He coule replace Gordon: PIF eye up "electric" £45m signing for Newcastle

Having secured Champions League qualification by the skin of their teeth last season, Newcastle United are under no pressure to sell players this summer.

Of course, Eddie Howe will still have to comply with Profit and Sustainability (PSR) regulations in order to make sure the club are balancing the books this summer.

The last time Newcastle played in Europe’s premier club competition, they failed to make it out of the group stages.

Howe will be expecting a much better showing this time around, although this means simultaneously keeping his star players while adding in much-needed squad depth.

Alexander Isak has been the subject of links to Liverpool recently, following on from another wonderful campaign on Tyneside.

The Toon are not willing to let their star striker leave, never mind selling to a Premier League rival. As such, they have placed a valuation of around £150m on his head.

Whether this deters potential suitors or not remains to be seen, but the Swedish centre-forward does appear happy at the club.

He isn’t the only player attracting interest of late. Indeed, winger Anthony Gordon is another who enjoyed a productive season in 2024/25.

While Isak appears indispensable to the club’s success next term, could Gordon be allowed to leave if the right offer comes in?

The latest on Anthony Gordon's future at Newcastle

The English starlet has emerged as one of the most sought-after talents in the Premier League after a few impressive seasons at Newcastle.

Liverpool showed interest last summer, but nothing materialised. Could Arne Slot return this year and finally secure his signature?

Anthony Gordon

Any move may cost around £75m as both Chelsea and Arsenal have joined the Anfield side in declaring their interest in the former Everton sensation.

Last season, Gordon registered 16 goal contributions – nine goals and seven assists – in all competitions for the Magpies.

While he didn’t play in the League Cup final, the winger scored twice on the club’s road to the trophy, and his efforts in the Premier League sealed a top-five finish for the Toon.

Goals

6

Assists

5

Big chances created

6

Key passes per game

1.5

Successful dribbles per game

1.1

Shots per game

1.7

Via Sofascore

When compared to his positional peers in the top flight last season, Gordon ranked in the top 7% for crosses into the penalty area (0.63) per 90 and in the top 5% for fouls drawn (2.63) per 90, proving how much of a menace he is down the flanks.

It is perhaps no wonder that so many clubs are keen on signing the Englishman, especially as he isn’t even the finished article yet.

Will Howe be prepared to accept an offer worth around £75m for the player? Especially as it could fund a few potential signings this summer?

That much remains to be seen, but if so, the club will need to spend in order to sign an able replacement. That’s for sure.

It appears as though Howe has already targeted a youngster who could potentially fill the void left by Gordon. Should he depart Newcastle, that is.

Newcastle eye move for French sensation

Howe has been working hard on trying to make something happen this summer in terms of incoming signings.

Players such as Jadon Sancho, Marc Guehi, and even Marc-Andre Ter Stegen have all been linked with moves to Newcastle in recent weeks.

All three would be excellent signings, without a shadow of a doubt, but the lack of progress is slightly worrying.

Lyon's Malick Fofana

Now, according to ESPN, Newcastle are one of the clubs lining up a deal for Lyon starlet Malick Fofana this summer, although they face some stiff competition from the likes of Chelsea, Everton, Brighton, and Fulham for his signature.

As per the report, Fofana could cost around £45m, which, for a player of his age and lack of experience, is an astronomical amount. His ceiling for development is massive, however, which could entice Howe into making a swoop for the 20-year-old, especially if Gordon goes.

Fofana is a right-footed winger who likes to play on the left, and he would be the perfect replacement for the Englishman.

Why Newcastle must sign Malick Fofana

The youngster has already made his senior debut for Belgium after what was a breakthrough season with Lyon in 2024/25.

Indeed, across 41 games in all competitions for the French side, he scored 11 goals and grabbed a further six assists, showcasing his ‘explosive’ skillset, as it was labelled by Astorre Cerebróne of Breaking the Lines.

It was in the Europa League where the talented winger really demonstrated his talents. Not only did he record an impressive eight goal contributions in the competition, but he shone in a range of metrics.

When compared to his positional peers, he ranked in the top 1% for non-penalty goals (1.05) per 90, while also ranking in the top 1% for touches in the opposition penalty area (8.23) and for progressive carries (7.88) per 90 in the tournament.

This certainly proves that he loves taking on defenders regularly, while taking the ball into dangerous zones during matches.

His eye for goal could also be advantageous for Howe, who would look for a goalscoring winger to replace Gordon. Fofana is only going to get better, too, that’s for sure.

Fofana was hailed by U23 scout Antonio Mango for his “game-changing potential” late last year and certainly showcased his talents for Lyon throughout 2024/25.

He even starred in Ligue 1 for the French side. The youngster created six big chances and succeeded with 0.8 dribbles per game.

Lyon's Malick Fofana against AC Milan.

There is no doubt that he is ready to take the next step. After shining in the Europa League, could the Champions League be the platform for him to continue his development?

Howe must think so, and while a fee of £45m is big, especially given his lack of experience on the biggest stage, he must think of the long-term future.

Fofana could be a player who eventually brings the club a major profit a few years down the line, which will go a long way in his thinking, given his impressive form for Lyon, which suggests that he could be a brilliant replacement for Gordon.

Newcastle readying bid and fighting to land centre-back wanted by Real Madrid

The Magpies are well in the fight to land their man…

BySean Markus Clifford Jun 21, 2025

Man Utd now open talks to sign “incredible” free agent with 147 career goals

Manchester United have now opened talks to sign an “incredible” star, who’s scored a whopping 147 career goals, and they are looking to get a deal done at the start of next year.

Man Utd looking to bring in another leader

In the wake of the 4-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers on Monday night, Ruben Amorim praised Lisandro Martinez for his leadership capabilities, while also adding: “Mason Mount is always the same thing, training, talking, dealing with people around Carrington. That is not easy. So he is a very, very good player.”

However, the perceived lack of leaders in the squad has been criticised for quite some time, with Roy Keane calling into question whether Bruno Fernandes is a suitable captain after the 1-1 draw against Chelsea last season.

Following the emphatic win at Molineux, the Red Devils are up to sixth in the Premier League table, but they clearly aren’t the finished article just yet, having lost at home to 10-man Everton and drawn with a struggling West Ham United side in recent weeks.

If Man United are to start competing for the top honours once again, they may need to bring in players who are experienced at the top level, and they have now opened talks over a deal for Sergio Ramos, who is a free agent, following his departure from Monterrey.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states negotiations are in the early stages, with United expressing the ‘strongest’ interest in securing the former Real Madrid man’s signature, and they are looking to bring him in at the start of next year.

Several other unnamed clubs are in the race for the Spaniard’s signature, with his future set to be resolved in the next few weeks.

Amorim's priority target: Man Utd step up interest in "special" Madrid star

Man United are now in the race for a “special” player

By
Dominic Lund

2 days ago

"Incredible" Ramos knows what it takes to win

With Keane previously making it clear he is not entirely convinced by Fernandes as a captain, Man United could perhaps do with bringing in an experienced leader, who knows what it takes to win.

The 39-year-old certainly fits the bill in that regard, having become the first player to captain a team to three straight Champions League triumphs during his time with Real Madrid.

Mesut Özil has also made it clear just how highly he rates his former teammate, saying: “Sergio Ramos is the best defender I’ve ever played with. And the one with the most character. At that time I was still very young, but I already had a very strong mentality. It was incredible. It was clear that sooner or later he would lead Real Madrid to UCL glory.”

Not only is the 180-time Spain international a top-quality defender, but he also poses a threat at the other end of the pitch, having amassed a whopping 147 career goals for club and country.

That said, Ramos is now 39-years-old, and hasn’t played in Europe since a spell with Sevilla in the 2023-24 campaign, so there may be some doubts over whether he is still capable of making an impact at a club like Man United.

Marcus Stoinis' 'scar tissue' helps transformation look real

He has taken on a new role at this World Cup and been a vital part of Australia’s success

Deivarayan Muthu13-Nov-2021Marcus Stoinis’ massive biceps, broad chest and muscular physique in general remind you of the Incredible Hulk, the Marvel superhero. Stoinis himself thinks he looks like the Hulk when he flexes his biceps and chest in celebration after taking a wicket. However, Stoinis the batter – more precisely the finisher – had more looked like Bruce Banner since his breakout unbeaten 146, in only his second ODI innings against New Zealand at Eden Park in 2017.During that match Stoinis had stepped into bat at 54 for 5 in Australia’s pursuit of 287. He watched them slide further to 67 for 6 and would have single-handedly pulled off a coup if not for Kane Williamson swooping in from silly mid-on and running out No. 11 Josh Hazlewood for a duck. In an exhibition of explosive power-hitting, Stoinis blitzed 48 in a 54-run last-wicket stand, with Hazlewood contributing .It seemed like Australia had finally found their next big finisher. Stoinis could have become that finisher at various points – most notably Sydney 2018, and Nagpur 2019. However, he couldn’t quite get the job done.The 2019 ODI World Cup didn’t go according to his plan either. He feared that his tournament was over after a side strain ruled him out of Australia’s first two matches. He managed to return to action but scrounged only 87 runs in seven innings, with the injury also hampering his bowling. Stoinis was dropped from the T20I side after the 50-over World Cup, but he forced his way back in August 2020 after enjoying a prolific run with the Melbourne Stars at the BBL – although at the top of the order.Related

  • Stoinis: 'Over the next three years I want to be the best finisher in the world'

  • Wade: Stoinis' innings the turning point

  • Old Scarborough friends Mitchell and Stoinis to take field as international foes

Had the T20 World Cup gone ahead as scheduled last year, Stoinis might not have even made the cut. A year on, Stoinis has helped take Australia’s men’s team to within one step of winning their first-ever T20 world title.The role of a finisher is arguably the toughest in T20 cricket and Stoinis has given himself a chance to succeed by failing multiple times.”You definitely do draw on your past experiences,” Stoinis said the day after the Pakistan semi-final. “Something that’s probably lucky looking back is I’ve played a lot of cricket, I’ve played a lot of T20 cricket and I’ve sort of built that scar tissue. I’ve failed in situations and I’ve been told I can’t finish a game; we’ve heard all these sort of things before.”I think you need to go through all sort of stuff and build that scar tissue, go and stand in the middle in a pressure situation. It doesn’t mean it’s always going to work, but I think I’ve definitely noticed the way that I do think through that situation has grown over the past couple of years.”Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade’s joy knows no bounds•Getty ImagesStoinis’ stint with Delhi Capitals as their finisher under coach Ricky Ponting has certainly contributed to his growth. At the death in IPL 2020 in the UAE, he struck at 10.21 an over that season, putting himself in the company of the likes of Kieron Pollard, AB de Villiers, Eoin Morgan and Ravindra Jadeja.Stoinis then injured his hamstring in the UAE leg of IPL 2021 and played just two matches. Another injury, another doomed World Cup for Stoinis? He didn’t let history repeat itself, completing three chases in three attempts. The only other time he batted in the tournament, he bagged a duck after Australia had opted to bat against England.When Stoinis reunited with his former Victoria team-mate Matthew Wade in the semi-final against Pakistan on Thursday, Australia still needed 81 off 46 balls. Stoinis changed the game when he clattered his Stars team-mate Haris Rauf for 13 in the 17th over. When Rauf dug one into the pitch, Stoinis rose tall and smote it over the midwicket boundary with the stillest of heads and smoothest of bat-swings. Next ball Rauf marginally missed his yorker and Stoinis held his shape again to belt it down the ground for four.The twin blows set the scene for Wade’s takedown of Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi as Australia pulled off a stunning win. According to Wade, Stoinis’ unbeaten 40 off 31 balls was the critical performance in the second semi-final.”It was pretty much just working with Wadey,” Stoinis recalled. “We were talking through one short boundary and one longer boundary. Certain bowlers he thought he could target, certain ones that I could target. And then in between, there’s the chaos that’s going on in your own head (laughs). So, just trying to stay calm and trying to keep each other calm. You are talking through your plans and making sure you’re really clear on what you want to do.”For years, Stoinis has only provided glimpses of the Incredible Hulk persona at the top level. If his recent finishing acts in the T20 World Cup are anything to go by, the transformation could be complete.

MI to retain their big four: Rohit, Hardik, Bumrah, Suryakumar

Tilak Varma is the fifth capped player retained by MI ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction

Nagraj Gollapudi31-Oct-202410:44

Should Rohit or Surya replace Hardik as MI captain?

Mumbai Indians are set to retain their four major Indian players – Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav – along with Tilak Varma ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction.With those five capped players retained, MI can use their one right-to-match option only on an uncapped player at the auction. While the individual amounts for each of their retained player is yet to be ascertained, MI will lose at least INR 75 crore from their purse of INR 120 crore, or more if they have paid a higher aggregate amount to the five.MI had a disappointing IPL 2024, finishing at the bottom of the league under the leadership of Hardik, who was traded in from Gujarat Titans and replaced Rohit as captain. Hardik was regularly booed at various venues last season as fans expressed their displeasure at the change of leadership, but he bounced back from poor personal form with significant contributions during India’s successful 2024 T20 World Cup campaign. However, Suryakumar was preferred as India’s T20I captain after that tournament once Rohit retired from the format, even though Hardik had captained India in T20Is for much of 2023.Related

SRH to retain Travis Head and Nitish Reddy as well ahead of IPL mega auction

LSG set to retain Pooran, Mayank and Bishnoi for IPL 2025

IPL retention: How many players can a team keep? And at what cost?

Gill, Rashid, Sudharsan to be retained by Gujarat Titans

Samson, Jaiswal, Parag and Sandeep set to be retained by Rajasthan Royals

ESPNcricinfo has learned the MI management had a chat recently with their senior players on the plan going forward before agreeing on retentions.October 31 is the deadline by which the ten franchises have to submit their lists of retained players to the IPL. The teams have been allowed to retain up to six players ahead of the mega auction before the 2025 season, of which a maximum of five can be capped internationals and two can be uncapped players. While the IPL has set minimum deductions from the auction purse for each player retained – INR 18 crore for the first player, INR 14 crore for the second, INR 11 crore for the third, INR 18 crore for the fourth, INR 14 crore for the fifth, and INR 4 crore for an uncapped player – the franchises are free to pay more or less than those amounts to their retained players.

RB Bragantino x Atlético-MG: onde assistir ao vivo, horário e escalações do jogo pelo Brasileirão

MatériaMais Notícias

da realsbet: Em alta na temporada e na parte de cima da tabela, RB Bragantino e Atlético-MG se enfrentam nesta quarta-feira (25), às 19h, no Estádio Nabi Abi Chedid, pela 29ª rodada do Brasileirão. O duelo reune o quinto melhor mandante contra o terceiro melhor visitante da competição.

da imperador bet: + Acompanhe o dia dos atletas brasileiros no Pan-Americano de Santiago

O Massa Bruta defende uma invencivilidade de nove jogos e aposta na boa fase do atacante Eduardo Sasha, que participou dos últimos três gols da equipe no Brasileirão, para seguir na caça do líder Botafogo.

O Galo junta os cacos após perder o primeiro clássico mineiro disputado na Arena MRV e quer os três pontos para entrar no G6. O técnico Felipão aposta na dupla Paulinho e Hulk, que juntos somam 21 gols no Brasileirão, para reverter a impressão deixada contra o Cruzeiro.

+ Veja tabela e simule os resultados do Brasileirão

RB BRAGANTINO X ATLÉTICO-MG
29ª RODADA DO CAMPEONATO BRASILEIRO

Local: Arena, Cuiabá (MT)
Data e hora: quarta-feira, 25 de outubro de 2023, às 21h30 (horário de Brasília)
Árbitro: Marcelo de Lima Henrique (CE)
Assistentes: Rodrigo Figueiredo Henrique Correa (FIFA-RJ) e Marcia Bezerra Lopes Caetano (RO)
Árbitro de vídeo: Rodolpho Toski Marques (FIFA-PR)
Onde assistir: Premiere e no tempo real do Lance!

RB BRAGANTINO

Cleiton; Aderlan, Realpe, Léo Ortiz e Juninho Capixaba; Raul, Eric Ramires e Lucas Evangelista; Vitinho, Matheus Gonçalves e Eduardo Sasha. Técnico: Pedro Caixinha

Desfalques: Matheus Fernandes (suspenso) e Lucão, Lucas Cunha, Eduardo e Nathan Camargo (lesionados)

Pendurados: Realpe, Aderlan, Vitinho e Matheus Gonçalves

ATLÉTICO-MG

Everson; Saravia, Bruno Fuchs, Jemerson (Igor Rabello) e Guilherme Arana; Rodrigo Battaglia (Cristian Pavón), Otávio, Igor Gomes (Pedrinho) e Alan Franco; Paulinho e Hulk. Técnico: Felipão

Desfalques: Maurício Lemos e Zaracho (suspensos) e Mariano (lesionado)

Pendurados: Bruno Fuchs e Alan Franco

Weather and pitch in focus as India, Bangladesh ponder three spinners

India lead the series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Chennai by 280 runs

Hemant Brar26-Sep-20242:23

Manjrekar: I will play Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test

Big picture: Another stern test awaits BangladeshBangladesh came into this series riding on the high of winning 2-0 in Pakistan. It peaked when they had India 144 for 6 in the first innings in Chennai. But then India once again showed why they are arguably the strongest home side in Test history and went on to steamroll Bangladesh by 280 runs.It was a show of India’s depth in both batting and bowling. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli managed only 34 runs between them across four innings, but India had three centurions and two half-centurions. When it came to bowling, their seamers shared eight wickets in Bangladesh’s first innings and the spinners nine during the second.Things will not get easier for Bangladesh in Kanpur, where New Zealand’s tail had held on to secure a draw the last time a Test was played here. There is also some uncertainty about the pitch. The ground staff were preparing two surfaces and, as of noon on the eve of the match, it was not clear which one would be used.Related

Green Park's C stand deemed 'unsafe' for India-Bangladesh Test

Shakib 'eligible for selection' for Kanpur Test against India

Ravindra Jadeja, the quick and the deadly

Kanpur generally offers good Test-match pitches that help fast bowlers on the first morning before flattening out and assisting spinners on the last two days. However, the weather could be an issue this time, with rain forecast on the first three days. That could impact not just the pitch but also the toss decision and team compositions.But all is not bleak for Bangladesh. In their second innings in Chennai, their openers gave them a solid start, followed by Najmul Hossain Shanto’s return to form with 82. In their first innings, Shakib Al Hasan, Litton Das and Mehidy Hasan Miraz all got starts. But to be competitive against this Indian team at home, you have to be at your best for much longer periods. Can Bangladesh do that?Form guideIndia WWWWW (last five Tests, most recent first)
Bangladesh LWWLL0:48

Manjrekar: Bangladesh attack lacks quality and experience

In the spotlight: Shubman Gill and Shakib Al HasanShubman Gill knows his ceiling. Even after scoring 452 runs with two hundreds in the home series against England earlier this year, he recently said he was yet to fulfil his expectations as a Test player. Gill got out for a duck in the first innings of the Chennai Test against Bangladesh but scored a stroke-filled unbeaten 119 in the second. Given India are to face tougher opponents in the coming months – New Zealand and Australia – Gill would be keen to fine-tune his game at No. 3.When is Shakib Al Hasan not in the spotlight? While batting in Chennai, he was seen biting a black strap, wrapped around his neck, to keep his head from falling over. When it was time to bowl, there were murmurs about his workload, ineffectiveness and discomfort with the spinning finger. And after Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe confirmed Shakib’s availability for the second Test, he dropped a bombshell about his future on the eve of the match.Team news: Wait and watch?There was no indication from the Indian camp whether they would play three spinners. Even if they do, it may not be a straightforward choice. If the pitch is too slow, Axar Patel could be handy with his pace and attacking the stumps. But India already have a similar spinner in Ravindra Jadeja. In Kuldeep Yadav’s favour, this is his home ground. So he is a tempting option, too. If India play one of Axar or Kuldeep, Akash Deep could be the one to miss out.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Yashasvi Jaiswal, 3 Shubman Gill, 4 Virat Kohli, 5 Rishabh Pant (wk), 6 KL Rahul, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Kuldeep Yadav/Axar Patel, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mohammed SirajIf Bangladesh go with three spinners, Taijul Islam could replace Nahid Rana. That could also help with Shakib’s workload, if required.Bangladesh (probable): 1 Shadman Islam, 2 Zakir Hasan, 3 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 4 Mominul Haque, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim, 6 Shakib Al Hasan, 7 Litton Das (wk), 8 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 9 Taijul Islam, 10 Hasan Mahmud, 11 Taskin AhmedGautam Gambhir and Abhishek Nayar inspect one of two pitches in consideration for the Kanpur Test•AFP/Getty ImagesPitch and conditions: Slow and low bounce?The red-soil pitch in Chennai had decent bounce for both seamers and spinners in the first Test. Kanpur will be different. The two pitches being considered for the match are black-soil surfaces. They are likely to be flatter, with lower bounce, and are expected to become slower as the Test progresses. All that could change if it rains as forecasted, and bad light could become a factor too towards the end of each day.Stats and trivia: Jadeja double on the cards For the first time in their Test history, India have more wins (179) than losses (178). Jadeja is one short of becoming the seventh Indian to take 300 Test wickets. When Jadeja gets there, he will also complete the double of 3000 runs and 300 wickets. If he does it in Kanpur, in his 74th Test, he will be the second fastest to do so after Ian Botham (72). Virat Kohli is 129 short of 9000 Test runs. Taijul is five short of 200 Test wickets. Only Shakib (242) has more Test wickets for Bangladesh. Quotes”We don’t particularly pattern bad pitches. But we try to make sure the conditions are tough enough so that the players are challenged. A lot of these guys have played for so many years. Only if they’re challenged are they going to get better. So sometimes the thought process is just to challenge them differently so that your game and you, organically and mentally, grow.”

Why £70m Premier League transfer deals don't scare Wrexham – with director explaining recruitment model in Ryan Reynolds & Rob McElhenney's ambitious project

Shaun Harvey has explained why big-money deals in the Premier League do not scare Wrexham, with the Red Dragons' transfer model being revealed.

  • Red Dragons have risen into the Championship
  • Hollywood co-owners daring to chase the dream
  • Door opened for investors to join epic adventure
Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱
  • WHAT HAPPENED?

    Hollywood co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have helped to fund a meteoric rise for the Welsh outfit. Their personal fortunes allowed rivals to be outspent in the National League and League Two.

  • Advertisement

  • Getty/GOAL

    THE BIGGER PICTURE

    Three successive promotions have lifted Wrexham into the Championship, with multi-millionaire chairmen no longer enough to compete at that level. Further investment is being sought, while record-breaking commercial deals are helping to bolster the coffers.

  • DID YOU KNOW?

    The ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ documentary series has opened up a window to the world, making the Red Dragons an appealing project for those with the deepest of pockets, and the plan is to reach the top-flight of English football in the not too distant future.

  • Getty

    WHAT HARVEY SAID

    Teams at that level continue to splash eye-watering quantities of cash – with the history books being rewritten again in 2025 – but Wrexham director Harvey told Ben Foster’s ’ when asked about deals of £70 million plus and how the Red Dragons feel about being one step away from that level: "I think we are there now. I don’t think we have to wait for the Premier League.

    "Our model has always been, we always wanted to sign players that used to play at least one division higher than what we were playing in. If we are going to do that now, we are signing players that are Premier League quality. They want Premier League wages.

    "We have probably subdivided the Championship into top end and bottom end. If you are looking to sign players from the top end of the Championship to come and help you on your journey, they are earning fortunes.

    "Our wage bill now, a month, will be more than we paid for the whole time that we were in the National League. Income has gone up as well, so it’s not just a one-way street."

Man Utd to step up deal for "insane" £64m star to play up front with Cunha

Manchester United are now ready to step up their efforts to sign an “insane” £64 million player once they complete the deal for Matheus Cunha, according to a recent report.

Man Utd chasing new striker despite closing in on Cunha deal

The Red Devils still have one final Premier League game to play out, but already club chiefs are getting things underway ahead of the summer transfer window opening.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' MatheusCunha

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on Monday that United are now close to signing Cunha from Wolves. The Brazil forward has accepted the project on offer at Old Trafford and has also agreed personal terms with the Red Devils. Romano claims only the finer details need to be sorted before the deal reaches the “here we go” stage.

Amorim must now bench Hojlund to unleash Man Utd "genius" in new role

Man Utd are preparing for a season-defining game on Wednesday evening…

1 ByRobbie Walls May 21, 2025

But Ruben Amorim and United want more than just Cunha to add to their front line – according to The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell, United have also held face-to-face talks with striker Liam Delap after Ipswich Town granted permission for him to travel to Manchester. The young forward has a £30 million release clause, and he is one of a number of targets the Red Devils are interested in signing to play up front with Cunha.

Man Utd ready to step up efforts to sign Viktor Gyokeres

Along with Delap, Viktor Gyokeres is also another option that is under consideration by the Old Trafford chiefs, and according to L’Equipe, relayed by Get French Football News, Man United are stepping up their efforts to sign Gyokeres from Sporting CP.

The report states that the Sweden international wants to resolve his future as quickly as possible, given he is expected to leave Sporting. However, the lack of concrete moves from PSG has now opened the door to United, who will look to make an approach for Gyokeres in the coming days.

It is claimed that the Red Devils are the only team to make serious efforts to try and sign Gyokeres, despite the fact the forward has also been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal and is said to be on their transfer shortlist. This would be a costly purchase for United, as it’s been widely reported that it could cost any interested team as much as £64 million to sign the prolific number nine.

Apps

101

Goals

96

Assists

28

The 26-year-old, who has been labelled “insane” by analyst Ben Mattinson, has been sensational for Sporting CP since moving to Portugal. Gyokeres has netted 39 goals in 33 league games this season, so while he may be an expensive purchase, his goal-scoring record suggests it would be money well spent.

Current number nine Rasmus Hojlund looks set for a move away from United, and if Cunha is being brought in to play just off the striker like he often has done at Molineux then a more clinial finisher will be required up front.

عثمان ديمبلي يساوم باريس سان جيرمان بعد فوزه بالكرة الذهبية

أصبح عثمان ديمبلي نجم باريس سان جيرمان هو ملك كرة القدم كأفضل لاعب في العالم خلال الوقت الحالي، بعد فوزه بجائزة الكرة الذهبية.

وأصبحت هذه الجائزة تنعكس بمطالبه على باريس سان جيرمان بعد المجد الذي وصل له مع الفريق الفرنسي، وتتويجه بلقب دوري أبطال أوروبا الموسم الماضي.

ووفقاً لصحيفة “ليكيب” الفرنسية فإن لويس كامبوس المستشار الرياضي لباريس سان جيرمان وموسى سيسوكو وكيل أعمال عثمان ديمبلي قد بدآ مراجعة عقد اللاعب عقب فوزه بجائزة “فرانس فوتبول”.

وأضافت التقارير أن المفاوضات بدأت ليلة الحفلة في مسرح شاتليه، ويرغب عثمان ديمبلي في الحصول على زيادة في راتبه.

اقرأ أيضاً.. منهم لاعب ليفربول.. القائمة النهائية للمرشحين لجائزة الفتى الذهبي 2025

وكان عثمان ديمبلي قد برز كلاعب أساسي مع باريس سان جيرمان وسجل 35 هدفًا وصنع 16 خلال 53 مباراة، بالإضافة إلى دوره المهم في بناء تماسك فريقه داخل غرفة الملابس.

ويخطط المديرون الرياضيون لباريس سان جيرمان لحسم عقود لاعبين شباب آخرين مثل برادلي باركولا وويليان باتشو ومحمدو مايولو، وسيركز النادي مع ديمبلي بشكل أكبر ويؤكد الفريق الفرنسي أن فوز اللاعب بالكرة الذهبية هو ثمرة جهد جماعي لذا ليس هناك توقعات بمنحه معاملة خاصة مقارنة ببقية لاعبي الفريق.

ويتقاضى عثمان ديمبلي حالياً ما يزيد قليلاً عن نصف الراتب السنوي الصافي الذي يبلغ 30 مليون يورو والذي تقاضاه كل من ميسي ونيمار مع باريس، وعلى الرغم من تحسن وضع النادي بعد عام قياسي، إلا أن انخفاض عائدات البث يحد من قدرة باريس على الإنفاق ويسعى أيضاً النادي للامتثال الصارم لقواعد اللعب المالي النظيف للاتحاد الأوروبي وتجنب العقوبات.

Capsey feeling 'in control' of her game after taking a step back

The day Alice Capsey turned 18, she walked towards a pod of journalists, delighted that she no longer needed a chaperone during interviews.She’d been doing these – accompanied – for a while and her team, Oval Invincibles, had just pulled off the highest successful run chase in the Women’s Hundred to defeat Northern Superchargers at The Oval after the men’s teams had played the curtain raiser.As eager and comfortable as she was on that night almost two years ago, it’s easy to forget she is still a teenager now and to overlook how the sheer volume of cricket she has played since took a “toll” on her. Since July 2022, Capsey has played a staggering 93 top-level T20 matches. As a result, she hasn’t played regional cricket this season, opting to focus on playing for England and, when she’s not, taking a break from cricket.Related

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Speaking in Canterbury after her career-best 67 not out off 60 balls secured victory for England in a nervy third T20I against New Zealand, Capsey revealed that she felt in a much better place than she had over the past year and just how hard it had been to reach that point.”I’ve been kind of under the spotlight for the last three years and it’s taken its toll a little bit, especially over the last year,” Capsey said. “So I really have taken a step back this year and gone, ‘What’s going to be the best option for me to go onto the pitch and perform?’ Prioritising myself a little bit more… not listening to the outside noise as much and really focusing on what matters to me as a person and as a cricketer and what’s going to make me the best cricketer for this team.”Capsey enjoyed a breakout season during the inaugural Women’s Hundred and was part of the first England A squad to tour Australia during the Women’s Ashes at the start of 2022, earning her senior call-up for the Commonwealth Games later that year. Since then, she has become a fixture at No. 3 in T20Is and played in franchise tournaments around the world while floating round the middle order in 17 ODIs.But her half-century against the White Ferns to help England to a 3-0 lead in their five match T20 series on Thursday was her first fifty in the format since last August. Her highest score in the 11 innings she played in between was 31 – made against Pakistan in May – and sat alongside a string of scores either in the 20s, or in single figures. Her highest score in ODIs is 44, also reached during Pakistan’s recent visit. In her two other ODI innings this English summer, she was unbeaten on 39 and 35 against Pakistan and New Zealand respectively.All of these numbers serve as a reminder that Capsey is still a young player learning her craft, and suggest she is figuring out what works for her at the right time.”For someone of my age, I feel really experienced within T20 cricket and I feel really comfortable with my role at No. 3,” she said. “I know that it’s not going to come off every time and I know that there’s going to be critics about how I go about the game. But on nights like these, it is just about going big and really securing the win.Capsey has played a high volume of T20, including at the WPL•BCCI

“I missed the regional cricket this year. I have played so much cricket and I thought the best way to actually perform for England and get myself in the best positive space to be able to perform was to have a little break. We’ve obviously got huge winter and playing for England and performing for England is my main priority. Playing the amount of games I have, I’ve been exposed to a lot of different situations, which is just going to help me as a batter but as an allrounder. Then, obviously on the flip side, it’s a hell of a lot of cricket.”Taking time off between international series appears to be paying dividends, with a T20 World Cup in October, followed by an away Ashes series, then a 50-over World Cup in India in 2025.”As much as I probably haven’t played the amount of cricket that I have in the past couple of years, I feel the most calm and controlled I’ve felt in a very long time,” Capsey said. “I feel really calm, I know what my options are and yeah, I just feel really confident and it’s amazing that if you’re in a good head space that you then take it onto the pitch and feel a lot better about yourself.”Jon Lewis, England’s head coach, said recently that he’d like Capsey “to be one of our best top-five batters” in ODIs, while recognising that her schedule is currently focused on the shorter format. He has also been keen to deploy her part-time offspin, albeit in a side spoilt with spin-bowling riches in the form of left-armer and world No.1 Sophie Ecclestone, legspinner Sarah Glenn and offspinner Charlie Dean.But, as shown in fielding an experimental line-up missing captain Heather Knight, opening batter Danni Wyatt and seamer Lauren Bell, England are all about exploring their options ahead of the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.”We’ve been spoken to by the coaching staff before the series, saying that there will be a bit of chaos thrown in front of us, a few different situations about how we adapt to it,” Capsey said. “The performances are showing we are getting the results, but I think as a group we’re really calm with the different changes and we all feel like, especially from my point of view, I feel like it doesn’t matter who’s in the team, we can all just go out in there and play with freedom and play to our strengths.”I’d love to bowl, but I stand no chance with those three,” Capsey added. “They perform day in, day out and when I do get the opportunity, don’t get me wrong, I’m going to make the most of it, but if I’m not having to bowl, then they’re doing their job and we’re probably winning more games than we’re not.”

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