Manchester United are now ready to trigger the release clause to sign an “incredible” midfielder, having recently held talks over a deal, according to a report.

Man Utd searching for a playmaker

While Bruno Fernandes is enjoying an impressive campaign on a personal level, picking up 17 goals and 18 assists in all competitions, few other players have contributed to Man United’s attacking output.

The Red Devils have looked particularly devoid of ideas in the Premier League, having created 59 big chances throughout the campaign, which is just the 13th highest number in the division and below the likes of Fulham, Brentford and Crystal Palace.

As such, it is clear that Ruben Amorim needs a new creative spark in midfield, and work has started to bring in a new number 10, with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha edging closer towards completing a move to Old Trafford.

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United are also leading the race for Lyon attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki, who could be available for the bargain fee of £30m this summer, amid the French club’s ongoing financial issues.

There have been suggestions that Man Utd could be willing to take a punt on Franco Mastantuono too, and there has now been a new update on their pursuit of the 17-year-old.

According to a report from TyC Sports (via Sport Witness), INEOS and Man Utd are now ready to trigger the €45m (£38m) release clause in Mastantuono’s River Plate contract, having recently held talks with the Argentine club.

However, rather than shelling out £38m outright, the Red Devils want to pay in installments, and it is unclear whether River Plate would be willing to agree to a deal of that nature.

Moreover, the teenager isn’t showing many signs that he is keen on a move to Old Trafford, with Real Madrid believed to be his preferred destination, despite talks over a move to the Spanish club breaking down last year.

"Incredible" Mastantuono destined to be future star

Compatriot Enzo Fernandez clearly believes the youngster has what it takes to succeed in Europe, saying: “He’s showing that he has a European future. You can see it.

“He’s an incredible player. He’s doing very well and has shown great talent. In my opinion, he’s a star.”

It is little wonder the starlet could soon be in line for a move to Europe, having put in some top performances for River Plate, most recently scoring a stunning free-kick in the Superclasico against Boca Juniors.

The maestro has also impressed across a range of key metrics for attacking midfielders over the past year, when compared to his positional peers, most notably placing in the top 1% for successful take-ons.

Statistic

Average per 90

Shot-creating actions

6.20 (97th percentile)

Progressive passes

5.33 (81st percentile)

Successful take-ons

3.63 (99th percentile

Mastantuono is showing all the hallmarks of a future star, and Man United will be hoping a Europa League triumph could convince him to move to Old Trafford this summer.

It’s nearly a month now until Sunderland kick their Premier League season off on home turf versus West Ham United as the Black Cats’ transfer business continues at a hundred miles per hour.

Six new faces have joined the ever-expanding Stadium of Light ranks so far, with the pick of the recent bunch who have relocated to Wearside being Simon Adingra, as the Premier League-capable attacker left Brighton and Hove Albion behind for a fresh adventure up North.

Don’t be surprised if the number of exciting bodies to join the building rises into the double-digit range very soon, with more and more high-profile signings expected to be made before August arrives.

£9m star now on the Sunderland shopping list

Whilst the cash thrown around to land Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra and Chemsdine Talbi would have caught the eye of those with connections to Sunderland, as £67m was excessively splashed, the pick up of Adingra will be the most pleasing capture to date, considering his wide knowledge of the top-flight.

Aaron Ramsdale might well add to that if he joins Regis Le Bris’ camp very soon, with new rumours seeming to suggest that the goalkeeper might be the new number one the Black Cats desire when climbing back up to the Premier League.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin has even been allegedly on the Sunderland shopping list as well. However, the European markets will no doubt still be tapped into again as Le Bris and Co now enter the race to try and snap up Spezia gem Salvatore Esposito.

As per a report from journalist Graeme Bailey, the one-time Italy international is firmly on Sunderland’s summer radar, with the likes of Brighton, Burnley, Brentford, Everton, and Fulham all also interested in the 24-year-old after Spezia failed to win promotion to Serie A.

Valued at just £9m – as per Transfermarkt – this could well prove to be a great steal on the end of Sunderland if Esposito instantly acclimatises to the demands of the English game and shines, with the Spezia number five perhaps going to be an even better talent than the £30m-rated Diarra down the line.

How Esposito could be even better than Diarra

Of course, Diarra does have plenty of top-flight experience under his belt that will help him when trying to become an instant success on Wearside.

Indeed, the 21-year-old had amassed 94 Ligue 1 appearances for Strasbourg with a hefty tally of nine goals and ten assists also coming his way lining up for Liam Rosenior’s side.

Games played

30

34

Goals scored

4

7

Assists

5

10

Touches*

43.5

80.6

Accurate passes*

26.3 (87%)

48.8 (85%)

Big chances created

9

18

Ball recoveries*

3.0

6.3

Total duels won*

3.3

7.3

Yet, it’s very clear when looking at the above table – even if Esposito has played the majority of his career in the Italian second tier to date – that the 24-year-old definitely has a higher ceiling than the Serie B, with a ridiculous 17 goal contributions next to his name from 34 league clashes last season.

The most exciting takeaway from the table, however, will be how well-rounded Esposito’s game looks as a midfielder who is capable of dazzling crowds with that output, but he is also a talent hungry to battle away for his team’s cause, as seen in his mammoth 7.3 duels being won per game last campaign as Spezia gunned for promotion.

Diarra’s numbers do fall flat in comparison, with the former Inter Milan man even going on to win that solitary Italy call-up when he was known as a rising gem.

Therefore, the “elegant” midfielder – as he’s been lauded in the past by football talent scout Jacek Kulig – should be able to make the first-team cut under Le Bris very soon, even if the jump up in quality is disorientating at first.

Diarra could well find that transition to be even trickier, considering he has that lavish £30m price tag above his head.

Whereas, for only £9m, Esposito – who has also been labelled as a “technical genius” by football analyst Ben Mattinson – won’t have that same level of anxiety on his shoulders, with the 24-year-old hopeful he can be an immediate success story that helps Sunderland to survive.

Contact made: Sunderland prepare bid to sign £25m star who is open to move

The Black Cats are making plenty of impressive moves…

1 BySean Markus Clifford Jul 13, 2025

Glasgow Rangers play their first competitive game of the 2025/26 campaign on Tuesday night as they prepare for the first leg of their Champions League qualifier at Ibrox.

The Light Blues will be hoping to take an advantage back to Greece the following week in their bid to make the next stage of the qualifying process, as they look to qualify for the league phase of the competition.

Russell Martin may not have the perfect squad to choose from on Tuesday night, though, as new signing Thelo Aasgaard is a doubt through injury.

The Scottish head coach has also confirmed that fellow new signing Djeidi Gassama will not be fit to start the game because of a “disrupted” pre-season, but the Frenchman will be a part of the Rangers squad.

Gassama recently signed for the Scottish Premiership giants from English Championship side Sheffield Wednesday on a permanent deal, but supporters look set to have to wait to see him from the start.

That is a shame for Martin, Rangers, and the fans because his performances for the Owls in the 2024/25 campaign suggest that he is a very exciting player.

What Djeidi Gassama could bring to Rangers

On paper, supporters may look at Gassama’s numbers from last season and think that he is a goalscoring winger who does not create much for his teammates.

That is because he ended the campaign with a haul of seven goals and one assist in 43 outings in the Championship, which suggests that scoring goals is his biggest offensive attribute.

Whilst that may still be true, Gassama’s underlying numbers suggest that his teammates were the reason why he only had one assist to his name, rather than because of a lack of quality or creativity on his part.

As you can see in the table above, his teammates only finished one of the 38 chances he created for them, and he underperformed his xA by almost two assists.

These statistics suggest that the 21-year-old starlet is a winger who will provide goals and creativity down the left flank, which is why he could be an exciting player for Rangers supporters to watch.

The Light Blues need a quality centre-forward to make the most of his creativity, though, and they are reportedly interested in a star who would fit the bill.

Rangers ready to pursue prolific forward

According to Football Insider, Rangers are eyeing up multiple experienced players to come in and improve the leadership within their dressing room this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

The report claims that Leicester City centre-back Conor Coady and free agent centre-forward Luuk De Jong are both being lined up to be ‘huge figures’ in the dressing room next season.

It states that the Gers are ready to step up their pursuit of both players, as Martin looks to bolster the quality within his side, and De Jong is available as a free agent.

The Dutch centre-forward left PSV at the start of the month, after his contract with the Dutch team expired, and this means that the Light Blues could sign him for nothing this summer.

Rangers want to sign De Jong, as well as Coady, to bring leadership and experience to the squad, but the 34-year-old star would also bring quality and could be the perfect striker for Gassama.

Why Luuk De Jong would be perfect for Djeidi Gassama

The former Barcelona marksman would be the perfect centre-forward for Gassama for multiple reasons, not least because he is a prolific goalscorer.

De Jong scored at least 18 goals in each of the last three seasons for PSV, scoring 18 in the 2022/23 campaign, 38 in the 2023/24 season, and 18 last term, showing that he has not slowed down in front of goal despite his age.

This suggests that he has the goalscoring pedigree and knack for finding the back of the net to make the most of the creativity that Gassama has the potential to provide on the left flank.

De Jong could, therefore, be a dream number nine for the French winger because his goalscoring quality in the final third could result in the former Sheffield Wednesday man racking up way more than one assist next season.

As aforementioned, though, Gassama is also a winger who has the quality to provide goals on a fairly regular basis from the left flank, as shown by his seven-goal haul in the Championship last season.

De Jong would also be perfect for the ex-Paris Saint-Germain youngster in that respect because he is a number nine who has the ability to consistently create high-quality chances for his teammates.

As you can see in the table above, the Dutchman racked up 23 assists in the last two Eredivisie seasons with PSV, which shows that he has the potential to provide Gassama with plenty of chances to find the back of the net.

Whereas, Dessers, for example, has only assisted six goals in 70 matches in the Scottish Premiership for Rangers in the last two seasons, since his move to the club from Cremonese in 2023.

De Jong, who was described as an “exemplary” professional by Xavi during his time at Barcelona, is a complete number nine who offers experience, goals, and assists.

This is why he could be the perfect signing for Rangers, as they look for quality and leadership, as well as being the perfect signing for Gassama, who would have a striker to finish the chances he creates as well as a forward who can create chances for him to score.

Creates room for Rak-Sakyi: Rangers want to sell Dowell & "blistering" flop

Rangers can create space for Jesurun Rak-Sakyi as they look to sell several first-team players.

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Dan Emery

Jul 17, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

كشف وليد الترهوني المدير الرياضي لنادي السويحلي الليبي، حقيقة التعاقد مع ثنائي الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بالنادي الأهلي.

وقال وليد الترهوني في تصريحات عبر قناة “أم بي سي مصر” عن وجود مفاوضات مع الأهلي بشأن ضم كهربا: “نعم كلام صحيح، هناك بعض الاتصالات، لكن لا يوجد أي شيء رسمي حتى الآن ولا يوجد تواصل مع الإدارة، لكن كهربا لاعب كبير ونتمنى أن يكون معنا”.

وأضاف: “نحن بعد أن رأينا الكابتن محمود علاء واحترافيته وطريقة لعبه، قررنا التوجه للسوق المصري واللاعب المصري، ولا أعتقد أنه سيكون قرارا خاطئا، لكن حتى الآن لم نتواصل مع الأهلي، التواصل مع وكلاء اللاعب”.

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وبسؤاله هل هناك ترحيب من كهربا للعب في السويحلي؟ أجاب: “الترحيب موجود واللاعب لم يرفض الفكرة، وأعتقد أن النادي عنده الإمكانيات أن يستقبل النجوم الكبار في السنوات القادمة، واللاعب رحب لكننا لم نتواصل معه شخصيًا بل من خلال وكلائه”.

وبسؤاله، هل ترغبون في ضم كهربا على سبيل الإعارة أم البيع النهائي؟ أوضح: “لم نصل لهذه المرحلة، نحن في مرحلة جس النبض، ممكن غدًا أو بعد غد نتواصل مع الأهلي”.

وواصل: “الأهلي ناد كبير ولن نأخذ أي خطوة إلا بعد موافقته لأن اللاعب عنده عقد مع النادي، وإن شاء الله ربنا يوفقنا في يناير”.

هل هناك رغبة في ضم عمرو السولية؟ أتم: “كنا في مفاوضات رسمية معه قبل ذلك ولكن العقد لم يكتمل، وتعاقدنا مع لاعب وسط، ونحن الآن تركيزنا على ضم لاعب جناح ومهاجم”.

سجل لامين يامال الهدف الثاني لفريق كرة القدم الأول بنادي برشلونة، في شباك أتلتيك بلباو، بنصف نهائي بطولة كأس السوبر الإسباني.

لامين يامال سجل الهدف الثاني ليضاعف النتيجة بعد أن تقدم جافي، بملعب الجوهرة المشعة بمدينة جدة في المملكة العربية السعودية.

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هدف برشلونة جاء بعد تمريرة رائعة من جافي صاحب الهدف الأول، لينفرد لامين يامال بمرمى أوناي سيمون، ويهز شباك زميله في المنتخب الإسباني عند الدقيقة 52.

وإذا استمرت النتيجة هكذا حتى نهاية المباراة، سيتأهل برشلونة إلى النهائي، في انتظار الفائز غدًا من مواجهة ريال مدريد وريال مايوركا. هدف لامين يامال في مباراة برشلونة وأتلتيك بلباو بـ كأس السوبر الإسباني

رد نادي آينتراخت فرانكفورت، على لسان المدير الرياضي ماركوس كروش، على التقارير الصحفية التي تشير إلى اقتراب النجم المصري عمر مرموش من الانتقال إلى صفوف مانشستر سيتي.

ويقدم مرموش أداءً مذهلًا مع فرانكفورت في الموسم الحالي، حيث سجل 18 هدفًا وصنع 12 في مختلف المسابقات.

ونجح مرموش في جذب انتباه كبار أندية أوروبا، على رأسهم ليفربول، آرسنال، مانشستر يونايتد وبرشلونة.

في حين ظهرت تقارير صحفية، على مدار الأيام الماضية، تفيد رغبة مانشستر سيتي في الحصول على خدمات عمر مرموش.

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وتتضارب التقارير بين إمكانية إتمام صفقة انتقال مرموش إلى بطل الدوري الإنجليزي هذا الشهر، أو عند نهاية الموسم خلال موسم الانتقالات الصيفي.

من جانبه، رد ماركوس كروش على تلك التقارير حيث قال في تصريحات نشرتها “كيكر” الألمانية: “لم يكن لدينا أي اتصال حتى الآن (من جانب مانشستر سيتي)، لم نتلق أي عرض أو استفسار”.

وأضاف: “لقد قلنا بوضوح شديد أن لدينا هدف الدخول في النصف الثاني من الموسم مع فريقنا كما هو، وهذا لا يزال هو الهدف، ولهذا السبب سيلعب عمر أيضًا أمام سانت باولي”.

وواصل: “هدفنا الأساسي كما هو الحفاظ على الفريق معًا وتحقيق أهدافنا الرياضية”.

واتفق في ذلك العضو الآخر في الإدارة الرياضية لنادي فرانكفورت، تيمو هاردونج، الذي قال في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “hessenschau” الألمانية: “لقد سمعت القليل (عن تقارير توقيع مرموش على عقد انتقاله إلى مانشستر سيتي)، نشر هذه التقارير على وجه التحديد كانت أمرًا جديدًا بالنسبة لي”.

واسترسل: “لا أعرف النادي الذي وقع معه مانشستر هذا العقد، لم يكن معنا (يقصد أنه لم يكن هناك أي عرض أو تواصل بين الناديين)، مرموش هنا تمامًا”.

تمكن نجم فريق آينتراخت فرانكفورت، عمر مرموش، من تسجيل هدف التقدم في المباراة الجارية حاليًا ضد نظيره فريق فرايبورج في بطولة الدوري الألماني.

ويلتقي الفريقان في الوقت الحالي في إطار منافسات الجولة السابعة عشر من الدوري الألماني، 2024/25.

ونجح آينتراخت فرانكفورت في تسجيل الهدف الثاني في شباك فرايبورج، في الدقيقة 66، عن طريق النجم عمر مرموش.

الهدف جاء بعد تسديدة من مرموش، اصطدمت بالدفاع وارتدت من جديد، لتصل إليه، واستغلها هذه المرة بنجاح وصوبها ناحية المرمى، لتسكن الشباك تحت يد الحارس. هدف عمر مرموش في مباراة فرانكفورت وفرايبورج

وتشير النتيجة في الوقت الحالي إلى تقدم فرانكفورت بهدفين مقابل هدف، حيث صنع مرموش هدف التعادل لفريقه.

دافع محمد أبو تريكة، أسطورة النادي الأهلي والكرة المصرية، عن زميله السابق في منتخب مصر ونجم ليفربول الحالي، محمد صلاح، وذلك في ظل الأزمة التي يعيشها ابن الـ33 عامًا مع الريدز.

ودخل محمد صلاح في أزمة مع ليفربول في ظل جلوسه المستمر كبديل، وأطلق اللاعب تصريحات عدائية تجاه إدارة النادي الإنجليزي وتجاه المدرب آرني سلوت.

وتم استبعاد محمد صلاح من قائمة ليفربول لمباراة إنتر ميلان يوم الثلاثاء الماضي في دوري أبطال أوروبا، قبل أن يعود ليكون على دكة البدلاء في لقاء اليوم ضد برايتون بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويرى أبو تريكة في تصريحات عبر إستوديو بي إن سبورتس، أن محمد صلاح من بين أفضل خمسة لاعبين في الدوري الإنجليزي، مؤكدا أنه أفضل لاعب في ليفربول خلال العشر سنوات الأخيرة، لذلك يجب أن يكون التعامل معه مختلفًا.

وقال إبو تريكة: ”محمد صلاح وضع لنفسه معايير مرتفعة خلال الـ8 مواسم التي أمضاها مع ليفربول، لا يوجد لاعب في الريدز في حالته، حالة جميع اللاعبين سيئة”.

وأضاف أبو تريكة: ”محمد صلاح أفضل لاعب في ليفربول خلال السنوات العشر الأخيرة ومن أفضل خمسة لاعبين في تاريخ الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز، لذلك يجب أن يكون التعامل معه مختلفًا مثل التعامل مع أي نجم، سلوت لم يفعل ذلك ولن ألوم عليه لأنه لا يمتلك تلك الميزة”.

وأوضح: ”سلوت جعلني أشعر وكأنه يتعامل مع أراوخو، محمد صلاح نجم كبير ويجب أن يكون التعامل معه مختلف، لكن سلوت شخص مصاب بالزهايمر وناكر للجميل ولم يتوقع محمد صلاح حدوث ذلك”.

وأردف أبو تريكة في حديثه: ”كان لدي وجهة نظر عن سلوت، حيث كان يحبه محمد صلاح كثيرًا ومدحه في أكثر من مناسبة خصوصًا بعد فوز ليفربول بالدوري الإنجليزي الموسم الماضي، لكن كل شيء تغير هذا الموسم”.

وتابع: ”يجب أن يكون التعامل مختلفًا مع النجم عندما ينخفض مستواه، حدث ما حدث وجلس محمد صلاح على دكة البدلاء في ثلاث أو أربعة مباريات، كان يجب على سلوت حل المشكلة وإشراكه أساسيًا أمام برايتون لكي تنتهي المشكلة”.

وواصل: ”سلوت ضعيف الشخصية، وعندما أتيحت له فرصة إلقاء كلمته على نجوم الفريق فعل ذلك فورًا، أي مدرب لديه ثقة في نفسه كان سيشرك محمد صلاح قبل بطولة كأس الأمم الإفريقية”.

واستكمل: ”محمد صلاح افتعل مشكلة مع يورجن كلوب خلال مباراة ليفربول ووست هام، وفي المباراة التي تليها لعب بشكل أساسي، لأن كلوب اسم كبير في عالم التدريب، بينما يسعى سلوت لإثبات قوته وإرسال رسالة مضمونها أنه الرجل الأول في غرفة ملابس الفريق”.

وقال: ”ما فعله سلوت خاطئ تمامًا، كان عليه التعامل بشكل طبيعي مع محمد صلاح وفي حال حدث خطأ فكان سيكون خطأ كلا الطرفين، وفي النهاية كان يجب أن يدفع به سلوت في التشكيل الأساسي فورًا”.

وأضاف أبو تريكة في تصريحاته: ”هذه أسوأ بداية لحامل لقب في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بعد ليستر سيتي، الفريق يعاني من مشكلة واضحة في استقبال الأهداف من الكرات الثابتة، توجد مشكلة لدى ليفربول في كل مراحل اللعب”.

أقرأ أيضًا .. جونسون يكشف عن حديثه مع لاعبي ليفربول بشأن محمد صلاح.. ويؤكد: “مو” سيندم على هذا القرار

وأوضح: ”محمد صلاح لا يتحمل كل هذه المشاكل في ليفربول، بينما توجد مشكلة لدى الإعلام الإنجليزي مع اللاعب”.

وأردف أو تريكة: ”الإعلام الإنجليزي يشعر بالغيرة من محمد صلاح، لأنه لاعب مصري ومسلم حطم كل الأرقام القياسية على مدار 8 مواسم، حالة محمد صلاح استثنائية، ويوجد تربص واضح له”.

وتابع: ”محمد صلاح شعر بالضغط عليه من أجل أن يغادر ليفربول، المشكلة ليست في سلوت وحده وإنما هي مشكلة نادي مع لاعبه”.

وقال أبو تريكة في حديثه عن محمد صلاح: ”يجب أن تتحدث إدارة ليفربول مع محمد صلاح وليس سلوت من أجل أن يزول هذا الإحساس، بينما يريد صلاح إكمال بقية عقده ولا يريد الرحيل”.

واختتم أبو تريكة: ”كانت اليوم فرصة لسلوت من أجل غلق ملف محمد صلاح ، بينما ستظهر اليوم وسائل الإعلام وهي مركزة على اللاعب وهو غاضب على دكة البدلاء وهو أمر طبيعي”.

Cricinfo assess the performance of the England players after their 2-0 series victory against New Zealand

Andrew Miller09-Jun-2008England were expected to win this series, and win it well, and in the end they did. But it was by no means as easy as the 2-0 scoreline suggests. A series of outstanding personal performances at Old Trafford and Trent Bridge masked long periods of mediocrity. Cricinfo runs the rule over the 11 men who took part:

Andrew Strauss – 8
It’s hard to believe the Strauss we’ve just witnessed is the same Strauss who was battling for his Test career only three months ago in New Zealand. The fretfulness that characterised his game on that trip has been buried beneath the Napier outfield, and instead he is back to his compact, thoughtful and fluster-free best. During his Old Trafford masterclass, he forced New Zealand to feed him runs on the leg-side by declining any temptation outside off – an approach that echoed his remarkable debut season in 2004 and demonstrated a renewed self-assurance. He suffered a slight relapse at Trent Bridge, where he chased a wide half-volley after lunch to trigger England’s first-innings collapse, but his Player of the Series accolade was richly justified.James Anderson – 8

England fast bowlers with a “-son” suffix are an infuriating phenomenon, but they don’t half impress when they get in the mood. England lost patience with Steve Harmison after his Hamilton no-show in March, and since then James Anderson has taken over that enigmatic role with incredible success. When he pitches up to the blockhole, the natural whip in his action causes the ball to perform tricks that the bowler himself struggles to understand. None of the New Zealanders had any answer, that’s for sure. The pair of pearling outswingers that detonated the stumps of both Aaron Redmond and Brendon McCullum were collector’s items, and set Anderson on his way to the best match and innings figures of a mercurial career.Ryan Sidebottom – 8

What a year Sidebottom is having. Twenty-four wickets at 17.08 in New Zealand; and now 17 more at 20.47 in the first series of the home summer. Last year he was arguably the unluckiest bowler in the world game, with dropped catches ruining his figures against India and Sri Lanka, but now he’s picking up wickets on reputation as well as skill. By his own admission he was off the pace at times in this series, not least on the opening day at Lord’s, but New Zealand’s batsmen were in such a funk whenever his unruly barnet bounced up to the wicket, he still harvested a bagful. His 6 for 67 in the final innings of the series was his fifth five-wicket haul since his recall last summer. He is firmly ensconced as the leader of England’s attack.Michael Vaughan – 7

Two series wins in a row, and Vaughan is the daddy once again. His authority was being questioned after a lean winter in Sri Lanka and New Zealand, but the captain silenced the doubters with a determined hundred at Lord’s, then followed that up with a vital and imposing 48 as England turned the tables at Old Trafford and chased 294 for victory. His strokeplay was as sublime as ever, even if his shot selection went awry at times, but as a leader you can sense he’s finding his level with his new charges. His marshalling of his troops at Trent Bridge was spot on – he backed his bowlers with attacking fields, and showed the same nous for a timely bowling change that was his hallmark in 2004-05. South Africa will be his biggest test since his return to the side last summer, but there’s no doubt he’s ready for it.Stuart Broad – 7

A series that began amid talk of Andrew Flintoff’s comeback ended with the arrival of another serious allround cricketer. Broad’s rich promise had been plain to anyone who witnessed the Napier Test in March, when he took vital wickets and scored vital runs in all four innings of the match, but this was a first chance for the English public to watch a man who has already attracted rave reviews from the former coach, Duncan Fletcher. In truth, Broad’s bowling was a touch disappointing. He wasn’t left much to do given the success of his new-ball colleagues, but he’d have hoped for better than seven wickets at 43.57. His batting, on the other hand, was composed, technically impeccable, and above all ballsy. He reignited England’s flatlining performance at Old Trafford with a crucial first-innings 30, then put the boot in at Trent Bridge with a maiden half-century that broke New Zealand’s resolve. He’s only 22, and he’ll only get better.

Monty Panesar – 7

This was a one-spell series for Monty, but what a spell. On Sunday morning at Old Trafford, England were staring at humiliation. They’d limped past the follow-on having succumbed for 202 to Daniel Vettori, but when New Zealand reached 85 for 2 in their second innings, their lead was 261 and there was surely no way back. Enter Monty, with a performance that irrevocably transformed the dynamics of the series. His career-best figures of 6 for 37 included 5 for 10 in nine overs, as New Zealand’s last seven wickets tumbled for 29. The haul included his 100th in Tests, from only 28 matches, and the fact that he was unable to add to that tally at Trent Bridge was a testament to his team-mates rather than any shortcoming on his part.Kevin Pietersen – 7

Started slowly when Daniel Vettori pinned him for 3 at Lord’s, but finished with aplomb, with his second vital century in four Tests against New Zealand – it was Napier revisited when Pietersen faced up to England’s post-lunch scoreline of 86 for 5, but then as now he responded with a calculating counterattack and a superbly paced century. His celebrations on reaching three figures were a neat insight into his mindset – at Napier he produced little more than a sheepish bat-wave, but at Trent Bridge he was back to full-frontal bombast. The message is clear – KP is back in the mood, and with his favourite opponents, South Africa, awaiting, the timing could not be better for England.Tim Ambrose – 6

Blameless with the gloves, but took a while to get going with the bat after three runs in the first two Tests at Lord’s and Old Trafford. Made impressive amends in partnership with Pietersen at Trent Bridge, however, where he revived memories of his series-changing century at Wellington in March. New Zealand seemed to have got his measure after that game, as they pitched up by an extra half a yard to compensate for his diminutive frame and restricted him to 50 runs in his next five innings, but they lost their discipline during a crucial 161-run stand for the sixth wicket. In the long term, Ambrose still faces a fierce challenge from his former Sussex team-mate, Matt Prior, but at least he enters his one-day debut flushed with renewed confidence.Alastair Cook – 5

It’s been a quiet year so far for Cook. His highest score in home and away campaigns against New Zealand was a mere 61 at Lord’s, which is the first time in his young career he’s gone consecutive series without a century. New Zealand’s seamers are, in Michael Vaughan’s memorable estimation, no more than “workmanlike”, but their diligence in the channel outside off stump was sufficient to reawaken some familiar troubles for Cook – that gap between bat and pad led to his dismissal in each of his last two innings. He and Strauss did at least prove they can work together as a partnership with their maiden century stand, at Lord’s, but the younger partner is the one with the form worries at present.Ian Bell – 3

It’s getting a bit monotonous to criticise a player who, over the past four years, has averaged a healthy 41.79 from 39 Tests, with seven centuries and more than 2500 runs, but Bell’s anonymity when the heat is truly on is becoming more than just a coincidence. England’s top six has been under scrutiny from the first ball of the Lord’s Test, and while three of the top four have responded with centuries, the man at No. 5 has mustered 45 runs in four innings. He and his fellow struggler, Paul Collingwood, steered England over the finish line in tense circumstances at Old Trafford, but his three-ball abomination at Trent Bridge was a truer reflection of his foggy gameplan – England were in the throes of a post-lunch wobble at 85 for 3, when Bell exacerbated them by playing around a straight ball from Iain O’Brien and falling lbw for a duck. His talent is unquestioned, and England’s current winning streak means he’s sure to be retained. But England need him to be more than just a pretty bit-part player.Paul Collingwood – 3

Collingwood’s returns were even worse than Bell’s – 30 runs in four innings, including that single unbeaten innings at Old Trafford. His problem, however, has never been one of temperament – he’s dug England out of far too many holes for that to be called into question. He’s simply suffering from a shocking run of poor form. He entered the series with concerns about his long-term fitness after a second cortisone injection in his shoulder, and who knows how that has been weighing on his mind? There’s little time to dwell on his woes, however, because as England’s one-day captain, he’ll need to pick himself up ahead of the Twenty20 international at Old Trafford next week.