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Strong all-round show from Liam Trevaskis is to no avail after points deduction

ECB Reporters Network14-Aug-2022England Lions spinner Liam Patterson-White sparkled with five for 45 as Notts Outlaws bounced back from consecutive defeats to keep their Royal London Cup campaign alive as Durham slumped to a fourth Group A defeat.The left-arm spinner was representing the Lions against South Africa as the Outlaws suffered losses against Gloucestershire and Middlesex after opening their campaign with two wins and showed how much he had been missed as Durham were bowled out for 226, Liam Trevaskis making 59 not out.Matt Montgomery top-scored with 54 as the Outlaws prevailed in a tight finish to win by two wickets with two overs to spare, Trevaskis’ tight spell with the ball going unrewarded.With the two points they had acquired for their solitary win cancelled out by a two-point disciplinary penalty issued on Saturday, Durham have no points from five matches.”The disciplinary penalty is disheartening, although I believe the club are appealing it,” said their skipper Scott Borthwick. “We’ve got such a young squad at the moment, we’ve got to keep learning, but the senior players in the team have to put their hands up and take some responsibility.”Related

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Patterson-White made a rapid impact by dismissing Australian former Test batter Nic Maddinson in his second over to end a 68-run second-wicket partnership with Scott Borthwick.He took his next four wickets in the space of 19 balls between the 20th over and the 26th as Durham slipped from 72 for two to 135 for six, the last two coming from consecutive deliveries before debutant Mitch Killeen – son of former Durham stalwart Neil Killeen – survived the hat-trick ball.Choosing to bat first on the same pitch that saw 683 runs scored as Middlesex won here on Friday, Durham were a wicket down after four balls as Graham Clark nicked to first slip before the two left-handers, Maddinson and Borthwick, built a decent recovery, the Australian setting the pace with seven boundaries.But when Patterson-White relieved Zak Chappell as first change at the pavilion end, he removed Maddinson with his 11th ball, pinning him leg before with one that looked to keep a shade low.Just as Maddinson failed to progress beyond 37, Borthwick fell on 36, lbw as Patterson-White spun one back into his pads, and Sean Dickson became a third leg before victim for the left-armer as he went to slog-sweep. Paul Coughlin edged to slip for 17 and when 19-year-old wicketkeeper Tomas Mackintosh fell first ball, also leg before, Durham were 135 for six.Killeen helped Trevaskis add 42 in nine overs before he clipped Matt Montgomery’s off-spin straight to midwicket, after which play was held up while a male spectator was treated by medics after a George Drissell six struck him on the head. Thankfully, his injuries were minor.After Chappell had seen off the Durham tail for figures of three for 51, opener Ben Slater was bowled by a beauty from Chris Rushworth as Notts began their reply.Sol Budinger’s aggressive instincts took him to 35 off 25 balls, with two of his three sixes going out of the ground, before he miscued Oliver Gibson to be caught at midwicket.Dane Schadendorf was bowled as Trevaskis came on to bowl his left-arm spin, going down the pitch somewhat recklessly, and though Haseeb Hameed looked in the mood to continue where he left off after Friday’s century against Middlesex he soon departed, caught low down at extra cover as Trevaskis make further inroads.Lyndon James joined Montgomery to steer a careful path as Durham sought to turn the screw and at the halfway stage the Outlaws required another 95, still four down.The loss of James for 35 at 150 for five, Rushworth trapping the all-rounder on the crease to end a stand worth 74, kept Durham interested and after Trevaskis had finished three for 35 from 10 overs, Killeen struck with his second ball in senior cricket to bowl Patterson-White and keep the outcome in the balance with 64 still needed.However, with big-hitting 18-year-old Fateh Singh finding the boundary as easily as he had in his cameo 45 off 22 balls on Friday, the next wicket added 35 in five overs and though Montgomery fell for 54 reverse sweeping Drissell’s off-spin, the target was down to 29 off 61 balls.Another twist came with Singh’s dismissal for 25, brilliantly caught at short mid-wicket by Dickson with 21 still needed and eight down, but Chappell and Brett Hutton were able to finish the job.

In a shock move, Wolverhampton Wanderers are now reportedly interested in signing a former Premier League-winning captain for Vitor Pereia’s side as the transfer window nears its deadline.

Wolves transfer news

It’s been a hectic transfer window for those in the Midlands and one that has, ultimately, been full of frustration. With three days remaining, however, they could yet welcome the reinforcements that they so desperately need to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone.

Whether that will see the likes of Kevin Danso arrive remains to be seen, however. Having reportedly agreed personal terms with the defender, Wolves are yet to lure RC Lens into a permanent deal ahead of Monday’s deadline, forcing them to assess their options.

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In need of another central defender on top of Emmanual Agbadou’s arrival, those at Molineux have reportedly turned towards Danso alternatives such as Thomas Kristensen, who could yet emerge to solve Pereia’s defensive problem in the coming days.

Meanwhile, away from the backline, Wolves have also set their sights on midfield improvements this month and could yet take full advantage of one star man’s recent public fall-out.

According to Graeme Bailey for The Boot Room, Wolves now want to land a shock hijack to sign Jordan Henderson from Ajax after the former England international threatened to never play for the club again and was subsequently stripped of his captaincy amid reports of a move to AS Monaco.

Awkwardly apologising for his regretful actions since, that may not be that for Henderson and Ajax in the closing days of the window with both Wolves and West Ham United reportedly among those interested in hijacking Monaco’s initial attempts.

"Incredible" Henderson needs Premier League return

To say that Henderson has struggled since leaving Liverpool for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq in 2023 would be an understatement. Almost instantly regretting his decision to join the Saudi club despite their great riches, the former Anfield captain swiftly joined Ajax just six months later only to enter a side in desperate need of a rebuild and struggling as a result.

Now, just when things are getting better under Francesco Farioli, the 34-year-old has endured a public fall-out to forget in Amsterdam and one that he may yet fail to truly come back from at Ajax.

After failing to complete a move to Monaco, Henderson must use the final days of the transfer window to assess his options and that could yet see Wolves land what is still an incredibly experienced midfielder in a crucial step towards their Premier League survival.

Once dubbed “incredible” by former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp, Henderson could yet end his career in fitting fashion rather than off the back of a nightmare couple of years.

In all 16 teams will contest the tournament, including Indonesia and Rwanda, who will feature in a show-piece event in cricket for the first time

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Sep-2022The JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom will host the final of the inaugural Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup on 29 January, 2023. The tournament, originally scheduled for 2021 before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, will kick off on January 14, and will feature 41 matches across two weeks across Benoni and Potchefstroom. January 30 is a reserve day for the final.In all 16 teams will contest the tournament, including Indonesia and Rwanda, who will feature in a show-piece event in cricket for the first time.Related

Cape Town, Paarl and Gqeberha to host Women's T20 World Cup

The teams are split into four groups, with the top three from each group going through to a Super 6 round. The semi-finals will both be held on January 27, with a reserve day slotted for 28th.Group A includes Australia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and USA, Group B is England, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Rwanda, Group C is Ireland, Indonesia, New Zealand and West Indies, while Group D comprises India, South Africa, UAE and Scotland.ESPNcricinfo LtdFour games will played each day during round one, spread across the JB Marks Oval and NW University Oval in Potchefstroom, and Willowmoore Park and Willowmoore Park B in Benoni. Australia and Bangladesh play the tournament opener at Willowmoore Park on January 14, while India open their account against South Africa later that evening.In the Super 6s, teams from groups A and D will face each other, and teams from Groups B take on those from Group C for a place in the semis.The main event will be preceded by 16 warm-up matches between January 9 and 11 in Johannesburg and Tshwane.

Duncan Ferguson has revealed his FA Cup final regret after Everton won the competition in 1995.

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Ferguson won major trophy with the ToffeesLifted the FA Cup in 1995Poignant regret for team-mateFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Ferguson has admitted that he feels sorry for former Everton team-mate, Tony Grant, who missed out on a winners' medal in the 1995 FA Cup final. Grant played in the earlier rounds of the competition but was an unused substitute in the final against Manchester United, as the Toffees won 1-0.

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Ferguson's regret highlights the often cruel nature of cup competitions. While the Scot enjoyed the celebrations that followed Everton's 1-0 victory, Grant was not given a medal, despite playing in their 4-1 semi-final win over Tottenham. Grant played for the Toffees between 1994 and 1999 and is now assistant head coach at Forest Green Rovers.

WHAT FERGUSON SAID

He told Stick to Football: "Tony never got on the bench. He never got his medal. I've always thought about him. He played against Tottenham and we battered them in the semi-final."

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Ferguson is hoping to return to management after a spell out of the game. He has not had a job since leaving Inverness Caledonian Thistle at the end of last season.

The proposed plan involves a total of 22 matches, with a maximum of five overseas players in each XI

Nagraj Gollapudi13-Oct-2022The long-awaited women’s IPL is set to become a reality next year with the BCCI planning a five-team tournament for March 2023, immediately after the Women’s T20 World Cup ends in South Africa on February 26.The BCCI’s proposed plan involves a total of 22 matches, with each squad comprising 18 players with a maximum of six from overseas. No more than five overseas players can feature in a playing XI, with four from Full Member countries and one from an Associate nation.As per the plan, which the BCCI sent on Thursday to state associations and which has been seen by ESPNcricinfo, each team will play the others twice during the league phase (20 matches), with the league topper heading straight to the final. The second finalist will be decided via an Eliminator between the second and third-ranked teams from the league phase. The BCCI is yet to finalise the schedule of the WIPL, but it will be wrapped up before the men’s IPL begins, which is likely to be at the end of March.Whether the March window has been pencilled in for the long term remains to be seen, but the BCCI said in a paper on the WIPL that it has identified a “clear 25 days Women’s IPL window in the FTP cycle”. The inaugural WIPL is likely to clash with the inaugural season of the Women’s Pakistan Super League.”It will be a challenge to play the WIPL in the home and away format, because with five to six teams it is not possible to have a match every day,” the BCCI said in its paper on the WIPL, which was sent to the states as part of the wider agenda for the board’s annual general meeting scheduled in Mumbai on October 18. “It is suggested that the tournament can be played in caravan style, where after finishing ten matches at one venue, the next ten matches to be played at the next venue. Therefore, ten matches each to be played across two venues in the 2023 WIPL season, ten each in the next two venues in the 2024 season, and for the 2025 season ten matches in the remaining one venue and the remaining ten in one of the venues from 2023 season.”Where will the teams be from?
Unlike the Women’s T20 challenge, the precursor to the WIPL, where the teams were assembled randomly, the BCCI will sell the five franchises. However, unlike the men’s IPL, where franchises bid for teams in a particular city, the BCCI has chalked out two plans for the WIPL. The first one comprises selling teams across six zones spanning the country. A set of cities in each zone has been shortlisted and comprises: Dharamsala/Jammu (North zone), Pune/Rajkot (West), Indore/Nagpur/Raipur (Central), Ranchi/Cuttack (East), Kochi/Visakhapatnam (South) and Guwahati (North-East).The second plan involves teams being sold but without a solid home base, with matches to be played at six shortlisted IPL venues: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.The BCCI will present the WIPL plan at the AGM next week but a final decision will be taken by the IPL Governing Council chairman – who that is will be decided at the upcoming AGM – along with the BCCI office bearers.Exponential growth in participation – the reason behind WIPL
Women’s cricket in India became a big talking point ever since they reached the final of the ODI World Cup in 2017 at Lord’s, where they lost to England in front of a full house. In 2018, the BCCI launched the Women’s T20 Challenge, but it was restricted to just one match. Over the next three years, it expanded to a three-team competition. Voices across women’s cricket, both in India and globally, were critical of BCCI’s reluctance to launch a women’s IPL at the time.The board and several state associations were originally concerned by the shallow player pool in women’s cricket, but those reservations have gradually receded now.”With the rise in popularity of women’s cricket in the country mainly due to prominent performances by the Indian Senior Cricket team on world stage by qualifying for semi-finals in 2018 T20 World Cup, finals in 2020 T20 World Cup, securing silver medal in recently held 2022 Commonwealth games in Birmingham, we intend to conduct the Women’s IPL on similar lines with the Indian Premier League,” the BCCI said in its paper on WIPL.The growth on the domestic front was massive with the paper listing “an overall increase of 111% in participation of players along various categories” in the eight-year period between 2014-22. A further breakdown listed the number increasing by 129% in the senior women’s category and a 92% increase in the Under-19 category.The WIPL – and the proposed WPSL – will join the FairBreak Invitational, the Women’s Hundred, WCPL and WBBL as T20 leagues that bolster the popularity and growth of women’s cricket globally. The WIPL paper also noted that the BCCI had studied both the WBBL and the Women’s Hundred models before finalising its plan.

Glasgow Rangers’ transfer activity during the winter window consisted of just one signing, as defender Rafael Fernandes arrived at Ibrox on a six-month loan deal with an option to buy.

It was perhaps not the most inspiring window, but if Fernandes impresses, he will be another talented youngster with the potential to make the club a significant profit in the coming years.

Bridging the financial gap between them and Celtic is the main aim, especially with the Parkhead side benefiting from the Champions League windfall gained due to making it past the league phase.

Philippe Clement did manage to get another deal completed before the transfer window closed, although the Light Blues will have to wait until the summer to see the fruits of their labour.

Dundee midfielder Lyall Cameron signed a pre-contract agreement with the Ibrox side, and the move could turn into a smart piece of business.

“I am delighted that we have agreed a deal for Lyall to join the club and to continue his career at Rangers come the summer,” said Technical Director Nils Koppen after the deal was announced.

“Lyall has a lot of potential and I look forward to seeing him continue to grow at Rangers in the coming years.”

Why did Rangers sign Lyall Cameron?

Adding another home-grown player is vital for the club, especially regarding European squad quotas – and Cameron fits the bill perfectly.

His ability to push forward from the heart of the midfield could give Clement’s side something extra, especially given his recent displays at Dens Park.

Indeed, across 30 matches in all competitions, Cameron has registered 15 goal contributions – eight goals and seven assists – ranking him as the third-highest goalscorer in the squad this term.

Furthermore, Cameron has also created four big chances in the top flight, averages 1.6 key passes and wins 3.8 total duels per game, demonstrating his talents across a range of performance metrics.

Of course, if he is to succeed at Rangers, performing to a consistent level will be key as there are so many talented players in his position.

However, the 22-year-old will be a solid option to call upon, and his wages are likely to be lower than someone like Kieran Dowell, who has offered nothing since joining the Gers.

Goals

5

Assists

4

Big chances created

4

Key passes per game

1.6

Ground duels won per game

3.1

Shots per game

1.5

Via Sofascore

This philosophy might take some time to pay off, but if Clement can build a squad full of exceptionally talented players with a few experienced heads scattered throughout, it could soon prove to be successful.

The manager must also start to utilise the talent that is emerging from the academy, as there are several players there who could save the manager millions in the transfer market.

Bailey Rice and Findlay Curtis are two superb youngsters who have a bright future ahead of them if they can forge their way into securing regular minutes for the first team.

That said, the Gers did sell a youngster who was earmarked as the next big thing at Ibrox. Alex Lowry may have been their own Cameron if he had a better mentality.

Rangers already had their Lyall Cameron

Considering how well his Ibrox career began, seeing Alex Lowry depart Rangers without living up to his full potential will pain the majority of supporters.

Having not made a first-team appearance for the club this season, it looked as though Clement was likely to sell Lowry if a suitable offer arrived during the winter window.

English League One side Wycombe Wanderers agreed a fee with the Light Blues and the midfielder left Glasgow to kickstart his career down south.

Hopefully, he gets the chance to perform, as there is no doubt Lowry has exceptional ability which should have seen him become a success at Rangers.

Why Lowry could have been a success at Rangers

Having impressed for the youth sides, Lowry’s big break came during a Scottish Cup clash against Stirling Albion in January 2022, although it was due to unfortunate circumstances.

Ianis Hagi suffered a season-ending knee injury and Lowry came on in his place. It only took a few minutes, but the 18-year-old slotted home the opener to enjoy a stunning debut, and it looked like a star was born.

He made another six appearances for the Gers between then and the end of the campaign, scoring another goal while grabbing two assists in the process.

The teenager was even named on the bench for the Europa League final against Eintracht Frankfurt, although he failed to make it onto the pitch.

These impressive displays should have been the catalyst for Lowry to make more inroads into the first team during the 2022/23 season, yet he managed to feature just seven times for the Ibrox side in all competitions.

He was praised by former teammate Rory Wilson for being “top-class” in 2023, but it was clear opportunities were required if he was to make the grade at Rangers.

A loan spell at Hearts during the first half of last season saw Lowry register five goal contributions – four assists and a goal – in 17 appearances, yet he started just 11 times for the Tynecastle side in total.

Clement recalled the youngster last January due to him suffering an injury, but he didn’t make a first-team appearance for the Light Blues until he was sold a few weeks ago.

Having all the talent in the world is great, but if the mentality to succeed and become the best you can be isn’t there, then that talent is ultimately wasted.

Lowry now has a second chance to succeed in the senior game by moving to Wycombe, a place where the pressure won’t be nearly as great as it is at Ibrox, even if the Chairboys are chasing promotion to the English Championship.

If he can secure a consistent run of games in the senior side between now and May, Lowry might just fulfil his vast potential, no doubt about that.

Clement has struck gold on Rangers' star who's worth 5x more than Cameron

Rangers have hit the jackpot on a player who is worth millions more than Lyall Cameron.

ByRoss Kilvington Feb 8, 2025

América focused on Liguilla, not Club World Cup speculation, the executive said

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The CAS is expected to issue a final decision next week surrounding Club León's expulsion

América and LAFC could face off on May 21 or 28

In their last five meetings vs Pachuca, have managed just one victory

Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱Getty Images SportWHAT HAPPENED?

Despite growing speculation and recent comments from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Club América remain cautious about fully committing to the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

The situation centers on Club León, whose participation hangs in the balance following allegations of violating FIFA’s rules on multi-ownership. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) is expected to issue a final decision next week. Should León be officially excluded, the vacant spot would likely be decided through a play-in match between América and LAFC.

While América has tried to stay removed from the controversy, potential dates for the match have already been floated, with May 21 and May 28 in the United States emerging as possibilities.

Speaking to , América’s operational president, Héctor González Iñárritu, made it clear that the club is not prioritizing the situation just yet.

“We’re treating it as something secondary because nothing is official,” he said.

Infantino recently suggested that a direct elimination match between León and LAFC would determine the final Concacaf representative. However, if León is ruled ineligible, América would step into that role. Even with FIFA hinting at such a scenario, remain focused on domestic priorities, particularly the upcoming Clausura 2025 Liguilla.

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Amid speculation surrounding a potential spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Club América’s leadership continues to emphasize its commitment to domestic objectives. Team executive Iñárritu made it clear that the focus remains on the upcoming Liguilla, not on hypothetical scenarios.

“Right now, we’re fully focused on preparing for the Liguilla,” said González Iñárritu. “If that [Club World Cup] opportunity presents itself, we must be respectful of CAS timelines, of FIFA’s rules, statutes, and procedures – after all, it’s the global governing body.”

He underlined that until there is an official decision, América won’t allow speculation to distract from its current priorities.

“Until something official comes through and the possibility becomes real, we can’t afford to lose focus,” he added.

González Iñárritu also dismissed the ongoing discourse as premature and unproductive, emphasizing the importance of concentrating on what the club can actually control.

“I don’t want to get caught up in that discussion because, frankly, it leads nowhere at this point. If the opportunity does materialize, we’ll address it then. For now, our attention is on the championship, on the possibility of winning a fourth straight title, on recovering key players, and being as prepared as possible,” he concluded.

Getty Images SportDID YOU KNOW?

América will face a familiar and difficult opponent in the Liguilla quarterfinals, as recent matchups against Pachuca have proven challenging. In their last five meetings, have managed just one victory, highlighting the difficulty André Jardine’s side could face as they pursue a historic fourth consecutive title.

The last time these two clubs met in a knockout round was during the 2023-2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup, where Pachuca eliminated América en route to lifting the trophy. That recent setback adds extra weight to this quarterfinal clash.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR CLUB AMÉRICA?

América will face Pachuca in the Liguilla quarterfinals, which kick off on May 7 and 8. will play the second leg at home.

Patrick Mahomes was filmed reacting to Lionel Messi's brilliant volley as Inter Miami beat New York Red Bulls 4-1 in MLS on Saturday night.

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Mahomes reacts to Messi's brilliant volleyGoal sealed Inter Miami's 4-1 winNFL star in attendance with wife BrittanyFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

NFL star Mahomes was in attendance with his wife Brittany at the game and was seen applauding Messi's stunning volleyed effort, which sealed a 4-1 win and a vital three points for Miami.

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Messi has scored in all of Inter Miami's last three MLS home games, netting four goals in total this season. His side sit fourth in the Eastern Conference, with a game in hand on current leaders the Columbus Crew.

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Messi will likely feature again when Miami come up against Minnesota United next Saturday, currently sitting three goals off the pace in the list of MLS top goalscorers this season.

Melbourne Stars held on for victory in Moe to leave the defending champions needing favours

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff19-Nov-2022Perth Scorchers’ WBBL finals hopes are on the rocks after a six-run loss to Melbourne Stars.Alana King threatened to win the game in dramatic late style with 26 off nine balls but fell with seven deliveries remaining. A no-ball at the start of the final over from Sasha Moloney added to the tension, however the Stars held on.Scorchers remain in fifth position on 13 competition points, two points outside the top four and their loss guarantees second-placed Brisbane Heat of a finals berth.Sydney Sixers are on top of the ladder with 21 points and will host the WBBL decider on November 26.The Heat are second on 16, followed by Hurricanes and Strikers on 15. Hurricanes have a net run rate of 0.54 while the Strikers are just behind on 0.31.The result does not end Scorchers’ chances of playing finals but they must now beat \Melbourne Renegades in Moe on Sunday and hope either Hurricanes lose to the Sixers or Strikers get beaten by Sydney Thunder. Heat will secure second position if they beat Stars in Moe.Stars were 0for 44 after four overs against Scorchers, the most runs scored in the powerplay this WBBL season.Openers Lauren Winfield-Hill (36 off 25 balls) and Sophie Reid (24 off 13) ignited the start of the innings before a cameo at the end by Sasha Moloney (28* off 16).Scorchers took 3 for 14 in the power surge, the best in the WBBL this season, to limit the damage to some extent with Amy Edgar in form.In reply Scorchers lost the competition’s leading run-scorer Beth Mooney early. Rain started falling in the run chase with both teams keeping an eye on the DLS required rate.King and Marizanne Kapp (23 off 12) threatened to win it for the Scorchers but they fell just short. The 58 runs conceded by Annabel Sutherlands was the most by a Stars bowler in the WBBL.

The January transfer window officially slammed shut at the start of this month and it was a fairly busy month for Manchester United, with ins and outs at Old Trafford.

It was Ruben Amorim’s first chance to shape the squad in his vision, after he came in to replace Erik ten Hag, and he added two new players to his squad.

Patrick Dorgu came in on a permanent deal from Lecce to bolster the manager’s options in the wing-back positions, whilst 18-year-old centre-back Ayden Heaven joined from Premier League rivals Arsenal.

The bulk of Manchester United’s business was, however, centred around outgoings as they were able to move on a number of players during the winter window.

Youngsters Dan Gore and Ethan Wheatley both secured loan exits for the second half of the season, whilst Marcus Rashford, Tyrell Malacia, and Antony were also sent away on loan after failing to convince Amorim that they were ready to be important to the team.

The Red Devils, though, already have one eye on the summer transfer window at the end of the campaign, as they have reportedly identified a target to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

Manchester United plotting bid for new striker

Manchester United have struggled to get goals out of their strikers in the Premier League this season. Rasmus Holjund and Joshua Zirkzee have combined for five goals in the top-flight so far.

This shows that Amorim is not getting enough out of his two senior centre-forwards at this moment in time, which may be why the club are now looking to bring in another player in that position.

According to GIVEMESPORT, Manchester United are eyeing up Napoli number nine Victor Osimhen ahead of a summer swoop for the Nigeria international.

The report claims that they are set to make a summer bid for the impressive marskman, who is currently on loan at Turkish giants Galatasaray, as they would like to improve their options in the striker position.

It adds that the United board are planning to hold talks over a possible deal for the former Lille centre-forward, as it has been ‘made clear’ that he does not have a future at Napoli beyond the end of his loan spell in Turkey.

GIVEMESPORT adds that the club are also set to make a decision on whether or not to keep hold of Holjund and Zirkzee in the summer window, which suggests that there is still a chance that one, or both, of them could move on ahead of next season.

Transfer Focus

The outlet reveals that Osimhen’s release clause at Napoli is set to drop to £63m in the summer, but it remains to be seen whether or not the Red Devils are prepared to bid at that price or if they will look to negotiate a cheaper deal.

Amorim should, though, push for the club to secure a deal for the striker because he could come in as the perfect addition for Amad Diallo next term.

Amad Diallo's form for Manchester United this season

The Ivory Coast international has finally emerged as a regular starter at Old Trafford and has carried the team on his back at times this season with his brilliance at the top end of the pitch.

Amad, who previously spent time on loan at Glasgow Rangers and Sunderland, has racked up nine goals and seven assists in all competitions from a right wing or right wing-back position.

The 22-year-old star has been utilised in a wing-back role by Amorim at times this season and his attacking output in that position has been exceptional, as shown in the chart below.

Amad has proven that he has the quality to provide a big threat in the final third as both a scorer and a creator of goals, with six goals and six assists in 17 starts in the Premier League so far this season.

The former Atalanta starlet is a striker’s dream because he takes up great positions to be passed to in the final third, whilst also being able to create high-quality chances for his teammates, as shown by his assist tally.

Why Victor Osimhen would be perfect for Amad Diallo

Manchester United could find the perfect centre-forward for Amad by paying £63m to sign Osimhen on a permanent deal from Napoli in the upcoming summer transfer window.

The 26-year-old striker is a proven goalscorer, who can also assist his teammates, and he has showcased his quality in a major European league in Italy, with 15 goals in the Serie A in the 2023/24 campaign and 26 league goals in the previous season.

Osimhen, once dubbed a “monster” by data analyst Ben Mattinson, found the back of the net on a regular basis for Napoli in the Italian top-flight, which suggests that he has the quality to make the most of Amad’s creativity at Old Trafford.

That has been backed up by his impressive form for Galatasaray on loan in Turkey during the 2024/25 campaign, as he has continued to shine as an exceptional goalscoring force and as a creative presence in the number nine position.

Appearances

16

6

Shots per game

4.6

7.0

Goals

12

5

Big chances created

10

1

Assists

4

1

As you can see in the table above, Osimhen has racked up an eye-catching 17 goals and 11 ‘big chances’ created in 22 appearances for the Turkish giants.

He is perfect for Amad because he can finish the chances that the winger creates whilst also being able to assist the Ivorian star with his own creativity, as also evidenced by his relationship with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at Napoli.

The former Napoli duo were both directly involved in the same goal 15 times in 50 matches in the Serie A, which shows that Osimhen can create a fantastic relationship with a winger who can also score and assist goals at an impressive rate.

Therefore, the Nigerian marksman could come in as the perfect signing for Amad ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, which is why United must splash the cash to land his signature in the summer transfer window.

Amorim must sell Man Utd flop who Mourinho labelled as their "best player"

Ruben Amorim must be brutal by offloading one Manchester United player in the coming months.

ByEthan Lamb Feb 14, 2025