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Chelsea picked up their second Premier League win in a row after a 3-0 home thrashing against Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Blues put in a clinical second-half display to pick up another three points and propel them up to second in the top flight.

The first 45 minutes went by without anything of note happening, although it was a half dominated by Enzo Maresca’s side. It took them just six minutes of the second half for them to break the deadlock.

Malo Gusto scored his first goal for the club, heading home a cross after finding himself unmarked in the penalty box.

14 minutes after the Frenchman’s goal, Chelsea found the back of the net again. This time, it was Joao Pedro who scored, firing home a loose ball from 12 yards out. It was brilliant play from substitute Estevao just seconds after coming on, who took the ball on the outside and sent a low cross into the box.

Chelsea made it 3-0 with 17 minutes to go. It was former Wolves attacker Pedro Neto who scored, coming back to haunt his former club. He finished off an incisive counter-attack to secure the points for his side.

It was a strong performance from the Blues, with a couple of players really standing out.

Chelsea’s best players vs. Wolves

One of the standout players in Blue was summer signing Alejandro Garnacho. The Argentine set up two of the three goals at Stamford Bridge, and has now scored or assisted three goals in his last two games across all competitions.

His work for both assists was impressive. For Gusto’s goal, Garnacho stood a cross up to the back post, making it easy for him to head home.

He perfectly executed the counter-attack for the Blues’ second goal, putting an inch-perfect cross on a plate for Neto to score.

The other man who stood out for Maresca’s side was Garnacho’s fellow Argentine international, Enzo Fernandez. He controlled the midfield once again, just as he did in the Blues’ last Premier League game away to Tottenham Hotspur.

It was, in many ways, effortless from the Chelsea midfielder, who took the captain’s armband with Reece James on the bench. He created two chances, completed 97% of his passes and completed four out of four long balls.

As well as the likes of Garnacho and Fernandez played against Wolves, there was one Chelsea star who didn’t look at his best.

The Chelsea player who struggled vs. Wolves

This was certainly a game that you would have expected Chelsea to win. The Old Gold are in dire straits at the moment, currently without a manager and with just two points to their name in the Premier League.

However, one player who could not capitalise on that poor form was striker Liam Delap. The former Ipswich Town star was starting his first top-flight game since the 30th of August, but looked far from his best.

It was a game that Delap simply couldn’t get into. He played just over an hour before being replaced by Estavao.

In that time, the 22-year-old managed just 15 touches, fewer than goalkeeper Robert Sanchez (30), completed six from seven attempted passes, and had two shots.

Touches

16

Passes completed

6/7

Ground duels won

2/3

Touches in Wolves box

2

Shots

2

Expected goals

0.12xG

Dom Smith of The Standard, noted how lacklustre Delap’s performance was against Wolves. He gave him a 5/10 for his efforts, explaining that he ‘struggled with the physicality’ of the Old Gold backline.

It will be interesting to see if Maresca keeps faith in Delap or decides to rotate him out of the side after the international break. The Blues have options up front, with Marc Guiu and Joao Pedro capable of leading the line, and Neto operating there late in the game.

It may well take the Englishman a few games to get back up to speed. After such a long lay-off with injury, perhaps there was too much expectation for him to hit the ground running.

However, against what is a Wolves team in disarray, this felt like a good opportunity to make a nuisance of himself and even bag a goal.

Chalkboard

Maresca has some alternative options if he does decide to switch things up at centre-forward. Delap certainly left a lot to be desired with his showing against the Old Gold.

Big-money Chelsea flop is fast becoming their new Danny Drinkwater

Chelsea have a new Danny Drinkwater on their books.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 7, 2025

Within the last week, Amad Diallo has pulled off the rather impressive feat of being seen as one of Manchester United's greatest weapons and yet also one of their most obvious weak points. The Ivory Coast international's incredible volley at Nottingham Forest last Saturday grabbed his side a point, while he was a few inches away from snatching the winner in added time. Yet while he was rightly hailed as a difference-maker in United's attack, a lot of the post-match analysis focused on his defensive shortcomings.

Both aspects of Amad's game exist. He is far from alone in being a wonderful attacking player who is yet to master the art of winning headers in his own box or being able to clip the wings of pacey, fleet-footed wingers. 

The difference is that, unlike the other top attacking players in the Premier League, he is being asked to carry out those defensive tasks on a weekly basis due to operating as a wing-back in Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3 formation. In a few matches he has gotten away with it, but Forest seemed to target Amad and successfully exposed his vulnerabilities. United's next opponents – Tottenham, Everton and Crystal Palace – would be advised to do the same.

The scrutiny on Amad's role in the team has further highlighted the limitations of Amorim's formation and given the coach yet another problem that he needs to confront.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Perfect' claim being tested

  Amad started United's very first match under Amorim at right-wing-back against Ipswich Town and set up the first goal of the Portuguese's new era, for Marcus Rashford. But while the England forward was cast aside by the coach less than a month later, Amad has become a fundamental part of Amorim's project. 

  United effectively had a bonfire of wingers over the summer, as Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony were all placed in the 'bomb squad' that had to train separately from the rest of the first team. Amad remained, starting in eight out of the nine Premier League games he has been available for this season (he missed the trip to Brentford on compassionate leave). While three of his appearances have come in attacking midfield, six of them have come at right-wing-back, and recently he has become Amorim's first-choice for the role, forcing natural right-back Diogo Dalot to play on the left.

  Amorim outlined Amad's suitability to playing at wing-back last December when he said: "He's very good playing in that position (wing-back) but also playing between the lines because he has good control and he seems faster with the ball than without the ball. He is capable of playing in both positions and he can play in different systems. You need to to have good physicality [at wing-back]. Good physicality is not the size, but he can run. And that is a key point in that position. The technical characteristics are perfect for him."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Not someone you want defending'

  While no one could disagree that Amad has the lungs to play at wing-back, his lack of natural physicality was exposed when Morgan Gibbs-White out-jumped him to head in Forest's equaliser. It was not the only time they managed to get at him, either, as Sean Dyche's plan seemed to be to try and leave Amad isolated against the tricky Callum Hudson-Odoi, who had the run of him in several key moments.

  "Amad is a conundrum," said former Wales captain Ashley Williams on 'Match of the Day'. "He’s in the team because of his attacking qualities but he can’t play in the No.10 position because [Bryan] Mbeumo and [Matheus] Cunha are playing really well. He plays right-wing-back and he finds himself in defensive positions at times, which isn’t his strength. 

  "He’s in this full-back position because he has to do his work. He’s an honest lad and he’s trying to get back and do a job for his team, but it’s not his quality. Amad gets in a centre-back position trying to head a ball out which is not his strength and they concede from that."

  Williams was, however, in awe of Amad's equaliser, praising his "perfect technique", adding: "Going forward he’s devastating. His goal, what a strike! This is not the player you want defending. He’s in the team because of his attacking play and he’s such an honest lad that he ends up doing lots of defensive work and then it looks bad on him."

• Getty Images
  

  Putting opponents on the back foot

  The stunning volley at the City Ground was just the latest of many brilliant moments Amad has provided. He kick-started his United career with his memorable winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup back in March 2024 before he won a late penalty and then scored to complete the dramatic comeback win at Manchester City last season, while he single-handedly averted an embarrassing home defeat by Southampton by scoring a 12-minute hat-trick a few weeks later. 

  This season, he won the penalty with which United beat Burnley deep in added time and was brilliant in the surprise victory at Anfield, laying on the pass for Bryan Mbeumo's early goal. 

  Rio Ferdinand launched a staunch defence of Amad on his podcast, saying that pundits and fans should be relishing his attacking qualities rather than picking at his flaws.

  "We get too caught up in what players can’t do," he said. "He is giving us so much going forward. His partnership and his telepathy with Mbeumo. For what he’s giving you going forward and what he’s giving the opposition winger, they are having to chase him half the time. That’s what you want, them on the back foot. I just think he’s a wonderful footballer."

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  Dalot also causing problems

  But Ferdinand also admitted that Amad was not being used in his best role by Amorim: "Would he be better as a right winger? I think he would be, but that’s not detracting away from what he's doing. I think he’s just what this team need in this position right now."

  Amad's defensive weaknesses are not the only drawback with United playing wing-backs. While the ex-Atalanta youngster is not suited to the defensive responsibilities that come with the role, the player on the other flank, Dalot, is not made for its attacking demands.

  "Amad's been getting questioned but as a wing-back, you're asked to be a full-back defensively, so Amad's asked to be here and defend crosses at the back post. But then when he gets up here, he's asked to be a winger," said former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher on 'Monday Night Football'. "Now he is more of a winger, he's probably more suited to that position, but then Dalot's the opposite, where he may be able to deal with that [defensive headers] better. But when he gets on the last line and they actually get the ball to Dalot, he can't beat a man.

  "He's not going to play a clever pass, he's not going to get a cross in. So for me, that's a little bit of a downfall in terms of getting five on the last line. It's whether these players have the quality."

Tottenham Hotspur are now expected to open permanent talks to sign an “incredible” star, who could be their first signing in the January transfer window.

Spurs looking to sign midfielder

Tottenham have made a solid start to the campaign, taking 10 points from their opening five games, with a number of their summer signings hitting the ground running, including Mohammed Kudus, who grabbed two assists against Brighton on Saturday.

Having set up four goals in his first five matches, Kudus has already eclipsed his assist tally from last season, and the winger is not the only new addition who has caught the eye, with Joao Palhinha making an instant impression.

After his side edged a 1-0 win against Villarreal, manager Thomas Frank said of the central midfielder: “He’s a very good player. He stabilised us more in the middle of the pitch. So that helped, definitely … [The players] are working very hard, and that we have a very good foundation to stand on, in terms of our defensive organization.

Consequently, it will come as no surprise that Spurs are now looking to sign Palhinha permanently, according to a report from The Boot Room, which states they are keen to open talks over a deal for the midfielder this January.

The north Londoners have been very impressed by the maestro’s start to the campaign, and they are now set to hold discussions over a deal, with transfer expert Graeme Bailey adding: “He’s exactly what they expected. When he left, he was already one of the Premier League’s best holding midfielders. Watching Palhinha play in that position probably frustrates Manchester United fans, knowing he was available and could have joined them.

“I fully expect discussions about a permanent deal to begin in January once the transfer window opens.”

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ByEmilio Galantini Sep 21, 2025 "Incredible" Palhinha must be signed permanently

On the face of it, a deal shouldn’t be too hard to complete, given that Spurs have the option to make the central midfielder’s stay permanent for £27m, which seems like a very fair fee for a player of his quality.

Journalist Kyle Bonn has spoken particularly fondly of the 30-year-old in the past, praising his passing, work-rate and tackling ability.

Those talents are underlined by the former Fulham man’s performance across several key metrics over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

Statistic

Average per 90

Passes attempted

65.81 (88th percentile)

Pass completion %

90.6% (95th percentile)

Tackles

4.03 (99th percentile)

Aerials won

2.22 (94th percentile)

With a 7.2 SofaScore match rating, the loanee was also Spurs’ highest-rated starter in the 2-2 draw at Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, courtesy of winning 10 of the 16 duels he contested.

As such, it is a no-brainer to bring Palhinha in permanently, and Frank will be hoping for a similar performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers next weekend.

وجه محمود الخطيب، رئيس مجلس إدارة النادي الأهلي، الشكر لأعضاء الجمعية العمومية على مشاركتهم الفاعلة اليوم في رسم مستقبل الأهلي، واختيار مجلس إدارة جديد يتولى قيادة الأهلي خلال السنوات الأربع المقبلة.

وكان قد انطلق ماراثون انتخابات الأهلي، صباح اليوم الجمعة، في تمام الساعة التاسعة صباحًا واستمر إلى ما يقارب 10 ساعات. 

طالع.. اكتمال النصاب القانوني للجمعية العمومية لـ الأهلي

وأكد محمود الخطيب أن الجمعية العمومية كانت اليوم كعادتها نموذجًا يحتذى في الانتماء والحرص على مصلحة النادي، ومثالًا للوعي والمسؤولية والمشاركة الإيجابية في صناعة القرار.

وأشار الخطيب إلى أنه خلال شهر واحد فقط عقدت جمعيتان عموميتان داخل الأهلي، الأولى خاصة بتوافق لائحة النادي مع قانون الرياضة، والثانية الجمعية العمومية العادية لإجراء الانتخابات، ورغم ذلك حرص أعضاء النادي على التواجد والمشاركة الفاعلة التي تعكس حرصهم على المشاركة والاضطلاع بالدور التاريخي للجمعية العمومية للأهلي.

ووجه رئيس النادي الشكر لمجلس الإدارة في دورة 2021-2025، مؤكدًا أن كل عضو أدى دوره بإخلاص وحرص شديد على خدمة الأهلي بدعم من الجمعية العمومية، كما خص بالشكر الأعضاء الذين لم تشملهم قائمته الانتخابية، وثمَّن تفهمهم لرؤية المرحلة المقبلة، رغم نجاحهم السابق، مؤكدًا أن الاختلاف في الرؤى لا يفسد وحدة الأهلي، وأن جميع أبناء النادي يجمعهم الإخلاص والانتماء.

واختتم الكابتن الخطيب تصريحاته قائلاً: “سيبقى الأهلي قويًّا بمشاركة أبنائه المخلصين، وبحضور الجمعية العمومية لبناء مستقبل النادي”.

Former New Zealand seam bowler Tim Southee is being considered as England men’s bowling consultant, replacing James Anderson who had held the role since retiring from Test cricket in July.With Anderson proritising a season-long deal to play for Lancashire this summer, BBC Sport reported on Tuesday that Southee, who himself retired from international cricket after England’s tour of New Zealand at the end of 2024, is the frontrunner to fill that gap.Southee, 36, finished a distinguished 16-year international career as the Black Caps’ leading wicket-taker, and would reunite with his former captain and good friend Brendon McCullum should he join England’s backroom staff. The pair represented New Zealand together on 170 occasions – McCullum skippering for 78 of them – while also sharing the field at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL and Middlesex in the T20 Blast. McCullum even presented Southee with a bottle of red wine signed by the England team at the conclusion of Southee’s 107th and final Test in Hamilton.McCullum has long held the belief that Southee would make a good bowling coach. It helps, too, that Southee has a good relationship with many of the current squad, including Test captain Ben Stokes.Related

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Ideally, England would have a bowling consultant in place for the summer to oversee both red-and white-ball formats. It would also be beneficial for the sake of continuity that the successful candidate continues through for the Ashes. Anderson, a veteran of five tours of Australia, could end up fulfilling that role if, for instance, Southee could not commit to the winter.England’s international season gets underway on May 22 with a one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, followed by a five-match series against India, which is sandwiched by limited-overs series against West Indies and South Africa. There is also a three-match T20I tour of Ireland in September.England are due to name their squad for the Zimbabwe Test on Friday. Given the spate of injuries, it is likely to feature a relatively inexperienced bowling group, including a maiden call-up for Essex seamer Sam Cook.Southee was already down to feature in the English summer through his £63,000 deal with Birmingham Phoenix in the men’s Hundred. Upon his retirement, he stated a desire to continue on the franchise circuit, and played the entirety of this year’s ILT20 tournament for Sharjah Warriors. As such, any prospective deal with the ECB will require him to park what remains of his playing career for the time being.That being said, there is no international clash with the Hundred; Phoenix’s season begins four days after the end of the final India Test at the Kia Oval, with the Hundred final two days before the one-day series with South Africa. And next year’s ILT20 begins five days after the scheduled final day of fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.Anderson, meanwhile, is still yet to make a County Championship appearance for Lancashire this summer as he continues to battle a calf injury. Having missed the opening month’s Division Two fixtures, he will also sit out this week’s match with Gloucestershire and perhaps the following round against Northamptonshire. A home meeting with Derbyshire on May 16 has been earmarked for a potential return to action.

Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow made his first appearance of the season in the Premier League on Saturday because of Lucas Perri’s injury.

The Wales international made three saves, including one impressive stop from a free-kick, before Gabriel Gudmundsson found the top corner of his own net in the 94th minute.

Perri’s injury provided the former Newcastle United stopper with an opportunity to strut his stuff in the Premier League, but it also meant that Illan Meslier made the bench for the first time this season.

Why Illan Meslier is a Leeds outcast this season

The French goalkeeper has played 214 matches for the West Yorkshire outfit in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, and was the number one option in goal from the 2020/21 season until he was dropped near the end of last term.

Meslier let in 2.73 more goals than expected based on the xG of the shots against him in the Championship last season. He also made three errors that directly led to goals for the opposition.

His errors eventually convinced Daniel Farke to bring Darlow in as the number one for the last seven games, which helped the Whites to clinch the title.

Then, this summer, Leeds decided that Meslier was not good enough to be first or second choice in the Premier League, as evidenced by their move to sign Lucas Perri as the new number one with Darlow as his back-up.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

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The French goalkeeper is an outcast in the current squad, only to be called upon if both Perri and Darlow are unavailable, and that is because of his poor performances on the pitch last term.

Leeds have another star who may be on his way to becoming the next Meslier in Joel Piroe, who has had a difficult start to the Premier League season.

Why Joel Piroe could be the next Illan Meslier for Leeds

The Dutch striker, who signed from Swansea for a fee of £10m in the summer of 2023, was immense for the Whites in the Championship last term, scoring 19 goals in the division.

Piroe was the top scorer in the league, ahead of the likes of Borja Sainz and Josh Sargent, and an integral part of Farke’s team with the goal threat that he provided in the final third.

However, a concern heading into the Premier League season was that the left-footed centre-forward does not have the physical profile of a typical number nine in the division, as he tends to struggle out of possession.

24/25 Championship

Joel Piroe per 90

Percentile rank vs STs

Dribble success rate

31.8%

Bottom 27%

Successful dribbles

0.41

Bottom 35%

Fouls won

0.44

Bottom 9%

Duels won

2.24

Bottom 3%

Duel success rate

26.9%

Bottom 10%

Aerial duels won

0.90

Bottom 12%

Aerial duel success rate

21.4%

Bottom 17%

Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, the £40k-per-week striker ranked very poorly among his positional peers in the division in a host of physical and out-of-possession metrics.

Piroe was described as “anonymous” by reporter James Marshment back in February, which is what he can, unfortunately, be when Leeds do not have it all their own way with the ball, as they often will not in the Premier League.

The Dutch striker won 9% of his duels and failed to score a goal or create a ‘big chance’ for the team in the first two matches of the Premier League season, per Sofascore, before he was an unused substitute in the 0-0 draw with Newcastle and missed the loss to Fulham through injury.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha, who scored the club’s only league goal this season against Everton, were signed to compete with Piroe for his position up front in the summer transfer window.

Therefore, Piroe may well be in danger of becoming the next Meslier to be pushed out of the squad because of his lack of suitability for the Premier League, due to his physical attributes, and the signings that have been made in his position.

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Manchester City have now held talks with the agents of a “world-class” star, who is also being targeted by Arsenal.

Man City keen on new forward despite dominant victory over Wolves

Man City got off to a fantastic start to the new Premier League season, laying down a marker by winning 4-0 away at Wolverhampton Wanderers, and two of Pep Guardiola’s summer additions marked their league debuts with a goal.

Indeed, both Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders got on the scoresheet, with the latter also providing an assist for Erling Haaland’s second goal, in what was a dominant display from the Blues.

Gary Neville has even been forced to reconsider his predictions for the season, in light of City’s fantastic performance, saying: “We could look back in six months and be saying it was staring us in the face because City have got a treble-winning spine, they’ve got new players in who look outstanding and they’ve got the best forward in the league.”

Neville is correct to point out that Guardiola is blessed with some top-quality attacking options, but one forward who didn’t feature against Wolves is Savinho, as the Brazilian is being heavily linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur.

Now, according to a report from The Boot Room, Manchester City have identified Real Madrid star Rodrygo as their ideal replacement for Savinho, and they have now made fresh contact with the Brazilian’s agents.

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Arsenal are also in the race for the Madrid forward, however, with sporting director Andrea Berta currently working on a deal, which could be on the expensive side, with a potential transfer fee of £86m recently being touted.

With Savinho keen on a move to Tottenham, it is looking more likely that City may pursue the Madrid star, but it could be difficult to win the race, given that the Gunners have a strong relationship with the Spanish side.

However, since then, Guillem Balague has stated that City, right now, are set to keep Savinho, which would rule out any move for Rodrygo in the process.

"World-class" Rodrygo could be Savinho upgrade

Not only is Rodrygo far more experienced than Savinho at the top level, having amassed 39 goal contributions in 64 Champions League appearances, but he has also outperformed his compatriot in front of goal over the past year.

Indeed, despite a promising debut campaign at the Etihad Stadium on the assist front, with the 21-year-old setting up 10 Premier League goals, the youngster has averaged just 0.08 non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, compared to the 24-year-old’s 0.33.

The former Santos man has also received high praise from Real Madrid legend Luka Modric, who dubbed his former teammate as “world-class”.

As such, Rodrygo could be an upgrade on Savinho, but the reported £86m asking price is prohibitive, and rival interest from Arsenal could hamper a deal.

Manchester United are issuing the perfect response to a 2024/25 campaign that left everything to be desired.

Though INEOS’ efforts to bring in new signings proved protracted at the start, there has been an impetus on strengthening with genuine quality, the frontline revamped through deals for Premier League stars Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, followed by the £74m acquisition of Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, one of the most talented young strikers in Europe.

Ruben Amorim was dealt a tough hand when leaving his high-flying Sporting Lisbon project and taking over an Old Trafford side in disrepair, but he’s weathered the storm and has hunkered down, reshaping the team, stamping his mark on the squad.

Man Utd confident they will sign PL star

Technical director Jason Wilcox remains hard at work. Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has been slated to replace the beleaguered Andre Onana between the sticks, while talks continue over the sales of several first-team drifters, chief of which being Alejandro Garnacho, who is expected to join Chelsea before the end of the window.

However, it’s clear that Amorim is also hoping to sign a dynamic number 6 before the end of the month, viewing a robust profile in the role as being perfect to take his side to the next level and leave a significant impression on the Premier League, pushing United back into the ascendancy of European football.

According to The Independent’s Miguel Delaney, via TEAMtalk, Manchester United are growing in confidence as they chase a deal for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba.

The all-action midfielder, 21, has previously been reported by Fabrizio Romano to be the focus of new talks between the Premier League rivals, though the Seagulls don’t want to sell and will make any bid extremely difficult, pricing their star at £104m.

Transfer Focus

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

Baleba, however, is attracted by the thought of joining the Old Trafford side and Amorim is intent on bringing players who want to fight for the badge.

What Carlos Baleba would bring to Man Utd

One of Man United’s most fatal flaws throughout the post-Fergie era has been signing established ‘superstars’, who perhaps have the headline name but have been there and done that, and thus don’t have the fire in their belly that the club need.

Baleba is the perfect profile to buck that trend, and what’s more, so are the already-made deals completed over the past few months. Whisper it quietly, but something feels different about the Red Devils this time.

Brighton have a knack for identifying and developing midfielders. Their talent ID is superlative and mistake-free. And with Baleba eager to switch the sandy south coast for Manchester’s bustling streets, INEOS and Amorim have a glorious opportunity to take this Man United team into their next phase.

The 21-year-old powerhouse is a holding midfielder with bags of energy and an attacking flair, lending itself to an influential position in Fabian Hurtzler’s Seagulls team.

And considering the player’s “colossal” performances so far in the Premier League, as have been noted by Brighton reporter Aden-Jay Wood, he could revolutionise United’s midfield, maybe even turning out to be their own version of Manchester City sensation Rodri.

Rodri’s is a name that we all know. The Spain international is one of the greatest players of his generation and has won the full gamut at the Etihad Stadium, scoring 26 goals and supplying 32 assists across 265 matches in all competitions.

But he started somewhere, and that first campaign in the Premier League proved tricky, with City losing their Premier League title to Liverpool.

Rodri still made an exciting impression, though, and it’s curious to note that Baleba for Brighton last season ranked up quite nicely against that version of the Iberian midfielder.

Rodri might be a Ballon d’Or-winning superstar, but when he first arrived on English shores and got to work under Pep Guardiola’s wing, he had much to learn, and it’s promising to note that Baleba in his youthful period is on the same level as the Spaniard’s one-time iteration.

FBref recorded that the Cameroonian midfielder ranks among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons per 90 too, thus illustrating his capacity to slide forward and progress play for his team.

Though it would take much time and effort to build Baleba up to a position where he could be considered the finest midfielder in the Premier League, one of the best in the world, he certainly has the potential to be just that.

There’s plenty of rocky terrain still to traverse before Man United crest this mountain, which has loomed before them for so long, but it’s not unjust to suggest that things are changing, and that the signings being made have the potential to drive an exciting new era.

Were Baleba to join, Amorim’s midfield would be revolutionised, with a centrepiece carrying all the potential to emulate Rodri and become an all-powerful presence in a Manchester midfield.

Man Utd's new Carrick: INEOS set to make bid for £100m + star this week

Manchester United look ready to splash the cash on a player who possesses shades of Michael Carrick’s assured game.

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By
Kelan Sarson

Aug 11, 2025

Stand-in captain hopes the young team will grow in confidence after notching a win in challenging conditions in Mirpur

Firdose Moonda24-Oct-2024

Ten years and six tours is how long South Africa have waited for a Test win in the subcontinent, which is something none of their current squad have experienced until now. Only five members of the playing XI in Mirpur have featured in a Test match in the subcontinent before and though eight of the 15-man squad have toured Asia, no one was part of the South African team that last enjoyed success on the continent, in Galle in 2014.The long period between victories was marred by massive losses and breaking the drought is what stand-in captain Aiden Markram hopes could be the start of something new. “It’s special. We’re a pretty young, slightly inexperienced group, so to come to the subcontinent and get a win is great for us and the environment,” Markam said at the post-match press conference. “This win does a lot for us and gives us a taste of what playing cricket in the subcontinent is like, and it excites us for the challenges that we possibly face here.”It also may spark some memories of a time, not that long ago, when South Africa were superior in the subcontinent. Between 2007 and 2014, they played 15 Tests in Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and the UAE and lost only three, racking up series wins over everyone except India, against whom they drew twice. In the same period, Australia won just one out of 15 Tests in the subcontinent and England won three out of 16. Apart from India and Sri Lanka, South Africa were, by far, the most successful team in Asia over that period of time.Related

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That ended in 2015, when South Africa were outspun 3-0 in India in a series which started a significant slide. After their win in Galle in 2014, South Africa played 14 more Tests in the subcontinent before this one, and lost ten. Six of those defeats were in India but they were also blanked 2-0 by Sri Lanka in 2018 and Pakistan in 2021.All those occasions were marked by how poorly South Africa played against all kinds of spin, from the left-arm spin of Noman Ali, Ravindra Jadeja and Rangana Herath to the offspin of R Ashwin and the legspin of Yasir Shah. In Bangladesh too, spin proved the biggest threat as South Africa lost five of their top six to Taijul Islam in the first innings and at 108 for 6, looked like only gaining a marginal advantage. It was thanks to Kyle Verreynne and his second Test hundred that South Africa took a healthy, and ultimately match-winning lead.Verryenne called the innings the “best” of his Test career, because it came in “the toughest conditions I have played under.” He cited the heat and humidity as one of the challenges and facing “long periods of spin bowling,” as the other.Of the 144 balls delivered to Verreynne, 115 were from spinners, which amounts to 80%. The work Verreynne has done on the sweep shot was evident as ESPNcricnfo’s ball-by-ball data recorded that he scored almost half his runs, 49, with sweeps – conventional, reverse and slog – and maintained a strong scoring rate too.Kyle Verreynne is all smiles after getting to his second Test century•AFP/Getty Images

Overall, Verreynne struck at 79.16, and against Taijul, he was particularly aggressive with 49 runs off 53 balls.”Kyle sweeps really well, swept for a lot of his innings and he ended up doing well,” Markram said. “So it’s nice to see the guys backing those sorts of strengths. He’s a good player of spin and for him to score a hundred in his first Test match in the subcontinent is a really special feat.”While Verreynne traveled with the South African squad to Pakistan in 2021, he only made his debut later that year in West Indies. He competed with Heinrich Klaasen for the role of South Africa’s first-choice wicket-keeper but Klaasen’s Test retirement in January has meant Verreynne has the opportunity to make the spot his own. “He’s had a bit of backing now from the management, and he just looks really comfortable now in the environment,” Markram said.Having Verreynne’s spot fairly secure ramps up competition with reserve keeper Ryan Rickelton, who has gone six Tests with a top score of 42. If regular captain Temba Bavuma recovers from an elbow niggle in time to play the second Test, one of Rickelton or Matthew Breetzke will have to make way and both could end up sitting out if South Africa opt for a fifth frontline bowler.They went into the Mirpur game with a four-man attack and there were times in Bangladesh’s second innings when it seemed lacking. Still, they’ll be heartened by the way their champion quick Kagiso Rabada, who combined well with Wiaan Mulder in the first innings and then took a six-for in the second, registered his best figures in the subcontinent.Rabada’s wicket-taking ability is second to none, literally, as was documented when he became the only bowler to take 300 Test wickets in under 12,000 deliveries, and doing it in the subcontinent only makes him stand out more. On a surface with good bounce, Rabada’s hard lengths made him difficult to get away and dangerous and Markram hailed him as a “superstar.”Having Rabada fresh and firing also vindicates CSA’s decision to rest him between August and now, and leave him out of white-ball series in the UAE, and it shows how the two national coaches are working together. Test coach Shukri Conrad and white-ball coach Rob Walter jointly plan selections so that each of them has the best players available when it matters most.For the next two-and-a-half months Test cricket is the focus and Rabada, and to an extent Markram, who was released from the UAE early, have been allowed to focus on that.South Africa, despite limited Test matches in the calendar, remain in the running for the World Test Championship final but they cannot afford many (or any) slip-ups. They have five matches left to play – one next week in Chattogram, and four at home. They must win at least four to give themselves a chance to make the final in this cycle and this victory has shown them they can do that.It has also given them confidence ahead of their return to the subcontinent next year to begin the next cycle with two Tests against each of Pakistan and India, where even tougher challenges await.”The biggest thing we take from it is the belief and the confidence that we actually can do well here as a team,” Markam said. “I believe that’s where a lot of the game is played, from a confidence and belief and a mental side of things. It will help the team a lot as far as moving forward and seeing if we can put back-to-back performances together goes.”

Edson Álvarez limped off with a hamstring issue that could sideline him for a month.

Mexico will face South Korea on TuesdayHirving Lozano came on in the 60th minuteAguirre admitted his side didn’t deserve to winGet the MLS Season Pass today!Stream games nowGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Mexico settled for a goalless draw against Japan in a friendly at Oakland Coliseum, leaving head coach Javier Aguirre with more questions than answers as the 2026 World Cup cycle continues.

The “Vasco” was blunt in his post-match remarks, admitting the Asian side deserved the result. 

“It was a preparation game, but we weren’t better than our opponent,” Aguirre said. “We didn’t deserve to win. They made it difficult, pressed with intensity, and the draw was fair. It wasn’t spectacular, but matches like this help us evaluate where we are.”

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Japan dictated much of the first half, forcing goalkeeper Luis Malagón into key saves and even requiring Johan Vásquez to clear a shot off the line. Mexico’s night worsened in the 28th minute when captain Edson Álvarez exited with a hamstring injury, later replaced by Erik Lira.

Although Hirving Lozano’s introduction in the second half injected energy, Mexico still struggled to break down Japan’s organized back line. To make matters worse, César Montes was shown a red card after VAR review, leaving to finish the game with 10 men. Despite the numerical advantage, Japan couldn’t find a breakthrough either, and the score remained 0-0.

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Aguirre acknowledged Japan’s superior pace and physicality. 

“They surprised us with their speed and intensity. Most of their players are in Europe, so their rhythm is different. We gave away the first half, not because of attitude, but because they outplayed us," he said. 

Still, he noted positives in the second half, pointing to missed chances from Lozano, Germán Berterame, and Lira.

Meanwhile, San Diego FC forward Hirving Lozano shared his thoughts on returning to the Mexican national team. 

“I really wanted to come back to the national team. Thank God I was given the opportunity, Javier gave me the opportunity, and I have to make the most of it. I need to work hard, perform well, and keep pushing forward,” he said.

It had been over a year since Lozano last featured for , with his previous appearance coming in 2024. 

“This is a very good squad, it has very important and very talented players. I think we’re facing a team that is always at the World Cup and that now has some great players,” he added.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR MEXICO?

Mexico will now turn their focus to South Korea on Tuesday, while Japan will face the United States that same day.