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Shamsi says SA will have to rely more on spin than pace in the Caribbean leg of the T20 World Cup

Firdose Moonda15-Jun-20242:32

Morkel: South Africa need to have more intensity with bat

South Africa are “testing out all the scores,” as Tabraiz Shamsi jokingly put it when he accepted his Player-of-the-Match award after helping his team pull off another last-ball heist, against Nepal.Although South Africa topped Group D and are yet to lose a match in the tournament, their last two victories have come off the final ball and their match against Netherlands was decided in the penultimate over. “It’s a little bit closer than we’ve needed it to be,” Shamsi said.All four of their games have been low-scoring, starting with their opener against Sri Lanka, who they bowled out for 77. Then, South Africa chased 104 against Netherlands, having recovered from 12 for 4 to do it, and defended 113 against Bangladesh and 115 against Nepal. The first three totals could be somewhat explained by seamer-friendly conditions in New York, which was characterised by inconsistent bounce but the score in St Vincent was the result of what seemed like a misreading of conditions, which were more suited to spin. Captain Aiden Markram summed it up as them being “nowhere near our best and just lacked a bit of intensity and conviction in our game plans.”Related

Nepal captain Paudel: 'We were very close but a little far'

Heartbreak for Nepal as Shamsi scripts stunning turnaround

Amid chaos and randomness, South Africa hold their nerve (for a change)

While he did not isolate the top three, their form remains a concern. Between them, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks and Markram have scored 129 runs from 12 trips to the crease, at an average of 10.75. Only Uganda, Papua New Guinea and Ireland’s top three have fared worse. After being put in to bat against Nepal, their old Achilles’ heel against spin seemed to re-emerge as all seven of the wickets that fell were to Dipendra Singh Airee’s offspin and Khushal Bhurtel’s legspin.There may also have been reflection of an element of facing the unknown in the way South Africa performed against Nepal. This was the first time South Africa and Nepal have met in an international match and Markram conceded that Nepal, “put us under a lot of pressure,” as South Africa also navigated between playing morning games in the USA and a night match in St Vincent. “It has been a bit different because we spent the whole day almost doing nothing and there [in New York], we’d be playing first thing in the morning,” he said. “Moving forward some things may change. It’s one of the big challenges of cricket, being open minded and adapting.”Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks are yet to fire like they can•AFP/Getty Images

For Shamsi, the key to playing in the Caribbean is recognising that there will be a need to shift away from reliance on pace to spin. “Our fast bowlers did a great job in New York but our slower bowlers will have to take up the mantle now,” he said.South Africa came prepared for that, and included three specialist spinners in their 15-player squad. So far, they have only fielded one of them per game, with Keshav Maharaj playing in New York and Shamsi in St Vincent, but Markram conceded they both should have played against Nepal. Left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin has yet to come into the conversation but with a reputation for taking wickets with the new ball, he may also feature in the Super Eight. South Africa were the first team to qualify for that round and Markam is hopeful they can “put a more complete game of cricket together now that we move forward to the business end of the competition.”Ultimately, some may be of the view that may not be what it takes for South Africa to win their first World Cup. Historically – and often despite strong performances in the group stages – South Africa have crumbled in crunch moments and lost games that they seemed on course to win. Now, with three close results, they’ve shown an ability to hold their nerve. “We’ve been put under pressure in every single game and we have stood up to it,” Shamsi said.Importantly, they also found different match-winners. Against Netherlands, David Miller’s 51-ball 59 took them over line, against Bangladesh, Keshav Maharaj’s 3 for 27 did the trick and against Nepal, Shamsi’s 4 for 19 was vital to their victory. Throughout Ottneil Baartman’s performances have been exemplary and added variation to an attack that has sometimes been too one-dimensional.The top order issues aside, South Africa seem to be ticking along well or as Shamsi said: “When this team is rolling, everybody knows their roles.”

Arsenal have made a left-field transfer approach amid sporting director Andrea Berta’s hunt for new forwards, with Mikel Arteta’s side moving for one of Jose Mourinho’s key targets for Fenerbahce.

Related £150k-per-week Premier League star in London after agreeing Arsenal move

Arsenal are about to make a signing.

Posts 2 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 25, 2025

The north Londoners want to reinforce their attacking options ahead of a potentially more fruitful Premier League title challenge next season, and new sporting director Andrea Berta has been targeting both wingers and strikers.

Arsenal transfer spending under Arteta (via Sky Sports)

Money on new signings

19/20 – winter

£0

20/21 – summer

£81.5m

20/21 – winter

£900k

21/22 – summer

£156.8m

21/22 – winter

£1.8m

22/23 – summer

£121.5m

22/23 – winter

£59m

23/24 – summer

£208m

23/24 – winter

£0

24/25 – summer

£101.5m

24/25 – winter

£0

Their pursuit of a number nine – likely to be one of Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres as Berta remains working on both deals simultaneously – is grabbing most of the headlines, but Arsenal definitely want a new winger as well.

Real Madrid star Rodrygo is their “dream” target, according to Fabrizio Romano, but the Brazil international’s £205,000-per-week wages and reported £77 million price tag make this move a difficult one to pull off, not to mention the task of convincing him to leave world football’s most elite side.

It may, however, be far easier to negotiate with Man United over a move for outcast Jadon Sancho, who are reportedly desperate to cut the Englishman’s £300,000-per-week salary from their wage bill.

Arsenal make "surprise" approach for Jadon Sancho

As per CaughtOffside, in collaboration with Nigerian journalist Buchi Laba, Arsenal have made an enquiry over Sancho, which the outlet states may come as a “surprise” to some.

Arteta’s side are yet to follow that up with formal talks, though, with Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe appearing to be in the driving seat as things stand. The Portuguese has personally spoken with Sancho about swapping England for the Turkish Süper Lig, and if the player gives his green-light, United’s eagerness to sell means this won’t be a difficult deal to do.

If Arsenal are to hijack this move, they’ll have to move in quickly, as Fenerbahçe have also made Sancho a tempting contract offer with high wages – a proposal which he’s “seriously” considering.

The 25-year-old England international finds himself at a crossroads, despite flashes of brilliance during a mixed loan spell at Chelsea. Sancho scored in their Conference League final win over Real Betis, and his overall performances in west London were enough to convince Chelsea to hold talks with the winger over making his stay permanent.

However, they ultimately failed to reach an agreement, leaving Sancho in limbo, with a key decision set to be made on whether to leave England once again. For Arsenal, they must now decide whether to intensify their pursuit or focus all of their attention on the likes of Rodrygo.

If they do try their hand at competing for Sancho, Berta and co will likely want to negotiate a lower salary, as his current £300,000-per-week wages would make him Arsenal’s highest-paid player.

There is also the added complication from Juventus, who are poised to open talks for the ex-Borussia Dortmund sensation (Sky Sports).

Liverpool are preparing for the 2025/26 campaign by packing Arne Slot’s squad with high-quality additions. After winning the Premier League last term, the Reds are looking to defend their title and challenge for silverware across other fronts.

As you will likely have seen, Liverpool have agreed a £116m deal with Bayer Leverkusen for the transfer of Florian Wirtz, who has been described as a “game-changer” with a skillset that is “dangerous for every opponent” by former Bayern Munich technical director Marco Neppe.

With Darwin Nunez’s sale expected at some point in the coming months, Anfield will surely welcome a new number nine through the gates, but there are other areas of the field that need attention too.

Indeed, the Reds have already tried to sign one of the best young centre-backs in the world in Dean Huijsen.

Why Liverpool wanted Dean Huijsen

Why did Liverpool want Huijsen? Well, for the same reason as everyone else: the Dutch-born Spain star was immense for Bournemouth after joining from Juventus for £15m, with analyst Ben Mattinson even declaring him “the most in-demand centre-back in the world.”

The problem, as ever, was that Real Madrid also wanted the 20-year-old, and when they came knocking, the youngster’s decision was set.

Activating his £50m release clause, Los Blancos have added one of the finest young defenders to their ranks, and Liverpool will now need to turn their attention elsewhere, for more depth is needed in the rearguard following a paucity of defensive signings in recent years.

Ah well, he’s not the only young defender worth their salt playing in one of Europe’s top five leagues right now. In fact, he might not even be the best up-and-coming centre-back from the recent Premier League season.

There’s another, albeit with a bit more experience, who is on Liverpool’s radar and could prove an upgrade on the Spain international.

Liverpool in race for new centre-back

As per transfer insider Graeme Bailey, Liverpool are still concerned about Ibrahima Konate’s contract situation, with the Frenchman entering the final year of his deal.

Transfer Focus

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

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As such, FSG have stayed in the race for Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. The 22-year-old has been fantastic over the past couple of years on Merseyside, taking another step in his development since David Moyes was appointed in January.

Liverpool are not alone in their interest. Tottenham Hotspur are also keen on the £70m-rated star, while Manchester United have a historic interest and would be certain to make their name known if more clarity were to be provided on the Englishman’s future in the coming weeks.

A move wouldn’t be made until Konate’s future is sorted, but if a breakthrough cannot be found, Branthwaite could become a hot topic on Merseyside this summer.

Why Liverpool want Jarrad Branthwaite

Standing at 6 foot 5, Branthwaite is a powerful and menacing defensive presence, protecting his backline with iron-clad resolve and steel-tipped challenges.

Though he’s less at home in a pass-heavy environment than Huijsen, there’s a strong case to be made that the Evertonian could have the brighter future ahead of him, with the Toffees actually valuing their prized possession at £75m when the Red Devils came calling last year.

Looking at the data from the English top flight last year, you can see that while Huijsen outperformed his positional peer from an attacking standpoint, Branthwaite was more confident in the duel and maintained a similar passing crispness despite his tactical deployment.

Prem 24/25 – Dean Huijsen vs Jarrad Branthwaite

Stats (* per game)

Huijsen

Branthwaite

Matches (starts)

32 (26)

30 (28)

Goals

3

0

Assists

2

1

Touches*

63.9

51.9

Pass completion

84%

83%

Key passes*

0.5

0.1

Ball recoveries*

3.3

3.1

Tackles + interceptions*

2.7

2.1

Clearances*

6.1

6.3

Ground duels (won)*

3.6 (56%)

3.9 (63%)

Data via Sofascore

It’s worth noting that more active defensive numbers don’t automatically qualify for superiority as a centre-back. In fact, Branthwaite’s ability to read the game like a scholar and act only when the situation demands is not too dissimilar to Virgil van Dijk’s approach.

Given the Everton man’s left-footedness, he might be the Dutchman’s perfect heir, albeit one who would arrive in contentious circumstances.

But no matter. Liverpool, after all, are currently dealing with a potential double swoop from the Toffees for two of their first-teamers: Ben Doak and Joe Gomez have been reported to be on their rivals’ radar.

And for Branthwaite’s part, there’s a subtle undertow to his actions this year that suggests he would be up for the cross-city switch. In March, the English defender expressed concerns after being overlooked by England manager Thomas Tuchel, who once again neglected to call him up for the recent (difficult) camp.

In all likelihood, Tuchel was wary about bringing a defender into the fold whose club-level tactics are at such variance to the on-the-ball style the Three Lions are looking to implement.

Premier League Possession Stats (24/25)

League Rank

Club

%

16th

Leicester

45.4%

17th

Crystal Palace

42.8%

18th

Nott’m Forest

41.2%

19th

Everton

40.9%

20th

Ipswich

40.6%

Data via FBref

Huijsen, sure, has already established a ball-playing game to admire, but Branthwaite isn’t against the kind of tactical principles that would see him hit his stride at Liverpool.

Indeed, when out on loan at PSV Eindhoven in 2022/23, he completed 87% of his passes, averaged 0.3 key passes per game and also completed an impressive 64% of his long balls, as per Sofascore.

Of course, Branthwaite is also just an “absolute monster” of a central defender, as he was called by talent scout Jacek Kulig after his exemplary breakout campaign in 2023/24.

A major player for Everton once again over the past 12 months, Branthwaite has surely proved enough over the past couple of years to convince Liverpool’s sporting director, Richard Hughes, and the rest of the transfer team that he could be the perfect addition.

Perhaps not quite so attuned to a ball-playing style as Huijsen, the hulking defender may yet sharpen that element of his game, and under Slot’s wing, his overall ability would surely see him prove an upgrade on Real Madrid’s new recruit.

Related A bigger mistake than Diaz: Liverpool now in talks to sell £50m star

Liverpool should think twice about parting ways with this talented first-teamer.

Posts 1 ByAngus Sinclair Jun 12, 2025

Leeds United are close to securing their first signing of the 2025 summer transfer window. The Whites are now back in the Premier League following promotion success in the 2024/25 campaign, and are now seemingly ready to splash the cash in order to survive, something that has been a struggle in recent seasons for newly-promoted sides.

Highly reputable journalist Fabrizio Romano gave his famous “here we go” tagline to Leeds’ move for Jaka Bijol.

The Slovenian centre-back will join the club for £18.7m from Italian side Udinese, as their first major signing of the summer.

Daniel Farke’s side are now lining up their next signing, who could prove to be an even better addition than their new centre-back.

Leeds' next signing after Bijol

It is certainly an early statement of intent from the Yorkshire side. Bijol is an “immense” player according to Sky Sports’ Dougiue Critchely, so for Leeds to have all but confirmed his move to Elland Road is a strong start to the window.

Transfer Focus

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

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Things could be about to get even better for the 2024/25 Championship winners. TEAMtalk are now reporting that Fulham striker Rodrigo Muniz is a target, with Leeds ‘ready to make a fresh push’ for the 24-year-old Brazilian.

However, this will not be an easy deal to do, with the report describing it as ‘difficult’.

The two clubs are some way apart in their valuation of the striker at this stage. Whilst the West Londoners want upwards of £50m, Leeds are hoping to do a deal around the £35m mark. Thus, ‘there remains lots of talking to be done’ in order for this transfer to progress.

Why Muniz would be a good signing

Bringing Muniz to Elland Road could be a huge addition for the Whites this summer. Crucially, he is a Premier League-proven player, with a track record of scoring goals in the English top flight during his two seasons at Craven Cottage.

Last term, the former Flamengo player found the back of the net on eight occasions in 31 appearances, grabbing an assist along the way, too.

He played just 950 minutes, the equivalent of ten full 90-minute games, meaning he was not far off a goal per game on average.

There is no doubt that Bijol is an excellent addition for the Whites. Pundits like Critchley rate him highly, and he helped keep eight clean sheets in 34 games last season for Udinese, captaining them at times, too.

He will certainly help to strengthen at the back at Elland Road, and will add some more leadership to Farke’s squad. That will be invaluable going into what will be a tough campaign in 2025/26, avoiding relegation.

However, perhaps there is a strong case to be made that Muniz will be an even better signing for Leeds, and for one reason. He is a proven Premier League goalscorer, having notched up nine in 2023/24 and, of course, eight last term.

In the last two seasons, all six newly-promoted sides have been relegated, and Leeds have a chance to buck that trend. Well, an experienced top-flight striker will count for lots. They will surely need his goals.

Of those six relegated sides, he was outscored by two Luton Town players in 2023/24, namely Carlton Morris and Elijah Adebayo, who scored 11 and 10, respectively. Last season, Liam Delap, now a Chelsea player, scored 12 goals, and the evergreen Jamie Vardy outscored him by one.

That said, Muniz was not always a regular starter and did actually score considerably more goals per 90 minutes which bodes well should he become Farke’s number one choice.

Relegated sides’ top goalscorers in last 2 seasons vs. Muniz

Player

Club

Goals

Goals per 90

Liam Delap

Ipswich

12

0.42

Carlton Morris

Luton

11

0.35

Rodrigo Muniz (2023/24)

Fulham

9

0.51

Jamie Vardy

Leicester

9

0.29

Rodrigo Muniz (2024/25)

Fulham

8

0.75

Jacob Bruun Larsen

Burnley

6

0.33

Brereton Diaz/McBurnie

Sheffield United

6

0.25 & 0.42

Paul Onuachu

Southampton

4

0.34

Stats from Premier League

Generally speaking, you need a top striker to regularly score goals and help keep you in the Premier League. Well, Muniz could be the guy for Leeds.

Not only did he score eight times in ten full 90-minute games last term, but his non-penalty expected goals of 0.75 per game as per FBref, was among the best 5% in the top flight.

He has the potential to explode if given a run of games by Farke. He could become a “revelation” in a Leeds shirt, a word football talent scout Jacek Kulig once used to describe him. £50m is a big investment, but it could be worth it if Leeds stay in the top flight.

Related A Chris Wood repeat: Euro club in talks to sign "dynamite" £13m Leeds star

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Posts ByDan Emery Jun 16, 2025

Aston Villa’s first transfer window of the summer is now officially underway, with club president Monchi given a small chance to recruit new players from June 1 to June 10, with the window then reopening again on June 16 through to September 1.

Aston Villa transfer window challenges amid PSR concern

Villa eventually missed out on qualification for the Champions League during a tense final day battle, but Unai Emery does have Europa League football to look forward to, and there is every chance they can go on to win the competition.

Related Aston Villa submit bid to sign "unique" £21m defender and receive reply

The Villans have launched a move for a right-back…

Posts ByDominic Lund May 29, 2025

As we’ve seen from Tottenham’s recent triumph against Man United in Bilbao, it would hand Villa a unique route back into the Champions League for 2026/2027, so Emery will be taking their Europa League conquest very seriously.

Race for Champions League qualification – Final standings

Rank

Team

Points

GD

3

Man City

71

+28

4

Chelsea

69

+21

5

Newcastle

66

+21

6

Aston Villa

66

+7

7

Nottingham Forest

65

+12

It is set to be a big summer for NSWE, as their failure to qualify for Europe’s most prestigious competition next season makes the next two transfer windows ever so slightly trickier – both financially and in terms of attracting the continent’s best players.

There is also the matter of PSR, with Villa announcing substantial losses of £85.4 million for the 2023/2024 season back in April. Reports even suggest that they may have to sell their women’s team to comply with PSR (The Times), but BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty says that any player sales conducted this summer will be carefully thought out.

“Aston Villa may have to do deals to fend off any lingering PSR concerns, but I think the club are in safe hands with the current ownership and those sales will be smart without weakening the squad,” said McNulty.

“We have even seen Morgan Rogers linked with Chelsea, but I do not see Villa entertaining that sort of deal as they want to push on from what Unai Emery has already achieved.”

Mainstay Villa keeper Emiliano Martínez is a key player who’s been repeatedly linked with the exit door recently, with Espanyol star Joan Garcia recently eyed up as a potential replacement for the Argentine.

Unai Emery rates Joan Garcia "highly" as Aston Villa face Barcelona threat

There are suggestions in Spain that Villa have already made an offer for Garcia, whose contract includes a £25 million release clause, but this is yet to gain traction among reliable media outlets closer to home.

To make matters more complicated, Fabrizio Romano and other reliable media sources also state that Barcelona are thought to be very advanced over a transfer for Garcia – so NSWE may now need to launch a hijack attempt.

Commenting on Villa’s links to the “exciting” 25-year-old, and Martinez’s potential exit, a former chief scout at Villa Park, Mick Brown, has shared what he’s heard on the matter.

Speaking to Football Insider, Brown says that Emery rates Garcia “highly” as Aston Villa plot a move for him, with Martinez looking likely to leave the club.

“Emery and Monchi still have strong connections in Spain,” said Brown.

“They’ll be speaking to them about the possibility of the deal because they’ve identified this Joan Garcia as one of their options in goal. In normal circumstances, if you’ve got a goalkeeper like Emi Martinez, you’re going to want to keep him.

“But the financial situation they’re in after missing out on the Champions League, and a bit of interference from his agent, mean they might have to sell. There’s been a lot of talk about his future at the club.

“So with that, they’ve already started looking at players who could come in and replace him.

“I don’t know much about the Spanish goalkeeper, but he’s young and Emery rates him highly, so he could well be the one they go for.”

An “excellent” Newcastle United player is thought to be a priority target for one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs this summer.

Newcastle players who could leave this summer

While the Magpies are expecting a busy summer transfer window in terms of new signings, especially if Champions League football is secured this weekend, there are plenty of current star names being linked with exits before next season gets underway.

Alexander Isak is the player that Newcastle will be most desperate to retain, but the Swede is believed to be the subject of interest from some huge clubs such as Liverpool and Arsenal.

Meanwhile, the Reds could reportedly be back in for Anthony Gordon this summer, having shown a willingness to snap him up last year. They see him as a potential replacement for Luis Diaz, although signing Florian Wirtz would surely put paid to their interest in the Magpies ace.

There are others who Newcastle want to ensure are still at the club in 2025/26, like Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali. However, another exit claim regarding another individual has emerged.

"Excellent" Newcastle player wanted by Man City

According to Fabrizio Romano on X, Manchester City are targeting a move for Newcastle defender Tino Livramento as their primary right-back target, with the 22-year-old potentially becoming the first player to leave St James’ Park this summer despite the rumours elsewhere:

Losing Livramento would be a setback for the Magpies, considering he has proven to be the natural heir to Kieran Trippier in his position, and still has his best years ahead of him.

The £50,000-a-week Englishman has enjoyed an impressive season for Newcastle, starting 31 of his side’s 37 Premier League matches and being lauded by Eddie Howe:

“Athletically, Tino’s excellent and we know that, and we’ve seen that since he’s come to the football club, but to have that responsibility of playing left-back on the opposite side to his natural foot and play the way he has and also build the relationship with Harvey [Barnes] that he has done.”

If Livramento ultimately decides that he would rather join City than stay at Newcastle, Paul Mitchell must do all he can to ensure that the club receives huge money for him in order to sign a top-quality replacement.

Tino Livramento’s 2024/25 Premier League stats

Total

Appearances

36

Starts

31

Minutes played

2752

Goals

0

Assists

1

Clearances per game

2.5

Tackles per game

1.5

Pass completion rate

87.2%

The 22-year-old isn’t out of contract at St James’ until the summer of 2028, putting the Magpies in a strong bargaining position, but hopefully, he will feel that his future belongs with his current team, seeing plenty more success coming their way.

Tottenham Hotspur failed to win for the 24th time in 35 Premier League matches yesterday, being held to a 1-1 draw by London rivals West Ham United.

Ange Postecoglou’s side went ahead early on through Wilson Odobert, but were unable to hold on to claim a rare three points after Jarrod Bowen’s equaliser.

Given the lack of importance to the fixture with nothing left to play for in the league, it’s no surprise that the Lilywhites failed to deliver, with all eyes on the Europa League semi-final on Thursday night.

However, the remaining outings give the manager an opportunity to evaluate his first-team squad ahead of the upcoming summer transfer window in North London.

Numerous players will likely be moved on from the club, with investment and changes desperately needed if they are to reach the heights they have done in previous years.

Spurs’ poor performers against West Ham

Yves Bissouma produced an excellent showing against Bodo Glimt on Thursday, but the same can’t be said about his display against the Hammers yesterday.

The Malian featured for the entirety of the contest, but lost possession ten times and failed to complete any of his dribbles – looking extremely wasteful with the ball at his feet.

Fellow midfielder Dejan Kulusevski has struggled to match his high levels of performance after his recent injury layoff, with his showing in East London another cause for concern.

The Swede lost 12 duels during the draw – the most of any player on the pitch – whilst also completing just one of his six attempted dribbles, unable to catapult the side to all three points.

However, despite the showings of the aforementioned duo, one other Spurs star struggled to make an impact, potentially ending his stint at the club ahead of next season.

The Spurs who needs to be sold after a 4/10 display

No Spurs fan could’ve envisaged how poor the current campaign has been, but a repeat simply can’t happen next season, with huge work needing to be done during the off-season.

Incomings and outgoings are needed across the board, with owner Daniel Levy needing to put his hand in his pocket to hand Postecoglou the tools he needs.

Given the lack of spending from the board in recent years, it’s likely that sales will be needed, resulting in the manager cutting a lot of the deadwood currently on the books in North London.

One of those who should be sold is striker Richarlison, who failed to take advantage of the start handed to him against the Hammers yesterday afternoon.

The Brazilian only managed to register a total of 22 touches during the draw – a tally lower than that of goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, who notched a total of 44, highlighting his lack of impact in the final third.

He also only managed to post a tally of four passes completed, and failed to complete any of the dribbles he attempted, leading to his withdrawal in the 68th minute.

Richarlison was also caught offside twice during the contest, unable to direct any of his efforts on goal and deserving of his substitution – subsequently replaced by youngster Mikey Moore.

Richarlison’s stats for Spurs against West Ham

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

68

Touches

22

Pass completed

4/10 (40%)

Dribbles completed

0/2 (0%)

Times caught offside

2

Shots on target

0

Possession lost

11x

Stats via SofaScore

As a result of his showing, he was handed a measly 4/10 match rating by London World’s Tony Bryant – topping off what was a disappointing showing at the London Stadium.

After such a showing, it’s evident that he doesn’t have the tools required for a side needing to return to the top level after a hugely embarrassing season in the Premier League.

If the side are to jump back up the standings, departures are needed, with Richarlison needing to be one of the first to be sacrificed by Postecoglou and the club’s hierarchy.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes May 3, 2025

When discussing Manchester United’s long-running malaise, many will point to the end of the Sir Alex Ferguson dynasty as a defining, watershed moment in the club’s fortunes, with the Scotsman’s retirement marking the end of the Red Devils’ domestic dominance.

It could be argued, however, that the slide had begun even prior to Fergie’s exit, with even his own recruitment – while impacted by the Glazer takeover in 2005 – needing to be put under the microscope.

Indeed, cast your mind back to the summer of 2009. United had just romped to a third successive Premier League title, having also been defeated by Barcelona in what was a second Champions League final in a row.

Two league titles and another outing in a European showpiece did follow over the next four years, yet that moment marked the beginning of the end for the last of Ferguson’s great United sides, with Carlos Tevez moving on to upstart rivals Manchester City, while Cristiano Ronaldo sealed a long-awaited, world record switch to Real Madrid.

To make matters worse, the incomings could hardly have been more underwhelming. Ronaldo’s number seven shirt was taken over by an ageing Michael Owen, while options on the flanks were ‘bolstered’ by the signings of Antonio Valencia and, who can forget, Gabriel Obertan.

In many ways, that Ronaldo-shaped void on the flanks has hardly been filled in the years since, despite a plethora of attacking signings. Could that soon be set to change?

Latest on Man Utd's search for a forward

Ruben Amorim’s pursuit of Matheus Cunha has highlighted that the Portuguese is potentially seeking a different profile of player to operate in one of the two number ten berths, with the towering Wolverhampton Wanderers man more comfortable in a central role than on the flanks.

The need for a genuine winger in the 3-4-3 setup can be questioned – a fact highlighted by doubts over Alejandro Garnacho’s future at Old Trafford – although it is not unrealistic to assume that a potential attacking target could be moulded into what Amorim wants from his forwards.

Sometimes, there are options out there that are simply too good to ignore, with Paris Saint-Germain’s Desire Doue seemingly one of them. As reported in Spain, the Red Devils are believed to be ‘vying’ for the Frenchman’s signature.

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The highly-rated teenager only made the move to Paris from Stade Rennais on a £43m deal last summer, although a dazzling debut campaign at the Parc des Princes has earned unsurprising glances from afar, with INEOS said to have placed the 19-year-old at the ‘centre of their transfer radar’.

The suggestion is that such interest ‘goes beyond’ simply monitoring his progress, although a deal certainly ‘won’t be easy’ – not least if Luis Enrique and co stick to their reported €300m (£275m) asking price.

Something would have to give in that regard if a deal was to be agreed, although a move for Doue could represent United’s best since the days of ‘CR7’.

Man Utd could land their best winger since Ronaldo

Once the home of Ryan Giggs and David Beckham, the Theatre of Dreams has become a real graveyard for wingers, in particular, in recent times, with a raft of high profile stars having come and gone across the last decade or so.

Man Utd record for selected wingers (past and present)

Player

Games

Goals

Assists

Total G/A

Antony

96

12

5

17

Anthony Elanga

55

4

4

8

Amad

57

12

10

22

Jadon Sancho

83

12

6

18

Alejandro Garnacho

138

25

21

45

Dan James

74

9

9

18

Angel Di Maria

34

4

12

16

Henrikh Mkhitaryan

63

13

11

24

Memphis Depay

53

7

6

13

Stats via Transfermarkt

As evidenced in the table above, marquee moves for the likes of Jadon Sancho and Antony – signed for £73m and £86m, respectively – have simply backfired, with United rarely getting bang for their buck.

Perhaps only Marcus Rashford – now out on loan at Aston Villa – has truly impressed for an extended period in the wake of Ronaldo, after chalking up 138 goals in 426 games, albeit with the Englishman’s best work having perhaps actually come in a central role, rather than out wide.

Has there really been anyone close to Ronaldo’s ilk post-2009?

Has anyone come close to the Portuguese’s Ballon d’Or-winning pomp in 2008, when he ravaged all before him?

It is still early days in his senior career, although the teenage Doue is showing signs of potentially emerging as a world-class sensation in his own right, having been hailed as a “superstar in the making” by journalist Julien Laurens.

Likened to his idol, Neymar, amid his switch to the French captial, the former Rennes starlet has already registered 25 goals and assists in 48 games in all competitions this season, including six goal involvements in just 14 Champions League outings.

It is that form on the continent which has notably caught the eye, with Doue memorably rifling home in exquisite fashion in PSG’s first-leg win over Villa, having left Emi Martinez looking utterly helpless in the visiting goal.

Described as the ‘talk of Europe’ by BBC Sport’s Phil McNulty, the in-demand winger also showed flashes of his quality against Arsenal on Tuesday night, having produced a delightful Neymar-esque touch at one stage to control the ball.

Fleet of foot and with a desire to beat his man, Doue perhaps emulates Ronaldo in that regard, with such dribbling prowess evidenced by the fact that he ranks in the top 4% among his European peers for successful take-ons, and in the top 7% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

Also comfortable operating on either flank – much like Ronaldo was during his time under Fergie – the rising star looks destined to dazzle for years to come, with French football now boasting another ‘superstar’ to celebrate.

Yes, Amorim’s approach may not necessarily offer a home to a winger in the traditional sense, but Doue – who can also operate as a number ten – would a sensational upgrade in any of United’s attacking roles.

He could even end the long wait at Old Trafford for a Ronaldo-level superstar out wide…

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Celtic are closing in on a fourth successive Scottish Premiership title and are in the semi-finals of the SFA Cup, with a chance to clinch a domestic treble.

Their ongoing success on the pitch this season has not stopped the club from looking to bolster their squad in the upcoming summer transfer window, though, as they have already agreed to sign Kieran Tierney on a free transfer.

The Scotland international is returning to Parkhead for the first time since his £25m move to Arsenal in the summer of 2019, which made him the most expensive Hoops academy graduate in history.

Most expensive Celtic academy graduate sales

Celtic have produced some excellent players from their academy, as the likes of Andy Robertson, Aaron Hickey, and Ben Doak have come through the youth set-up, but they have not always extracted great value out of their young talents.

Tierney’s £25m move to Arsenal is one of only three sales in the club’s history involving an academy graduate that was worth more than £1.6m, as shown in the table below.

Celtic’s most expensive academy graduate sales

Player

Fee

Kieran Tierney

£25m reported fee

Aiden McGeady

£10.3m

Mikey Johnston

£3m

Craig Beattie

£1.6m

Stephen McManus

£1.5m

Charlie Nicholas

£1.4m

Fees via Transfermarkt & Sky Sports

The Hoops have not been able to consistently produce high-value assets that they have been able to sell for millions, which is something that they may look to improve on in the coming years.

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Celtic, actually, had an exciting young academy prospect on their hands last season in the form of Rocco Vata, before they failed to convince him to extend his contract at Parkhead, and he left to join Watford for a compensation fee of £250k.

Rocco Vata is now being compared to a £100m talent

The Ireland international scored 23 goals in 34 B team matches for the Scottish giants, but only played three minutes in the Scottish Premiership last season before his exit last summer.

Since joining Watford, Vata has scored four goals and provided three assists in 33 first-team matches for the Hornets in all competitions in the 2024/25 campaign, and has earned a comparison to a player who has been valued at a whopping £100m.

Oxford City scout and recruitment analyst Hayden on X compared the Irish whiz to Tyler Dibling, suggesting that he would be a suitable alternative to teams interested in the Southampton teen, and that he was “impressed” by the Watford star.

The Saints have reportedly placed a £100m price tag over Dibling’s head, despite the 19-year-old having produced two goals and zero assists in 28 Premier League games this season.

Vata, who talent scout Jacek Kulig claimed has an “exciting” future, has scored three goals, created four ‘big chances’, and delivered three assists in 29 appearances in the Championship for the Hornets, showing great promise at such a young age.

It remains to be seen whether or not Southampton will sell Dibling for £100m or how much Watford would demand for their Irish 19-year-old starlet, but he appears to be on track to be another player Celtic have lost before they could extract maximum value from them.

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The Hoops must, therefore, regret not being able to keep hold of him last summer because he is a talented young prospect who could have had an exciting future at Parkhead, given his first-team emergence in the English Championship this term and the comparison to a £100m-rated starlet.

Manchester City backed up a comeback victory over AFC Bournemouth in the FA Cup with a straightforward 2-0 win over relegation-doomed Leicester City in the Premier League on Wednesday evening.

Pep Guardiola’s men weren’t hindered one bit by the absence of Erling Haaland through injury with the Foxes only managing two shots all night to try and snatch an unlikely result at the Etihad.

Instead, January signing Omar Marmoush stood out once more for the Citizens as their main marksman, but it was the exploits of Jack Grealish in the number ten role behind the Egyptian that stole many of the plaudits come the full-time whistle.

Jack Grealish's performance in numbers

Even as Marmoush collected another strike to add to his ever-growing City back-catalogue, Grealish would dominate most of the conversation post-match for his stylish showing as a central attacking midfielder.

After all, the ex-Aston Villa man got his team up and running with the opening strike just minutes into the one-sided clash, with the Birmingham-born ace stroking the ball into the back of Mads Hermansen’s net to amazingly collect his first Premier League goal for a long 16 months.

The 29-year-old will hope this standout performance pushes him on to more positive showings in the near future, with the up-and-down number ten finishing off the contest with two key passes next to his name from 50 accurate passes overall.

It could be argued that – in the short-term – Grealish could take over the reins from Kevin De Bruyne well, therefore, with there being a growing likelihood that the Belgian great will depart the Citizens very soon.

But, there is another unlikely candidate away from the 29-year-old who could be Guardiola’s next creative force similar to De Bruyne.

Guardiola's next creative superstar

Whilst there will be smiles aplenty that Grealish opened the scoring in the 2-0 victory, the ex-Villa midfielder is also known to be inconsistent and fleeting with his moments of magic, alongside the fact the 5 foot 11 presence is also nearing 30 years of age.

Therefore, Guardiola could be seeking out fresher blood when searching for his side’s next version of the electric number 17, with Savinho ticking all the boxes on Wednesday night when constantly finding openings.

Savinho’s performance in numbers

Stat

Savinho

Minutes played

85

Goals scored

0

Assists

1

Touches

61

Accurate passes

38/41 (93%)

Key passes

5

Shots on goal

2

Successful dribbles

2/4

Total duels won

6/11

Stats by Sofascore

Far from the finished article when it comes to slotting home chances – with two shots on goal not finding the back of the net – the Brazilian does excel when carving out opportunities for his thankful teammates, leading to one burst forward early on being gobbled by an expectant Grealish.

Finishing his exciting 85-minute spell on the pitch with five key passes next to his name, alongside two successful dribbles being amassed, the 20-year-old would have been pleased with his efforts, knowing there’s plenty more in his tank to come as he matures in Manchester.

After all, the gung-ho number 26 was an assist king with former employer Girona when tallying up 11 goals and ten assists from 41 appearances, with his assist total at City already up to a sizeable 12 from two fewer games. That makes him the most creative player in the squad this season, four clear of Matheus Nunes and five clear of that man De Bruyne.

Therefore, the Brazilian could well be the man Pep looks to in terms of creating chances when the Belgian departs, with the long-standing Citizens servant up to a jaw-dropping 174 assists himself.

Savinho is some way off that total, obviously, but the baton is likely to be handed over soon when the 33-year-old icon exits the building, with the tricky winger ready to become the club’s next creative superstar.

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