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For some very young Sunderland supporters, next season could be the first time they’ve ever seen their side compete in the luxuries of the Premier League.

It has been nearly a decade since the Black Cats called the top-flight their footballing home, with the Wearside outfit even falling all the way down to League One at one disastrous stage after their relegation from the big time in 2017.

Now, however, after an unbelievable playoff final success at Wembley against Sheffield United, Regis Le Bris’ men are back on the map.

They won’t want to merely make up the numbers next season, though, and be known as relegation fodder, with a statement move on the table to bring back Jordan Henderson just one early indicator of how ambitious they are willing to be in the chaotic transfer market.

Sunderland's ongoing pursuit of Henderson

Henderson’s potential emotional return to Wearside is the talk of the town at the moment around the Stadium of Light as various rumours filter through about the current Ajax midfielder’s near future.

Football Insider have recently reported that a spectacular reunion deal could soon be on the cards, with the likes of journalist Ben Jacobs also weighing in by revealing on X that the newly promoted side are considering an approach.

Of course, this would be an ideal move for Sunderland as they try to consolidate themselves as a Premier League-ready outfit again, considering the former Liverpool captain has managed to amass 433 top-flight appearances across his esteemed playing days to date.

But, at 34 years of age, it would be unfair for Le Bris and Co. to expect Henderson to come in and not look a little rusty.

Therefore, whilst it would be a stunning coup to pull off with a Sunderland-born star dramatically returning home, landing this attacking menace could well be viewed as an even bigger accomplishment considering he’s still causing Premier League defenders havoc to this day.

One Sunderland return would be a bigger coup than Henderson

Amazingly, this other deal churned out by the rumour mill sees the Black Cats linked with another memorable ex-player.

Much like Henderson’s spell, Amad Diallo’s loan stint at the Stadium of Light was fleeting but hard to forget, with the Ivorian nearly firing Sunderland up to the Premier League during his solitary campaign under Tony Mowbray’s guidance.

He could finally return now – as per a report by African outlet 225 Foot earlier this week – with his expertise of the Premier League on the books of Manchester United making it very likely that he would add to his Black Cats tally of 14 goals and four assists if a statement reunion occurred.

Amad finally being able to nail down a starting spot at Old Trafford could make this deal an unrealistic one to get over the line. That said, a recent report from TEAMTalk did suggest that United could be tempted to part ways with their explosive winger if the price was right, amidst financial concerns at the Theatre of Dreams.

24/25

Man United

43

11

9

23/24

Man United

12

2

1

21/22

Sunderland

42

14

4

It’s clear from the table above why United would be so hesitant to part ways with their attacking “wizard” – as he’s been previously lauded by journalist James Copley – with Amad just fresh off his career best tally at the Red Devils of 20 goal contributions from 43 clashes, even as the ship keeps sinking in Manchester.

Yet, if Sunderland were to offer a tempting bid around Amad’s £40m Football Transfers valuation, the out-of-sorts giants could be more drawn to the idea of selling, with a top-drawer performer at the level then on the Black Cats’ roster.

The story of Henderson’s Sunderland return after so long away would make that a fantastic deal to sign off on, but whilst the 34-year-old’s best days in the challenging league are likely behind him, the tricky 22-year-old could get even better with time.

Sunderland can replace Bellingham with academy "diamond" who's like Watson

Sunderland might not need to splash the cash to win themselves a Jobe Bellingham replacement.

ByKelan Sarson May 27, 2025

Manchester United have made their second signing of the summer as 18-year-old full-back Diego Leon arrives from Cerro Porteno in his native Paraguay.

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Talented young defender Diego Leon joinsParaguayan youth internationalSecond signing of summer after CunhaFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Leon arrives after a pre-contract agreement was made with Cerro in January before Leon's 18th birthday in April. report that the fee is in the region of £3 million, with up to £3.6m in add-ons based on performance.

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United's club website states that Leon will be supported by both the first team and the club's academy as he settles into life in Manchester. The teenager has made 33 appearances in Paraguay for Cerro since his debut in August 2024, scoring four goals. He is said to view Real Madrid legend Marcelo as his role model.

WHAT LEON SAID

Leon told Versus ahead of moving to Manchester: “I’m really happy, I think every player dreams of this. When you’re a professional, you have to adapt quickly, it is a massive opportunity. Everyone thinks I’ll go out on loan, but I don’t have that mindset. I’m going to kill it in pre-season and within one or two games, I’ll already be playing with them.”

Former Cerro manager Manolo Jimenez said of the player: “I saw his strength and quality and threw him into the first team. Physically he’s a prodigy.  He has incredible potential, with a strong attacking game and the capacity to score goals.”

@diego.leon04 InstagramWHAT NEXT FOR LEON AND UNITED?

Leon is likely to begin the season with United's Under-21s, but he could progress quickly to the first team if he impresses. The Red Devils will see their summer business as far from complete, and will hope to soon get a deal for Bryan Mbeumo over the line.

For someone who has identified his role as being partly to “irritate the opposition”, the South African opener had been unusually subdued in the first two Tests. On day one at Newlands, he was back to his immovable, in-yer-face best

Firdose Moonda in Cape Town22-Mar-2018In all the niggle of first two Tests, something was missing. Or rather someone.While David Warner and Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada and Steven Smith and even Mitchell Marsh had plenty to say, Dean Elgar had been quiet. For someone who has identified his role as being partly to “irritate the opposition”, Elgar was doing anything but, especially with the bat. He had made single-digit scores in three out of four innings, and the 57 he scored in Port Elizabeth was subdued, albeit an important exercise in absorbing pressure.But two days after assuring the media he had actually been “giving it out in all the right measurements”, Elgar saved his best dosage of the last six months for today. But it was not as much as South Africa needed.On one of the flatter pitches of the summer, a surface even Elgar was able to find fluency on, South Africa’s middle and lower order crumbled against the old ball to all but undo Elgar’s efforts. And the “even” is not meant to be an insult.Elgar, like Graeme Smith, like Steven Smith, is not an easy player to watch a lot of the time. His innings are about struggle and survival. They are very seldom about what Elgar called “smoothness”, and though this seemed one of the smoother innings he has played, Elgar insisted it was not as free-flowing as it looked.”Smoothness in my batting is never going to be something that I am going to try to achieve. It’s always going to look a little… there is a word I want to use but I won’t because this goes on TV…” Elgar said. “My fluency was maybe there, I was maybe a little more positive. I was trying to score, which is something that I have done in the past but I haven’t done leading up to this series. I was trying to be a bit more positive.”Most notably, even though Elgar took the fight to the Australian attack, he did it with a measure of deference, especially against the new ball. Only 15 runs came from his first 53 balls, before he had the gumption drive Josh Hazlewood through mid-on. Elgar showed restraint and resolve in equal measure and was careful not to make the mistakes of the previous two Tests.When Elgar spoke before the match, he was harsh in his self-assessment and called his dismissals “silly” and “stupid”, and his handling of Nathan Lyon, who had him caught and bowled twice, “crap”. Today, he faced 68 balls from Lyon and scored 24 runs, including his most impressive shot, a shimmy down the track for a six over long-on. “I was very mindful of his threat. He is a quality spinner and I needed to find a way to be better than him. It’s a tough challenge when you are facing a good bowler,” Elgar said. “It was nice to have one up on him.”The victory Elgar believes he has earned over Lyon is not limited to the fact that Elgar survived more than 11 overs of Lyon’s bowling but also a catch. Elgar was on 53 when he should have been caught by Lyon at backward point.Perhaps he had a point about the imperfection of the innings, then. He also offered a chance when he edged beyond the reach of Steven Smith at second slip to enter the nineties, where he spent the tea-break.Getty ImagesWhat followed after the interval was a beautifully-timed drive through the covers off Mitchell Starc and then a mow through midwicket to bring up his century. As a contrast, those shots showed the artistic and the agricultural side of Elgar and his celebration was as raw as the stroke that took him to three figures.Elgar found himself almost at square leg as he ran, arms outstretched, open-mouthed, and then almost helmet-butted AB de Villiers. This century meant a lot, because it came after an impressive 2017, in which Elgar finished as the third-highest run-scorer for the year, but a stop-start 2018, with an unbeaten 86 against India and the half-century from a Test ago the only shadows of his previous feats.”I didn’t think I had accomplished what I wanted to as a player for the side so it was important for me to try and do it in the first two Tests against Australia. Slowly but surely, I started finding myself again with regards to preparation and becoming the player that I know I am,” Elgar said.The batsmen who came in after de Villiers might want to start thinking about the players they know they are, and want to be, too. Elgar’s initial assessment that a first-innings score of “380-400” at tea is now out of the question, because his team-mates did exactly what Elgar knew they could not risk doing. “We can’t afford to play loose cricket,” he said.Though batting was not easy for the incoming batsmen, some of the shot selection, like Quinton de Kock’s pull and Keshav Maharaj’s gift to extra-cover, was questionable.But at the end of the day, Elgar was never going to be one to slag off his own team-mates and empathised with their undoing. “I know the players in our side are trying their backsides off to contribute,” he said. “I am aware of the difficulties of this format. Certain moments in Test cricket can set you up for a few very good days.” And on the first day of the third Test, Australia had more of those moments.

Real Madrid head coach Xabi Alonso was full of praise for new signing Trent Alexander-Arnold and urged everyone to be patient with him.

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Alexander-Arnold grabbed his first assist for MadridSet up Garcia for the only goal in the CWC round of 16Alonso aware his adaptation will take timeFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Madrid head coach Alonso came to the defence of the team's newest full-back Alexander-Arnold after beating Juventus 1-0 in the round of 16 in the Club World Cup. The manager called for patience with the Englishman while praising his "trademark" cross that proved to be the difference on Tuesday.

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Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool upon the expiration of his contract and joined Real Madrid, with the 15-time European champions paying €10 million (£8.5m/$11.5m) to have him for the Club World Cup. He did not leave much of a mark on his debut for Real, with the Spanish media criticising his performance in the 1-1 draw against Al-Hilal last month. However, in the remaining two group stage games — against Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg — the 26-year-old gradually improved. Against Juve, he looked a bit shy in the first half. Most of his long balls from deep or from his own half lacked the precision and intent we've come to expect from him during his time at Liverpool. However, in the second half, he found space at the edge of the area and delivered a pinpoint cross, which was met by the head of the impressive young marksman Gonzalo Garcia, who made it three goals in four games.

Watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free on DAZNStream nowWHAT XABI ALONSO SAID

Speaking to after the game, Alonso was asked if Alexander-Arnold was struggling a bit. The manager responded: "The cross to Gonzalo is his trademark; he's made 500 of those in his career. He placed it very carefully, in the right place. Although on the right we need an extra foot, because dribbling isn't his thing, but rather link-up play. But we're working on it. This is a challenge for him: Real Madrid, with almost no general training. Straight to the game. Everything takes time."

Asked if he struggles defensively, Alonso told reporters: "They took the lead there, we weren't balanced and we weren't helping him… He did too… everything takes time. It's a guarantee."

(C)Getty imagesWHAT NEXT FOR REAL MADRID?

Madrid will face Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-final on Saturday, July 5. However, the Bellingham brothers will not face each other as Jobe received a booking against Monterrey on Wednesday which means he'll be serving suspension.

Chelsea are now eager to sign a £40k-a-week full-back who’s “one of the best” in Europe, but there is set to be fierce competition from their Premier League rivals, according to a report.

Pressure building on Maresca

Fans are starting to lose patience with Enzo Maresca, given that performances have fallen way short of expectations in recent weeks, drawing 2-2 at home to Ipswich Town before suffering a 2-1 defeat against Legia Warsaw at Stamford Bridge.

However, the manager is likely to have bought himself some more time with the 2-1 victory at Fulham on Sunday afternoon, with Tyrique George and Pedro Neto striking late to secure a comeback victory at Craven Cottage.

By and large, the Blues’ backline has not been the issue this season, retaining the joint-fourth best defensive record in the league, and Maresca is likely to be far more concerned by the performances of his strikers.

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ByDominic Lund Apr 20, 2025

After once again drawing a blank on Sunday afternoon, Nicolas Jackson is without a goal in his last 12 Premier League games, while Christopher Nkunku has just three league goals to his name all season.

As such, bringing in a new striker may be a priority for Chelsea this summer, but they are also keen to strengthen in defence, according to a report from Caught Offside, which has revealed they are now eager to sign Nottingham Forest right-back Ola Aina.

Aina’s performances this season have attracted serious interest from a whole host of Premier League clubs, with Liverpool, Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur also keen, and the latter two clubs are set to open agent talks soon.

Forest are eager to tie the full-back down to a new contract, which could see his £40k-a-week wages increased, but a free transfer is possible, should an agreement not be reached, with the 28-year-old’s contract set to expire this summer.

Aina enjoying impressive campaign at Forest

The Nigerian has been an indispensable member of the starting XI for Forest this season, making 30 Premier League appearances prior to recently sustaining a calf injury, and his side have gone on to lose both of the games he’s missed.

Having performed very well for the Tricky Trees, the London-born defender received high praise from Zach Lowy last month, with the journalist saying: “Ola Aina has genuinely been one of the best fullbacks in Europe this season. So effective going forward but above all, rarely drops anything less than a 7/10. Forest are lucky to have him.”

Not only has the former Chelsea man impressed on the front foot, but his ability to win back possession has also been on display regularly throughout the campaign.

That said, Chelsea are already well-stocked at right-back, with Reece James and Malo Gusto on the books, so Aina may not be a necessary signing unless one of Maresca’s current options moves on this summer.

West Ham United are now in pole position to sign a “phenomenal” midfielder, having moved ahead of rivals Tottenham Hotspur and a whole host of other Premier League clubs in the race for his signature, according to a report.

Hammers ramping up midfielder pursuit

As we approach the business end of the campaign, West Ham have little to play for, with Premier League safety more or less confirmed, which means they may have one eye on potential additions for the summer transfer window.

A new midfielder is of particular interest to the Hammers, who are now ramping up their pursuit of new options in the middle of the park, and they are ready to make a move for Lille’s Angel Gomes, with the Englishman set to be available on a free transfer.

Graham Potter is believed to be a big fan of the 24-year-old, but he is not the only English midfielder on the shortlist, with widespread recent reports linking the Irons with a move for Sunderland’s Chris Rigg.

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There has now been a promising new update on West Ham’s pursuit of Rigg, with Football Insider reporting they are now in pole position to sign the Sunderland midfielder, despite interest from rivals Tottenham.

Several clubs retain an interest in the 17-year-old, who is said to be destined to be a Premier League player next season, with the Black Cats likely being forced to cash-in if they fail to secure promotion from the Championship.

Everton and Manchester United are also named as potential suitors for the teenager, but the Hammers are leading the race, despite reports from elsewhere revealing Spurs have made a £38m bid.

West Ham United’s upcoming Premier League fixtures

Date

Wolverhampton Wanderers (a)

April 1st

AFC Bournemouth (h)

April 5th

Liverpool (a)

April 13th

Southampton (h)

April 19th

Brighton & Hove Albion (a)

April 26th

"Phenomenal" Rigg needs to take next step

It will probably be a difficult decision for the Sunderland-born midfielder to leave his hometown club, but if they remain a second tier side next season, it would probably be a wise decision to seek pastures new.

Freelance scout Ben Mattinson has spoken very highly of the starlet, describing him as “phenomenal”, while describing him as a “technically gifted midfielder capable of moments of brilliance”.

Earlier in the campaign, Mattinson also stated the youngster is capable of being a “game-changer”, which has been on display at times this season, with the Englishman bagging four goals in the Championship.

Rigg is showing signs he is ready to take the next step in his career by moving to the Premier League, so it is fantastic news that West Ham are well-positioned to win the race for his signature.

Setting their sights on summer reinforcements, Coventry City and Frank Lampard have now reportedly joined the race to sign a Europa League defender alongside a number of Championship rivals.

Coventry looking to win Championship transfer race

Coventry have emerged to become one of the surprise packages of the season under Lampard. When they sacked Mark Robins in favour of hiring the former Premier League midfielder who struggled in charge of Chelsea, Everton and Derby County, the decision unsurprisingly stole the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Four months into his tenure, however, Lampard has proved the doubters wrong.

A recent 2-0 defeat against Derby County may have ended an impressive run, but Coventry still have their sights set on a shock play-off place with just nine games left to play in the Championship.

Away from the action, meanwhile, those behind the seasons at the Sky Blues have reportedly turned their attention towards the transfer window. According to Sky Sports’ Anthony Joseph, Coventry have now joined the race to sign Tyrese Asante from Maccabi Tel Aviv this summer following the defender’s impressive season.

Featuring in both Champions League qualification and the Europa League throughout the current campaign, it’s no surprise that Coventry have been joined by the likes of Hul City and Cardiff City in pursuit of Asante.

Of course, given their current position in the top six, Coventry’s transfer plan could yet receive a major boost if they earn a place in the play-offs and then secure shock promotion.

"Excellent" Asante could commence Coventry rise

If promotion doesn’t happen this season, then Coventry’s form ever since Lampard’s arrivals suggests that they’ll be ones to watch next season, especially if Asante arrives. A defender capable of playing European football, there’s no doubt that the 22-year-old would be an impressive coup for the Sky Blues as they potentially build towards the Premier League.

Praised for his “excellent” numbers and “strong” passing by football consultant Kai Watson in February, the Dutch defender is only just getting started at 22 years old and a move to Coventry would only accelerate his potential.

Lampard got a taste for the incomings that he could welcome at Coventry in January, signing Matt Grimes and Jamie Patterson. Now, when the summer arrives, he could receive his best addition yet in the form of a defender full of talent in Asante.

Los Blancos have already begun making moves in the market, but could still do with re-jigging their attack and clearing out some big names

Real Madrid mean business this summer. There were three glaring items on the Blancos' to-do list heading into the off-season, and they have moved through them mightily quickly. The first was a new manager; hello, Xabi Alonso. The second was a new centre-back who could be a long-term face of the backline; welcome to Madrid, Dean Huijsen. The third was a new Galactico, a statement signing who could do many things very well, and embody the Madrid aura that this club craves; get ready to learn Spanish, Trent Alexander-Arnold.

But Madrid aren't done there. They may have checked off their post-season priorities, but there are still some moves to be made if they are to hunt down both Barcelona in La Liga and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League. The obvious issue is the crowded attack, which features Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo, among others. There are too many forwards with similar skillsets in the Madrid squad, and at least one has to go. Elsewhere, there are needs for reinforcement at left-back while another midfielder – if only for the legs – would also be mightily handy.

It's a good thing, then, that this is Madrid, where money doesn't seem to matter and the pull is relentless. Los Blancos proved with the luring of Alexander-Arnold away from Liverpool that they can get who they want, when they want, and they will need to showcase that again before the summer is out.

GOAL looks at some of the moves Madrid need to make in the transfer market as they aim to become European football's top dogs once again…

Getty Images SportCut Rodrygo loose

It was a case of too many cooks in the kitchen for Madrid's attack last season, and while Rodrygo is a fine talent, he simply didn't fit in a team that already has too may left wingers. For all of the talk about how unselfish the Brazilian is, there remains the reality that Madrid need more width on the right. Rodrygo, who looks as if he's constantly trying to avoid drifting inside, can't provide that.

Things will only get more complicated if Alonso opts to go for the 3-4-2-1 system that served him so well at Bayer Leverkusen, as Rodrygo isn't a natural inside right forward, either, and seems an even poorer fit at that position.

An amicable exit seems the best solution for all parties here. The good news is that Rodrygo can fetch a handsome return, and there will certainly be some interested buyers. Arsenal have been linked, and the fit is obvious as they need to upgrade on the inconsistent Gabriel Martinelli. Madrid would demand heavy compensation, but this seems a pretty clear solution.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesListen to Vinicius offers

Let's make something absolutely, categorically, irrefutably clear: Real Madrid do not to sell Vinicius, and it would be pretty foolish of them to shop him around. Vinicius is an elite footballer, a consistent Ballon d'Or contender, and arguably the best left winger in the world. Mbappe, though, is the most famous left winger in the world, and that trumps everything at Madrid.

Alonso will want to implement a clear style, and Mbappe isn't reliable enough through the middle, while Vinicius isn't versatile enough positionally. That leaves Madrid with two potential solutions: either find a system that consistently gets the best out of both players, or let Vinicius go while accepting that this is now Mbappe's team. They only have to look at PSG's Champions League win to see that modern football is about selflessness. You can make up for one reluctant presser; two is tricky.

But who can afford him? Madrid won't shop Vinicius around, but if rumoured Saudi Pro League interest crops up again, Los Blancos will have to think long and hard about it given they could demand an astronomical fee and reinvest it in the rest of the squad.

Getty ImagesLoan out Endrick

What is Endrick good at? Well, he runs a lot, is fast, powerful, and skilful with the ball at his feet. But he is also an immensely strange fit for high-level European football.

Right now, Endrick's best position is as a left inside forward without possessing the height to be a central striker. He has fine finishing instincts, and it is not hard to imagine him being a deadly presence for a team that likes to play on the break.

More than anything, though, Endrick needs minutes. The kid is 19. He needs to hone his craft, learn how to operate positionally, and figure out where he can best make an impact in a modern football team. That simply isn't possible at Madrid, who don't do charity projects or sympathy minutes. If you're good enough you play; if you're not, get ready to sit on the bench.

Endrick needs to be loaned out, plain and simple. With the right financial structure, he could be an excellent asset for a team who still play European football, but operate outside of the spotlight (are you listening, Real Betis?).

If things go well, and he develops, Madrid have a serious player on their hands. It's certainly a risk, but one worth taking on a youngster who needs to get reps.

AFPBring in left-back help

The left-back situation at Real Madrid always felt a bit overblown. Between Eduardo Camavinga, Ferland Mendy and Fran Garcia, Los Blancos have three good options to rotate. Sure, none of them are world-class at the position, but with Vinicius in front of them, it was more about caution than virtuosic skill. Still, that doesn't appear to be enough for Florentino Perez and co.

Madrid are keen on Benfica's Alvaro Carreras, who would be an intriguing long-term solution. The 22-year-old impressed immensely at Benfica after being let go by Manchester United, and has the kind of physicality needed to play in an Alonso team. Whether he would slip right into the line up remains to be seen, but if Madrid want to think years down the line, he's certainly a fine option.

With the dust having settled on Thursday night’s Europa League clash away at Real Sociedad, it’s hard to know what to make of Manchester United’s display, with a largely positive performance having been somewhat overshadowed by a familiar sense of Deja vu late on.

It must be said that a far more competent United side could have already had the tie wrapped up, with the Red Devils once again coming up short in the final third, prior to Joshua Zirkzee’s opener just before the hour mark.

Even that sweeping, stroked effort from the Dutchman epitomised the at times casual nature of the away side’s forward play, with Ruben Amorim’s men lacking that real ruthless cutting edge even when firmly in control, as Alejandro Garnacho notably lashed two efforts into the side netting from the angle.

Predictably in this dismal season of woe, the Old Trafford outfit were made to pay for that profligacy as Mikel Oyarzabal converted from the penalty spot to level proceedings. The hosts almost inflicted even more misery in the closing stages, only for Orri Oskarsson to inexplicably poke his attempt wide.

Thankfully, the scoreline remains level ahead of Thursday’s reverse fixture, albeit with Amorim left with key selection decisions to ponder…

Man Utd's worst performers vs Sociedad

While Bruno Fernandes can feel aggrieved to have been penalised for a somewhat harsh handball call that led to Oyarzabal’s equaliser, it must be said that the Portuguese playmaker was far from at his brilliant best on the night.

Not only did the 30-year-old fail to offer his usual attacking verve, after registering just a solitary key pass, but he was also caught out at times defensively, after being dribbled past on three occasions in the centre of the park.

Elsewhere, it also proved to be a frustrating outing for Fernandes’ compatriot, Diogo Dalot, with the 25-year-old full-back coming under fire for failing to pick out Rasmus Hojlund in the first half, a decision that even his manager described as “not the best”.

As for Hojlund himself, it was hard to doubt the Dane’s endeavour on this occasion as he tirelessly worked the channels, although the 22-year-old particularly faded from view as the game progressed, with the lack of a suitable alternative on the bench seemingly not helping matters.

Having failed to register 17-year-old, Chido Obi, for the competition, Hojlund will have to remain the go-to striker moving forward, albeit with Amorim certainly needing more from a player who hasn’t scored since mid-December, as he also lost the ball eight times from just 19 touches on the night.

In the case of the former Atalanta man, Amorim’s hands were tied in a sense due to the club’s depleted bench, yet the same cannot be said for Hojlund’s international teammate, Patrick Dorgu, with the 20-year-old perhaps fortunate not to have been withdrawn at some stage.

Patrick Dorgu's game in numbers vs Sociedad

Mixed would be the word to describe Dorgu’s start to life in Manchester.

Performance in Numbers

Subbed at half-time against Leicester City in the FA Cup, the former Lecce man then put in a lively display away at Goodison Park, with Amorim subsequently stating that the wing-back is “going to be a very good player for us now and in the future”.

Unfortunately for Dorgu, that was followed by a chaotic showing against Ipswich Town as he teed up the visitors’ opener before being dismissed just before the break, with that early red forcing him to sit out Sunday’s FA Cup tie at home to Fulham.

Having been reinstated for the trip to San Sebastian, there were signs of life from the £30m man again down the left flank as he regularly looked to get forward, albeit while having been found desperately lacking with regard to his end product.

Much like his compatriot, Hojlund, it is hard to criticise the defender’s work rate as he frequently bombed up and down the wing, although he failed to pick out a teammate with any of his three crosses, having lost the ball on 19 occasions.

That corroborates the verdict of the Daily Express’ Alex Turk, who handed the defender a 5/10 match rating, while also writing that Dorgu was ‘so often an attacking outlet for United down the left flank but wasn’t hitting the sweet spot with his crossing.’

90 minutes

52 touches

66% pass accuracy

1 key pass

0/3 crosses completed

0/1 long balls completed

0/2 successful dribbles

1 big chance created

3/8 ground duels won

1/2 aerial duels won

19x possession lost

While his tally of 52 touches was even more than influential goalscorer, Zirkzee (45), Dorgu did only record a 66% pass accuracy rate, while also struggling in a defensive sense after winning just four of his ten total duels.

There certainly remains reason to be optimistic surrounding United’s January arrival, yet perhaps Dorgu might have benefitted from being replaced when he started to tire, with teenage sensation, Harry Amass, waiting in the wings to make his ‘long overdue’ first-team debut, as per journalist George Smith.

While throwing on a 17-year-old for his first taste of senior football may have been a real gamble, it did look as if United were in need of fresher legs as Sociedad wrestled back control, having been left hanging on in the final throes of the game.

Senior options are, frankly, desperately limited at present, yet with games coming thick and fast, Amorim may need to start trusting his academy talents – like Amass – sooner rather than later.

Lost the ball 21x: Man Utd's 4/10 star showed why INEOS need to sell him

Man Utd held on for a draw away in San Sebastian on Thursday evening

ByRobbie Walls Mar 6, 2025

Luis Reece continued to wage his personal battle against the Glamorgan bowlers as he equaled the Derbyshire record of six successive fifties in first-class cricket on the way to plundering his third century of the summer against the Welsh county at Sophia Gardens.Glamorgan’s decision to put Derbyshire into bat on a green wicket in Cardiff came back to haunt them as the visitors settled in and made hay, ending the first day on 308 for 2.It was also a significant day for Sue Redfern, who became the first female umpire to stand in a first-class match in England or Wales – although Glamorgan asked few questions of either the batters or the officials.Reece, 33, was at the heart of the action all day long as he put his side in control with an unbeaten 139 in 96 overs. He put on 80 for the first wicket with Harry Came and then 180 for the second with Brooke Guest.Leus du Plooy joined him for the final 75 minutes of the day and ended on 22 not out as his contribution to an unbroken third wicket stand of 48.The home side are due to say goodbye to their chief executive, Hugh Morris, captain, David Lloyd, and head coach, Matt Maynard, and were hoping to push for a final to potentially take them up to third in the table. But the bowlers were once again made to toil in the field by the left-handed Reece as he took his tally of first-class runs against Glamorgan this summer to 471.He scored 139 and an unbeaten 201, his highest score in first-class cricket, in the drawn game at the County Ground, in Derby in July. He also made 69 against them in the One-Day Cup clash in Derby last month.Reece’s hot streak began in the home clash with Durham in July when he scored 54 in the second innings. From there he notched his twin centuries against Glamorgan before taking 77 off the Gloucestershire attack and 86 against Sussex.In his latest success, he reached 50 off 74 balls, his century off 175 balls and currently has 16 fours and a six to his credit. Fellow opener Came looked comfortable until he was caught at the wicket by Chris Cooke off the bowling of Zain-ul-Hassan in the 27th over. The next departure was 50 overs later when James Harris had Guest trapped lbw four runs short of his century.Glamorgan tried seven bowlers throughout the day and four of them went for more than 50 runs.