Tag Futebol

Surrey opener heard of call-up after interrupted phonecall to selector Ed Smith at windy Taunton

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Sep-20182:09

Burns’ consistency across seasons merited Test elevation – Ed Smith

Rory Burns believes he has enough “clarity in his method” to translate his prolific form for Surrey in the County Championship into a potential Test debut on the spinning wickets of Sri Lanka, after being named in his first England Test squad at the age of 28.Burns, who is back in action for Surrey at The Oval, has led the county to their first Championship title since 2002 with a formidable haul of 1319 runs at 69.42 in 13 matches, which is almost 400 runs more than his nearest challenger, Somerset’s James Hildreth.It has been the fifth season in succession that Burns has passed 1000 runs in Championship cricket, and speaking on Friday after confirming his call-up, England’s national selector Ed Smith said that he had impressed everyone with his consistency.”For me personally, it’s been a lot of hard work,” Burns told Sky Sports ahead of Surrey’s match against Essex. “I’ve tried to let my bat do the talking and churn out runs, and it’s satisfying to get the nod in the end and get the opportunity.”I’ve obviously got five seasons of backing in my own head. I’ve got some self-belief, so you’ve got to trust your method and trust the processes that you go through.”Burns heard the news while down at Taunton on Friday, where Surrey’s quest for a tenth consecutive Championship victory was curtailed by high winds. And that adverse weather may have been a factor in his slightly disjointed phonecall.”Ed Smith rung me last week after the Somerset game, but it actually cut out halfway through,” Burns said. “He started to tell me I’d got the nod, but it cut out so I had to run outside quickly and find some phone signal, and give him a call back.”The message got through in the end, however, and if selected for the first Test in Galle on November 6, Burns will be stepping into the shoes of none other than Alastair Cook, England’s all-time leading run-scorer who retired at The Oval earlier this month following a record run of 159 consecutive appearances.”I don’t think it’s [extra pressure], I think it’s exciting,” Burns said. “You probably can’t say enough about Alastair’s career – well I can’t, because I don’t think I’m as good as him at the minute. But it’ll be an exciting time and I hope I get an opportunity to do it.”Despite his success on home soil, Burns is under no illusions about what will await him in Sri Lanka, especially after speaking to his Surrey team-mate Dean Elgar, who toured the country with Sri Lanka back in July and August.Rory Burns and Dean Elgar plot a good day for Surrey•Getty Images

“I’m a decent player of spin, I’ve got a few options that I try to work my way through, but [Elgar’s] just got back from Sri Lanka, and said he didn’t face a ball of seam,” said Burns. “So it’ll be trial by spin and it’ll be interesting to see how I’ll go.”I think it’s about clarity in your method,” he added. “You need to understand what you do well, what your options are at certain times. It’s no different from going from seam to spin, there are different methods to both and you’ve got to cycle through them.”Burns’ batting technique, much like the man he is replacing, is best described as functional rather than beautiful. His backside sticks out to square leg, and he has a habit of looking towards mid-on before each delivery. But there’s no arguing with his body of work in recent seasons.”My method is slightly unorthodox,” Burns admitted. “There’s some nuances to it, let’s put it that way. I got told I was left-eye dominant, so [looking to mid-on] is about me trying to get my left eye on the ball as much as I can. Then it almost became a rhythm thing in terms of little routines at the crease. That’s how that came about.”Burns’ England call-up caps a remarkable year for a player who has only just taken up the reins at Surrey, the County Champions-elect.”You set out at the start of the season to try to win some trophies, we managed to get the biggest one, and then to get the call-up has been pretty special,” he said. “I am fortunate to come off the back of Gareth Batty and the way he stabilised the club in his tenure, so to win it is a special feeling.”We’ve done it with a group of young Surrey lads, a lot of guys in the system that we’ve played with a lot of the way up, through age groups and the academy.”From a playing side of things, we are backing youth, backing guys coming through the system and complementing that with some very good experienced cricketers around them, and off the pitch we seem to be getting people through the gate and making some money.”When we won [the title] at Worcester, most of the boys started celebrating but I was already thinking about next year and trying to do better. Hopefully this will be the first year of many years of success, but a lot of hard work has gone into winning it this year. We’ve got to recognise that, and try to reproduce it next year.”

Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale and Detroit Tigers lefty Tarik Skubal each won their first Cy Young award on Wednesday night but they weren't the only pitchers getting votes. Five different pitchers garnered exactly one vote from members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America.

Each voting media member ranks their top five pitchers in each league. First-place votes are worth seven points, second are worth four, third are worth three, fourth are worth two points and fifth place votes are worth one.

Sale won the National League Cy Young with 198 points after getting 26 first-place votes and four second-place votes.

There were 13 NL pitchers to receive points and three that garnered a single vote as each received one point. Braves righty Reynaldo Lopez, New York Mets lefty Sean Manaea, and Philadelphia Phillies righty Aaron Nola all earned a single fifth-place vote.

Skubal got all 30 first-place votes to win the American League Cy Young unanimously with 210 points.

In the American League, nine players earned points, and two received a single vote. Texas Rangers closer Kirby Yates earned one fourth-place vote for two points, while Houston Astros starter Yusei Kikuchi earned one point for a single fifth-place vote.

At 46, the ageless wonder leggie still has what it takes in T20. He talks about his success with Guyana and what keeps him ticking

Interview by Deivarayan Muthu11-Aug-20252:53

‘I know how to respect my team members and that’s most important’

Imran Tahir turned 46 this March but continues his Benjamin Button act in T20 tournaments around the world. In 2023 he led Guyana Amazon Warriors to their maiden CPL title and two years later he captained them to their first Global Super League title. Since turning 40, he has bagged 266 wickets at an economy rate of 6.86 in T20s. Only Rashid Khan, Haris Rauf, Chris Jordan, Wanindu Hasaranga and Shaheen Afridi have taken more wickets than Tahir during this period. The T20 veteran spoke to us during the GSL this July about his cult status in Guyana, captaincy style, Amazon Warriors’ spin depth, and his ambitions for the upcoming CPL season.You have played for a whole lot of T20 teams around the world but you keep coming back to Guyana. You’re the only overseas player with more than 100 CPL wickets. What’s it like to be a cult hero in Guyana?
Look, it’s very special. The team gives me all the confidence and still believes in my ability. The people of Guyana really respect and give me a lot of love, and I think that’s where you want to be. With that kind of love you always want to come back and play for the same badge, and you just want to be here every year.I think I need to do a lot of extra gym work to be here every year (). But as long as I’m doing well for the team and what they require from me, if I justify it, then , I can keep coming back to Guyana.Related

Tahir, Hope and Hetmyer combine to make it two in two for Amazon Warriors

Bravo bros' reunion, ageless wonders, and more: everything you need to know about CPL 2025

Straight from the wrist (2015)

Imran Tahir or Rashid Khan: who has been more impactful in T20s over the last year? (2020)

'That was the turning point of the game' – Tahir toasts 100th CPL wicket

You turned 46 this year but you keep finding ways to take wickets and win games. How do you manage your body and mind in this fast-paced T20 world?
Yeah, look, it’s tough. But I’m a bit lucky now because I have more time to do training than [having to] keep playing. I think that gives me a bit more benefit – I look after myself well, eat well and try to sleep on time and just be loyal to my job. Then when I get to play, I know I can give my 100% to my team.You had a great GSL, where you led from the front. How has the build-up been, leading into CPL 2025?
Last year it was a bit of a rush. We jumped out of a flight and started playing GSL. So I felt like this year we should get together and have a camp and see how we can improve as a team. All of us, [including] guys coming from overseas, worked very hard and looked to improve on a few things and it paid off for us.Red and green spell go for Tahir: Guyana is home for him, the Pakistan-born leggie says•CPL T20/ Getty ImagesI hope we can carry this form into the CPL, where we also have a couple of youngsters who are not part of the GSL with us. But we picked them for the CPL, and they were there for the training camp, and I’m sure they’ve had a good experience with the senior players before they get to play the CPL. All in all, it was a good effort from the franchise to get everyone together and build this team for the GSL and CPL.In 2023, Warriors won their first CPL title under your leadership, and they came close to defending it successfully last season. How would you describe yourself as a captain?
Yeah, look, I’ve only been given one opportunity in my life as a captain. I just feel like I don’t have to prove anything to anyone about my captaincy or skills. I use my experience during captaincy, and I know how to respect my team-mates. I think that’s the most important thing in a team environment.When you’re happy for each other, play for each other and respect the team culture [success follows]. I’d rather be a player, but whether I play as a captain or player, I want everyone in the team to be happy and respected. That’s what I try to do in this team, and hopefully [as long as] I have this responsibility, I want to share my experience with the players and make sure the youngsters, if they want to learn something, I can try and help them through our senior players.Like we have some really good local players in our squad. Romario Shepherd, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul have been with the franchise for a long time, and to have them around, I’m sure it’s a great learning experience for the youngsters. And like I said, if there’s any spinners, even batters or bowlers with whom I can share my experience, I want to help them. I feel that’s my job as a captain.Over the years you have been mentoring spinners in leagues around the world. Is that something you enjoy?
Yeah, I think so. I don’t do it for the camera. I just like to share my knowledge. I think not many shared their knowledge with me when I was younger, and that was a bit of a sad part. But if you want to be a professional cricketer and you want to achieve your dreams, then you have to work hard and keep learning and that’s what my belief is.Tahir and Gudakesh Motie celebrate a wicket in the 2023 CPL final, which gave Guyana Amazon Warriors their first title in the tournament•Ashley Allen/CPL T20/Getty ImagesI don’t want youngsters to go through [what I did]. I want them to know what a slider, googly and flipper is. I’d rather want them to know it at the age of 15. Then they can serve their country or franchise in a better way than I did because I came to international cricket very late and showed my skills late in my career. I’m still trying to improve.So from my point of view, wherever I go, I just want to share my knowledge and pass it on to the youngsters. I do like to talk about legspin bowling and see how the other spinners think about the game and how my thinking is. So it’s always nice to talk about the game and share my knowledge. When I do that, I feel good deep in my heart.You were a pioneer as a wristspinner in T20 cricket, bowling flat and quick and getting your googlies to zip. How do you think your bowling has changed as T20 has evolved?
You always want to keep learning. It doesn’t matter how good you are; you always learn about the game every single day, and that’s what the game has taught me throughout my career. Spinners play a big role in modern T20 cricket these days and you need to keep improving your skills.Apart from legspinners, even left-arm spinners and offspinners have high skill levels these days. You have to work hard to be successful in the international arena because you know the batsmen are waiting for any [mistake]. If you see a slow ball [flighted] in the air, they want to hit, and the batsmen have got so many shots these days. So, as a spinner, I always want to keep improving.The googly and the flipper have brought you a lot of wickets. Have you explored any new variations?
Yeah, there are a few, but you’ll only get to see it on TV. I’m not the kind of guy who would talk about it in interviews and put it [the thought] in people’s head (). But yes, I’m still working on a couple of things and hopefully I can be able to bowl those balls in the future.ESPNcricinfo LtdAmazon Warriors have almost every variety of spin in their attack. What do you make of the spin depth?
It’s a blessing for Guyana that we have so many spinners when we come up against left-right hand [batter pairs]. [Gudakesh] Motie is very good, and our local core is very good. We’ve also got Moeen [Ali].Motie has become a world-class spinner. Having these spinners helps. You see different batsmen coming with different plans and you can just throw the ball to any of these spinners who can challenge any batsman. Trying to get wickets as quick as we can is our plan, so we try to keep putting pressure on the opposition and make sure we demolish their batting plans – whatever they come up with.You touched upon Moeen, another senior figure in the side. You also played with him at the SA20. What does he bring to Amazon Warriors?
Moeen is another great spinner and batter, who brings a lot of experience. His record speaks for itself. To have someone like him in the team is only going to benefit you. He also shares his experience with youngsters and other team-mates. He’s really committed and we’re lucky to have him in our squad. We’re hoping he will have a good time again in Guyana.Does having a spin-friendly home pitch empower you to be more attacking as the lead spinner?
Look, the spinners we have, they have performed all over the world. If the ball turns for us, it’s also turning for the opposition. It just means we’re using the facility better than the others. So I don’t like it when people say, “Oh, Guyana turns” and stuff like that.Yes, it turns, but for both teams, and we need to use our variations. So we try and upgrade our skills. That’s what we do here in Guyana. Myself, Motie and Moeen – all of us have picked up wickets on some of the flattest decks in the world. The most important thing for us is the combination of the team and we try to break partnerships and batting plans with that combination. So far we’ve been successful and hopefully we can carry this form into the CPL.The bane of T20 batters everywhere: Tahir trots out his Victor Gyökeres celebration•GSL/Getty ImagesThe CPL is known for its funky celebrations. Your sprint is perhaps the OG one, but what’s the story behind doing Ronaldo’s “Siuuu” and Victor Gyökeres’ celebrations recently?
I have to because my son [who is travelling with Tahir], he asked me to do it (). The celebrations are purely for him. He just loves football. I actually don’t know the guy [Gyökeres’] who does this celebration, but I know he’s a footballer. But look, it’s nice, I want to put a smile on my son’s face and hopefully a smile on the faces of other people as well, if they like it.You’ve been there and done that in international cricket and every T20 league around the world. At 46, how do you remain so passionate about the game?
I’m the kind of guy who got [success] very late. And when you have a dream to be on the stage where I’m now, I think I just don’t feel like letting it go. I want to live the dream [as long as] I keep playing. If I’m playing, I want to give whatever I have to my team, and that obviously comes through passion. If you don’t have passion for anything, you won’t be successful in life.At the SA20 and even in the GSL, you were throwing yourself around in the field and there was a spectacular grab in the eliminator at the 2024 SA20. How proud are you of such fielding efforts?
I have to do extra work on my fielding and thanks to all the practice sessions with our coaches, the energy and the focus they gave… they gave me a lot of confidence. I take a lot of pride in my fielding, and I feel like if I can take one or two catches, I can change the game. That gives me bigger joy, but I think some people might have been more shocked than appreciative of my catches (). But no, generally a lot of people still appreciate such catches.What are your ambitions heading into CPL 2025?
Yeah, the team and the combination looks really good. It’s all about how we start the competition and that’s the most important thing. Going into the competition, the first few games are important and the GSL [success] will help a lot. We’ve been playing a good brand of cricket in the GSL and I believe that will set the standard for us in the CPL.We just need to stick together and before the tournament starts, we will have a camp for a few days. Things have been looking good so far. The only thing we can do is work hard and give it back to our fans in Guyana.

UK visa policy and the ECB’s restrictions on Associate players forced him to give up an economics degree and forego a place in Middlesex’s first XI, but Anshuman Rath, Hong Kong captain at just 20, has still done pretty well for himself

Shashank Kishore in Dubai16-Sep-2018Last month, during a preparatory tour in Malaysia ahead of the Asia Cup Qualifiers, Anshuman Rath heard a knock on his door late at night. It was Babar Hayat, Hong Kong’s batting lynchpin, who said he wanted to give up captaincy. The team needed a new leader, and Hayat wanted to convey the news to his vice-captain.Rath, all of 20, had been long earmarked for a leadership role, and had taken over the vice-captaincy from Aizaz Khan in September 2017. He accepted the challenge immediately, and left his first imprint as captain when he led Hong Kong to a thrilling win over UAE in the final of the Asia Cup Qualifiers to seal a place in the tournament proper.The spontaneity of the decision surprised many in Hong Kong, but for Rath it was a challenge he simply couldn’t let go of, especially since he had shelved an economics degree in the UK after being told he had to choose between studies and cricket because of visa restrictions.”Whenever I make a decision, I weigh the negatives with the positives,” Rath tells ESPNcricinfo. “This [putting his degree on hold] was a big one, as big as moving to England and doing boarding school at 14. Continuing university there when my future was unclear would’ve been a wrong step. I wouldn’t have been able to manage time. I’d have had to pay for the full year at college, would I have been able to attend? I didn’t think so.”Rath moved to the UK for boarding school – the famous Harrow School – as a 14-year-old in 2011 and emerged as one of the most promising pathway cricketers alongside future England players Sam Curran and Ollie Pope. He was a regular in Middlesex’s second XI and consistently made runs for four seasons, doing so well that Angus Fraser, the director of cricket at the county, spoke to to the ECB last year and presented a case for Rath to be considered for the first XI. However, the ECB’s restrictions on players from Associate countries meant the plan didn’t materialise.”I was at university and I’d just finished a second-team game for Middlesex. I’d just hit 140 not out against Kent, and I got called in to the office next day at Lord’s,” Rath remembers. “Throughout the entire winter, I had discussions with Angus Fraser about contracts. They felt I was first XI material and talks were going forward in the summer of 2017. Then I had a busy winter with Hong Kong. While he said there were a few visa discrepancies, they were confident of sorting it out.”Then I get a call the day after the Kent game. I go into the office and I sit down, I’m fairly excited because in my mind I’m thinking ‘This is where I put pen and paper down and everything’s going to be official. I love playing for Middlesex and everything’s going to be good.’ But Gus (Fraser) sat me down and said they can’t sign me for visa reasons. I can’t remember what he said after that, because everything was a blur.”I went back to university and sat still for two hours thinking if it really happened. Then I played club cricket the next day, but again I got a call from Angus Fraser telling me I can’t play club cricket too. It was a tough pill to swallow, but I can’t thank Middlesex enough for the effort they put in to try and fix it. They backed me 100% through all this. They still want to sign me, but unfortunately the way Brexit and the immigration office operate, I don’t think it is likely to happen, but you never know. Maybe the ECB will relax their rules, but for now, I’m just holding my breath.”Rath thought about it for a while, met his professors to tell them he was putting his degree on hold, and returned to England with a sportsperson’s visa to play for the Brondesbury Cricket Club, a deal facilitated by Fraser who wasn’t going to give up. “I spoke to Angus over the winter, and he wanted to me to come over and play club cricket for one of the Middlesex premier league clubs, which meant I had to change my visa status,” Rath says. “Sportsman visa doesn’t entitle me to play county cricket because of the Associate tag, but it enables me to play club cricket, so I gave up my rights as a student.”Giving up those rights wasn’t easy. Rath had to work hard to convince his parents. “There were some heated discussions, I’m not going to lie,” he says. “They acknowledge that when I was younger, academics and cricket was always together. When I started to go on more tours with Hong Kong, and started doing well, academics had to take a back seat.”They realised it wasn’t practical to miss so much university by going on these tours and just write exams, it’s near to impossible. Their mentality of being ‘typical Indian parents’, they didn’t see a reason at first, but came around to it once they saw the real picture. We concluded at the end of the day that if my future is not in the UK, my academics will have to go where my cricket goes. I’ve put a little bookmark on my academics for now, and see where cricket takes me over the next few years and see where I go.”Rath’s decision to concentrate on cricket seemed vindicated when he impressed for Galaxy Gladiators Lantau during the Hong Kong T20 Blitz earlier this year. It was there that he caught the eye of his team-mate Kumar Sangakkara. An endorsement from a legend drove him to become even better. While he wasn’t playing club cricket in the UK, he was training in Hong Kong with the senior team and head coach Simon Cook. In the little window he had to work on his game while matches weren’t on, he went to India to train at the Dav Whatmore Academy in Chennai.It’s these sacrifices Rath hopes will eventually pay off, even though he’s still hopeful of finishing his degree. “I hope that if circumstances have put a hindrance on my degree because of uncertainty where I’m going to end up, once I’m more stable, I’ll get back to university,” he says. “I’ve got a five-year window where I can carry my university credits. Unfortunately the way the immigration system works, I can’t play cricket in the UK and study at the same time. I can’t do both.”For now, his immediate goal is to compete and live the dream at the Asia Cup. As a child, he was fascinated watching India-Pakistan matches in Hong Kong, where his father had to pay big money to subscribe to the cricket channel. Now he has an opportunity to play against the same teams, not just as an international cricketer, but also as captain of his team. And when he steps onto the field to play India, his community in Bhubaneswar’s Gautam Nagar will root for their boy in red.

Chelsea chiefs have seemingly pulled a dramatic U-turn over one player’s future at the club, with manager Enzo Maresca and co now ready to sell him for a “significant profit” heading into the summer window.

Chelsea players facing uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge

João Félix, Carney Chukwuemeka, Axel Disasi, Renato Veiga and Ben Chilwell joined the host of other senior Chelsea players currently away on loan, with Raheem Sterling, Lesley Ugochukwu, Armando Broja, Djordje Petrovic and Kepa Arrizabalaga also on temporary spells of their own.

Bayern Munich targeting Chelsea starlet who's set for "key" role next term

The Bavarians have their eyes on a Blues wonderkid.

ByEmilio Galantini Feb 7, 2025

All the aforementioned crop face very uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge, and BlueCo will have plenty of work to do in trimming Maresca’s bloated squad when they all return from their spells away from Cobham.

Brighton (away)

February 14th

Aston Villa (away)

February 22nd

Southampton (home)

February 25th

Leicester City (home)

March 9th

Arsenal (away)

March 16th

However, one player who actually has a route mapped out for him at Chelsea is Strasbourg loanee Andrey Santos.

The 20-year-old has dazzled on a temporary stint in Ligue 1 – bagging eight goals and three assists in 21 appearances across all competitions – with Santos even attracting interest from Bayern Munich as a result.

Fabrizio Romano has said that Chelsea are planning to make Santos a “key” player next season, while GiveMeSport reported this week that they will not entertain any summer offers for the Brazilian.

Santos has been lavished with his praise for his performances this season, with a section of Chelsea supporters even pleading for him to be recalled in January.

Chelsea pull U-turn over Andrey Santos with Maresca ready to sell

However, according to TEAMtalk, who have news contrary to recent reports, Chelsea have pulled a U-turn over Santos’ future behind-the-scenes.

Surprisingly, the outlet claims that they’re actually ready to sell him if they can make a “significant profit”, despite being impressed with his performances in France. They’re said to be open to doing business with interested clubs, and while there is a chance Maresca could still use him in the first-team, Stamford Bridge chiefs view him as a “pure profit” player.

It remains to be seen if more news outlets echo the update in this latest report, but a large section of Chelsea fans will be disappointed given Santos’ exceptional 2024/2025 campaign.

“Andrey is going to have a magnificent career. You forget how young some of them are,” said Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior, who has selected Santos to captain the side.

“Andrey plays like he’s 32. I call him Dunga (after Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning captain): he’s Brazilian, but he doesn’t play like one. He’s so smart and his stats are through the roof, in terms of scoring goals, winning duels. He’s going to have an outstanding career.”

Manchester United do not have many options at centre-forward, and it has certainly been a tough season in front of goal for the Red Devils. The two players who have tended to lead the line this term for United have been Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.

Denmark striker Hojlund has struggled in the Premier League this season and has managed just two goals and no assists in 17 games in the top flight. Zirkzee has been slightly more profitable, with three goals and two assists in 22 top-flight appearances.

It might not come as a surprise that they are targeting a new centre-forward and looking to add a new player up front for Ruben Amorim to call upon. Their targets include one of the deadliest marksmen in the Premier League.

Man United target Premier League striker

The player in question here is Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap. The England U21 international has been in exceptional form this term for the Tractor Boys, which has grabbed the attention of some of England’s biggest clubs.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a report from Sky Sports, the Englishman, formerly of Manchester City’s academy, is one of the centre-forwards United have shortlisted as they ‘chase a new striker’ during the January Transfer window.

However, they will not be the only Premier League side targeting a move for the Ipswich number 19. Chelsea have also been linked with him as recently as Wednesday, and could well make a move this winter. In terms of a price, it was reported by Blues insider Simon Phillips that an offer ‘north of £50m’ would be what it takes for Ipswich to sell him.

Why Delap would be a good signing for Man Utd

It has been a really impressive first half of the campaign for 21-year-old Delap. Bearing in mind how poorly Ipswich have performed this term, his eight goals and two assists in 21 games make for very impressive reading.

Described as a “lethal” striker by football analyst and The Overlap: The Breakdown host H, Delap has made some major contributions for the Tractor Boys this term.

That includes two goals against Aston Villa, a goal and assist against Tottenham Hotspur and a goal and assist against Chelsea.

In fact, someone who he could enjoy playing alongside is Amad. The Ivorian was described as “sensational” by Sky Sports pundit and United legend Gary Neville after his Manchester Derby heroics earlier in the season.

Indeed, that sentiment has certainly been backed up by Amad’s numbers in the Premier League this season.

Despite limited opportunity under former manager Erik ten Hag, he has thrived in the top flight. The 22-year-old has six goals and six assists this term. That included a 12-minute hat-trick in United’s last top-flight win at Old Trafford against Southampton.

The United number 16 has been in sparkling form throughout the Premier League season, as his stats via FBref show. For example, Amad averages 2.1 key passes and 0.38 assists per game, placing him in the top 19% and the top 11% respectively.

Key passes

2.1

81st

Assists

0.38

89th

Shot-creating actions

4.65

84th

Goal-creating actions

1.02

98th

Having an attacker with that creative ability is every striker’s dream, and Delap could certainly benefit from such proactivity in the final third from Amad. He has an impressive conversion rate, 22% in the Premier League this term according to Sofascore, and could massively benefit from Amad’s vision.

Although £50m is a steep deal, it might be a smart move for United as they look to supplement the goals of Hojlund and Zirkzee with the deadly finishing of Ipswich’s star man.

As for his link-up with Amad, United fans might be excited at seeing two players with superstar potential don that famous Red shirt and combine at Old Trafford.

Their answer to Foden: Man Utd prepare offer to sign ex Man-City player

Man United are looking for attacking reinforcements and could sign their answer to Phil Foden.

ByJoe Nuttall Jan 23, 2025

Manchester United’s defence of the FA Cup begins on Sunday afternoon with one of the hardest games they could have asked for, an away trip to Arsenal.

The Emirates Stadium plays host to the two most successful clubs in FA Cup history. United will be looking to right some wrongs against the Gunners, who recently beat them in the Premier League.

United’s impressive triumph in the 2023/24 edition of the FA Cup was the positive note in a poor season. They beat local rivals Manchester City 2-0 at Wembley, thanks to goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

Ahead of the defence of their crown, United’s team news for the trip to North London was announced in the days leading up to the game.

United’s team news vs. Arsenal

The big concern for Ruben Amorim and United is the fact that star man Amad Diallo may miss the game after picking up a small knock. The attacker, who just signed a new deal at Old Trafford, is not guaranteed to be fit but Amorim explained he is hopeful the Ivorian will be available.

There are a couple of confirmed absentees for United at the weekend. Two of those are defenders Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans, with Amorim confirming the centre-back pair will still not be fit in time.

England teammates Luke Shaw and Mason Mount are also set to miss the clash at the Emirates Stadium. The pair have both been out for several weeks, with Shaw’s last appearance coming against Everton on the 1st of December and Mount last featured away to Man City in the same month.

As for Marcus Rashford, who missed last weekend’s draw away to Liverpool at Anfield through illness, his future remains up in the air, with the Englishman not included for the trip to the Emirates.

With Rashford out of the squad yet again, it leaves Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee as the candidates to lead the line. The Dutchman could be a good option.

Why Zirkzee could start against Arsenal

Life at Old Trafford so far has not been easy for Zirkzee. He has shown brilliance at times and has never stopped working hard but has not been treated particularly well by fans.

He was booed off against Newcastle United in the Premier League in what was a poor moment from the supporters on the Old Trafford terraces.

With that being said, he has put in some really strong performances so far in that famous Red shirt. He has four goals and two assists in 28 games, with his best performance coming against Everton in a 4-0 win. That day, the 23-year-old managed to score twice in a fantastic display.

Zirkzee, who was a Champions League winner with Bayern Munich in 2020, won the Young Player of the Year award in Serie A last season for Bologna.

His stats on Sofascore show just how well he played, with the attacker scoring and assisting 15 times, creating 11 big chances and winning 4.1 duels per game. There is a reason football statistician Statman Dave described him as a “serious talent”.

Stat

Number

Goals and assists

15

Expected goals

9.01

Conversion rate

13%

Big chances created

11

Key passes per game

1.3

Dribbles completed per game

.51

Duels won per game

4.1

Interestingly, Arsenal wanted to sign the striker last summer before United snapped him up. According to Sky Sports, they were believed to be ‘keeping a close eye on developments’, but he eventually ended up at Old Trafford.

Chalkboard

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

This afternoon, if he gets the start, Zirkzee could hurt Arsenal. He is an intelligent striker, who excels at dropping deep to link up play and create space for teammates.

He is not one to engage in a physical battle with William Saliba and Gabriel, which plays into United’s hands as he can bring teammates into the game if he drags them out of position.

Although United fans have perhaps yet to see the best of Zirkzee consistently, he has shown exactly what he can do at times. A trip to the Emirates Stadium in defence of their FA Cup trophy is an excellent place to put in another performance like he did against Everton, and hurt the club who wanted to sign him last summer.

£350k-p/w Man Utd ace closer than ever to leaving with Rashford this month

One club are now thought to be pushing hard for his signature.

1 ByBen Browning Jan 10, 2025

South Africa’s new Test captain reveals message of encouragement from former West Indies great

Firdose Moonda03-Mar-2023Of all the messages Temba Bavuma received as he prepared to make his Test captaincy debut against West Indies in Centurion, Brian Lara’s was among those that meant the most.”He came to me and said, ‘Big respect, big up. All respect to you for the position you have,’ and he wished me well,” Bavuma said. “I had to pinch myself there.”When Lara made his Test debut in December 1990, Bavuma was only seven months old. He would have been too young to have watched South Africa’s first Test post-readmission: against West Indies in 1992, when half-centuries from Lara and current Cricket West Indies director of cricket Jimmy Adams set South Africa a target they ultimately did not achieve. But as he grew up, Bavuma would have heard a lot about West Indies, and Lara.Related

SA, WI seek one last Test high before switching focus to ODI World Cup

Injured Nortje ruled out of second Test against WI

Rabada six-for leads South Africa to victory over West Indies

Courtney Walsh: Kemar Roach is a 'genuine great' for West Indies

Bavuma replaces Elgar as SA's Test captain, but relinquishes T20I job

He was a teenager when Lara scored 202 at Wanderers and 115 at Newlands – in a series South Africa won 3-0 in the summer of 2003-04 – as well as the 196 in Port of Spain and 176 in Bridgetown against South Africa two years later. Lara was a bonafide great, and a role model to Bavuma in a way no one else could be.In Bavuma’s early years, the South African team had no black African players. He was eight when Makhaya Ntini was capped in 1998, and by the time Bavuma became a Test player in 2014 – against none other than West Indies – only four other black African players had represented South Africa in Test cricket, and none of them were batters. Bavuma became the first. What he represents to millions of young South Africans is what Lara represented to him: the power of black excellence.Kagiso Rabada was born five years after Bavuma – in 1995 – when West Indies last won a Test series against a top-eight team away from home. He also draws inspiration from them.”I have a huge admiration for West Indian cricket culture. And as a bowler, how can you ignore that famous bowling attack, and the likes of Viv Richards, Brian Lara, Gordon Greenidge – the list goes on and on and on,” Rabada said. “They dominated world cricket at a stage, and the whole world knows about it. They’re a phenomenal side with a phenomenal culture. I am friends with many of them. I admired the players that have come before – they would have played a role in my cricketing upbringing – and the current players too.”Kemar Roach on Joel Garner: “He checks on me every once in a while. To pass him is a great honour”•AFP/Getty ImagesMuch like South Africans of subcontinental heritage grew up supporting India and Pakistan, black South Africans had cultural and political reasons to support West Indies; and Bavuma and Rabada’s families were among those who did. The West Indian greats also continue to inspire their own too. Kemar Roach admitted his main motivation for still playing Test cricket – 14 years after making his debut in 2009 – was because he wants to “get among the greats”.His five-wicket haul in Centurion put him fifth on the list of West Indies’ highest wicket-takers in Tests, and helped him overtake his mentor Joel Garner.”When I got into the team, he was the team manager. I spent a lot of time in his room, communicating and stuff and learning the tricks of the trade. He checks on me every once in a while. To pass him is a great honour,” Roach said, quickly checking himself. “Sorry Mr Garner.”At 34 years old – and with 76 caps to his name – Roach has no intention of stopping anytime soon.”My motivation comes from wanting to perform, wanting to get my numbers up and wanting to get amongst the greats,” he said. “We have a fantastic dressing room; the camaraderie, the fun we have – that’s the motivation for me in trying to keep going as long as I can.”When asked if he could put a timeframe on it, Roach referenced NBA legend LeBron James promising his fans multiple titles. “Let’s see how long I can go. Hopefully two, three, four, five, six, seven years…”

Chelsea wanted to sign Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk before the Dutch defender extended his stay at Anfied.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Chelsea wanted Van Dijk for free in the summerDutch defender signed a new two-year dealLiverpool face Leicester on SundayFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Van Dijk put all rumours to rest by signing a new two-year Liverpool contract on Thursday. The Dutch defender was out of contract this summer, but now he has come to an agreement with the Reds by extending his stay at Anfield until 2027. The news came as a huge boost for Premier League giants, who had earlier convinced Mohamed Salah to sign a new deal.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

reports that before Van Dijk put pen to paper on a new deal, Chelsea had reportedly shown interest in signing the player as a free agent in the summer, however, the Blues later felt that the 33-year-old would commit his future to the Merseyside club. The Netherlands international was also linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain after he was spotted chatting with sporting director Luis Campos after their Champions League round of 16 clash at Anfield.

DID YOU KNOW?

Per , Van Dijk's salary under the terms of the new deal will be in the region of £400,000 per week, allowing him to maintain his status as Europe's best-paid defender.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

Arne Slot's side will be back in action in the Premier League this Sunday as they take on Leicester City away from home. If they beat the Foxes and Arsenal lose against Ipswich earlier that day, the Reds will be crowned champions of England for the record-equalling 20th time.

da esoccer bet： Aston Villa opened their account in the Premier League for 2025 with a 2-1 victory over Leicester City, which would have been a welcome result come full-time after drawing their final clash of 2024 in the league.

da roleta： But, the game would have felt far nervier for the Villans fans watching on when you consider their side’s leakiness reared its ugly head once more, having conceded to a Foxes team who had just two shots on target all afternoon and are lingering near the foot of the division.

Therefore, Emery must surely be using this January transfer window as a way to bolster his options defensively, with this high profile loan signing now rumoured.

Aston Villa enquire about wantaway defender

As per a report by French outlet L’Equipe, Villa have now enquired about signing wantaway Paris St. Germain centre-back Milan Skriniar this month on loan, with the Slovakian defender wanting to leave PSG due to a lack of first-team chances.

Villa are joined by Tottenham Hotspur in their pursuit of the ex-Inter Milan brute according to the report, as Ange Postecoglou attempts to solve his side’s own defensive woes, with Skriniar reportedly keen on playing in the Premier League in the near future away from the French capital.

There will also likely be an option for Emery’s men to make the deal permanent, with a hope that the 6 foot 2 star could be another loan success for Villa away from a major titan like Philippe Coutinho proved to be, before falling down the pecking order in the West Midlands when he joined the club for good from Barcelona.

Why Skriniar could be Coutinho 2.0

Obviously, in the minds of Villa fans now, the deal to bring in the Brazilian attacking midfielder was a major flop, considering the expensive 32-year-old has since been discarded to Vasco De Gama on loan.

But, once upon a time, the ex-Liverpool man was a loved figure by all at Villa Park, with five goals and three assists picked up during his debut campaign after arriving from Barcelona on an initial temporary deal in January 2022.

With hindsight now very much on their side, the Villans might not have subsequently forked out £17m though, with Coutinho only managing one more goal contribution since.

Emery will just pray that Skriniar can come in and be similarly impactful in the short-term – away from worrying about issues regarding tieing him down to a permanent stay – with Villa in dire need of more resolute bodies defensively with Pau Torres now sidelined and their record at the back this season not being particularly rosy.

Premier League top ten – defensive records

Position/club

Goals conceded

1. Liverpool

19

2. Arsenal

18

3. Nottingham Forest

19

4. Chelsea

24

5. Newcastle United

22

6. Manchester City

27

7. AFC Bournemouth

23

8. Aston Villa

32

9. Fulham

27

10. Brighton and Hove Albion

29

Sourced by BBC Sport

By three goals more, Villa have conceded the most goals in the current top ten of the Premier League at a worrying 32, with the injury-stricken Torres only keeping two clean sheets from 18 top-flight outings.

Therefore, Skriniar could come to the rescue to help Emery’s men shut up shop more effectively, having actually kept a clean sheet on his last appearance for PSG in Ligue 1 before pushing for a move away.

At the peak of his powers in the Serie A too, Skriniar would make his all defensive hard work look easy, with the 2021/22 season for Inter seeing him average a cool and composed 92% pass accuracy per league contest, whilst also showing off his fierce approach aerially by winning 3.9 duels on average.

Italian football writer Jerry Mancini would even label the Slovak as “incredible” when he was regularly battling away at Inter, with the well-thought-of defender – who journalist Siavoush Fallahi also previously dubbed a “monster” – a presence that could be transformative for a ropey Villa defence.

Of course, this could all prove to be too good to be true much like Coutinho – with the defender’s steep £263k-per-week salary an easy target for concern – but Villa might well deem snapping up this fresh centre-back as a risk worth taking.

Related Aston Villa chasing a bigger talent than Malen who's a "future superstar"

The Villans are looking to bolster their attack

Posts ByJoe Nuttall Jan 8, 2025