Lion Links: 8/26/25

Good morning, gang. It was an uneven weekend of performances from Orlando’s soccer teams, as the three purple sides put up a record of 1-2-0. We’ve got a busy week ahead of us, as Orlando City plays in a Leagues Cup semifinal Wednesday night, the Orlando Pride play NJ/NY Gotham FC on Friday, and Orlando City B takes on Crown Legacy Sunday, while the senior Lions play their final match of the Leagues Cup campaign. We’ve got plenty to discuss today, so let’s get into the links.

Morgan Gautrat Departs Orlando

We got a very odd piece of Orlando Pride news to start the week, as it was announced on Monday that Morgan Gautrat has been loaned to Newcastle United W.F.C. for the remainder of the 2025 season. The weird portion of the news comes with the fact that Gautrat also announced her specific retirement from the NWSL. If a player has ever retired specifically from a league before, I certainly can’t remember the last time it happened. Regardless, Gautrat is no longer with the Pride, which means that a roster spot has been freed up if the club wants to complete any additional business in the summer.

Leagues Cup Key Players

The Leagues Cup semifinals will take place tomorrow, so it’s time to familiarize ourselves with who the key players will be in each matchup. For Miami versus Orlando, it’s the usual suspects: Lionel Messi (if he’s healthy) and Luis Suarez for the Herons, and Martin Ojeda, Luis Muriel, and Alex Freeman for the good guys. When it comes to the LA Galaxy and the Seattle Sounders, it’s a familiar duo for the California club in Gabriel Pec and Joseph Paintsil, while the Sounders will look to Nouho to neutralize Pec, and Jesus Ferreira to provide the creative juice.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans set to play games during the working week, so let’s break it all down. Things get started today with Cameron Carter-Vickers, Auston Trusty, and Celtic needing to beat Kairat Almaty in order to secure Champions League qualification. Elsewhere, it’ll be Yank against Yank as Damion Downs and Southampton face Josh Sargent and Norwich City in the Carabao Cup. Thursday has Chris Richards and his Crystal Palace side taking on Fredrikstad in Conference League qualifying, with the Eagles holding a 1-0 lead after the first leg. Things finish on Friday with Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan traveling to face Lecce in Serie A.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

With deadline day for most European leagues drawing closer and closer, let’s take a look at some of the rumors swirling around. Musah has been linked with several teams around Europe, with Napoli, Atalanta, Crystal Palace, and remaining with AC Milan all floated as possibilities. Newcastle has reportedly had a £50 million bid rejected for Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jorgen Strand Larsen. Arsenal is said to have made an approach to sign Bayer Leverkusen center back Piero Hincapie. Kobbie Mainoo is reportedly open to leaving Manchester United on loan after not playing in either of the team’s first two games. Finally, Bayern Munich is said to have reached personal terms with Nicolas Jackson regarding a loan move away from Chelsea, and the German side will now make a formal approach to the Blues.

Free Kicks

• Have a look at an Orlando Pride training session that featured some season ticket holders.

• Orlando City dropped two spots to no. 9 in ESPN.com’s MLS power rankings.
• The Orlando Pride dropped one spot to no. 4 in the same outlet’s NWSL power rankings.
• St. Louis City has fired sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel.
• Juventus has condemned the racial abuse suffered by Weston McKennie during the team’s season-opening win over Parma.

That’s all I have for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!