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Alasdair Gold has dropped an update on reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer target Paulo Dybala.

What’s the latest?

In a recent video posted on his YouTube channel, the football.london journalist revealed that, despite widespread reports suggesting otherwise, he has been informed that Antonio Conte and Fabio Paratici are not pursuing a deal for the out-of-contract Juventus forward this summer – as the sporting director is not believed to be a fan of the Argentina international.

Concerning Spurs’ reported interest in the 28-year-old, Gold shared the following twist: “I know there are lots of Paulo Dybala links as there always are, but I’m told that’s not currently one that Spurs are currently looking at.

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“It’s interesting because you’ve also got to factor in that I don’t think Paratici is the biggest fan of Dybala, and I understand that he was one of the ones who were looking to move Dybala on from Juventus back in 2019 when Spurs were trying to sign him. So, I don’t see that as something that is likely to happen.”

Supporters will be gutted

Considering the quite extraordinary form Dybala has been in for Juventus this season, in addition to Tottenham supporters revealing in a recent poll ran by Football FanCast that they believe the attacker would be a fantastic signing for Spurs this summer, Gold’s suggestion that Paratici is not currently pursuing a deal for the Argentine is sure to come as gutting news to the club’s fanbase.

Indeed, over his 29 Serie A appearances this term, the £36m-rated talent was one of the standout performers in the league, scoring ten goals, registering five assists and creating 11 big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 3.4 shots, making 1.3 key passes and completing 1.6 dribbles per game.

These returns saw the £220k-per-week forward average a simply sensational SofaScore match rating of 7.43, not only ranking him as the Bianconeri’s best performer in the Italian top flight but also as the joint fourth-best player in the division as a whole.

As such, it is clear to see just how exciting an addition Dybala would be to Conte’s current options in attack, however, following Gold’s latest update, it would now appear as if a Tottenham move for the 28-year-old sensation looks extremely unlikely this summer.

AND in other news: Conte could land his next Kante as Paratici plots Spurs bid for “unreal” £60m signing

Even before he was born, Sachin Dhas had his career chalked out for him. Fortunately, he has walked that path well

Daya Sagar09-Feb-2024Back in the 1990s, pretty much every cricket-loving Indian was a Sachin Tendulkar fan. Sanjay Dhas was among them – even missing ten balls of a Tendulkar innings seemed like “a crime” to him. He tried to become a cricketer, but it wasn’t to be. He turned to kabaddi instead and represented his state, Maharashtra, at the national level. He also started a cricket academy in Beed, a small town.He knew, he says, that if he had a son, he would be called “Sachin” and he would play cricket.”Sachin” became a reality in 2005. You may not know whom we are talking about if you haven’t been keeping track of the ongoing Under-19 World Cup in South Africa. Sachin Dhas has scores of 26*, 21*, 20, 15, 116 and 96 in the tournament and is going into the final against Australia as one of India’s in-form batters. He is the third highest run-scorer at the World Cup – behind team-mates Musheer Khan and Uday Saharan – with 294 runs at an average of 73.50 and a strike rate of 116.66.Related

• How Saharan's timelessness took India to the Under-19 World Cup final

• India vs Australia in a title clash yet again as Under-19 World Cup reaches climax in Benoni

• Bumrah's tips on yorker have helped a lot, says Naman Tiwari

• Arshin Kulkarni, the Kallis fanboy who can hit the ball long

• 'I've been scolded not for breaking glasses, but playing rash shots'

“Even before he was born, I had decided he would be a cricketer and nothing else,” Sachin’s father Sanjay tells ESPNcricinfo. “I would have done anything for that to happen. When he was just over two years of age, I gave him a bat and a ball and would take him to the ground in the mornings. By four or so, he was at the academy. I knew he had to start early if he was to make it big. I wanted him to achieve what I couldn’t.”By 2009-2010, Sachin was at the Adarsh Cricket Academy run by a gentleman called Azhar Sheikh. “There were 60-70 kids at the academy, but Sachin was different,” Sheikh says. “Whatever you taught him, he would learn it quicker than the others. He was disciplined. He would play 500-600 balls in the morning and 700-800 balls in the evening. The bowlers would get tired, but he never complained.”He moved up the ranks. By 12, he was playing for the Maharashtra Under-14s.”When he played for the state Under-14s, even his mother [Surekha] was convinced that Sachin would go far as a cricketer,” Sanjay says. “Prior to that, she wasn’t happy about him playing cricket and wanted him to focus on his studies. She felt that no-one from a small place like Beed could become a cricketer. But I didn’t listen to her.”It’s true that Beed hardly had any facilities for cricket at the time. There was just one ground in the region, and cricket was taught there on a matting wicket. The Maharashtra age-group selectors saw Sachin play and were impressed, but told Sanjay that to get better, Sachin needed to play on turf pitches.Sanjay Dhas: “Even before Sachin was born, I had decided he would be a cricketer and nothing else”•Sanjay DhasSanjay was on the job immediately. He got around INR 6-7 lakh from relatives and friends, took permission from the authorities, and prepared a turf pitch at the ground.Sachin’s progress was unhindered. After the Under-14s, he played for Maharashtra Under-16s at the age of 14, and the Under-19s at 16.It still wasn’t enough. Sanjay felt that for Sachin to get to the next level, he needed to play around 1200-1400 balls every day, but not spoil the training of the other kids in the process. So he demolished an old family home and converted it into an indoor training area. Roof – check. Floodlights – check. Synthetic turf – check. Bowling machine – check. From that point on, Sachin trained at the academy in the morning and at the indoor facility in the evening.The results are now showing. In the Under-19 World Cup semi-final, when South Africa’s short-ball attack was causing problems for the other India batters, Sachin was untroubled – his 96 from 95 balls from No. 6, and his 171-run stand with captain Uday Saharan which lifted India from 32 for 4 to 203 for 5, was evidence of that.Sachin Dhas was training under Azhar Sheikh till eight days before he left for South Africa•Sanjay DhasThe most impressive of Sachin’s shots during that innings was the short-arm pull, which he used to hit five boundaries in the midwicket region. Even during the century against Nepal in the Super Six stage, it was one of his most productive strokes.”Till eight days before he went to South Africa, Sachin was training with me. I took a steel plate and placed it on a back-of-a-length spot, and gave him throwdowns with a plastic ball, making the ball go into his body” Azhar says. “Some of the balls hit him, and initially he played the pull, which sent the ball up rather than long. We discussed keeping the pull down. We did that for two months. Now look, he is playing the short-arm pull like Shubman Gill.”Like his father, Sachin is a Sachin Tendulkar fan, but his favourite is Virat Kohli. He prefers batting at No. 4 (like Tendulkar and Kohli in Tests) but was given the role of finisher at the World Cup. He has done justice to it so far.”It’s because of the name that he is doing so well – it’s like god’s [Sachin’s] hand is working for my son,” Sanjay says. “Hope he plays for India one day.” For now, there’s the [U-19] World Cup final to win, like Kohli did [in 2008], and then, who knows how far this Sachin will go.

History has not been kind to Pakistan when it comes to touring down under, but new narratives could be woven this summer

Danyal Rasool12-Dec-2023Looking at individual contests in a home Test series for Australia against Pakistan is a bit like trying to analyse the specific differences between the polar bear and the baby seal it eats. The mismatch is so overwhelming it’s scarcely worth talking about the variances in muscle mass, the speed across the tundra or the contrasts in bite force. One is the biggest mammal on land, the other would rather be in water. What’s there to talk about?Over the past quarter century, the chasm between the Australian and Pakistani Test sides in this hemisphere is just about as wide. Pakistan have come for five series and 14 Test matches, losing every single one of them. These two nations might be far apart when it comes to geography, but when it comes to cricketing ability in Australia, the gulf has been even wider. Four of those 14 losses have been innings defeats, another four by a margin of at least 170 runs, and another three by nine or more wickets. Defeats have come across the length and breadth of this country from – Perth to Hobart – and the odd close game, like Hobart 1999 or Sydney 2010, have probably caused more psychological scarring than the regular pastings in between.Ultimately though, the bigger picture can invariably be broken down into the minutiae. In cricket, where individuals pitted against each other is a central aspect of this contest, Australia have tended to overwhelm Pakistan. That isn’t necessarily the case across every matchup, though, with possible encouragement for the visiting side in certain aspects, and clear areas of improvement necessary in others. We look at a few of those.Related

• Pakistan opt against fielding a specialist spinner in Perth Test

• Head named co-vice-captain as Australia look to 'future-proof' leadership stocks

• Abrar likely to miss first Test after 'discomfort in right leg'

• Hafeez critical of Canberra conditions

• Smith gets back to the grind in search for his best form

Josh Hazlewood vs Babar Azam

Babar and Hazlewood first faced off as teenagers in the Under-19 World Cup, with Hazlewood coming out on top that day in New Zealand and Australia winning by 25 runs. The script hasn’t changed since, with Hazlewood getting him out on six occasions and Babar averaging just over 11 against him.Each of those dismissals have come in Australia, most early on in the innings. It is the seam movement that has done Babar in almost every time – he fell four times nicking off behind the stumps, while failing to read the one coming in twice and finding himself trapped in front.However, most of these dismissals came on Pakistan’s 2016-17 tour when Babar was yet to find his feet in Tests. While Hazlewood remains the same bowler – relentlessly accurate across his lines and lengths – that has troubled Babar for much of his career. Babar, unencumbered by the captaincy, has an opportunity to remedy this record. An indifferent recent run in Test cricket, though, with no half-centuries in the last six innings, doesn’t bode well against the bowler who has troubled him more than any other. With a possible long tail and an inexperienced batting line-up, Pakistan will rely on his runs more than they did on either of his previous two tours. If he can turn the tide in this personal battle, it may go a long way in ensuring Pakistan are more competitive than they have previously been.

Australia’s left-handers vs slow left arm

Abrar Ahmed’s injury all but confirms Noman Ali featuring in Pakistan’s starting XI come Thursday. They are understood to be reluctant to field an all-pace attack, and while Sajid Khan is on his way to Australia, the first Test likely arrives too soon for him.That is worrying for Pakistan. Australia have three left-handers in their top seven, and while Sajid wasn’t impressive at home against Australia last year, each of Usman Khawaja, Travis Head and David Warner boast phenomenally impressive records against slow left-arm bowling at home.They have combined for 690 runs against just four dismissals, each averaging over 100. They score quickly against slow left-armers too, with Warner scoring at 93.90 and Khawaja at 70.50. The extra pressure on Noman could force Shan Masood to turn back to his seamers sooner than he wants or, even less desirably, employ part-time spinners, as Pakistan did on occasion against Australia last year.File photo: Marnus Labuschagne being bowled by Shaheen Afridi•Getty Images and Cricket Australia

Shaheen Shah Afridi vs Marnus Labuschagne

Labuschagne’s unimpressive numbers against left-arm pace in Tests comes largely down to one man. Of the nine times Labuschagne has had to walk off against left-arm pace, Shaheen Afridi was the man to get him five times. His 85 runs against Afridi have come at 17 per dismissal, and a strike rate a shade above 2.6, and five of Labuschagne’s seven dismissals against Pakistan have come against him.His battle with Shaheen was one of the few bright spots for Pakistan on Australia’s attritional tour to the country in 2022, with Labuschagne notably struggle against the inswinging delivery early on. While the numbers might flatter Afridi slightly – his two wickets against the Australian on Pakistan’s last Test tour arrived when Labuschagne was on 185 and 162 – getting Labuschagne in early could well be the key to getting him back out soon.

Nathan Lyon vs Pakistan

A punchy Mohammad Hafeez, fuming from what he declared a disappointing pitch in Canberra for Pakistan’s tour game, promised Pakistan were out in Australia to win the series. And the route to doing that was clear in his mind. “As a team from the subcontinent, we normally play offspinners really well. In the last couple of series we had a high strike rate against Nathan Lyon. That will remain the same. We know Lyon is a great bowler, but as a team we are confident we will take him on.” When asked to clarify if that meant Pakistan would have to take Lyon on, Hafeez was terse in his reply. “We will.”While that might sound like a departure from how Pakistan play against Australia, that hasn’t necessarily been the case. Hafeez – perhaps pointedly – said Lyon was a “great away bowler” for Australia, possibly in an attempt to strip him of his aura on these surfaces. In Australia, Lyon’s success against Pakistan has been relatively modest. Only against Sri Lanka does he have a worse home average than Pakistan’s 41.66 runs per wicket, and as regards to taking him on, Pakistan have tended to do just that. Against no other side at home has he conceded more than one run every two balls, but against Pakistan, the economy rate climbs to 3.37.In short, he is more expensive and less penetrative against Pakistan at home than just about anyone else. While much of the spin bowling scrutiny has surrounded Pakistan’s lack of quality, there is an opportunity for them to ensure Australia are equally hampered on that front.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has revealed that captain Marc Guehi will likely withdraw from the England squad ahead of November's international window. The centre-back suffered bruising of the bone in his foot in the Eagles' 3-1 victory against AZ Alkmaar in the Conference League on Thursday and is currently having to walk with crutches.

• Injury suffered against AZ

  The defender played all 90 minutes of Palace's victory in midweek and did not have to come off despite picking up the knock. Glasner would have been hopeful that his captain would be fit in time to face rivals Brighton in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon, but the Austrian revealed Guehi is unable to walk unassisted and was unavailable for selection.

  It marks a bitter blow for both Palace and England boss Thomas Tuchel to whom Guehi has become a key player at the heart of defence. The former Chelsea man is adept on both the left and right side of central defence and had been forming nice partnerships with both Manchester City’s John Stones and Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa in recent games.

  Guehi was the pick of the defenders in the last international break, providing his team-mates with two assists in the Three Lions’ rampant 3-0 defeat of Wales. With games against Serbia and Albania coming on Thursday and Sunday next week, it appears the Palace skipper will not be ready to play any part.

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  Glasner reveals extent of problem

  Speaking before Palace’s game against the Seagulls in the Premier League on Sunday, Glasner explained Guehi’s absence from the Eagles’ squad. "He can't even walk at the moment so the last two days he was on crutches," the coach said. "That's why he can't play. I don't know how this develops over the next couple of days. At the moment, it looks like he can't play for England as well."

  Per Sami Mokbel, the defender underwent scans on Friday to assess the injury he sustained against the Dutch side the previous night. The medical staff at the south London club found that he had suffered bruising of the bone and therefore would not be fit enough to make the squad for their weekend fixture.

  The injury has provided teenager Jaydee Canvot a chance to make a first Premier League start and demonstrate he is more than capable of filling into one of the three spots available in Glasner’s defence. Maxence Lacroix and USMNT star Chris Richards have been superb for the Eagles alongside captain Guehi, but will have to use all their experience to shepherd the 19-year-old Frenchman through a tough game afternoon at Selhurst Park.

• Guehi chased by European giants

  Guehi’s absence will provide Glasner with a chance to look at how his side could shape up if and when the captain decides to leave the Eagles. Guehi had been set to move to Liverpool before the start of the season and saw a deadline day move to Anfield collapse.

  The England international’s contract at the club expires in June 2026 and has been tipped with a move to a host of the biggest clubs in Europe. The Reds will be back in for his signature, but face competition from Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

  However, recent reports suggest that the defender might be pricing himself out of a move to Los Blancos. The salary and signing-on demands from the centre-half are proving slightly too steep for the Spanish giants and could look elsewhere for further defensive depth.

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  England to experiment?

  With World Cup qualification already sewn up, Tuchel may look to experiment with his squad. The German has brought in Bournemouth’s Alex Scott to the squad and the Cherries midfielder could make his Three Lions debut.

  Elsewhere, Jude Bellingham returns to the squad and will add to the England boss’ midfield headache. The Madrid superstar had been out of the squad following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a shoulder injury, but amid a return to La Liga and top form, finds himself back amongst the group.

To say that Arsenal are unrecognisable as a club today from the one Mikel Arteta took charge of over five years ago would be an understatement.

The Spaniard has helped to completely overhaul the club from top to bottom and has signed some incredible players in the process.

One of his very best additions to the squad has undoubtedly been Declan Rice, who was once again incredible in the Champions League this week.

And now, it looks like another of Arteta’s signings is transforming into a Rice-type player this season.

Rice's best European nights for Arsenal

Since joining the club for £105m in the summer of 2023, Rice has made 26 appearances for Arsenal in the Champions League, in which he has scored four goals, provided four assists and averaged 2.12 points per game.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

It would be fair to say that across those 26 games, he has been pretty incredible for the North Londoners, but when it comes to picking out his best European nights in red and white, there are three that stick out, the first of which is the home game against Paris Saint-Germain in the league phase last season.

It was a game the Gunners comfortably won 2-0, and one in which the former West Ham United captain totally bossed the Parisians’ smaller and, at the time, out-of-form midfield.

The Englishman didn’t pick up a goal or assist in that game, but he did do that in his second-best Champions League display for the club, which came on Wednesday this week.

Arteta started his record signing in the left eight against Atlético Madrid, and as fans have now come to expect, he was cool, calm and composed on the ball and a physical monster off of it.

Moreover, he provided the assist for Gabriel Magalhães’ opener, and then it was his corner that eventually led to Viktor Gyokeres’ second goal, and the team’s fourth.

However, while the 26-year-old was great against Atleti, he was out of this world against Real Madrid in the quarter-finals last season.

The midfield machine put in an extraordinary shift at the Bernabéu, but it was the home leg where he was utterly sublime, stopping everything in the middle of the park and then scoring those two world-class free-kicks.

In short, while he cost a lot of money, Rice has been worth every penny for Arsenal, and now another of Arteta’s signings is starting to embody some of his best traits.

Arsenal's new Rice-type star

Due to Arteta’s brilliant signings and Hale End’s production of talent, there is no shortage of incredible players in Arsenal’s squad, but the player who is becoming something of a Rice-type star is Riccardo Calafiori.

Now, it’s worth noting that this doesn’t mean they are the same type of player, as that would be a silly thing to suggest.

However, there are some increasingly obvious similarities between the pair, with the first being their mentality.

Like the Englishman, since coming back from his string of injuries that kept him out for most of last season, the former Bologna star has played like a man possessed.

Not only is he someone who can and does bound forward with the ball at his feet, but he’s also more than happy to get into a physical duel with an opponent to try and keep the ball or win it. As The Telegraph’s Sam Dean aptly put it, he plays like a “wild horse on the loose.”

On top of that, he is also a sensational striker of the ball, and while he isn’t delivering set-pieces, it has been on show in the goals he has scored over the last year, and even those that have been disallowed, like that unreal volley against Fulham last weekend.

Moreover, like the former West Ham man, the Italian international seems to have limitless energy, and this season has been allowed the freedom to roam here, there and everywhere on the pitch.

This “positionless” approach in games, as one analyst puts it, makes him a nightmare for opponents to defend against and could help him snuff out counters before they have a chance to get out of their half at times.

Finally, the Rome-born titan is also one of the best in his position in the league, as according to FBref, he ranks in the top 2% of full-backs for expected goals, shots, goal-creating actions, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 17% for tackles in the attacking third and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Calafiori has been unreal for Arsenal this season, and as he has got better, he has become more and more of a Rice-type player.

Gyokeres can help Arsenal's "unbelievable" star reach Mesut Ozil's level

Gyokeres could play a key role in helping the incredible Arsenal star reach the levels of Ozil this season.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Oct 23, 2025

A Paul Skenes card that is out in the wild waiting to be ripped has caused pandemonium among avid collectors and casual observers of the hobby alike. Every rookie player in their first game wears an "MLB Debut" patch on their jersey that is then put in a 1-of-1 card commemorating their debut. It's rookie card of all rookie cards.

Skenes, who made his pitching debut this past season and ran away with the Rookie of the Year award, is already the most sought-after player in this drop, but the Pittsburgh Pirates upped the ante on Friday when they announced they would give away season tickets behind home plate for to anyone who found the card and donated it to the Pirates so it can be enjoyed by the entire fanbase.

Then, Skenes's girlfriend—LSU gymnast Olivia Dunne—said that she would host the person who gives the card up in her suite.

After that, Seth Meyers, the host of and a noted Pittsburgh fan, said he would give away VIP tickets to a taping of his show if someone just let him at the card.

Waiting to see who rips the grail and what decision they make as far as keeping the card versus giving it up will be an exciting chapter in hobbyist baseball card trading.

Lamine Yamal is ignoring his latest comparisons to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, with the teenage wonderkid pointing out that the Argentine GOAT has “scored 1000s of goals” that are similar to the strike he recorded against Club Brugge. Yamal delivered another moment of magic in that Champions League contest, but is reluctant to liken himself to an all-time great.

• Barcelona No.10: Yamal does iconic jersey justice

  Yamal’s dancing feet were on full display as he illuminated a continental clash in Belgium. He was unable to inspire Barca to victory, as an entertaining encounter finished 3-3, but he did register the most impressive goal of the game.

  The 18-year-old was able to glide past defenders on the edge of the box, play a quick one-two with Fermin Lopez, and roll the ball into the bottom corner. Said effort conjured up memories of Messi dancing his way past opponents while donning Barcelona’s iconic No.10 jersey.

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• Messi comparisons: Why Yamal is avoiding that debate

  Yamal has been compared to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner since stepping out of the fabled La Masia academy system. He is also left-footed, but has always sought to distance himself from a debate that he is not yet worthy of dominating.

  He told reporters when discussing his latest Messi-esque effort for Barca: “I can't compare myself with Messi. He's scored thousands of goals like that. I have to make my own way and hope to score many more goals like that. I try to do the best I can. The move went really quick and Fermín's left me with the ball with a nice flick. I have controlled it and finished it.”

• Ballon d'Or winner: Yamal tipped to reach the top

  Yamal has previously said of building his own legacy in world football, rather than claiming a share of Messi’s: “I’ve always tried to forge my own path. Of course, Messi is the greatest player in history for me, without a doubt. He’s left-footed, and so am I. He played for Barcelona, and I play for Barcelona. He played as a right winger, and so do I. We definitely have a lot in common, and that’s okay. I just want to carve my own path.

  “He wrote his legendary story, and I hope to have a successful career like his. But more importantly, I want to play football my way, to write my own story, and to make people remember the name Lamine Yamal.”

  He is expected to become an icon in his own right, with former Barcelona midfielder Emmanuel Petit suggesting that the youngster could go on to eclipse Messi’s record-breaking haul of Golden Balls.

  The Frenchman told : “I think the Ballon d’Or is his main reason for wanting the number 10, he is already thinking about it, he is a tremendous footballer. I can’t name a player that has been as impressive as him at his age, every time he touches the ball something happens. You’d think he was 28 and in his prime.

  “He dribbles past players like it’s the PlayStation and he makes defenders look like cones, he has such a high ceiling, he could become even better than Messi. Messi won eight Ballons d’Or, Yamal will have motivation to go even further, he’s a joy to watch.”

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  Injury frustration: Yamal recovered from untimely knock

  Yamal has seen his 2025-26 campaign disrupted by injury, with an untimely knock being picked up while on international duty with Spain. He sat out seven games for club and country as a result, but appears to be fit and firing at present.

  He has claimed that a lot of “lies” were told during his enforced spell on the sidelines, with Barca managing his fitness carefully, with full focus now locked on delivering match-altering goals and assists.

  Defending Liga champions Barcelona need him to do that on a regular basis, as they chase down Clasico rivals Real Madrid in another battle for domestic supremacy in Spain, with Hansi Flick’s side set to reach another international break after travelling to Celta Vigo on Sunday.

For some, a shirt number may seem arbitrary, although it is hard to ignore the status and significance of the number seven at Manchester United, having become synonymous with the club’s brightest and best.

From Eric Cantona, to David Beckham, to Cristiano Ronaldo, the Red Devils enjoyed a glittering 17-year period in the Premier League in which that shirt had a rightful home, with all three wearing it with distinction.

In the 16 years since Ronaldo’s exit for Real Madrid, however, the No.7 has become something of a poisoned chalice, a cursed offering for a string of new signings who have all flattered to deceive.

Its current incumbent, Mason Mount, has notably scored just five goals during an injury-hit two-year spell at Old Trafford, with questions likely to be asked over whether the Englishman was worthy of such an honour in the first place.

Talented, but undoubtedly unreliable due to his repeated stints on the treatment table, Mount could well benefit from relieving that burden and pressure on himself, with Ruben Amorim perhaps already having the perfect successor lined up.

Man Utd's post-Ronaldo number seven curse

Have United ever truly recovered from the summer of 2009? Out went Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, with Sir Alex Ferguson securing Gabriel Obertan, Antonio Valencia and an ageing Michael Owen as their replacements.

That significant drop in quality perhaps epitomises the malaise that has set in during the much-maligned Glazer regime, with initial success post-Ronaldo having quickly been extinguished in the years following Ferguson’s retirement.

To have gone from the Portuguese sensation to that man Owen as the club’s new no.7 remains a real headscratcher, with the former England international – that Manchester derby goal aside – proving something of a forgotten figure at Old Trafford.

The mantle was subsequently passed on to Valencia for 2012/13, although the Ecuadorian swiftly relinquished such status, while the next recipient – Angel Di Maria – lasted just a solitary season before departing the club for Paris Saint-Germain.

Memphis Depay, meanwhile, scored just seven times in 53 games before being shown the door by Jose Mourinho, while Alexis Sanchez could only fire home five times in 45 games, during his miserable £400k-per-week stint at the club.

Fellow South American star Edinson Cavani enjoyed a promising first campaign as the no.7 with 17 goals in all competitions, before the decision was made to hand the returning Ronaldo the honour instead, for the 2021/22 campaign.

The Portuguese goal machine’s homecoming ultimately proved short-lived, amid his explosive exit under Erik ten Hag, with Mount later taking on the honour following his 2023 summer arrival from Chelsea.

All in all, the jersey has been an albatross around the neck for a succession of high-profile figures, with United now needing to look inwards to find a rightful holder again.

Why Bruno Fernandes should be the new number seven

The man who scored the opener against Sunderland last time out, Mount has shown flashes that he can be a go-to figure under Amorim, with the Portuguese coach lauding him as a “proper footballer” amid his arrival at the club just under a year ago.

As already explained, however, the 26-year-old unfortunately can’t be trusted to stay injury-free, making just 53 appearances in all competitions since joining on a £55m deal.

Whether Mount stays or goes next summer, it would be wise for United to consider re-housing the number seven, with ever-reliable skipper, Bruno Fernandes, surely deserving and worthy of such an honour.

Described as a “genius” in the past by Ten Hag, Fernandes has been central to anything and everything good about the club over the past five years or so, recently reaching a milestone of 100 goals from his now 298 appearances.

With a further 86 assists to add into the equation, the 31-year-old has for so long been United’s chief provider and goal-getter, a fact emphasised only last season, as he ended the campaign with 38 goal involvements across all fronts.

Despite flirting with an exit both last summer and during the most recent window – amid interest from Saudi Arabia – the Red Devils skipper has remained intently loyal to the club, seemingly relishing his talismanic status as the central figure in the side.

Right from the off, the ex-Sporting CP man has been a game-changer for United, even while those around him might have suffered, with comparisons to that man Cantona having flooded in amid his early impact at Old Trafford.

While the silverware has unfortunately not followed in the degree that it did after the Frenchman’s entrance in 1992, Fernandes is a similarly heroic figure, carrying the responsibility on his back time and again.

Like Cantona, he certainly isn’t perfect – having notably seen red on three occasions in 2024/25 – but the at-times combustible playmaker more than makes up for that with his repeated genius.

Two penalties might have been missed this season, but Fernandes is never one to shy away from the pressure and the limelight, showing all the attributes of a player worthy of joining the likes of Cantona and Ronaldo as the next number seven.

It would perhaps be a brutal act to snatch that status away from Mount, although few could argue against Fernandes being rewarded for such fine service with a richly deserved promotion.

Man Utd's "insane" talent is being given the Mainoo treatment by Amorim

It isn’t just Kobbie Mainoo who is being given the cold shoulder by Man Utd by Ruben Amorim.

By
Robbie Walls

Oct 11, 2025

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Manchester City outcast Kalvin Phillips won't feature in his starting lineup for their upcoming Carabao Cup clash against Swansea City, despite the midfielder returning to action in the same competition against Huddersfield Town in September. Phillips is hoping to get more game time after featuring for just seven minutes for the Cityzens in the 2025-26 campaign.

• Phillips' Man City nightmare continues

  Phillips’ time at the Etihad Stadium has been incredibly underwhelming. After arriving from Leeds United in 2022 for £45 million ($61m), he managed just 12 appearances in his debut season. Guardiola then sent him out on loan, first to West Ham United, where he endured a nightmare spell marked by a costly penalty and a red card in his first few outings, and later to Ipswich Town, where he ended up suffering relegation and appeared in 19 matches for the Tractor Boys. His exile left many assuming his City career was finished for good.

  The midfielder was told to find a new club but his massive salary and existing contract, which runs until 2028, proved to be a hindrance as he was unable to secure a move away this summer. On September 24, Phillips appeared for City for the first time in 645 days as he came on as a substitute in the final seven minutes of their 2-0 win over Huddersfield in a Carabao Cup third-round clash. 

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  Guardiola reveals plans for Phillips

  Ahead of another Carabao Cup fixture against Swansea on Wednesday, Guardiola confirmed that the 29-year-old midfielder won't feature in his starting lineup, although he might be part of the travelling squad.

  Speaking to reporters, the Spaniard said: "For a start no but maybe he will travel with us. He is a player for the team, the squad. He is coming back, he trains with us, we treat him like another player. The decision of whether he plays or not belongs to me. He is always an unbelievable guy. It is a joy to have him in the locker room."

• Man City's injury concerns

  City will continue to miss their key midfielder and former Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who suffered a thigh injury after recovering from ACL. Star striker Erling Haaland also picked up a knock against Aston Villa last weekend as he painfully collided with the post.

  Providing an update on his squad and the injury problems, Guardiola said: "Khusa [Abdukodir Khusanov] is ready to play a few minutes tomorrow and Rodri is still not. So [it] is getting better, training with us partially. But, of course, after what happened two times with the muscular injuries we are going to see how he is this week. Erling, I didn’t see him today but it was a knock and day by day is better. But now we train this afternoon and will know more exactly how he feels."

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  Guardiola likely to rotate squad

  While Haaland might not have suffered a serious injury after his late collision against Unai Emery's side, the City boss could still opt to make personnel changes for the League Cup in midweek. City travel to Swansea on Wednesday as they look to book their spot in the quarter-finals. 

  Both Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki featured from the bench at Villa Park at the weekend, the former coming on in the 84th minute and the latter replacing fellow summer signing Tijjani Reijnders in the 76th minute. The duo have scored just one league goal between them this season, owing to an injury-hit start to the campaign, and City need the pair to start pulling their weight in front of goal to ease the scoring burden on Haaland.

  After the Swansea clash, City will play Bournemouth and Liverpool in two crucial Premier League fixtures, while they will also face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League before the international break. The Cityzens are currently sixth in the Premier League after the Aston Villa loss and are now six points behind table-toppers Arsenal.

On the latest edition of The Wayne Rooney Show, Wayne Rooney said, “I am not seeing anything which is giving me any confidence, there needs to be big changes in my opinion.”

Manchester United felt they had secured a coup when taking Ruben Amorim away from Sporting Lisbon midway through the 2024/25 campaign. The Portuguese tactician was flying high in his homeland and had been strongly linked with Liverpool before they appointed Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp’s successor.

But Amorim has floundered across his months in the Old Trafford hot seat, with United finding themselves languishing in 14th place in the Premier League after six matches, having finished 15th last term after losing to Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur.

Amorim has come under heavy flak for his rigid belief in his 3-4-3 formation, willing to die on that hill in spite of a general weariness over its ineffectiveness in the English game.

INEOS are hesitant to dismiss the 40-year-old from his duties and will hold out hope that United put in a big performance at home against Sunderland on Saturday, but if they fail to kick on, a tough decision will need to be made, with Sir Gareth Southgate emerging as a contender for the managerial spot at the Theatre of Dreams.

Man United consider appointing Southgate

One thing’s for certain, Man United’s potential appointment of Southgate would be met with more than a measure of doubt.

The former Three Lions boss might have achieved more success than any other England Men’s boss since the World Cup was lifted in 1966, but he’s also been out of club management since being relegated from the Premier League with Middlesbrough in 2009.

But he’d come in cheap, and with a reputation for being a strong communicator and an “unbelievable” character, as was said by Jude Bellingham upon the manager’s resignation from his England post after the 2024 European Championship.

But concerns over his tactical grasp persisted throughout his tenure, and the current question mark over Amorim’s own system points toward a necessity for a clear, fluent brand of football going forward.

INEOS need to appoint a proven trophy-winning manager with a deep understanding of the game and a vision which suggests this viewpoint could be effectively applied in the Premier League.

As it happens, former Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez is on the market, and he’s even showing an interest in making the move to the Premier League and joining the Red Devils, should Amorim be dismissed.

Man United could strike gold with Xavi

Xavi has been out of work since the start of 2024, when he left Barcelona. The legendary footballing figure is, however, open to new work, and Fabrizio Romano believes he is interested in taking the Manchester United job, should a vacancy materialise.

Romano revealed on his YouTube channel that Xavi is open to taking on the job at Old Trafford even without the allure of European football. It is worth noting the mentality on show here, with Amorim having wanted to remain with Sporting Lisbon for the duration of the 2024/25 campaign, instead of switching allegiances mid-season.

As a player, the iconic Spaniard was very much the definitive midfield maestro, and he has willed his managerial career into shape through the application of his own playing-day virtues.

His time as Barcelona manager was somewhat turbulent, but he did win the La Liga title in 2022/23, his first full season as boss, and played an important part in guiding the Spanish giants away from the pit they were sinking into. In February 2024, he left isolated and frustrated, but with his head held high.

If Man United can provide him with the assurances that he can have things his way, there is no reason why his erudite footballing brain. Already, the 45-year-old is enamoured by the idea, having said in the past that he “would love to work in the Premier League”.

Perhaps, then, the words from the horse’s mouth lend credence to Romano’s claim. With Amorim skating on thin ice, it feels like United could score themselves a significant upgrade, especially with Xavi employing a more conventional 4-3-3 formation.

That said, Xavi’s managerial outlook might be conventional at the surface level, but there is a depth and mastery of the technical side of the game that could be exactly what United need as they look to return to the top.

Barcelona are a team defined by their passing, and Xavi, as a player and as a manager, has been an embodiment of that style.

When La Blaugrana lifted the league title under their legendary figure’s wing in 2022/23, they played with a gusto and command that was so very ‘Barcelona’.

So impressive was he that, before the trophy had even been lifted and with everything in the balance, club president Joan Laporta had said, “We have the best manager in the world”.

Here is a tactician who knows his stuff, with credentials of the highest order and a hunger to join Man United and make things right.

Amorim had a good thing going before taking the United job, to be sure, but it’s clear that he is a young coach whose experience was restricted to the Portuguese scene, and his stubbornness in keeping his same tactical outlook despite the glaring deficiencies had made for sustained grim viewing.

If the opportunity to appoint Xavi presents itself, United’s officials must pounce.

Ten Hag sold Man Utd talent for just £10m, now he's outperforming Bruno

Manchester United may have made a mistake in allowing one player to depart Old Trafford.

By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 29, 2025