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Tottenham Hotspur are now plotting a move for an “elite” Premier League defender, who Micky van de Ven knows very well, according to a report.

Spurs looking to sign new centre-back

There has been a great deal of speculation surrounding the future of Cristian Romero, as the 27-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Atletico Madrid, but Thomas Frank has now indicated the defender is set to remain at N17.

That said, perhaps given that his predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, was left very light on options in defence at times last season, Frank remains keen on bringing in another centre-back, and AFC Bournemouth’s Illia Zabarnyi has now emerged as a target.

Spurs are ready to shell out over £60m to get a deal for Zabarnyi over the line, but with the Bournemouth defender keen on joining PSG, Frank may be forced to move on to alternative options, and a different Premier League centre-back is now on the shortlist.

That is according to a report from France (via TEAMtalk), which states Tottenham are now eyeing a move for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, less than one year after the defender’s £18m move to Selhurst Park.

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The way in which Lacroix has been able to adapt to the Premier League has caught Spurs’ eye, and the move would reunite the defender with former Wolfsburg teammate van de Ven, with the pair playing alongside eachother on 29 occasions in Germany.

With the 25-year-old contracted until 2029, however, Palace remain in a strong negotiating position, and there could be a great deal of rival interest, with the likes of Borrusia Dortmund and various Serie A clubs also keen.

"Elite" Lacroix could be excellent acquisition for Spurs

Hailed as an “elite defender” by journalist Tobias Kröger, the Palace star was a mainstay in Oliver Glasner’s side last season, making 35 appearances in the Premier League, while also starting in the victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final.

During his first season in England, the Frenchman’s defensive abilities were on display on a regular basis, with winning back possession his forte, suggesting he could now be ready to make the step-up to one of England’s biggest clubs.

Statistic

Average per 90

Tackles

1.96 (83rd percentile)

Interceptions

1.56 (89th percentile)

Clearances

5.98 (81st percentile)

Glasner is also clearly happy with the addition of the former Wolfsburg man, with the Palace boss saying: “It is great recruitment. The new players who came in this year, like Maxence Lacroix, like Daichi Kamada, showed an outstanding performance today and also at the Emirates.”

As such, Lacroix could be a solid signing for Tottenham, but it may be difficult to prise him away for Palace, given that the centre-back remains contracted until 2029.

Newcastle United are on the hunt for what seems to be their primary target this summer, a new right winger.

The Magpies have a huge season ahead of them, with Champions League football returning to St James’ Park, and are looking for extra depth on the right to go along with Jacob Murphy.

After being rejected by Bryan Mbeumo, the Magpies seemingly switched their attention to Anthony Elanga.

According to David Ornstein, they placed a bid of around £45m, but that was rejected by Nottingham Forest, the Sweden international’s current club.

Whilst there is still a chance they could return with a bid for Elanga, there have been reports about their new targets out wide.

Newcastle's new right-wing targets

It is definitely a blow for the North East giants to perhaps lose out on the signing of Elanga. He was a player they have seemingly targeted for a while, having made a move for him last summer. However, they certainly have other options.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It seems as though Newcastle could move for a new target after they failed to sign Elanga. Keith Downie of Sky Sports reported a few days ago that they are ‘exploring’ a move for other players, including Borussia Dortmund winger Karim Adeyemi.

If Eddie Howe’s side decide to try and sign the Germany international, he could cost £43m, according to SportBILD a few weeks ago.

The same report also suggests that Juventus, Liverpool and Chelsea are also interested in the winger, although it is not clear if they will challenge the Magpies in their move or Howe gets a clear run at his latest winger target.

How Adeyemi compares to Anthony Elanga

At 23 years of age, Adeyemi has already played a great deal of football at the highest level and has made a great impression. He notably impressed last season for Dortmund despite struggling with an injury, and is now playing in the Club World Cup in the United States.

In 2024/25 so far, including the ongoing competition happening Stateside, he has played 38 times, scoring an impressive 12 goals and grabbing a further nine assists. Given that he has featured for just 2,261 minutes, the equivalent of 25.1 full 90-minute games, contributing to 21 goals in that time is a great effort.

The Magpies will certainly know a bit about the damage Adeyemi can cause. Having played against him twice before in the Champions League, he grabbed an assist against them at Signal Iduna Park. Adeyemi’s quick feet and excellent long pass enabled Julian Brandt to counter-attack Newcastle, which he ended up scoring.

Sweden international Elanga had a fantastic campaign in the Premier League last season too. He played all 38 of Forest’s games, scoring six goals and grabbing 11 assists, including a sublime effort against former side Manchester United.

Those numbers are fairly similar to the ones Adeyemi put up in the Bundesliga; he contributed 13 goals and assists in the German top flight, but played just 25 games.

Described as a “counter-attacking weapon” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig and as “unstoppable” by football analyst Ben Mattinson, you can certainly see how that is similar to Elanga by watching how quick he is in the above goal. Adeyemi is not exactly slow, and, as per Speeds Database, has a top speed of 36.30 km/h.

Statistically, via FBref, Adeyemi has numbers which far exceed Elanga. For example, the German international averaged 0.82 goal involvements and 0.69 goal-creating actions per 90 minutes, compared to the Forest star’s 0.61 goals and assists and 0.65 goal-creating actions each game.

If this is the type of profile Newcastle want to sign this summer, and they miss out on Elanga, they might end up with the better option in Adeyemi. The Dortmund attacker is quick, dangerous in transition and able to score and assist at a consistent level, more so than Elanga.

For £43m, a fee they’re clearly willing to spend, this seems like a fantastic addition to the Magpies’ squad, and could be a better option than the Forest star.

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By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 25, 2025

This summer looks set to be a massive one for Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta told us as much in April, and considering his side finished a distant second place to Liverpool in the Premier League this season, it’s not hard to see why.

However, on top of bringing in some truly game-changing attackers to help push the club over the finish line at home and in the Champions League, the Gunners need to address other areas of the team.

For example, while Martin Zubimendi looks set to join, the midfield could still do with more rejuvenation, and based on recent reports, that might happen as the club circle an up-and-coming talent who could send Thomas Partey packing.

Arsenal transfer news

For some time this season, it looked as if Thomas Partey would be thanked for his service and allowed to leave at the expiration of his contract this month.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

However, on April 23rd, The Athletic’s David Ornstein broke the news that talks had begun over a new deal that could see the former Atlético Madrid star remain in North London for two or more years.

Since then, there have been a few updates on the talks, but nothing definitive either way.

Interestingly, while talks are still going on, the club have now been linked to an exciting midfield talent who could be an ideal replacement for the 32-year-old: Lucien Agoumé.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Arsenal are now very interested in the Sevilla star.

In fact, the report claims that Arteta, in particular, wants the club to sign the Frenchman, who has caught the eye of Manchester United as well.

A potential price is not mentioned in the report, but considering the £17k-per-week ace joined the Spanish side for €4m – £3.4m – last summer, there is a chance he wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Even so, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Agoumé, as he looks incredibly promising and someone who could make resigning Partey unnecessary.

How Agoumé compares to Partey

So then, if Arsenal are looking to sign Agoumé this summer and as a potential replacement for Partey, how do the pair stack up to one another?

Well, as they are both primarily defensive midfielders by trade, the best way to see what’s what is to take a look under the hood and compare their underlying numbers.

Interestingly, and perhaps somewhat surprisingly, it’s the Sevilla gem, who talent scout Jacek Kulig described as a “10 out of 10 talent” who comes out on top when we do this.

Now, while the Gunners’ star does better in some areas, such as passing accuracy, passes into the penalty area and goal-creating actions per 90, he is a distant second in practically every other relevant statistic.

For example, the former Inter Milan gem comes out on top in things such as non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes and carries, tackles, blocks, interceptions, clearances, key passes, ball recoveries and many, many more, all per 90.

On top of all of that, the Yaoundé-born star also has a far better injury record, having missed just 16 games for club and country across his entire career.

In stark contrast, the Odumase Krobo-born titan has missed 81 games for club and country since the start of the 20/21 campaign.

Ultimately, Partey has been a great player for Arsenal and could well contribute for another year or two, but if there is an opportunity to sign Agoumé, the club have to take it, as he looks like the perfect midfielder to come in and replace the 32-year-old.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jun 13, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur saved their season when they defeated Manchester United 1-0 in the Europa League, ending 17 years of searching for silverware.

Despite all the misery, the luckless injury bother and the Premier League disaster, finishing 17th, Ange Postecoglou made good on his word and bagged himself a trophy at the end of his second season in the Spurs dugout, thus paving a road into next year’s Champions League.

It’s been a long time coming, but Tottenham must now ensure they build on their success and sustain a position at the forefront of English football.

Arrivals are expected, but outgoings are also a must if chairman Daniel Levy to to enact real change. Richarlison, despite his part in winning European gold, surely needs to leave in the coming months.

The latest on Richarlison's Spurs exit

Everton have been credited by Sky Sports News with an interest in Richarlison, and it’s felt Tottenham would be willing to consider offers in the region of £30m.

There’s clearly a talented player in there, with the Brazil forward’s rich purple patch in the Premier League last season evidence behind Tottenham’s big payment to bring him over from Merseyside.

But with interest in the 28-year-old’s services mounting, it might be foolish not to take the money and turn it toward a new player.

Richarlison, then, can bow out as a winner, having played an important part in ending Spurs’ trophy hoodoo. However, this feels like the right time for him to move on, for his career down N17 has been marred by persistent injuries and struggles for form.

He’s not the only wide forward who needs to move on, though, with Mathys Tel struggling to showcase his burgeoning qualities under Postecoglou’s wing.

Why Spurs must get rid of Mathys Tel

Tottenham welcomed Bayern Munich’s Tel to the fold in February, bagging the France U21 forward on loan until the end of the season.

Sadly, it’s been something of a turbulent ride for the 20-year-old, who was criticised by The Athletic’s Jay Harris for his “underwhelming” start to life in London, finishing the campaign with just three goals and an assist from 20 appearances, albeit a Europa League medal too.

Crystal Palace’s FA Cup hero Eberechi Eze has been linked by TEAMtalk with a cross-London switch; Tottenham are even believed to be prepared to meet his £68m release clause.

You’d think such a move could spell the end for one of Richarlison or Tel, and that another left-leaning forward would allow Levy and co to part with both.

Tel’s six-month loan spell has the option inserted to become permanent at the end of the season, for a fee in the ballpark of £46m.

He’s a wonderful talent, for sure, but the question must be raised as to whether this would be a prudent use of resources when the need for instant change is so great.

Tottenham are hoping to bring the Frenchman’s price down to £30m, but if they are unable to do so, plans must be focused on using the Richarlison money and the funds clearly available for such an outlay on Tel to sign another top target, such as Palace’s Eze.

Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane, who is out of contract this summer, is also being chased by the Lilywhites, and it’s clear such players would make a big difference to a youthful squad in need of a blend of experience to finally hit a consistent vein of form and wipe the slate clean.

With that in mind, it could be that Tel’s final outing for Spurs has already come and gone, with the club needing to oversee a swift exit for the £80k-per-week starlet.

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By
Ethan Lamb

May 31, 2025

All eyes might be on next week’s Champions League semi-final for the fans, but behind the scenes, Arsenal are preparing for a massive summer transfer window.

The Gunners are set to finish with fewer points in the Premier League than their previous campaign under Mikel Arteta for the first time, and as they’ve scored 12 goals fewer than Liverpool, it’s clear they need attacking reinforcements.

One of the standout players most heavily touted for a move to the Emirates in recent months has been Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, who would be available for around £50m thanks to the release clause in his current deal.

However, while the Spaniard is a supremely exciting winger, recent reports have now linked the club with another sensational wideman, someone having a way better season than the Basque star.

Arsenal looking to sign one of the best players in Europe

As we get closer and closer to the opening of the summer transfer window, the links to incredible stars have been steadily increasing, so before looking at the potential Williams upgrade, it’s worth going over some of the other names touted for a move to N5, such as Rafael Leao.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to reports from earlier this month, the Portuguese international could be available for around £86m this summer, and while that’s a lot of money, it could prove to be a fee worth paying, as in just 46 appearances for AC Milan this term, he’s scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists.

However, a far cheaper option would be Kingsley Coman, who has been touted for a £39m move to the North Londoners.

The Bayern Munich star, who scored the winning goal in the 2020 UCL Final, has somewhat fallen out of favour in Bavaria this year but has still managed to rack up a haul of seven goals and four assists in 1666 minutes of action.

With that said, perhaps the most exciting winger linked with Arsenal at the moment, and the one who would be a better signing than Williams, is Raphinha.

According to a recent report from Spain, the Gunners are one of several sides interested in the Brazilian game-changer, including Liverpool, Chelsea and teams from the Saudi Pro League.

However, the key information is that, per the story, Barcelona have not ruled out selling the former Leeds United star, and that should an offer of around €100m – £86m – be made, they’d be willing to cash in.

It would be an incredibly costly and potentially complicated transfer to get over the line for Arsenal, but given Raphinha’s immense ability, it’s one worth fighting for, especially as he’d be a better signing than Williams.

How Raphinha compares to Williams

So, with the fees being reported, it seems likely that Arsenal would sign Raphinha or Williams and not both, so how do they compare?

Well, when it comes down to the most important metric for an attacking player, their raw output, it’s the Barcelona star who comes out way ahead.

For example, in 49 appearances this season, totalling 3952 minutes, the “amazing” Porto Alegre-born star, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has racked up an outrageous tally of 30 goals and 23 assists. He is truly living up to his billing as “the best player in the world” this season, as hailed by Statman Dave.

That means he is currently averaging 1.08 goal involvements a game or one every 74.56 minutes, which is a simply world-class rate of return and makes Thierry Henry’s tip for him to win the Ballon d’Or earlier this year look like a shrewd one.

In contrast, the Pamplona-born dynamo has scored 11 goals and provided seven assists for the Basque side in 43 appearances, totalling 2971 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.38 games, or every 165.05 minutes.

Now, it should be said that, in and of itself, that is an excellent rate of return for a winger, but it’s simply incomparable to the Brazilian’s mind-blowing efforts this year.

Ultimately, Arsenal need to sign an attacker who can propel them forward this summer, and while he won’t be cheap, that attacker is Raphinha, not Willimas.

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By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Apr 24, 2025

Arsenal transfer chiefs have been told exactly what they need to sign Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano, with the Gunners given a “clear” message behind-the-scenes.

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Alongside Gyokeres, new sporting director Andrea Berta is believed to be looking at a number of centre-forwards to potentially move for in the summer transfer window.

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1

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 16, 2025

Newcastle United star Alexander Isak is taking the Premier League by storm yet again this season, racking up 24 goals and six assists in all competitions, and reliable media sources indicate Gyokeres’ international teammate is actually a “dream” target for Arsenal (Ben Jacobs).

However, while Isak is reportedly top of Mikel Arteta’s wishlist, a move for the Swede is less viable considering his rumoured price tag stands at a minimum of £150 million.

Arsenal want to bolster the goalkeeping position, full-back area, in midfield and sign further upgrades out wide in the summer (GiveMeSport), so Berta simply cannot afford to splash such a figure on just one signing, no matter the quality.

RB Leipzig starlet Benjamin Sesko is another striker target for Arsenal, and one who could leave for just £62 million, due to the value of his current release clause (Sky Sports). The Slovenian boasts 19 goals in all competitions, and Arsenal did attempt to sign Sesko as a top target last summer, so this could still be one to watch.

The competition for his signature will be fierce, as a host of elite Premier League sides, including Chelsea and Man United, are also reportedly looking to bring in a prolific number nine this summer.

The same can be said of Gyokeres, who has been repeatedly linked with a move to N5 recently as interest in the former Coventry City star grows stronger from Arsenal’s side.

There are even reports that Arsenal are ready to offer Gyokeres a £192,000-per-week contract to join Arteta’s side, and now Romano has shared a fresh update on their pursuit of the 26-year-old.

Arsenal told price to sign Viktor Gyokeres "in recent days"

Writing in a column for GiveMeSport, Romano claims Arsenal have been given a “clear” communication over Gyokeres’ price “in recent days/weeks”.

The Primeira Liga sensation can leave for much less than his £86 million release clause, namely a fee of up to £60 million, with add-ons, deal structure and payment terms still to be discussed.

Berta is also said to be a huge fan of his, so the Italian’s stance on a deal is also crystal clear. While Gyokeres has been a pivotal player for the Portuguese heavyweights, racking up a sensational 44 goals and 11 assists in all competitions this season, the club are impressed with his conduct since last summer as well.

He’s made no trouble behind-closed-doors over a transfer and has behaved professionally, meaning Sporting are more inclined to help facilitate his dream move, with the Premier League looking more and more like a credible destination.

Gyokeres’ quality is evident for all to see, and often doesn’t get discussed enough, and some around the game are convinced he’s actually a “massively underrated” player for all he’s achieved in terms of a very impressive goalscoring record.

It’s arguably a mystery why no club has invested in the forward’s capture just yet, but it probably won’t be long now.

Everton are nine games unbeaten in the Premier League. Nine. David Moyes lost his opener against Aston Villa after replacing the beleaguered Sean Dyche, but the progress has been otherwise breathtaking.

This Toffees team is a far cry from the previous version, refashioned only a few months ago with just Charly Alcaraz welcomed from the transfer gates in January.

If the 15th-placed club are to compete at a higher level over the coming years, it’s important that the market is well utilised. What Everton need is a superstar signing, comparatively speaking.

Well, The Friedkin Group certainly have a shock move lined up. You need only look over to Anfield Road to find this player’s signature.

Everton lining up move for Liverpool star

According to recent reports, via The Mirror, Everton are weighing up a move for Liverpool talent Ben Doak in what would be a shocking transfer. Doak has excelled on loan at Middlesbrough this season and Moyes is thoroughly impressed.

The Toffees are preparing to test the waters with a £25m offer, which falls into a similar ballpark as bids from Bournemouth and Crystal Palace back in January, both rebuffed by the Reds.

Dealings between the Merseyside rivals have been sparse in modern times. In fact, Abel Xavier is the last player to transfer directly between the two teams, joining Liverpool from Everton in 2002.

Everton could land their next Wayne Rooney

Let’s be honest, this would be as difficult a deal to orchestrate as any. However, saying that, Liverpool have been open to selling Doak in recent months and their ostensible interest in Jarrad Branthwaite suggests negotiations could be somewhat amenable.

And Doak would be worth the effort. Only 19, the Scotland winger has dazzled through the maiden years of his career, so brisk and powerful and purposeful down the right flank.

On that note, with Jack Harrison and Jesper Lindstrom’s loans at Goodison Park wrapping up this summer, the urgency for a fresh right flanker is doubly important.

Across 24 Championship appearances this term (21 starts), he’s scored three goals and assisted seven more, leading former Scotland manager Craig Levein to say: “This kid could be a world-class player.”

Few teenagers carry themselves with such swagger and potency, but Doak’s certainly one of them. Moyes knows a thing or two about developing exciting prospects – he handed Wayne Rooney his professional debut, after all.

Rooney: scorer of great goals, leader of men. He’s one of the greatest footballers to do it in the Premier League, behind only Alan Shearer and Harry Kane in the division’s all-time scoring charts (with 208 goals).

Any youngster compared to the retired Three Lions captain is worth their salt, and Doak has indeed been claimed to have a stylistic semblance to Rooney, with his agent, Jackie McNamara, actually labelling him “a Scottish Wayne Rooney.”

His electric pace, his strong-limbed bursts into the danger area, do carry a hint of the former Premier League star, with Doak’s metrics from the 2024/25 campaign highlighting his barrelling style.

Goals scored

0.15

Top 69%

Assists

0.35

Top 9%

Shot-creating actions

4.15

Top 30%

Pass completion

79.1%

Top 21%

Progressive passes

2.83

Top 65%

Progressive carries

6.78

Top 1%

Successful take-ons

1.77

Top 24%

Everton need such a player, and Moyes has shown in the past that he has the tactical nous to bring the best out of such a youngster’s talent.

Now, it boils down to Liverpool and Everton’s ability to negotiate. It won’t be easy, but this could be quite the deal if pulled off.

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ByAngus Sinclair Mar 31, 2025

Football can be a cruel mistress at times, with players able to enjoy a meteoric rise, before coming crashing back down to earth with a bump – just ask Manchester United’s, Kobbie Mainoo.

It was less than a year ago that the teenage midfielder was the darling of English football amid his role in the Three Lions’ surge to the Euro 2024 final, with the United academy graduate starting every knockout stage game for Gareth Southgate’s side.

The now 19-year-old had only made his first Premier League start midway through the 2023/24 season, after putting in a Man of the Match display away at Everton in late November, yet was quickly able to establish himself as a central figure both for his club and for his county.

Indeed, the local hero memorably scored what proved to be the decisive goal in May’s FA Cup final triumph over rivals Manchester City, having rounded off a stunning, sweeping move from the rampant Red Devils.

From such highs, however, Mainoo found himself absent from the latest derby encounter at the weekend, with the playmaker edging his way back to fitness amid what has been an injury-hit campaign at Old Trafford.

Doubts emerging over his future at the club – following talk of a stall in contract talks – have been added to by question marks over Mainoo’s suitability for Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 setup, with that uncertainty only set to be heightened by the latest transfer reports.

Latest on Man Utd's search for a midfielder

The midfield ranks could be in need of something of an overhaul this summer, even with the signing of Manuel Ugarte last year, with Christian Eriksen looking set to depart amid the impending expiry of his contract, while fellow veteran, Casemiro, remains linked with an exit.

As such, there remains the need for Amorim to be handed at least one new addition to bolster that department, with GIVEMESPORT reporting that the INEOS regime are ready to sign Atalanta star, Ederson.

As per the report, United are believed to have the Brazilian ‘in their sights’ ahead of the looming summer window, should they qualify for the Champions League, with Amorim seeking a suitable partner to Ugarte in the centre 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.

The suggestion is that the 25-year-old would command a fee of around £52m if he were to leave the Serie A side, with the piece noting that the Red Devils will not ‘pay over the odds’ to get the deal done.

Having been part of the side that claimed Europa League glory against a then-unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen last season, Ederson could represent a worthwhile addition for the Old Trafford outfit ahead of next term.

Why Ederson's signing would be bad news for Mainoo

Not only would the signing of a new midfielder perhaps enhance talk regarding the potential sale of Mainoo – who has been linked with a move to Chelsea – it would also throw into doubt the Englishman’s place in the starting lineup, were he to stay put in Manchester.

The 2022 FA Youth Cup winner had made his mark last season under Erik ten Hag while operating as a deep-lying midfielder or in a number eight berth, albeit with Amorim seemingly uneasy with deploying the teenager as part of his own midfield two, after stating that Mainoo had been “struggling a lot defensively” following his arrival.

Those defensive woes had led the Portuguese coach to push Mainoo into a number ten berth, prior to his injury setback, with the youngster notably scoring and assisting in that role against FCSB in January.

Whether that can be a permanent home remains to be seen, however, particularly with United already boasting the likes of Amad, Mason Mount, Alejandro Garnacho, Joshua Zirkzee and Bruno Fernandes, who are all more natural fits as one of the two number tens.

Mainoo then may have to fight his way back into contention in a deeper role, albeit with Ederson perhaps likely to represent a better fit for what Amorim wants, with The Athletic’s Carl Anka previously outling that the ‘central midfielders in Amorim’s 3-4-3 are chosen for their athleticism and tackling qualities first and foremost’.

Games (starts)

30 (27)

Goals

3

Assists

1

Big chances created

6

Key passes*

1.0

Pass accuracy*

88%

Tackles*

1.5

Interceptions*

1.1

Ball recoveries*

5.2

Total duels won*

55%

Possession lost*

10.5

Those are traits which the Atalanta man has in abundance, with former England boss Fabio Capello describing him as “out of this world” due to his “ability to combine running, physicality, technique and intelligence”.

The right-footer – who has scored three goals and registered one assist in 30 Serie A games in 2024/25 – has showcased that ball-winning prowess after averaging 5.2 recoveries per game in the league this season, while having been dribbled past just 0.3 times per game.

Mainoo, by contrast, averages just four ball recoveries from his 18 Premier League outings, having also been dribbled past 0.7 times per appearance – outlining those defensive ‘struggles’ that Amorim alluded to.

Not managing to find a home in his side for a “generational” talent like Mainoo – as hailed by teammate Rasmus Hojlund – may appear a mistake, yet for what the 40-year-old is trying to do with his 3-4-3 set-up, it is Ederson who seemingly fits the bill.

Described as a “machine” by journalist Carlo Garganese last term, the £52m man could be just what is needed to revitalise this struggling United side.

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ByCharlie Smith Apr 7, 2025

All the major records broken during the incredible run-fest between KKR and Punjab Kings at Eden Gardens

Sampath Bandarupalli26-Apr-2024262 The target Punjab Kings chased down against KKR at Eden Gardens – it is the world record for the highest successful chase in T20 cricket. The Kings smashed the record for the highest chase in the IPL by a whopping 38 runs.42 Sixes in the match between KKR and Kings, the highest in any T20 match. It surpassed the 38 sixes hit by SRH and Mumbai Indians in Hyderabad last month, and by RCB and SRH in Bengaluru last week.ESPNcricinfo Ltd24 Sixes the Kings hit in their chase against KKR, the second most by a team in a T20 after Nepal’s 26 sixes against Mongolia last year. Kings’ 24 sixes are the most by a team in an IPL match, breaking SRH’s record of 22 sixes last week against RCB and Delhi Capitals.523 Total runs scored by KKR and Kings at Eden Gardens on Friday – the joint second highest match aggregate in T20s , behind the 549 runs scored by RCB and SRH in Bengaluru last week.4 Openers with fifty-plus scores in the match between KKR and Punjab: Phil Salt (75), Sunil Narine (71), Prabhsimran Singh (54) and Jonny Bairstow (108*). It is the first instance of all four openers scoring 50-plus in in an IPL match and the eleventh occasion in men’s T20s. The 308 runs scored by the openers is also the highest in an IPL match.5 Half-centuries that were scored at a strike rate of 200 or more in the match between KKR and Kings – Salt (25 balls), Narine (23), Prabhsimran (18), Bairstow (23) and Shashank Singh (23). It is the first instance of five fifties scored off 25 or fewer balls in a men’s T20 (where ball-by-ball data is available).7 Targets of 200-plus successfully chased down by Kings , two more than any other team in T20 cricket. Quetta Gladiators, Mumbai Indians, India and Australia have successfully chased down 200-plus targets on five occasions.

Yet another performance that’s greater than the sum of its parts in crucial England win

Vithushan Ehantharajah22-Jul-2022Ben Stokes’ media engagements following his retirement from one-day internationals gave us plenty to digest. But contained within his wounded pride at not being able to contribute as effectively as he once could was this nugget at the end:”I didn’t like […] the feeling of stopping someone else being able to progress in this format for England, who I know is desperate to go out and is able to give the captain, the coach and the rest of the team 100 percent themselves.”At first glance, it reads simply as humility. Because where is this other Ben Stokes out there, capable of bowling heat, hitting bombs and taking worldies? It was no coincidence England were at their peak in 2019 when Stokes had full command of his rabbit-out-of-a-hat powers. There won’t be another like him and, it’s probably greedy to expect anyone close in the near future.But after Friday night’s 118-run win in the Manchester rain, the identity of this “someone” to give “100 percent themselves” became clear. Sam Curran’s 35 off 18 pushed England to 201, then his sole wicket proved to be the final nail in the coffin: David Miller, a finisher for hire on the T20 circuit, losing his off stump just as he was getting his eye in. At 27 for 5, the Proteas’ chase was dead and buried.There’s something oh-so-very-Sam Curran about those numbers. They speak of an impact that won’t move the dials when it comes to ODI scores of 50 or more, or five-wicket hauls, (both just one for Curran across 14 matches), but nevertheless, they profoundly changed the complexion of this match. It was an accurate summation of the 24-year-old’s career to date.Like Stokes, the numbers don’t quite tell the story of the work Curran gets through. And because of that, conversations around selection never reflect particularly well on him. After all, all any pro-Scurran types can offer as counter-points are the odd spells they witnessed here and there, in red- and white-ball cricket, and no huge scores or spells in which he tore the house down. The frames of reference are nothing but one’s own experience. It’s why championing the Surrey allrounder can at times feel like explaining an in-joke.So it was probably quite handy that this second ODI was condensed to 29 overs each, thus justifying the exaggeration of his output. England were 101 for six when Curran arrived to the crease, with just 70 deliveries to go. From the seventh ball he faced, Curran struck the first six of the innings, striding to the pitch of the ball and striking Keshav Maharaj back over his head. Tabraiz Shamsi got the same treatment, at which point Curran had even inspired Liam Livingstone to rediscover his funk as the pair shared four consecutive sixes – and then a four – before the end of their 21-ball stand that brought 43 runs.Analysing Curran’s performance on Sky Sports at the end of the match, his former captain Eoin Morgan was effusive on not just this performance but the batting potential that England could unlock, as Chennai Super Kings and Surrey have done, particularly up the order (and far higher than No.8).”I think he has so much to offer with the bat and he has a track record as well,” Morgan said. “At Surrey, he wants to get up the order as soon as possible. He’s batted at 3, 4, he’s batted three to eight at a domestic level and is proving he doesn’t waste balls. He’s not going to get in the way of being aggressive or posting a big score. So, legitimately, it becomes a logical option.”Big-hitting is a trick Curran seems to have mastered over the last two years, even if his bow in international cricket in 2018 – in Tests, no less – was punctuated by explosive counter-attacking moments against India. It has been refined at the Indian Premier League, but most instructive is how quickly he seems to have perfected it.Related

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The same can be said of his bowling, and the different role he has found for himself now, as part of a battery of lefties. The early movement with the new ball was once seen as one of Curran’s strengths, regardless of the colour of the ball. Now, he is very much third in the pecking order behind David Willey and Reece Topley for the fresh white Kookaburra, and so he has had to do a few different things.Not only did he vary his pace to ensure he just conceded five runs from his two overs, but his wicket ball was a smart assessment of the conditions and an execution of a plan to exploit them. Under the lights, the ball was that much harder to pick up, but an extra bit of tweak imparted by Curran allowed the seam to grip and turn between the left-handed Miller’s bat and pad. He was flummoxed, Curran was ecstatic and England were up and about.In the grand scheme of things, it was a vital win to give England a chance of finishing the ODI summer with a much-needed series win. There has been a lot of introspection over the team’s tactics and ethos over the past fortnight, parallel to the loss of high-profile names who gave so much to the team. Now things are a little bit rosier, thanks in no small part to Curran.He’s not the new Stokes. Indeed he’s not new at all, with 56 appearances into his fifth year as an England international. But he has plenty to offer as an allrounder. Even though he won’t necessarily grab as many headlines as the previous guy who had the gig, he is certainly capable of winning as many games.