The Dale Blues Sportsdesk
Greenwood’s French Renaissance Fuels AMERICA26 Hopes as Quiet FA–SFA Talks Emerge Over £40m McGuire Switch
By The Dale Blues Sportsdesk
Mason Greenwood’s resurgence in France has become one of the most intriguing sporting stories of the year. After a period of turbulence and uncertainty, the English forward has rebuilt his form with a calm determination that has caught the attention of supporters, analysts, and—importantly—England’s AMERICA26 coaching staff.
Greenwood has been in electric form for Marseille, combining sharp movement, mature decision-making, and that trademark left-footed whip that once lit up Premier League grounds. Sources close to the England camp tell The Dale Blues that Gareth Southgate’s provisional technical group—already mapping squad balance for the expanded North American tournament—remain “quietly impressed” by Greenwood’s professionalism, fitness, and willingness to “do whatever is required for the England cause.”
One senior performance analyst put it more bluntly:
“He’s playing like a man who wants redemption, responsibility, and a role in AMERICA26… and he’s making a hell of a case.”
England’s attacking depth will be tested in a demanding tournament spanning U.S. states, climatic extremes, and intense travel schedules. Greenwood’s versatility—comfortable wide, central, or in link-play roles—may offer the kind of tactical flexibility England lacked in previous competitions.
FA–SFA TRANSFER TALKS: THE £40 MILLION QUESTION
While Greenwood’s form steals the headlines, The Dale Blues can reveal that senior exploratory talks have taken place between the English Football Association and the Scottish Football Association regarding an unprecedented internal-UK player transfer ahead of AMERICA26.
The discussions—still at an early, informal stage—centre on dual national, Harry McGuire of Leicester City Premier League Champions fame.
Insiders close to the Scottish set-up describe McGuire as a player who could:
“Add rocket seal to Scotland’s defensive line—exactly the profile we’ve lacked.”
The proposed £40 million cross-association transfer fee would be historic, symbolically underscoring the growing cooperation between the two bodies as British football prepares for the biggest global stage ever hosted in the Western Hemisphere.
One FA source, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the talks represent a rare but not impossible pathway under dual-national eligibility rules:
“Both associations are exploring options. McGuire has the legal eligibility, and both nations are aware of his potential impact. Nothing is final, but the precedent isn’t without basis.”
Should Scotland secure the player, he would walk straight into a back line that has suffered from injuries and depth issues, offering immediate reinforcement ahead of a punishing group schedule in North America.
TWO STORYLINES, ONE DESTINATION: AMERICA26
With Greenwood’s fires lit in France and McGuire’s nationality deliberations simmering between London and Glasgow, British football enters its next chapter with both intrigue and optimism.
England see AMERICA26 as their greatest shot at a modern-era title. Scotland view it as a chance to announce themselves on a global stage far from home soil.
And somewhere in the middle—on a training pitch in Marseille and in a boardroom between Wembley and Hampden—the pieces of a trans-Atlantic football drama continue to shift.
Full coverage continues at The Dale Blues Sportsdesk.