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Manchester United had held talks with Robert De Zerbi and Thomas Tuchel to replace Erik ten Hag as their head coach last year, before turning to Ruben Amorim for the role. On November 1, 2024, days after Ten Hag's sacking, the United hierarchy confirmed Amorim's arrival at Old Trafford from Sporting CP. After a disappointing start to their 2024-25 season, Ten Hag was shown the door in October.

United under Amorim

Amorim endured a nightmare start to his tenure at Old Trafford as United ended the 2024-25 season trophyless and 15th in the Premier League, their worst finish in half a century. A loss in the Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur also meant that the Red Devils would be without European football in the 2025-26 campaign. In the new season, the English giants once again experienced a tough start but they have now revived their form by winning three league matches in a row, including a win against champions Liverpool at Anfield.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesUnited's search for Ten Hag's replacement

According to Andy Mitten, the United hierarchy was convinced that they needed a new head coach by May 2024 due to a series of poor results under Ten Hag. Omar Berrada, who was yet to formally join United as their CEO, along with Sir Jim Ratcliffe, acknowledged that Ten Hag's time was up at Old Trafford. The management met in a meeting in Monaco, where the decision was finalised.

United implemented a full data analysis on the managerial market, although they had to be careful as their in-house data capabilities are not at the highest level. The search for a new manager was based on the team playing a 4-3-3 formation. Six candidates were soon shortlisted as managers like Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino, De Zerbi, Thomas Frank, Marco Silva and Graham Potter were on the Red Devils' radar.

Amorim was not on United's initial shortlist as the club at that point prioritised Premier League experience, which the Portuguese coach did not have. Director of football Jason Wilcox, however, later spoke to his contacts about who the next great coach was and that is when the 40-year-old's name came up, alongside Thiago Motta.

Why De Zerbi and Tuchel rejected United?

In the column, Mitten added: "United leaned towards Tuchel and De Zerbi — the latter considered a bit of a maverick but ultimately a top coach. Tuchel came to Monaco for a meeting with United’s leaders two weeks after the FA Cup final, in which Ten Hag’s side outsmarted and defeated Manchester City for a momentous win. Tuchel came across incredibly well, but no terms were agreed and the German wasn’t ready for the United job. He was to take a short break from football after a difficult time at Bayern Munich that led to him leaving that club only the previous month. 

"So De Zerbi became the frontrunner, and financial terms were discussed with the Italian in line with what United felt was fair. Those terms were rejected, and the club chose not to improve them. De Zerbi’s next job was instead at Marseille in France, where he’s unlikely to be on the same level of pay as a United head coach would be getting."

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How Man Utd signed Amorim?

In October, the leadership finally met at INEOS HQ in central London, where the approval came to terminate Ten Hag's deal. Another meeting was held in Barcelona later that month, where the consensus of the football executive landed on Amorim, and Berrada was charged with finalising the deal. The process started with assessing crucial details for any agreement — if Amorim was interested in taking the job immediately, his buyout clause in Lisbon, what his wage demands were likely to be, and who he’d want to bring with him and when.

The officials then met the Portuguese coach in Seville in a private house and the encounter went on for five hours. Amorim presented his idea and plans in detail, which impressed the Red Devils bosses. Amorim had even asked why the club wanted to appoint him midway into the season, to which they said that he would get acclimatised with the new league and the squad in the rest of the 2024-25 campaign.

Wolves’ turbulent season hit another twist after Vitor Pereira’s sacking, with reports linking Sporting Lisbon boss Rui Borges to Molineux. The Portuguese tactician has firmly rejected the move. With Wolves winless after 10 games and bottom of the Premier League, Borges’ refusal underscores the club’s deepening crisis and Sporting’s determination to stay focused on their title defence.

• Wolves in crisis after winless start in the Premier League

  Wolves' dismal Premier League campaign has reached breaking point. The club sits 20th with just two points from ten matches, the worst start in their Premier League history and the first time a side has gone winless in their opening ten games for two consecutive seasons. Pereira, who took charge in December 2024, was shown the door after Sunday’s 3-0 defeat to Fulham, marking Wolves’ eighth loss of the season.

  Under Pereira, Wolves endured a dramatic fall from grace. His debut season ended with a six-game winning streak and survival in 16th place, earning him a Manager of the Season nomination. But the optimism evaporated this term with Wolves scoring just five goals and conceding 26, the weakest attack and defence in the league. Pereira’s exit, along with his entire backroom staff, came just 45 days after signing a three-year extension.

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  Sporting manager Rui Borges says “no” to Wolves

  According to Notícias ao Minuto, Wolves reportedly approached Sporting Lisbon manager Borges. But the 42-year-old swiftly ruled out any Molineux move, insisting his focus remains on Sporting’s Primeira Liga title defence and their Champions League clash against Juventus next week.

  Sporting officials, confirmed Borges’ commitment to the club, where he has a contract until 2027 with a €20 million buyout clause. His refusal doesn’t come as a surprise as Sporting are second in the league with 25 points from 10 matches, just three behind Porto, and Borges is chasing a third consecutive league title.

  Since arriving in December 2024, Borges has transformed Sporting with disciplined defensive tactics and player development. Last season, his side registered 28 wins from 43 matches, scoring 67 goals and conceding only 32. His success in domestic and European competitions, including an promising Conference League run, has elevated his reputation, making Wolves’ interest logical but ultimately futile.

• Inside Borges' rise as a coach

  Borges’ story has been one of steady rise through Portugal’s football pyramid. Since beginning his coaching career in 2017, he’s managed over 325 games with a total of 162 wins, 81 draws, and 82 losses. His stints at clubs like Vitoria de Guimaraes with 18 wins, seven draws, five losses in 30 games and Moreirense with 16 wins, eight draws, and 12 losses in 36 games demonstrated his tactical discipline, with teams known for compact defences and structured transitions.

  At Sporting, Borges’ methods have drawn comparisons to his predecessor Ruben Amorim. His 4-4-2 formation emphasises positional structure and calculated counter-attacks, while fostering growth in young talents like Manu Silva and Bruno Gaspar. His analytical approach and reputation for player development make him one of Europe’s most coveted names – but unlike many peers, Borges remains deeply committed to Portugal’s football project.

  For Wolves, missing out on Borges reflects a growing challenge which is attracting top-tier coaching talent amid instability. With the club’s recruitment misfires and limited budget under scrutiny, the gap between their ambitions and reality is widening.

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  Who can be Wolves next manager?

  With Borges out of the running, Wolves’ search for a new head coach intensifies. Gary O’Neil, sacked less than a year ago, has emerged as a shock candidate for return who is still admired by owners Fosun International for his man-management and survival instincts. Other names in contention include Brendan Rodgers, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, and Erik ten Hag, while Championship boss Rob Edwards and Steven Gerrard are also reportedly on the shortlist.

  The club’s next appointment could define their season. Wolves are eight points adrift of safety, and their upcoming fixtures against Burnley and Bournemouth may determine whether they can salvage survival hopes before Christmas. The rejection from Borges is a reality check for a side once known for its ambitious, Portuguese-driven project.

Nottingham Forest have made a frustrating start to life under Ange Postecoglou, albeit they will feel hard done by after a controversial defeat to Sunderland on Saturday evening.

Nottingham Forest lose out in tight contest with Sunderland

Balancing commitments domestically and in the Europa League, the Tricky Trees found themselves on the end of a narrow loss to Sunderland at the City Ground on Saturday courtesy of Omar Alderete’s first-half winner.

Admittedly, Nottingham Forest were the dominant side against the Black Cats and created far more on the day. However, Postecoglou has been left with plenty to ponder after making it five games without a win since taking charge.

Hovering just above the relegation slots in the Premier League, the Australian boss made it clear that his side are on the right trajectory despite losing out on a frustrating day in the East Midlands.

He told BBC Sport: “It was one of those evenings where we should’ve got the outcome we wanted. We had enough chances to certainly win the game.

“We conceded a really poor goal, albeit from a poor decision from the official, but after that we had enough chances to win the game. We are in a cycle at the moment where we are getting every outcome out of the game except the win – and that is the most important thing.”

While Nottingham Forest are producing encouraging signs, football is ultimately about winning and supporters will feel that points are an infinitely better outcome than performance, albeit the latter may suggest their long-term future under Postecoglou is looking bright.

Even with that in mind, it would be remiss not to delve into some of the refereeing controversies on show at the City Ground, something that individuals within their camp feel contributed to their defeat.

Neco Williams fumes at officials as Sunderland defeat Nottingham Forest

Speaking after the match on Sky Sports, Neco Williams made it clear that he feels Sunderland’s goal should’ve been ruled out for two reasons, claiming the Black Cats were awarded an unjust free-kick and that he was fouled in the build-up to Alderete’s decisive effort.

The £65,000-a-week full-back also made clear that he has ‘never seen’ such a decision made to award a free-kick during his career, indicating how furious he was at the controversial indicent.

He stated, cited via BBC Sport: “It’s a tough one to take. It was a game where we just didn’t finish off our chances. We created many chances but just couldn’t put it to bed.

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“We should have defended the free-kick better but, at the same time, I’ve never seen a referee give one of those free-kicks before in all my time of playing football.

“There was contact, so he got it wrong, and for the goal I was held back. He had two arms around my waist and that played a key factor in their goal. It is two poor decisions, especially by the referee and then the people on VAR.”

In truth, the Welsh international may have a point as he was visibly tugged back in an attempt to stop the ball, albeit supporters will never know if he would’ve covered the ground needed to intercept the situation at hand.

Either way, Nottingham Forest will rue missing a whole host of missed chances, which is something they will hope to use as fuel for their upcoming Europa League encounter against FC Midtjylland on Thursday.

Those of a Celtic persuasion are in mutinous mood right now, and rightly so, having been forced to witness a calamitous summer of transfer activity.

An unbeaten start to the new domestic season has also been overshadowed by last month’s grim Champions League exit, with the failure to properly enhance Brendan Rodgers’ ranks leading up to that tie having undoubtedly backfired.

In the Premiership, away from the chaos, things appear to have gone a little bit stale, with the current crop producing displays that are a far cry from the scintillating style of the glorious Ange Postecoglou era.

The recent drab Glasgow derby was an obvious case in point, with that 0-0 stalemate at odds with Postecoglou’s outfit at their pomp. Just look back to such performances as the 3-0 win over the Ibrox side in February 2022.

Parkhead was at its buoyant best that night, and the football was simply stunning, with the men in green and white almost playing a different game to their beleaguered opponents.

That magic, that ferocious approach, has since been lost.

From plucking bargains from afar under the Aussie, the Hoops have resorted to paying over the odds during the Rodgers regime, with far too many transfer dealings having gone south of late.

Celtic's recruitment record post-Ange

As noted by former Celtic skipper Scott Brown, the club’s recruitment record under Postecoglou was simply “fantastic”, with the experienced coach simply a master at acquiring a hidden gem on the cheap.

Take Matt O’Riley, a player signed for just £1.5m from EFL side MK Dons back in January 2022, before ultimately being sold to Brighton and Hove Albion on a £25m deal in the summer of 2024 – marking a sensational profit.

Such success stories have been few and far between since then, however, with the 2023 summer window proving particularly disastrous. Indeed, of those signed amid Rodgers’ return, only Paulo Bernardo and Hyun-jun Yang are still at the club – albeit with even the Korean having come close to departing for Birmingham City before the recent deadline.

The likes of Gustav Lagerbielke, Maik Nawrocki, Luis Palma and Marco Tilio have all come and gone without so much as leaving a trace, having looked destined to fail from the off amid their limited roles under Rodgers.

While it is too early to judge this summer’s transfer dealings, the recruitment of 12 months ago is also worthy of scrutiny. Adam Idah, for instance, has already been shipped off to Swansea City, while Arne Engels – signed for £11m – has yet to truly establish himself as a regular starter in Glasgow.

Described as “nowhere near the finished article” by his manager, the young Belgian appears to be burdened by such a lofty price tag, with that expensive outlay a constant source of debate among supporters and pundits alike.

The 22-year-old may well still come good, although the race is on to live up to the weight of his transfer fee.

Market Movers

Would the Hoops not have been better off seeking out a bargain instead, in the mould of say Reo Hatate?

How Hatate's value compares to Arne Engels

Reflecting back on that night in the winter of 2022, the rout of Rangers proved a breakout moment for that man Hatate, with the Japanese genius netting two stunning efforts to properly announce himself to the Parkhead faithful.

As per reporter Michael Bridges, Hatate and his compatriots simply “ripped the league to shreds” following their arrival.

Having been signed from Kawasaki Frontale just a few weeks prior, the all-action midfielder quickly made a mockery of his meagre £1.1m price tag, having been a mainstay under both Postecoglou and Rodgers since then.

After chalking up 13 goals and 14 assists in 66 games under the new Nottingham Forest boss, as per Transfermarkt, Hatate has enjoyed a rather similar record under his successor, with 15 goals and 14 assists under his belt from 81 outings.

While Rodgers did hint at the 27-year-old’s “inconsistency” during their first year working together, he did go on to flourish last term, having also got off the mark in 2025/26 with an outrageous effort away at Aberdeen.

That thumping strike emphasises just why the diminutive playmaker is such a “big talent” – in the words of Rodgers – with his overall record of 56 goal involvements in 147 games in all competitions ensuring he has more than made his mark in Glasgow.

Such a stellar impact can also be felt when considering his soaring market value, with Hatate deemed to be worth as much as €13m (£11m), according to Transfermarkt. For comparison, Engels’ value is now said to be around €12m (£10m).

The subject of interest from Serie A side Udinese back in May, before ultimately staying put at Celtic, the 11-cap international looks like a player who will soon rake in a sizeable profit for the club, should he move on in the near future.

In the meantime, however, the hope will be that Hatate can play a central role in trying to revive this limp season for Rodgers and co, with the Hoops in very real danger of merely letting things drift.

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Ryder Cup star Ludvig Aberg has revealed he grew up idolising an England great, who he “wanted to be like” back when he was playing.

Aberg burst onto the scene at the 2023 Ryder Cup, only three months after deciding to turn professional as a golfer, and the 25-year-old is now gearing up for the 2025 edition of the prestigious tournament, having established himself as a top player.

The Swede is now 14th in the world rankings, off the back of two PGA Tour wins, securing victories at the RSM Classic in November 2023, before going on to win the Genesis Invitational in February 2025.

The Team Europe member has clearly found his calling in golf, but he has revealed that football is another one of his passions, and he continues to regularly play the sport with his friends whenever he gets the chance.

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Aberg said: “Football was actually my first pick for a long time. I still adore playing whenever I’m home, I still play with my buddies and I still watch a lot of football. But it was probably right around I was 15 when I first started playing golf a lot more.

“When I moved to high school, that’s when I stopped playing football. I missed it, it’s a cool sport, I still watch Liverpool as much as I can.”

The golf sensation is indeed a huge Liverpool fan, and he named one of the club’s greatest ever players as his idol growing up.

Aberg and McIlroy will need to put aside football rivalries at Ryder Cup

Rory McIlroy might have something to say about his teammate supporting Liverpool, given that he has previously revealed he was a Manchester United fan growing up, with the Northern Irishman idolising a different England legend – Wayne Rooney.

Football rivalries didn’t come between the teammates last time around, however, with Luke Donald captaining Europe to victory, and they will be hoping to make it two wins in a row when the 2025 edition starts on September 25th.

It is no surprise that Aberg named Gerrard as his hero growing up, given that the Liverpool legend won nearly everything there was to win at club level, while also proving himself as a big-game player, memorably scoring a last-minute screamer in the last minute of the 2006 FA Cup final.

Aberg will be hoping he can be just as influential later this month, and McIlroy certainly believes he has what it takes, saying after the 2023 edition: “He was absolutely incredible in the Ryder Cup. I keep saying to everyone, ‘I’m glad he’s European.’ I’m glad he’s on my team.”

دافع تييري هنري، أسطورة نادي آرسنال والكرة الفرنسية، عن نجم ليفربول، محمد صلاح، وذلك على هامش الانتقادات التي يتعرض لها الدولي المصري خلال الفترة الأخيرة من هذا الموسم.

وانهالت الانتقادات على محمد صلاح هذا الموسم، وذلك في ظل عدم تمكن الدولي المصري من تقديم المستوى المطلوب مع ليفربول وتراجع مردوده بالفعل.

ولم يستطع محمد صلاح سوى تسجيل هدفين فقط في بطولة الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز خلال 8 مشاركات مع ليفربول هذا الموسم.

ويرى هنري في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “ديلي ميرور”، أنه من الصعب أن يكون اللاعب نجم الفريق، موضحًا أن محمد صلاح يتحمل انتقادات زائدة عن الحد بالنسبة له.

طالع .. كوكي عن إلغاء مباراة برشلونة وفياريال في أمريكا: طالبنا بالشفافية فقط

وقال هنري: “ليس من السهل دائمًا أن تكون اللاعب الرئيسي ونجم الفريق، لأنه من الواضح كما ترون عندما لا يسجل محمد صلاح، يخسر ليفربول أيضًا، لكن بعض اللاعبين قد يظهرون أحيانًا بشكل جيد وليس بالضرورة أن يكون صلاح دائمًا في الصورة”.

واختتم هنري في حديثه عن محمد صلاح: “لم يكن دائمًا يسجل، ولكن في أغلب الأحيان يسجل ثم يفوز ليفربول، انظر إلى النتائج، لقد سدد محمد صلاح في القائم ثلاث مرات هذا الأسبوع، كان من الممكن أن يكون الأمر أفضل بالنسبة له، إن الأمر بالتأكيد ليس سهلًا عليه ولا على الفريق”.

ليفربول يستعد اليوم الأربعاء لخوض مباراة مرتقبة أمام أينتراخت فرانكفورت، وذلك لحساب منافسات الجولة الثالثة من مرحلة الدوري في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا.

ويسعى ليفربول لتحقيق الفوز على فرانكفورت ومصالحة جماهيره، بعدما خسر الفريق في أربع مباريات متتالية بكافة المسابقات، وهو أمر لم يحدث منذ عام 2014.

"Off the pitch I'm a calm guy that just wants to have fun and enjoy my life," Erling Haaland told Time Magazine in July. "On the pitch I want to attack like a Viking." The Manchester City striker's love for the Scandinavian seafaring conquerors is well known. He dressed up as a Viking at a Halloween party just a few months after joining City. And while speaking to the prestigious American current affairs magazine, he zeroed in on his fascination with them.

"First of all the history is incredible," Haaland said of the Vikings, while being quick to point out "Of course a lot of things that they did were not good". Leaning in to his subject of interest, he explained: "I like the mentality, like 'I don't care about anything, we're just gonna go there and get the job done'. 

"Also that they were stronger and better than everyone, literally. That's what I love. And also the togetherness, they had an incredible bond between each other when they were sailing across the whole world. The Vikings were inspiring."

And right now Haaland is in full Viking mode. He has 12 goals in his last seven games for club and country and is fresh from conquering Manchester United and pillaging another Champions League record with his header against Napoli. And it is in this ransacking mood that he charges into battle against Arsenal, with vengeance on his mind…

Getty Humbling experience

Haaland will not need reminding of what happened on his last visit to the Emirates Stadium. City were thrashed 5-1 by Arsenal, suffering their worst away defeat in almost eight years. Haaland was far from the worst performer in a City shirt and he had scored their equaliser before a second-half onslaught from the Gunners. 

And yet his name was associated with the thrashing more than any other City player as Arsenal fans had mockingly chanted "Stay humble" at him in reference to him saying the same thing to Mikel Arteta after City's last-gasp equaliser in the previous fixture between the two sides. 

To make matters worse, 18-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly had mockingly imitated his 'lotus' pose after scoring Arsenal's third goal, payback for Haaland asking 'Who the f*** are you' amid the ill-tempered scenes at the Etihad. 

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport'They got me'

He may not come up against Lewis-Skelly as the left-back is yet to start a game this season after being usurped at left-back by Riccardo Calafiori, but the image of the upstart teenager mocking the world's best striker, which went around the world, will be fresh on everyone's mind on Sunday.

"They won the game 5-1, so yeah, they got me," he said to Time of that day. The mocking he received from the fans and his younger opponent, however, did not make him regret uttering 'stay humble' in the first place. He insisted: "I think it’s an important phrase, which a lot of people should use, including myself. It’s one of the most important things, as individuals, to do." 

And in keeping with that stance, he had no issue with Lewis-Skelly mocking him as Neymar and PSG had done in 2020, his first season in the limelight. "If he wanted to use that moment to mock me, that’s fair enough for him. Whatever he wants to do, he can do."

GettyBecomh a goal 'expert'

Another interesting insight from Haaland in the Time interview was when he explained how he got so good at scoring. "I remember when I scored one goal, it was such a good feeling in me that I was like, ‘I want to become an expert on this'. Get this feeling again and again." 

Haaland quickly honed his expertise. At the U20 World Cup in 2019, before most fans knew who he was, he scored nine goals in one game against Honduras. Yes, nine. And he was disappointed that it was not 10. He has barely slowed down since then, netting eight times in his first six Champions League games with RB Salzburg. He left the Austrian side in January 2020 with 29 goals in 27 matches. 

He has continued to find the net with remarkable regularity. He plundered 86 goals in 89 games for Borussia Dortmund and although his strike rate has slowed down ever so slightly for City, the numbers are still frightening. His header against Napoli took him on to 130 goals in 151 games. He has 90 goals in 101 Premier League games while he is averaging more than a goal per game in the Champions League.

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AFPUnderstanding his team-mates

And yet he claims there is no real method to his goalscoring madness. "For me the most important thing is to be free in the mind and not think too much," he told last week. "I cannot think of scoring goals, it's not how it works. I don't visualise, I don't think that's good. People ask me about celebrations and all of that, I don't plan anything because you shouldn't plan anything. You should try and be free in your mind and try and be ready if you get a chance."

One thing Haaland does try and do is think about how to get chances, which means getting in the mind of his team-mates. "The most important thing is to get a chance as a striker. If you're not coming to chances that's a problem," he said. "For me the most important thing for me is to get the chances. When I come to chances there's a big chance I will score goals." 

"It’s about trying to understand which player is on the ball and try to be clear in your mind. When it's [Kevin] De Bruyne I just need to think where he's gonna shoot in and I have try to be there so he can hit me. If Bernardo is on the ball I have to think like him, if it's someone else I think like them."

Nottinghamshire have signed Australian seamer Fergus O’Neill for the first four rounds of next year’s County Championship.O’Neill, who has an impressive first-class record of 94 wickets at 19.91, is only eligible for a short-term visa but he will cover for the absence of Dane Paterson for the start of the season, with the South African’s availability uncertain after his Test recall earlier in the year.”It’s really exciting to get Fergus on board as a player who has enjoyed real success over the last couple of seasons for Victoria and I hope this is just the start of the Notts’ relationship with him,” Notts head coach, Peter Moores, said.”Whilst we can only secure his services on a short-term basis due to visa restrictions, it looks like he’s improving all the time and I think his style of bowling will work well in the early season conditions in England.Related

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“His strengths are his consistency and lateral movement, which are ideal skills to complement the rest of our bowling unit. He is more than capable with the bat, too, and will bolster our lower middle-order, from which runs are crucial – especially early in the season.”He will, in effect, replace Dane Paterson, who won’t be with us for the start of the season as his re-entry into the Test arena and our desire to strengthen our batting means we have opted for a slightly different style of player.”It is worth highlighting what a fantastic servant Dane has been to the club, though. His record is outstanding; he has built a great legacy with Notts in just a few years and remains an immensely popular character in the dressing room.”O’Neill is currently the joint-leading wicket-taker in the 2024-25 Sheffield Shield with 22 at 19.31. Last season, he took 40 wickets at 17.25.”The opportunity to play in England is really exciting, and one I’m looking forward to,” O’Neill said. “That it’ll be for Nottinghamshire with Trent Bridge as home is extra special – it’s somewhere that, as an Australian, has a real aura, and I can’t wait to step out there.”Hopefully I’ve got attributes with the ball which suit the conditions, and, coming off the back of an Australian summer, I’ll be heading into the Championship with games under my belt which always helps.”Notts finished eighth in Division One of the Championship last season, having been promoted from the second tier the summer before.

It’s truly unthinkable where Manchester United would be without Bruno Fernandes, with the Portuguese international undoubtedly the shining light in the 2024/25 campaign.

The 30-year-old managed to register a total of 37 combined goals and assists throughout the most recent season – by far and away the highest tally of any player in the squad.

The £47m paid for his signature back in 2020 now appears to be a bargain, racking up just shy of 300 appearances for the club and hopefully many more in the club’s quest to return to their former glory.

However, if he is to lead the side to any success during Ruben Amorim’s reign, the hierarchy need to back the 40-year-old in his quest within the transfer market.

Whilst Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have already arrived at Old Trafford, further additions are also expected to help the side rise up the Premier League table.

Man United close in on midfield agreement

Douglas Luiz has been a player on United’s shortlist for a sustained period, but it appears they could be handed a boost in their pursuit of the Juventus star.

The midfielder’s agent has already travelled to England for talks with various sides, with the Red Devils interested along with Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Everton.

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However, he’s not the only midfielder in their sights, with Valencia star Javi Guerra another target during the current window, according to El Chiringuito.

They claim that Amorim’s side are “very close to reaching an agreement” this summer, with a £25m fee mooted for the youngster’s signature.

The report also states that his current side have tried to tie the Spaniard down to a new contract, but he wants a move to a bigger club during the off-season.

Why United’s latest target would take Bruno to the next level

Bruno’s impressive tally of combined goals and assists last season certainly saved United from a disastrous Premier League finish, but upon reflection, his efforts were even more remarkable than they originally appeared.

The Portuguese international often featured in a slightly deeper role, forcing him to operate in a somewhat unnatural position which should’ve restricted his efforts within attacking areas.

There’s no denying that the experienced talent is better in a more attacking role, subsequently able to have more of an impact within the final third – which will improve their goalscoring record.

However, any move for Guerra could enable him to do just that, with the Spaniard able to fill the void in the middle of the park and push Fernandes further forward.

Offering depth is one thing, but he has all the tools to make an impact within Amorim’s side, but also has the potential to improve further in the years ahead, given his tender age.

When delving into his stats from LaLiga last season, the Valencia talent showcased his skillset, potentially being a bargain given his £25m asking price.

Guerra, who’s been labelled “special” by analyst Ben Mattinson, managed to register 4.8 progressive passes and 4.2 passes into the final third per 90 – having the ability to provide Bruno with the added chances he needs in the final third.

He also attempted 2.7 take-ons per 90, along with 1.5 carries into the final third – showcasing his ability to get the ball into the opposition’s defensive third.

Out of possession, the youngster had also won 1.7 tackles per 90, winning 46% of the tackles he entered, having the ball-winning capability that could make him the perfect deep-lying option.

If the Spaniard can transfer his skillset over to England with him, it would be one of the bargains of the summer window, massively bolstering the options at Amorim’s disposal.

Such an arrival would hand Bruno the licence to build on his success in 2024/25, with his talents subsequently pushing the side up the table next campaign.

More important than Mbeumo: Man Utd have tabled bid to sign £40m star

Manchester United appear to be continuing their work in the market after landing Bryan Mbeumo.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 23, 2025

أثبت إهدار هوجو إيكتيكي مهاجم ليفربول لفرصة كبيرة ضد أتلتيكو مدريد على ملعب أنفيلد في دوري أبطال أوروبا صحة ما قاله النجم المصري محمد صلاح.

وكان ليفربول حقق فوزًا مثيرًا ضد العملاق الإسباني بثلاثة أهداف لهدفين يوم الأربعاء الماضي في أولى مبارياتهما في دوري أبطال أوروبا هذا الموسم.

وكان ماركوس يورينتي قد سجل هدفين لأتلتيكو مدريد ليتعادل للفريق الضيف، لكن قائد ليفربول فيرجيل فان دايك ارتقى عالياً ليسجل هدف الفوز في شباك يان أوبلاك في الدقيقة 92 ليحسم المباراة.

وضغط ليفربول بعد هدف فان دايك بقوة لتسجيل الهدف الرابع قبل صافرة النهاية، ومرر سوبوسلاي كرة إلى محمد صلاح الذي انطلق بسرعة على الجهة اليمنى ومررها عرضية إلى إيكتيكي ليسجل الهدف من مسافة قريبة ولكنه أضاع الفرصة بغرابة.

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ونشرت صحيفة “ميرور” البريطانية أن إيكتيكي أضاع فرصة تسجيل هدف بعد أن أحرز بالفعل هذا الموسم ثلاثة أهداف حتى الآن، على الرغم من أنه كان حاضراً في اللحظة المناسبة لاستقبال تمريرة صلاح، إلا أنه ربما قد أخطأ في تقدير سرعة المصري في التعامل مع الكرة.

وتفسر هذه الفرصة تصريح محمد صلاح في وقت سابق حيث أكدت ما قاله بإنه لا يزال يفتقر للتفاهم الكبير في الملعب مع إيكتيكي، ونظراً لأن الثنائي لم يلعبا معاً إلا خمس مباريات فقط ولكن ذلك لا يثير القلق في بداية الموسم الحالي.

وقال صلاح صاحب الـ33 عاماً في وقت سابق إنه سيتعين التحلي بالصبر عندما يتعلق الأمر ببناء كيمياء مع زملائه الجدد في الفريق خاصة هوجو إيكتيكي.

ولم يقلل جلوس إيكتيكي على مقاعد البدلاء ضد أتلتيكو مدريد من الدعم الذي حظى به من جماهير ملعب أنفيلد، التي قامت بالغناء للفرنسي أثناء الإحماء وعند دخوله في الشوط الثاني.

وقرر إيكتيكي في لحظة مميزة بالنسبة له أن يتبادل قميصه مع أنطوان جريزمان لاعب أتلتيكو مدريد، والذي اعتزل اللعب الدولي العام الماضي، وكتب بعد نهاية المباراة عبر حسابه على إنستجرام وهو يحمل القميص مشيراً إلى مواطنه: “أسطورة”.