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Real Madrid are not reportedly giving up on William Saliba as Los Blancos prepare a delegation to negotiate with Arsenal for the French defender. Xabi Alonso's focus has shifted as concerns grow over their current defensive depth, following a troubling display against Paris Saint-Germain in New Jersey during the Club World Cup.

• Alonso wants to strengthen his defence
• Konate & Saliba are among the options
• Real ready to send officials to London to negotiate

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  According to one name who is firmly on Real Madrid’s shortlist is Arsenal’s Saliba. The 23-year-old centre-back made a lasting impression during Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu in April, a performance that has reportedly catapulted him to the top of Madrid’s defensive wishlist. Although Saliba’s current deal with Arsenal runs until 2027, the Spanish side is undeterred. The club sees Saliba as a cornerstone figure who could lead their next generation of defenders, and they're preparing to open formal talks with both Arsenal and the player.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Fresh developments from multiple sources, including IndyKaila, indicate that Real Madrid are preparing to dispatch a delegation to London to initiate direct negotiations with Arsenal and Saliba’s camp. While the Gunners have consistently maintained a firm stance that the defender is not for sale, Madrid’s interest appears to be intensifying.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Should Real Madrid fail in their pursuit of Saliba, Liverpool’s Konate remains another viable alternative. The French international is entering the final year of his current contract at Anfield, and thus far has resisted Liverpool’s attempts to tie him down to a new deal. With the defender potentially available on a cut-price deal this summer, or for free next year, the club sees an opportunity to strike a smart piece of business. However, the Merseyside outfit is reportedly making a concerted effort to retain Konate, with a new contract offer on the table.

• AFP
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

  Even if Real Madrid manage to secure one of their French targets this summer, neither Arsenal nor Liverpool can afford to breathe easy. According to reports from , the Spanish champions could pursue both Konate and Saliba, albeit across two successive summer windows, as they look to completely refresh their ageing defensive ranks.

Tayla Vlaeminck dislocated her bowling shoulder just moments into Australia’s T20 World Cup match against Pakistan, deepening her shocking run of bad luck with injuries.Vlaeminck was attempting to stop a boundary off Muneeba Ali’s fine edge on just the fourth ball of the match in Dubai on Friday. Running back from short third, Vlaeminck slid but her knee got stuck in the turf as she reached for the ball and flicked it back before tumbling over the rope, crying out and clutching at her shoulder as she did so.Lying on the boundary’s edge clearly in distress as Australia team medical staff rushed to her aid, captain Alyssa Healy looked visibly concerned.Vlaeminck’s shoulder was later relocated and the extent of the injury will be known following further assessment in the coming days.She had come into the side for the big-hitting Grace Harris, adding pace in what Healy described as an “impact for impact” swap in Australia’s first match of the tournament at the ground, having opened their campaign with wins against Sri Lanka and New Zealand on a slower pitch in Sharjah.It is the latest in a long line of injuries for 25-year-old Vlaeminck, playing her first World Cup match since 2018, Australia’s group game against India, and only the second of her career.Vlaeminck dislocated her left shoulder playing for Victoria in the 2017-18 season. Then, during the Australia A tour of England which coincided with last year’s Women’s Ashes, she dislocated the same shoulder again while bowling, which led to corrective surgery.Before she made her debut for Australia, in 2018, she had undergone two ACL reconstructions. Stress fractures in her foot also forced her to miss the 2020 home T20 World Cup as well as the 2022 ODI World Cup, the Commonwealth Games later that year and the 2023 T20 World Cup. Her foot injuries led her to spend time training with professional dancers at the Australian Ballet as part of her rehab work.

He has played in just 14 of India’s 44 ODIs since the start of 2020 but remains crucial

Deivarayan Muthu21-Jan-20231:42

Shami on workload management: ‘I prefer playing matches’

The seam is bolt upright. Not even a hint of wobble. Finn Allen topples over like a house of cards. The ball clunks into the top of middle stump via a deflection off the back pad. Inducker after three outswingers. The perfect set-up. This is vintage Mohammed Shami. He strikes in the first over of the first-ever international game in Raipur to rouse a sellout crowd.Sure, there’s a smattering of grass on this pitch, though nothing as generous as a green seamer on the first day of a Test match in Hamilton. Shami keeps landing the ball on the seam to maximise the early juice. He keeps threatening both the edges. He doesn’t present width. He doesn’t offer the drive ball that New Zealand are searching for.Daryl Mitchell tries to manufacture that drive ball by shimming out of his crease, but Shami still beats him in length and has him weakly plopping a return catch. Mitchell throws his head back in despair. Shami throws the ball up in the air and wheels away in celebration.Replay – Ind vs NZ, 2nd men’s ODI

You can watch the replay of the second ODI between India and New Zealand on ESPN Player in the UK and on ESPN+ in the USA.

The drive ball never comes from Shami in the powerplay. Just one of his 24 in the powerplay was full, but even that wasn’t really hittable. Mohammed Siraj and Hardik Pandya back Shami up beautifully as New Zealand fall to 15 for 4 in ten overs. They are eventually rolled over for 108 in 34.3 overs.”Conditions were not as helpful to the bowlers as it may have appeared,” Shami said at the post-match press conference. “They got out early but conditions were not overtly bowler-friendly. We dismissed them cheaply by bowling a testing length. It was a damp wicket but it was important to keep good line and length. All the bowlers were disciplined and the result is for all to see.”New Zealand captain Tom Latham admitted that the unwavering accuracy of Shami and Siraj handcuffed their batters in the early exchanges.1:39

Jaffer: Shami unlucky in previous games, deserved his wickets today

“They obviously bowled fantastically well,” Latham said. “And like you said they were pretty relentless with the lines and lengths they bowled and that didn’t give us any easy scoring options and then obviously to be five down reasonably early on, I think just after the 10th or 11th over… Yeah, it was hard to come back from there. When you get bowled out for just over a 100 obviously makes things pretty difficult. So, unfortunately it was just one of those days where everything India did turned their way.”New Zealand briefly threatened a fightback through Michael Bracewell (who else?) once the ball grew older and softer. Shardul Thakur finally gave Bracewell the drive ball, and the batter drilled him down the ground for four. Then, when Shami returned to the attack, Bracewell carted him for three fours in six balls. Bracewell had laid into him in the first ODI in Hyderabad too but here Shami beasted the Beast. He ditched his attempted yorker, which disappeared to the boundary, for the big bouncer. He switched his angle from around the wicket to over the wicket and let rip a head-high lifter close to the off stump. Bracewell had very little time and room to work with and ended up top-edging it to the keeper. Game over for New Zealand.Prasidh Krishna or Umran Malik have been India’s chief enforcers in the middle overs of an ODI in the past two years. However, Prasidh is now on the sidelines, still working his way back from injury while Malik can’t find a place in this XI because India want some batting insurance at No. 8 in the form of Thakur. In their absence, Shami has stepped up with the old ball too and kept himself in India’s World Cup frame and Raipur couldn’t have been happier. The city had waited for a long time for its first international game and Shami ensured it was worth it, despite the match lasting just 55 overs. After the game ended early, a laser show kept the fans entertained. The show ended with a message to the crowd: “Chhattisgarh thanks you”. Perhaps, that was a message to Shami as well.India’s bowling depth is as unprecedented as their batting depth these days. Just like how Ishan Kishan made way for Shubman Gill immediately after smashing a double-century, Shami might have to make way for Jasprit Bumrah once he regains fitness. Which isn’t anything new. Shami hasn’t been an ODI regular for India – he has played in just 14 of their 44 games since the start of 2020. Siraj’s emergence has pushed him into the background a bit. But Saturday’s events proved he’s not the kind of player who goes quietly into the night.That means advantage India because how many teams can say they have a bowler like Shami as their plan B?

The Red Dragons are now just one step away from the Premier League, but taking it promises to be the toughest task yet

For the first time in 43 years, Wrexham will be competing in the second tier of English football. Three years ago, when the Red Dragons were still a National League club, that seemed like an impossible goal, but Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have raised expectations at the Racecourse Ground to never-before-seen levels.

Wrexham ended up becoming National League champions in 2022-23 with a record haul of 111 points, and followed up that success by finishing second in both League Two and League One over the next two seasons to earn an incredible slice of history. No other club in the English ladder has ever achieved three successive promotions, and it may never happen again.

Reynolds, McElhenney – who recently changed his name to Rob Mac – and Wrexham head coach Phil Parkinson deserve immense credit for getting the club this far, and the beloved co-owners are optimistic that the unprecedented run will continue in the Championship, too, with McElhenney recently saying on : "If I’m being honest, I don’t even know what the word consolidation means."

But the reality is, reaching the Premier League at the first time of asking would be nothing short of a miracle considering how big the jump from League One to the Championship is. Indeed, only five clubs have ever done it, the latest being Ipswich Town in 2023-24, but they have a far larger fanbase and greater financial weight than Wrexham. The considerable resources provided by Reynolds and McElhenney gave Wrexham an edge in the lower leagues, but their revenue does not compare to the bigger Championship sides.

"We’re going into one of the most competitive leagues in world football. One of the most supported leagues. The jump in salaries is mind-blowing. I don’t think people outside football quite realise," Parkinson has said in an attempt to give supporters a reality check.

All of that will have to be factored in when judging what should be considered a successful season for the Welsh outfit this time around. GOAL has taken a look at what realistically lies in store as Wrexham face the most daunting challenge of their Hollywood era to date…

Getty Images SportMood around the Racecourse Ground

Wrexham supporters could hardly be more excited heading into their first second-tier campaign since 1982. They have been in dreamland over the last three years, and some will understandably believe that promotion challenge is possible at the Racecourse Ground after a busy summer in the transfer market.

However, most fans acknowledge that this is the year that the ride may start to slow down. Indeed, Wrexham fan account @StopUsingWxM has declared on X that "I would be happy finishing 21st for the next 15 years", while Matthew Jones, creator of the Racecourse Ramble Podcast, has declared he'd take "mid-table safety now" after predicting "we're going to lose more often and have longer spells without a win than we've been used to".

Jones' opinion seems to reflect the consensus among the Wrexham faithful, with any kind of play-off push considered to be miracle territory. That was, though, also the feeling before their return to League One. Avoiding a relegation battle may be the main goal now, but caution will give way to fresh confidence if the Red Dragons get off to a good start in the Championship, because this is a squad that knows how to build momentum.

AdvertisementGettyTransfer business

Reynolds and McElhenney have never made any secret of their desire to take Wrexham all the way to the Premier League, and they have given Parkinson a heavy transfer war chest to make it happen at the earliest possible date. The Red Dragons have made eight signings already this summer, breaking their transfer record twice, first with a £2.2 million move for Empoli left-back Liberato Cacace before splashing £5m on Nottingham Forest midfielder Lewis O'Brien. 

Wrexham have spent another combined £2m on Plymouth striker Ryan Hardie and George Thomason from Bolton, while securing free transfers for ex-Leicester City goalkeeper Danny Ward and former Sheffield Wednesday forward Josh Windass, son of Hull City legend Dean. But all of those deals were eclipsed in prestige by the arrivals of Conor Coady and Kieffer Moore over the past week.

Bringing in those two former Premier League stars has set Reynolds and McElhenney back another £4m, but their experience could prove invaluable. Convincing 10-cap England international Coady to leave Leicester and join the ambitious Racecourse project was a huge coup, and ex-Sheffield United frontman Moore is the ideal replacement for cult hero Steven Fletcher.

The Red Dragons may not be done yet, either. Talks over a blockbuster deal for ex-Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen have been confirmed, and it would be another huge statement of intent if they can get it over the line.

Fitting Eriksen into the wage bill shouldn't be an issue because Parkinson has cleared a lot of deadwood. Seven players have been released, including Fletcher and Mark Howard, while Will Boyle has been sold to Shrewsbury and Mansfield have snapped up Luke Bolton. Wrexham legend Paul Mullin has also moved on, securing a loan move to Wigan after falling down the attacking pecking order.

GettyPre-season performances

After spending the last two summers in the United States, Wrexham decided to instead embark on a pre-season tour of Australia and New Zealand this time around, with the former country supposedly having the third-most followers of the club's 'Welcome to Wrexham' docuseries on Disney+. Parkinson and his players received a very warm welcome Down Under, and they responded by giving the Aussies their money's worth in their first friendly outing against the Melbourne Victory.

Wrexham romped to an impressive 3-0 win against the A-League side, with debutant Hardie among the goals. However, it was a performance that took a lot out of the Red Dragons, who looked lethargic and uninspired four days later against Sydney FC, going down 2-1 courtesy of a late winner from Joe Lacey in a match that was overshadowed by a worrying injury to star midfielder Ollie Rathbone. 

Parkinson's side then travelled to New Zealand to face the Wellington Phoenix, but slumped to a 1-0 defeat after a woeful error from No.1 goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo. That was a sad end to their tour, and Wrexham failed to bounce back in a same-day double header against Groningen in the Netherlands on August 2. The Red Dragons were beaten 1-0 and 3-1 by the Eredisvie outfit, with Parkinson left frustrated over their fragility at the back.

"We were too easy to score against. We have got to have that edge about us and have got to defend our goal better than we did today," the manager told the club's YouTube channel. 

One win and four defeats were certainly not the best preparation for Wrexham's Championship opener against Southampton, but Parkinson felt his team had a "decent" pre-season overall, as he added: "I think the minutes we have got in the players has been good. It has been consistent so I am pleased with that."

Getty Images SportTalking tactics

Parkinson is an old-school coach who prioritises a solid defensive set-up and looks for the most direct route to goal. Indeed, no other team in League One hit more long passes than Wrexham per 90 minutes last season (57.93), with the majority of those coming from goalkeeper Okonkwo as he fed the target men upfront.

One of Ollie Palmer, Jay Rodriguez, or Fletcher would typically knock the ball down to first-choice No.9 Sam Smith, who joined the club from Reading in January, and he would then use his pace to wreak havoc behind enemy lines. It was an effective formula, but Parkinson will have to tweak it if Wrexham are to make a big impression in their first season back in the Championship.

The Red Dragons are formidable at the back, so a deviation from their preferred 3-5-2 formation may not be necessary, but they can't afford to remain so one-dimensional going forward. Parkinson must work on proper patterns of play for Wrexham to compete with the Championship's elite teams.

He is rightly considered one of the greatest managers in Wrexham's history, and has also enjoyed success at Colchester, Bolton and Bradford, but only in the lower leagues. Across 49 Championship games in spells with Charlton and Hull, Parkinson only delivered nine wins, which was a consequence of the fact that neither team could hold onto possession for any significant length of time.

Parkinson's credit at Wrexham could run out quickly if he makes the same mistake this season. 

أصدرت رابطة الأندية المصرية المحترفة عقوبات الجولة الحادية عشر من المرحلة الأولى وذلك طبقًا للائحة مسابقة دوري Nile ولائحة المخالفات والعقوبات ونظام ضبط الجودة لموسم 2025-2026.

وكان الأهلي قد حقق الفوز على فريق الاتحاد السكندري بهدفين مقابل هدف، ليحتل صدارة جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري الممتاز برصيد 21 نقطة. 

طالع.. بينها هدف لاعب الأهلي.. رابطة الأندية تعلن الأهداف المرشحة للأفضل في الجولة 11 من الدوري المصري عقوبات الجولة 11 من الدوري المصري 

مباراة الأهلي والاتحاد السكندري:

إيقاف مروان عطية فهيم غلاب، لاعب الأهلي، مباراة واحدة، وتوقيع غرامة مالية عليه قيمتها 5000 جنيه؛ وذلك بسبب حصوله على الإنذار الثالث.

إيقاف أحمد نبيل كوكا، لاعب الأهلي، مباراة واحدة، وتوقيع غرامة مالية عليه قيمتها 2500 جنيه؛ وذلك للطرد لحصوله على إنذارين في نفس المباراة.

توقيع غرامة مالية على الأهلي قيمتها 150000 جنيه ومنع المتواجدين من حضور مباراة واحدة وذلك بسبب السباب الجماعي من الجماهير ضد نادي منافس.

مباراة المقاولون العرب وإنبي:

إيقاف عمر طارق مصطفى داوود، لاعب فريق المقاولون العرب، مباراة واحدة، وتوقيع غرامة مالية عليه قيمتها 5000 جنيه؛ وذلك بسبب حصوله على الإنذار الثالث.

إيقاف أجيري جواكيم، لاعب فريق المقاولون العرب، مباراة واحدة، وتوقيع غرامة مالية عليه قيمتها 2500 جنيه؛ وذلك للطرد لحصوله على إنذارين في نفس المباراة.

مباراة غزل المحلة وكهرباء الإسماعيلية:

إيقاف محمد عبد اللطيف عوض الله أحمد، لاعب فريق غزل المحلة، مباراة واحدة، وتوقيع غرامة مالية عليه قيمتها 5000 جنيه؛ وذلك بسبب حصوله على الإنذار الثالث.

إيقاف أحمد حامد عبده شوشه، لاعب فريق غزل المحلة، مباراة واحدة، وتوقيع غرامة مالية عليه قيمتها 5000 جنيه؛ وذلك بسبب حصوله على الإنذار الثالث.

إيقاف عصام أمين سليمان الفيومي، لاعب فريق كهرباء الإسماعيلية، مباراة واحدة، وتوقيع غرامة مالية عليه قيمتها 2500 جنيه؛ وذلك للطرد لحصوله على إنذارين في نفس المباراة.

إيقاف وسام إسماعيل محمد دسوقي، مدرب حراس مرمى فريق كهرباء الإسماعيلية، مباراة واحدة، وتوقيع غرامة مالية عليه قيمتها 5000 جنيه؛ وذلك للطرد لحصوله على إنذارين في نفس المباراة.

توجيه لفت نظر لعصام أمين سليمان لاعب فريق كهرباء الإسماعيلية وتوقيع غرامة مالية عليه قيمتها 5000 جنيه وذلك بسبب عدم تنفيذ تعليمات الحكم أو التزمر والاعتراض على قرارات الحكم.

مباراة الجونة والبنك الأهلي:

إيقاف ممدوح إبراهيم إبراهيم سلامة، مدرب حراس مرمى فريق الجونة، مباراة واحدة، وتوقيع غرامة مالية عليه قيمتها 5000 جنيه؛ وذلك بسبب حصوله على الإنذار الثالث.

مباراة زد إف سي وبتروجيت:

إيقاف أحمد إبراهيم عبد العزيز رضوان، لاعب فريق زد إف سي، مباراة واحدة، وتوقيع غرامة مالية عليه قيمتها 5000 جنيه؛ وذلك بسبب حصوله على الإنذار الثالث.

إيقاف ماتا ماجاسا، لاعب فريق زد إف سي، مباراة واحدة، وتوقيع غرامة مالية عليه قيمتها 5000 جنيه؛ وذلك بسبب حصوله على الإنذار الثالث.

توقيع غرامة مالية على فريق زد إف سي قيمتها 50000 جنيه وذلك بسبب حصول اللاعبين على عدد ستة بطاقات في نفس المباراة.

مباراة سيراميكا كليوباترا وطلائع الجيش:

إيقاف هيثم شعبان توفيق، المدير الفني لفريق طلائع الجيش، مباراة واحدة، وتوقيع غرامة مالية عليه قيمتها 5000 جنيه؛ وذلك بسبب حصوله على الإنذار الثالث.

مباراة المصري وسموحة:

إيقاف صلاح محسن، لاعب فريق المصري، مباراة واحدة، وتوقيع غرامة مالية عليه قيمتها 5000 جنيه؛ وذلك بسبب حصوله على الإنذار الثالث.

مع تطبيق المادة 54 من لائحة مسابقة دوري nile لموسم 2025-2026، الخاصة بحالات الإنذارات على الأجهزة الفنية والإدارية والطبية واللاعبين.

The England opener has opened up a controversial episode in his career saying it was ‘a really, really tough time’

ESPNcricinfo staff29-Oct-2024Ben Duckett has lifted the lid on the incident that saw him sent home from Australia during the 2017-18 Ashes after pouring a drink over James Anderson, revealing Anderson threw a drink over him first before feeling bad and encouraging Duckett to return the favour.Duckett was part of the Lions tour at the time, desperate to add to four Test caps picked up from tours of Bangladesh and India at the end of 2016. The indiscretion ended up setting him back as he was sent home with a fine and suspension from the ECB. He eventually returned to the Lions set-up at the end of 2018.The incident took place before the third Test against Australia, at Perth’s Avenue Bar, with England 2-0 down and subject to intense scrutiny of their off-field behaviour. The venue had already gained notoriety on the tour after Jonny Bairstow “greeted” Cameron Bancroft at the bar by butting heads ahead of the series, a story that emerged with falsely malicious undertones during the culmination of England’s loss at the Gabba in the first Test.Related

• Duckett 'poured drink over' Anderson

• Bairstow 'headbutt' allegations 'blown out of proportion' – Strauss

• Dynamic Duckett gives England a puncher's chance on turning deck

The ECB was already on high alert heading to Australia after Ben Stokes was charged with affray in September of that year, before being found not guilty in 2018. Duckett’s misdemeanour ended up being the final straw, prompting a midnight curfew instilled following the Bairstow-Bancroft episode to be made permanent, though it has been relaxed intermittently since.At the time, head coach Trevor Bayliss could not contain his anger, telling reporters: “It’s a fairly trivial incident but, in the current climate, it’s just not acceptable”. Anderson used his column in the to downplay what he regarded as “a pretty silly incident”.Both Bayliss and managing director Andrew Strauss – who had to insist England players were not “thugs” after losing the first Test in the wake of the Bairstow’s “headbutt” – put their foot down as allegations of a booze culture prevailed. England ended up succumbing to a 4-0 series defeat. By then, Duckett had already returned home as part of the collateral.Seven years on, Duckett is an established international, and with Anderson now retired – though he remains part of the Test set-up as a bowling consultant – he is comfortable clarifying that he was not the instigator on that fateful night in Perth, and that he feared his England career was over.”Jimmy actually threw a drink on me, but no one knows about that,” Duckett told podcast. “And then said, ‘oh, we’re just messing around. You can just lob one on my head. That’s fine.’ Genuinely. So then I just poured one on his head and the security guard saw me from the ECB, who looks after us, and it filtered back.”That was kind of basically the story. We carried on the rest of the night together, getting on well. That’s the story that’s got blown up. Then obviously when things start getting out in the media and everyone’s saying all this stuff, then everyone believes that like that. And as soon as a story or a headline’s out there, ‘well that’s what happened then’.”But then you can’t really come out and say what I’ve just said, because I’m a young lad trying to break into the England team. It’s one of the best ever England players, you know? And people didn’t really want to hear me.The 2017-18 Ashes tour was largely a miserable one for England•Getty Images

“It was actually a really, really tough time. People look back and it’s probably funny and stuff like that. But when you’re in Australia and you’re kind of being told you can’t go to training, you can’t play – it’s a lonely place for a 22-year-old.”And being in Australia, you’re not getting much sympathy from any anyone out there, are you? But yeah, it was one of those things where… it feels like your world’s ending. The time difference, you’re not speaking to family much. The lads around me in that group at the time were amazing.”Duckett’s subsequent emergence as an England regular across has allowed him to put a positive spin on that period of his career. Only Joe Root (2250) has more than Duckett’s 1980 runs since returning to the Test side as an opener at the end of 2022, at a strike rate of 88.55, with four centuries.The left-hander was one of just three batters to average over 50 in the recent 2-1 series defeat to Pakistan. He is also set to be a vital cog in the rejuvenation of the limited overs set-up, led by Test head coach Brendon McCullum who will assume control of England’s white-ball sides in the new year.While Duckett feared for his future after that 2017-18 winter, he believes the resolve it bred has been integral to developing as a mainstay across all three formats.”It’s not that moment that was the issue. It was, you know, for the next 12 months, it was, ‘you’re basically on hold now for a little while’. Which for a 23 [year-old]… that’s kind of a bad time to basically get told you’ve got no chance here.”It does make you grow up a little bit faster and stuff and dealing with what I had to deal with probably made me a little bit more resilient as a person and probably a bit tougher.”All these things now, in a really weird way, I wouldn’t change much of it because, where I am right now, when I play for England, it’s like I don’t want to give that shirt to anyone else.”I’ve probably not made things easy at times. I’m not a saint and an angel, and I probably was an easy target at the time. That would be the only thing I’ll say – whether it was dealt right or wrong, that’s for people to make their own mind up.”

If Manchester United are to claim silverware for the third season in succession, then once again the Red Devils will largely have Bruno Fernandes to thank for that success, with the club’s talismanic skipper simply dragging his side to the Europa League final.

The 30-year-old has scored seven times in the competition this term – six of which have come in the knockout stages – alongside chalking up five assists, with the Portuguese’s ice-cold penalty notably kickstarting the stunning late comeback at home to Lyon.

Of course, as the captain of a side currently residing in 16th in the Premier League table, the playmaker is not exempt from blame. No player in the current squad is above criticism.

And yet, the murmurings surrounding a potential offer from Saudi Arabia for the former Sporting CP star have only served to reinforce just how vital Fernandes is to this struggling side. As Ruben Amorim put it, he is “one of the top players in the world”.

Perhaps the modern-day equivalent of the great Bryan Robson, a shining figurehead in a far from glorious era for United, Fernandes deserves to be part of a side truly challenging for Premier League and Champions League glory.

First, however, major surgery is needed to strengthen the side around him…

Latest on Man Utd's transfer search

After the dismal Erik ten Hag-led transfer policy, which revolved around Eredivisie-based or Dutch imports, it would appear that the INEOS regime are seeking a change in tact this time around, amid reports that the club are ready to raid the Premier League for high-profile talents.

Indeed, the two leading candidates to arrive at Old Trafford this summer appear to be Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap, with the exciting pair – who have scored 27 league goals between them – looking set to depart Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town, respectively.

Aside from that duo, however, Football Insider are also reporting that Amorim and co are now in ‘pole position’ to sign Bournemouth sensation, Antoine Semenyo, amid the Ghanaian’s standout season on the south coast.

Transfer Focus

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

As per the report, the chances of United landing the 25-year-old are ‘likely to be boosted’ if they secure Europa League glory next week, with the club potentially needing to fend off Arsenal and Newcastle United in the battle for his services.

This comes amid recent speculation which suggested that INEOS were willing to fork out £38m to sign the former Bristol City man, albeit with it yet to be seen whether the Cherries would accept anything less than their £60m asking price.

If United can win the race for the forward’s signature, he could represent the perfect addition to help revive Amorim’s limp forward line.

Why Semenyo could thrive at Man Utd

As the defeat to West Ham United showcased, this is a Manchester United side devoid of energy and athleticism. As Amorim himself admitted, there was a real “lack of urgency” from his charges.

A particular problem, something which the 40-year-old has also regularly pointed to, is the club’s struggles with ‘physicality’, a factor that has perhaps explained the difference between their success domestically and on the continent.

Bringing Semenyo into the fold could then go some way toward changing that dynamic, with the 25-year-old a simply explosive and electric presence in attack, having been described as “almost unplayable” at times by journalist Ed Aarons.

As former Bristol boss Nigel Pearson stated in the past, the 6 foot 1 ace is “very difficult to play against” due to his “pace and power”, having scored nine league goals this season while operating as a striker or on the flanks.

A player who can stretch a difference with a searing run in behind, Semenyo could then strike up a devastating partnership with that man Fernandes, with United’s “creative machine” – as hailed by Kevin De Bruyne – simply a master at picking out his teammates with a lofted or threaded pass to unlock a defence.

That was notably evident with regard to the Portuguese’s relationship with Marcus Rashford in the past, having jointly contributed to 26 goals alongside the Englishman, while notably providing six assists for his exiled teammate in the Premier League during the 2022/23 campaign.

Interestingly, Rashford is actually noted as a similar player to Semenyo among those in their position across Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref, thus further outlining that he has the attributes to potentially thrive in partnership with Fernandes next season.

While the captain’s long-term role in the side is yet to be decided, he is a creative weapon wherever he is deployed, be it as a number six or a number ten, having again topped the division this term for chances created (88).

All he needs now is teammates to properly thrive on those opportunities. Could Semenyo fit the bill?

Man Utd could sign £150k-a-week Aston Villa star if Bruno Fernandes leaves

He has enjoyed an outstanding season for his current team.

2

By
Henry Jackson

May 12, 2025

Playing shots is not the only way to be positive. Cheteshwar Pujara has shown that to keep his side alive in the Adelaide Test

Sidharth Monga in Adelaide06-Dec-20182:15

Top-order should have batted better – Pujara

“” – Cheteshwar PujaraIndia should get this pro tip – given out originally to the – printed out in a large font, headline it “Commandment of Che” and stick it up on the white board in their dressing room. And carry it everywhere.**Perhaps in a smaller font, they should stick the Commandment of Arvind Pujara too: “To hold your mind for so long is the most difficult part of batting. You decide anything in your life. Let’s say you say you won’t lie today, but somewhere you will end up doing it. So many things happen on a cricket field that can set your mind doing other things than the way you know is best to bat. He is able to bat those long innings because he can hold his mind.”India came to Adelaide with their best chance to beat Australia in a series in Australia but also with a terrible recent record in the first Test of series. Starting with England’s tour of India in 2016-17, India have beaten only West Indies and Sri Lanka in the first Test of a series. The rest involves losses in England and South Africa, one to Australia at home, and a draw against Sri Lanka at home. India came aware of that record.Virat Kohli said they wanted to play “not tentatively”. They wanted to impose themselves early. “Not wait to find out what the condition of the pitch is going to be”, “read it really early”, and “alter our game accordingly”, unlike in South Africa and in England. He didn’t want rash shots, but the focus clearly was on seizing the game early. You live through that prolonged build-up, the photo shoots, the press conferences, you walk out on the first morning of the series, the mind starts racing ahead of the body, you work yourself up, and as it is you are naturally excitable. You feel like being rushed into everything. It must be easier for professionals to hold their mind, but it can’t be easy, and that is the light through which you might want to look at the first session.ALSO READ – Long live the ChesistanceFor starters, India won the toss. They have never lost a Test after Kohli has won the toss. Their last defeat despite winning the toss came four years ago, in Brisbane. They won this toss on a dry hot day, with temperatures expected to nudge 40. They were up against an attack that didn’t have a fifth bowler. This was a great opportunity to put the miles in the bowlers’ legs, make them come back for spell after spell, demoralise the attack. Yet the mind can get ahead of you. Either you don’t trust your defence or you can’t hold your mind, and you start doing things you know are not right.Let’s get a couple of things out of the way. This was not the usual Australian road. Pujara said it took him two sessions to figure out what shots he could play on this pitch. And we will come back to that soon. Also the bowling from Australia was great execution of Test-match plans. Bowl full but not half-volleys. Bowl fast. Exploit the occasional spongy bounce and the occasional seam movement. Cricviz data says the average pace of 144.46 ks over the first 10 overs was Australia’s fastest in a year, and the average pace of 142.78 over 25 overs was the fastest by any team this year.Then there was a new plan to Virat Kohli. Teams target him in the channel outside off when he first walks in, but here he was tucked up and made to play every ball without any room. Of the 16 balls bowled at him, two were short balls, 12 straight at him with square leg plugging the single, and only two were bowled outside off. Kohli had a waft at the second of the sucker balls; it is a plan he will look to counter in the rest of the series.

“Those who have not seen Pujara bat with tail in domestic cricket are the most surprised at this aspect of Pujara’s game: the manipulation of the strike, the big hits; an IPL joke always crops up. Imagine watching highlights with a voiceover that is stunned at watching what you have been doing all your life.”

Every other specialist batsman played a bad shot. Asked a question, each of them responded with shots. You wondered if they didn’t trust their defence or if they couldn’t hold their mind. KL Rahul, bowled or lbw in his last eight innings, looked to play at everything. M Vijay kept fending at short balls, and then flayed at the full one. Ajinkya Rahane’s only response to Nathan Lyon evoked some of the hapless West Indies batsmen in India: just play your shots. Rohit Sharma gave it away after getting set. That after having little time to adjust to the bounce differential in Australia.ALSO READ: ‘One of my top five innings’ – Pujara on his Adelaide hundredAmid all the carnage one man kept trusting his defence, kept trying to understand the situation and conditions to play accordingly. This is what brings him under pressure, if not from the team then from the fans and commentators. “He is getting stuck,” it is said. “He is building the pressure on his partners.” Well, he is just batting, trying to negotiate the tough spell before he can capitalise on a softer ball and a tired attack. Pujara had a control rate of 85%, the joint-best with R Ashwin, whose entire innings was played against the old ball. He left alone 53 balls, 23 more than other specialist batsmen put together.And when it was time to strike, he struck with great vengeance and furious anger, but only because he knew he needed to do so with only the long tail for company. And he took two sessions to know what he could play. Others began to do it in two balls at times.Those who have not seen Pujara bat with the tail in domestic cricket are the most surprised at this aspect of Pujara’s game: the manipulation of the strike, the big hits. An IPL joke always crops up. Imagine watching highlights with a voiceover that is stunned at watching what you have been doing all your life.Hopefully his team-mates aren’t. Thanks to him, they still have a fair chance. They themselves have been at the receiving end of a lost toss and a middling total by an opposition. They know how difficult it can be to chase. They will want their bowlers to make sure Australia are chasing a decent total and not 120-odd. They will want to exploit the weakened batting. They will be thinking all this because one man refused to play shots and chose to understand and play according to the situation. Never forget the Commandment of Che.