captains during the coin toss. Each held one side of a Moss jersey, prompting him to respond via X: "LUV U ALL."

LUV U ALL!#letsmosscancer https://t.co/925w4LJhNN

Randy Moss (@RandyMoss) December 17, 2024

"It was amazing seeing those guys," Jefferson said. "Those are the guys before us. Those are the big three before me, [Jalen Nailor] and [Jordan Addison] came in. ... They were brothers when they were playing and still are. It's great to see the amount of love they still have for each other."

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell, who was Moss' teammate in 2008 when both were with the New England Patriots, said the Vikings met internally last week to decide how to honor him.

"You could feel the love for him in the building tonight," O'Connell said "He means the world to this organization. His name is up in the rafters in the Ring of Honor, He's a Hall of Famer ... and we're behind him every step of the way. Care about him, love him. We just wanted to do whatever we could with the platform of 'Monday Night Football.' Hopefully, he was watching and if it gave him any joy at all, it was well worth it because that's how we feel about him."

LAS VEGAS -- The Atlanta Falcons snapped their four-game losing streak and kept their hopes of winning the NFC South alive Monday night after their 15-9 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. But the team still has a glaring issue: its quarterback play.

Kirk Cousins was 11-of-17 for 112 yards with one touchdown and one interception in a game the Falcons leaned heavily on their rushing attack. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier combined for 34 carries.

Cousins has nine interceptions in his past five games with just a single touchdown pass during that span. His first-quarter, 30-yard lob to wide receiver Drake London was his first touchdown pass since Week 9 -- when the Falcons were 6-3 and in control of their division.

"He's got to play better and obviously, you got to go back, you got to get to look at everything," Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. "But he wants to play better. He's got to play better. We've got to find a way to get him to play better."

Morris did not say he was ready to make a switch at quarterback. The Falcons drafted quarterback Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall pick in the NFL draft in April, a few weeks after signing Cousins to a four-year, $180 million free-agent contract.

Atlanta (7-7) focused so heavily on the running game that Cousins did not throw on first down in the first half. It was the first time that has occurred in his 13-year career.

Cousins threw two interceptions against the Minnesota Vikings last week, but had 344 yards through the air. Those big plays were not there against the Raiders and the Falcons went 4-of-13 on third down.

Morris said Cousins showed improvement against the Vikings, coming off a four-interception performance against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 13. When asked if Monday was an improvement or regression for him, Cousins said it was "a little of both" and the biggest issue for him right now is "decision-making."

"So that you're not putting the ball in harm's way and not trying to be too aggressive," Cousins said. "And I think that's really the key. Protect the football."

It was the fewest number of interceptions he has thrown in three games and Cousins had no fumbles. He leads the league in both categories -- 16 and 12 (tied with Baker Mayfield), respectively. But certainly, the outing was not up to his standards, either.

When Cousins was asked about Morris' remarks that he needed to play better, the quarterback said: "I don't think that's a mystery."

"I think the last few weeks I would say I need to play better," Cousins said. "Raheem says it, but it's stating the obvious, and every week you kind of go through your process and you plan to go out there and play the very best you can. And so, this week will be no different."

MINNEAPOLIS -- This was the week the Minnesota Vikings arrived. A team roundly projected to finish with a losing record because of a pending quarterback transition has instead put itself in the conversation for the best team in the NFC. After clinching a playoff spot over the weekend, the Vikings dispatched the Chicago Bears in a thorough 30-12 beating Monday night at U.S. Bank Stadium, sending the Bears to their eighth consecutive defeat.

The Vikings' victory lifted them to 12-2 and into a statistical tie with the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles in the conference. The Vikings now have a chance to secure the NFC North title by winning their final three games. If they do, the No. 1 overall seed in the conference will be within their grasp, depending on the Eagles' performance over that period and how several tiebreakers play out.

The Vikings' defense held the Bears without a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter, after they had replaced many of their starters. And to demonstrate how well rounded their offense has become, the Vikings got rushing touchdowns from tailbacks Aaron Jones and Cam Akers, the first time they have had more than one touchdown on the ground in a game this season.

Minnesota Vikings (12-2)

QB breakdown: After a week of intense public discussion about his future, quarterback Sam Darnold had one of his least accurate games of the season. He finished with 16 incompletions, his second most in a game for the Vikings. It didn't help that receiver Justin Jefferson dropped a sure touchdown pass in the second quarter, but ESPN Research credited Darnold with six off-target throws, tied for his second most in a game in 2024.

Eye-popping stat: According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Jefferson was more open on his first-quarter touchdown than he had been on any of the previous 20 touchdowns he has scored on throws into the end zone. Jefferson had 4 yards of separation from the nearest Bears defender on the 7-yard catch.

Troubling trend: Right tackle Brian O'Neill, who according to Vikings coaches has been having one of the best seasons of his career, suffered a right knee injury in the first half and was on and off the field for the rest of the game. The Vikings struggled to protect Darnold when O'Neill was sidelined, and with left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) already out for the season, O'Neill's ongoing availability appears quite important. -- Kevin Seifert

Next game: at Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, Sunday)

Chicago Bears (4-10)

A week of promises and declarations that a faster start could be achieved with a shrewder game plan and better execution yielded the same result for the Bears.

Chicago's eighth straight loss revealed an overmatched offense and a defense that continued to allow too many explosive plays.

Everything seemed self-inflicted for the Bears, highlighted by their longest drive of the night -- 62 yards -- that stalled at Minnesota's 11-yard line after a rushing touchdown was wiped away by an illegal substitution. This listless performance is nothing new for Chicago, which faces three playoff teams (Detroit, Seattle and Green Bay) to end the season.

QB breakdown: Caleb Williams' exasperation on the bench after taking a heavy hit in the second half summed up another frustrating performance. The rookie averaged 0.6 air yards per attempt in the first half. The progress Williams had made during Chicago's first run against its NFC North opponents seems like it's slipping away after he was off target on 17% of his throws, which is slightly below his season average (22%).

Troubling trend: First-half woes. The Bears went into halftime scoreless for a third straight week after twice turning the ball over on downs, a Williams' fumble and a punt resulting in another lackluster start. The Bears have been outscored 53-0 over their past three first halves, which is the worst by any team in a three-game span this season.

Biggest hole in the game plan: The Bears couldn't convert on third or fourth downs. The Bears didn't convert a third down until 14:35 remained in the fourth quarter and finished 1-of-12. They also were twice stopped on fourth-and-1 with D'Andre Swift running the ball.

Most surprising performance: Defensive end DeMarcus Walker notched four pressures, which brings his season total to a career-high 25. Walker was a bright spot for a Bears pass rush that was supposed to be better this season with Montez Sweat. The Bears gave up a second-round pick for Sweat in 2023 because they weren't sure there would be a better edge rusher available in free agency. One of those players they could have gone after -- Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard -- notched his 11th sack of the season in the first quarter. -- Courtney Cronin

Next game: vs. Lions (1 p.m. ET, Sunday)

NEW YORK -- Kenny Atkinson does not get on an exercise bike to watch losses at 4:30 a.m. like he did early in his time as coach of the Brooklyn Nets. He has found that transition beneficial for his health and his win-loss record.

Atkinson returned as a head coach to Brooklyn with his new team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, on Monday. The 57-year-old, who guided the Nets for four seasons, is now coaching the team with the NBA's best record, and on this night, his club authored a 130-101 victory.

Atkinson, a Long Islander who was inducted into the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame in 2020 and started his post-playing career as a Knicks assistant, was hired by the Nets in 2016. They went 48-116 in his first two seasons, which fed his early-morning workouts and desire to prove he belonged.

"I was a little crazy," Atkinson said before Monday night's game. "I was desperate to make it. I didn't want to fail. I really got after it, but I knew even after two years in Brooklyn, it was bad for my health.

"It was almost like we're at the bottom. We're the worst team in the league. There was a desperation to get better."

The Nets improved, going 42-40 and reaching the postseason in his third season, but Atkinson was let go after the team missed the playoffs in the pandemic-affected 2019-20 season.

He spent the next four seasons as an assistant, one with the Los Angeles Clippers and three with Golden State, winning an NBA title in 2022 alongside Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

"The journey after Brooklyn really helped me grow as a coach," Atkinson said. "But I will tell you I'm competitive, and when you have setbacks, you remember things, right? ... You're motivated to prove people wrong."

Atkinson said he has started delegating more responsibility to his assistants, and his coaching evolution has clearly benefited the Cavaliers. Atkinson and the Cavs won their first 15 games this season, the most in NBA history for a coach with a new team, and they have not stopped winning, sitting ahead of the defending champion Boston Celtics atop the Eastern Conference.

The Cavs' Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert played for Atkinson in Brooklyn and have seen his evolution.

"I yell at (LeVert) every once in a while just to keep him on his toes," Atkinson said jokingly. "I do feel freedom to coach those guys harder ... because that's how they want to be coached."

Atkinson's return brought back fond memories of basketball-mad New York City.

"It's a great basketball city. Brooklyn breathes basketball," Atkinson said. "You walk into a deli, or you walk into a pizza joint, and people know the game and they love the game."

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- For at least three quarters, the Charlotte Hornets had their projected starting five on the floor together for the first time this season.

And then, another brutal injury.

Hornets forward Brandon Miller left Monday night's 121-108 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in the fourth quarter with a sprained left ankle. He did not return.

Head coach Charles Lee said it's unclear how long Miller will be out.

Lee said Miller first tweaked his ankle in front of the Hornets bench when he stepped on someone's foot, and then a short time later came down wrong on it while making a driving layup to cut Philadelphia's lead to 97-91 with 8:20 left in the game. Officials stopped play, and Miller expressed frustration as he hobbled off the court and headed straight to the locker room, finishing with 12 points in 31 minutes.

Lee was excited before the game about finally getting his starting five on the floor following the return of LaMelo Ball, who had missed the past seven games with a calf injury.

The Hornets entered training camp with plans to start Ball and Miller alongside Miles Bridges, Josh Green and Mark Williams. However, Williams began the season injured, and Miller and Bridges also missed time with injuries. Then Ball got hurt, and the Hornets went 1-6 without him.

Ball finished with 15 points and 11 assists in nearly 26 minutes in his return.

"I thought defensively he was engaged," Lee said. "His on-ball defense was pretty good and offensively we got to see some of his ability to playmake and create shots for himself and his teammates. He got to shake some of the rust, and he will just keep getting better and better."

Ball had been playing at an All-Star level before the injury, averaging 31.1 points, 6.9 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game.

The Hornets (7-19) will need all hands on deck if they hope to get back in the playoff hunt. They entered Monday in 13th place in the Eastern Conference.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

NEW YORK -- The New York Mets signed infielder Jared Young to a one-year contract Monday, adding depth at first base after star slugger Pete Alonso became a free agent this fall.

Young is a .210 career hitter with two homers, eight RBIs and a .725 OPS in 22 major league games and 69 plate appearances with the Chicago Cubs from 2022-23.

He was claimed off waivers by St. Louis in November 2023 and batted .285 with 11 homers and a .917 OPS at Triple-A Memphis this year before being released by the Cardinals in July.

Young then played 38 games for the Doosan Bears in Korea, hitting .326 with 10 homers, 39 RBIs and a 1.080 OPS.

A left-handed hitter, the 29-year-old Young was born in Canada and selected by the Cubs in the 15th round of the 2017 amateur draft out of Old Dominion in Virginia.

All 12 of his big league starts have come at first base. He has played every position in the minors except catcher and center field.

Right-hander Tomoyuki Sugano and the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to a contract, the team announced Monday night, uniting one of the most successful Japanese pitchers of his generation with a team in need of rotation help. The deal is for one year and $13 million, sources told ESPN.

The 35-year-old Sugano -- a two-time winner of the Sawamura Award, Nippon Professional Baseball's equivalent of the Cy Young Award -- nearly came to Major League Baseball after the Yomiuri Giants posted him in December 2020. He never signed, returned to the Giants and performed almost as well this year as in his Sawamura-winning 2017 and 2018 seasons.

In 24 starts this year, Sugano went 15-3 with a 1.67 ERA. Over 156 innings, he struck out 111, walked only 16 and allowed six home runs. Though Sugano's fastball sits around 92 mph, nearly two-thirds of his pitches this year were off-speed -- a mixture of a slider, cutter, curveball and split-fingered fastball.

Baltimore has canvassed the free agent market for pitching this winter, looking to solidify its rotation with Corbin Burnes reaching free agency and right-handers Kyle Bradish and Tyler Wells returning from reconstructive elbow surgeries. The Orioles head into 2025 after back-to-back postseason appearances with a rotation that includes Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Dean Kremer and now Sugano.

Baltimore's efforts to re-sign Burnes have not abated, sources said, but the price is expected to land well beyond Chris Davis' $161 million contract -- the largest free agent deal in franchise history. The Orioles were purchased by private equity titan David Rubenstein in August after six consecutive seasons in which the team's Opening Day payroll ranked 26th or lower among MLB's 30 teams.

Between Sugano's deal and the three-year, $49.5 million contract for outfielder Tyler O'Neill, the Orioles' 2025 payroll is estimated to be around $110 million. The pitching market has proven hot in the early parts of free agency, from the top of the market (Max Fried, $218 million) to the one-year tier (Alex Cobb, $15 million).

Sugano enters his 13th season and will play in a Camden Yards that will be less pitcher-friendly than last season. The Orioles will move the left-field wall, where home runs often went to die, by as much as 20 feet in some places. Sugano has been a heavy groundball pitcher for most of his career and induced 51.1% ground balls this year.

United States men's national team international Christian Pulisic is closing in on a contract extension at AC Milan, while Manchester United are plotting a move for Greek wonderkid Charalampos Kostoulas. Join us for the latest transfer news, gossip and rumors from around the globe.

Transfers homepage | Done deals | Men's grades | Women's grades

TOP STORIES

- Maguire in 'positive' talks over new United deal
- New Spurs signing Yang joins early, eyes impact
- Amorim explains why Rashford, Garnacho were dropped

TRENDING RUMORS

- AC Milan and striker Christian Pulisic are closing in on a new agreement that would see the 26-year-old stay at the San Siro until 2028 or 2029, according to Matteo Moretto. Pulisic has scored five goals and added as many assists in 14 league games so far this season, with a further three strikes in the UEFA Champions League. The USMNT international is currently contracted to the Rossoneri until 2027, but recent negotiations would suggest that both player and club are committed to extending the deal for at least another year. The new and improved deal will see Pulisic receive around 5 million a season.

- Manchester United are hoping to beat clubs such as Bayern Munich and Juventus to the signing of Olympiacos rising star Charalampos Kostoulas, according to The Sun. The 17-year-old is considered the next big star of Greek football, and United sent scouts to watch the striker in action against FC Twente in the UEFA Europa League last Thursday. Olympiacos plan to offer the youngster a new contract as soon as he turns 18 in May, with his current deal running out in 2026. However, with more scouts watching him on a weekly basis, the Greek club may struggle to keep him. Fiorentina and Borussia Monchengladbach are also keeping tabs on the Greece under-21 international.

- Manchester United have made forward Marcus Rashford available for transfer, reports the Guardian. It is reported that manager Ruben Amorim feels it is necessary to move the 27-year-old to begin a "cultural reboot", with the Red Devils set to consider offers for him in January. A deal could hinge on whether clubs can match his current 365,000-per-week deal at Old Trafford, which may limit the realistic destinations available to him.

- Chelsea are eyeing a move for Ipswich Town and England youth international striker Liam Delap, reports Teamtalk. The Blues are believed to be keen to reinforce their forward line in January amid hopes of acquiring a strong back-up option for Nicolas Jackson, who scored his ninth Premier League goal of the season in the 2-1 win over Brentford on Sunday. The 21-year-old has contributed to seven goals in 16 games for his side in the current campaign, and it is reported that the Portman Road hierarchy are hopeful of keeping him beyond January as they look to avoid relegation.

- France international Randal Kolo Muani is being looked at by Manchester United and RB Leipzig after being deemed surplus to requirements at Paris Saint-Germain, L'Equipe reports. Kolo Muani was left out of the PSG squad for Sunday's 3-1 win over Lyon, sending a clear message that the 26-year-old is not in coach Luis Enrique's plans. An initial loan move for a player with a contract that runs until 2028 is the most likely scenario in the January transfer window.

EXPERT TAKE

OTHER RUMORS

- Neymar has indicated he wants to play next year's Club World Cup with his Al Hilal in response to speculation that he could play for a Brazilian club at the tournament next summer as his contract expires in June 2025. (RMC Sport)

- Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could return to Leicester City on loan in January just six months after leaving them in a 30m transfer. (Football Insider)

- Como coach Cesc Fabregas has revealed free agent Dele Alli could start training with the Serie A club after the 28-year-old was spotted in the crowd for Sunday's 2-0 home win against Roma. (TuttoMercatoWeb)

- Newcastle United are willing to let both Miguel Almirón and Kieran Trippier leave the club in January, particularly if it means they can land top target António Silva from Benfica. (Football Insider)

- Sporting CP are in talks to appoint Palmeiras' Portuguese coach Abel Ferreira after losing four of their five games since João Pereira replaced Ruben Amorim as first-team coach. (O Jogo)

- A number of Europe's top clubs -- including Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich -- are likely to miss out on top target Florian Wirtz, who looks set to stay at Bayer Leverkusen. (Kicker)

- Barcelona and Brighton & Hove Albion are tracking Werder Bremen goalkeeper Mio Backhaus, (Ekrem Konur)

- A meeting is set to take place between AC Milan and the representatives of left-back Theo Hernandez surrounding the club's future for the 27-year-old. (MARCA)

- An announcement is imminent for the contract extension of Manchester United wing-back Amad Diallo. (Football Insider)

- Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior wants to leave the Emirates Stadium in January. (Il Mattino)

- An agreement has been reached between Bayern Munich and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer over a new contract extension until the summer of 2026. (Sky Sports Deutschland)

- Leicester City are set to challenge West Ham for the signature of Brighton and Republic of Ireland international striker Evan Ferguson. (Teamtalk)

- Multiple clubs in the Premier League as well as Roma and Sevilla are tracking Lyon winger Ernest Nuamah. (Ekrem Konur)

- Al-Nassr attacking midfielder Anderson Talisca could be moved on in January, with Fenerbahce at the front of the queue for him. (Rudy Galetti)

- Nottingham Forest and Wolves are among the sides interested in signing Atalanta defender Ben Godfrey, who is set to leave the Serie A after struggling to garner regular first-team minutes this season. (Daily Mail)

What next for Marcus Rashford? It is a question that has been asked with increasing regularity about the Manchester United forward in recent months, but after being dropped from Ruben Amorim's squad for Sunday's dramatic derby victory at Manchester City, the 27-year-old's future at the Premier League club is once again in doubt.

United head coach Amorim attempted to play down the ramifications of his decision to omit Rashford, along with winger Alejandro Garnacho, from his squad by saying "next week, next game, new life" and insisting: "They will compete for a place in the team if they are better than the other guys in all the situations, inside and outside the pitch."

So the message is clear; meet expectations on and off the pitch and there is a future in Amorim's team. But while Garnacho's absence from the squad at the Etihad was a surprise and the first instance of the 20-year-old being left out of a first-team game, Rashford's omission was merely another episode in a troubled recent past for the player.

The England forward was at the centre of a number of disciplinary issues under former manager Erik ten Hag. Those included being dropped for over-sleeping ahead of a game at Wolverhampton Wanderers in December 2022 and being left out of the squad for an FA Cup tie at Newport County last season after missing training following a night out in Belfast.

Amorim also hinted at dissatisfaction with Rashford and midfielder Casemiro travelling to the United States during the last international break by saying it would have "for sure" been managed differently had he been in charge when a decision was taken about the players' arrangements during their time away from the club. But while Rashford has been under the spotlight for his off-field lifestyle, his performances on the pitch have seen him lose his England place and miss out on Euro 2024 as well as become a bit-part player at United.

Rashford has scored seven goals in 24 appearances in all competitions this season, after contributing just eight goals in 43 games last term. His star is beginning to fade, but having signed a four-and-a-half year contract at United worth 325,000 a week in July 2023, kickstarting his career away from Old Trafford will be difficult for financial reasons due to the cost to a new club of taking him on. Rashford does have options, but some are likely to be more appealing than others.

Stay at United

Remaining at Old Trafford and working to rediscover his best form should be the best option, both for Rashford and United, and Amorim has left the door open for the player to fight to earn back his first-team place. But it seems clear that Amorim's patience will only last for so long and Rashford is entering final chance territory.

"You understand for so long we try something with Rash, it doesn't work," Amorim said after the City game. "Let's continue to do the same thing or try something different? It's as simple as that."

So if the shock therapy doesn't work, Rashford could be heading for the exit in January, despite the financial implications of United having to offload a player on huge wages whose transfer value has plummeted. Which is why United need Rashford to find a way back to his best. He has pace, a goal threat and has shown in the past to be capable of scoring big goals in big games. Amorim can certainly use a player like that in his team.

It is down to Rashford now. There would be some advantage to United in offloading him in terms of benefiting from the so-called pure profit of a fee for a homegrown player, which could then be reinvested in the squad. But ultimately, an in-form Rashford is a player United would be better with than without.

Join a Premier League rival

The Premier League might be the richest league in the world, but Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) are now making every club consider every financial implication of a transfer. That, combined with intense club rivalries, makes it impossible to see a domestic escape route for Rashford.

At 27, he is too old for Chelsea's profile of signing players under the age of 24 and too expensive in terms of fee and wages for Tottenham Hotspur. Arsenal are in need of extra goals, but Rashford is unlikely to shift Bukayo Saka or Gabriel Martinelli from the team and, in Raheem Sterling, the Gunners have already taken one, so-far unsuccessful, gamble on an established forward this season. Liverpool and Manchester City are non-starters, primarily for rivalry reasons, but also because neither would want a player who is so obviously failing at United right now.

Beyond the top clubs, Newcastle United and Aston Villa would struggle to get a move for Rashford off the ground due to PSR issues and no other Premier League team would have the funds to make it happen.

Saudi Pro League

If Rashford's time at United is up, the best financial option for the player and club would be a transfer to Saudi Arabia, where clubs are allowed to sign up to eight non-Saudi players born before 2003 in a 30-man squad.

All of the leading teams, including Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr and Neymar's Al Hilal, have a full quota of non-Saudi players heading into the January window, but Rashford's status as a star player would likely see a squad place freed up by a top Saudi team if he were to become available. Rashford could expect a salary in excess of his United wages in the Saudi Pro League and United would also be able to offload the player for a realistic fee and shift almost 17 million off their wage bill, so it is easy to see why such a move would appeal.

But from a sporting perspective, would Rashford consider a move to Saudi Arabia that would almost certainly end his hopes of returning to the England squad in time for the 2026 FIFA World Cup? That is the hurdle that must be overcome if Saudi Arabia is to become a realistic destination for Rashford. But with his international career in cold storage, the financial benefits of Saudi Arabia are likely to be more enticing than they would have been 12 months ago.

The one other lucrative option outside of Saudi Arabia would be Turkey, but while the top Turkish teams -- Fenerbahçe, Galatasaray, Besiktas -- will pay big wages, they don't have a tradition of paying big fees. Galatasaray signed Victor Osimhen on loan from Napoli in September, so a loan deal could be a possibility, but it's unlikely.

Paris Saint-Germain

PSG were interested in signing Rashford two summers ago, but the French champions' interest did not develop into a confirmed bid for the player. Sources at United have told ESPN that PSG's interest was one factor in the club handing Rashford his new contract in 2023, but there has been no hint of any renewed efforts to take him to Parc des Princes.

Having pursued and signed some of the biggest names in the game including Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi, PSG have now moved away from that superstar recruitment policy to focus on signing the best emerging talent in France and beyond. So at 27, with his best days seemingly behind him, Rashford would appear to hold little interest to PSG.

But with the club struggling to qualify for the Champions League knockout phase (though they are seven points clear at the top of Ligue 1 and remain unbeaten domestically,) PSG might believe that Rashford could add experience in a key position. But that is likely to be a forlorn hope for the United player.

Bundesliga

If United are ready to listen to offers to sign Rashford in January, sources have told ESPN that the Bundesliga would become an option if they were prepared to consider a loan move similar to that which helped revitalise Jadon Sancho's career at Borussia Dortmund last season.

Sancho had been frozen out by Ten Hag and his situation was much worse than Rashford's having been overlooked for the first team for almost six months. At Dortmund, Sancho found his best form and helped the club reach the Champions League final before earning a summer move to Chelsea.

No Bundesliga team, including Bayern Munich, possesses the funds to pay a transfer fee and take on Rashford's wage, but Sancho highlighted the benefits of the loan option and both Bayern and Dortmund could get such a deal over the line.

Bayern and United could also play out a mutually beneficial deal involving the German club's out of contract players. Joshua Kimmich, Leroy Sané and Alphonso Davies all enter the final six months of their contracts at the Allianz Arena next month and if United believed that any of those players would improve Amorim's options, deals could be struck that would appeal to both clubs.

A move to Germany would give Rashford the chance to kickstart his career like Sancho, but it could also work out for United, either in terms of boosting his transfer value or opening the door to a deal for a player in part-exchange.

MLS

Rashford is a big fan of U.S. sports -- his controversial trip in the international break saw him take in a New Yorks Knicks game -- and he has previously spent time in the States to work on his fitness. Sources have told ESPN that a move to MLS at some stage in his career would hold great appeal.

However, there are too many obstacles in the way of Rashford heading across the Atlantic anytime soon. Firstly, United would expect a significant transfer fee for a player under contract until June 2028, so that is the biggest issue for any MLS team. But with Rashford also one of the highest-paid players in the Premier League, it would take a salary second-only to Lionel Messi at Inter Miami to convince Rashford to move to the U.S. at the age of 27.

Even if Rashford to MLS was a realistic prospect, only Inter Miami and perhaps the two Los Angeles teams -- LAFC and LA Galaxy -- could even consider a move, so for now, MLS isn't a credible option.

LaLiga/Serie A

Sources have told ESPN that neither United or Rashford can count on interest from Spain's LaLiga or Italy's Serie A due to the financial strain being experienced by the leading teams in each country.

Only Real Madrid could potentially fund a move for Rashford right now and there is zero interest from the European champions, not only because of his poor form but because Carlo Ancelotti's squad is already stacked with some of the world's best attacking talent. Barcelona don't have the money or the appetite to pursue Rashford, and while Atletico Madrid could consider a deal on loan or at a knockdown fee, it is difficult to imagine Rashford having the credentials required to play in a Diego Simeone team.

The landscape is just as bleak in Italy, where favourable tax breaks for high-earning footballers were scrapped by the government earlier this year. Juventus, AC Milan and Inter Milan would once have been able to attract players on big wages because of those tax benefits, but they no longer apply. Napoli and Roma have previously been able to sign big players on big contracts, but they are also now having to work differently, so Italy is likely to be off limits to Rashford, just like Spain.

Verdict

The reality for Rashford is that he likely has two options: sit it out and fight his way back into form and favour at United, or move to Saudi Arabia.

Right now, neither might hold great appeal to the player because staying at United will require pressing the reset button on and off the pitch, and moving to Saudi would effectively put his top-level career on hold.

Germany would perhaps be the best option for Rashford and maybe even United, but unless Bayern or Dortmund show any interest -- and there is no sign of that yet -- it will be a case of United or Saudi. And if he doesn't impress Amorim soon, his options will become even more limited.

2024 is coming to a close, but there's plenty of basketball that will be played in the New Year.

There have been a couple of surprises in the first few months of the 2024-25 NBA season, including a few "rebuilding" teams, like the Atlanta Hawks and Houston Rockets, climbing to the top of their respective rankings.

A few superstar players have also stumbled out of the gate, including Tyrese Haliburton and Joel Embiid. But they'll look to turn it around as the calendar year comes to a close, hoping a second-half surge can push their teams into playoff contention.

Our NBA insiders answer looming questions as we wrap up the year, including their predictions for 2025 and which player is ready for their first All-Star nod.

Which player got off on the wrong foot and can ring in the New Year on the right one?

Ohm Youngmisuk: Paul George suffered a knee injury late in preseason that delayed his Sixers debut. And with Joel Embiid starting the season injured as well, the Sixers have been the biggest disappointment in the NBA. While George has been able to play in only 12 games because of injuries and maintenance through mid-December, the Sixers won four straight with him on the floor entering Friday night. The healthier and more comfortable George gets, the more the All-Star can turn his season and the Sixers' season around.

Jamal Collier: Haliburton. The follow-up to Haliburton's breakout season has been underwhelming, but there's still plenty of time for Indiana and Haliburton to start looking like themselves. After making a run to the Eastern Conference finals, the Pacers haven't been able to surprise anyone this season with their fast-paced offense, but they are still a talented roster that has shown flashes throughout their early-season struggles. If Haliburton can bounce back, the Pacers' offense should start clicking again and make Indian a potentially tough first-round playoff matchup.

Tim MacMahon: Luka Doncic still has some of the best counting stats in the league, but his production has dipped considerably and his efficiency has plummeted, especially as an off-the-bounce scorer. He got off to a sluggish start by his standards after missing all of camp and preseason with a calf contusion. He's been better since a 10-day rest, when he recovered from a sprained wrist and worked on his conditioning. It won't surprise anybody if Doncic puts himself in position to be an MVP candidate again, especially considering the Mavs' position in the West.

Dave McMenamin: Kawhi Leonard. The two-time Finals MVP practiced with the LA Clippers this week -- joining the group for the first time since last season because of a persistent knee injury. While it was only a noncontact practice and coach Ty Lue preached patience with the final stage of Leonard's comeback, there's a chance the 33-year-old star is back in the lineup before the calendar turns and can fortify an already pesky Clippers defense.

Chris Herring: Haliburton is having a pretty disappointing season by his All-NBA standards, with career-low field-goal (42.6%) and 3-point percentages (34.5%) along with his lowest scoring (18.0) and assists averages (8.5). But it's not all on him -- the Pacers have dealt with key injuries on the wing, and his remaining teammates have shot poorly when he's kicked the ball out, allowing opponents to focus on him. But Haliburton's puzzling home-road splits are concerning. A midseason turnaround from the star guard might be necessary to get the slumping Pacers into the playoffs.

Which team currently in the top eight in the East or West is most likely to miss the playoffs?

Youngmisuk: The Brooklyn Nets have surprisingly been more competitive than initially expected after the Mikal Bridges trade. The Nets should be applauded for their effort, and coach Jordi Fernandez has them playing hard. But the ultimate goal for the Nets is to gain as many assets as possible and put themselves in position to draft franchise-changing young talent. That means dropping out of the top eight. The Nets could find new homes for several of their veterans before the trade deadline, which they've done already with Dennis Schroder, increasing the odds of them sinking in the standings.

MacMahon: The Nets' plan isn't to make the playoffs this season. And they won't. On top of the Schroder trade, Brooklyn is widely expected to move some of its solid veterans before the trade deadline. These Nets remind me of the Utah Jazz during Will Hardy's rookie season as a head coach during the 2022-23 season. The good news is Fernandez, like Hardy, has proved that he's a quality head coach. But the Jazz were too good for their own good, landing in the bottom half of the lottery after selling veterans at the trade deadline. That's where the Nets are headed.

McMenamin: The Nets have lost five of their past six games -- two of them coming by 20-plus points -- and figure to be big sellers at the trade deadline. Cam Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith are both veterans who could help a contender and, at some point, the Nets will shift their eyes toward the draft where they could have as many as four first-round picks.

Collier: A late slide in the season would be the easy call here for the Nets, but it will be interesting to see which East team takes their spot at the top of the standings with the Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers both on the outside of the playoffs and not looking like themselves. The rest of the field in the East looks pretty stabilized ahead of Brooklyn with Atlanta playing better than expected, so even if the order shifts, there may be eight spots truly up for grabs.

Herring: The Nets are the most logical choice here because of the fact that we all anticipated them to tank in hopes of landing a top draft pick. That's still a possibility, starting with trading away their top talent, but the team is undoubtedly fun to watch and has held its own. But, as a team like Oklahoma City would tell you: Rebuilding with more assets and top picks is a reliable blueprint for sustained winning.

Which player has proved enough to get his first All-Star nod?

Youngmisuk: All the talk in Miami has been centered around the future of Jimmy Butler, but Tyler Herro has been rock-solid for the Heat, averaging career highs in points (24.2), assists (5.0) and 3-point shooting (42.7%). The sixth-year guard has scored at least 30 in five games this season, including a 40-point outing against the Detroit Pistons on Nov. 12. He's making a strong bid for his first All-Star nod.

MacMahon: It's going to be tough to get a spot in the West, but Oklahoma City's Jalen Williams is definitely deserving. He's the second-best player on the West's best team and one of the league's most well-rounded stars. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic and Domantas Sabonis are the only other players averaging at least 21 points, six rebounds and five assists while shooting better than 50% from the floor. He's also among the league's top players in steals (2.0 per game) for the top-ranked defense.

McMenamin: Franz Wagner. Even with Wagner out for an indefinite period of time with a torn right oblique, the work the fourth-year forward did in 25 games prior to the injury should stamp him a ticket to San Francisco. He led Orlando to a 16-9 mark, keeping the Magic ascending after Paolo Banchero suffered a similar injury, and averaged 24.4 points, 5.7 assists and 5.6 rebounds. He punctuated his case with 37 points, 11 rebounds and the game-winning 3 against the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 21.

Collier: The Boston Celtics' Derrick White. He has received a lot of shine lately from last season's NBA Finals to being selected for Team USA's 2024 Olympic team, and he keeps proving how good he is. Already one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, White has upped his scoring average to 17.5 points while shooting 40.1% from 3 on 9.3 attempts per game, all career highs. He's unquestionably one of Boston's most impactful players each night, and if the Celtics get multiple All-Stars, his name should be right near the top of that list.

Herring: Victor Wembanyama easily could have been an All-Star last season, and it seems extremely likely he'll be selected this time around. Beyond him, I think Jalen Williams from Oklahoma City would be a worthy pick; especially in light of his career-high scoring and assist numbers, along with the number of hats he has worn for the Thunder's short-handed defense.

One bold prediction for 2025 is ___?

Youngmisuk: The Clippers will make the playoffs even if Kawhi Leonard doesn't finish the season healthy. Leonard has been slowly working his way back toward contact practice. With a healthy Leonard, the Clippers are certainly a playoff team. But there is always a risk of inflammation returning to Leonard's right knee -- the superstar and team have been so careful for this reason. One thing Ty Lue has learned during Leonard's absence is that he has enough scrappy and hard-playing players around James Harden, Norm Powell and Ivica Zubac to fight their way into the postseason. And apologies to Harden, who is having a terrific season so far, but the Clippers' defense, orchestrated by Jeff Van Gundy, might be the team's MVP this season.

MacMahon: LeBron James and the Lakers will be playoff spectators. The competition for the last couple of spots in the West will be fierce. As of right now, the Lakers' roster has too many flaws and James has shown signs of mortality as he approaches his 40th birthday.

McMenamin: The All-Star Game will enjoy a bounce-back performance. The vibes around the All-Star Game can only go up following last year's debacle featuring 397 combined points as both teams made a mockery out of the event. While I am not a fan of the new format with three All-Star groups and a Rising Stars roster playing in a four-team bracket, I am confident that there will be more competition in San Francisco than we saw in Indianapolis.

Collier: We'll get a first-time MVP in 2025. It's going to be an uphill climb with multi-time MVPs Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic among the early front-runners to win the award, but there are enough first-timers in the mix that can edge them out. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has somehow become more efficient and more unguardable while positioning the Thunder as one of the top seeds in the West. Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum is having his best season, helping the Celtics once again emerge as the favorite in the East.

Herring: The Pistons will reach the postseason. A few years ago, that would have meant needing to make the East's top eight, whereas now, they merely need to finish in the top 10. (They're currently in 11th place.) Detroit's remaining schedule strength lands in the middle of the pack, but no team has played fewer home games so far, meaning the Pistons will have a built-in advantage the rest of the season. They have struggled of late, dropping a handful of games by double digits, but they've been decent in hotly contested ones, with a 5-7 mark in clutch showings. Their ability to win close games at that clip, or better, could be enough to get them to the play-in.

Which lottery-bound team is most in need of Cooper Flagg?

Youngmisuk: The Washington Wizards desperately need a generational star. Winning the top pick in this upcoming draft could land them Flagg -- unlike when the Wizards won the 2001 lottery and selected Kwame Brown with the first overall pick. Since 1988, the franchise has made the playoffs a total of 10 times. Entering Friday, Washington won a total of 15 games since the start of last season. With the Washington Commanders finally finding a franchise quarterback in Jayden Daniels, D.C. is ready for a superstar to bring basketball back to the District.

MacMahon: All of them. The Wizards are in desperate need of a centerpiece player to build around and are still in the midst of the teardown portion of the rebuilding process. A player like Flagg would provide a solid foundation for D.C. to start.

Collier: The Chicago Bulls. Sure, there are other teams with fewer wins than the Bulls at the bottom of the standings, but is there another team who so badly needs a direction like this franchise? Cooper Flag to Chicago is the kind of move that could invigorate the Bulls, similar to how hitting the lottery in 2008 and drafting No. 1 pick Derrick Rose sparked the franchise. The odds are long, but it seems like the only chance for the Bulls to get off their treadmill of mediocrity.

McMenamin: The Wizards are listless, and while No. 2 pick Alexandre Sarr has shown some signs of long-term promise, the franchise has a lot more to do to get back to a level of respectability. Flagg would give the long-suffering fan base -- which enjoyed brief spells of euphoria before injuries derailed teams built around Gilbert Arenas and, later, John Wall -- a deserved jolt.

Herring: The Wizards, at an unthinkable minus-337, owned the worst point differential through 20 games in NBA history. That is no doubt the largest take-the-best-player-available levels of bad if I've ever seen it. Washington clearly needs another shot in the arm, even after taking Sarr with the No. 2 pick in this year's draft.