Tag Futebol

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ strong start under Vitor Pereira could be the catalyst for a promising 2025/26 campaign.

If they can secure a couple of high-profile signings in the summer transfer window while also keeping some of their key players, a top-half finish isn’t out of the question.

Much will depend on just exactly how much cash the Portuguese manager will have to spend, however.

Could the Old Gold be ready to raid a fellow Premier League team for one of their players this summer?

Wolves ready to raid Premier League rival

The Molinuex outfit will be aiming to bolster their squad this summer, and it looks as though they have already targeted a midfielder playing for Chelsea.

Journalist Ben Jacobs was speaking to the Wolfpack Podcast about potential targets, mentioning that Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall could be of interest.

“I think Wolves and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is going to be one to watch, from what I understand,” said Jacobs about the Englishman.

“Because Chelsea may be willing to sanction a sale. Dewsbury-Hall may be looking for regular game time, with a view to somehow kind of forcing himself into the England setup. Wolves could be one to watch there. I’m not aware yet of any significant out-and-out attackers who Wolves are specifically looking at.”

Goals

3

Assists

1

Big chances created

3

Key passes per game

1.6

Shots per game

1.6

Total duels won per game

3.3

Despite an underwhelming season at Stamford Bridge, Dewsbury-Hall could be an excellent signing for Wolves. Especially for Jorgen Strand Larsen.

Why Wolves must sign Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

Strand Larsen has emerged as one of Wolves’ key players of late, scoring six goals in his previous six Premier League matches.

Overall, the Norwegian striker has netted 13 times while grabbing three assists, starring under Pereira’s management.

He will join the club on a permanent deal this summer and will lead the line for Wolves heading into next season. Could his output increase by having someone like Dewsbury-Hall operating behind him?

Lauded by his former manager at Leicester City, Brendan Rodgers, for being “sensational”, it was his time at the Foxes where the playmaker began to showcase his talents.

His spell in the Championship during the 2023/24 campaign saw the Englishman shine for the club across a range of attacking metrics.

Indeed, he created 20 big chances, averaged 2.5 key passes and succeeded with 1.3 dribbles per game. Furthermore, the midfielder also registered 26 goal contributions of his own – 12 goals and 14 assists – to help seal the club’s return to the top flight.

His spell at Chelsea may not have gone as expected, with the player starting just 17 games this season, primarily in the Conference League., although his Leicester heroics showcased the creative output that he can supply to the likes of Strand Larsen.

Equally, even amid his west London woes, the £30m signing has still managed to net three goals and chip in with three assists for the Blues, but it is clear that he needs a fresh challenge next term.

Wolves would be the ideal destination for the midfielder, who still has plenty of time left at his peak to make an impact at Molineux; that much is certain.

Wolves now hold internal talks over signing £15m youngster instead of Vardy

Wolves may already be moving on from their links to Jamie Vardy.

1 ByBrett Worthington May 1, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur want to sign a “leader” from Barcelona this summer, and he could be allowed to leave the Camp Nou for as little as £17 million.

Spurs targeting new centre-back signing before next season

The Lilywhites learned the hard way that they need reinforcements at centre-half this summer, given the plethora of injuries which have ravaged Ange Postecoglou’s defence throughout 2024/2025.

Related Ornstein: Tottenham hold talks with £50m player who Arteta wants at Arsenal

The Lilywhites are battling their fierce rivals.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Apr 11, 2025

Tottenham attempted to resolve the issue in January by signing Kevin Danso on loan with an obligation to buy, only for the Austria defender to be sidelined alongside Radu Dragusin, and this followed long-term absences for Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Archie Gray was forced to play as a makeshift centre-back at periods, which the teenager handled very well, but Spurs will be extremely keen to avoid being left so short of options for the 2025/2026 season.

Romero is also believed to be pushing for an exit from Tottenham this summer, amid interest from both Atlético and Real Madrid, so the north Londoners may end up having to sign a replacement for the Argentine.

According to reliable journalist David Ornstein, Tottenham have reached out to Dean Huijsen’s representatives in the last week, but Arsenal, Chelsea and other elite Premier League sides are after the Spaniard with a £50 million release clause attached to his contract.

Huijsen is also rumoured to favour a move to Real Madrid, so Spurs could be up against it in the race for Huijsen, while other reports believe Atalanta star Isak Hien is emerging as an alternative defensive target for Tottenham.

In any case, it appears a new centre-half is firmly on the agenda for chairman Daniel Levy and co.

Tottenham want to sign Barcelona defender Eric Garcia

According to reports in Spain, a potentially golden opportunity to reinforce their defensive ranks comes in the form of Barcelona and former Man City man Eric Garcia.

The 24-year-old is out of contract in the summer of 2026, meaning he could be available for a cut-price fee in the next transfer window, which some media sources believe to be around £17 million.

His experience at the top level, despite being at such a young age, could be invaluable to Tottenham – and his reputation as a capable ball-playing defender means that Garcia could be an ideal fit at a very reasonable price.

Tottenham want to sign Garcia this summer, and it is believed the Catalans are now prepared to sell, so this could be an intriguing one to watch as we fast approach the window.

“Eric is a very intelligent boy – more than a boy,” said City director of football Txiki Begiristain, during Garcia’s time at Eastlands, before he made the switch to Barca in 2021 as a free agent. “He is a good character, a solid leader.”

Manchester United are keen on signing an “exceptional” attacking midfielder who is now looking likely to leave his club this summer, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Man Utd eyeing new attacking talent amid Hojlund struggles

It would be fair to say Rasmus Hojlund isn’t enjoying the best of seasons, with the Dane scoring just three goals in the Premier League, while fellow striker Joshua Zirkzee hasn’t exactly been much help either.

As such, a new striker is being targeted ahead of the summer transfer window, with an audacious move for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak being considered, although the likes of Viktor Gyokeres and Samu Aghehowa may be more reasonable targets.

Not only is a new striker on Ruben Amorim’s shortlist, but the manager is also keen to bring in new attacking midfielders, having perhaps overrelied on captain Bruno Fernandes this season.

Man Utd battling to sign "magnificent" 19y/o after scouts sent rave reviews

He’s a future star.

ByTom Cunningham Apr 2, 2025

The Red Devils have made contact over a move for Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, who has 18 assists to his name already this season, while they have also set their sights on Brentford’s Mikkel Damsgaard as a potential option.

In a new report for GiveMeSport, Romano has now detailed that Man United are also keen on signing RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons, with there being a concrete chance the attacking midfielder leaves the German club this summer.

Simons is open to an exit at the end of the season, and there is a feeling his price tag could be between £58m – £62m, amid interest from a whole host of Premier League clubs.

Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are also keen on the £97,000-a-week Dutchman, and there is seemingly a good chance a move to England could be on the cards, with the Premier League said to be one of the top destinations in the attacking midfielder’s mind.

"Exceptional" Simons could be United's next Bruno

Successful signings have been few and far between in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, but Fernandes hit the ground running right from the off, and the Portugal international has been very impressive this season, with 16 goals and 16 assists in all competitions.

However, the 30-year-old can’t be expected to do it all by himself, and with Real Madrid eyeing a move for the United talisman, the need to bring in another creative attacking midfielder this summer may be exacerbated.

Simons’ performances in Germany indicate he could well fit the bill, having racked up a remarkable eight goals and 12 assists in the Bundesliga last season, while he already has seven goals to his name this term.

Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund has also given the 21-year-old very high praise, saying: “I think he’s going to have a really good career at the highest level. He has everything, mentality, character and is just an exceptional player.”

Simons could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, particularly as many would agree the squad needs a bit more of that “mentality and character”. However, it could be very difficult to win the race for his signature if they don’t have Champions League football on offer next season, given the level of interest in his signature.

The main act lasted all of 15 balls, Kohli the batter showing few signs of arresting his steady descent into the perfectly ordinary. Kohli the icon of the masses remains in much loftier territory

Rahul Bhattacharya31-Jan-2025It was a day of mourning – the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassination – but the Jaitley wore a celebratory air. Entry was free, there were injuries trying to enter (a Ranji group match!) and in speculations about when queueing began, 4am turned into a consensus. On the road adjoining the medieval Kotla ruins, a municipal tempo blared Punjabi hip-hop at a festive volume, and there was a beat of hip-hop in the Delhi squad names – a Money Grewal, even if no longer a Prince Choudhary – and certainly in the jet-black Porsche Panamera Turbo (personalised number plate, obviously) that ferried Virat Kohli from his Gurugram mansion.Kohli no longer lives in Delhi, or entirely in India, basing himself out of Mumbai and London; and as further incongruous reminder of his itineracy, the faithful threw themselves into un-ironical chants of “RCB”. No longer a resident, but Virat Kohli is as Delhi as a fight. To tell a Delhiite that Kohli is not one of them is to say a reflection lies. So, no matter that he was playing a Ranji match after 12 years, and no matter that it was enforced: he was here, he is here!Here, too, was Kartik, posing for photographs. A lookalike from Chandigarh, donned in an India Test baggy, his beard groomed in perfect homage. Eight lakh followers on Insta, he tells me, from eight years of being like Kohli. I want to save his number. What came after Kartik? “You can write Kohli.” Inside the stadium a poster proclaimed: “There is no kingdom without King Kohli.”Real or fake? Fake in this case: Virat Kohli’s lookalike, Kartik•Rahul BhattacharyaThe first day Virat Kohli spent almost entirely in the field, and almost exclusively in the slips. Two Gautam Gambhirs loomed over him – the name staring down from each wing on the stand usually likened to a giant parking lot, yet also resembling a gargantuan concrete spider on its back. The Gambhir stand that held, according to one scribe, “more people in this one Ranji match than in the entire five years when Gambhir was sent back to play Ranji”. There were eleven thousand in, perhaps twelve, maybe fifteen. Nobody could remember a bigger Ranji crowd in recent times.An hour into Kohli’s first Ranji match in 12 years a man ran on to the field and touched his feet. As he fled away Kohli directed the security not to thrash the fellow, which is as Delhi a gesture as a thrashing, the line between belligerence and benevolence perennially fine, the stuff that maintains the charge between its people.A full 24 hours later, the crowd had occasion to cheer the demise of their No. 3, the rising star Yash Dhull, a former Under-19 World Cup winning captain no less, like the man about to replace him. Kohli stood up from the plastic chair at the boundary rope, gripping his bat with his customary bottom hand. As he commenced his walk to the pitch, as if choreographed, the four thousand-odd in the adjoining Bishan Singh Bedi stand each raised an arm, phone cameras trained upon their subject.Related

• Meet Himanshu Sangwan, the seamer who spoiled Kohli's return

• Kohli lasts 15 balls on Ranji return; Saurashtra eye bonus-point win

• IPL-like scenes in Ranji Trophy as fans flock to watch Kohli play

No Indian batter before Kohli had cut quite a figure like Kohli: so shorn of body fat, borne out of so obsessive a diet, with such impressive delts and traps over so lean a torso. Accordingly, there were no curves, no rounds for his sleeveless sweater to negotiate; it fell on him as it would a mannequin. “Visionary,” was his former trainer Basu Shanker’s word when I spoke to him during the 2023 World Cup. “He started preparing himself like an Olympic athlete”. In that tournament Kohli scored 765 runs, the highest ever at a World Cup.In the long format, however, his numbers have gone from contraction to recession.Over 39 Tests in the last five years, the average has plummeted from a commanding 55, into the 46s now; his strike rate in the period has retarded into the stodgy 40s. He averages 30 in this time, while his big-four rivals, Kane Williamson, Joe Root and Steven Smith do 64, 54 and 45. Of batters with 20 innings or more, Kohli comes in ninth – on the Indian list, that is. In the world he is 64th. Put another way, he has been, middling, mediocre, medium, for a third of his Test career.What explains his steady descent to the perfectly ordinary? What ails this exceptional athlete?The Gautam Gambhir Stand heaved for another famous Delhi son•PTI , proposed Swami Premanand Maharaj, the guru Kohli and his family visited after the Australia tour, since karmic debt (I am translating and condensing here) within a group of people can overwhelm the excellence of one’s practice. My friend and former colleague Sidharth Monga, a proponent of luck as a measurable parameter, conjectured that Kohli enjoyed an excess of such luck in his prime and is enduring a deficit now. Karma, luck, vast forces. Perhaps it’s just his off-side play.His eighth ball Kohli was beaten outside off stump, drawn into a drive by Kunal Yadav, a fine, full ball that seamed away. The next ball, short of a length and in that channel just outside the channel, Kohli fenced at. He was lucky to miss again.Ian Chappell used to tell a story about Garfield Sobers. Mark Mascarenhas, the television mogul, asked the great man about the secret to batting during a late-night session. Nothing to it, said Sobers, in his 60s, on his feet in a trice to demonstrate: if it’s up, hit it so – pouncing forwards to drive; if it’s short, hit it so, dancing back to cut. In Vaneisa Baksh’s remarkable new biography of Frank Worrell, Sobers tells her that as a boy he would watch the great batters from the crowds on the boundary line – not their strokes, “I wasn’t interested in that. I used to watch their movements and watch the pitch of the ball and length to see what they do to that kind of ball, how they move.”Himanshu Sangwan had a day to remember, and that might be understating it•PTI It has been extraordinary to watch a great off-side player’s off-side game fray away; extraordinary to consider that he chose to simply not explore one entire half of off-side play.Three years ago, after a laudable 79 off 201 balls in Cape Town, Sanjay Manjrekar was prescient in insisting that “he’s got to look at this method of scoring runs” – the method being such a pronounced commitment to front-foot play that it turned gradually into a monomania. It is hard to think of a great batter so mute on the cut: a natural scoring shot, making fewer demands on technique or courage than other attacking shots. The Indian legacy in the stroke is rich. Vijay Merchant’s storied late cut, Gundappa Viswanath’s legendary square cut. Sachin Tendulkar cut, of course, and also punched thrillingly off the back-foot with a vertical bat. Virender Sehwag almost based a career on it: if he wasn’t cutting you to pieces it was probably because he was upper-cutting you.Fourteenth ball, Kohli hit his first boundary, a sizzling straight drive off the seamer Himanshu Sangwan, providing a moment of deliverance to the crowd.A touch of Mohammad Azharuddin about the stroke, the wrists coming into play, the right leg raised back from the knee as he completed the shot. Something of the Azhar spirit in it, too – the times he had a point to prove and nothing to lose. The next ball Kohli advanced down the track again; the ball darted in between bat and pad; he lost his shape, his grip on the bat and his off stump, which went cartwheeling, while he looked ruefully down at a spot on the pitch. As he walked back to the Virat Kohli Pavilion, again a choreography went off in the stands, this time a synchronised outward procession – an exodus.Why are the fans headed to the Railways vs Delhi Ranji Trophy match? There is only one answer in this instance•Rahul BhattacharyaIt’s difficult to embrace failure with a smile and keep going, said the guru in his short discourse to Kohli, but God gives you that ability. On the surface of it he had certainly been smiley, laughy, chatty, meeting with old friends, their children, encouraging young team-mates.Coming back to Delhi, for Delhi, had possibly tapped into something deeper. A home left is a more poignant thing than a home inhabited. In a conversation with Jatin Sapru, one of those conversations in which Kohli so articulately attends to the Kohli brand, he recalled: “I know when I used to be on a Scooty going around playing games and, you know, trying to make a mark. I don’t forget those days.” He gestured with his fingers. “I can still feel it.” Delhi doesn’t leave you the option of not feeling. You feel it all: the noxious air in your throat, the bone-chilling nip of a winter morning, the dust-laden loo that blows in the brutal summer, in which the euphemistic “hot-weather tournaments” proceed.Soon he was in training gear, yapping away. He was the lowest scorer for his side, the only one in single digits.Outside the stadium, two youngsters from Greater Noida, glumly held up their poster. “Here for King Kohli. Comeback Loading.” They were taking off now but planned to return at the end of the day to witness a felicitation ceremony for Virat Kohli.

Towards the end of a unique career, Warner has two massive assignments ahead of him: the WTC final and the Ashes in England

Osman Samiuddin04-Jun-2023David Warner is both a first-of-a-kind cricketer and a last-of-a-kind cricketer. There hadn’t been anyone quite like him when he landed; the first Australian to debut in the national side – ODIs and T20Is – without having played a single first-class game. Now that the process of his exit has officially begun, it’s difficult to imagine a new opener can ever be as domineering across all formats. The shorter way to say this is that Warner is kind of unique.Admittedly, he hasn’t felt so unique lately. One part of that is the unavoidable bloom-onslaught of modern batting. One day Warner was batting’s ‘I’m Him’; now suddenly, Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill and Harry Brook are ‘I’m Hims’. Warner used to feel like a freak for what he could do with a bat. On Saturday, as he stood in front of a small, polite media scrum in small, polite Beckenham, a little grizzled, a little reflective, under a grey sky that would give up and turn blue soon, he felt like that friend of dad’s who was once in a band.But a bigger part of it is form, that intemperate and inevitable feller of all athletes. And Warner does not have it. Take out his Boxing Day double-hundred against South Africa and his highest score in his last nine Tests is 48. He is 36. He has the World Test Championship [WTC] final immediately ahead of him, but no runs there and he might be running out of road.Related

• Warner quashes Oval retirement rumour, eyes Ashes victory

• Flying under the radar, Travis Head could play decisive hand for Australia in England

• Watson: Transition from IPL to WTC final in England is 'extreme'

• Ghosts of 2019: Warner's Ashes fate remains uncertain

• David Warner on the WTC final: 'It should be at least a three-game series'

Still, he deserves more ahead of this summer than to be sucked into some nonsensical, entirely confected war of words with Stuart Broad, his chief dismisser the last time Warner was in England for the Ashes.Worried about Broady, Davey?WTC final first, mate. Then Broad, “if they select him for the first Test this time.”Saw his five-for against Ireland?Nope, saw his figures. Need to see the wickets. “Five Tests for any bowler, even our camp as well, it’s going to be tough to keep backing up.”Heard Broady said he’d voided the last Ashes series in Australia – which England lost 0-4 – because of Covid restrictions?Should I void my 2019 series too? “He [Broad] might get homesick and he can’t cope with playing under those circumstances but we’ve all played Ashes series away. It’s the same.”You are such a cad, Davey.Maybe it was the Beckenham air, but none of these came out like barbs or snipes, as much as the headlines might make it seem that way. No fire, just some words. He played along, perhaps for old times’ sake, perhaps because he was bored, perhaps because he’s human and if he’s asked pantomime questions, he’ll play panto.That bit of Warner that once felt so fearsome, that jaggedness in his energy, the bruiser in him is gone. Family, TikTok, success, Sandpapergate, who really knows why? He’s not exactly cuddly. Fuzzier somehow and a little less vivid in outline.None of what he’s like will matter if he scores runs, runs which help Australia become Test champions, runs that win a first Ashes in England in over 20 years. How he thinks those runs will come is interesting, though. He said that in 2019, he wasn’t playing his game. “I was listening to some other voices which, from my perspective, probably didn’t suit my game.”Some other voices? Another flash of old Warner, the one who upended the whole sticks and stones schtick. His words did hurt.This time he’s going to back his real game. That one where he’d rather nick off cover-driving than get bowled on the backfoot defending. The Brendon McCullum mindset, he said, to be brave, to unsettle opening bowlers, to not cede those good areas to them. “You’re going to have to make some brave decisions and be content with getting out, whether it’s a cover drive or what not.”It is an interesting bit of reflection this, on age as much as anything. As we grow older, we assume we grow wiser. We evolve, we mature, we learn from the mistakes of our youth. This, we think, is the natural order. Sometimes when we get there, though, we learn that how we were when we were young is the way to be, because that is what got us here in the first place.A healthy enough season at the IPL plays right into that. Transitioning in the past from red-ball state cricket to Tests, Warner said, had changed the DNA of his batting, focusing his mind on survival. Transitioning from the IPL to Tests, on the other hand, where the mode is attacking from the get-go, remains perfect.Time was when we thought T20 batting was killing Test batting. But Warner’s logic, this way around, of good T20 batting feeding into good Test batting doesn’t sound so outré anymore. That you have to be content with getting out, that you value your wicket slightly less, Warner heralded the coming of this, long before Bazball, before Rishabh Pant, before Gill.It’s easier said than done. Warner’s troubles with Broad in Ashes 2019 – seven dismissals out of ten – from around the wicket were not an abstract. They were very real and the perfect illustration of a specific and long-running global trend. Like punches and plans, broad-brush intent is good, until a Dukes ball comes out and nicks it off. Warner’s opponents this summer are two of the best from that angle, Broad and Mohammed Shami.If he gets past them, then Warner has a shot at a serious all-format legacy, leaving the game as an opener in a modern era – not an easy one for them – who has won the ODI World Cup, the T20 World Cup and the WTC. A first-of-a-kind, probably the last-of-a-kind.

And which horse named after a cricketer won a classic race?

Steven Lynch27-Oct-2020In the current IPL, the Chennai Super Kings have won and lost a match by ten wickets. Has any other side done this in the same season? asked Vinay Ramachandran from India

The Mumbai Indians’ ten-wicket victory over the Chennai Super Kings in Sharjah last week was only the 13th by such a margin in the IPL; CSK’s thumping of the Kings XI Punjab in Dubai earlier this month was the 12th.The only other IPL to feature two such results was in 2017, when the Kolkata Knight Riders beat the Gujarat Lions in Rajkot, and the Kings XI Punjab beat the Delhi Daredevils in Mohali. So the current season is the first one in which one team has featured on both ends of a ten-wicket victory.After Cameron Green’s 197 the other day, I was wondering: what is the highest first-class score by someone who never played in a Test? I’m sure it’s much higher than 197! asked Peter Bradford from Australia

Cameron Green scored 197 for Western Australia against New South Wales in Adelaide last week, an innings that kept him firmly in contention for a Test call-up.As you suspect, however, Green is a long way down the list of the highest first-class scorers without a Test cap. The highest score by someone who never played a Test is 443 not out, by the Indian Bhausaheb Nimbalkar for Maharashtra against Kathiawar in a Ranji Trophy match in Poona (now Pune) in 1948-49. Nimbalkar was denied a shot at the record score at the time – Don Bradman’s 452 not out in 1929-30 – when the Kathiawar captain refused to carry on (Maharashtra had 826 for 4 at the time), and conceded the match.The highest score by an uncapped Australian is 383, by Charles Gregory – from the famous Sydney family – for New South Wales against Queensland in Brisbane in 1906-07.What’s the most runs in a Test series without a century, and the most wickets without a five-for? asked Rajiv Radhakrishnan from England

The record for the most runs in a Test series without a century is held by England captain turned commentator Michael Atherton, who scored 553 in the 1993 Ashes, with a highest of 99 (run out) in the second Test, at Lord’s. Atherton beat the old record of 550, set by Conrad Hunte for West Indies at home to Australia in 1964-65, which remains the record for a five-match series (there were six Tests in 1993). Hunte made six scores between 53 and 89.The equivalent record for bowling – most wickets in a series without taking five in an innings – changed hands last year: Pat Cummins took 29 wickets in the 2019 Ashes series, with a best return of 4 for 32 in the first Test, at Edgbaston. He pipped another Australian seamer, Wayne Clark, who took 28 wickets without a five-for in his maiden series, at home to India in 1977-78.Jack Hobbs the horse, named after the Surrey and England cricket great, took top honours at the Irish Derby and came second at Epsom in 2015•Getty ImagesMichael Holding scored six half-centuries in Tests, but averaged only 13.78. Is this some sort of record? asked David Whiting from England

Well, it’s a fairly specific request, but I can confirm that, of the men who scored at least five half-centuries in Tests, Michael Holding’s average of 13.78 is the lowest. Next comes the Pakistan wicketkeeper Wasim Bari, who also made six fifties but averaged 15.88. And in third spot is Shane Warne (12 fifties, average 17.32), whose 3154 runs is the overall Test record by someone who never managed a century – his highest score was 99 (caught off what was later revealed to be a no-ball from Daniel Vettori) against New Zealand in Perth in 2001-02.Which horse named after a cricketer won a classic race? asked Christopher Ingham from England

I think there are a few contenders here. The most obvious one – and the only one I can think of that was genuinely named after a cricketer – was Jack Hobbs, which won the Irish Derby in 2015, not long after finishing second in the English one. Jon Snow – lacking only an “h” to make him an England fast bowler – won the Australian Derby at Randwick in 2017, and Jardines Lookout won the Goodwood Cup in 2002. Turning to books, Wisden readers probably cheered home Editor’s Note in the Belmont Stakes (one of the American Triple Crown races) in 1996, while Playfair won the Grand National in 1888. But my personal favourite cricketing horse is probably the winner of the French 2000 Guineas in 1995: Vettori, ridden by Frankie Dettori, which must have amused the commentators. There may well be more!Use our
feedback form or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Arsenal staff have been taken aback by summer signing Noni Madueke behind-the-scenes, with a twist now coming to light on the forward’s injury return timeline.

Mikel Arteta is now without star defender William Saliba once again, not to mention winger Gabriel Martinelli.

Delivering a pre-match injury update ahead of the Gunners’ Carabao Cup fourth round clash at home to Brighton on Wednesday evening, Arteta didn’t delve into too much detail on the extent of their problems, but the duo have now joined their injury list.

Saliba and Martinelli are accompanied by Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Madueke, who are all unavailable for selection right now due to various issues.

Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest

Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 1-1 Man City

Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal

Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal

Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

Fulham 0-1 Arsenal

Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid

Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace

Jesus has been sidelined since the turn of the year after rupturing his ACL in an FA Cup defeat to Man United, and reports have suggested that the Brazilian may not be back in action until 2026.

Odegaard, meanwhile, is suffering real bad luck with injuries right now.

The Arsenal captain had only just returned from a shoulder problem when he set up Gabriel Magalhaes’ winner away to Newcastle, but it didn’t take long for Odegaard to be sidelined once again.

The £240,000-per-week playmaker picked up a medial collateral ligament injury in the 2-0 win over West Ham just prior to the last international break, and that is expected to keep him out until mid-November.

Luckily for Arteta, the north Londoners could soon welcome Havertz back.

The Germany international has apparently been blowing away Arsenal rehab staff with his recovery and is fighting to be fully match fit ahead of schedule, according to insider HandOfArsenal.

Now, as per GiveMeSport, nearly the exact same can be said of Madueke too.

Arsenal staff taken aback as Noni Madueke nears faster injury return

According to their information, Arsenal staff have been left impressed by Madueke’s attitude during recovery, and the England international winger is now set to return to training earlier than anticipated.

Madueke is said to be making “faster-than-expected” progress in his comeback from a knee injury which has kept him out since Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Man City.

The former PSV Eindhoven star, known for his pace, dribbling, and creativity, has been a bright prospect since joining Arsenal, and his return is expected to inject more flair and unpredictability into their front line.

Madueke’s ability to wreak havoc on defenders in one-on-one situations offers a new dimension, but also takes some pressure off Arsenal’s key forwards, with Arteta pretty light in that area right now.

His form right after joining Arsenal in the summer, despite early protests over his arrival, resulted in Madueke being considered as Andrea Berta’s arguable best signing of the window thus far.

Arsenal’s plan is for the 23-year-old to complete several controlled sessions before resuming full contact training, and he’s apparently used the time to work on other aspects of his game, like strength and conditioning.

His response to the setback has been nothing short of incredible, according to GMS, and Arteta will certainly be impressed behind-closed-doors.

It wasn’t perfect, but Manchester United secured three points at Molineux to return to winning ways in the Premier League and gear up for another charge toward Champions League contention.

Bottom-of-the-table Wolverhampton Wanderers crumbled away after the break, and the Red Devils made them pay, with Bruno Fernandes’ brace coming either side of second-half strikes from Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount.

The home side might be at the centre of a catastrophic failure this season, but take nothing away from United’s slick attacking play, creating a platform to build on after labouring to a draw against West Ham United at Old Trafford last week.

How Man Utd beat Wolves

Amorim’s Red Devils have rekindled the feel-good factor. There is work still to be done, and the Portuguese tactician’s system leaves something to be desired, but Manchester United are just one point behind fourth-placed Crystal Palace.

Amorim knew his side would dominate the ball, and dictate the flow of possession they did, but he would have drilled into his troops at half-time a lesson about wayward shooting. As per Sofascore, United chalked up an xG total of 4.01 across the match, with 3.06 of that total coming after the interval despite 14 of the 27 shots on the evening being lashed across the first half.

It’s also worth noting that five of United’s seven shots on target came during the first half. This may have smacked of desperation in other circumstances, but at Molineux illustrated a tactical tweak orienting toward greater variation, a ramping-up of the gas that outfoxed a Wolves backline that crumbled under pressure.

One way of looking at it would be that United toiled, to little avail, before the break, but we also saw tactical adaptation from a manager who has been criticised for his obstinacy.

Content creator Adam Joseph said that “tonight doesn’t solve any issues”, but he praised the victory all the same. Now, Amorim needs to go one step further and deepen the nuances of his system, surely ending one protracted experiment which might have seen the visitors come unstuck, had they been playing a higher calibre of opponent.

Amorim must boldly drop Man United talent

Amad Diallo is one of the most talented players in Manchester United’s squad, but he’s also been played out of position for the lion’s share of the Amorim era, and the contest at Molineux issued a reminder that he cannot continue in an unnatural wing-back berth forever.

Not only does it hinder the 23-year-old’s attacking play, but it also fails to offer United’s system the balance and fluency it requires down the right channel.

Minutes played

90′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

68

Accurate passes

39/44 (89%)

Chances created

4

Possession lost

9x

Crosses

1/3

Dribbles

2/4

Recoveries

3

Tackles won

1/1

Duels won

5/9

This was by no means a, quote unquote, disasterclass, but Amad did leave something to be desired, lacking end product and culpable for a few defensive lapses. The Manchester Evening News recognised this, handing the Ivory Coast international a 6/10 match rating.

Amad, after all, was perhaps at fault for the Old Gold’s parity-restoring goal before the break, failing to close David Møller Wolfe as the wing-back cut back to Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, who scored.

There were flashes of quality, for sure, but we must remember that Amad is performing, dutifully, in a role that is not his own, and this was picked up by analyst Raj Chohan, who remarked that it has been “completely unserious squad planning” on Amorim’s part, shoehorning a fleet-footed forward into a position that he “does not suit playing” in.

This season, ten of Amad’s 15 appearances have come as United’s right-sided wing-back, with five outings made in an attacking role off the central striker.

There he plays his best stuff, and if Amorim is to succeed at the club and lead the squad for the long run, he will need to find a way to maximise this talented forward’s skills in a position that he can call his own.

Bad news for Mainoo: INEOS make £70m "passing machine" Man Utd’s no.1 target

Man United’s need for a new centre-midfielder is as pressing as ever.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 8, 2025

Manchester United aren’t alien to spending a pretty penny in the transfer market, as seen by their recent attempts over the last couple of years under various managers.

The hierarchy have splashed over £800m on new additions since the summer of 2022, with Ruben Amorim the most recent beneficiary of the huge spending.

He’s already been handed over £200m worth of funds since taking the reins in November last year, but was only able to guide the club to a 15th-place finish in the Premier League.

His summer additions have already made an immediate impact, as seen by the sixth-place standing at present, but certain areas are still in need of added depth.

With January now rapidly approaching on the horizon, it could provide INEOS and the manager with yet another opportunity to finally nail their recruitment in the market.

United’s hunt for added attacking reinforcements this January

Over the last couple of weeks, United have been named as just one side who are contemplating a winter move to land Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo to improve options in the final third.

It’s been reported that the Ghanaian international is available for a fee in the region of £65m due to his release clause becoming active on the 1st of the new year.

However, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are all said to be interested in a move for the 25-year-old, which could lead to huge competition for his signature.

Semenyo isn’t the only attacker currently in their sights at present, with PSG star Bradley Barcola another option the hierarchy have identified ahead of January.

According to one Spanish outlet, the Red Devils are considering a move for the French forward, after his impressive start to 2025/26, which has seen him net five goals in Ligue 1 to date.

However, the report also states Luis Enrique doesn’t want to lose one of his star players next month, leading to a €70m (£60m) asking price being placed on his head.

Why Barcola would be an upgrade on Cunha

As part of the club’s £200m spending spree during the summer window, United managed to clinch the signature of Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha from
Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Red Devils paid a reported £62.5m including add-ons for his services, a deal which was seen as excellent business, after he netted 15 league goals last season.

However, a few months into his career at Old Trafford, Cunha has struggled to meet expectations and has been unable to produce his best performances in the Premier League.

In his 12 league matches to date, he’s only scored once and registered a single assist – the lowest tally of any of the three forwards who moved to the Theatre of Dreams in the summer.

Whilst he still has plenty of time to turn things around, the board will no doubt be concerned about his lack of impact during the early stages of his career in Manchester.

He could find minutes harder to come by after January if the hierarchy manage to complete a move for Barcola, with the French youngster one of Europe’s biggest stars.

When comparing his stats to Cunha in 2025/26 to date, the PSG sensation has dominated in key areas, which could provide Amorim with a huge upgrade in the attacking department.

Barcola, who’s been described as “one of the best wingers in Europe” by European football expert Zach Lowy, has massively outscored the United star whilst posting a better shot on target accuracy rate in attacking areas.

Such numbers showcase the dominance he possesses over Cunha when in front of goal, which could hand Amorim the added firepower he is currently craving.

However, the Frenchman has also provided a more creative option than the Brazilian this season, as seen by his better tallies in progressive passes and key passes per 90.

Getting past the opposition has also been a strength of Barcola, as demonstrated by his higher tally of take-ons per 90 and dribbled into the opposition box.

At just 23, it’s evident that Barcola is already a bigger talent than Cunha, but he also has age on his side, which could allow him to reach the next level in the years ahead.

£60m would be yet another huge investment from the board, but it is one that could allow the Red Devils to be a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League for many years to come.

The new Ji-Sung Park: Man Utd star is fast becoming as important as Bruno

Manchester United have another star who is becoming as important as Bruno Fernandes.

By
Ethan Lamb

6 days ago

Over the last couple of seasons, Manchester United have failed to deliver in the Premier League, as seen by the embarrassing 15th-placed finish last time around.

From poor recruitment to managerial mistakes, there have been countless reasons as to why the Red Devils have found themselves in such a position of late.

However, after spending a year at the helm at Old Trafford, Ruben Amorim will still believe he is the man to take the club back to their former glory in the seasons ahead.

There have been glimpses of quality during the early months of the 2025/26 campaign, but the 40-year-old desperately needs to sustain such success on a consistent basis.

Numerous of his first-team players have certainly gone under the radar over recent weeks, with many not quite getting the credit they deserve for their showings in England’s top-flight.

Man Utd’s most underrated players in 2025/26 so far

Amorim’s renowned 3-4-2-1 system has allowed numerous players at United to reignite their Red Devils career, but none more so than winger Amad Diallo.

The Ivorian was often an impact player under the last management team, but he’s featured in all but one league outing under Amorim so far this campaign.

He’s already registered three combined goals and assists, with his only goal coming in the 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest – but it was certainly a strike to remember.

Underlying stats such as three big chances created and 1.3 successful dribbles per 90 – both the most in the squad – highlight his incredible ability on the transition for the Red Devils.

He’s not the only first-team member who hasn’t received enough praise, with Brazilian midfielder Casemiro resurrecting his career at Old Trafford over the last few months.

Many would have expected the 33-year-old to depart last summer, but he’s once again become a regular starter and has matched Amad for total appearances this season.

He’s already posted four goal contributions – the third highest in the squad – often popping up with the goods when needed in the final third of the pitch.

However, he’s been just as impressive defensively, making 2.9 tackles and winning 6.5 duels per 90 – handing Amorim the disruptive force he’s been craving at the heart of the side.

The United star who’s showing shades of McTominay

Casemiro will no doubt have benefited from the departure of Scott McTominay last summer, with the Scotsman’s move to Napoli freeing a role for him as a starter once again.

The 28-year-old spent a huge chunk of his professional career on the books at United, allowing him to rack up a total of over 250 senior appearances for his boyhood club.

He was at the heart of numerous memorable moments during his first team spell at the Theatre of Dreams, with the highlight undoubtedly being his long-range goal in the Manchester Derby.

However, despite producing such impressive performances, he often didn’t get the credit he deserved from the supporters, which no doubt aided his move to Italy.

In the last 18 months in Serie A, McTominay has registered 14 goals and six assists, leading to a Ballon d’Or nomination – an unthinkable feat given his inconsistency at United.

However, the club do have another hugely underrated player on their books at present, with centre-back Matthijs de Ligt finally starting to show why the hierarchy paid £43m for his signature in 2024.

The Dutchman was seen as the solution to the club’s defensive woes, but endured a tricky debut campaign – one that was no doubt a culture shock to the 26-year-old.

The same can’t be said in 2025/26, with the defender undoubtedly being one of the club’s shining lights over the last couple of months in the Premier League.

He’s featured in every single minute of the Red Devils’ league campaign to date, allowing him to produce some simply mind-boggling numbers in the process.

De Ligt, who’s been dubbed a “warrior” by Dev Bajwa, has made 1.6 tackles and won 5.6 duels per 90 – backing up Casemiro and providing another line of solidarity.

He’s also won 63% of his aerial battles to date, at an average of 3.3 per 90 – handing Amorim that dominant presence which he’s craved since taking the reins.

Games played

12

Goals scored

1

Pass accuracy

88%

Interceptions made

1.3

Aerials won

3.3

Aerial success rate

63%

Tackles won

1.6

Duels won

5.6

Other numbers, such as 88%of passes completed and 1.3 interceptions made per 90, further showcase his all-round quality, leading to Bajwa even claiming he’s the club’s “most underrated player”.

Many of the aforementioned numbers are similar to those of McTominay, who has also dominated aerially in Serie A this season, as seen by his tally of four headed goals already this season.

Both also possess the leadership qualities to lead a side forward, with both players no doubt wanting to achieve added success at their various clubs in 2025/26.

There’s no denying the defensive unit at Old Trafford has massively improved compared to last season, with De Ligt’s upturn in form certainly contributing to their success.

However, he hasn’t yet received as much praise as he deserves for his efforts, with the Dutchman likely to play a key role in any success under Amorim come the end of the campaign.

Anderson upgrade: INEOS plan £105m bid to sign "world-class" CM for Man Utd

Manchester United appear to have another midfielder on their radar instead of Elliot Anderson.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 27, 2025