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Middlesex suffer first defeat of campaign in rain-affected chase at Hove

ECB Reporters Network03-Jun-2022Ravi Bopara’s captain’s innings of 54 not out off 36 balls at Hove helped Sussex Sharks to inflict a first defeat of the Vitality Blast campaign on Middlesex.Bopara was joined in a decisive sixth-wicket unbroken stand of 58 in 6.5 overs by Harrison Ward as Sussex won a rain-affected contest by five wickets with three balls to spare to draw alongside their South Group opponents with a third victory – albeit having played one match more than Middlesex.Ward hit Toby Roland-Jones over long on off the back foot for six in a 14th over costing 16 and in which both Ward and Bopara also collected legside fours.And a crowd of more than 4,000 at the First Central County Ground lapped it up when, with 10 needed from the last over, Bopara swung Martin Andersson’s fast-medium high over long on and followed it next ball with a leg-glanced four to complete the win.West Indian left-arm seamer Obed McCoy, meanwhile, claimed 4 for 30 in Middlesex’s 163 all out, in which Joe Cracknell hit two sixes and eight fours in a 49-ball 68.Rain delayed the start of Sussex’s chase, leaving them to score 146 from 17 overs to win on Duckworth Lewis Stern regulations, and Roland-Jones struck with his first ball to have Luke Wright caught for 5 at deep mid wicket.The Sharks were 20 for 2 when Jason Behrendorff bowled Ali Orr for 10 and an even shakier 37 for 3 as Roland-Jones returned to have Tom Alsop caught in the deep for 8.New Zealand keeper-batsman Tim Seifert played attractively for a 21-ball 35 on his Sussex debut, with six fours and a six pulled off Luke Hollman’s leg spin, but he was leg-before to a Martin Andersson near-yorker and two overs later, in the 10th, Delray Rawlins was pinned lbw for 10 by Chris Green having just smeared the off spinner for six.But Bopara and Ward made an equation of 46 from the last five overs look relatively simple, with Bopara finishing with a six and seven fours and Ward unbeaten on 22.Earlier Steven Finn took 3 for 29 against his former county, striking with his first ball of the evening when Max Holden lifted a square drive straight to the fielder on the cover boundary to go for 5 in the second over.Stevie Eskinazi also played well for 31, from just 18 balls, but after slashing Finn and driving Rawlins for sixes he fell to the last ball of Middlesex’s powerplay – making room to hit Finn away for what would have been a third four of the over but thin-edging instead to keeper Seifert.Middlesex were 101 for two at the halfway mark of their innings, but instead of pushing on to something intimidating they fell away in disappointing fashion, losing their last eight wickets for 56 runs in 9.1 overs.McCoy began the slump, picking up the wickets of Jack Davies and Andersson in his second over, the 11th. Left-hander Davies went for 14, slashing high to deep cover, and Andersson edged behind for 1.Finn, with his first ball back, then made it 113 for 5 at the start of the 13th over when John Simpson, slicing a back-foot force, was spectacularly caught right-handed by a diving Wright at short third man to go for 2.Cracknell did pick up Tymal Mills for six behind deep square leg, having earlier plundered three fours from McCoy’s opening over to take Middlesex racing past 50 in the fifth over, but later in that same 16th over the 22-year-old skied an attempted big hit against a slower ball and Mills accepted the caught and bowled.McCoy removed both Hollman (5) and Roland-Jones (1) when recalled for over number 17, Rawlins catching them both, first on the cover ropes and then running in from deep mid wicket respectively.Thilan Walallawita fell to Mills for a duck in the next over, weakly chipping to cover and Middlesex were still well short of par despite Green (22 not out) driving Mills for six and also pulling him for four in a final over in which the bowler later ran out non-striker and last man Behrendorff for 2 after stopping another Green drive – to leave two balls of the Middlesex innings unbowled.

Marcus Rashford says he is "playing better" at Aston Villa after his FA Cup heroics sent them into the semi-final at Preston's expense.

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Rashford joined Villa on loan in JanuaryPutting Man Utd struggles behind himEnjoying his football once againFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Rashford scored twice against Preston as Villa sealed a comfortable 3-0 win the FA Cup quarter-final. They will now play Crystal Palace in the last four, and Rashford admits he is enjoying his football once again after leaving Manchester United, albeit on a short-term deal.

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The England international now has two goals and four assists to his name across 10 games for Villa in all competitions; at United, he scored seven and registered three assists in 24 games as he struggled for form and consistency.

WHAT RASHFORD SAID

Rashford told : "It's a great feeling. It's always nice for a forward to get a goal, so hopefully it continues. I feel like I've been getting fitter and playing better football since I've been here. I missed a lot of football before joining up with them. My body feels good and I'm enjoying my football for now."

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Villa face Brighton on Wednesday before taking on high-flyers Nottingham Forest next weekend.

Pair put on mammoth 248-run, fifth-wicket stand to take contest away from Durham

ECB Reporters Network13-Jul-2022Derbyshire 283 (du Plooy 122, Dal 90, Rushworth 7-44) and 320 for 6 (du Plooy 134, Guest 116, Rushworth 4-44) lead Durham 296 (Mackintosh 51, Pettman 3-40, Thomson 3-48) by 316 runsCenturies from Leus du Plooy and Brooke Guest worked Derbyshire into a match-winning position on day three of their LV= Insurance County Championship Division Two clash against Durham.Du Plooy and Guest combined for a mammoth stand of 248 for the fifth wicket to take the contest away from the home side, recovering from the loss of two early wickets that had put the visitors in trouble at 36 for 4 in the first hour of the day.The two Derbyshire batters were outstanding as Du Plooy scored his second century of the game, while Guest passed three figures for the third time of the campaign to leave their side in command at the close at 329 for 6 with a lead of 316 and the potential of an overnight declaration.After reducing the visitors to 19 for 2 in the evening session on day two, Matt Salisbury ramped up the pressure on Derbyshire by pinning Luis Reece lbw for 12 after the opener opted to leave a straight delivery. Rushworth then claimed his 10th wicket of the game by ousting Wayne Madsen for nine, leaving the visitors in a precarious position with a lead of only 23.The visitors were in dire need of a partnership to calm proceedings, and Guest and Du Plooy rose to the occasion in sublime manner. They ushered Derbyshire into the lunch break to stem the tide and force Durham captain Scott Borthwick to alter his plans.After the break, Guest and Du Plooy reached their half-centuries in the same Liam Trevaskis over and continued to lay the foundations of a match-winning position. Guest had been stymied in the morning session, but moved through the gears against a toiling Durham attack in the afternoon under the baking sun at Chester-le-Street. The bowlers found no life in a flat pitch, and it allowed Guest and Du Plooy to capitalise to great effect, turning the momentum of the game in the favour of Derbyshire.Du Plooy was unfettered and continued his fine form from the first innings, offering nothing to the home side in a controlled knock. For the second time of the partnership, both men reached their milestones in the same over as Du Plooy became the 19th Derbyshire player to score two hundreds in a match. Guest followed his team-mate to three figures from 216 balls, securing his third ton of the campaign along, pushing their partnership past 200, Derbyshire’s highest for the fifth wicket against Durham.Du Plooy’s outstanding innings was finally ended by Rushworth with the new ball finding the outside edge, but only after the left-hander notched his highest score of the campaign. Guest soon followed for 116 lbw to Salisbury, but the visitors were already entrenched in a dominant position before Anuj Dal and Hilton Cartwright worked their lead past the 300-run mark at the close.

Robin van Persie's Feyenoord side managed to sneak a 1-0 win against AZ Alkmaar, despite his side failing to register a shot on target.

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Van Persie's Feyenoord win 1-0 against AZSide did not have single shot on targetEx-Arsenal and United star wins four in a rowFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

An own-goal from Zico Buurmeester in the 32nd minutes was all Feyenoord required to steal all three points away in Alkmaar and grant the new Feyenoord boss his fourth win in seven games. Van Persie's side, who now sit in third, managed just eight shots, all of which were off target, to the hosts' 13, of which five were on target. Despite their lack of proficiency in front of goal, the Feyenoord defence held strong to keep a clean sheet and ensure that, for the first time ever, an Eredivise game was won without a registering a shot on target – as per Opta.

AdvertisementGETTYWHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

Despite its unglamorous nature, the footballing world could not believe Van Persie's achievement.

On X, @TheCleverR labelled it affectionately: "RVP TERRORBALL❤️🔥".

Similarly, @MilamboFR claimed it was an "RVP masterclass".

Clearly not an AZ fan, @zandy_szn saw the funny side: "Feyenoord just won a game without having a single shot on target.🎯 That's Football for you.😂"

Referencing the manager's disastrous game at AZ in charge of Heerenveen earlier this season, @RalfCrutzen said: "Robin van Persie must be the first coach ever to lose 9-1 and win 0-1 in the same stadium in one season."

After a disappointing season, Van Persie, drawing comparison to Arne Slot, has also got some fans dreaming of overhauling their rivals above them. @Milambooyah said: "One of the biggest downfalls on a sporting and administrative level this season and this Feyenoord will simply finish second, above the best PSV since 1980, all thanks to Arne van Persie."

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Van Persie defended his side's approach, stating: "We always want to play football, but an opponent also plays a role in that. AZ mainly played long balls. That gives you a different type of match.

"If we want to play football, we can. And if it becomes a fighting match, that's fine too. We can fight, as we showed today. That's what I like about this 0-1."

After a difficult opening three fixtures, including two defeats to Inter in the Champions League, Van Persie has won four games on the bounce and got the fans back on side. Even if his team is not raining shots down on the opposition goal, they are finding a knack of claiming all three points.

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR VAN PERSIE?

Feyenoord will look to keep their momentum building when they travel to Fortuna Sittard next weekend. With PSV now just five points ahead, and undergoing a late season collapse, Feyenoord have their rivals in their sight and will be happy with wins, no matter the fashion in which they come.

Glasgow Rangers had the chance to deliver yet another statement performance on Sunday to back up their stunning Old Firm victory a few days prior.

Instead, it was the same Rangers that the Ibrox faithful have seen so often this term. A side that simply cannot finish a team off, no matter how many goals in front.

Hamza Igamane scored two within the first 20 minutes. The first was a well-drilled effort into the bottom corner, while the second saw the Moroccan frontman exude his Alfredo Morelos-like qualities by netting a wonderful header.

Despite the youngster eventually scoring a hat-trick, the Light Blues conceded three to draw the game 3-3 and slip further behind Celtic in the Premiership table.

Philippe Clement needs to bring in a few new signings this month, especially in defence.

With this in mind, it appears as though the Ibrox side have been linked with a move for a Ligue 1 defender…

Rangers eye move for Marseille defender

According to journalist Saber Desfarges, who works for French outlet Telefoot, Rangers are reportedly interested in a move for Marseille centre-back Bamo Meite this month.

The Ligue 1 side are willing to allow the player to depart, with the Gers looking to secure a loan move between now and the end of the season.

Montpellier are also keen, but it appears that Marseille are looking for a fee for the player, who only moved to the French Riveria on a permanent deal last summer.

This could prove to be a stumbling block, especially with the financial uncertainty surrounding the club at the moment. It may mean several players have to be sold before anyone can be brought in.

Transfer Focus

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

Clement has several centre-backs out injured at the moment, which heightens the need for a few reinforcements for this position and Meite could be an excellent signing if given a chance in the starting XI.

Why Rangers need to sign Meite

The Ibrox side may have conceded just 16 goals across 20 league games so far this term, but this is still nine more than Celtic and is ultimately what the title race is boiling down to.

Consider the four games over the festive season as a starting point. The Gers dropped points against St Mirren (lost 2-1), Motherwell (drew 2-2) and Hibs (drew 3-3), with their only clean sheet coming, ironically, against Celtic during the 3-0 victory at Ibrox.

John Souttar missed all four matches, while Leon Balogun had to come off against St Mirren, subsequently missing the next three matches. James Tavernier missed the latter two matches too.

This meant Clement had to move left-back Ridvan Yilmaz to the right side of the defence, while unleashing Dujon Sterling, a right-back, alongside Robin Propper. Not ideal.

The 3-0 win over Celtic certainly appears an outlier considering the other three results, but Propper may be one of the club’s main issues with Meite a required replacement this month.

How Bamo Meite compares to Robin Propper

Upon his arrival, signing a defender who had played over 200 Eredivisie games during his career appeared to be a solid move, especially considering he cost just £1.5m.

Brought in to replace Connor Goldson, it hasn’t exactly been plain sailing, that’s for sure. Propper has struggled majorly with the physicality of Scottish football, appearing not robust enough to cope with the demands.

In Europe, the Dutchman has won just 45% of his total duels per game, while losing possession 7.8 times, committing 1.5 fouls and being dribbled past 0.5 times per match in Europe’s second-tier competition.

The move hasn’t worked out as Clement anticipated and, combined with his injury issues in defence, hopefully, there will be a couple of new players for this position by the end of the month.

Accurate passes

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35

Possession lost

8.5

7.8

Total duels won

6.1

3.2

Tackles

1.8

1.2

Interceptions

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0.8

Bringing in Meite on a six-month loan would make a lot of sense, especially given his form for Marseille last season.

The 23-year-old has only played three games for his club this term, featuring for 24 minutes in total. Therefore, looking at his statistics from 2023/24 is the best way to judge how good a player he is.

He moved to Marseille on a loan deal from FC Lorient and made a total of 25 appearances for the French giants.

Comparing his stats from then to Propper’s numbers this term, it is clear he could be an upgrade on the Dutchman.

Indeed, Meite averaged a higher pass success rate than the former Twente titan (91% vs 90%), while being dribbled past on fewer occasions (0.3 vs 0.4), winning a higher percentage of aerial duels (68% vs 61%) and losing possession fewer times (3.8 vs 8.5) per outing in their respective leagues.

When compared to his positional peers across Europe’s big five leagues, Meite’s defensive statistics stand out. Not only does he rank in the top 92% for tackles per 90 (2.18), but the youngster also ranks in the top 86% for clearances per 90 (5.15) and in the top 80% for blocks per 90 (1.6), indicating how impressive he has been for his club at the heart of the defence.

It is a no-brainer to sign a player with these qualities, especially if a fee doesn’t have to be paid. Meite could be an ideal short-term option to fix the current defensive issues which are plaguing the Ibrox side at the minute.

Scottish content creator and founder of the Rangers Journal, Kai Watson, hailed the Ivorian as “physical and aggressive” amid the recent links and this is exactly the sort of profile the club requires.

With far too many easy goals being conceded, Meite appears to have the required physicality which could ensure Premiership attackers aren’t offered as many chances in the final third.

The transfer window is still only a few days old, but making a signing sooner rather than later will perhaps give Clement some credit in the bank. Only time will tell.

Available for £0: Rangers face Boyd repeat over signing "unplayable" star

Rangers have recently been linked with a former crowd favourite.

ByRoss Kilvington Jan 4, 2025

A reliable journalist has revealed that an £80,000-a-week international may run down his contract and sign for Leeds United as a free agent.

Leeds United transfer news

Leeds supporters will be hoping their side are rather active in this transfer window, despite the fact they are sitting pretty at the top of the Championship. However, given the fact that Daniel Farke said he isn’t “expecting much” in terms of incomings, it could be a quiet month for the Yorkshire side.

Leeds now eyeing January move to sign "real deal" £15m attacker for Farke

Daniel Farke has his eye on signing a striker Leeds know very well.

2 ByBrett Worthington Jan 8, 2025

Farke’s comments have not stopped the transfer rumours, as the Whites are already being linked with a move for Andrew Omobamidele. Leeds are said to have opened talks to sign the Nottingham Forest defender this month, as he looks for regular football after falling out of favour under Nuno.

As well as looking at Omobamidele, the Whites are also interested in signing striker Mergim Berisha, who is not unknown to the Championship side, as they were linked with a move for the player during his time at Fenerbahçe.

Berisha is not the only striker on Leeds’ radar, as Patrick Bamford could leave Elland Road this month, so signing a replacement may become a priority. It has emerged that Leeds are considering a bid to sign Emmanuel Latte Lath from Middlesbrough. The Boro man is considered a player that the Whites like, but they are not alone in their pursuit, as West Ham, Leicester City and Ipswich Town are also chasing the striker.

Spurs defender Davies may run down his contract for Leeds

Tottenham Hotspur’s Ben Davies is a player who has been on Leeds’ radar for a while now, and according to journalist Ben Jacobs, Davies could run down his contract with Spurs and then sign for Leeds in the summer.

The 31-year-old, who has won 92 caps for his national team, Wales, has been at Tottenham since July 2014, when he joined from Swansea City. The Welshman has been a key player for the Premier League side under different managers, but in this 2024/25 season, he has fallen out of favour under Ange Postecoglou, only playing when injuries occur.

Davies, who earns £80,000 a week at Spurs, has played just 11 games this season, five of which have come in the Europa League, and with his contract now entering the final six months, his future is being talked about. Leeds have been linked with a move for Davies in the past, and Jacobs has now revealed that Leeds remain keen on the defender, and Davies could look to run his contract down and then sign for the Yorkshire side, but it could also be a deal to watch in the “coming weeks”.

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Jacobs told the Last Word on Spurs podcast, relayed by Football League World: “With Ben Davies, I think that he will also be gone. And the same for Fraser Foster as well. With Davies, the natural thing is to run down the contract. Leeds United remain interested. So that could be one to watch in the coming weeks.”

Four more balls and Australia would have had a resounding victory

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jul-2022Rain has left Australia four balls short of a resounding victory over Pakistan in their final T20I before the Commonwealth Games after Jess Jonassen bagged 4 for 17 in Bready.Pakistan limped to 94 for 8 from their 20 overs with captain Bismah Maroof holding the innings together with 32 not out. Australia’s openers Beth Mooney and Alyssa Healy cruised to 28 without loss but rain fell with just four balls left in the 5th over and never relented, leaving the game four balls short of a minimum five overs for each side. Had the four balls been bowled Australia would have won easily under the Duckworth-Lewis method.The match was initially delayed due to wet weather. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat and made a decent start reaching 21 without loss in the 5th over before Ash Gardner struck. Iram Javed was cleaned bowled as she tried to give room to cut from off stump. It sparked a collapse with Pakistan losing 4 for 21 in 30 balls.Omaima Sohail holed out off the last ball of the powerplay, slog sweeping Jonassen straight to deep midwicket. Nicola Carey chimed in with two wickets as Pakistan slumped to 42 for 4 before Bismah and Aliya Riaz steadied briefly with a near run-a-ball 30-run stand.Ashleigh Gardner framed beneath stormy Irish skies•Getty ImagesBut a horror mix-up ended the partnership with 27 balls left in the innings. Bismah worked a ball through square leg and the pair pushed for two only to see Megan Schutt pounce running in from the deep. But Schutt over-ran the ball which caused the batters to start running for a second only to realise it was too tight. Schutt raced back, gathered and fired leaving Aliya Riaz stranded.Jonassen picked up three wickets in the final over and conceded just three singles. Jonassen was delighted to pick up four wickets in her second game back after missing the first two matches due to Covid.”I was a bit disappointed in the first game,” Jonassen said. “Even though I took a couple of wickets I felt like I bowled pretty ordinary. I felt a little bit rusty and struggled to find some rhythm. But today was a different story. I definitely felt like I was back to bowling really good areas and executing the plans that I wanted to and yeah, to come away with a few wickets at the end of that it’s obviously really nice. It’s good for the confidence leading into the Comm Games.”Pakistan’s bowling innings started disastrously with Mooney caught at short fine off a no-ball from Diana Baig. Mooney and Alyssa Healy barely took a risk from there striking just two boundaries before the rain arrived to end proceedings and cost Australia’s some valuable time in the middle in their last match before the Commonwealth Games.”It was obviously disappointing not to get a result today with the rain,” Jonassen said. “I think as a bowling group, we’re pretty pleased with the effort we put in from the previous games, we were wanting to tighten up our areas and own our lengths. And I thought we did that today. It was a really good last hit out. Just a shame that the batters couldn’t get their time out in the middle today.”

Bayern Munich veteran Thomas Muller admits the Champions League loss to Inter Milan may have looked different had Harry Kane not missed a big chance.

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Bayern suffer first leg defeat to InterOn verge of UCL exit at San SiroMuller admits Kane miss a big momentFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱gettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Bayern's Champions League aspirations took a big hit after losing 2-1 at home to the Serie A holders in the first leg of the quarter-finals. However, the tie may look different had Kane buried a golden chance from inside the box that fans and his team-mates are so used to seeing him convert. Instead, the England captain hit the post with his curling effort, a moment that would ultimately cost his side.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT MULLER SAID

Muller was the man to net Bayern's only goal of the game and admitted after the match that it was a night of missed chances. He said: "We unfortunately missed a big chance in the firsf half with Harry, that would've given us a different feeling. Inter have good players with the ball who are able to take the pace off the game and slow it down, then play long balls to their strikers. They have experienced and physical players – it wasn't a walk in the park and we didn't expect it to be. We created chances in the second half but unfortunately couldn't convert them."

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It is no secret that Kane is on the hunt to end his trophy curse and his move to Bayern has not paid out on that yet. There is still the second leg to come but the former Tottenham striker will need to find another gear if he is to lead Vincent Kompany's men to the semi-finals.

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Before the second leg against Inter in Italy next week, Bayern face arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund in a big Bundesliga clash that could see the Bavarians extend their lead at the top of the table.

Manchester United’s investment has often been wasted under Erik ten Hag, with the Dutchman splashing the cash on players who simply aren’t up to the level of the Premier League.

Antony is the prime example of a talent who’s not good enough for a team pushing for the top four in England’s top division, subsequently falling down the pecking order under Ruben Amorim.

The Brazilian cost a whopping £86m back in the summer of 2022, with real expectations of transforming the club’s attack, but has since failed to deliver – only featuring seven times since the 39-year-old’s arrival.

He’s since been touted with a move away from Old Trafford this window, with Real Betis just one of the potential destinations for the attacker, which could allow for funds to be generated.

Should he leave, Amorim could use any money to target one player who’s recently appeared on their radar in recent days.

Man United plot move for Premier League midfielder

According to Football Insider, Man United are keeping an eye on Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Joao Gomes ahead of a potential January deal.

However, they aren’t alone in the race for the 23-year-old, with English rivals Liverpool also in the hunt for the talented youngster this month.

Gomes has featured in 19 Premier League games throughout 2024/25, only missing one match due to suspension – cementing himself as a key player in the West Midlands.

The report claims that both clubs have been spotted scouting the former Flamengo star, subsequently earning him numerous call-ups to the Brazilian national team.

Whilst no fee has been mooted over a potential move to Old Trafford, Vitor Pereira undoubtedly won’t want to part ways with one of his key players, but he could prove to be an upgrade on a player currently plying his trade in the North West.

Why Gomes would be an upgrade on Casemiro for Man United

Martin Zubimendi has also been mentioned as another potential name on the Red Devils’ midfield shortlist in recent weeks – looking to provide added quality to Amorim’s side.

However, the emergence of his pending move to Premier League rivals Arsenal has scuppered their chances of landing the Spaniard in the near future.

Undoubtedly, the news about his potential move will spark interest in a move for Gomes, with the compatriot providing competition and an upgrade on current star Casemiro.

The Brazilian joined in a £70m deal from Real Madrid in the summer of 2022 but has rapidly declined in recent months, showing signs that he’s coming to the back end of his career at the top level.

He’s not featured since the Carabao Cup defeat against Newcastle United, looking way off the pace needed at the top level, getting dribbled past once and over ran by the likes of Joelinton and Sandro Tonali.

The Wolves star would prove to be a huge step up from his compatriot, producing countless stats that blow him out of the water – showcasing what a superb addition he would be to the midfield department at Old Trafford.

Games played

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14

Goals & assists

3

1

Interceptions made

0.9

0.8

Pass accuracy

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79%

Progressive carries

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0.3

Carries into the final third

1.6

0.8

Progressive passes

5.4

4.7

Take-ons attempted

1.2

0.5

Gomes, who’s been labelled “one of the best” for pressing, by one analyst, has dominated Casemiro in the aforementioned area, completing more interceptions per 90 – helping the Red Devils massively out of possession.

However, in possession, the Wolves ace has taken things to the next level, averaging more progressive carries per 90, whilst managing double the number of carries into the final third – offering Amorim an increased attacking threat from the middle of the park.

Whilst competition may be fierce for his signature, United must go all out to convince the 23-year-old to move to Manchester, having all of the tools to be a real hit alongside Manuel Ugarte at the heart of the team.

It would also open the door for the club to cash in on the experienced Casemiro, helping shift his hefty wages off the books, further fitting into the current cost-cutting exercise in place at the Theatre of Dreams.

Not just Rashford: Man Utd must sell a dud who earns more than Fernandes

Manchester United desperately need to cut down the deadwood in the squad this January.

ByEthan Lamb Jan 15, 2025

The India captain also backed the batters to continue their high-intent approach despite their St Kitts slump

Deivarayan Muthu02-Aug-2022After 39 overs of the second T20I in St Kitts, West Indies needed 10 runs off six balls to complete a series-levelling victory, with five wickets in hand. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, India’s most experienced fast bowler, had only bowled two overs, and had only conceded 12 runs. He may have seemed the natural choice to bowl the final over, but India captain Rohit Sharma chose instead to toss the ball to Avesh Khan, who was playing only his 10th T20I. Avesh had taken an important wicket, yorking top-scorer Brandon King in the 16th over, but he had gone for 19 runs in his first two overs.On the day, the move didn’t come off, with Avesh overstepping off the first ball, and giving away a free-hit that Devon Thomas scythed for a six over extra-cover. Thomas applied the finishing touches with a four next ball, but Rohit wasn’t too perturbed by the result, and believed Avesh would learn from the experience.Related

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Akeal Hosein takes strong stride towards fulfilling all-round ambitions

“It’s all about giving the opportunity to these guys,” Rohit said after India’s defeat. “We know what Bhuvneshwar Kumar brings to the table for us. He’s been doing it for so many years, but if you don’t give opportunity to guys like Avesh, Arshdeep [Singh] and all those guys, you will never find out what it is like to bowl in the death overs for India. They’ve been doing it well for the IPL franchises, but this is a different ball game. These are the games [where] you try and see how they respond to those [pressure] situations, but yeah it’s just one game.”I don’t think we need to… or those guys need to panic about stuff. They have the skills, they have the talent; it’s just about backing it and giving them the right opportunity.”Arshdeep, the left-arm seamer, was central to India dragging the game to the last over. He had also conceded a boundary via a free-hit, to Kyle Mayers, in the powerplay, but was outstanding at the death with his variations in pace, length and angles. He conceded just ten runs off the 17th and 19th overs, while Hardik Pandya and the spinners did their bit as well. Rohit was particularly impressed with India’s late rally with the ball.”That is something I’m really proud of the team [for],” he said. “When you are defending a target like that, it can get over in either 13-14 overs or you drag it till the last ball. I think that’s what we did today. We dragged it till the last over. The guys kept fighting and it was important for us to keep taking wickets at the same time as well. So you’ve got to plan and see how you’re going to take those wickets and I thought the planning we did – whatever we spoke of – the guys came and executed it.”Rishabh Pant scored a quickfire 24 off 12 balls•Associated PressRohit backs batters to maintain the ‘same intensity and same intent’
In the first T20I on a two-paced Tarouba surface , India racked up 190 for 6 despite the steady fall of wickets. In the second game, on a similarly challenging surface in Basseterre, India stayed true to their attacking batting approach, but it backfired this time as they were bowled out for 138 with two balls unused in their innings. Rohit insisted that Monday’s batting failure wasn’t a cause for concern and that India would not veer away from their gung-ho approach.”Really, really happy with how the bowlers bowled, but of course, there are certain things in our batting that we really need to look at,” Rohit said. “But again, I will say that as well: we will continue to bat in that kind of fashion because we want to achieve something. Unless you try and do it, you will not achieve.”So, I think, one odd result here and there, we shouldn’t panic. It’s just about giving those guys that clarity, and after one loss we are not trying to change anything. We will keep [up] the same intensity and same intent with the bat.”India lost three wickets in the powerplay after being sent into bat, but they still hit 56 runs during this phase. Soon after, Rishabh Pant dashed out of the crease against left-arm fingerspinner Akeal Hosein, only to be caught at deep midwicket. Hardik Pandya, then regularly sent the ball in the air and holed out as well when he dared to hit against the wind and clear the bigger leg-side boundary. Ravindra Jadeja and Dinesh Karthik, too, picked out the fielders while looking for boundaries. Rohit admitted that India’s total was below par and hoped the batters would fare better in the next game, which will also be played at the same venue, and possibly the same pitch, on Tuesday.”Firstly, there weren’t enough runs on the board for us,” he said. “We didn’t bat well, and I thought the pitch was playing quite nicely, but we didn’t apply ourselves. But that can happen. I’ve been mentioning it again and again that when you’re trying to achieve something or when you’re trying to do something as a batting group you’re not always going to succeed. So, [in] games like this you could understand what you could’ve done. So, we will try to learn from what mistakes we made today and try and see if we can correct those mistakes in the next game.”