Agarkar had also bagged six wickets at the MCG in January 2004, but India lost 6 for 13 and the match. Fifteen years later, they found themselves at the right end of the result

Daniel Brettig at the MCG18-Jan-20194:04

Hodge: Chahal’s consistency, self-belief work for him

In 622 ODIs played in Australia since the very first took place at the MCG in 1970-71, no-one has ever bettered the bowling figures of 6 for 42 claimed by Yuzvendra Chahal for India against Australia on January 18, 2019. He now shares that lofty perch with another Indian, Ajit Agarkar, who plucked his one haul of same at the MCG in January 2004.That night, 15 years ago, Agarkar had reason to believe for most of its journey that his efforts would deliver India the win, only to find himself part of a rush of wickets at the end, 6 for 13 in all, that slid the visitors from victors to vanquished in the space of 19 frenzied balls.Yuzvendra Chahal claimed his career-best figures•ESPNcricinfo LtdThis time, however, Chahal was not to be required with the bat, as MS Dhoni and Kedar Jadhav teased, tested and ultimately tormented Australia with a perfectly modulated chase for 231 that delivered India the series with four balls to spare.That Dhoni in particular was able to dawdle at times, very nearly blocking out a maiden from Adam Zampa’s 10th over, can be put down largely to the quality displayed by Chahal, who with his variations of spin, line and pace found exactly the right sort of wristspin for an MCG surface that in its modicum of tacky moisture offered him just enough assistance.ALSO READ: Dhoni, Jadhav clinch series win in tight chaseAt the same time it was a performance all the more remarkable for the fact that this was Chahal’s first match of the tour; by virtue of his surprise, his performance mirrored that of Kuldeep Yadav against Australia in the decisive Test match of the 2017 Test series in India. Ironically, it was Virat Kohli’s sense that the Australians were now reading Kuldeep better than in the past that compelled him to change up his spin battery.”Our strength as a side has been upredictability,” Kohli said. “We haven’t been predictable with our combinations in the past couple of years. So felt like they were reading Kuldeep quite well and they were able to score singles easily, picking his variations from the hand quite well, so we thought it might not be a bad thing to bring in Chahal for variation. Also because we were bringing in Kedar [Jadhav] who’s an offspinner and gives us an option against left-handers.”Credit has to go to him [Chahal] because the way he bowled in his first game of the tour was absolutely outstanding. To take six wickets at the MCG is no small feat for a spinner, and I’m really happy for him. He’s a very intelligent bowler and he gets us those breakthroughs. Him and Kuldeep together are definitely a force to be reckoned with and if they play together it’s our most potent spin bowling attack, but just for the balance of the team, Kuldeep had to make way for Chahal this evening.”All spin bowlers will have days where they are grateful for an early wicket, whether intentional or otherwise. For Shane Warne, of course, his first ball dismissal of Mike Gatting in England in 1993 came through a combination of vicious spin and fortunate happenstance; for Chahal, his second delivery brought impatience and inattention from Shaun Marsh, who advanced at a ball fired down the leg side and swatted at thin air before being stumped.Three balls later, and Chahal’s first delivery to Usman Khawaja arrived on a similar line, this time stopping in the pitch enough to turn the batsman’s attempted work to the leg side into a gentle leading edge and a return catch. Whatever was to follow, that double-blow when Marsh and Khawaja had appeared well set told a large part of the evening’s tale.This is not to say that Chahal did not make more vital incisions. With each delivery his rhythm improved, perhaps peaking with a legbreak to Marcus Stoinis that with drift and angle drew the batsman to shape towards the leg side, then with enough snap back across the body to draw the edge to slip, where Rohit Sharma held a terrific catch. Jhye Richardson was also confounded by drift and turn, offering a front edge to midwicket, before Peter Handscomb’s otherwise productive stay was ended by some skid off the surface when he misjudged length and was pinned lbw.”Chahal bowled beautifully today and he would have troubled anyone on that pitch,” Kohli said. “Even our team he would have troubled if we’d batted against him because he was bowling so well.”When Zampa, Chahal’s opposite number, failed to reach the pitch of the ball and lofted to long on, Chahal had six wickets and the adulation of a largely Indian crowd of 53,603. Rightfully, he pouched the Man-of-the-Match award, as Dhoni claimed the series prize. “The wicket was a little bit turning and so I could plan to bowl a little bit slower and I did my best,” Chahal said at the presentation.Startling as Chahal’s performance was, he still has work ahead of him to secure a spot in India’s World Cup plans. Kuldeep and Ravinda Jadeja are among many and varied options for India’s management, and it remains to be seen whether Chahal can transcend the conditions-based selection he clearly was on this day. But in conjuring figures that put him right at the top of a long list of accomplished bowlers to play ODIs in Australia, he had made a mark that will be difficult to forget.”If you see their performances how can you not,” Kohli said when asked whether Chahal and Kuldeep could both fit into the World Cup squad. “Two wristspinners who are getting you wickets in the middle overs. That’s the game-changer, if he didn’t get us wickets in the middle overs we would have been chasing 260-270. In one-day cricket you have to take take wickets there, and any captain would want that.”

Evermore wronged by life, the universe and everything, Lasith Malinga is torching a path through the tournament

Andrew Fidel Fernando27-Jun-20192:44

Malinga a spent force? Think again

In Sri Lanka’s most-recent match, against England, Lasith Malinga swung the ball an average of 1.1 degrees in his opening spell. According to Cricviz, this was the most swing any bowler had generated that day by at least 30%.At first sight, Malinga’s is an action that seems more suited to stirring a cauldron than moving a ball through the air. It is pretty much offensive to any purist swing-bowling coach. Yet, when Sri Lanka’s batsmen had put up a modest score and needed bailing out, Malinga not only outswung his own team-mates, but also, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes and Ben Stokes, who have bowled in English conditions all their lives. Outswung them by so much, it was practically an affront.Creating offense, however, is just what Malinga does. What he has long been doing. A quick tour through history: at age 23, his new blonde-tipped curls had antagonised board bigwig Arjuna Ranatunga. Soon after, when the world was still side-eyeing the IPL in its early years, Malinga was an ungrateful, cash-chasing charlatan, as any number of talk shows or newspaper columns had it. Behind closed doors, he clashed with former bowling coach and patron saint of Sri Lankan seam bowling, Chaminda Vaas. Out in the real world, fans complained that he was the only Sri Lanka player refusing to pose for photos or dish out an autograph. Sports ministers, selectors, administrators, senior players, junior players, probably his own reflection in the dressing room mirror – Malinga has angered, and has been angered by, all. Neither side has been shy about expressing their feelings.Where other players mellowed with age – Kumar Sangakkara less mouthy in later years, Ricky Ponting becoming almost cuddly by the end of his career – Malinga has instead felt himself evermore wronged by life, the universe, and everything.Since being dropped for seven months last year, he has unapologetically become a living, breathing, slinging f*** you to haters. You think you can’t have a paunch and bowl fast? Check yourself. He is a force in the biggest T20 franchise tournament on the planet – his over to win the IPL containing five deliveries at 140kph or higher, before he slipped that killer slower ball in. But then he must be prioritising IPL over commitments to his home board, right? Wrong. He’s flying back-and-forth between Mumbai and Sri Lanka, winning matches at the Wankhede and breaking List A records at Pallekele in the space of 20 hours. His injuries, then – surely those brittle knees and screwy ankles won’t withstand an ODI workload? Thing is, fellow hasn’t sat out a single Sri Lanka match on account of injury since his recall last October.Unfriendly selection panels? He’s outlasted them. Doubting coaches? He’s still here – they’re not. Critics? Well, haven’t been been mighty quiet in the last few weeks?At this World Cup so far, he’s been driven so completely, so unadulteratedly by nothing but grievance, his ire is impossible to miss. There once was a glorious joy to his bowling. His four-in-four in Guyana in 2007, was a jubilant eruption. His dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar at the 2011 World Cup prompted a crazy, arms-spread, exuberant run from the bowling crease to square leg, in a Wankhede stadium that was silenced, rather than enlivened, by a Malinga wicket. In the past 30 days, though, Malinga has been the World Cup’s grumpiest uncle: unsmiling, aggressive, distant, aggressive again.In the one official media appearance he made, he slammed his team-mates, suggesting they use the shame of their incompetence as motivation. In one-on-one interviews, his mouth has basically been a bazooka taking aim at former selectors who deigned to leave him out, complaining about his sacking as captain last month, producing dark beads of displeasure to the (and others) like this: “There are some players and coaches who didn’t want me as captain and I know they worked really hard to get me out. But I am not the loser. I am still at the top in my game whereas those who worked behind my back are struggling. They are either not in the team or struggling to get runs or wickets.”Nothing about Malinga makes conventional sense. Not his action. Not the shape of his body. Not his longevity. Not his harsh treatment of team-mates. And especially not the fact that despite being this enraged at losing the captaincy, he is still seen helping his replacement Dimuth Karunaratne out with on-field strategy, from time-to-time.You think you know Malinga? You think he doesn’t play well with team-mates, thinks too much of himself, is over the hill, disrupts the dressing room, isn’t committed enough, should lay off the chocolate rolls, is only out for himself? He’s got eight wickets at 23.62 so far in the tournament, so he’d probably tell you himself, if he could.F*** you.

Three games to go, but these two already have an XI that could easily tackle slow pitches, highways, death overs, D/L, and a Space Jam alien team

Sidharth Monga and Jarrod Kimber08-Jul-2019 picking Tahir because he is a legspinner, or because he’s been a top-quality spinner in a poor team (though I suppose Nabi is too).Monga: Wristspin is a big reason.Kimber: But our other fingerspinner does turn a different direction than Nabi.Monga: Let’s go the aggressive option: Tahir.Kimber: Now while we have talked, Finch has failed against South Africa. Roy?Monga: Roy was extremely unlucky to miss out, but today’s failure can’t be the reason to drop Finch.Kimber: I kind of agree, but as a Victorian, I just don’t want to be accused of bias towards the great Victorian champion. (I also really like Jason Roy, those straight drives…)Monga: Bairstow and Roy could prove us wrong in the 2nd XI. My only concern now is we don’t have a Buttler-type batsman – someone who gets a 30-ball 70.Kimber: David Warner literally made a hundred as you typed that. Pooran can do that. He didn’t in this World Cup, but his whole career he has been scoring at that level. And Carey made 50 off 35 balls against India. Him and Pooran have us covered, even if Hardik and Buttler are more suited to it.Monga: Okay, final recap: 1 Finch (capt), 2 Rohit, 3 Williamson, 4 Shakib, 5 Stokes, 6 Pooran, 7 Carey (wk), 8 Starc, 9 Afridi, 10 Bumrah, 11 Tahir.Kimber: The good thing is, we’ve made such great selections that no one can ever argue with them.

A 148kph yorker, a 106kph offcutter, a 144kph lifter – there was a variety on display while Saini showed he could be more than just back-up

Deivarayan Muthu in Indore08-Jan-20205:53

Star Sports Match Point: Time running out for Dhawan in T20Is?

The Sarafa Bazar night market in Indore serves up delightful varieties of street food, ranging from the , the signature breakfast dish of the city, to . About four kilometres away from Sarafa Bazar is the Holkar Stadium, where tearaway Navdeep Saini offered the cricketing equivalent of those delightful varieties on Tuesday evening.There was a 148kph yorker, which torpedoed into the middle-and-leg stumps of opener Danushka Gunathilaka. Then, there was a 106kph offcutter that floated into the edge of Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s bat and streaked away to extra-cover. Then, there was a 144kph lifter that took off like a rocket and had Rajapaksa gloving it behind to the keeper. Having also breached the 150-kph barrier, Saini capped his spell with an excellent inswinging yorker that was just about dug out by Dhananjaya de Silva.Even as a fit-again Jasprit Bumrah had a low-key return, the 27-year old Saini led India’s revamped attack and had figures of 2 for 18 in his four overs, including 13 dots.Sheer pace has always been Saini’s calling card. When he left his hometown Karnal in Haryana to Delhi in October 2012, all he wanted to do was to bowl fast. After rattling batsmen in local tournaments, Saini then rushed Gautam Gambhir for pace at the Delhi nets.It was that pace that helped Delhi into the 2017-18 Ranji Trophy final. It was that pace that subsequently helped Saini break into India’s Test squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Bengaluru in 2018. It was for that pace that Royal Challengers Bangalore had shelled out INR 3 crore in the IPL 2018 auction.Navdeep Saini is pumped after another wicket•BCCIDuring his international debut in 2019 in the Lauderhill T20I against West Indies, the gold standard in T20 hitting, Saini flaunted his pace and even bounced out Nicholas Pooran. Saini’s firecracker pace was also on display during his ODI debut against West Indies in Cuttack last December.ALSO READ: Saini’s firecracker pace lights up CuttackSaini is barely 10 internationals old, but he’s learning on the job and has added variations to his repertoire, lending more depth to the already well-stocked pace attack.”Saini is a different case [in T20 cricket] because he has come from the domestic set-up into the IPL and into the Indian team,” Kohli had said of the quick’s evolution in Guwahati. “So, he has bowled quite a bit and has good understanding of lines and lengths and he’s obviously got pace.”After Bumrah had given up seven runs in his first over on return, Saini entered as first-change in Indore and initially struggled with his lengths. Avishka Fernando laced a half-volley on the up through extra-cover before swatting a hip-high short ball to the midwicket boundary. Offspin-bowling allrounder Washington Sundar then gave India an opening by having Avishka holing out. In his following spells, Saini barged through that opening with a batting ram.After Washington had delivered two thrifty overs, Kusal Perera and Gunathilaka were aiming to line up Saini to ramp up the scoring rate. Saini, however, ran in hard, hit the pitch harder, and kept Kusal to one run off two short balls. Gunathilaka then left his crease only to swish and miss another short ball. Having pushed Gunathilaka back, Saini sucker-punched the batsman with a ripping yorker. By the time, Gunathilaka had jabbed his bat down, the middle and leg stumps had been tilted back. Saini took flight and celebrated, Sri Lanka’s batting went on a tailspin.Then, in his third over, Saini cramped Oshada Fernando for room before unleashing the yorker, but Oshada jammed his bat down in the nick of time to survive. The old two-card trick had also reaped reward for Saini in his most-recent ODI in Cuttack.By the time Saini returned to the attack for his last over, the 15th of the innings, Rajapaksa had got going with a whipped four off Shardul Thakur and Sri Lanka were 102 for 4. However, Saini cut down his pace and then cranked it up to bounce him out. Saini’s burst set the scene for Thakur’s triple-strike in the penultimate over of the innings. Game over for Sri Lanka.”The first thing is to be confident, and only then can you bring in variations,” Saini told , the host broadcaster, after winning the Man-of-the-Match award. “I liked the yorker [to Gunathilaka] more because I nailed it better than expectations. I play both red-ball and white-ball cricket, and hence the more I play, the better I will get at them. When I made my T20 debut, all I thought of was pace. But as I have played more, I have realised that variations are important too.”Saini’s range adds a new dimension to India’s bowling attack, particularly on flat tracks, and in the absence of Deepak Chahar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami, he showed that he could be more than just a back-up.

It was the decisive intervention in what turned out to be a remarkably comprehensive eight-wicket victory over the hosts, West Indies, in St Lucia.Liam Livingstone’s previous over had just been dispatched for 20 runs by West Indies’ captain Rovman Powell, and though his dismissal to the final ball of the same over redressed the balance a touch, West Indies’ intentions had been made abundantly clear going into their final five overs at an ominous 137 for 2.Enter Jofra Archer, for an over that the man himself has described as “one of those times when you just nail it” – an exquisitely targeted over of wide yorkers, outswinging at a pace that climbed steadily through the gears to a peak of 150kph/93mph.Nicholas Pooran, fresh from a matchwinning knock of 98 from 53 balls against Afghanistan, slashed the third of those deliveries past Mark Wood at gully to become the first batter in the tournament to reach 200 runs, but that was as far as he would get. The sixth ball of the same over was dragged back half a yard, and Jos Buttler snaffled the thinnest of edges to accelerate a crucial collapse of 3 for 6 in 12 deliveries.West Indies were unable to regain their hold on the contest despite a bright finish from Sherfane Rutherford, and even after Phil Salt and Jonny Bairstow had powered England to victory with 15 balls to spare in an unbroken stand of 97 in 44 balls, it was clear where the credit truly belonged.”I was just glad I executed,” Archer said after the match. “It was everything that we talked about in the bowling meetings – that’s one of the times you just nail it, execution was almost perfect. If Woody had dived, he might have caught that one as well. I’m really glad that over was probably the turning point.”Archer’s impact was heartening for England on several levels. It showed that his tactical nous has not been diminished by his long absences from international cricket, while his raw pace was further proof of the success of his recovery from those long-standing elbow and back injuries.”You don’t really get the chance to run in and bowl fast [in T20 cricket],” he said, acknowledging that a lively St Lucia pitch had encouraged him to crank up his speed in a manner that might not have worked previously in the tournament.”Usually everyone sits back and tries to use the pace, so I feel from the Pakistan series [onwards] I’ve been trying to mix the pace, not be too predictable. Obviously at the back end you bowl a bit more pace-on, but in the powerplay you mix it up, so you don’t get lined up.”Pooran had been threatening a decisive innings, having made 98 against Afghanistan•AFP/Getty Images

Archer finished with figures of 1 for 34 in four overs, but said he had taken just as much pleasure from getting stuck into every aspect of the contest, not simply his own contribution with the ball.”Coming back into the team, you just feel you want to give back,” he said. “I didn’t think about it too badly. The first two overs, that’s when you run around trying to make something happen. Giving back to the team makes it easier for everyone else … so bat, ball, fielding, I’m just trying to help. That’s just the person I am.”I wouldn’t say enjoy [bowling the pressure overs] but it’s my job … from the first time I debuted at Sussex, the times I bowl haven’t really changed. You just have to get on with it.”After more than a year on the sidelines, and only a handful of England appearances since 2021, the timing of Archer’s return has been serendipitous. This latest match happened to be the first time he had faced West Indies in a T20I, but he insisted – having ‘had a little cry’ while playing in front of his friends and family in his native Barbados – there had been no mixed emotions at taking on his former countrymen.”This is my first time playing in St Lucia, last week was my first time in Antigua,” he said. “I haven’t really played in the Caribbean apart from St Kitts, so just like the other day, I was just finding my feet and getting used to conditions.”The significance of overcoming the hosts in front of a passionate St Lucia crowd, and ending their run of eight consecutive wins, was not lost on Archer. However, given the doom and gloom that had surrounded England’s campaign after their rain-affected group-stage campaign, he insisted the squad was not about to get carried away by their revived fortunes.”Yeah, it’s probably going to be one of the toughest games we play in this tournament,” he said. “A great opposition in their backyard as well with the crowd … so to come out on top when, I wouldn’t say it didn’t look possible, but it was always going to be a tricky chase, so really glad we were able to chase such a high total so early in the tournament. If we do get in trouble [in future games] we know we can do it.”Everyone loves to win and to win a close game, so confidence will be high .. but it’s only the first game, we have another four to go, so this is lovely but it’s also business as usual.Related

• Jofra Archer: 'I had a bit of a cry' on return to action in Barbados

• Warner on Wood and Archer: 'Just have to use their pace'

• Salt and Bairstow take West Indies down with ease

• 'Mature, senior player's innings' – Buttler on Bairstow's knock

• WI coach Sammy: 'This loss will not dampen our spirits'

“We had a good night with bat and ball but it’s only one, the first game of the Super Eight. In the last group stage we were struggling a bit – obviously it was weather dependent. We just take every game in our stride.”England have barely 36 hours to digest the West Indies win before their next match against South Africa – the team that delivered them a crushing 229-run defeat in Mumbai in October, arguably the nadir of their terrible 50-over World Cup defence.Archer, however, put that on-field disappointment into context as he recalled the reasons why he didn’t have any abiding memories of the match.”Honestly, I didn’t get to watch it as I was heading back to the UK,” he said. “I know it wasn’t a great tournament for the boys but we have put it past us. It happens and we just look forward.”It’s the same challenge as any other team … every team has a 1-6 that is packed with batters, so it doesn’t really change. We just need to come up with a plan that works.”

FC Porto president Andre Villas-Boas has lifted the lid on a bold new plan that could reshape European football, an Iberian Super Cup featuring Spanish and Portuguese giants like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, and Sporting. The concept, still sitting in what he called “the drawer”, could see Iberian powerhouses go head-to-head in a cross-border spectacle aimed at expanding brands and global reach.

Getty Images SportAVB cooking up Iberian revolution?

Just as reports of a rejigged European Super League converging with the Champions League have surfaced, Villas-Boas has added spice to the pot, revealing that he personally pitched the idea of a brand new Super Cup to key figures in Spain and Portugal and got a surprisingly warm reception. He used his appearance at the Portugal Football Summit this Friday to issue a rallying cry to football leaders: adapt or be left behind, and warned that football was heading “inevitably” toward this kind of competition within the next decade, where the best teams from each country will face each other more frequently on the continental stage. 

AdvertisementVilla-Boas makes his case

Speaking at the event, Villas-Boas said: "We're on a path to brand expansion and international positioning. It's a huge challenge, which will likely come with new competitions. If we consider sports other than football, we have other competitions like the Iberian Super Cups, cross-border leagues… I believe football will be heading in that direction within ten years. 

"I launched the challenge of an Iberian Super Cup to Pedro Proença [president of the FPF] and other great Portuguese and Spanish clubs. Now we're all at loggerheads, but the idea of creating one remained. At the time, it was very well received by Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Benfica, Sporting, and the FPF." 

Getty Images SportMore domestic matches on foreign lands?

While the Iberian Super Cup remains on the drawing board, La Liga is already taking bold steps. League president Javier Tebas has all but confirmed that Barcelona’s regular-season clash with Villarreal will take place in Miami on December 20, the first-ever official Spanish league game held outside Europe. Originally slated for Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica, the fixture will mark a historic step in La Liga’s long-term push to expand into international markets, particularly the lucrative North American one.

“This is a landmark moment for La Liga and for world football,” Tebas said in a statement. “By bringing an official match to the United States, we are not only connecting with millions of fans across North America, but also reinforcing Spain’s leadership as a global soccer powerhouse. With the support of all relevant institutions, this initiative is bold, historic, and designed to inspire both our fans abroad and those at home in Spain.”

The decision hasn’t gone down well with everyone. UEFA officials made it clear they were “opposed” to domestic league games being exported, arguing that it breaks the principle of national competition. However, the lack of explicit FIFA rules on the issue meant they were forced to give the green light, a loophole Tebas eagerly exploited. Real Madrid, however, are furious. The club has publicly condemned the idea, saying it undermines tradition and gives Barcelona an unfair commercial advantage. Tebas has brushed off the criticism, insisting fans, players, and sponsors all support the move.

"See what they say now, but I know players from both teams want to come," he said. "Madrid has nothing to say on this issue. Not even the League itself. The regulations establish that the clubs request it from the Federation. La Liga gives its opinion, and it is favourable.

"But with the current leaders [Madrid], it's impossible. It makes me sad because they don't like everything La Liga does. If it weren't Miami, it would be something else. We're very bad and we don't do anything right. To have the squads we have, we have to remember that 42% of our audiovisual income comes from outside Spain. We have to respect those fans who pay to watch football. Because if not, we wouldn't have them."

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Villas-Boas wants to follow La Liga's footprints

Spain isn’t alone in taking football on tour. Serie A confirmed that its January fixture between AC Milan and Como will be played in Perth, Australia, another groundbreaking moment in the sport’s globalisation. League officials say the match will help grow Italian football’s visibility in Asia and Oceania while generating significant commercial income. For Villas-Boas, the writing is on the wall. The former Chelsea and Tottenham boss argues that Portuguese football’s leadership needs to think creatively and collaborate more closely with La Liga and UEFA to unlock new cash flows and revenue streams.

"We'll see a Villarreal-Barcelona match in Miami and a Milan-Como match in Australia. We have to seize this opportunity," he said. "We have games with 1,500 spectators. A Casa Pia-Sporting match, for example. Wouldn't our game in Newark or Geneva, with our expatriates, have more than that? President Ceferin said that leagues should be played in their countries, that this was an exception, but it's up to the federations to seize these opportunities. These are new cash flows and revenue streams.  It's up to the presidents of the league and the FPF to create summits of presidents rich in content and discussion."

This summer presents the first major opportunity for Ruben Amorim to make wholesale changes to his Manchester United squad after taking the reins back in November.

The 40-year-old oversaw the January transfer window, but the one-month period wasn’t enough time for the manager to offload and sign players to improve his squad.

It’s safe to say transfers are needed, with the Red Devils currently occupying 13th place in the Premier League, sitting 15 points off the top four with just seven matches remaining.

Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven have both already arrived at Old Trafford under Amorim’s time in charge, with the pair proving to be money well spent – with the left-back cementing his place as a result starter since his £30m transfer.

If the side are to progress in 2025/26, such additions are needed when the window opens in a few months, with one player already emerging as a key target ahead of the summer.

Man Utd make contact to land new goalkeeper

According to Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, United have made contact with Brighton and Hove Albion over a potential move for goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen this summer.

Despite their interest in the 22-year-old, they face stern competition from Bayern Munich and AC Milan for the Dutchman’s signature, which could lead to a bidding war.

He’s been the Seagulls’ number-one choice between the sticks this season, keeping six clean sheets in his 29 Premier League appearances – playing a key role in their hunt for European football.

The report states that the Red Devils have asked about a potential deal in the coming months, but that no fee has been touted for a move to Old Trafford.

It would be yet another key addition made by the club’s hierarchy, allowing Amorim to sign an upgrade on one player currently plying his trade in the North West.

Why Verbruggen would be an upgrade on Onana for United

Senegalese international Andre Onana has struggled to make a huge positive impact for United since his £47m move from Inter Milan in the summer of 2023.

The 29-year-old was seen as the perfect replacement for the outgoing David de Gea, but nearly two years on, he’s failed to deliver – leading to major criticism about his performances.

This season alone, Onana has made three errors leading to goals in the Premier League, undoubtedly contributing to their lowly standing in 2024/25, with Amorim needing to make a brutal call over his future.

His showing against Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday night was another example of his inability to deliver, being at fault for both of the hosts’ goals – proving Nemanja Matic’s claim right in the process.

There’s no denying that the Red Devils would’ve returned from France with a lead heading into the second leg, but his unforgivable mistakes could see the side end the season trophyless.

Such showings have led to rumours over a move for Verbruggen, with the current Brighton star massively outperforming the former Inter Milan ace in numerous key areas throughout 2024/25.

The Dutchman, who’s been labelled “unbelievable” by journalist John Bennett, has saved more shots per 90 this campaign, whilst also stopping more crosses – offering that commanding presence the Red Devils have lacked.

Games played

29

31

Goals conceded

46

41

Saves made

2.8

2.7

Crosses stopped

0.9

0.6

Pass accuracy

78%

72%

Passes completed per game

33

31

Points per game

1.5

1.2

He’s also completed more of his attempted passes, whilst achieving a higher point per game record, and having the ability to save the side in key moments – something which Onana has been unable to do.

Given the mistakes made by the 29-year-old in recent years, the club simply can’t afford to stick with him next season, undoubtedly missing out on more key points if he remains the number one option.

They may lose a hefty chunk on their big-money investment, but they desperately need to offload him when the window opens, with Verbruggen a great option to replace the error-prone shot-stopper.

It's not Bruno: Man Utd's "generational talent" can be their answer to Rice

Man Utd could already have their own version of Declan Rice, having missed out on the Englishman

ByRobbie Walls Apr 9, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur picked up a much-needed win on the weekend, just their 11th in the Premier League, but it’s done little to boost morale.

This season has been an unmitigated disaster for the North Londoners, as while there is still a chance they could win the Europa League, they look destined to finish in the bottom half of the league table, with more losses than wins.

Now, there are a few reasons for this dramatic collapse in form from Ange Postecoglou’s men, but perhaps the most significant has been the near-endless stream of defensive injuries they’ve had to deal with.

For example, neither Micky van de Ven nor Cristian Romero has made even 20 appearances this year, and now it looks like they may lose the latter for good in the summer. Still, they might also already have the perfect replacement in a youngster out on loan.

Romero's unsure future

Romero moved to Spurs on a loan deal with an option to buy back in the summer of 2021 and, since then, has become an essential part of the squad and first team.

In all, the World Cup winner has made 117 appearances for the club, scoring seven goals, providing one assist, and becoming one of the co-vice captains under Postecoglou’s tenure.

However, this rapid rise and impressive form for the team – alongside his international exploits – has seen other major teams from the continent take notice.

For example, earlier this year, it was widely reported that Real Madrid were keen on signing the former Juventus ace in the summer, while more reports from the last few weeks have revealed that Atlético Madrid are now just as interested.

In fact, just last week, it was reported that Diego Simeone had personally contacted the player and that, due to a mutual interest in making the transfer happen, he might be able to leave N17 for around £67m.

There is no doubt that losing a defender of Romero’s calibre would be a blow for Spurs, but it might not all be doom and gloom, as the club might already have the perfect replacement in an exceptionally exciting youngster.

The Spurs youngster who could replace Romero

So, if Romero does leave in the summer, the board will likely replace him with the fee he earns them, but there might already be a perfect replacement in the squad by then: Luka Vušković.

In The Pipeline

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

Yes, he might not be a name that everyone is familiar with yet, but based on his performances this season and the way those in the know speak about him, he most certainly will be.

The North Londoners signed the Croatian wonderkid in September 2023, but being just 16 at the time, post-Brexit rules around registering foreign players under 18 mean he cannot officially join the team until this summer.

So, with him unable to move to England this season, the “freak talent,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, joined Belgian outfit KVC Waterloo last July, and to say he’s enjoying a good season would be an understatement.

Despite only turning 18 in February, he has made 29 first-team appearances so far, in which he’s helped to keep five clean sheets. More impressive than that, he has scored seven goals and provided two assists.

This level of output for such a young defender suggests he’d be able to at least match the attacking threat Romero has, and with him already being 6 foot 4, there is no way he’d be bullied by opposition players.

Appearances

29

Clean Sheets

5

Goals

7

Assists

2

Goal Involvements per Match

0.31

Finally, he’s no slouch when it comes to the defensive side of the game either, with FOTmob revealing that he wins 6.09 duels and 4.05 aerial duels per 90 while also making 5.74 recoveries.

For comparison, Romero wins 5.46 duels and just 2.45 aerial duels per 90 while also making slightly fewer recoveries at 5.39 per 90.

Ultimately, we are not saying that Vušković will be able to immediately replicate what Romero can do next season.

However, he is undoubtedly one of the most exciting defensive prospects around, and with the right coaching, he could reach that level sooner than people expect, which would soften the Argentine’s departure.

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 7, 2025

It may not be have been confirmed just yet, but Wolverhampton Wanderers can begin planning for life in the Premier League next season, having all but secured survival following Saturday’s win over Ipswich Town.

In truth, Vitor Pereira’s men had already looked rather comfortable heading into that trip to Portman Road, albeit with the visitors showing a few early signs of nerves after the in-form Liam Delap pounced to steer the Tractor Boys into the lead.

To their credit, however, the Old Gold did not wilt even despite falling behind, with Pablo Sarabia dragging his side level late on, before man of the moment Jorgen Strand Larsen completed the turnaround with his 11th league goal of the campaign.

With 12 points now separating the two sides, it would take a remarkable collapse for Wolves to cede ground now with just seven games left to play, with new boss Pereira having superbly steadied the ship after a rocky start to 2024/25 under Gary O’Neil.

The Portuguese coach will now need to be handed the appropriate tools to help build on this momentum next season, albeit with there no doubt fears that the Midlands side could be raided for many of their key individuals – just as they were with the likes of Matheus Nunes.

Why Matheus Nunes left Wolves

There was no doubt a great deal of excitement at Molineux following what was a then-club record deal to sign Nunes from Sporting CP in the summer of 2022, with the Portugal international having previously been described as “one of the best players in the world” by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, amid his sparkling Champions League form.

It’s fair to say that the Old Gold didn’t exactly witness a player of that ilk during the midfielder’s solitary season at the club, as he scored just twice and registered only two assists in 41 games in all competitions.

There were notable highlights – including his stunning strike against Chelsea in May 2023 – yet such performances were few and far between, with Express and Star journalist Liam Keen stating that he had some real “had peaks and troughs in a Wolves shirt”.

Indeed, Keen also noted that he felt that Nunes viewed things as being “too easy for him”, with that attitude playing its part in his inability to really get going for the club, prior to being poached by Guardiola and Manchester City on a £53m deal in 2023.

That move to the Etihad had come amid Nunes’ refusal to train with Wolves, as he looked to push through a move, with sporting director Matt Hobbs certainly not mincing his words when discussing that turbulent exit:

While Nunes did apologise, before stating that the “opportunity” to join City was one he “couldn’t let… pass by”, it marked a sour end to a disappointing end to his brief Wolves association.

Hopefully a similar scenario doesn’t occur this summer.

Wolves could now have their next Matheus Nunes

With Nunes out the door – as well as the likes of Ruben Neves and Joao Moutinho in recent times – there has since been a real rebuild in the midfield ranks at Molineux, with Pereira now relying on the Brazilian pairing of Joao Gomes and Andre.

The combative duo were praised as a “quality” partnership by pundit Danny Murphy last month, while they were also lauded by their manager following Saturday’s win over Kieran McKenna’s side, with the pair having been “very good again” after dominating the game in the centre of the park.

The hope will be that neither man departs at the end of the season, with Pereira having seemingly found a winning formula. One high-profile figure who could be in line for an exit, however, is Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Like Nunes before him, the long-serving wing-back is being touted for a marquee move away from the Midlands side, with a fee of around £50m having been mooted for the 23-year-old, amid interest from the likes of Manchester United.

Previously described as “one of the Premier League’s best players in 2024” by Sky Sports journalist Dougie Critchley, the Algerian sensation has enjoyed another solid season at Molineux, chalking up eight goals and assists in the top flight thus far.

Also dubbed an “incredible talent” by former boss O’Neil, the France-born defender is actually noted as a similar player to Nunes among their fellow full-backs in the league this season, as per FBref, with the City man having been transitioned into that role of late, amid Guardiola boldly outling that the 26-year-old is “not clever enough” to feature more centrally.

Nunes vs Ait-Nouri comparison – 24/25

Stat (per 90)

Nunes

Ait-Nouri

Non-penalty goals

0.00

0.11

Assists

0.29

0.18

Shot-creating actions

2.50

2.33

Pass completion

86.1%

84.4%

Progressive passes

4.04

3.35

Progressive carries

3.60

2.40

Successful take-ons

0.96

1.69

Touches in opposition box

3.68

2.54

Tackles

1.91

2.72

Interceptions

0.88

0.74

Stats via FBref

The pair are notably alike with regard to their willingness to get forward from the defensive berth on the flanks, as evidenced by their assist record and touches in the opposition box, with Ait-Nouri a particularly dazzling dribber, as shown by the fact that he ranks in the top 2% for successful take-ons per 90.

With the current Wolves man seemingly the superior figure defensively, showcasing his qualities and all-rounder, it is no surprise that has caught the attention of elite Premier League clubs, having proven a real bargain following his £9.5m switch from Angers.

Like Nunes, Ait-Nouri could represent another marquee sale for Fosun and the Old Gold, albeit with the fleet-footed wing-back able to look back upon a far more fruitful stint at Molinuex, in contrast to his former colleague.

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Posts ByTom Cunningham Apr 5, 2025

Manchester City are still on course for Champions League qualification after one of the most unlikely comebacks you’ll see all season.

On Saturday lunchtime, the Sky Blues found themselves 2-0 down at home to Crystal Palace, with the Eagles having a third ruled out for offside, before squandering another gilt-edged opportunity, cutting Man City apart time after time with ease.

Thus, with 25 minutes on the clock, few would have forecast that the Citizens would run out 5-2 winners, as transpired.

Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick got the comeback started and then Omar Marmoush lashed home an equaliser soon after, with second-half goals from Mateo Kovačić and then youngsters James McAtee and Nico O’Reilly completing the turnaround.

So, with six games remaining, the Sky Blues remain in the hunt for a top five finish but, if they’re to make it, Pep Guardiola must give more opportunities to his “top talent” who’s showing flashes of a certain Davild Silva.

What made David Silva such a special player

David Silva arrived at Manchester City in the summer of 2010 for a reported £30m, a big fee at the time, as part of their first wave of eye-catching signings, alongside Jérôme Boateng, Yaya Touré, James Milner, Aleksandar Kolarov, Edin Džeko and Mario Balotelli.

Well, considering he now has a statue outside the Etihad, it’s fair to say Silva departed a Man City legend, with the table below outlining exactly why.

Appearances

436

Goals

77

Assists

131

Premier League titles

4

FA Cups

2

EFL Cups

5

During Silva’s first season in Manchester, he was a key figure in the side that won the FA Cup, beating Stoke 1-0 in the final, thereby securing the club’s first piece of major silverware for 35 years.

The following season, quite famously, the Citizens pipped Manchester United to the Premier League title on the final day, and this has really proved to be just the start of their dominance over the last decade or so.

Former teammate Kyle Walker claims that Silva is the best player he’s ever played with, while ex-Liverpool and England defender Jamie Carragher told the Telegraph that he believes the Spaniard is Man City’s ‘best-ever player’.

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However, do the Sky Blues currently have a homegrown youngster breaking into the first team with a skill-set reminiscent of the great midfielder?

Man City's next David Silva

Saturday saw the aforementioned McAtee make his full-Premier League debut for Manchester City, marking the occasion with a goal from one of his 27 touches of the ball, played in behind by Ederson before rounding Dean Henderson and slotting home, before pulling off a spectacular back-flip.

The 22-year-old has been on Man City’s books since the age of 11 and that was his 31st appearance for the first team, although only seven of these have been starts, all in the Community Shield, EFL Cup or FA Cup prior to this weekend.

He did see significantly more game time during a two-season loan spell at Sheffield United, making 75 appearances for the Blades, so let’s assess why he’s being compared to Silva.

Appearances

106

89

Minutes

5,245

6,742

Goals

21

13

Assists

9

27

Shots on target per 90

0.67

0.80

Touches

2,005

4,652

The table emphasises that McAtee still has a long way to go to ever reach Silva’s level, but he certainly has the potential to do so.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout labels him a “top talent”, impressed by his “electric pace and acceleration” as well as his “high technical” level and “dribbling” ability. Those last few traits, combined with the youngster’s marvelous left foot and low centre of gravity, are certainly reminiscent of Silva in his pomp.

Guardiola, meantime, said on Saturday “I know how good he is…we can rely on him”, so McAtee has certainly proved he deserves more starts during the remainder of this season.

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