BPL 2024 dates out, schedule clashes with five other T20 leagues

The overlap with the PSL might hit the BPL the hardest, since Pakistanis are in big demand in the league

Mohammad Isam11-Dec-2023

Comilla Victorians are the defending BPL champions•Bangladesh Cricket Board

The schedule of the 2024 edition of the Bangladesh Premier League will clash, to varying extents, with those of five other T20 leagues in the January-February window.The BCB announced the schedule of the tournament – January 19 to March 1 – on Monday. The ILT20 in the UAE will be on from January 19 to February 17. The SA20 league in South Africa will be held from January 10 to February 10. The BBL in Australia, which started on December 7, will run till January 24. The Super Smash in New Zealand will be played from December 19 to January 28. And the PSL in Pakistan will be played from mid-February to mid-March, which might affect the BPL the most, since many of the franchises rely heavily on Pakistan for their overseas recruits.Last season, 25 Pakistani cricketers played in the BPL, including top players like Iftikhar Ahmed and Mohammad Rizwan, as well as tape-ball specialist Khawaja Nafay, who made his T20 debut in the BPL.Players from Afghanistan, England and the West Indies are also in high demand in the BPL, while the teams had recruited players from the Netherlands, Ireland, South Africa, USA and Zimbabwe last season, too.The BPL will be played at the usual venues in Dhaka, Chattogram and Sylhet, with the playoffs starting in Dhaka on February 25.

Moreeng to continue as South Africa women's coach despite calls for change

It is understood a group of players wrote to CSA wanting to see change following Moreeng’s lengthy tenure

Firdose Moonda11-Aug-2023Hilton Moreeng will stay on as coach of the South African national women’s team, extending his tenure beyond 11 years. Moreeng has been in charge since 2012 and was expected to move on after the home T20 World Cup, in which South Africa reached the final, but will continue for at least the 2023-24 season.ESPNcricinfo understands that a group of players are unhappy with Moreeng’s continuance and some of them took their complaints to Cricket South Africa via email. This move stems from what sources have called a desire to see a change in the coaching style following Moreeng’s lengthy tenure. However, the players have been unable to get CSA to see eye-to-eye with their thinking and Moreeng has been rewarded for a string of good results which includes qualifying for the last two 50-over World Cup semi-finals and becoming the first coach to take a senior South African team to a World Cup final.”It was never going to make sense not to extend (Moreeng’s deal) because of the back-to-back tours we have coming up now,” Pholetsi Moseki, CSA’s CEO told ESPNcricinfo.Related

Wolvaardt to test the waters as SA women's team interim captain

Moreeng claims South Africa women's dressing room is not divided

South Africa's women's team to get equal match fees as the men

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Sune Luus calls for CSA to invest in women's cricket after World Cup final defeat

Although South Africa have not played since the T20 World Cup in February, they have a full schedule over the next few months, starting with a trip to Pakistan in August. They will then return home to host New Zealand and also have visits from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka already penciled in on the Future Tours Programme (FTP) before an all-format trip to Australia in early 2024. The time between the end of Moreeng’s contract in April and this season’s fixtures was deemed too short to replace him. “It would have not been fair to ask a new person to take over and have only a month or so to prepare the team for the Pakistan series [which begins on September 1],” Moseki said.Instead, CSA has turned its attention to creating a new position in the women’s game: head of women’s cricket. Applications for the post closed on July 14 and ESPNcricinfo understands that the process of finalising the appointment is ongoing. The head of women’s cricket will report to the current Director of Cricket, Enoch Nkwe, who has been in meetings with the women’s team management this week.At the time of writing, Nkwe was unavailable for comment.

Nottingham Forest ace left for £0 in 2022, now he's outscoring Hudson-Odoi

Nottingham Forest claimed a vital win over Manchester City at the City Ground yesterday, massively boosting their chances of finishing in the Premier League’s top four.

Nuno Espírito Santo’s side claimed their 15th league win of the season, moving them four points clear of Pep Guardiola’s men in their unlikely pursuit of a Champions League place.

Morgan Gibbs-White registered yet another assist in what has been a superb campaign for the Englishman, taking his tally to 11 combined goals and assists in the top flight throughout 2024/25.

Such form has forced himself into the plans of England boss Thomas Tuchel, giving the German a huge chance of including him in the first squad ahead of the upcoming international break.

One other first-team member has also demonstrated his quality at the City Ground, potentially linking up with Gibbs-White in the national setup in the next few weeks.

Callum Hudson-Odoi’s stats for Forest in 2024/25

Winger Callum Hudson-Odoi has been one of the biggest bargains in recent times, joining Forest for just £3m back in the summer of 2023, reigniting his promising career in the East Midlands.

The 24-year-old registered eight goals and two assists in his debut campaign at the club, already hitting five goals this season, with his latest effort coming in the win over the defending champions.

His effort in the closing stages claimed all three points, notching his third goal in his last five league outings – playing a pivotal role in their top-four pursuit.

Hudson-Odoi was unlucky not to register another goal, with City ‘keeper Ederson making a superb save to deny the former Chelsea man from opening the scoring earlier on in the encounter.

Despite his impressive goalscoring run in recent weeks, the attacker has been outscored by a player who’s thrived since his move away from the club a couple of years ago.

The former Forest star who has outscored Hudson-Odoi in 2024/25

After promotion to the Premier League ahead of the 2022/23 season, Forest caught the eye with their additions, which saw 22 new signings arrive on the banks of the River Trent.

It’s safe to say additions were needed after promotion, with the majority of the stars during the 2021/22 season on loan at the Reds and subsequently departed.

Other first-team members departed, including Joe Lolley, who was allowed to leave on a free transfer to join Australian outfit Sydney FC – ending his four-and-a-half-year stint in the East Midlands.

The winger captured the hearts of the fanbase during his time at the City Ground, catching the eye with his ability to cut inside and fire home with his left foot off the right-hand side.

The 32-year-old scored 26 times in 171 appearances, thriving beyond all imagination after his £500k move from Huddersfield Town in January 2018.

2017/18

16

3

3

2018/19

51

12

11

2019/20

44

10

8

2020/21

30

1

3

2021/22

30

0

1

Total:

171

26

26

His move down under has allowed the Englishman to recapture his goalscoring form, scoring 11 times and notching six assists in his 24 outings – subsequently outscoring Hudson-Odoi and helping his side push for a qualification spot in the A-League.

After his successful stint in the East Midlands, it’s great to see Lolley thriving once again, producing the quality that the supporters know he’s capable of on a consistent basis.

He was ultimately a victim of the club’s rapid success under Steve Cooper, but given the quality of the likes of Hudson-Odoi currently at the City Ground, it was the right call to allow him to leave to showcase his talents elsewhere.

Nottingham Forest plotting offer to sign "exciting" star club chiefs love

He’s enjoyed a revived campaign…

ByTom Cunningham Mar 7, 2025

Arsenal looking to hijack AC Milan move to sign £50m Cunha teammate

Turning their attention towards the summer transfer window, Arsenal are now reportedly looking to hijack AC Milan’s move to sign a defensive reinforcement alongside interest in Matheus Cunha.

Arsenal transfer news

All but down and out in the Premier League title race thanks to knockout blows from West Ham United and Nottingham Forest, Arsenal’s task is clearer than ever this summer. They must rebuild Mikel Arteta’s attack. That must be their priority if they want to finally end their wait for England’s biggest honour for the first time in over two decades.

With that priority in mind, it’s no surprise that the rumours have already been coming thick and fast as names such as Alexander Isak threaten to steal the headlines. As things stand, it certainly seems like the Newcastle United man is the Gunners’ number one target, but whether they can afford to match his reported £150m price tag is another question entirely.

Send him to Saudi: Arteta must sell Arsenal star who's a "bit of a moaner"

The Arsenal star has been disappointing this season.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Feb 27, 2025

If it’s not the Swede, meanwhile, then it may well be Cunha. After failing to secure a move to The Emirates or elsewhere in January, the Brazilian put pen to paper on a new deal at Wolverhampton Wanderers which reportedly includes a release clause of £62m. A far more affordable option than Isak, Arsenal are seemingly among those eyeing Cunha’s signature once again this summer.

He’s not the only Wolves star they could sign, either. According to Caught Offside, Arsenal are now looking to hijack AC Milan’s move to sign Rayan Ait-Nouri this summer.

WolverhamptonWanderers' Rayan Ait-Nouri celebrates scoring their first goal

The Italian giants have reportedly been lining up a move to sign the left-back as a replacement for Theo Hernandez, who looks set to leave the San Siro this summer. Arsenal could yet stand in the way of that move, however, and perhaps even match Wolves’ €60m (£50m) price tag when the summer arrives.

"Talented" Ait-Nouri would add surprise attacking spark

If reports are to be believed and Ait-Nouri is on Arsenal’s radar, then those in North London could be about to see the end of central defenders inverting at full-back with natural players preferred in such a role. Ait-Nouri would certainly be a solid candidate if that is to be the case too, given how his attacking exploits would help to sharpen a blunt Arsenal attack.

Starts

26

10

Goals

3

2

Assists

5

1

Ball Recoveries P90

4.76

3.13

A player who often steps onto the front foot and leaves his mark, Ait-Nouri is exactly the type of driving force Arteta needs to ignite his side’s attacking spark once again.

Earning plenty of praise during his time at Wolves, former manager Gary O’Neil told reporters when asked about the left-back: “I know he’s played a lot of games for Wolves and he’s extremely talented, but there’s still a lot of learning that he needs to do in his understanding of the game.”

At just 23 years old, there’s still plenty more to come from Ait-Nouri whether it’s at Wolves, AC Milan or, indeed, Arsenal.

Rain-hit Melbourne derby goes to Stars as both sides end lacklustre WBBL campaigns

The two Melbourne teams finished in the bottom two positions on the points table

AAP25-Nov-2023Wet weather brought an end to drab WBBL campaigns from both Melbourne sides in Stars’ rain-affected derby win at the MCG on Saturday night.Annabel Sutherland top-scored as Stars were bowled out for 118, and Kim Garth’s early wickets in Renegades’ run chase gave Stars, the hosts for the game, the upper hand.Garth reduced Renegades to 12 for 2 inside three overs before rain temporarily forced players off the field and sent most fans in a crowd of 5933 heading for cover. Play returned for only another nine balls as Hayley Matthews (17 not out off ten balls) tried valiantly to put Renegades in front on the DLS chart.But Renegades’ 27 for 2 from 5.3 overs was still eight runs short of a par score when rain ended the match for good.The result left Stars (six wins in 14 games) and Renegades (two wins in 14) filling the bottom two places on the table. It was Stars’ fourth win from their last five matches, giving them an idea of what might have been had they started the season in better form.That’s that – the umpires break the news to the two captains•Getty Images

Garth, who returned figures of 2 for 2 in her two overs, dismissed Renegades openers Tammy Beaumont and Emma de Broughe within three balls in the third over of the innings after stand-in captain Sutherland (36) lifted Stars to a respectable total batting first.Sutherland smacked six boundaries in her 36 off 28 balls and put on a club-record fourth-wicket stand of 45 with Tess Flintoff (22 off 23 balls).Both Sutherland and de Broughe were out caught off Harmanpreet Kaur, who returned 2 for 13. Matthews (2 for 20), Georgia Prestwidge (2 for 27) and Georgia Wareham (2 for 18) were the other main wicket-takers.The rain-affected match was a disappointing end to former Australian international Jess Duffin’s professional career after the cross-code athlete announced her retirement before the match. Duffin didn’t bat or bowl but claimed he catch that dismissed Alice Capsey for a second-ball duck off Georgia Prestwidge’s bowling.Stars were again without regular captain Meg Lanning, who sat out the final three games of the season for personal reasons. Lanning announced her retirement from international cricket earlier this month, saying she had lost the hunger to perform at the international level.

رودريجو يحسم مصيره مع ريال مدريد.. وفينيسيوس في خطر

اتخذ رودريجو جوس، نجم نادي ريال مدريد، قرارًا نهائيًا بشأن مستقبله الفريق الملكي، وذلك بناءً على تقارير إعلامية اليوم الخميس.

رودريجو يعتبر مستقبله مبهمًا مع ريال مدريد حتى الآن، حيث يجلس الدولي البرازيلي على مقاعد بدلاء الملكي منذ تولي تشابي ألونسو تدريب النادي الإسباني خلفًا لكارلو أنشيلوتي.

تابع.. انتقادات لاذعة لصفقة ريال مدريد بعد الظهور الأول على “سانتياجو برنابيو”

ولم يشارك رودريجو في أي دقيقة خلال مواجهة ريال مدريد أمام أوساسونا، يوم الثلاثاء الماضي، والتي انتهت بفوز الملكي بهدف دون رد ضمن الجولة الأولى من الدوري الإسباني.

لكن إيدو أجيري، الإعلامي ببرنامج “الشيرنجيتو” الإسباني، أكد أن رودريجو حسم مستقبله مع ريال مدريد وقرر البقاء خلال الموسم الحالي.

وأضاف أجيري، أن رودريجو دخل الموسم الحالي بحماس كبير، حيث يريد استعادة مكانته في التشكيلة الأساسية للوس بلانكوس وإقناع ألونسو بخدماته.

بقاء رودريجو مع ريال مدريد سيضع مستقبل فينيسيوس جونيور على المحك مع الفريق الملكي في الجهة الأخرى، حيث تراجع مستوى اللاعب البالغ من العمر 25 عامًا خلال الفترة الماضية ويتلقى انتقادات عديدة.

وربما يدفع تراجع مستوى فينيسيوس ألونسو إلى الاعتماد على رودريجو في مركز الجناح الأيسر، مع تألق كيليان مبابي بجانب تواجد فرانكو ماستانتونو كجناح أيمن.

Renato Augusto celebra aniversário em alta no Corinthians: 'Hoje eu desfruto mais do jogo'

MatériaMais Notícias

da bet7: Renato Augusto vive um de seus melhores momentos pelo Corinthians, e nesta quarta-feira (8), o meia completa 35 anos de idade. Em alto nível tanto na parte física quanto técnica, o camisa 8 entende que a maturidade lhe deu uma nova visão sobre o jogo, e agora ele é mais inteligente dentro de campo.

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da heads bet: + Renato Augusto e Roger Guedes são essenciais para a vitória do Corinthians

-Hoje eu desfruto mais do jogo. Eu curto mais o jogo. Você começa a entender onde tem os espaços, o porquê isso está acontecendo, o porquê o time começa a evoluir no jogo, ou porque começa a cair. Eu acho que quando você começa a entender isso, você desfruta mais. Em alguns momentos, eu tento fazer coisas para o time evoluir, às vezes nem sou eu que vou tocar na bola, mas eu tento fazer algumas coisas dentro de campo. Antes eu corria o jogo, hoje eu jogo o jogo – refletiu o atleta, em entrevista ao Corinthians.

+ Veja as movimentações do mercado da bola no LANCE!

Somando as duas passagens de Renato pelo Timão, o meia possui mais de 200 jogos pelo clube e 24 gols, com três títulos conquistados. Para ele, a conquista da Recopa Sul-Americana sobre o São Paulo foi um de seus momentos mais memoráveis atuando no Alvinegro. Ele também colocou a final da Copa do Brasil, contra o Flamengo, no Maracanã, como um momento importante, apesar da derrota.

– As partidas da Recopa, para mim, foram memoráveis por ter sido um clássico, final sul-americana, fiz um gol bonito, realmente foi marcante. A minha volta para o clube também foi marcante. Além disso, mesmo com a derrota para o Flamengo na final da Copa do Brasil no ano passado, a segunda partida no Maracanã foi muito marcante para mim, principalmente depois do jogo em que, mesmo com a derrota, a torcida começou a cantar ‘eu nunca vou te abandonar, porque te amo’. Além disso, ainda encaixo o jogo contra o Vasco, em 2015, que garantiu o título Brasileiro – afirmou.

Desde que retornou ao Corinthians, em 2021, Renato vem lidando com problemas musculares. Na última temporada, uma lesão na panturrilha o afastou por cerca de um mês e meio, e o meia perdeu duelos importantes no ano.

Por isso, o camisa 8 faz um cronograma específico de trabalhos físicos no CT, em conjunto com o fisioterapeuta Bruno Mazziotti, que o ajudou a recuperar seu ápice físico.

-Eu vim para cá em um momento delicado, eu estava sentindo dores. Eu conseguia jogar, mas não estava me sentindo à vontade, e foi aqui que eu me reencontrei, onde eu atingi o meu ápice. Agradeço ao clube, que até nos momentos mais difíceis esteve do meu lado, que comprou a ideia. Depois eu pude retribuir dentro de campo. Isso foi especial para mim – disse.

+ Veja tabela e simule os jogos do Campeonato Paulista

Renato agradeceu as mensagens de carinho dos torcedores corintianos, que não esqueceram do meia enquanto ele atuava no futebol chinês.

-Fiel, gostaria de agradecer a todos por todas as mensagens, por todo o carinho que eu tenho recebido, não só no meu aniversário, mas em todos esses anos, até quando eu fui embora para a China, o carinho que eu recebi tanto pessoalmente como por mensagens. Então só tenho a agradecer e espero que a gente ainda possa comemorar alguns aniversários juntos – concluiu.

O meia, titular nas últimas três partidas do Timão no Paulistão, pode ser preservado pela comissão técnica corintiana para o confronto desta quinta-feira (9), contra o São Bernardo, justamente pelo planejamento acerca de seu condicionamento físico.

continua após a publicidade

Celtic may now move to sign "clinical" £8m forward with new £5m discount

da marjack bet: Celtic could now make a summer move to sign a forward target with his price set to drop to around £8m over the coming months.

Celtic set for another Scottish Premiership title as Rodgers eyes striker

da stake casino: The Hoops are on course for yet another Scottish Premiership title and could complete the domestic treble once more under Brendan Rodgers. After Scottish Cup League success, Celtic are also in the Scottish Cup semi-finals, where they will take on St Johnstone.

Despite having plenty of success on the pitch, it was a fairly eventful January transfer window for the Hoops as well. They managed to re-sign Jota, land Jeffrey Schlupp on loan from Crystal Palace and secure a pre-contract agreement with Kieran Tierney for the summer.

However, Rodgers didn’t view the winter as a success after failing to sign a striker. “I said it myself, we wanted another striker, so we’re not hiding behind anything,” said Rodgers.

“And absolutely, the supporters will look and see that a top striker has gone out, a legendary striker. So I understand that. But all I can do is affect what we have now and look to teach and work very hard and finish off what has been, until now, a great season for us.”

Celtic star is already proving to Rodgers he's their next Kieran Tierney

Celtic are going to overhaul of their left-backs in the summer, with Kieran Tierney set to return, but does Rodgers already have a better option?

ByBen Gray Mar 12, 2025

Brondby striker Mathias Kvistgaarden was the man heavily linked with replacing Kyogo Furuhashi in Glasgow, but a deal failed to materialise. However, following a new update, it looks as if the Dane may still be on the move to Scotland in 2025.

Celtic could sign Kvistgaarden at £5m discount this summer

According to a new update from Celts Are Here, Celtic will have the chance to sign Kvistgaarden at a £5m discount this summer.

‘Brondby’s asking price of £13.5 million in January was seen as too steep by the Celtic hierarchy’, however, Kvistgaarden has a buyout clause that becomes active this summer.

Noises have suggested that the fee is around £8m, and that price drop ‘could tempt Celtic to renew their efforts to bring the Danish forward to Glasgow’.

The 22-year-old, described as “clinical”, has enjoyed his best season in front of goal to date in 2024/25, so it’s easy to see why he could be wanted once more in Glasgow.

Mathias Kvistgaarden’s stats 2024/25

Appearances

26

Goals

15

Assists

5

Minutes played

1,631

Yellow cards

3

He’s also been used as a centre-forward, left winger and attacking midfielder during the current campaign, so would offer Rodgers a versatile attacking option over the coming years.

Whether or not Celtic are willing to activate his reported £8m release clause remains to be seen, but they could be tempted as per the latest update, making this one to watch.

Real Madrid make it official! Xabi Alonso joins from Bayer Leverkusen with first presentation as new manager confirmed

Real Madrid have announced Xabi Alonso as their new manager, replacing Carlo Ancelotti in the Bernabeu hotseat.

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Real Madrid announce Alonso as managerReplaces AncelottiWill be unveiled on MondayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Alonso, who played for the La Liga giants between 2009-14, leaves Bayer Leverkusen after achieving extraordinary success, notably beating Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title last season. He now succeeds Ancelotti, who has departed to take on the Brazil national team job after a trophyless campaign at the Bernabeu.

AdvertisementWHAT REAL MADRID SAID

A Real Madrid statement said: "Real Madrid CF announces that Xabi Alonso will be Real Madrid's manager for the next three seasons, from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028. Xabi Alonso is one of the greatest legends of Real Madrid and world football. Now he returns to Real Madrid as one of the best coaches in the world, after making history at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the League, Cup, and German Super Cup in three seasons."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Alonso will be unveiled at an event in Madrid on Monday before getting to work. He will be tasked with unlocking the potential of a squad featuring global superstars Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, while Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to become his first signing.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

Alonso will not have long to get his feet under the table, with Real's Club World Cup campaign beginning against Al-Hilal on Wednesday June 18. He will also hold his first press conference on Monday May 26.

Not Obi or Hojlund: 19-year-old Man Utd gem could be Amorim's new Gyokeres

What a week it has been for Manchester United’s number nine, Rasmus Hojlund. You wait so long for a goal, and two come along in quick succession.

The Danish speedster had endured a dismal 21-game goal drought prior to finally getting on the scoresheet again on Sunday evening away at Leicester City, with the struggling striker showcasing remarkable composure to slot home on his weaker right foot against the relegation-threatened Foxes.

Just days on from that long-awaited goal, the 22-year-old leapt off the bench to clinch victory for his country against Portugal on Thursday night, the former Atalanta man condemning Bruno Fernandes, Diogo Dalot and Cristiano Ronaldo to a 1-0 defeat in their Nations League quarter-final clash.

While a return of nine goals this season for club and country makes for grim reading for the £64m signing, he has helped to lift the pressure on his shoulders this week, not least with 17-year-old sensation, Chido Obi, waiting in the wings for a starting berth back at Old Trafford.

Player

Games

Goals

Assists

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

53

29

10

Romelu Lukaku

96

42

12

Odion Ighalo

23

5

1

Edinson Cavani

59

19

6

Cristiano Ronaldo (2nd spell)

54

27

5

Wout Weghorst

31

2

3

Anthony Martial

317

90

46

Rasmus Hojlund

82

24

4

That youthful pairing are currently vying to be Ruben Amorim’s main man through the middle, with the Portuguese coach still no doubt looking to find his next goalscoring talisman, in the mould of Sporting CP’s, Viktor Gyokeres.

Man Utd's interest in Viktor Gyokeres

There is an argument to be made that Amorim has found his new attacking, Gyokeres-like figurehead in the form of Bruno Fernandes, although for all the playmaker’s brilliance, there is still a need for United to acquire a reliable, prolific presence to lead the line.

Indeed, in 82 games for the Red Devils to date, Hojlund has scored just 24 goals, while young Obi is still waiting to break his first-team duck, albeit while having made just four senior appearances. Summer signing Joshua Zirkzee, meanwhile, has scored just six times in his new surroundings.

With that in mind, it is then no surprise that the signing of a new centre-forward appears high on the agenda, with journalist Florian Plettenberg only recently naming the aforementioned Gyokeres among a raft of targets that Amorim and co are looking at.

The Swedish goal machine has been a revelation in Portugal since arriving from Coventry City for just £17m back in 2023, having notably scored 66 goals in just 68 games under Amorim’s watch.

Unsurprisingly, ever since the new United boss made the move to England, there has been talk of a reunion. However, The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell reported back in February that while Sporting could cash in for around €70m (£59m), it is ‘unlikely’ that the 26-year-old follows his former boss to Manchester.

Sporting CP's ViktorGyokerescelebrates after the match

As per Whitwell, the one-time Brighton and Hove Albion man is likely to want to join a team competing in the Champions League – something United, currently, won’t be able to offer – while the club themselves may have reservations, amid the pursuit of ‘younger signings’.

While there may be frustration at not handing Amorim the perfect attacking tool in Gyokeres, perhaps the Red Devils are already brewing the next version of the Swede…

Man Utd's own Gyokeres

As two towering, Scandinavian marksmen like Gyokeres, it could be argued that both Hojlund and Obi are primed to evolve into that type of figure for Amorim, provided they are given time to develop.

That said, there could well be another, more suitable option in the equation, in the form of academy star, Ethan Wheatley, with the 19-year-old also a “clinical finisher”, in the words of analyst Ben Mattinson.

As per Mattinson, the promising Englishman possesses a lot of the “typical hold-up, link-up and channel running” that Gyokeres has shown at Sporting, while he is also deemed to be a “closer fit” to the former Coventry man than fellow youth star, Gabriele Biancheri.

Currently out on loan at League Two highflyers Walsall – for whom he has actually made just three appearances since arriving in January – Wheatley has previously dazzled in the youth set-up at United, scoring ten times in just 22 U21 outings.

The Stockport native – who, like Gyokeres, stands at 6 foot 2 – was also previously the star of the U18 side, after netting 14 goals in 28 games at that age group.

While it hasn’t worked out so far during Wheatley’s temporary stint away from Old Trafford, he did score for England’s U19 side against Wales in midweek, having also been awarded a new long-term contract with United earlier this month.

That show of faith by the club has indicated how highly regarded the teenager is at Carrington, with the rising star already making four first-team appearances for his parent club, including a late cameo in the 4-2 win over Leicester in the EFL Cup back in October.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

With Amorim having already shown his willingness to utilise the academy in recent weeks, amid the emergence of Obi and Harry Amass, United’s 250th graduate may still have hope of forcing his way into the senior reckoning next season.

Who knows, Wheatley could even prove himself to be the 40-year-old’s next Gyokeres.

Amorim's next Gyokeres: Man Utd plotting move to sign "the new Haaland"

Manchester United are still targeting a striker to hand Ruben Amorim with the firepower he craves.

ByEthan Lamb Mar 20, 2025

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