أعلن الجهاز الفني لـ منتخب مصر مواليد 2007 بقيادة المدير الفني وائل رياض القائمة التي اختارها للانضمام لمعسكر مفتوح يبدأ في الثامن من شهر أكتوبر الجاري، وينتهي في السادس عشر من الشهر ذاته، في مركز المنتخبات الوطنية بمدينة السادس من أكتوبر.
واستدعى الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم، أربعة لاعبين محترفين، تبعًا لاختيارات المدير الفني وائل رياض.
وعملت لجنة المحترفين بالاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم على التواصل مع الرباعي، في إطار جهودها لاستقطاب المواهب المصرية بالخارج، بالتنسيق مع الأجهزة الفنية للمنتخبات الوطنية.
وانضم الثنائي جوناس الملاح لاعب برومابويكارنا السويدي وكريم حسنين لاعب BSK 1933 النمساوي لمعسكر منتخب مصر مواليد 2007.
طالع | ضم ثنائي محترف لقائمة منتخب مصر قبل كأس العالم تحت 17 عامًا
بينما تعذر انضمام كريم أحمد لاعب فريق ليفربول الإنجليزي بسبب الإصابة، كما تعذر انضمام ريان أبو الناي لاعب باريس سان جيرمان الفرنسي بسبب ضيق الوقت، على أن ينضم الثنائي خلال المعسكرات المقبلة. قائمة منتخب مصر مواليد 2007
حراسة المرمى: إياد تامر (الأهلي) – يوسف البشير (إنبي) – مصطفى سامي (المقاولون العرب).
خط الدفاع:محمد الأمين (بتروجت) – إياد مدحت (الأهلي) – يوسف محمد (إنبي) – عبد الله محمد (بيراميدز) – محمد عبد البصير (إنبي) – أحمد بلال (طلائع الجيش) – ماهر خالد (سيراميكا كليوباترا) – يوسف محمود (بيراميدز) – علي باسم (حرس الحدود).
خط الوسط: كريم حسنين (BSK 1933 النمساوي) – عمرو الشوادفي (زد) – محمد صالح (لافيينا) – محمد ياسر (طلائع الجيش) – محمد سمير (الإسماعيلي) – جوناس الملاح (برومابويكارنا السويدي) – عمر ثروت (المقاولون العرب) – محمود صلاح (غزل المحلة) – محمد وائل (طلائع الجيش) – عمر العزب (إنبي) – حسام عاشور التقي (الزمالك) – أدهم كريم (الجونة) – إبراهيم عبد الفتاح (زد).
خط الهجوم: أحمد هيثم (راية) – يوسف صابر (المقاولون العرب) – حسن شريف (فاركو) – محمود حسن (الاتحاد السكندري).
Coad claims three of six wickets to fall, handing hosts two of maximum 10 points needed to secure second place
ECB Reporters Network27-Sep-2024Yorkshire will be promoted to Division One of the Vitality County Championship if they draw their final round clash with Northamptonshire at Headingley after Ben Coad claimed three of six wickets to fall when play finally got underway after tea on day two.Coad’s 3 for 29 from 12 overs, including his 300th first-class wicket, left Northamptonshire in trouble at 117 for 6 from 40 overs, handing Yorkshire two of the maximum 10 points they require to secure second place behind Sussex.The start of play was delayed until 3.30pm following first day rain and a wet outfield on day two.Northamptonshire, with nothing to play for but holding onto fourth place in Division Two, were inserted. George Hill also struck twice with his seamers and Jordan Thompson once.Visiting debutant Krish Patel, aged 18, impressed with 26 and George Bartlett top-scored with an unbeaten 41.Yorkshire are aiming to hold off the challenge of third-placed Middlesex, who have seen the opening two days of their clash with leaders Sussex abandoned at Hove.Northamptonshire have handed first-class debuts to both Patel and on-loan Nottinghamshire spinner Fateh Singh, the latter signed only for this game.Patel was the first to make an impact, and impressively too during an eye-catching 41-ball innings with five fours.He came through the Surrey age-groups, played one Metro Bank One-Day Cup game for his home county last season and then signed a two-year rookie professional contract at Wantage Road at the end of last month.Patel came to the crease late in the third over after Coad had removed opener Gus Miller, caught at first slip by Hill.The diminutive right-hander was strong through the covers off both front foot and back. One square drive off England fringe Test fast bowler Matthew Fisher was particularly memorable.He shared 42 with the more doughty Luke Procter before edging Thompson’s seam to second slip as the visitors fell to 44 for 2 in the 15th over.Only 20 more runs had been added when Hill bowled Procter, for 25, with his fifth ball, securing Yorkshire’s first point of the fixture.Hill had been capped by Yorkshire as the rain fell on day one and was again presented with his cap before play started to give Yorkshire’s supporters a chance to acclaim their 23-year-old allrounder.He added a second wicket when James Sales was bowled for 17 shouldering arms as Northamptonshire fell to 79 for 4 in the 30th over.Conditions were ever-changing through a competitive evening; sun, cloud and even a bit of rain.When Coad struck again – for wicket number 300 – the floodlights were on, with Saif Zaib edging to Hill at first slip. Northamptonshire were 106 for 5 in the 37th over.He also had nightwatcher Singh caught at short mid-off in his next over, securing Yorkshire’s second bowling bonus point. That, added to eight points for the draw, would be enough for a Division One return for the first time since 2022.Coad, aged 30, is playing his 76th first-class match and his 301 wickets have come at a mighty impressive 19.42 apiece.Northamptonshire’s Bartlett hit nine fours in his 52 balls.For Yorkshire, while promotion was not decided in this short burst of a session, they moved themselves to within touching distance.
After six long and arduous weeks of trying, it looks as though Manchester United are finally set to announce their second landmark signing of the summer.
Matheus Cunha arrived rather swiftly at the start of the window but since then it’s not been plain sailing for Jason Wilcox and Co. However, a breakthrough in negotiations was reached with Brentford a few days ago to seal the signing of Bryan Mbeumo for a fee of around £71m.
Fabrizio Romano reported on Sunday that the winger had arrived at Carrington to complete the formalities of a move to Old Trafford.
Yet, United aren’t done there with a new centre-forward being earmarked by the recruitment team.
Man United's pursuit of a new striker
With Rasmus Hojlund scoring just four league goals in 2024/25, it’s abundantly clear that Ruben Amorim needed more firepower.
Mbeumo and Cunha will certainly provide that but they’re not out-and-out centre-forwards.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Nicolas Jackson is, however, and reports this weekend suggest that the club has held talks with the player’s agent over a potential move. Considering his hit-and-miss form at Chelsea, this isn’t one that is likely to excite Man United supporters.
Viktor Gyokeres’ name will, though. It’s been widely expected that the Swede will move to Arsenal this summer but with Amorim at the wheel, United have stood a chance of securing a player who played so well under the Portuguese at Sporting.
Well, it’s still a move that could come to fruition with reports from Portugal this weekend reporting some exciting news as far as United fans are concerned.
It suggests that with Arsenal’s move stalling, the Red Devils have leapt into the race again and are said to be ‘very close’ to reaching an agreement on a fee for the attacker.
Geny Catamo celebrating with Viktor Gyokeres at Sporting.
It’s alleged that United are willing to pay just over €70m (£60m) to bring the player back to England.
Despite all of that, Romano has made it clear that the striker is still giving his priority to Arsenal.
Why Viktor Gyokeres could be Man United's answer to Alexander Isak
Alexander Isak’s name has been a hot topic this week with Liverpool laying down a statement of intent.
Indeed, The Athletic’s David Ornstein suggested that the Premier League winners were ready to do a deal at around £120m, but Newcastle United insist that he will not be going anywhere this summer.
That’s understandable considering just how good he was in 2024/25. The Swede found the net on 27 occasions in all competitions and scored 23 in the league, only second to Mo Salah.
In short, he was really rather impressive, showcasing exactly why some, including analyst Raj Chohan, think that he is “the best striker in the world.”
Well, if a player with 27 goals is up there as the best, so is Gyokeres. Described as “the best finisher in the world” by analyst Spencer Mossman and as a “monster” by journalist Alex Turk, there are not many better at hitting the net with such regularity as Isak’s fellow countryman.
Once of Coventry City and Brighton, Gyokeres has done it before in England, but it’s in Lisbon, Portugal, where he’s really found his footing.
On the way to winning the Portuguese league title last season, he scored 39 league goals in 33 games and beat the goalkeeper on 54 occasions in 52 outings across all competitions. That backed up a scintillating 2023/24 term in which the Sweden international bagged 43 in 50.
Like Isak, he’s incredibly prolific, and they do share some similar traits, notably in their ability to carry the ball long distances and run the channels.
Goals
1.25
0.75
Assists
0.22
0.20
Shots on target
2.12
1.34
Key passes
1.96
1.34
Progressive passes
2.18
2.88
Successful take-ons
1.92
1.37
Progressive carries
4.26
2.71
Aerials won
1.15
0.85
Signing a player with little experience of the Premier League is always a risk, but with United simply needing more firepower, if they could hijack Arsenal’s move for Gyokeres, it would be a serious statement of intent.
Long have they needed their answer to someone like Isak, a pure out-and-out goalscorer, a powerhouse forward. In Gyokeres, they’d surely find that.
Better signing than Mbeumo: Man Utd in talks to land "exceptional" £60m ace
Manchester United’s huge activity within the transfer market looks set to continue despite a deal for Bryan Mbeumo.
This will be the first time the two teams face off in the longest format
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Jul-2024 • Updated on 27-Jul-2024
Afghanistan are set to play their third Test in 2024•AFP/Getty Images
Afghanistan are set to face New Zealand in a one-off Test in September. The match will be played in Greater Noida in India. This will be the first time the two teams face each other in the longest format.This will be Afghanistan’s 10th Test, and their third in 2024 – the most they would have played in a calendar year.It will also be their first Test at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground, which has previously served as Afghanistan’s adopted home ground.The Test is likely to be from September 9 to 13. That’s roughly one month before New Zealand’s three-Test tour of India, with the first of those games set to begin on October 16. New Zealand will tour Sri Lanka for a Test series in between – the dates are yet to be announced.”We are delighted to host a quality New Zealand Test team for the first time in our cricketing history. This is a testament to the hard work we have put in through numerous discussions and meetings with different boards on the sidelines of the various ICC Board Meetings,” ACB Chairman Mirwais Ashraf said. “The Blackcaps are an outstanding all-format team in world cricket, and we hope to reach an agreement with New Zealand Cricket for white-ball bilateral matches in the future.”Following the New Zealand Test, England, Australia, Pakistan and South Africa will be the only countries to not have played against Afghanistan in a Test match yet. Australia had pulled out from hosting them in a Test in 2021 citing humanitarian reasons.Australia had also pulled out of three-match T20I series scheduled for August this year, meaning Afghanistan had a hole in their schedule which will be partly filled by this New Zealand TestIn their two Tests so far in 2024, Afghanistan have lost to Sri Lanka and Ireland. They had also lost their one-off Test in Bangladesh last year, and their last win in the format came in March 2021, when they beat Zimbabwe in the UAE. In all, Afghanistan have a commendable 3-6 win-loss record in their first nine Tests.
The young opener appears set to be given the first chance at being Warner’s long-term white-ball replacement
ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jun-20241:23
Clarke: Some Australia players might walk away from T20Is
David Warner has passed the opening baton over to Jake Fraser-McGurk, believing the 22-year-old can fill his role in both of Australia’s white-ball sides and potentially has a future in the Test team as well.Warner has become a mentor to Fraser-McGurk with the pair spending a lot of time together in the IPL, where they played for Delhi Capitals, and recently at the T20 World Cup when Fraser-McGurk joined as a travelling reserve.Related
Matthew Short makes his case to be Warner's successor
David Warner keeps door ajar for Champions Trophy 'if selected'
Australia review: Looking back at T20 World Cup 2024, and looking ahead to 2026
David Warner's international retirement confirmed after Australia exit
Warner’s international career came to an end with Australia’s Super Eight exit, meaning a new era at the top of the order looms in both limited-overs formats.”All yours now champion,” Warner captioned an Instagram Stories post on Wednesday of himself and Fraser-McGurk sharing a drink.Speaking to Australian reporters after the team’s exit was confirmed, Warner endorsed Fraser-McGurk’s credentials as an opener in T20s and ODIs.”Every time I put something out there I become a selector [but] I think he’s definitely got the ability to definitely do that,” Warner told and .”He can lock it in. And a bit like myself, you [have to learn] how to play…50-over cricket. That’s one thing that I learnt from Twenty20. I got dropped after seven games because I didn’t really understand how to play the game of one-day cricket.”So from a one-day perspective if he learns that and understands that he’ll have a fantastic career, especially batting in Australia. Best wickets in the world.”Fraser-McGurk, who played two ODIs against West Indies in February, hitting 51 runs off 23 balls across a pair of innings, and earlier in the season hammered a world-record 29-ball one-day century in the Marsh Cup, will likely be included for September’s tours of Scotland and England as Australia start to look to the future.Jake Fraser-McGurk won’t have to wait long for his next chance with Australia•Associated PressHowever, Fraser-McGurk himself has played down the prospect of following Warner as a red-ball opener after finding an experiment at the top of the order for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield didn’t suit him. He made 19 runs in four innings opening having earlier in the season scored a maiden first-class hundred at No. 6.”Last year when I was put up to open the batting in Shield cricket, that’s not me. Had Xavier Bartlett bowling huge outswingers on a green top at Adelaide Oval…it was torture. Hopefully won’t do that again, that’s one thing I won’t be able to do,” he told the .Warner acknowledged the competing demands that will come Fraser-McGurk’s way from the franchise scene but was encouraged by his desire to pursue first-class cricket.”Will he play Test cricket? I think he’ll have to have a breakout year in the next 12-18 months to prove himself,” Warner said. “I think we’ve all had to score hundreds to get your name up there [to] warrant that.”Hopefully when it comes to Shield cricket this year, he sticks at that. There’s going to be a lot of money thrown around to him for these Twenty20 leagues and it’s upon him and his management to keep him focused and aligned with what he wants to do. But I hope he does – I know he’s thinking like that. He wants to play red-ball cricket.”
Leeds United may be closing in on their first signing of the summer transfer window as they pursue a deal for Udinese central defender Jaka Bijol.
The Athletic reports that the clubs are in talks over a deal that could be worth up to £15.2m for the Slovenia international to make the move to Elland Road in the coming weeks.
Napoli's David Neres in action with Udinese's JakaBijol
It is claimed that the Championship champions are ‘optimistic’ about getting a deal over the line for the Serie A centre-back to bolster Daniel Farke’s options at the back ahead of a season in the Premier League.
The Athletic adds, however, that the club are less hopeful of a move to sign Habib Diarra from Strasbourg, despite placing a bid worth £22m in for the Senegal international.
This suggests that Diarra, who scored against England at the City Ground on Tuesday night, is unlikely to make the move to Elland Road this summer, whereas Bijol could be added to the squad.
What Habib Diarra could bring to Leeds
Missing out on a deal for the Senegal international could be a blow for the West Yorkshire outfit because the central midfielder has shown plenty of promise with his performances in Ligue 1 for Strasbourg.
Diarra ended the 2024/25 campaign with a return of four goals and five assists in 30 matches in the French top-flight, which shows that he can make a decent impact at the top end of the pitch from a midfield position.
This, along with his performance against England, suggests that the 21-year-old star could bring a threat in front of goal for the Whites in the Premier League, as both a scorer and a creator of goals.
However, Diarra’s play out of possession does leave a bit to be desired and there would be concerns over his suitability defensively to the physical demands of the Premier League.
Appearances
30
Goals
4
Assists
5
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.1
Error led to shot
3
Ground duel success rate
49%
Aerial duel success rate
43%
As you can see in the table above, the Strasbourg star lost the majority of his duels on the deck and in the air in Ligue 1 this season, whilst only making 1.1 tackles and interceptions per game.
The central midfielder’s three errors that directly led to shots also suggest that he can be wasteful on the ball in his own third, as his sloppy passing was punished by opposition teams at times.
Diarra, therefore, may not be the perfect option for Leeds this summer because he would not bring defensive strength to go along with his technical qualities at the top end of the pitch.
This is why it should come as good news to supporters that the Whites are reportedly eyeing up another midfield star who would be even better than the Strasbourg ace.
Leeds eyeing deal for £25m midfielder
According to TEAMtalk, Leeds United are one of the teams eyeing up a deal to sign Rangers central midfielder Nicolas Raskin in the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Championship champions, established Premier League side Aston Villa, Porto, Marseille, and Fiorentina are all interested in signing the Belgium international to bolster their options in the middle of the park.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
It states that Leeds have a long-standing interest in the Rangers star, which dates back to his time at Standard Liege in 2022, and that they view him as a perfect fit for Farke’s midfield in the top-flight next season.
TEAMtalk adds that the Scottish giants are keen to get maximum value out of the Belgian dynamo and are ready to demand a fee of up to £25m for the 24-year-old star.
Leeds must, now, push to win the race for the Scottish Premiership starlet because he could be an even better signing than Diarra this summer.
Why Leeds should sign Nicolas Raskin
The Rangers star would be a better addition for Farke to bolster his midfield options because he offers more both in and out of possession in comparison to the Senegal international.
Unlike Diarra, Raskin constantly looks to win possession back for his side with tackles and interceptions, making 5.0 tackles and interceptions combined in 12 appearances in the Europa League this season.
The 24-year-old ace, as shown in the clip above, can also step up to provide goals and assists when called upon, though, and is more than just a midfield destroyer.
Raskin ended the 2024/25 campaign with a return of five goals and 11 assists in all competitions for the Light Blues, which suggests that he can offer a big threat in front of goal, particularly as a creator.
Appearances
30
33
Goals
4
4
Assists
5
10
Tackles + interceptions per game
1.1
3.4
Error led to shot
3
1
Ground duel success rate
49%
57%
Aerial duel success rate
43%
56%
As you can see in the table above, the Belgian midfield maestro outperformed Diarra at league level this season with his contributions at both ends of the pitch as a number eight.
These statistics suggest that Raskin, once hailed as “unbelievable” by ex-Rangers forward Kris Boyd, would offer far more to Leeds in midfield due to his ability to combine attacking flair with defensive steel.
Nicolas Raskin
For a fee of just £3m more than the £22m they bid for Diarra, Leeds could land a bargain by signing the Gers midfielder for £25m before the end of the summer window to bolster their options in the middle of the park.
Whilst both players are unproven in the Premier League to date, Raskin has showcased his defensive qualities on the European stage in the Europa League and still has time left on his side to develop further at the age of 24.
The new Phillips: Leeds want to sign £15m star with "undeniable" potential
Leeds United are reportedly keen on a star who would be Daniel Farke’s own Kalvin Phillips.
ByDan Emery Jun 9, 2025
With the available evidence from the 2024/25 campaign, though, it would appear as though the Rangers star would be a significantly better signing than Diarra, which is why the club should pursue a deal for him over the Strasbourg ace.
Manchester City made a statement in the winter transfer window in a bid to strengthen their squad, bringing in the likes of Nico Gonzalez and Omar Marmoush.
In a way, it worked. While the club were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid in February, they have lost only three domestic games in 2025.
The FA Cup provides the only chance of silverware, and Pep Guardiola will be hoping that winning the competition for the third time can set his side up for a new era starting this summer.
There is still plenty of work to be done this summer. Could Guardiola be targeting a player from a fellow Premier League side?
Man City eye move for Milos Kerkez
Milos Kerkez has emerged as a transfer target for City and a host of other clubs ahead of the summer window.
The left-back has made 36 appearances for Bournemouth this season, recording nine goal contributions in the process. He has even started every single one of the club’s league matches, indicating how important he is to the team.
Assists
5
Accurate passes per game
27.8
Big chances created
6
Key passes per game
0.9
Tackles per game
1.5
Total duels won per game
4.2
Kerkez ranks in the top 11% for crosses into the opposition penalty area and in the top 15% for carries into the final third when compared to peers in the top flight this term.
These statistics have seen the Cherries place a price tag of around £45m on the defender.
Milos Kerkez for Bournemouth
City could certainly afford this fee in the summer. The club have also struck gold on an academy starlet who is worth a lot more than the Hungarian full-back – Rico Lewis.
How Man City have hit gold on Rico Lewis
Despite only turning 20 last November, Lewis has already racked up 90 senior appearances under Guardiola, impressing the Spaniard on the right side of the defence.
Indeed, the manager even hailed the Englishman as “exceptional” back in 2023, and he has gone from strength to strength ever since.
One of his key strengths is his passing ability, and when compared to peers across Europe’s top five leagues, the youngster ranks in the top 1% for pass completion percentage (92.1%) and in the top 6% for progressive passes (6.01) per 90.
This shows that he doesn’t just dictate games with his range of passing, but he is able to begin attacks and set the midfielders and forwards up for success with his attack-minded abilities.
As such, his market valuation has grown year-on-year. According to Football Transfers, the defender is now valued at €62.7m (£53.5m).
This value is nearly £10m more than Kerkez at the time of writing, and it may increase even further as the years progress if he can continue to shine on the pitch.
Of course, he plays on the opposite side of the pitch compared to the Bournemouth sensation, but considering City brought him through the academy, they have struck gold on the left-back.
If and when he departs City, they will make an absolute fortune on the Englishman. That much is certain.
Man Utd now considering shock move for "exceptional" £25m Man City attacker
The Red Devils are eyeing a move for a player from one of their bitter rivals.
For the 13th time in the Premier League this season, Manchester United played out a full 90-minute match without getting on the scoresheet, having slipped to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday afternoon.
Pablo Sarabia’s 77th-minute free-kick was a rare moment of quality in a largely lifeless affair at Old Trafford, albeit with the hosts likely to feel they should have walked away with all three points.
Indeed, Rasmus Hojlund notably came agonisingly close to getting on the end of Alejandro Garnacho’s driven cross, while both Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount also produced wayward attempts after being expertly picked out by the Argentine winger.
Even an inch-perfect, outside of the boot cross from Christian Eriksen could not be capitalised on by Mount, with the £55m Englishman still having scored just once since his arrival back in the summer of 2023.
Hojlund too has netted only three league goals in 2024/25 to date, a grim return for any leading number nine, with Ruben Amorim likely to be tearing his hair out at his side’s frustrating profligacy.
Cunha, Delap, Amorim
Having gone from seeing Viktor Gyokeres dazzle under his watch, the Portuguese coach is now in desperate need of a new attacking figurehead.
Latest on Man Utd's search for a forward
All of the talk at present is centred around United’s apparent progressing interest in Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman, Matheus Cunha, with it looking likely that the club will trigger the Brazilian’s £62.5m release clause, amid positive talks over his potential contract in Manchester.
Cunha stats
The 14-goal marksman may not be the only Premier League talent to arrive at the Theatre of Dreams this summer, however, with the Daily Mail’s Simon Jones – who outlined that an agreement regarding Cunha is inching closer – also naming a raft of high-profile stars who are under consideration.
Indeed, according to Jones, among those to have made the INEOS shortlist is Bournemouth man, Antoine Semenyo, with the Red Devils already said to have held talks over signing the Ghanaian forward.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
This follows prior reports which outlined that United are actually frontrunners in the race for the 25-year-old’s signature, albeit with it yet to be seen if Amorim and co will be willing or able to match the Cherries’ £70m price tag.
A versatile asset who can operate on the flanks or in a central role, Semenyo could represent the perfect addition to bolster Amorim’s forward line, with the potential their for the 40-year-old to morph him into his new Gyokeres-esque talisman.
Why Man Utd could be targeting Amorim's new Gyokeres
As outlined by journalist Mark Ogden, it has been a remarkable rise for the Sporting CP sensation in recent times, having gone from being sold for just £1m by then-Brighton and Hove Albion director, Dan Ashworth, back in 2021, to now standing aloft as the “hottest striker in Europe”.
Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates scoring their third goal to complete his hat-trick
Indeed, the 6 foot 2 Swede failed to actually make a league appearance for the Seagulls, while enduring a handful of less than spectacular loan spells away from the Amex – having notably scored just five goals in 2020/21 for the likes of Swansea City and Coventry City.
That steady rise only truly ignited following Gyokeres’ permanent switch to Coventry at the end of that campaign, as he went on to score 38 times in the Championship over the next two seasons.
Since moving to Lisbon on a £17m deal in 2023, the 26-year-old has soared even higher, bagging 90 goals in just 96 games – 66 of which came in just 68 outings under Amorim’s watch.
That journey from EFL struggler to elite-level monster is one which Semenyo certainly knows well, with the London-born ace having started out on the books at Bristol City, while also taking on loan moves at the likes of Bath City, Newport County and Sunderland.
The 6 foot 1 star memorably failed to score during that limp stint at the Stadium of Light, while actually only scoring 21 times in 121 games back at Ashton Gate – albeit while plundering a further 21 assists.
Like Gyokeres, however, it has taken the step up from the second tier for Semenyo to truly flourish, having now scored 16 Premier League goals since the start of 2023/24, while contributing a further eight assists.
Like Gyokeres too, what also stands out regarding the in-demand talent is just what a powerful presence he is in the final third, having been hailed as “almost unplayable” at times by journalist Ed Aarons.
Semenyo vs Gyokeres – 22/23 Champ stats
Stat (per 90)
Semenyo
Gyokeres
Non-penalty goals
0.43
0.40
Assists
0.14
0.22
Shot-creating actions
1.87
4.27
Pass completion
65.6
67.3%
Progressive passes
1.87
2.01
Progressive carries
2.23
4.43
Successful take-ons
1.59
2.15
Touches in opposition box
6.27
7.16
Aerial duels won
3.24
1.86
Stats via FBref
Interestingly too, the pair were deemed to be similar players among their peers during the 2022/23 season in the Championship, as per FBref, with Semenyo having largely been operating in a central role at the time.
That likeness bodes well for the impact that the two-footed Ghana star can make under Amorim, with the £70m man representing the type of ready-made Premier League talent who can breathe new life into United’s misfiring attacking unit.
After years of scouring the Eredivisie, in particular, for new signings, now could well be the time to look a little closer to home…
New Cantona & Berbatov: Man Utd on the verge of signing £90k-p/w "maverick"
Man Utd appear to be closing in on what could prove to be a real marquee move
Tottenham Hotspur have some major rebuilding to do if they’re to become genuine Premier League title contenders, with two big names now tipped to leave as part of the process.
Tottenham seal Europa League semi-final place after Thursday win
After a hard-fought victory at Eintracht Frankfurt, where Ange Postecoglou’s side were forced to dig deep and display truly heroic, last-gasp defending over a dogged showing, Spurs have now booked their place in the Europa League semi-finals.
Tottenham: Lange personally holds talks over signing £50m player for Spurs
The technical director has a plan.
ByEmilio Galantini Apr 17, 2025
Dominic Solanke’s penalty was enough to hand the Lilywhites a spot in the next round, where they will play fairy tale semi-finalists Bodo/Glimt, after the Norwegian minnows knocked out Lazio on penalties.
Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures
Date
Nottingham Forest (home)
April 21st
Liverpool (away)
April 27th
West Ham (away)
May 3rd
Crystal Palace (home)
May 10th
Aston Villa (away)
May 18th
Tottenham showcased true professionalism to get the job done on a tough, hostile night in Germany, with Postecoglou’s side keeping their nerve on away soil and earning serious praise from their manager.
“Yeah, I’m delighted with many things, super proud of the lads,” said Postecoglou after Tottenham’s win at Eintracht.
“Going away from home, a quarter-final against a very good side, you know you’re going to have to work really hard, be really disciplined, and we needed to score. We had to show the quality we had as well.
“To a man, I just thought they were outstanding, so proud of them. In such a big game, they delivered a performance, and it means we’re through to a semi-final. I think over the two legs we deserved to go through. It could have been all over in the first leg, but we earned the right to be in the semi.”
Playmaker James Maddison put his body on the line to win Spurs the penalty which ultimately proved decisive, but according to talkSPORT pundit Troy Deeney, the England international is one of four players who could be sacrificed in the transfer market by chairman Daniel Levy.
Troy Deeney says Tottenham could let go of Son Heung-min and James Maddison
As well as Maddison, Deeney believes fellow big-name Son Heung-min could leave Tottenham soon.
The attacking stars, on a combined £260,000-per-week at N17, have both played mainstay roles under Postecoglou – but the pundit believes Spurs’ duo may well depart alongside the likes of Richarlison and Yves Bissouma.
“For me, he’s done a good job blooding the younger players and giving them the confidence to go and score a lot,” said Deeney on talkSPORT this week.
“Brennan Johnson, what is he on, about 16 goals now? I think they’re in a transition period, I think you could see the likes of Son [Heung-min] move on. Potentially [James] Maddison, [Yves] Bissouma, Richarlison, these guys will start moving on.
“And then obviously they have a lot of young players like Mikey Moore, but I still think they’re a little bit like Chelsea. They need one, maybe two, older pros just to be like, ‘We don’t do that here, this is how you win things.’
“And that’s the bit I think that they’re missing.”
T20 franchises won’t be too bothered by his middling T20 numbers as long as he brings genuine pace, left-arm angle, height and swing
Sidharth Monga22-Mar-2024When Mitchell Starc runs in at Eden Gardens on Saturday and lets the ball go for the first time in an IPL match since 2015, it will cost his franchise upwards of INR 6 lakh (approx. US $7,200). It’s the cost of every legal ball that Starc delivers, assuming he bowls his four overs in every game, plays every match, and that Kolkata Knight Riders play 17 games. If you look at cold numbers, you might call this a big gamble.Since the start of the T20 World Cup in 2022, Starc has played just two T20 matches outside World Cups in one-and-a-half years. The last time he was available for a T20 World Cup match, Starc was dropped by Australia. Outside his replacement Kane Richardson, Starc was Australia’s most expensive frontline bowler at that World Cup at home in 2022.The last time Starc played T20s outside international cricket, he was representing Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL in the year 2015. Since that game, Starc has conceded 8.14 runs an over across all T20s, as against his overall career economy of 7.47. His average in the intervening period, meanwhile, has been 25.53 versus a career average of 19.74. And during the same period, Starc has gone at 9.62 runs an over in the death overs – his career economy in that phase is 8.74 – which ended up becoming the reason for his being dropped during the World Cup in 2022.Related
Starc gets back into T20 groove ahead of World Cup
Australians at IPL: Green's WC bid, Starc returns, Langer at Lucknow
'Harden the f*** up' – Stern words that led to Starc's durability
'Nothing I could've imagined' – Starc reacts to becoming costliest IPL buy
And yet, Starc is one of the most sought-after players at the IPL. Only seven players made more than Starc’s INR 5 crore in the 2014 auction, the first time he played in the IPL. RCB retained him, and that yielded 20 wickets in the next IPL. Injury and workload management kept him away in 2016 and 2017, but in 2018, only five players attracted higher bids than the INR 9.4 crore Starc got from KKR. Injuries, preference to ODIs and Tests, and other personal reasons kept Starc away from the IPL since then until he came back for this season as the most expensive player bought at an auction ever: for INR 24.75 crore (approx. US $2.97m).Even if you set aside the idiosyncrasies of auctions, Starc’s appeal to the IPL has been constant and universal. In throwing big money at Starc, the IPL teams show they appreciate two things about T20 cricket: that bowlers have limited agency, and that potential trumps non-recent form. In a crunched format with ten wickets still available, it becomes even more important to separate actions from results when assessing bowlers in particular.When it comes to Starc, the IPL doesn’t see his numbers from the five matches he plays every year on an average. What it instead sees is the genuine pace, the left-arm angle, the height, the ability to swing the ball, and that he is an absolute great in the other two formats. There is also acknowledgement that it is easier for longer-format specialists to adjust to T20 than the other way around.This year will see just the 28th IPL match for Mitchell Starc•BCCIThere is not a substantial amount of cause you can establish for Starc’s middling numbers in T20s. Yes, the new ball swings less, and there is hardly any reverse, but that is true for all bowlers. Starc’s handicap perhaps is his smooth action, which makes for spotting the ball sooner than irregular actions, thus making his pace appear lesser to the batter than what the speed gun registers. Still, if he can consistently stay north of 145kph, it is a big asset in the IPL regardless of the smoothness and the orthodoxy of his action.Evidently, we have precious little to go by. Starc has hardly ever played a tournament for long enough for proper analysis or match-ups to develop, or for him to make alterations against certain players and come back. On Saturday in Kolkata, Starc will begin addressing one of the anomalies of our times when he goes up against Sunrisers Hyderabad, the side led by Pat Cummins, another great fast bowler in other formats, and who also happens to be the second-most expensive buy at an IPL auction ever.This year will see just the 28th IPL match for Starc; he has played fewer in the BBL, and none in any other league.Not only is Starc fit and available and ready for a full IPL season, but he will also get on the ride to try to correct his own numbers and reputation in T20s. The last time he was left out by Australia, Starc said he had some “pretty strong” feelings about the decision, and he had let his team management know. Now comes the IPL and the T20 World Cup hot on its heels, where he can actually demonstrate why he shouldn’t have been left out.