The offspinner has recovered from his Ashes-ending calf strain and is set to return to action next weekend before Shield return later in the month

Andrew McGlashan08-Oct-20231:45

Cummins: We feel we are in a good place with our allrounders

Nathan Lyon would be ready to come to Australia’s aid at the ODI World Cup in India if they needed spin-bowling reinforcements as he prepares to return to action after the calf injury which ended his Ashes tour.Lyon will be back on the park next week in grade cricket before making his state return for New South Wales in a Marsh Cup game against South Australia on October 20, followed by a Sheffield Shield comeback against Victoria at the MCG from October 26.Currently, he is penciled in for the three Shield matches before the Test summer. He is planning to play New South Wales’ home games against Western Australia and Tasmania at the SCG, starting on November 6 and November 28 respectively, but will likely be rested from the trip to Hobart for the first clash with Tasmania in between to avoid playing four in a row.Related

• Lyon poised to sign with Lancashire after injury layoff provides new goals

• New South Wales drop Kurtis Patterson after heavy Sheffield Shield loss

• Cummins: No doubt expecting a big tournament from Maxwell

• Maxwell a crucial piece to Australia's World Cup jigsaw puzzle

• Labuschagne replaces Agar in Australia's World Cup squad

The first Test starts on December 14 against Pakistan in Perth, but Lyon believes he would be able to play a part in India should the selectors call. Ashton Agar was ruled out of the final squad with a calf injury leaving Adam Zampa as lone frontline spinner supported by Glenn Maxwell.”I sent Andrew McDonald a text message the other day when I saw Ashton Agar was ruled out. I said, ‘just to let you know, I’m back bowling 10 overs, I’m right to go, 100 percent’. If that happened I’d do anything to go over and play the World Cup,” Lyon said.”I’d be more than comfortable going in there and doing it if I had to. But in saying that there has to be a lot of things go wrong, so let’s hope for Australia’s sake that doesn’t happen. Hopefully, they go out there and have a really good campaign and make sure they go over there to achieve what they’ve gone over there to do.”Nathan Lyon is set for three Sheffield Shield outings before the first Test against Pakistan•Getty Images

Legspinner Tanveer Sangha is currently a traveling reserve with the squad while Lyon backed Maxwell to be able to take on increased responsibility with the ball.”Glenn Phillips bowled pretty well the other night against England and I feel like Maxi’s skill set is up there and he’s extremely confident,” he said. “Hundred percent I’m backing his skill set to do the job there and when Travis Head comes back, I dare say his offbreaks will be quite effective as well.”Lyon’s recovery from his series-ending calf injury at Lord’s, which came during his 100th consecutive Test, has gone to plan, but he admitted there were tough times early in rehab.”It was very challenging at the start when the guys were still playing in the Ashes,” he said. “I found myself struggling a fair bit, just mentally. But apart from that, it’s been going really well.”Lyon’s injury proved to be a pivotal moment in the series with Australia unable to turn a 2-0 lead into a first away Ashes victory since 2001, although they did enough to retain the urn. Having seen the chance of series wins in India and England slip away this year, Lyon hinted that he hoped to be able to continue playing until the next Ashes tour in 2027 when he would be 39, with another trip to India preceding that.”I’ve always wanted to win in India [and] win in England,” he said. “Unfortunately we weren’t able to do that in either [series] so it’s made me reset and reassess where I’m at and where I want to get to as well. So probably, if an injury came at a right time, it’s probably the right timing. Would have been nice if it was at the end of the series…but all in all it’s allowed me to reset some goals and look pretty brightly about the future.”

The fans were ecstatic when the goal-scoring icon bought the club in September 2018 but now they can't wait for him to leave

After a dramatic but draining draw with European rivals Inter on Wednesday night, Barcelona return to domestic action this weekend when they take on Real Valladolid on Saturday evening. Victory is imperative for La Liga's leaders, who are starting to feel the effects of playing nearly every four days since the start of the season, as they look to maintain their four-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid going into a crucial Clasico at Montjuic on May 11.

However, Barcelona really couldn't have picked a better team to play in the middle of an already-epic Champions League semi-final tie with Inter. Real Valladolid aren't just bad; they're historically bad, having been relegated from the Spanish top flight with a record-breaking five rounds remaining. They're also a club in complete crisis. Indeed, things are going so badly on the field because the situation is so dire off it.

It wasn't meant to be like this, of course, not with a footballing icon for a president. Ronaldo promised to have Valladolid fighting for Champions League qualification by now; instead, they're once again heading back to the second division. Consequently, the calls for the Brazilian to "go home" have only intensified the longer the season has gone on and another mass protest is expected at the Jose Zorrilla on Saturday.

So, how did it come to this? How did one of the game's most beloved characters become such a figure of hate at Valladolid? GOAL explains all below…

• 'Ronaldo puts Valladolid on the map'

  "Today begins a new era for Real Valladolid," then-president Carlos Suarez said on September 3, 2018 – and it certainly felt that way at the time.

  Suarez had just sold his 52 percent stake in the club to Ronaldo, a living legend respected and revered throughout the footballing world for his sensational exploits as a player with the likes of Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid and Brazil.

  So, when he said that the World Cup winner's arrival at the Zorrilla "puts Valladolid on the map", he had a point. Unfortunately for Suarez, his faith in Ronaldo's ability to help "the club take a leap forward in quality" proved sadly misguided.

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  'Football is a passion for me'

  In fairness to Suarez, Ronaldo talked a good game. He initially appeared fully committed to his new business venture.

  "I assure you that you will find me to be a lover of Castilla-Leon, Valladolid and Real Valladolid," he told reporters immediately after his €30 million (£26m/$34m) takeover.

  "We want to consolidate the club in the top flight and continue building from there. Indeed, [the project] will not stop because we want to grow as much as we can possibly imagine.

  "This new management will be defined by four words: competitiveness, transparency, revolution and social. I have gone through many stages in my training in football to prepare for this, and football is a passion for me."

  Over the past couple of years, though, Ronaldo seems to have lost nearly all interest in Valladolid.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Questions over competency and commitment

  The early signs had been encouraging. Ronaldo met with various local groups and organisations, while he even broke bread with supporter groups.

  The feeling was during those first couple of years that Ronaldo wanted to establish a close connection with not just the club but also the community.

  He wasn't merely relying on his time as a player to get by in the world of football administration either. Ronaldo had studied sports management and sports marketing after bringing the curtain down on his illustrious playing career, while he had already made several other relatively successful forays into entertainment, property, marketing, motorsports and even esports.

  Consequently, he was supremely confident in his ability to turn Valladolid into one of the best teams in Spain.

  “If we can establish ourselves in the Primera Division, restructure the club and make all the investments we’re planning, in five years the normal thing would be for us to be battling for Champions League qualification,” Ronaldo said at the World Football Summit in September 2019. "That might be scary at the moment, but why not think big?"

  However, Valladolid remained a yo-yo club, bobbing between Spain's first and second divisions, and, after they were relegated for a second time in three seasons on Ronaldo's watch, in 2023, legitimate questions were being asked about his business acumen, as well as the competency and commitment of those he had entrusted with the responsibility of running the club.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Ronaldo vs The Radicals

  The decision to change the club's crest certainly suggested that Ronaldo and his right-hand men were completely out of touch with the feelings of the fans.

  Ronaldo argued that it was just "a few hundred radicals who were refusing to change, evolution, and a look toward the future" and that "every time they chant to return to the old crest, the vast majority of the stadium boos them."

  "Valladolid's fans are much larger than hundreds of radicals who make a lot of noise," Ronaldo was quoted as saying by in June 2023. "But if you look at the overall situation, we have a 91% approval rating, and I don't see any disaffection with the fans or the city. Every time I come here, I walk through the streets and feel the affection and respect of the city's fans, and this gives me more and more strength.

  "It's true that in today's world there are radicals for all kinds of causes, but we operate by listening to the people, by engaging in dialogue.

  "Also, the same radicals ask us for money to buy flags, to buy things to finance their activities in the stands. And many times when we say no, there's a reaction in the form of criticism. So, it's not because we've changed the crest that they're protesting; it's because they may not have the benefits they had before.

  "But we don't have to think about a group of radicals. We have to think about all the fans."

  However, it really wasn't just the radicals or ultras that were upset; the vast majority of the club's fans were against the move, and losing faith in Ronaldo as a result.

  It was clear from the start that his purchase hadn't been motivated by any deep love for the club – Ronaldo had explored the possibility of buying a team in England or the United States before focusing on Spain because it was the "more affordable option".

  The fans nonetheless felt he didn't put enough people in senior roles that at least had an understanding of Valladolid and La Liga in general, with the former Ballon d'Or winner preferring instead to hire people with whom he had either previously played or worked.

علق خالد جاد الله لاعب الأهلي الأسبق، على تعادل الأحمر في مباراة الأمس أمام مودرن سبورت بهدف لكل فريق، في افتتاح مشوارهما ببطولة الدوري المصري موسم 2025-2026.

وقال خالد جاد الله في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “صدى البلد”: “قصة نجوم الأهلي لا نريد أن نتحدث عنها كثيرًا، النجم بالنسبة لي هو ما يقدمه في الملعب، لكن النجم بالكلام لن ينفع النادي الأهلي ولا جماهيره، على اللاعبين أن ينسوا النجومية ويفعلون ما عليهم”.

وأكمل: “عرض الأهلي في مباراة الأمس غير جيد وغير مُقنع، الوحيد الذي كان جيدًا هو ياسين مرعي، وهذا غير مقبول في ظل العقود التي يتقاضونها، هذا المستوى لا يليق، وأتمنى أن يتدخل محمد يوسف ويخصم من مستحقاتهم مثلما يحصلون على مكافآت عند الفوز”.

وأردف: “واضح إن خوسيه ريبيرو ليس على مستوى الأهلي ولن يُعطينا بارقة أمل في أن نرى عمله بالملعب، هو يعتمد على أن اللاعبين يظهرون إمكانياتهم الفردية، لكن لم نر أي عمل جماعي، واضح أنه بعيد عن مستوى الأهلي ولن يُلبي طموحات النادي”.

وأضاف: “ريبيرو لا يُجيد الكلام، وطوال الوقت يقف على الخط صامتًا وتشعر كأنه مثل أي متفرج، (لا بيزعق ولا بيشخط ولا بيتكلم مع اللاعبين)، اللاعبون لو وجدوا المدرب عنده حماس ينتقل لهم هذا الحماس والعكس صحيح”.

وواصل: “مستوى ريبيرو أقل من المتوسط ولا يليق بالنادي الأهلي ولا بطموحه، اختيار المدربين الأجانب ليست عملية سهلة، نحن كرماء جدًا، ندفع أموالاً كثيرة للمدربين واللاعبين أيضًا، عكس شمال إفريقيا، اللاعبون هناك لا يتقاضون هذه الرواتب، وأنا لو كنت المدير الرياضي للنادي الأهلي كنت سأخصم من كل لاعب ليس أقل من 250 ألف جنيه، لو أنا لست أهلاويًا كنت سأقول أن هؤلاء اللاعبين مستواهم بعيد جدًا”.

وزاد: “ريبيرو واضح أنه لا يُعطي اهتمامًا لـ أليو ديانج، وهناك أمر قد يُصبح مشكلة، وهي أن الأهلي تعاقد مع 3 لاعبين نجوم في كل مركز، كل لاعب منهم لا يريد أن يجلس احتياطيًا، اللاعب الذي يجلس احتياطيًا وهو غير مقتنع بجلوسه بديلًا ستكون مشكلة، مثل ديانج”.

طالع | نادر السيد: ريبيرو لا يصلح لقيادة الأهلي.. وصفقة الزمالك ستترك بصمة

وأردف: “اللاعب مُقتنع أنه لا بد أن يكون أساسيًا، وإذا لم يلعب أساسيًا فهو يريد الرحيل، أحمد رضا لا يلعب على ديانج إطلاقًا، فعندما يجد ديانج نفسه يجلس بديلًا ويلعب أحمد رضا ستكون مشكلة”.

وتابع: “أمس الشناوي ومصطفى شوبير لم يكن أيًا منهما يعرف أنه سيلعب المباراة إلا في غرفة الملابس قبل المباراة، وهذه معلومة حصلت عليها من اللاعبين، وهذا أمر خاطئ وحدثت مشكلة، لكن مشاكل الأهلي لا تظهر في الإعلام”.

وأتم: “هذا تصرف خاطئ، أول طريق للنجاح هو كيفية التعامل مع النجوم وأن أي لاعب لن يشارك لا بد أن يكون مُقتنعًا، ومعلومة مؤكدة أيضًا إن محمد الشناوي طلب الرحيل عن الأهلي في يناير”.

Celtic’s European dreams came to a crushing end on Tuesday night when they were beaten by Bayern Munich on aggregate in the play-off round of the Champions League.

The Hoops, who had lost 2-1 at Parkhead in the first leg, were on course for extra-time in Bavaria before a last-gasp goal from Alphonso Davies secured progression for the German giants.

Brendan Rodgers’ side had gone 1-0 up thanks to a strike from Nicolas Kuhn in the second half but they were unable to keep the hosts at bay for the entire 90 minutes.

Despite being knocked out of the competition, the Northern Irish head coach should be proud of how well his team performed over the two legs as they went toe-to-toe with Bayern Munich and came ever so close to forcing extra-time.

The quality of the forwards at Rodgers’ disposal played a big role in their success as the likes of Daizen Maeda, Jota, and Kuhn caught the eye with their displays.

In fact, Celtic’s new wing wizards – Kuhn and Jota – could be set for an exciting second half of the season as the club remain on course to win the Scottish Premiership and the SFA Cup.

Jota and Kuhn's Celtic wizardry

In the January transfer window, the Scottish giants swooped to bring the Portuguese winger back to the club for a second spell at Parkhead, 18 months on from his move to Al-Ittihad.

The former Benfica starlet, who had joined Rennes on a permanent deal last summer, enjoyed two brilliant seasons in Glasgow with Ange Postecoglou in the dugout, producing 21 goals and 21 assists in the league – as shown in the graphic above.

Jota has produced an impressive return of two goals and one assist in three Premiership outings for Rodgers so far, and looks set for an enjoyable second half of the campaign.

Kuhn, meanwhile, has caught the eye across all competitions for the Hoops this season, with his sublime performances on the right flank as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

The German winger, formerly of Bayern Munich and Ajax’s academies, has racked up a haul of 18 goals and 12 assists in all competitions for the Scottish giants in the 2024/25 campaign.

Goals

Nicolas Kuhn (10)

Assists

Daizen Maeda (6)

Key passes per game

Nicolas Kuhn (1.8)

Goals + assists

Nicolas Kuhn (16)

Big chances created

Alistair Johnson (12)

Dribbles completed per game

Nicolas Kuhn (1.9)

As you can see in the table above, Kuhn has been a standout star for the Premiership leaders in the top-flight with his ability to score goals, create chances, and take on opposition defenders with the ball at his feet.

The left-footed wizard and Jota are both among the top six most valuable players at the club, rated at £8.2m and £6.6m respectively per Transfermarkt, but the Hoops once wanted another technical maestro who is now worth even more than both of them combined.

Celtic's interest in Norwegian sensation

Back in December of 2014, former Celtic boss Ronny Deila confirmed that he was interested in a deal to sign Martin Odegaard, who he had coached and brought through to the first-team at the age of 15 with Stromsgodset.

When asked about the young midfielder, the Norwegian boss said: “He is very special. Every time he gets a level, he takes it. His attitude is great and he always wants to progress, to learn. I know what’s happening. He’s in the town where my kids live and I know a lot of people there.

“I have control of the situation and we’ll see what we do. If there are possibilities, of course, we will try it. But it’s a very hard competition.”

One month later, Real Madrid unveiled the 16-year-old wonderkid as their latest addition in a deal reported to be worth just €4m (£3.3m) in the January transfer window, which meant that the Hoops missed out on the chance to reunite Deila with Odegaard.

One that got away

There is, of course, no shame is being beaten to a signing by one of the biggest, if not the biggest, clubs in the world, but the Norwegian youngster is still one that got away for the Hoops, when you consider what he has gone on to achieve.

How much Martin Odegaard is worth now

At the time of writing (22/02/2024), Odegaard is valued at a staggering €110m (£91m) and is the current captain of Premier League giants and title-contenders Arsenal.

The left-footed playmaker did not make the grade at Real Madrid but has made a name for himself in England, with 38 goals and 31 assists in 179 appearances for the Gunners to date.

Odegaard has provided a regular threat as both a scorer and a creator of goals for Mikel Arteta’s side in the Premier League, which has helped his market value to soar in recent years.

The Norway international, who was described as a “world-class” talent by ex-Arsenal star Paul Merson, is worth significantly more than both Jota and Kuhn combined, as well as being worth more than any of the club’s most valuable sales.

Matt O’Riley

£16.5m

Odsonne Edouard

£14m

Kyogo Furuhashi

£11.5m

Jota

£10.7m

Kieran Tierney

£10.3m

As you can see in the table above, which includes their market value – not reported transfer fee – at the time of their departure from Parkhead, no player has left the club whilst being anywhere near as valuable as Odegaard is now.

This illustrates how much of a blow it was for Deila to miss out on signing the teenage talent back at the start of 2015, as he could have developed into a hugely valuable asset and brilliant player for Celtic if they had won the race for his services.

Celtic must regret selling £500k hero who's now worth more than Schmeichel

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ByBen Gray Feb 18, 2025

Instead, he tried and failed to make his mark the Santiago Bernabeu and is now thriving week-in-week-out in the Premier League with the Gunners.

West Ham United are expected to make a fresh January bid for one Champions League striker who’s been in sensational form this campaign, with manager Graham Potter on the hunt for another centre-forward after devastating injury blows.

West Ham eye up late January striker signing

The winter transfer window shuts in a matter of days, and West Ham are still yet to confirm the arrival of a prolific centre-forward who can ease the pressure on Danny Ings’ shoulders.

West Ham likely to bid for once-£100m player in the final days of January

The Hammers are looking set to be busy.

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Ings is Potter’s only natural striking option right now, with both Niclas Füllkrug and Michail Antonio set to be sidelined for extended periods after suffering serious injuries. West Ham’s need for another body in that area was evident before Fullkrug and Antonio were ruled out, but the duo’s absences have exacerbated their desire for a quality forward even more.

Brighton starlet Evan Ferguson is a primary target for West Ham during these latter stages of the window, which shuts on February 3rd, with the Republic of Ireland international potentially available on a loan deal.

West Ham did make a serious attempt for Ajax striker Brian Brobbey as well, even shaking hands on personal terms worth £100,000-per-week (talkSPORT), but the finances involved in a deal for the Dutchman proved to stall talks for the time being.

Potter’s side, as per reliable media sources like Fabrizio Romano, have also seen a bid rejected for PSV Eindhoven star Ricardo Pepi.

The USA international, a scorer of 18 goals in all competitions so far this season, also bagged one against Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday evening – helping them to a 3-2 win over Arne Slot’s Premier League frontrunners.

West Ham expected to make fresh Ricardo Pepi bid

While their opening proposal was swiftly turned away, the Hammers recruitment team have not given up on luring Pepi to the London Stadium.

According to ED reporter Rik Elfrink, via X, West Ham are expected to make a second bid for Pepi worth around £29 million – but it remains to be seen whether this will be enough to convince PSV to part with their superstar attacker.

“Fireworks on the transfer market expected at PSV in the coming week,” said Elfrink.

“West Ham United will return with 35 million [euros] for Pepi, is the expectation.”

The Texas native is also a proven scorer at international level, bagging 13 in 33 caps for the US, and you could make a good case that a player of his ilk is exactly what West Ham are crying out for as one of the English top flight’s lowest-scoring teams right now.

The Urawa Red Diamonds have more continental success than they do domestically – could that be an asset in the CWC?

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Urawa Red Diamonds aren't domestic giants when it comes to the J1 League, Japan's top flight. The Saitama City-based club has won just one title since the Japanese First Division became the J1 League in 1992, lifting the league title in 2006, and four previous top-flight wins since its founding in 1950.

Yet, in Asia, they're juggernauts, winning the Asian Champions League three times – in 2007, 2017, and 2022. It's the second-most wins by any club in Asia, tied with the K League's Pohang Steelers and one fewer than Middle Eastern powerhouse Al-Hilal Saudi FC.

In theory, the Red Diamonds' wins in the Asian Champions League should greatly benefit them in the upcomgin Club World Cup. The Asian Champions League might not be as competitive as its European or South American counterparts, but there's an argument that it might be more grueling.

There are fixtures from Iraq to Australia, Japan to India. This year's rebranded Club World Cup spans across the U.S., and Urawa might have a slight advantage over its group stage competitors as a result of its previous success. Still, with Inter Milan, River Plate and Monterrey all in the same group, the Red Diamonds face a tall task.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be played in 12 stadiums in 11 U.S. cities, from the opener on June 14 until the final on July 13. In the U.S., fans can stream or watch matches on DAZN or TNT. Leading up to kickoff, GOAL will provide scouting reports on each of the 32 participating teams in the expanded field.

Next up is Urawa Red Diamonds, with a look at key players to watch, and expectations for the sole J1 League team at the tournament.

The Basics

DOMESTIC LEAGUE: J1 League

CLUB WORLD CUP HISTORY: 2007, 2017, 2023

GROUP: E (Inter Milan, Monterrey, River Plate, Urawa Red Diamonds)

OPENING MATCH: River Plate – June 17, 3 p.m. ET, Seattle

AdvertisementAFPHow they got here

The Red Diamonds' continental triumph earned them a place in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup. In the 2022 ACL campaign, Urawa recovered from a second-place group finish to mount an impressive run through the knockout stages.

In the final, they battled Al Hilal to a 1-1 draw in Riyadh, thanks to a Shinzo Koroki goal, before sealing the title with a 1-0 victory at home in front of 53,000 fans.

J.LEAGUEThe player to watch

The J1 League has a history of finding diamonds in the rough from Brazil – think about former Brazil international Hulk's rise to prominence in Japan's top two divisions before having a storied run for Porto and Zenit in Europe.

While Matheus Sávio is not of Hulk's caliber, he's one of the J1 League's elite midfielders. A former Brazil U20 standout who plays as an attacking midfielder, Sávio moved from Flamengo to Kashiwa Reysol for $1.1 million in 2019 and starred with an incredible 32 goals and 22 assists in six seasons with the club.

His performances is what ultimately led him to Urawa this season, where he's helped the club into in fourth in Japan's top flight, tied for the lead in goal contributions with six. If the Red Diamonds are to sneak out of Group E, they'll need Sávio to be a strong playmaker first and find ways to also be a threat in the attack.

Another player to watch is domestic star Ryoma Watanabe. The 28-year-old also has six goal contributions this season and has spent the majority of his career in Japan, outside of his time at the FC Ingolstadt development system. Another player whose impact comes from the midfield, he leads the Red Diamonds in scoring with five goals.

J.LEAGUERealistic Expectations

In an easier group, Urawa Red Diamonds could potentially secure a passage out. However, Group E features this year's UEFA Champions League finalist in Inter, an Argentine powerhouse in River and a Monterrey side that disappointed in the playoffs – but has Sergio Ramos, Sergio Canales, and likely a top recruit at manager.

There's no easy wins here, and the Red Diamonds don't have a prolific scorer on their roster. Realistically, their best shot comes if they can secure at least a draw against River and beat . Unlikely, but not impossible.

It has been a really poor season for Manchester United. The Red Devils are fighting hard to even finish in the top half of the Premier League table, and are surely set for their lowest-ever finish since its inception in the 1992/93 campaign.

Should Ruben Amorim’s side finish outside of the top ten, it will be the first time that has happened since 1988/89, when they finished 11th in the first division. Their lowest Premier League finish came last term, under Erik ten Hag, when the 13-time Premier League champions finished eighth.

They could certainly do with some inspiration this season to drag themselves up the league. Perhaps they wish some of their former players performing well in the Premier League could be on hand to help.

Former United players who are shining this season

One of the former United players who is standing out in the top flight this term is winger Anthony Elanga. He is now into his second season at Nottingham Forest and is thriving in a side managed superbly by Nuno Espirito Santo.

The Sweden international has been an assist machine in Garibaldi Red this term. In 26 appearances in the top flight this campaign, Elanga has three goals and eight assists, including three in a single game in the 7-0 thrashing of Brighton and Hove Albion.

Another player who United could have done with this season is Aaron Wan-Bissaka. They have really struggled for depth at wing-back, with the likes of Luke Shaw facing large spells on the sidelines.

Wan-Bissaka, who made the move to West Ham United over the summer, is renowned for his defensive ability, and Jamie Carragher once said no player “can get the better of him” in a one-vs-one scenario.

However, he has also scored two and assisted two for the Hammers this term, including a brilliant assist in their 1-0 win away to Arsenal last weekend.

Where Are They Now

Perhaps Amorim wishes he had the likes of Elanga and Wan-Bissaka in his squad now. However, in a team short of goals, there is a former United player who could have been incredibly useful.

The former United star who they need this season

No matter how well United are playing, there will always be plenty of pride in their academy. Well, one of the most underrated academy stars they have produced over the years is Danny Welbeck.

Now playing on the South Coast for Brighton, the Red Devils could certainly do with the goals of their former number 19. In 2024/25, Welbeck has been in impressive form.

He has scored seven goals and registered four assists in 20 Premier League games. One of those goals came against his former side on the second day of the season.

Welbeck, who hails from Manchester, was very well regarded by one of the most important people in United’s history, Sir Alex Ferguson.

Way back in 2013, the legendary Red Devils manager described his former striker as a “marvellous” player. He scored 29 goals and registered 16 assists in 142 games for his boyhood club.

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2008/09

13

3

2

2009/10

11

2

1

2011/12

39

12

5

2012/13

40

2

5

2013/14

36

10

3

2014/15

3

0

0

Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst was full of praise for Welbeck’s performances this season, following his latest strike in the 2-1 win over high-flying Bournemouth.

He explained on X that the Seagulls attacker would be deserving of a spot “in Tuchel’s England squad” for the March internationals, having been “playing the best football of what has already been a great career”.

Oh, how United must wish Welbeck – who Ten Hag was reportedly keen to re-sign last summer – still donned that famous Red shirt today.

He could have made a huge difference for Amorim’s side, who are battling hard to save the club from finishing in their worst league position since the 1980s.

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da dobrowin： Manchester City are now showing concrete interest in a defender, whose price tag has now dropped by £12.5m, but there may be competition for his signature from Real Madrid, according to a report.

Man City keen to strengthen at full-back

da leao： Kyle Walker joining AC Milan on loan last month could spell the end for the right-back at the Etihad Stadium, and Pep Guardiola has started to work on finding a replacement, with widespread reports linking Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento with a move.

Not only is Pep looking to strengthen at right-back, but the manager is also keen to bolster his options on the opposite side, with Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso remaining on the list of targets, having been interested in signing the Italian during the January window.

Other left-backs to be considered by City in recent times include Paris Saint Germain’s Nuno Mendes and AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez, with Pep seemingly looking to bring in competition for Josko Gvardiol.

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There has now been a new update on the Sky Blues’ pursuit of Hernandez, with TEAMtalk revealing the left-back is now likely to leave AC Milan this summer, with the Italian club slashing their asking price from £41.5m to £29.5m.

Amid the £12m price drop, Man City are now showing concrete interest in the left-back, who is now climbing higher on their shortlist, with the £29.5m fee considered a fair price.

The only potential issue is the fact Real Madrid have also expressed an interest in the Frenchman, and he would be open to a return to the Bernabeu, having spent two years with the Spanish side earlier in his career.

Hernandez is a top attacking left-back

Throughout his career, the Milan defender has consistently provided an attacking threat, despite almost exclusively featuring at left-back, providing seven goals and six assists in the Serie A during the 2020-21 campaign.

Freelance Ben Mattinson has described the former Madrid man as “electric fast”, while also branding him “the best attacking LB in the world”, so it is promising news he could be available for just £29.5m this summer.

Although the report states the France international’s form has dipped this season, he has remained a key player for Milan, and he has continued to provide a consistent attacking threat over the past year.

Statistic

Average per 90

Non-penalty goals

0.10 (82nd percentile)

Progressive carries

3.51 (93rd percentile)

Successful take-ons

1.14 (85th percentile)

Not only does the defender impress on the front foot, but he has also received praise for his defensive work in the past too, being lauded by CBS’ Marco Messina.

As such, Hernandez could be a fantastic signing for City this summer, and given that his price tag has fallen significantly, they should definitely pursue a move.

Manchester Originals skipper Jos Buttler smacked five sixes in an entertaining 36-ball 62 but his side’s match in the Hundred against London Spirit eventually fell victim to the Manchester weather.The home side had reached 138 for 5 after 80 balls in the game’s only innings when umpires Graham Lloyd and Steve O’Shaughnessy took the players from the field for the second time. They did not return and the no result outcome means that each side have taken one point from their first two matches in the Hundred.The first interruption might have come at a useful time for Spirit’s bowlers and fielders. The former had conceded five sixes in 35 balls, three of the maximums being struck by Phil Salt, who was dropped by Dan Lawrence off Liam Dawson when only 8. Salt was eventually caught by Adam Rossington for a nine-ball 21 when he thin-edged a pull off Dan Worrall.