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O São Paulo lutou e conquistou a virada sobre o Goiás no finalzinho do jogo no Morumbi, para vencer por 2 a 1 em duelo válido pela 8ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Após sair atrás, o Tricolor Paulista virou com gols de Pablo Maia e David. Assista no vídeo acima aos melhores momentos da partida.

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After Boca Juniors’ 1-1 draw against Rosario Central, midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia highlighted the great moment his teammate Leandro Paredes is experiencing. The World Cup champion, who decided this year to leave European football for Boca, has previously played for PSG, Juventus and Roma. Since his arrival, Paredes now shares the midfield with Battaglia.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Battaglia and Paredes solidify midfield

  Battaglia had nothing but praise for Paredes, who returned to Argentina this year after a long spell in European football. Battaglia underlined the strong partnership he has developed with the former PSG star.

  "With Paredes, everything comes naturally. We talk a lot on the pitch. When he drops deeper, I push a bit higher so he can find me, and when it’s the other way around, I hold my position," Battaglia said. "Lea has vision and passing ability that, I have to admit, I don’t have as much. We complement each other well. If he attacks, I stay; if I push forward, he stays back. It’s basic, but I think we’re doing it the right way."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Paredes’ arrival a boost for Boca

  The former Sporting CP player also highlighted the maturity and completeness that Paredes has shown since his return to Boca.

  "I had high expectations for him, and he has delivered. He’s very mature now. Over the years, he became a more complete player. His vision of the game is special, and we try to take advantage of that," Battaglia said.

  When asked about Paredes’ current form, Battaglia was emphatic: "Paredes is at a great level, and without a doubt, he is the best player in Argentine football."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'Having world champions in the team is something to enjoy'

  Battaglia also emphasized the importance of having a World Cup winner such as Paredes in the squad, both on and off the field.

  "Lea’s arrival helped us a lot as a team," he said. "A player with that much quality sets the tone for how we train and how the group is managed. That leadership carries over onto the pitch. We have a mix of experienced players, hungry players, and young guys who listen. Having world champions in the team is something to enjoy. It’s great for Argentine football that players of this caliber are competing here – it enriches the league a lot. Hopefully, more will come."

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  Boca Juniors on a strong run

  Boca Juniors sit in third place in Argentina’s Primera División with 13 points. The Xeneize are in good form and pushing to reach the top of the standings.

Australia will retain the Ashes with victory in the first T20I at the SCG

Andrew McGlashan19-Jan-2025England will bolster their spin attack for the first T20I against Australia at the SCG as they look to keep the Ashes alive, but there is intrigue as to whether the home side will be able to find room for the in-form Alana King.Heather Knight confirmed that legspinner Sarah Glenn, who took 4 for 20 in her most recent T20I against South Africa, would come into the line-up alongside Charlie Dean and Sophie Ecclestone. She even suggested that England wouldn’t be afraid of playing four frontline spinners, with left-armer Linsey Smith also part of the squad, if they felt conditions suited it.”They’ve played in our T20 team pretty much for the last couple of years altogether,” Knight said of the spin trio. “They’ve been a real strength of ours, those three bowlers, the different attributes they bring, the different types of spin, and the different roles that they play.Related

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“Sarah will definitely come in. She’s one of the best spinners in the world. She’s been outstanding for us, particularly in those middle overs, taking wickets and then really squeezing oppositions. It’s been a big part of our tactics against opposition teams.”Knight also indicated that Sophia Dunkley would continue at No. 3 and that allrounder Freya Kemp could be an option for the middle order.Australia are confident they have the batting order to counter whatever England throw at them, having taken Ecclestone for her second-most expensive ODI figures in Hobart”I’ll back myself against spin, which is nice,” Phoebe Litchfield said. “Ecclestone, bowling into me, she still poses the big threat, but I think [with] our lefties there’s a point of difference for our team to have that spinning into us. Charlie Dean has also been bowling really well, and the likes of Glenn could come in. The middle order, you kind of face more spin [and] I prefer that.”Australia will retain the Ashes with victory in Sydney, but this is their first T20I since they exited last year’s World Cup in the semi-final against South Africa. And, while Georgia Voll’s inclusion in the squad is the only change in personnel, there remain questions to be answered about how they line-up.Sarah Glenn is set to form a three-pronged spin attack•Getty Images

King took nine wickets across the final two ODIs but has not played a T20I since the 2023 World Cup in South Africa, with Georgia Wareham the preferred option in that format. The pair teamed up with great effect in Hobart where Wareham crunched 38 off 12 balls before taking two key wickets, and Knight expected the same in Sydney.”I think I would be surprised [if King wasn’t selected],” Knight said. “We’re probably expecting a couple of leggies. They’ve obviously had some success against us in the series, but we’ll have to see who lines up tomorrow.”Sophie Molineux, who played in the recent World Cup, is injured so there is an opening for King with the selectors having moved on from Jess Jonassen. King was also the joint-leading wicket-taker in this season’s WBBL with Perth Scorchers, claiming 20 at 13.30.”I think she’d make a massive impact, but, equally, you saw Georgia Wareham, her impact [when] she came in the other game,” Litchfield said. “Those two have been bowling amazingly well in T20 cricket for long periods of time and Georgia Wareham’s probably had the luck of the green being selected, but they offer so much individually and you’d love to put them both in the side, but unfortunately there’s probably not much room… so it’s a tough choice because they’re so good.”The other interest around Australia is how they structure their batting order after the T20 World Cup where a failed experiment with Wareham at No. 3 found the likes of Litchfield and Annabel Sutherland having very few deliveries to make an impact.Alana King had a big impact on the ODI series•Cricket Australia via Getty Images

Litchfield made 15 not out off nine balls against India batting at No. 7 and 16 not out off nine deliveries in the semi-final against South Africa from No. 6, where the top order had struggled to lift the tempo, although she was reluctant to talk up a move higher in the order.”Our batting order is just ridiculous,” Litchfield said. “I’m pretty excited for our team to unleash the shackles tomorrow. I really enjoy it in the middle order. I think you look at the likes of Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Ash Gardner, they’re striking the ball really well at the moment. Probably better than I am. So full trust in them.”I think the situation [in the World Cup] was always quite tough, the slow wickets. If you give me an extra 20 balls, I probably won’t strike at 160. So I think the way I came in and the position that we were in forced me to do that. But in every game of T20 cricket, I’m trying to play the same way and try to score as many runs off as little balls as possible.”Grace Harris, fresh off 140 off 78 balls for Queensland in the WNCL, is also part of Australia’s squad for the T20Is to provide a further batting option alongside the uncapped Voll. Harris played three matches at the World Cup, starting in the middle before moving to the top when Alyssa Healy injured her foot.Australia (possible): 1 Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), 2 Beth Mooney, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Ash Gardner, 5 Phoebe Litchfield, 6 Tahlia McGrath, 7 Annabel Sutherland, 8 Georgia Wareham, 9 Alana King, 10 Darcie Brown, 11 Megan SchuttEngland (possible): 1 Maia Bouchier, 2 Danni Wyatt-Hodge, 3 Sophia Dunkley, 4 Nat Sciver-Brunt, 5 Heather Knight (capt), 6 Amy Jones (wk), 7 Freya Kemp, 8 Charlie Dean, 9 Sophie Ecclestone, 10 Sarah Glenn, 11 Lauren Bell

Manchester United’s work in the transfer market this summer has certainly been impressive, landing numerous key attacking targets in their quest for success in 2025/26.

Matheus Cunha has already arrived at Old Trafford during the off-season, costing a fee in the region of £62.5m, likely being brought in to operate in one of the two number ten roles behind the striker.

He’s not the only addition made by the hierarchy in the final third this summer, with Bryan Mbeumo joining in a £71m deal from Brentford – handing Ruben Amorim two Premier League-proven options in attacking areas.

Whilst the pair will add 35 goals to the side based on last season, the club are still targeting added quality and depth to the squad, in an attempt to rise up the table in 2025/26.

A new striker has been at the top of the Red Devils’ shopping list in recent weeks, potentially making a breakthrough in a move for one player over the last couple of hours.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new striker

Benjamin Sesko is a player who’s been on their radar over recent days, with United finally making a move for the RB Leipzig striker’s signature, according to the latest updates.

Amorim’s side are said to have made a €85m (£74m) bid for the 22-year-old, leaving the player with a decision to make over his future, after Newcastle United also made an offer for his services.

However, whilst the Slovenian will remain as the club’s first choice for the centre-forward role, the Red Devils have been offered a deal to land Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson, according to Ben Jacobs.

He claims that the Blues are looking to offload the Senegalese international this summer after already landing Joao Pedro and Liam Delap during the current transfer window.

Jacobs also states that Enzo Maresca’s side could demand a fee of up to £80m to part ways with the 24-year-old during the off-season, but Amorim’s side could yet make an approach in the coming weeks.

Why United’s latest target would be the perfect Sesko alternative

United’s recent bid for Sesko highlights that the hierarchy are willing to spend big on a striker this summer, but they need to ensure they splash such cash on the right option.

In the past, the Red Devils have been guilty of wasting a lot of money on talents plying their trade outside the Premier League, leading to the recent cost-cutting operation at Old Trafford.

Rasmus Hojlund is arguably the biggest example of their poor dealings, costing £72m from Atalanta back in the summer of 2023 and only netting 26 times in his 95 appearances for the club.

The Danish international has previously been touted as a potential bargaining tool in the Sesko deal, even being allowed to depart Amorim’s side for as little as £30m this window.

There’s no denying that Sesko would be a huge addition, but they could turn to Jackson should they fail to land him, with the Senegalese international a more Premier League-proven option for the club.

He’s also managed to outperform in numerous key areas throughout the 2024/25 campaign, arguably being the perfect alternative for the number nine position this summer.

Jackson, who’s been labelled “one of the best strikers in the world” by Flamengo boss Filipe Luis, posted a better shot-on-target accuracy rate last season, providing a most consistent option when it comes to finishing within the final third.

Games played

30

33

Golas & assists

15

18

Shot on target accuracy

45%

43%

Pass accuracy

76%

67%

Key passes made

1.2

0.7

Progressive carries

1.9

1.7

Carries into opposition box

1.3

0.5

Shot-creating actions

2.8

1.9

The Chelsea star also managed to register a higher pass completion rate, whilst posting more key passes per 90, offering a more suitable option for link-up play – allowing the likes of Cunha and Mbeumo to also hit the ground running at Old Trafford.

His dominance doesn’t end there, completing more progressive carries and carries into the opposition’s box per 90, possessing an all-round skillset that would be beneficial to Amorim in attacking areas.

Whilst he may be an expensive addition to Amorim’s side, it’s one that would hand the 40-year-old the added attacking threat he craves in his quest for success.

The bid for Sesko showcases the ambition of the hierarchy, but ultimately, the fanbase shouldn’t worry about potentially missing out on his signature, with Jackson arguably a better option this window.

More crucial than Sesko: Man Utd prepare £26m bid for "phenomenal" star

Manchester United are making a move to land a star who’d be better than Benjamin Sesko.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 5, 2025

Durban’s Super Giants (DSG), last season’s SA20 losing finalists, have been eliminated from playoff contention after a sixth loss and all-round disappointing campaign. They sit at the bottom of the points table, with one game left to play, and have only won one of nine matches so far (two were no results). Captain Keshav Maharaj put their woes down to “losing every powerplay whether batting or bowling,” and their lack of early run-scoring was glaring.In the seven matches in which they batted, DSG only scored more than 50 runs in the powerplay once (and that was the game they won, three weeks ago) and went wicketless twice. They rotated through four opening batters – Bryce Parsons, Matthew Breetzke, Brandon King and Quinton de Kock – in different combinations to collect the least number of runs among the six teams. In their nine matches, DSG’s top two individually scored 230 runs at an average of 16.42. For comparison, their opposition on Monday, table-topping Paarl Royals have used the same two openers – Joe Root and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, and top the run charts with a combined tally of 580 at 44.61 including five half-centuries.The most obvious error DSG made was starting with de Kock at No. 4, despite his success as opener at international level, because they hoped to preserve a left-right combination. “At the start of the competition, there was a sort of method to the madness with regards to Quinny batting at four and after five games we realised that it wasn’t really working out and we needed starts and then pushed Quinny up,” Maharaj said at the post-match press conference. “He showed glimpses of what he can do, but probably didn’t have the support around him to get those totals that we would have liked in the powerplay and to bat through.”De Kock made one fifty in four innings at No. 4, and then a 30-ball 43 against Royals last week but had no other scores of note through the SA20. The same is true for another of DSG’s marquee players, middle-order batter Heinrich Klaasen, who has struggled all tournament. Klaasen scored 122 runs in seven innings and 66 of these runs came in one knock.Quinton de Kock was trialled as a No. 4 batter and it didn’t work for DSG•SA20

Overall, DSG topped 200 in their first match but have not gone past 150 in any of their games and had two scores below 120 which ultimately was not good enough to get them more wins in this tournament. And while most of their issues are in the batting line-up, the bowlers do not escape scrutiny. “We didn’t take enough wickets in the powerplay and in doing so we didn’t stem the flow of runs,” Maharaj said. “We were quite expensive in most of the powerplays and once you lose the powerplay it’s very difficult in the game of T20 cricket regardless of how well you bowl in that middle [period].”In total, DSG bowled eight powerplays (one in a match that was a no-result) and never took more than two wickets or conceded less than 41 runs, which is a shade under seven an over. Their difficulties may have stemmed from what seemed to be the absence of a leader for the pace attack in particular. Their two leading wicket-takers were wristspinner Noor Ahmad, who is fourth on the wicket-takers’ list with 10, followed by left-arm spinner Maharaj, with seven. Their leading seamer was Chris Woakes, who has taken five wickets in as many games. Naveen-ul-Haq and Junior Dala both have four wickets but while Naveen has played seven matches, Dala has only played five and Dwaine Pretorius, the allrounder who, on paper, could have been a key part of the squad only played twice.Ultimately, the unsettled nature of DSG’s XI may have contributed to their string of poor results and leaves their team management with plenty to ponder. Lance Klusener has been head coach throughout the SA20 and Maharaj has captained them for the last two seasons. Last season, he masterminded a turnaround that saw them go from second last on the table to the final and though they have now u-turned on that, Maharaj seems to still want to be the man in charge.”I love captaincy. It helps me think clearly at times, especially on the field and keeps me a little bit calmer than I normally am,” he said. “The one thing that I really try and get is the camaraderie amongst my team-mates. It is a short competition and that’s something that I feel I do really well: understanding my players and trying to get the best out of them. Sometimes it’s hard, it doesn’t transfer onto the field and I feel like it’s one of those seasons. Having said that, I’ve enjoyed it very much. I’m very proud of my team so far. We’ve still got a game to go. There’s a lot of pride to play for, a lot of meaning for this badge and for the owners that have invested in us, so we’re not just giving up.”DSG play their last game at the Wanderers, against Joburg Super Kings, on Saturday.

After a record-breaking campaign last season, Chris Wood could hardly have dreamt of a better start to the new campaign.

Last year, the New Zealander scored 20 Premier League goals; his previous best single-season tally in the top-flight was 14.

Well, the 33-year-old showed little sign of slowing day in Nottingham Forest’s opener on Sunday, scoring twice during a 3-1 victory over Brentford at the City Ground.

Nevertheless, as the Garibaldi Reds prepare for a first European campaign in three decades, Nuno Espírito Santo will need to add squad depth, something he has done this week, following the arrivals of Omari Hutchinson, James McAtee and Arnaud Kalimuendo.

Now though, do Forest have a prolific striker in their sights, one who scored even more goals than Wood last season?

Nottingham Forest's need for squad depth

Last season, as Nottingham Forest upset the odds to qualify for Europe, they largely benefited from playing just one game a week throughout the entire campaign, playing only eight mid-week fixtures.

This enabled Nuno to deploy very familiar starting lineups, with 12 players racking up more than 2,200 minutes across all competitions, while seven accumulated in excess of 3,000 minutes.

However, this time round, Forest will have eight Europa League games to content with from mid-September to late-January, with Roma, Real Betis, Stuttgart, Olympique Lyonnais, Porto and Feyenoord among the tougher of their potential opponents.

Thus, as they search for greater attacking options, a report by TEAMtalk claims that Forest are considering a move to sign Celtic striker Daizen Maeda, adding that Fulham and Brentford are also interested.

They claim that the Japanese international, who notably scored for the Samurai Blue against Croatia during the most recent World Cup, would be “very open” to a move to the Premier League, valued at £25m by the Scottish champions, which would equal their record sale.

Transfer Focus

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

So, could he become the very first Japanese player to call the City Ground home, following in the footsteps of Neil Lennon and Pierre van Hooijdonk, who’ve previously swapped Parkhead for the River Trent?

What Daizen Maeda would bring to Nottingham Forest

Since joining Celtic from Yokohama F. Marinos in January 2022, brought to Scotland by Ange Postecoglou, Maeda has had an enormous impact at Parkhead.

In total, he has scored 63 goals in 161 appearances in hoops, but his form improved astronomically last season.

Maeda scored 33 goals across all competitions, four of which came in the Champions League, the first Celtic player to score four or more in a single European Cup campaign since Joe Craig in 1977/78.

In fact, across Europe’s top-nine ranked leagues, using last season’s UEFA association coefficient ranking, very few players across the continent bagged more goals.

Viktor Gyökeres

Sporting CP

54

Kylian Mbappé

Real Madrid

44

Robert Lewandowski

Barcelona

42

Harry Kane

Bayern Munich

41

Serhou Guirassy

Borussia Dortmund

38

Ousmane Dembélé

Paris Saint-Germain

35

Raphinha

Barcelona

34

Erling Braut Håland

Manchester City

34

Mohamed Salah

Liverpool

34

Daizen Maeda

Celtic

33

Sem Steijn

FC Twente

31

Vangelis Pavlidis

Benfica

30

As the table documents, Maeda ranked among Europe’s very best in terms of goals across all competitions last season, just one behind both Erling Braut Håland and Mohamed Salah, while players higher up the list, namely Harry Kane, Serhou Guirassy and Ousmane Dembélé, benefited from their team’s Club World Cup participation.

Maeda’s 33-goal haul also placed him ahead of the aforementioned Wood, who ended 2024/25 with 20 goals across all fronts, with that prolific quality made even more impressive considering that the former Yokohama man typically lined up off the left flank.

Wood has started the campaign in the same way he finished the last – scoring goals – but Forest’s latest transfer target would, believe it or not, offer an upgrade.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers described Maeda’s pressing as “incredible” and “unbelievable”, elsewhere labelling him a “machine” and a “physical beast”.

Like Wood, Maeda’s work rate has always been eye-catching, ever since he first arrived in Glasgow, with former teammate Joe Hart asserting that he is the “best in the world” when it comes to out-of-possession work among forwards.

Now though, the Japanese striker has the end product to go with this, ready to take the next step in his development, possibly to the Premier League, which would surely boost his chances of playing a major role for Japan at the World Cup.

Maeda’s pace, energy and work-rate would slot perfectly into Nuno’s Nottingham Forest team, and he could be an invaluable addition ahead of a long, gruelling season that they hope will culminate in a Europa League Final in İstanbul.

More exciting than McAtee: Nottingham Forest in talks to sign £30m star

Nottingham Forest could secure a signing that’s even more exciting than James McAtee.

ByKelan Sarson Aug 18, 2025

This season, Leeds United have the tough task of surviving in the Premier League as a newly promoted side. It has not been done in the previous two campaigns, with all six sides coming up from the Championship going straight back down.

Of course, the Whites are back in the top flight for the first time since 2022/23. The previous season, they stayed up by the skin of their teeth, largely thanks to their iconic winger Raphinha.

His penalty away to Brentford on the final day of the season helped them to a 2-1 win to keep them in the Premier League.

Daniel Farke won’t have the Brazilian at his disposal this season, but Leeds are linked with another exciting attacker.

Leeds' plans after signing Noah Okafor

It has been a busy summer already for Leeds, with nine new faces through the door, the latest of which has seen Noah Okafor arrive for a reported figure of £17m.

However, it does not seem like their transfer dealings will stop there.

Transfer Focus

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

According to a report from Leeds Live, the Whites have a ‘hope of hijacking’ Crystal Palace’s deal to sign Bilal El Khannouss from Leicester City. He is a player Leeds have already held talks to sign this summer.

It seemed like the deal was off for Farke’s side, with El Khannouss choosing to go to Selhurst Park. Yet, Oliver Glasner’s side are not ‘fully committed’ to the move and have ‘temporarily halted’ talks, which could give Leeds a chance to pull the deal off.

If so, they’d surely have to match the £32m fee Palace are set to pay the Foxes.

Why El Khannouss would be a good signing

Without doubt, Leeds and the other promoted sides this season have a bit of a mountain to climb in order to stay in the Premier League.

Yet, signing a “magician” like the Moroccan star, as football scout Antonio Mango called him, would go a long way to helping stay in the division.

Despite a tough year for Leicester in 2024/25, El Khannouss was one of their standout players.

In 37 games across all competitions, he scored three goals and assisted six. This season, he has started on fire, with two assists in the Championship in as many games.

As well as impressing in the Premier League, the 21-year-old has also shone for Morocco. He starred in their third-place finish at the 2024 Olympic Games, scoring and assisting three times and creating ten chances along the way, as per Sofascore.

Well, just from those numbers, it is easy to see how El Khannouss could be Leeds’ most exciting signing since Raphinha.

Ex-teammates at Elland Road have waxed lyrical about the Brazilian, too, with Dan James calling him a “magician”, exactly the way Mango described the potential new Leeds signing.

His time for the Yorkshire outfit was short but sweet. The now-Barcelona forward, who shone last season under Hansi Flick, played 67 games in that famous white shirt.

In that time, he scored 17 times and assisted 12, with the most famous strike surely that final-day penalty at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Leeds fans would love for the Moroccan star to have the same impact as Raphinha in their survival campaign of 2021/22.

That season, the Brazilian averaged 2.01 key passes and 2.75 progressive carries each game. In comparison, last term for the Foxes, El Khannouss played an average of 1.74 key passes and averaged 3.02 progressive carries per 90 minutes.

Key passes

1.74

2.01

Progressive passes

5.29

4.14

Goal-creating actions

0.29

0.31

Progressive carries

3.02

2.75

Ball recoveries

3.80

5.12

It is easy to see why El Kahnnouss would be Leeds’ best signing since Raphinha. Not only does he have similar creative numbers to the Brazilian, but he has also been given similar high praise in his short career so far.

For a fee in the region of £32m, the Moroccan star could revolutionise this Leeds team and bring back some of the magic Raphinha added at Elland Road.

Better than Nmecha: Leeds now competing to sign "powerful" new striker

Leeds United are reportedly competing to sign a striker who could be even better than Lukas Nmecha.

1 ByDan Emery Aug 20, 2025

Manchester United have endured somewhat of an overhaul of the squad this summer, with Ruben Amorim splashing the cash during his first summer window at Old Trafford.

With less than a week remaining until the market slams shut, the 40-year-old has already spent around £200m – all on players within the final third of the pitch.

Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have all made the move to the Theatre of Dreams, but none of the stars have yet netted their first goal in any of the first two Premier League outings.

Players such as Victor Lindelof, Christian Eriksen and Jonny Evans were released at the start of the summer, freeing up some of the funds to land the aforementioned trio.

However, further players are likely to be offloaded before Monday’s deadline, with numerous players touted with big-money moves away from Amorim’s side.

The latest on United’s potential departures this summer

Kobbie Mainoo has emerged as a surprise option to depart United in the coming days, after being an unused substitute in each of the club’s two opening league outings.

The likes of Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro have all been preferred over the academy graduate in recent days – casting doubt over his long-term future at Old Trafford.

As a result, the 20-year-old is now said to be open to a departure before the deadline, with the likes of Real Madrid and Chelsea monitoring his current situation – with a £45m transfer fee being mooted.

The Englishman is not the only player touted with an exit, with bomb squad member Alejandro Garnacho edging ever closer to a departure, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The journalist claims that the Argentine’s move to join Chelsea is now “very advanced” after the player rejected a proposal from Saudi Arabia – stating he only wants to move to Stamford Bridge.

It’s also been reported that a fee in the region of £50m with future add-ons has been agreed, with only minor details remaining before the 21-year-old departs Amorim’s side.

Why United selling £50m star would be a bigger blow than Mainoo

Mainoo has endured somewhat of a rapid rise over the last couple of years, with no supporter able to envisage the impact he would’ve had on the first-team squad.

There’s no denying that the Red Devils have fallen way below the expectations set by the fanbase, but the 20-year-old midfielder has often been a shining light – often popping up in crucial moments.

He announced himself to the supporters with a last-minute strike against Wolves back in February 2024, with his effort securing a 4-3 win for the club at Molineux.

Goals in the FA Cup and against Lyon in the Europa League have further highlighted the impact he’s made within the first-team, with the hierarchy potentially living to regret any deal that would see him depart the Theatre of Dreams.

However, a deal for Garnacho to depart could arguably be a bigger blow, losing another top youth prospect who could develop into an elite-level forward.

The Argentine made his debut for the Red Devils back in April 2022 – going on to rack up just shy of 150 appearances, and looking like the future of the club at one stage.

Despite scoring 11 times and producing 10 assists across all competitions throughout 2024/25, he was left on the bench for the Europa League final – prompting a fall-out with the manager after comments on social media.

He’s since been placed in the bomb squad at Old Trafford, but it could prove to be a decision that comes back to bite them – especially if he moves to a divisional rival.

Garnacho’s tally of 21 goal contributions last season showcases the talent he possesses within forward areas, something which the Red Devils have lacked already this campaign.

Alejandro Garnacho’s stats for United in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

36

Minutes played

2195

Goals & assists

8

Shots on target

1.2

Pass accuracy

83%

Chances created

1.5

Successful dribbles

1.1

Touches in opposition box

7.6

Fouls won

1.8

Stats via FotMob

Amorim’s side have only netted one goal in the opening two league outings, with the youngster able to help the side in their quest should they keep hold of him beyond the summer.

However, it appears as though he’s set to leave in favour of a move to Chelsea, with the Blues potentially getting themselves a bargain given his output and tender age – having the potential to explode in the capital.

There’s no denying that Amorim wants to make his own stamp on the squad – but selling star youngsters like Mainoo and Garnacho could turn ugly, especially if they can fulfil their potential away from Old Trafford in the years ahead.

Related He'd revive Fernandes: Man Utd chasing the "best English CM since Scholes"

Manchester United want to sign a midfielder before the end of the transfer window.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Aug 27, 2025

Manchester United are looking to spark a resurgence this year, but the first couple of fixtures since the off-season have issued a reminder that this squad has a long way to go before it gets to where they need to be.

Ruben Amorim has recently spoken of his belief that the Red Devils are closer to their goals this season, but then you would hope that this is so, for United finished 15th in the Premier League last season and lost the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur, now excluded from European competition.

Fans would be understood for wanting a few more additions before the close of the transfer window, United having claimed one point from their opening two league fixtures.

The frontline has been reshaped, and efforts for Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens continue, yet Amorim remains intent on signing a central midfielder to establish the balance he needs for his tactical engine to start purring.

Man United searching for a midfielder

Much had been put into the bid for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba this month, but the Seagulls have barred the Cameroonian’s exit, and so INEOS have shelved their interest for the time being.

But a deal for another midfielder could yet be struck before the end of the window, with GIVEMESPORT revealing that Kobbie Mainoo could leave Old Trafford, and a replacement brought in.

It’s an ambitious one, but that player could be Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, with The Athletic’s Mark Critchley and Laurie Whitwell confirming on Tuesday United’s interest in the England international.

It seems unlikely that the Eagles would sanction their prized midfielder’s exit at this late stage, but it’s encouraging to note that Man United’s interest is genuine, though they would have to cough up something in the ballpark of £100m, a fee that would eclipse the club’s transfer record.

What Adam Wharton would bring to Man United

Described as “the best deep-lying English midfielder since Scholes” by a CONCACAF-certified coach, need we really say anymore?

Wharton, 21, has only been at Crystal Palace since January 2024, joining from Blackburn Rovers in the Championship, but already he has showcased a considerable degree of quality in Oliver Glasner’s trophy-winning system, and England’s top outfits have taken note.

At the Theatre of Dreams, Wharton would occupy a role currently being filled by Bruno Fernandes, who has moved into a deeper berth than he has principally played across his four-and-a-half years as a Red Devil.

Fernandes, 30, has been the subject of transfer speculation brewing from the Saudi Pro League this summer, but he issued an emphatic response, rejecting the concerted approach from Al Hilal.

It’s a good thing too. Not only did the Portugal international score 19 goals and supply 19 assists across all competitions for Man United last season, but he also inspired and roused the rabble as they flattered to deceive.

His playmaking knows no bounds, and that’s why signing Wharton could work so well for the overall fluency of Amorim’s unit, allowing Fernandes to shift back into a more advanced role, facilitated by Wharton’s presence.

1.

Bruno Fernandes

91

2.

Mohamed Salah

88

3.

Cole Palmer

86

4.

Enzo Fernandez

75

5.

Bryan Mbeumo

70

Hailed as a “generational talent” by journalist Matthew Stanger, Wharton’s 2024/25 campaign was affected by injury, limiting him to just 16 Premier League starts, but he still ranks among the top 12% of midfielders across Europe for progressive passes and the top 8% for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref.

Signing him would open up a fluent channel between the thirds, Wharton’s passing feeding into Fernandes’ more prolific take on the ball-playing art.

There’s no denying that Man United’s midfield talisman has looked somewhat out of sorts over the first couple of weeks of the term, but Wharton could revive him, all right, and take this proud football club right back to the forefront of domestic and continental football.

Better signing than Baleba: "Phenomenal" star now wants to join Man Utd

Manchester United could make an even better signing than Carlos Baleba by landing this star.

ByDan Emery Aug 25, 2025

Fakhar Zaman has been named in Pakistan’s squad for the Champions Trophy, marking his return after he fell out with the PCB over a social media post in October 2024. In a squad that PCB called “horses for courses”, Faheem Ashraf, who last played international cricket in 2023, has also been called up. Khushdil Shah and Saud Shakeel are also included. The same squad will also play the ODI tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand in the build-up to the Champions Trophy.The squad confirms what was widely feared within Pakistan: Saim Ayub remains unavailable because of the ankle fracture he sustained during the Cape Town Test. At the time, it was announced he would be out for six weeks, but it was believed his chances of recovering in time for the Champions Trophy were exceptionally slim. Earlier today, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed Ayub’s return remained “at least four weeks” away.Abdullah Shafique’s loss of form has cost him a place in the squad. In the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa, which Pakistan won 3-0, he became the first player to be dismissed for a duck in every match of a series. It means Pakistan will go in with a completely different opening pairing, with Fakhar likely to pair up with either Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel, with the PCB citing Babar’s success opening in Test cricket as a potential factor to consider.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

“Fakhar’s opening partner could be either Babar Azam or Saud Shakeel, depending on various factors such as conditions, opposition and match strategy,” a statement from Asad Shafiq, a member of the selection panel, said. “Both players are highly capable at the top of the order, with Babar being particularly seasoned in the role, regularly opening in T20Is and also excelling in the Cape Town Test by scoring two half-centuries in Saim Ayub’s absence.”The squad also retains its pace-heavy element that saw Pakistan win three successive away ODI series towards the end of last year. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain are all part of the final 15, with only one specialist spinner in Abrar Ahmed. Neither Sufiyan Muqeem, who took four wickets on debut in the only ODI he played, nor Shadab Khan, who captained his side to Champions Cup glory in September, have made the final cut.Related

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“One of the standout qualities of this side is its flexibility – an essential trait in today’s modern-day cricket,” Asad Shafiq, a member of the selection panel. “We are confident that this squad strikes the right balance between youth and experience, and has all bases covered. Each player has been chosen with a clear role in mind, ensuring the captain has versatile options at his disposal.”Irfan Khan, who was eyed by the selection committee as a key component of Pakistan’s middle order and feted for his fielding, also drops out. Faheem’s return comes off the back of limited ODI cricket, having had an indifferent Champions Cup in September. Strong showings with the bat in the President Cup in October, however, seem to have played a part in earning him what appeared an unlikely recall.Pakistan’s first game at the Champions Trophy comes against New Zealand in Karachi on February 19, following which they go to Dubai to play against India. They play their final group game against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi on February 27.

Pakistan squad for Champions Trophy 2025

Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), Khushdil Shah, Salman Agha, Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah