He might have just the one FA Cup to his name, but Mikel Arteta has got a lot right since taking the reins at Arsenal.

He has helped to transform the club from one that looked destined for decline into one genuinely competing for Premier League and Champions League titles.

While his tactics and overall approach to management have played a significant role in this dramatic turnaround, so have the signings made under his leadership, such as Martin Odegaard, David Raya, Gabriel Magalhães, and Declan Rice.

The latter has arguably been the most seismic during Arteta’s tenure, and now it looks like the club could be set to repeat the move with another international star.

Arsenal target their new Rice

While there is still over a month to go, and therefore plenty of time for things to change, this transfer window is shaping up to be one of Arsenal’s most exciting in some time.

Transfer Focus

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

The North Londoners have already announced the signings of Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke and Kepa Arrizabalaga.

Additionally, Cristhian Mosquera could be announced at any moment, and talks over add-ons in the deal for Viktor Gyokeres appear to be entering their final stages.

Yet, even still, Andrea Berta and Co look to be on the hunt for more game-changing additions to the team, including one player who could be another Rice-esque signing.

At least that’s according to a recent report from Arsenal insider Hand of Arsenal, who has confirmed that Arsenal are still interested in Eberechi Eze.

In fact, they go a step further, confirming that talks have been held with the player and that his preference would be to join the Gunners, and most crucially, that Arteta is “obsessed” with him.

The insider continued: “My understanding is personal terms have never been an issue. One source said, he would sign a 5 year deal tomorrow.”

The report states that a sale of someone like Leandro Trossard may create room for the club to sign the Crystal Palace star, who has a widely reported £68m release clause in his current contract.

It would be a lot of money to spend on one player, but Eze has proven he’d be more than worth it over the last few years, and his move could be a Rice repeat of sorts.

Why Eze could be a Rice repeat

While they both primarily play in midfield, it’s essential to note that they’re very different players and play in distinctly different ways; however, that’s not the primary basis of this comparison.

Instead, one of the main reasons it would be a move reminiscent of the one for the 26-year-old, aside from the similar age, is that it would be another example of the Gunners signing one of the best players from a fellow Premier League side, and a London-based one at that.

For example, his 14 goals and 11 assists in 43 games last season made him Palace’s most productive player, and it wasn’t even a close run thing, with the next best player being Jean-Philippe Mateta, who produced 21 goal involvements in 46 games.

Appearances

36

43

Minutes

2285′

3303′

Goals

11

14

Assists

6

11

Goal Involvements per Match

0.47

0.58

Minutes per Goal Involvement

134.41′

132.12′

Moreover, this level of output for a mid-table side suggests that, much like the former Hammers star did when he joined the club in 2023, the Greenwich-born “magician,” as dubbed by pundit Micah Richards, could have a transformational impact on the North Londoners’ midfield, but just in an attacking sense.

Furthermore, this transfer would be another case of the Premier League runners-up adding yet another full England international to their squad, as while the former QPR star isn’t quite as established in the Three Lions setup as Rice was when he joined, he’s still a regular feature in the squad and has now won 12 senior caps.

Finally, like the former Irons star did in the Conference League in his last season with the East Londoners, the £100k-per-week star gem played a key role in the Eagles finally winning a major trophy last season, scoring in the quarter-final, semi-final and final of the FA Cup.

In other words, the incredible international has more than proven he has what it takes to deliver in the big games.

Ultimately, Arsenal should be doing everything they can to sign Eze this summer, as not only is he an extraordinarily talented player in his own right, but he could also have as significant an impact as Rice.

Their new Auba: Arsenal start talks to sign "world-class" £43m goalscorer

The prolific forward could be just what Arsenal are missing as they hunt down their next Aubameyang.

1 ByJack Salveson Holmes Jul 22, 2025

In his first outing as a red-ball bowler in Asia, Will O’Rourke was a menace. In his first spell, when the pitch was at its bounciest, he was rapid – sometimes breaching 140kph, and generated uncomfortable bounce from his six-foot-four-inch frame.His first Test wicket in the continent came from a bouncer, with experienced opener Dimuth Karunaratne so shaken by the deliveries O’Rourke had bowled to him previously, that he fenced at one he could have left, and edged it to the wicketkeeper.Pathum Nissanka, a centurion in the last Test innings he played, barely 10 days ago, was dismissed by an even better ball, a rapid, yorker he brought his bat down too late on, and which ended up rattling his stumps.Related

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Often foreign seamers struggle in their first outings in dry conditions. O’Rourke crushed it.”Me and Tim Southee as the pace bowlers have the role to be aggressive and bowl quick and unsettle people – that’s what we’ve talked about with coach Gary Stead and bowling Jacob Oram,” O’Rourke said.In his first five-over spell, O’Rourke took two wickets for 26.”A lot of the talk going into the game was maybe that the pitch was a little bit flat and a little bit slow. We probably wanted to have a bat first. But we had a bowl, and Tim and I were getting good carry, so the communication was to run in hard and hit the deck hard. I probably scattered it around a bit more than I wanted to, but when I hit the right spot I was lucky enough to get a few edges.”O’Rourke’s third wicket was especially impressive. Not only did he get one to rise sharply to smack Angelo Mathews on the index finger late in the first session, causing Mathews to retire hurt at the time. But when Mathews – frequently a good player of fast bowling – returned to the crease, O’Rourke got his wicket with another short, sharp delivery, one that a seemingly muddled Mathews fended at from a bad position.”It’s very special being this early on in my career bowling to legends like Angelo Mathews,” O’Rourke said. “One ball maybe jumped and caught him on the finger and unsettled him a little bit. It’s special to be able to bowl to greats like him and lucky enough to get his wicket at the end.”O’Rourke, in his third Test, is also reveling in having Southee as a mentor. Southee has bowled several memorable spells in Sri Lanka, including in Galle on the morning of the second day in a 2012 Test. Southee also averages an impressive 18.46 against this opposition.”It’s been awesome having Tim as captain. Having another fast bowler as captain who has done as much for the game as he has – it can only be a good thing for a young guy coming through. Getting him at mid-on, or even third slip when he comes over and gives you a wee pointer – that’s a big part of our team and a big part of helping me out.”

كشف جيانلويجي دوناروما، حارس مرمى مانشستر سيتي، عن اللاعب الذي رحب به فور انتقاله إلى صفوف النادي الإنجليزي خلال فترة الميركاتو الصيفي الأخير.

ونجح نادي مانشستر سيتي في التعاقد مع دوناروما، خلال فترة الميركاتو الصيفي العام الحالي، قادمًا من صفوف باريس سان جيرمان مقابل 35 مليون يورو.

وقدم دوناروما أوراق اعتماده بشكل رسمي مع مانشستر سيتي وساعد فريقه على الفوز بديربي مانشستر سيتي على الغريم التقليدي مانشستر يونايتد، يوم الأحد الماضي، بثلاثية نظيفة، في الدوري الإنجلييزي الممتاز.

طالع .. جوارديولا: مانشستر سيتي ليس مرشحًا للفوز بدوري أبطال أوروبا.. وأتعلم من كونتي

وأشار دوناروما خلال المؤتمر الصحفي الذي يسبق لقاء مانشستر سيتي ونابولي في دوري أبطال أوروبا يوم غدًا الخميس، إلى أن إيرلينج هالاند وقف بجانبه كثيرًا منذ توقيعه مع السيتيزن.

وقال دوناروما عن هالاند: “إلى جانب كونه لاعبًا رائعًا وأحد أفضل لاعبي العالم إن لم يكن الأفضل على الإطلاق، فهو شخص رائع أيضًا، وهذا ما يجعل هالاند أفضل بطريقة ما، تربطني به علاقة رائعة ولقد رحب بي فور انضمامي إلى مانشستر سيتي”.

وأضاف دوناروما في حديثه عن هالاند: “أشعر وكأنني في مانشستر سيتي منذ سنوات عديدة، بالطريقة التي رحبوا بي بها جميعًا لذا أنا فخور جدًا بذلك، يجب أن يكون سلوك الفريق وموقفه كعائلة واحدة، وعندما يصد زميل كرة هدف يجب أن نحتفل جميعًا كما لو كان هدفًا سجله الفريق”.

وأوضح: “لذا هذا مهم جدًا بالنسبة لي، يجب أن نكون متحدين في الملعب وخارجه، لقد كان أمرًا رائعًا والنتيجة ضد مانشستر يونايتد رفعتنا إلى أعلى المستويات”.

وعن نابولي أردف دوناروما: “أحد أخطر لاعبي نابولي هما سكوت ماكتوميناي وراسموس هويلوند، خطيران للغاية، وهويلوند قدم أداءً رائعًا في مباراته الأولى مع نابولي”.

وتابع: “يدافع نابولي بشكل ممتاز لذا ستكون مباراة صعبة للغاية وعلينا أن نكون حذرين طوال الوقت، لدى ماكتوميناي وهويلوند قوة بدنية وسرعة بديهة وهذا ما سأقوله أيضًا في غرفة الملابس”.

واستكمل: “لكنني متأكد من أن مدربنا سيخبرنا بهذه الأمور عند تحضيرنا للمباراة، أنا سعيد جدًا باللعب ضد نابولي وإنها مباراة أولى مثيرة ورائعة”.

وعن اللعب بقدميه قال دوناروما: “أسعى دائمًا للتطور، أنا الآن مع بيب جوارديولا وهو من أفضل المدربين في مثل هذه المواقف، لذا يمكنه مساعدتي كثيرًا بالتأكيد، يمكننا القيام بالكثير معًا وأنا متأكد من أننا سنحقق نجاحًا باهرًا”.

وأضاف: “من البديهي أن عليك أن تستشعر الخطر، عندما تكون في لحظة حرجة عليك أن تكون قادرًا على قراءة مواقف ولحظات معينة في المباراة، هناك لحظات يمكنك فيها اللعب وفرض اللعب، ولحظات يكون من الأفضل فيها التسديد الطويل وتجنب المواقف الخطرة”.

واختتم: “لذا عليك أن تكون جيدًا في قراءة الموقف، وعندما تستطيع اللعب العب بقدمك، وعندما لا تستطيع لا تفعل”.

Arsenal are very likely to end this summer transfer window as one of the Premier League’s busiest sides in terms of incomings, with a few very significant developments occurring in the last few days.

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Mikel Arteta now looks on the verge of finally getting his desired number nine through the door.

Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, as first reported Sky Switzerland’s Sacha Tavolieri, and now backed up by other credible media sources, has agreed a five-year contract at the Emirates Stadium and Arsenal are in advanced talks to sign the Sweden international.

Sporting director Andrea Berta is also in active pursuit of another winger, who would join in a separate deal to Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze (Fabrizio Romano), with talks ongoing to sign the 27-year-old too.

The wide player who could sign for Arteta’s side with Eze, according to reports, looks more than likely to be Chelsea forward Noni Madueke.

Similarly to Gyokeres, the Englishman has already agreed personal terms over an Arsenal move, with the Gunners expected to open club-to-club talks soon and potentially seal yet another signing from their London rivals, following a plethora of deals between both clubs in recent windows.

ESPN have further information on this story, claiming that Arsenal could soon have super agent, Ali Barat, to thank if they do manage to get this one over the line.

Ali Barat involved as Arsenal chase imminent Noni Madueke deal

The broadcast giant claims Barat is actively involved in talks and attempting to secure his client a move to N5, which could be done for around £43 million “by the end of this week”.

Chelsea signed Madueke from PSV Eindhoven for just £30 million back in 2023, so Enzo Maresca’s side are poised to make a handsome profit amid their sanction from UEFA for breaking financial rules.

As such, ESPN also report that Arsenal are in “very positive” talks with Chelsea over signing Madueke, and Arteta has always been a major fan of the 23-year-old. Arsenal are even said to have considered his signing last summer too, but if all goes to plan, they could finally land their man this year instead.

Arteta is also convinced that Madueke can develop into an exceptional left-winger, despite the opposing side being his preferred position.

If they make the World Cup final, both sides will have less than 72 hours to prepare for the series

Shashank Kishore08-Oct-2024New Zealand will tour India for three women’s championship ODIs later this month. The series, part of the women’s FTP for the current cycle, had been postponed indefinitely in July last year due to a crowded calendar, where India hosted England and Australia.All three ODIs, on October 24, 27 and 29, will be played in Ahmedabad, with both teams expected to fly in straight from the women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE. If they make the World Cup final, both sides will have less than 72 hours to prepare for the series.The late addition to the cricket calendar means a number of first-choice players across both sides, including India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Yastika Bhatia and D Hemalatha could miss at least the first few games of the 2024-25 WBBL season.Mandhana was among the WBBL’s big-ticket pre-draft signings by Adelaide Strikers. Meanwhile, Sophie Devine, the New Zealand’s captain and Mandhana’s WPL team-mate, will also be unavailable for the first few games of the tournament for Perth Scorchers.Related

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With eight wins in 18 matches, New Zealand are currently placed sixth, a spot below India, in the women’s championship table. With West Indies and, theoretically even Bangladesh, capable of leapfrogging them on the points table, the series is crucial for New Zealand as far as direct qualification is concerned.The hosts along with five top-placed teams will earn a direct entry to next year’s 50-over World Cup in India. Two others will be identified through a global qualifier, where the bottom four from the championships and four associates will compete.New Zealand last played ODIs in India in 2015, during the first iteration of the women’s championships. Back then, New Zealand overturned a 1-0 deficit to clinch the series.

Celtic have made a habit out of buying and developing and selling on young talent over the years, as they have made millions in profit through player trading.

The likes of Matt O’Riley, Odsonne Edouard, Moussa Dembele, and Virgil van Dijk, among many others, have come and gone thanks to the club’s excellent recruitment work.

Whilst they have had success in plucking players out of top European countries, like van Dijk from the Netherlands or Dembele and O’Riley from England, they have also had success in snapping up talent from more obscure leagues.

For example, Celtic signed Kristoffer Ajer as a 17-year-old for £650k from Norwegian side Start, before they went on to sell him to Brentford for a reported fee of £13.5m.

The Hoops plucked the teenage talent up and sent him out on loan, to Kilmarnock, before integrating him into the first-team to develop into a £13.5m player, and they could repeat a similar trick with their interest in a midfielder this summer.

Celtic enquire about deal for Serbian midfielder

According to Cukaricki sporting director Vladimir Matijašević, Celtic have made contact over a potential deal to sign central midfielder Andrej Bacanin before the end of the summer transfer window.

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Speaking to the club’s official website, he said: “There’s significant interest in our young players, and right now the spotlight is on Andrej Bačanin’s transfer. His performances last season for both our team and the Serbian national side at youth level have drawn attention from numerous clubs.

“We’ve had enquiries from Scottish giants Celtic and Rangers, and clubs like Ajax and Udinese are also interested, among others. It’s possible more options will emerge, but I expect the transfer to be completed within the next ten days.”

This shows that the Hoops are interested in the 18-year-old talent, who could arrive at Parkhead to follow a similar path to success in Scotland as Ajer.

Why Celtic should sign Andrej Bacanin

The Scottish Premiership giants should push to win the race for the teenage starlet’s signature this summer because he could be a future star for the club.

At the age of 18, Bacanin should not be expected to arrive as an immediate first-team star, as he only just made his breakthrough at senior level in Serbia in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign.

Instead, the Serbia U19 international could follow Ajer’s path by joining another Premiership team, or a club in another country, on loan to continue his development, before making the step to Brendan Rodgers’ team further down the line.

Although he may not be ready to make an instant impact in Glasgow for Celtic, his performances in the Serbian Superliga show that he does have potential.

24/25 Superliga

Andrej Bacanin

Appearances

17

Starts

10

Goals

1

Assists

2

Tackles per 90

2.3

Interceptions per 90

1.8

Error led to goal

0

Penalties committed

0

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Bacanin offered a screening presence in front of the back four when he played, averaging 4.1 tackles and interceptions per 90 in the division.

Meanwhile, no central midfielder for Celtic managed more than 2.0 tackles and interceptions per game, which suggests that the Serbian youngster could offer a defensive midfield option that Rodgers does not currently have.

As was the case with Ajer, though, Bacanin will need to be playing games week-in-week-out to hone his skills and develop as a player, which is why bringing the young whiz in before sending him out on loan could be a shrewd move.

The Hoops could snap him up this summer, to ensure that their rivals do not steal a march of them, before sending him away to develop and improve, with the hope that he will come back a better player who is ready to make his mark on Parkhead in the 2026/27 campaign.

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Serbian Football Scout, who is a professional scout for MLS side Colorado Rapids, previously dubbed Bacanin a “true midfield controller”, and he could control games for Celtic in the future, if they get this deal done.

The former USMNT striker has delivered a critique of a recent interview, suggesting Pochettino is attempting to deflect responsibility

Gomez called Pochettino's comments as "reeking of phony" Compared Pochettino to previous foreign coaches Rejected coach's focus on long-term developmentGetty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED

Former U.S. striker Herculez Gomez offered a pointed rebuke of Mauricio Pochettino's recent appearance on Spanish television program , where he offered explanations for the USMNT’s performances prior to the team's 2-0 loss against South Korea. Gomez took particular issue with Pochettino's comments, suggesting his primary mission involved long-term development of American soccer rather than immediate results..

“I want to choose my words very wisely,” Gomez said on his YouTube channel. “But this screams of phony, snake oil salesman…  the longest time, we had the sentiment of coaches, foreign coaches, from any walk of life, from anywhere with an accent coming and trying to show you stupid Americans how to do things. But really, just trying to take your money. But really, just trying to claim they were credible to take your dollars. And that’s what they were trying to do."

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The former striker dismissed this framing as disingenuous, arguing that Pochettino was hired to prepare the current generation for success at the 2026 World Cup rather than build for some distant future

“Mauricio Pochettino isn’t a fool, but he’s trying to pass the buck here,” Gomez said. “He’s putting up excuses like ‘Hey, I don’t score the goals and I can’t defend them, the real thing we’re trying to do here is instill a culture, and get them on the right path.’

“They didn’t give you $6 million a year so we can look back 20 years from now and say ‘Oh Mauricio Pochettino, he’s the one who laid the foundation.’ No, no, no. It’s for a World Cup, a tournament. They need you to get this pool of players ready for a home tournament, not to shape the next 60 years of American soccer, which he has no understanding of.”

AdvertisementWHAT GOMEZ SAIDGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Pochettino finds himself in an increasingly precarious position one year into his USMNT tenure, especially following the team's loss against South Korea. Several former players, including Stu Holden and Alexi Lalas, have been critical of the lack of progress under the Argentine coach.

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Pochettino and the USMNT will face Japan on Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio.

The calamitous Cameroonian is set to depart for Turkey this week, and there won't be a single United fan who is sad to see the back of him

"You want to tell me in six months the best goalkeeper in the Champions League last season can become the worst in the world? Nah. Everything is temporary," Andre Onana told in December 2023 after an error-laden start to his Manchester United career. "I know it'll be alright. If not today, it will be tomorrow, if not tomorrow, the day after tomorrow."

Almost 21 months on from that interview, it's fair to say that Onana's confidence was misplaced. The former Inter Milan goalkeeper was not the "worst in the world" then, but that's a title he has seemingly done his best to earn since.

There was plenty of blame to go around for United's disastrous 2024-25 season, which saw them finish 15th in the Premier League table, but Onana was the symbol of their failure. He became an easy target for opposing teams and constantly undermined the efforts of his team-mates with his staggering ineptitude between the sticks.

As a result, Onana has lost the trust of head coach Ruben Amorim, who started the new campaign with Altay Bayindir in goal, before signing 23-year-old Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp on deadline day. It is expected that Lammens will be United's new No.1, despite his lack of experience, because Bayindir has also proven to be an unreliable pair of hands, while Onana is now being shipped off to Turkey.

The Cameroon international has agreed to join Trabzonspor on a season-long loan, which, remarkably, gives him the chance to almost double his current salary. But the move also effectively ends his time at the top level of the sport. Onana has been so terrible at Old Trafford that his once-proud reputation is in ruins, and he will go down as United's worst signing of the last 20 years, which is some achievement considering how many flops have passed through the club since the Glazer family's takeover in 2005.

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  'He makes the whole team nervous'

  Onana has made countless mistakes across his 102 appearances in a United shirt, with not of them being punished. If they had, it's entirely possible that Amorim's side would have been in a genuine fight to avoid relegation last season. Officially, just 22 of his errors have led to goals being conceded, but that is still an insanely high number considering he's only been at Old Trafford for two years.

  Many of those have come in extremely important matches, too. Indeed, Onana was almost single-handedly responsible for United's group stage exit from the Champions League in 2023-24, shipping 15 goals as the team finished bottom of a group containing Bayern Munich, Copenhagen and Galatasaray. He somehow let a tame Leroy Sane shot slip under him in a 4-3 defeat to Bayern Munich on matchday one, before passing the ball straight to Dries Mertens when United were locked at 2-2 with Galatasaray in their second game at Old Trafford, which forced Casemiro into a red card tackle on the Belgian.

  United ended up losing 3-2 that day, and could only manage a 3-3 draw in the return fixture in Turkey, which effectively sealed their early elimination. Onana was beaten by two Hakim Ziyech free-kicks, the second of which he pushed into the net from a central position despite being under no pressure. "I’m not sure what he’s actually trying to do, punch it away with his right hand? It’s weak," United legend Paul Scholes told after the game. "He makes people nervous, he makes the defence nervous, he makes the whole team nervous. He makes simple saves look really, really difficult."

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  Ten Hag's faith misplaced

  As Scholes observed, Onana has never shown any kind of authority in the United net. During his second Premier League home game for United against Nottingham Forest, he famously stayed rooted to his six-yard box when Taiwo Awoniyi ran through, and then bizarrely collapsed to the ground so that the striker could roll the ball into the net.

  Onana showed similar levels of fear when allowing Jarrod Bowen to knock the ball in off his leg in United's 2-0 defeat away at West Ham on December 23, 2023, and three days later, he neglected to go and claim a teasing touchline free-kick from Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn, and the ball crept past him at the far post. It was clear early on that Onana couldn't command his box or save simple shots, but then-United coach Erik ten Hag stuck by the Cameroonian, having previously worked with him at Ajax, and defended his "strong character" when facing up to the media.

  The Red Devils fell to eighth in the Premier League table by the end of the 2023-24 campaign, but Ten Hag was given a new contract on the back of an unlikely run to FA Cup glory. That success was in no way down to Onana, who was largely poor in United's hugely unconvincing semi-final win over Coventry and gifted Manchester City a way back into the game late on in the final by fumbling a low Jeremy Doku strike in at his near post.

  United have made signing a new goalkeeper a priority that summer, but instead, Ten Hag blew the best part of £100 million ($135m) on the likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte and Joshua Zirkzee, all of whom have struggled for consistency at Old Trafford. The Dutch coach was way out of his depth, and his misplaced faith in Onana led to his inevitable sacking just three months into the new season.

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  'Under-12s stuff'

  United only won three of their first nine Premier League games in 2024-25, and drew their opening three Europa League fixtures against FC Twente, Porto and Fenerbahce. Onana didn't add to his reel of shame during that run, but he was still constantly guilty of woeful positioning and a distinct lack of courage with aerial balls, and his uncertainty continued to filter through to the rest of the backline.

  Ten Hag was ousted after a 2-1 loss at West Ham on October 27, which left United down in 14th in the Premier League. United part-owners INEOS moved quickly to lure Amorim away from Sporting CP as Ten Hag's successor, but the Portuguese inherited the mother of all messes, and quickly learned that all of his best laid plans would count for little with Onana serving as the last line of defence.

  Amorim started with a 1-1 draw against Ipswich, a 4-0 win over Everton, and a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal, before United played host to surprise top-four contenders Nottingham Forest. Onana was at fault for two goals as Forest picked up their first victory at Old Trafford in 30 years, first letting a Morgan Gibbs-White pea roller in before being caught at sea by a looping Chris Wood header.

  United then suffered a major Europa League scare when they fell behind away to Viktoria Plzen, as Onana was punished for a terrible pass out from the back once again. Of all Onana's weaknesses, his woeful distribution has been the most disappointing, because he was initially hailed as the finest ball-playing 'keeper on the continent after his initial arrival from Inter in 2023.

  Amorim's men battled back to win that contest 2-1 and reach the knockout phase, but United lost three of their next four league outings, and Onana continued to be a complete liability. He even conceded directly from a Matheus Cunha corner in a 2-0 reversal at Wolves, which Premier League legend Chris Sutton described as "Under-12s stuff" in his BBC Sport column.

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  Proving Matic right

  Onana would grab more unwanted headlines after the turn of the year as United struggled to build any kind of momentum under Amorim. He even managed to ruin the rare moments of encouragement, including when the Red Devils fought to a 3-2 win against Ipswich at Old Trafford after playing the entire second half with 10 men. 

  Jaden Philogene opened the scoring for the visitors because of a communication mix-up between Onana and Patrick Dorgu, and doubled his account with a cross that went all the way in because the United 'keeper kept to his usual scared statue routine. But the worst was still yet to come.

  Ahead of a Europa League quarter-final clash with Lyon, Onana had the audacity to claim that United were "way better" than the French team, prompting a scathing response from Nemanja Matic. "If you are one of the worst goalkeepers in Manchester United's history, you need to take care what you're talking about," said the Lyon midfielder, who played for the Red Devils between 2017 and 2022.

  Onana fired back with an ill-advised dig at Matic's trophyless spell at Old Trafford, only to then prove the Serbian right with a shocking performance in the first leg of the tie at the Groupama Stadium. The former Ajax stopper was hopelessly deceived by a Thiago Almada free-kick in the first half, and with United holding a 2-1 lead in the final minute of second-half injury time, he fumbled a Corentin Tolisso shot straight into the path of Rayan Cherki, who was then able to dink in a dramatic equaliser from close range.

  The Red Devils won a crazy second leg 5-4 after extra time and saw off Athletic Club in the next round to set up an all-English final against Tottenham, but Onana did not complete his redemption arc. He was far too static for Brennan Johnson's decisive goal in Bilbao, which saw Tottenham clinch their first trophy in 17 years and compound the worst season in United's entire history.

Change has very much been afoot for Liverpool this summer, and Arne Slot’s managerial capacity will be put to a new kind of test as he prepares to defend the Premier League title he claimed in his first term at the helm.

Jurgen Klopp parted ways with Liverpool in 2024, and many expected his predecessor to fail in his place. When FSG’s new era failed to bring in significant transfer investment with the 2024/25 campaign kicking off, such concerns were magnified.

This hinges on Newcastle United’s ability to sign a replacement. The Magpies are fighting to sign RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, but they are fighting against Manchester United, who are pushing to win the race and concurrently strike a blow to Liverpool’s plans.

However, for all the Florian Wirtz’s and Hugo Ekitike’s and maybe Isak’s too, Slot also has command of one of European football’s most exciting up-and-comers.

And Rio Ngumoha is showcasing his potential to become a mainstay in the years to come.

Rio Ngumoha's potential at Liverpool

Ngumoha turned 16 one month ago, and already he’s establishing himself as an important part of Liverpool’s pre-season plans, starring against Preston North End before claiming an assist against AC Milan and scoring against Yokohama FM in Japan.

The silky winger’s performance against Milan, Serie A giants, was particularly striking: as per Sofascore, he complemented his assist with two key passes, three successful dribbles and four won duels.

But perhaps he truly came into his own against Yokohama, making mazy runs the (admittedly inferior) opponents knew not how to handle.

While Luis Diaz’s £65.5m sale to Bayern Munich has polarised the fanbase, there’s little question that Ngumoha has the potential to become a star every bit as bright down the line.

After the event, The Athletic’s James Pearce, who was in attendance, said, “This kid is a joy to watch.”

Liverpool discuss move for Diaz heir

Plenty of rumours have floated about in recent weeks, with speculation rife over Diaz’s future and who could be welcomed to the fold in his place.

But Fabrizio Romano has shed some concrete information on the matter, revealing to GIVEMESPORT that Lyon’s Malick Fofana has been discussed internally, although a bid or indeed talks have not yet started.

Everton have submitted a bid and are hopeful that they will add the 20-year-old Fofana to their ranks, but he is holding out for a club boasting Champions League football. A club like Liverpool.

Furthermore, Newcastle have registered their own interest this summer, with reports claiming it would take a £43m fee for Lyon to part with their prospect.

Why Liverpool want Malick Fofana

Fofana is only young, but he’s already demonstrated his quality. After the 2024/25 campaign, talent scout Jacek Kulig remarked that he’s “still a bit inconsistent, but already showing flashes of his enormous potential.”

And it’s that enormous potential which has charmed the Liverpool data analysts, for Fofana has caused quite the stir across his season-and-a-half with Lyon, scoring 15 goals and providing seven assists across 64 matches.

Fofana would be a work in progress, for sure, but you can see why Liverpool fancy him as the successor to Diaz’s place in Slot’s squad. He’s got a goalscoring focus to his game, and he’s versatile too.

Goals scored

0.47

0.48

Assists

0.21

0.15

Shots taken

1.84

2.52

Shot-creating actions

3.38

4.34

Goal-creating actions

0.60

0.53

Touches (att pen)

6.08

6.18

Pass completion

77.1%

83.5%

Progressive passes

2.44

3.95

Progressive carries

6.72

3.98

Successful take-ons

1.41

2.17

Tackles + interceptions

1.84

1.69

However, with Cody Gakpo already on the left flank and with Ekitike’s high-speed running and controlled dribbling sure to be utilised on the left at times if Liverpool sign Isak, should they really be investing in such a player as Fofana when Ngumoha is pushing to make waves on the senior stage?

The English talent may only be young, but he’s got the makings of something special, so powerful and balanced on the ball, carrying the seeds of prolific potential.

Of course, neither player will provide the solution to the loss of Diaz’s experience, but might Fofana end up inhibiting Ngumoha’s development, just when he’s getting ready to take the next step?

Praised for his “electric” style by content creator Dev Bajwa, Fofana could prove a jackpot signing for the Reds, to be sure, with similarities to Diaz’s athletic approach to the game.

And, of course, there’s no reason why Ngumoha won’t have the chance to showcase his quality at some stage next season, even if Fofana were added to the fold, although such an addition would be an obvious obstacle to first-team opportunities.

And it’s clear, too, that the Belgium international has the potential to become something special in the Premier League, and it’s clear that Diaz does need replacing.

This is a nuanced issue, and one that sporting director Richard Hughes will have given a lot of heed to.

Liverpool have emerged as the leading club in England since Slot arrived at Anfield, so those of a Liverpool persuasion should have no problem entrusting their faith in the powers that be, whose judgment and shrewd planning have set the club up for another sustained period of success.

The new Salah: Liverpool agree personal terms to sign "world-class" star

Liverpool are preparing to sign a new forward as Luis Diaz leaves for Bayern Munich.

2 ByAngus Sinclair Jul 30, 2025

Offspinner says series award should have been shared after duo turn team’s fortunes around

Danyal Rasool26-Oct-2024

Two weeks before they played each other in the Australian Open final in 2017, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were ailing, injured athletes who were perhaps fading into the twilight. When, against the odds, they wound up facing each other in the final, the victorious Federer famously said, “Tennis is a cruel sport, there are no draws, but if there was going to be one I would have been very happy to accept one tonight and share it with Rafa.”Sajid Khan and Noman Ali had similarly faded from view until a fortnight ago, having played no first-class cricket, and with no realistic ambitions of an imminent return to the Pakistan side. So when they did, and ended up sharing 39 of England’s 40 wickets to fall over the past two Tests, Sajid, awarded the Player of the Series trophy, expressed much the same sentiment.” is one of the most experienced players on the Pakistan domestic circuit,” Sajid said at the presentation. “We should be sharing these Player of the Series awards. He’s a great spinner who has mentored and helped me as well, and so every bit as much credit goes to him.”Related

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This will be a series to forget for England, but in Pakistan, it is this duo it will be remembered for. That they would run through England’s batters appears inevitable in hindsight; but when England rocked along to 211 for 2 in the first innings in Multan – on a pitch Sajid said offered something “even if the spinner did nothing” – it was Sajid and Noman’s reputations on the line.And though Sajid insists the match situation didn’t worry him, the weight of expectation on him was a different matter. “There wasn’t so much pressure [of the series] but [there was] some pressure of the comeback. The captain, the vice captain, the whole team was gelling well together. We play domestic cricket together, on these kinds of wickets, so there wasn’t that much pressure.”The 38-year old Noman has the experience to know not to take any opportunity for granted. “I feel it’s been a while since we’ve performed well in Pakistan,” he said, sat alongside Sajid at the post-series press conference. “We’re grateful we had the conditions for the opportunity to win the series this way. The way we came back is especially pleasing, and we hope we get similar conditions in future and we’ll pose difficulties for other teams.”But Noman also recognised the extent to which Pakistan got away with one here. The plan to pivot sharply to spin was, much like the surfaces they decided to use, half-baked. Their first-choice spinner Abrar Ahmed was out of the series, and the three spinners Pakistan called upon hadn’t played any first-class cricket since January. If England were to be beaten, it would happen through Sajid and Noman’s muscle memory and experience.If Pakistan are to employ this strategy in the future – the prospect of which Noman was unsurprisingly supportive – he believed they needed to do it properly. “I think if you want to prepare spinners, you need to play more red-ball cricket,” he said. “You get all kinds of conditions in first-class cricket with new and old ball. When you do that, it gives you a lot of experience.”