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After such a dismal season in 2024/25, Manchester United have a huge opportunity to end the campaign on a high with the Europa League final on the horizon.

Ruben Amorim’s men face Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao on Wednesday night, looking to claim his first trophy in charge and secure a place in the Champions League next year.

Such an achievement could be vital in their pursuit of landing new talent this summer, with the manager already targeting new additions to help revitalise his current squad.

Qualifying for the biggest club competition in Europe could hand the Red Devils a boost of offering top-level talents an exciting project despite their lowly Premier League standing.

With the summer window rapidly approaching, work has already been done behind the scenes to hand Amorim with the tools needed to be a success at Old Trafford.

The latest on United’s pursuit of new talents this summer

Matheus Cunha appears to be edging ever closer to completing a switch to join United this summer, with the deal entering its final stages, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The 25-year-old has already accepted a proposal to move to Old Trafford this summer, with the hierarchy ready to trigger his £62.5m release clause in four instalments.

However, he could be joined at the Theatre of Dreams by one of his compatriots, with Atalanta’s Ederson the latest player on their radar, according to reports in Italy.

They claim that the Red Devils have been in contact with a move to land the Serie A star, currently having the advantage over Manchester City and Juventus in the race for his signature.

The journalist also confirmed that the 25-year-old would cost a fee in the region of £50m this summer, but that the hierarchy are set to enter negotiations after the Europa League final.

Why United’s £50m target could be Amorim’s own Pogba

Paul Pogba still holds the club-record for the highest fee paid for a player, costing £89m from Juventus back in the summer of 2016, just a couple of years after departing on a free transfer.

The Frenchman made over 200 appearances during his second spell at Old Trafford, helping them win the Europa League – something which Amorim could hope to replicate this week.

The midfielder caught the eye in his box-to-box role for the Red Devils, often producing a moment of magic with the ball at his feet, resulting in countless excellent strikes in the North West.

Despite leaving on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, his spell at the club was a success, potentially replicating such a deal with a move for Ederson in the coming months.

The Atalanta star could follow in Pogba’s footsteps by completing a switch from an Italian outfit, also possessing a similar skillset, which could make him a key component in Amorim’s overhaul at the club.

When comparing his stats to those of Pogba’s from his first year at United, the Brazilian has managed to star at both ends of the pitch, making him a superb option as a box-to-box in the manager’s 3-4-2-1 system.

Ederson, who’s been labelled “monster” by The Mirror’s Ryan Taylor, has achieved a higher pass completion rate, handing other players at Old Trafford the chance to improve their own tallies.

Games played

36

30

Goals & assists

5

9

Shot-on-target accuracy

31%

23%

Goals per shot-on-target

0.4

0.3

Pass accuracy

86%

83%

Tackles won

1.6

1.3

Interceptions made

1.2

0.8

Despite registering fewer combined goals and assists, the Brazilian has notched a higher shot-on-target rate along with a better goal-per-shot-on-target rate – highlighting the clinical edge he possesses in attacking areas.

He’s also won more tackles per 90 and completed more interceptions, offering Amorim the added defensive cover he needs within the midfield department at Old Trafford.

£50m may seem to be another hefty investment from the hierarchy this summer, but it’s one that would drastically improve the options currently at Amorim’s disposal.

Should he manage to reach similar levels to those produced by Pogba, it would be an excellent pickup, potentially playing a key role in any success down the line under the current management team.

Man Utd flop who should be "fourth choice" has been even worse than Onana

This Manchester United flop has been an even worse signing than Andre Onana.

ByDan Emery May 20, 2025

Micah Richards has claimed Chelsea and England star Cole Palmer plays dumb for the cameras and is more intelligent than he lets on.

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Palmer has developed care-free reputationOften gives straight answers in interviewsMemeable moments have also gone viralFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Palmer often cuts a relaxed and straightforward character during interviews and other media commitments, while plenty of his comments in post-match meetings with reporters have gone viral on social media. However, Richards has claimed he isn't buying the act, with Gary Lineker agreeing with the former Manchester City defender.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE

The pundits were speaking about Palmer's interaction with incoming Chelsea arrival Estevao after the Blues beat Palmeiras in the Club World Cup quarter-finals. The England international later admitted the Brazilian probably "didn't understand a single word I said" given the natural language barrier.

Watch every game of the FIFA Club World Cup live on DAZNStream nowWHAT RICHARDS SAID

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Richards said: "Very clever. He knows what he is doing. He is very witty. He's like [Jack] Grealish. They pretend they are stupid but they are really not. They know exactly what they are doing. Cole Palmer is exactly the same."

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR PALMER?

Having helped Chelsea win the Conference League, Palmer has the chance to lead his side to more silverware after reaching the Club World Cup final. That game is due to take place on Sunday, with the Blues facing either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain.

Chasing a big target, MI were in the hunt courtesy Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya and Tim David, but they fell short in the end

Hemant Brar27-Apr-20242:02

Moody: ‘Fraser-McGurk’s mind in the right place’

In another run fest in IPL 2024, Jake Fraser-McGurk’s 84 off 27 balls proved to be the difference as Delhi Capitals (DC) beat Mumbai Indians (MI) by ten runs in Delhi.Apart from Fraser-McGurk, Shai Hope and Tristan Stubbs also played crucial knocks for DC as they posted 257 for 4 after being sent in. In reply, MI lost three wickets in the powerplay – the big ones of Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav – but Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya kept their hopes alive.Rasikh Salam, however, turned the game by dismissing Hardik and Nehal Wadhera in the same over. While Tilak and Tim David fought till the end, MI eventually fell short.The win took DC to fifth place on the points table with ten points from as many games. MI stay rooted to ninth with six points from nine matches.2:15

Did Mumbai miss a trick against Fraser-McGurk?

Fraser-McGurk gives DC a blazing startAs he has done often in his fledgling career so far, Fraser-McGurk did not waste time getting his eye in and his bat swinging. With a slightly open stance to left-arm seamer Luke Wood, he smashed the first three balls of the innings for 4, 4 and 6.After taking 19 from the first over, he greeted Jasprit Bumrah in the same manner. Bumrah started his over with a slower ball only to be launched over long-on for a six. To make things worse, Bumrah had overstepped, and Fraser-McGurk drilled the free-hit past long-on for four. Fraser-McGurk ended the over with another boundary, making it Bumrah’s most expensive over (18 runs) of the season.DC reached 50 in just 2.4 overs, the joint-fastest for a team in the IPL. In the next over, Fraser-McGurk got to his own fifty. Coming off just 15 balls, it was the joint-fourth fastest in the tournament’s history.Kishan fined for Code of Conduct breach

Mumbai Indians’ wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan has been reprimanded and fined 10% of his match fee for breaching the IPL’s Code of Conduct. Kishan, who scored 20 off 14, was charged with a Level 1 offence under Article 2.2 of the IPL’s Code of Conduct. Kishan admitted to the offence and accepted the match referee’s sanction.

Hardik brought himself on for the fifth over but there was no stopping Fraser-McGurk, who hammered the MI captain for two fours and two sixes to take DC to 89 for no loss after five overs.For a moment, it looked like Fraser-McGurk might break the record for the fastest T20 hundred – he already has the fastest List A hundred to his name – but he holed out to deep midwicket against Piyush Chawla for a 27-ball 84.Shai Hope smashed five sixes in his 17-ball 41•BCCIHope, Stubbs keep DC on course for big totalWalking in at 114 for 1 in 7.3 overs, Hope ensured there was no dip in the momentum. Over the last one year or so, he has worked on his six-hitting skills and has demonstrated the same in ODIs but was unable to do so in T20s. On Saturday, though, he smashed five sixes in a 17-ball 41 to keep DC going in the middle overs.After Hope fell, Stubbs took over and raced to 48 not out off 25 balls. In the 18th over, he used scoops, reverse-scoops and pulls to hit five fours and a six off Wood. Despite Bumrah dismissing Rishabh Pant in the 19th and conceding only six, DC had no trouble in crossing 250.DC dominate the other powerplay tooMI had a brisk start to their chase with Ishan Kishan hitting three successive fours off Khaleel Ahmed in the second over. But Khaleel made a good comeback and had Rohit Sharma caught at mid-off in his next over. From the other end, Mukesh Kumar had Kishan miscuing one to make it 45 for 2.Suryakumar Yadav started with a flurry of boundaries, including two scooped sixes. But in the last over of the powerplay, he failed to pick a slower ball from Khaleel and fell for 26 off 13 balls.Rasikh Salam sent back Hardik Pandya and Nehal Wadhera in the same over•BCCIRasikh has an impact, againMI had slowed down a bit after the powerplay but Hardik put them back on track. He hit Axar Patel for a six off the last ball of the eighth over and then smacked three fours and a six off Kuldeep Yadav in the ninth. Tilak, who was batting on a run-a-ball eight till then, also got into the act with a six and a four in Axar’s next over.MI were still playing catch-up when Rasikh, after coming in as Impact Player, pegged them further back with a two-wicket over. Hardik ended up skying a back-of-the-hand slower ball to backward point and Nehal Wadhera guided a length delivery straight to Pant. That left MI needing 117 from seven overs with five wickets in hand.Tilak, David fight hard but in vainTilak and David kept the fight going. Tilak hit Kuldeep for two fours and two sixes in a 21-run 15th over to bring the equation down to 85 from five overs. But another excellent over by Rasikh, which went for only seven, made it 64 required from three.David took on Mukesh and hit him for two sixes and a four to start the 18th over but was lbw off the next ball. Rasikh went for 16 in the penultimate over but dismissed Mohammad Nabi, which meant it was Tilak or bust for MI with 25 required from the final over.Tilak went for a risky second run off the first ball of that over only to be caught short, and Mukesh held his nerve for the next five balls to seal the win for DC.

MatériaMais Notícias

da betcris： O Grêmio conquistou sua segunda vitória no Campeonato Brasileiro ao triunfar sobre o Cuiabá neste domingo, na Arena Pantanal, pelo placar de 2 a 1. Vina abriu o placar para os visitantes, Marllon empatou para o time da casa e Everton Galdino, poucos minutos depois de entrar, deu números finais à partida no segundo tempo.

+ Veja a tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasGrêmioVÍDEO: veja os melhores momentos da vitória do Grêmio sobre o Cuiabá pelo BrasileirãoGrêmio30/04/2023GrêmioGaldino celebra gol decisivo em vitória do Grêmio: ‘Precisávamos vencer fora de casa’Grêmio30/04/2023Fora de CampoTorcedores do Grêmio se revoltam com gol do Cuiabá e pedem Adriel; veja reações da webFora de Campo30/04/2023

da luck： O Grêmio ganha seis posições na tabela de classificação com a vitória e assume o sétimo lugar, com seis pontos somados. Por outro lado, o Cuiabá entra na zona de rebaixamento, na 17ª colocação, e segue com apenas um — sem vitórias na competição após três jogos.

Na próxima rodada, as duas equipes entram em campo no dia 7 de maio, domingo. Enquanto o Cuiabá vai a Minas Gerais enfrentar o América-MG, no Independência, às 11h (de Brasília), o Grêmio recebe o Red Bull Bragantino na Arena, às 18h30.

continua após a publicidade

UM GOL PARA CADA LADO

O Grêmio iniciou a partida no ataque, e o Cuiabá não conseguiu evitar o gol logo na primeira chance perigosa da partida. Em cruzamento da direita de Fábio, Vina cabeceou e abriu o placar na Arena Pantanal. O jogo, bastante truncado e recheado por cartões amarelos, apresentou um ritmo mais lento após o primeiro tento.

+Torcedores do Grêmio se revoltam com gol do Cuiabá e pedem Adriel; veja reações da web

A temperatura da partida voltou a subir aos 28 minutos, quando Ceppelini cobrou escanteio na segunda trave e Alan Empereur ganhou da marcação, cabeceando para o meio área. Em meio à briga pela bola, Marllon se sobressaiu e empurrou a pelota para o fundo do gol, empatando o duelo.

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Até o fim do primeiro tempo, cada equipe ainda chegou perto de comemorar mais uma vez: Luis Suárez acertou a trave pelo Grêmio, e Emerson emendou por cima do gol tricolor na última chance do Cuiabá antes do apito final.

+Presidente do Grêmio descarta volta de Luan: ‘Preciso de atletas competitivos’

CUIABÁ PRESSIONA

Na volta do segundo tempo, o Grêmio tentou sufocar o Cuiabá logo que a bola rolou para buscar o segundo gol, mas foi o time da casa que assustou primeiro em cabeçada de Deyverson na trave. Ronald também levou perigo à meta de Gabriel Grando, mas o Tricolor acabou com a festa da torcida alguns minutos depois.

+Ronald, do Grêmio, admite ‘sonho realizado’ com convocação para Mundial Sub-20 na Argentina

BALDE DE ÁGUA FRIA NA TORCIDA DA CASA

Aos 22, alguns segundos depois de entrar em campo, Everton Galdino aproveitou rebote após chute de Nathan e anotou o segundo tento gremista. O Cuiabá, então, teve muitas dificuldades para reagir, mesmo jogando em casa.

+Próximos jogos do Grêmio: veja calendário, datas, horários e onde assistir às partidas

Com o Grêmio fechado na defesa, o time da casa tentou criar oportunidades, mas chegou mais perto de levar o terceiro do que de conquistar o empate. Luis Suárez quase marcou belo gol na segunda metade da etapa final, mas parou em boa defesa do goleiro Walter. E ficou por aí.

FICHA TÉCNICA
CUIABÁ 1 X 2 GRÊMIO

Estádio: Arena Pantanal, Cuiabá (MT)
Data e Hora: 30 de abril, às 18h30 (de Brasília)
​Árbitro: Bruno Arleu de Araújo (Fifa-RJ)
Assistentes: Bruno Boschilia (Fifa-PR) e Carlos Henrique Alves de Lima Filho (RJ)
Árbitro de vídeo: Rodrigo Nunes de Sá (Fifa-RJ)
Renda/Público: 21.385 presentes e R$ 1.444.980,00

Gols: Vina (GRE 0-1, 9’/1T), Marllon (CUI 1-1, 28’/1T) e Galdino (GRE 1-2, 22’/2T)

Cartão amarelo: Patric Calmon (CUI), Raniele (CUI), Ronald Lopes (CUI) e Deyverson (CUI); Bruno Alves (GRE), Kannemann (GRE), Diogo Barbosa (GRE), Mila (GRE) e Bitello (GRE)
Cartão vermelho: Patric Calmon (CUI)

CUIABÁ (Técnico: Ivo Vieira)

Walter, Mateusinho (Matheus Alexandre, 29’/2T), Alan Empereur, Marllon e Patric Calmon; Filipe Augusto (Isidro Pitta, 28’/2T), Raniele (Denilson, 24’/2T) e Ceppelini (Ronald Lopes, 13’/2T); Jonathan Cafu (Wellington Silva, 24’/2T), Emerson Negueba e Deyverson.

GRÊMIO (Técnico: Renato Portaluppi)

Gabriel Grando, Fábio (Thomas Luciano, 33’/2T), Bruno Alves, Kannemann e Diogo Barbosa; Lucas Silva (Bruno Uvini, 33’/2T), Mila (Zinho, 13’/2T), Bitello e Cristaldo (Nathan, 13’/2T); Vina (Galdino, 22’/2T) e Luis Suárez.

With Manchester City continuing to chase Morgan Gibbs-White’s signature, Nottingham Forest have reportedly joined the battle to sign a La Liga midfielder who once played for the Blues.

Nottingham Forest's worrying form continues

Forest had been flying towards the Champions League places and even found themselves as high as third throughout the current campaign. As things stand, however, they now sit sixth and are on course to miss out on a place among Europe’s elite with three games to play. In a season full of shock form, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have seemingly run out of steam at the worst possible time.

With one win in their last five Premier League games, Forest must rediscover their form as soon as their next attempt which will see them play host to a relegated Leicester City side. They then visit a struggling West Ham United side with the same aim before they square off against Chelsea on the final day in a game likely to decide their Champions League fate.

Nuno spoke to reporters after his side were held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace on Monday, saying: “I think we improved in many aspects of the game, first half we were in control, we were dominant and had good possession and we didn’t allow Palace to counterattack against us.

“We didn’t create too many, but we had a clear chance. The second half was different, it was important that we reacted from the goal and the reaction we had showed character and belief.

Nottingham Forest now want to sign £29m forward with 14 goals in 24/25

Nottingham Forest are among the Premier League teams chasing a forward from Spain.

ByBrett Worthington May 7, 2025

“We were fighting until the end, always with the belief that we could achieve more. The boys did well, Palace have a difficult shape to break down and they always have the threat of the counterattack when they recover.”

Meanwhile, away from the pitch, those in the Midlands have also been busy setting their sights on potential summer arrivals to replace Gibbs-White amid rumours that Manchester City are pushing to sign their star midfielder.

Nottingham Forest battling to sign Yangel Herrera

According to reports in Spain, Nottingham Forest are now battling to sign Yangel Herrera from Girona this summer and face competition from the likes of Atletico Madrid for his signature. Having spent time at Manchester City in the early stages of his career, the South American has finally found his feet at Girona and could now be on his way back to the Premier League as a result.

Starts

24

31

Goals

4

5

Assists

3

7

Ball Recoveries

95

118

When compared, Herrera’s numbers show that he could be an option to replace Gibbs-White. In six fewer starts, the Girona man has managed just one less goal than the Forest man, albeit whilst struggling to create at the same level.

Potentially coming back to haunt Manchester City, Herrera could find himself on his way back to English football courtesy of Nottingham Forest this summer.

You can only judge a pitch after both sides have Bazballed on it, or so the saying might now go, after England’s preposterous exploits in Hyderabad. On Yashasvi Jaiswal’s watch, India appeared in the mood to make amends for their first-Test failings, thanks to a scintillating century that has met this new agenda for his team with poise and attitude aplenty.However, in claiming six wickets on a tough day in the field, England refused to buckle when previous visiting teams might have been braced for a batting landslide, and with Shoaib Bashir settling into his first day of Test cricket with two wickets and a calm command of his attributes, they are no worse off at the close of this first day than they had been at the same juncture of the opening Test. And both sides know full well how that one turned out.Either way, Jaiswal’s sublime 179 not out from 257 balls was the day’s outstanding hand – both the innings that he had promised amid the fluency of his first-innings 80 from 74 in Hyderabad, and the one that India desperately needed to regain their footing in this series. From his very first stroke, an unfettered slap for four off Joe Root’s first ball, via the towering six over long-on with which he brought up his second Test century and his first on home soil, Jaiswal was a class apart – the one Indian batter who found the fearlessness required to pre-empt the sort of challenge that England are sure to offer when their own turn comes to bat.By the final minutes of the day he was struggling with cramp, but Jaiswal still marched past his previous best of 171, made on debut in the Caribbean last year. His new career-best was secured with the fifth six off his innings off the legspin of Rehan Ahmed – another sweet connection down the ground that maintained a control percentage in excess of 90%, and ensured that he’ll resume with ambitions of significantly more on day two.Related

• Live Report – India vs England, 2nd Test, Visakhapatnam

• 'To get Rohit as my first wicket was very, very special' – Shoaib Bashir

• Jimmy vs Jaiswal: a who-is-gonna-do-it thriller

The rest of India’s batting, however, was more of a mixed bag, and as a consequence, England’s rejigged attack was able to take comfort in the struggle on what has so far been a belter of a wicket. With six men dismissed between the scores of 14 and 34, including KS Bharat in the closing moments of the day, India were in danger of similar failings to those that undermined their performance in Hyderabad, when eight of the top nine reached double figures in the first innings but no-one managed to produce the knock-out blow. At least, on that count, Jaiswal cannot be accused of pulling any punches.Nevertheless, it was a gutsy display from England’s remarkably lop-sided attack. Having opted for three specialist spinners and just the lone quick, their line was led, perhaps inevitably, by the one man who’s seen it all before. The veteran James Anderson, back in action at the age of 41, put his Ashes struggles behind him with an ageless display of cut and guile. He picked off Shubman Gill for his 691st wicket, and thereby ensured that he has now struck in every single year since his debut in 2003, but his influence was felt in each and every one of his 17 overs across three distinct spells.James Anderson drew the outside edge off Shubman Gill’s bat to pick up Test wicket no. 691•BCCI

Anderson’s presence – in place of the pure head-hunter Mark Wood, whose energetic efforts had gone wicketless in Hyderabad – offered a degree of control that Ben Stokes had been obliged to do without in the first Test. His infinitesimal command of each-way movement produced an economy-rate of 1.76 that was less than half that of any of his team-mates, and helped to ensure that – unlike in Hyderabad, where all the first-day focus had fallen on Tom Hartley’s struggle for control – this week’s new boy was nothing less than a good-news story.Bashir hadn’t even been born when Anderson made his own Test debut against Zimbabwe in May 2003, but with apologies to Jimmy’s own first scalp, Mark Vermeulen, the identity of Bashir’s maiden Test wicket will perhaps live on rather longer in the collective memory.Irrespective of Jaiswal’s fluency alongside him, Rohit Sharma had dug himself in for the long haul in making 14 boundary-less runs from 41 balls after winning the toss, the consequence of which was that Bashir had not only settled into his rhythm after entering the attack in the 12th over, but had been rewarded with a leg-slip to crank up the pressure. Cue a closed-face clip at a regulation offbreak, and a sharp take from Ollie Pope to pick off India’s captain against the apparent run of play.The same pattern would repeat itself as the day progressed. Gill, under extreme pressure for his place, started his innings watchfully with 17 from his first 36 balls, only for a sudden flurry of boundaries to prove his downfall. Two of these were classy cover-drives as Bashir over-pitched, but the other two were streaky edges off Anderson, who simply adjusted his line on the same probing full length, and induced a nicked drive to Ben Foakes for 34. It was the fifth time in seven innings that Anderson had got his man, at a cost of 7.8 runs per go, and as India went to lunch on 103 for 2, the session’s honours were broadly even.Only one man fell between lunch and tea – Shreyas Iyer, superbly caught by Foakes for 27, as he stayed low with a scuttling delivery from Hartley and clung onto an under-edged cut that could easily have nutmegged him. But Jaiswal by this stage had soared past his century – arms afloat in celebration after a mic-dropping of his bat – and when Rajat Patidar unfurled England’s signature stroke from Hyderabad, the reverse-sweep for four, it seemed India’s debutant had brought with him precisely the sort of youthful verve to complement that of his team-mate.But England would not be denied in their optimistic hunt for wickets. Rehan, held back until the 60th over, took up a central role in the attack for the final session, serving up 16 overs before stumps and picking off two priceless wickets in the process. On 32, Patidar failed to smother a top-spinning legbreak that rolled down the face of his bat and back into his stumps, and with the shadows lengthening, KS Bharat rocked back on a limp cut and gave his own innings away for 17.By then, Bashir had already claimed his second, and in similar circumstances too, as Axar Patel – India’s key allrounder in Ravindra Jadeja’s absence – failed to get on top of his own cut to pick out Rehan at backward point.But thankfully for India, nothing could slow down Jaiswal, whose wagon-wheel revealed shots all round the ground, but whose command in front of square was exceptional. One six off Rehan, a gallop to the pitch from round the wicket and an inside-out drill over extra cover, defied geometry.He had a couple of near-misses on the cut – Root twice got fingertips to tough chances – and a handful of wild hacks against Bashir that nearly cost him, but the bravery to take the game on was precisely what India had lacked at the key moments in the first Test. Whether he’s yet done enough to cover for his off-colour team-mates, however, remains to be seen.

da prosport bet： As an injury-hit Arsenal toiled away to relegation strugglers Leicester City last month, manager Mikel Arteta looked to his bench in need of inspiration. Up stepped Mikel Merino.

da marjack bet： Deployed in an unorthodox centre-forward role for the first time in his senior career, the £31.6m summer signing remarkably bagged a quick-fire brace to seal the win in the closing stages.

With the Gunners devoid of attacking options amid injuries to the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz, Arteta had successfully rolled the dice, producing a tactical tweak that potentially looked like being a defining one in the title race.

Unfortunately for those in north London, that Merino moment has not provided a springboard for success, with it looking as if the Premier League crown is on its way to Merseyside, barring a shock late collapse in Liverpool.

That said, the continued centre-forward experiment has yielded results of late for the Gunners, with it potentially time to consider replicating that whacky decision with another change of position.

Mikel Merino's record at centre-forward

With Arteta having been without Havertz and Jesus against the Foxes, with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka also out of action at the time, Merino was viewed as a worthy trial through the middle, after replacing Leandro Trossard late on.

To his credit, the Spaniard delivered, showcasing shades of Olivier Giroud to clinch three points for his side, having since added a further goal and assist against PSV Eindhoven, as well as the winner in the triumph over Chelsea last time out.

That latest effort in the cagey affair with the Blues came courtesy of a delightful, flicked header at the near post, with Arteta praising the way his compatriot is “winning matches” for his side, amid his “incredible” attitude.

As per Transfermarkt, the 28-year-old now boats four goals and an assist in just seven outings in that central role, a record that any natural striker would likely be more than happy with.

Indeed, any centre-forward would be delighted to have finished in the manner that Merino did against the west Londoners on Sunday, with the strikerless visitors potentially ruing their own lack of options through the middle, amid the loss of Nicolas Jackson and Marc Guiu to injury.

Arsenal vs Chelsea – striker comparison

Stat

Merino

Pedro Neto

Minutes played

90

90

Touches

22

35

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

0

Key passes

0

0

Pass accuracy

91%

83%

Successful dribbles

0/0

0/2

Total duels won

5/15

1/7

Possession lost

5x

11x

Stats via Sofascore

As Arteta indicated, the one-time Newcastle United man showed his “value” in that tense tussle, leading the line effectively after winning five duels and recording a solid 91% pass accuracy, while getting on the scoresheet despite registering just 22 touches.

The elegant left-footer may not prove the man to take Arsenal to the title, but he has been a more than adequate stopgap. Perhaps, Arteta should consider repeating the experiment with Riccardo Calafiori.

Arteta could now repeat Arsenal's Merino experiment

What has been so impressive regarding Merino’s impact is that he hasn’t exactly been aided by those around him, excluding the tie with PSV, with Leandro Trossard looking particularly off the boil against Enzo Maresca’s side.

The Belgian winger failed to register a single key pass nor successfully complete a single dribble during his 90-minute outing, having simply offered little in the way of a threat down the left flank.

With just four goals and five assists to his name in the league this season, Trossard has hardly ripped it up, in truth, and with the aforementioned Martinelli only just making his return from injury, an alternative solution could be considered in that left-wing berth.

It could be argued that having already thrust Kieran Tierney into that attacking role of late, Arteta could repeat the trick with Calafiori, with teenage sensation Myles Lewis-Skelly having seemingly locked down the left-back berth.

Calafiori has largely operated as a centre-back or a left-back to date, although he has previously lined up as a left winger, a point outlined by Italian journalist Daniele Vierri upon the 22-year-old’s arrival last summer:

Beautifully described as “like a wild horse on the loose” by the Telegraph’s Sam Dean, the Italy international has already showcased the threat he can pose in the final third, having popped up in an advanced position to score away in the 7-1 rout of PSV.

The former Bologna man’s potentially untapped attacking potential was also on show amid his pin-point strikes against both Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier in the campaign, illustrating what an outlet he could be as a more permanent part of the front line.

Much like in the case of Merino, this bold new role should certainly not be a long-term solution – not with Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams again a reported summer target – yet if Arteta is looking for a short-term fit, he could do worse than trial Calafiori further forward.

Let that ‘wild horse’ roam free…

Related £38m Arsenal star is now "one of the best signings of the Emirates era"

Arsenal have certainly struck gold with this signing…

Posts ByMatt Dawson Mar 17, 2025

Manchester United are already thinking about sacking Ruben Amorim, and a “genius” manager who’s won 11 trophies may be on the list of candidates to replace him, according to a report.

Tottenham defeat adds to Amorim's troubles

It has been far from an ideal first three months at Old Trafford for Amorim, with his side now languishing in 15th place in the Premier League.

A 1-0 defeat away at fellow strugglers Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday has piled even more pressure on the Portuguese coach, who has since expressed just how difficult he has found his time in charge of United, saying: “I have a lot of problems. My job is so hard but I’m here to continue my job to the next week with my beliefs. I will try to do it, I will try to win again,”

Of course, the Red Devils were hardly flying under Erik ten Hag prior to Amorim’s arrival, but it would be fair to say there have been no real signs of improvement, leading to questions about the 40-year-old’s future at Old Trafford.

Man Utd progressing in talks to sign £33m ace who wants Old Trafford move

The summer transfer window is still a few months away from opening but United are looking to wrap up a deal fairly quickly.

1 ByBrett Worthington Feb 17, 2025

According to a report from Spain, INEOS are already thinking about sacking the former Sporting CP boss, with doubts about his long-term project now starting to emerge.

The United ownership are likely to give their current manager until the end of the season, barring anything drastic happening, but they are now starting to evaluate potential alternatives for the summer.

Former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is named as someone who could be on the list of candidates, with INEOS keen on bringing in a manager capable of returning Man United to Europe’s top table.

Zidane has a track record of success

Although United have managed to compete for honours since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, winning the Europa League under Jose Mourinho and the two domestic cups with Ten Hag, replacing their legendary manager has proven to be extremely difficult.

Reports suggest some players are already starting to lose patience with Amorim’s methods, in light of the poor results, so it is no wonder INEOS are starting to assess replacements for the summer.

That said, the players have to take a huge share of the responsibility, given that they have been poor in the Premier League for quite some time now, with the FA Cup triumph last season arguably papering over the cracks of a eighth-place finish.

Zidane has a proven history of success at a top club, winning 11 trophies during his time with Real Madrid, while he has also been dubbed a “tactical genius” by Steve McManaman.

However, the truth is this Man United squad needs a major overhaul if they are going to return to being the dominant force they once were, regardless of which manager is in the dugout.

Hampshire star’s 5 for 44 keeps visitors waiting in quest to squash last contenders Essex

ECB Reporters Network27-Sep-2023Liam Dawson moved to 45 LV= Insurance County Championship wickets with his fourth five-wicket haul of the season to delay Surrey’s title confirmation.Left-arm spinner Dawson has had his best batting season since 2015 and best-ever bowling campaign as his 5 for 44 kept Surrey waiting in their quest to squash last contenders Essex.Sai Sudharsan had led Surrey’s batting with an exceptional 73 before Jordan Clark came in and struck 50 not out.Surrey were eventually bowled out for 207, 93 runs short of winning the crown, and a 12-run deficit to Hampshire, which was increased by one in a truncated 20 balls before bad light ended proceedings for the day.Surrey needed to get to 300 in 110 overs to make sure they claimed the bonus points required to be confirmed champions for a second year in a row.They began the day on 47 for 2, replying to Hampshire’s 219, and by the time Ryan Patel had hoicked to deep midwicket off Dawson, they had only added 13 more runs in 53 minutes. It would be Patel’s last action of the match as Jamie Smith will come in for him for the third innings of the match.Getting to that 300 mark quickly was clearly not the priority – with winning the match and lifting the trophy on a high prominently mentioned by Tom Lawes the previous evening.Hampshire’s tidy bowling didn’t help the run rate, neither did Ben Foakes taking 36 balls to get off the mark and even then, it was only a misfield that helped him move from a blob. He never would look comfortable at the crease, although was perhaps unlucky to be given out lbw going back to Dawson.Sudharsan was by no means lucid in his batting, but his classical style was pleasant on the eyes and accumulated runs at a workmanlike tempo.Sai Sudharsan sets off for a run•Steve Paston/PA Photos/Getty Images

The 21-year-old is one to watch in world cricket having struck a stunning 96 in the IPL final early this year, to go with two centuries in nine previous first-class matches.His defence was solid, but his coup de gras was his varied shot-making, with proficiency shown on the drive, sweep and wristiness.Sudharsan reached his maiden Championship fifty in exactly 100 balls. He had been joined by Will Jacks – who had replaced five-wicket haul celebrator Lawes after returning from England duty – and the rate of scoring increased for a short period.Jacks twice took on Ian Holland’s medium pace and twice dispatched the ball over the ropes, which helped the morning scoring to 67 runs.Sudharsan was the victim of big bounce out of the footholds from Dawson, as the Indian gloved to short leg, with Jacks leg before to James Fuller in the following over.Dawson picked up his fourth when Cam Steel was lbw and Holland bowled a swinging Jamie Overton.Clark belligerently scored a 75-ball half-century, his 21st in first-class cricket, as he put in 32 with Kemar Roach before the West Indian was caught at first slip with the second new ball.Clark also scored all 15 runs with Dan Worrall at the other end, before the Australian-born seamer was bowled by Dawson – his 17th wicket in September.Surrey’s failure to reach 300 is not a huge problem in their pursuit of glory. Essex are stuttering against Northamptonshire and if they don’t reach 400, Surrey will automatically be champions.Despite 18 overs still remaining, only 20 balls were bowled and a single run scored as bad light prevented Hampshire from really getting their second innings moving under lights.

MatériaMais Notícias

da poker： O CEO do Vasco, Luiz Mello, responsável por fazer a ponte da SAF com a 777 Partners, explicou os planos estratégicos para a próxima temporada. O executivo afirmou que o Cruz-Maltino vive uma nova era e que voltará a ser protagonista no futebol brasileiro, mas será necessário um tempo para isso acontecer.

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da brdice： – O Vasco é do tamanho desses clubes (Palmeiras e Flamengo), mas estamos em um processo. Seria leviano prometer que ganharemos tudo no próximo ano. Flamengo e Palmeiras demoraram um tempo para ganhar os títulos. Vamos ter que trazer novos jogadores. O Botafogo contratou quase 20 jogadores e isso demanda um tempo. Pode ser que no primeiro momento o Carioca pode servir como experiência e depois, com a janela, fazer o refino. O que não pode é trazer 20 jogadores toda hora. Contratamos jogadores por um ano, alguns com renovação, mas não podemos repetir esse processo. O Vasco vai voltar a ser protagonista, mas vai demorar um tempo.

+ Vasco terminou em 4º; confira como terminou a Série B

Luiz Mello não quis se aprofundar no planejamento do futebol, área do diretor esportivo Paulo Bracks, que concederá entrevista coletiva ainda essa semana. No entanto, o CEO será o administrador dos recursos, que serão fartos a partir do ano que vem. Questionado pela reportagem sobre o investimento de até R$ 1,9 bilhão em 2026, informação do LANCE!, o executivo desconversou, mas afirmou que não faltarão recursos para cumprir o objetivo de fazer o Vasco ser protagonista novamente.

– Na negociação, R$ 700 milhões serão para investimentos, R$ 700 milhões para pagamento de dívidas. Faremos o aporte necessário para ser protagonista e desenvolver os talentos. Não vou entrar no mérito dos números. Vou deixar de lado. Temos dois caixas. Antes era um só para tudo. Agora um serve para investimentos e outro para pagar dívidas. Todo mundo sabe do potencial do Vasco e a melhor forma de mostrar isso é com investimento. Queremos o protagonismo a partir do ano que vem.

O protagonismo do Vasco será construído não só com contratações de peso. Luiz Mello explicou que investimento em estrutura será fundamental neste processo, como as obras no CT Moacyr Barbosa que já começaram.

– Temos dois CTs de concessões publicas, tem uma transição da Prefeitura, do clube para a SAF. Temos um cronograma interno para melhorias. Os dois campos estão em obras. Em 45 dias, seja verticalizado, em janeiro, o regresso dos jogadores. No caso de Caxias, é outra concessão, federal, que estamos no trâmite para fazer a transferência. A gente quando tiver a segurança jurídica, vamos fazer os investimentos necessários.

Por fim, Luiz Mello agradeceu aos torcedores reiterou que é necessário respeitar os processos

– A gente tem que agradecer, pedir mais coisas é difícil. Há 20 anos eles estão sofrendo com os problemas do clube e mesmo assim estão do lado. Agradecer por terem segurado esse grupo de jogadores. Visando para frente, é ter ambição. O Vasco quer ser protagonista. Não teremos voos de galinha. Teremos metas e depois melhoraremos essas metas. Vamos melhorar a estrutura do profissional, da base, daremos todo o suporte para que os atletas entreguem. Se a gente conseguir os títulos, conquistaremos o quanto antes. Estaremos no caminho certo para as conquistas.