All posts by n8rngtd.top

With matches far and few for Zimbabwe, gigs like the BPL have provided a platform for him to showcase his talent

Mohammad Isam06-Jan-2020Mohammad Shahzad had top edged a slog off Kesrick Williams. From the outside it appeared tough, but fielding standards these days means infielders believe every high ball is a potential chance. Ryan Burl, running behind from cover towards the boundary, hurled himself towards the ball as it dropped fast in front of him and completed the catch, with Imrul Kayes fast approaching to celebrate with him.In real terms, this would make the year’s best catches highlights montage. In the BPL, where fielding standards have often been below par, the Burl catch is arguably the best in eight years.”If you don’t try, you’d never know,” Burl tells ESPNcricinfo about the effort. “The game is becoming very athletic. There are some great fielders these days. The game is played at a high tempo. These catches make an impact. I love my fielding. I set myself pretty high standards and I am not afraid to throw myself around. Probably to my detriment as I do get injured doing it.”The catch could be looked at as an equivalent to a zero-angle direct hit run-out, a match-winning cameo or a great over, moments that can turn games, championships and galvanise careers.

“I am addicted to all sports. I have played cricket, squash, hockey and athletics through the age-groups. If there’s a ball involved, I go crazy.”Ryan Burl

Picked by Chattogram Challengers following his impressive showing in the T20I tri-series in Dhaka in September, Burl’s maiden BPL stint couldn’t have had a bigger boost. As a 25-year old, he gave up on a county career, reshaped his batting focus to fit the modern needs and prioritised playing for his country despite all the administrative challenges.In July last year, they were given the shock of their lives when the ICC suspended Zimbabwe Cricket for government interference. While their membership was restored, it could take them many years to recover from the jolt.They missed the World T20 qualifiers in UAE, while what was to be their first bilateral series in India since 2002 stood cancelled. Their last T20I was in October in Singapore. So for a cricketer like Burl, T20 opportunities elsewhere is a boon.”There are some seriously talented players in Zimbabwe, but the problem is our lack of regular international fixtures to give us the exposure,” he says. “But now we have the one-day league starting next year and hopefully leagues like BPL help us out by playing with foreign players from other countries.”Burl remembers going into denial when he first heard of Zimbabwe’s suspension last year.”A part of me refused to accept that I wasn’t going to be allowed to play cricket again,” he says. “I just never thought of it for a moment. I kept ignoring it and did my training. I tried to keep myself happy and in the zone.”While their reinstatement hasn’t translated into a lot of cricket yet, Burl lives in the hope of a better future. And so , he’s trying to be a better version of himself.Ryan Burl moments after pulling off a special catch in the BPL•Chattogram Challengers”I want to make an impact with batting, bowling or fielding. Coming to bat at No 5, I want to score a fifty off 25 balls,” he says of his goals. “Getting a few overs in, being economical and picking up a wicket or two. It is something I have been working on for the last year. I am reaping the rewards of a bit of hard work.”I used to be an aggressive cricketer, but when I played first-class cricket I became little bit more patient and slower. Now I have obviously tried to adapt. It has been a mental thing. I also spoke to players like Sikandar Raza and Brendan Taylor who play all these leagues. I am picking their brains and trying out a lot of things in the nets. Like reverse sweeps and ramps. It is now part and parcel of the game.”Burl was a bit of a prodigy growing up in Marondera, 80km east of Harare. He went to Peterhouse Boys School, which has England internationals Gary Balance, Tom Curran and Sam Curran, Italian rugby star Sebastian Negri and Olympic rower Peter Purcell-Gilpin among its alumni.Burl loved squash more than cricket, but it’s the mateship and camaraderie that pushed him towards a team sport.”I am addicted to all sports,” he says of his interests. “I have played cricket, squash, hockey and athletics through the age-groups. If there’s a ball involved, I go crazy. I could have been better at squash than cricket when I was young.”But the fact was that after winning a squash match, I was by myself. Whereas in cricket, you can celebrate with ten other guys in the field. I just like the camaraderie of everyone being together and enjoying each other’s success. It is what I loved the most.”Now that love has evolved into an international career that needs big performances almost regularly to keep himself afloat. Burl is a shoe-in for Zimbabwe’s tour of Bangladesh in February, when they play all three formats.It will be another little window for the T20 scouts to keep him in mind for T20 leagues later in the year. Until they get regular tours and home series, Zimbabwean cricketers like Burl have to make use of every opportunity, even if it means running several yards behind them to take impossible catches.

A record of good crowd attendance and a rich cricket history could make this an unlikely contender for a permanent Test venue

Varun Shetty in Indore13-Nov-2019Subtle marketing does not exist in Indore. The signboards on stores have roughly the same design language: big, bold text in red, usually in Hindi. A keysmith’s store will simply say , the Hindi word for keys. A medical store’s signage will read (medicine). If it says (learn to drive a car), you won’t find a driving school but a solitary instructor. What you see is what you get. Except, oddly, around the Holkar Stadium.There is graffiti along the walls that lead to the Narendra Hirwani Gate, with themes like satanism, sniper crosshairs, and a sustained bilingual campaign for veganism. But no posters or standees or even plain old banners to indicate that a Test is about to begin in less than 48 hours.

‘It’s a deep conversation’ – Kohli

Virat Kohli recently created a flutter when he suggested that India host Test cricket in only five hand-picked venues.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh in Indore – a city that might not figure in the top five but has a history of good crowds at matches – Kohli explained his argument:
“If you look at the ratio, a stadium like Indore attracted a decent crowd but a lot of others didn’t. And it can’t be that one stadium gets games and the others don’t. So I think the way we go abroad and know the grounds we’re playing in – like the MCG, Sydney, Perth and Brisbane – we know what to expect, what kind of crowd to expect, people know on what dates to expect a match. So it [my thoughts] was about creating that kind of culture.
“I think it’s a deep conversation. It’s not about criticising cities or taking away matches from them. Just a vision about how we can get together and raise Test cricket – that’s the perspective from which we’re trying to discuss this topic. T20s and ODIs should definitely be hosted, people should definitely get to watch cricket. But the situation of Test cricket now is that we’re all figuring out how to keep it at the top. So, from my point of view, that [five venues] was an option. It’s an option and we’ll see how it could be executed.”

It is no small feat, then, that for the first India-Bangladesh Test, nearly 9000 season tickets had been sold two days before the start. Just before the beginning of the day-ticket sales on Tuesday, Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association (MPCA) CEO Rohit Pandit reckoned there could be an average of up to 12,000 spectators throughout the Test – that’s three-quarters of the seats available to the public.”The stands start at Rs 150 [approx. US$ 2] for a daily ticket. The pavilions are between Rs 300 and Rs 400 [approx. US$ 4 and US$ 7]. So it’s pretty affordable. We have received reasonable support from the local spectators,” Pandit told ESPNcricinfo. “The turnout for a Test match can’t be compared to a limited-overs match. If India are batting first, then 11,000-12,000 spectators could be in the stands.”The low pricing extends to the five-day pass: They start at Rs 315 and go up to Rs 1845 [approx. US$ 25]. Student concession stands begin at Rs 362 [approx. US$5], women-only stands at Rs 420 rupees and a block for people with disabilities at half that price. The best five-day pass here is roughly the same price as a mid-level IPL ticket for one match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.”Basically, the cricket culture is quite big in this part,” Pandit said. “We see 2000 people turning up even for domestic matches. We try to keep the ticket price to a bare minimum, so there’s not much of a commercial type of approach to ticket prices. Our aim is to create a situation where there could a maximum number of spectators.”Former BCCI secretary and Madhya Pradesh cricketer Sanjay Jagdale, who began work as a cricket administrator in 1983, echoes these sentiments and is not surprised at the expected numbers.

The stadium is in the heart of the city. There’s the convenience for people to get into the stadium in say, half an hour. It’s a small stadium [capacity 27,000]. So you can get a better feel of the match when you are in the standsRohit Pandit, MPCA CEO

“Indore has a very rich tradition and cricket history. Right from the days of CK Nayudu and Mushtaq Ali and Holkar [the name of the former royal dynasty of the region, and also the name of the Ranji Trophy side representing it till the mid-1950s],” Jagdale said. “And it’s a city where a lot of cricket is played. With Hirwani, Naman Ojha and Rajesh Chauhan, there have constantly been players who are either playing for India or knocking the doors.”And they love watching cricket. That is one of the main reasons. The local people are also proud of the Holkar stadium, the Holkar traditions, the Holkar cricket. You must have been to the stadium. There’s a lot of local Holkar player names involved, right from CK Nayudu and Mushtaq Ali Pavilions to other Holkar greats. So they’re proud of that cricket tradition.”The Holkar Stadium hosted the first of its four international matches in 2006, waited ten years for its first Test – with an average spectator count of 24,000, points out Pandit – and got two limited-overs internationals in 2017. Since then, the Kings XI Punjab have occasionally used it as a second home ground. In the larger map of Indian cricket, Indore is what would count these days as a second-tier venue. With only the odd big match coming its way, the operational aspect of a five-day match is not easy. Among many challenges at the moment for the MPCA is hosting the 30-odd Bangladesh correspondents who will be joining at least twice that number of their Indian counterparts in the press box.The Indians get a feel of the Holkar Stadium•PTI But there is an unspoken opportunity here. One of the significant undercurrents of this Test is that it will be the first one since Virat Kohli sparked a conversation about India having a set number of Test venues during its home seasons. Indore is not an automatic name on a list of five venues for most people – that list is, naturally, filled with metropolitan centres – but it has quite a lot going for it. One of them is the acoustics, especially in this day and age of massive, new-age stadium being put up well outside city limits.”The stadium is in the heart of the city. There’s the convenience for people to get into the stadium in say, half an hour. It’s a small stadium [capacity 27,000],” Pandit said. “So you can get a better feel of the match when you are in the stands. In case of the big stadiums, the distance is on the higher side. And you get slightly disconnected from the on-field excitement. This is a 75-yard stadium. This, according to me, also attracts the spectators.”As the man who proposed taking the game to smaller centres during his time at the BCCI, Jagdale thinks Indore has a credible claim.”I don’t think it [empty stadiums] motivates players,” Jagdale said in relation to recent matches with low attendances. “Although a lot of people watch on TV, empty stadiums are not good for cricket. And the players also don’t enjoy. […] So why only five? It [the current system] promotes cricket in smaller centres. It motivates venues and associations to do well and come up with better infrastructure and better facilities.”Indore has good facilities, it is directly connected [planes and trains] and there are very good hotels. There’s a good stadium and a good crowd response. So why not encourage centres where the response is better and the facilities are good?”Who knows what levels Holkar Stadium could hit if a blimp said yahaan cricket dekhiye?

Much like their near Yorkshire neighbours in Leeds United, Sheffield United slipped up in the intense automatic promotion battle this weekend in the Championship.

Indeed, Chris Wilder travelled back to former employers Oxford United and was dealt a firm body blow in the form of a 1-0 loss, leading to Burnley jumping up to the top of the second tier at the away side’s expense.

Wilder will be particularly irked by the continued poor displays by £10m man Tom Cannon, with the attacker joining the building back in January with a reputation for being a goal machine, only to now be regularly fluffing his lines.

Cannon's poor displays at United

The £10m price tag that was instantly put above the 22-year-old’s head did have the potential to backfire against him, with the Irishman demanding that hefty fee off the back of a goal-laden loan spell with Stoke City.

Unfortunately for the automatic promotion hopefuls, Cannon’s blistering form in front of goal for the Potters – which saw him bag an impressive 11 strikes from 25 games – is yet to come to the forefront at Bramall Lane, with the United number 28 still goalless in his new location.

Instead of leading the line as United’s main marksman, Cannon has been reduced to a background figure for Wilder’s men, with just four starts coming his way from ten overall appearances.

Patience will have to be exercised on the end of the promotion chasers – considering the 22-year-old cost such a lavish amount to bring in – but they must rue selling this former attacker now who could well have been the club’s original Cannon.

Sheffield United sold the original Tom Cannon

Thankfully for Wilder and Co, other attackers have stepped up to the mark whilst Cannon flounders, with Tyrese Campbell boasting ten goals for the season now as the Blades’ star striker.

But, the United boss wouldn’t say no to having Daniel Jebbison back at his disposal as another exciting attacking option, with plenty expected of the Canadian forward when he was still situated in South Yorkshire.

After all, in a similar fashion to Cannon, Jebbison was tipped for big things from a very young age, with the then 17-year-old attacker tapping home this effort in the Premier League way back in 2021.

Helping himself to a stunning six goals from six games in the U18 structure too – much like Cannon who fired home a ridiculous 28 goals for the Everton U18s – Jebbison must have been anticipating that this strike against Everton would catapult him into stardom at Bramall Lane, but his reality would unfortunately play out much differently.

The one-time Canada international would only go on to amass two more goals for United from a further 33 first-team outings, before he was sold on to AFC Bournemouth in 2024 to bring his long-standing association with his boyhood club to a close.

Now out on loan at Watford, United must wonder if Jebbison could be the goalscoring machine they desire in the here and now if he was back on their roster, with his national team manager in Jesse Marsch recently stating that the 21-year-old still possesses “massive potential.”

Annoyingly, Jebbison never exiting might well have saved United significant amounts of cash in buying Cannon, but Wilder will pray he can get a tune out of the former Leicester City man sooner rather than later, as huge games come thick and fast in the brutal promotion race.

Sheffield United eye move to sign "brilliant" 21 y/o from Yorkshire rivals

Chris Wilder is looking to bolster his squad depth at Sheffield United.

By
Sean Markus Clifford

Apr 6, 2025

Liverpool are believed to be keeping tabs on a Vinicius Junior-esque starlet with a massive future in the game, according to a new transfer update.

Liverpool close in on title as transfer rumours ramp up

The Reds need just one more win to seal the Premier League title, following Sunday’s 1-0 triumph away to relegated Leicester City. They could even be crowned champions on Wednesday evening, should Arsenal lose at home to Crystal Palace, which feels unlikely.

Away from the on-pitch action, Liverpool continue to be linked with new signings, ahead of what promises to be a busy summer at Anfield. Nottingham Forest right-back Ola Aina has been mentioned as a potential replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold, should he depart for Real Madrid.

Bryan Mbeumo has also been mentioned as an option for the Reds for many months now and the Brentford ace is still being discussed as a summer target. A £50m bid for the Cameroonian is reportedly likely to be accepted by the Bees at the end of the season.

Liverpool are thought to have made contact with RB Leipzig ace Xavi Simons over a switch to Anfield, too, even though he only joined permanently from Paris Saint-Germain in the January transfer window.

Liverpool keeping tabs on Leicester teenager Monga

According to a report from Spain, Liverpool are eyeing a summer move for Leicester City teenager Jeremy Monga, who is considered one of the brightest young prospects in English football.

Chelsea and Manchester City are also thought to be interested in signing the winger, who recently became the first-ever player born in 2009 to play in the Premier League, and the second-youngest appearance-maker in the competition’s history.

Monga is a player who is being talked about as a special prospect, with scout/writer Jacek Kulig heaping praise on him and even comparing him to Madrid superstar Vinicius.

“Very positive on the ball, unpredictable, and confident of his skills. Doesn’t hesitate to use his weaker left foot and is capable of dribbling, passing, and scoring comfortably with it. Player has the potential to become a key player in a top European club.”

Liverpool should always be looking to sign the biggest young talent around and Monga could be an exceptional signing, maturing into a sensational player over time.

To have already played in the Premier League at the age of just 15 is an incredible achievement, and he was even introduced as a late substitute against the Reds on Sunday, making his second senior appearance in the process.

He outperformed Trent: Liverpool star just made himself undroppable

This Liverpool star was even better than Trent Alexander-Arnold and should now be undroppable.

By
Dan Emery

Apr 20, 2025

Monga has already made a combined 23 appearances for Leicester at Under-21 and Under-18 level, shining way above his own age group, so Liverpool pipping rivals to his signature could look like a masterstroke over time.

Manchester United are still alive in their quest to obtain Champions League football and could now have an opportunity to land one of Europe’s most talked about playmakers, per reports.

Manchester United look to boost summer budget

Despite a fairly dismal domestic campaign, the Red Devils could still wheel away with a place in the Champions League league phase next season should they claim the Europa League crown later this month.

After a storming victory over Athletic Club last Thursday, Manchester United have one foot in the final and will look to build on their three-goal advantage next week at Old Trafford.

Should they prevail, Ruben Amorim would then be tasked with a money-spinning winner-takes-all clash against either Tottenham Hotspur or Bodo/Glimt, with the former looking the more likely to progress to the showpiece occasion.

Financially, Manchester United could make around £85.8 million from winning the Europa League, factoring in subsequent Champions League qualification. Unsurprisingly, this could give INEOS a much-needed leg-up in the market, so Viktor Gyokeres and Matheus Cunha could join the Red Devils from Sporting and Wolverhampton Wanderers, respectively, if all goes to plan.

Talks have been held over Manchester United signing Jonathan Tah on a free transfer once his contract at Bayer Leverkusen expires, though there is further interest in his services from Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.

Fundamentally, it remains to be seen how Amorim’s squad takes shape. Plenty of individuals could be moved on, but how you supplement their departures is what counts. Now, Manchester United have found out that they can sign one of the top playmakers in all of Europe’s top-five leagues if he is made the star man at Old Trafford.

Manchester United given demands by Lyon's Rayan Cherki

Per reports in Spain, Manchester United could see Rayan Cherki arrive from Lyon this summer if he is given a ‘leading role’ in their line-up moving forward under Amorim. The France Under-21 international would be open to a new challenge at the end of this season and it is said that negotiations could intensify over the next few months that may see him end up at Old Trafford.

Perfect for Cunha: Man Utd in advanced talks to sign "world-class" talent

Manchester United have wasted no time in targeting reinforcements, with a deal edging closer for one star.

By
Ethan Lamb

May 2, 2025

Earning adulation for his entertaining displays, Cherki has registered 12 goals and 19 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions this season for Lyon. Creating 68 chances on Ligue 1 duty, the 21-year-old has shot to prominence as one of Europe’s maverick inventive forces and now looks destined to take the next step in his career at one of the elite.

Now, Manchester United need to make sure they can give him assurances on first-team action, which may be the factor that helps any deal over the line.

With three matches left to play in the Premier League this season – on top of an FA Cup final in the middle of May – Manchester City still have a chance to cling onto some crumbs of pride from a sobering campaign.

Indeed, Pep Guardiola’s men are now only three points off being on the same points total as Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in second, whilst a FA Cup final victory at Wembley versus Crystal Palace would be an impressive hat-trick of successes for the Spaniard in the esteemed competition.

Restoring some pride now could also set City up for a Premier League title chase when the ball gets rolling for the eventual 2025/26 season, with the upcoming transfer window further giving the Citizens apt time to rebuild before going again.

Manchester City's midfield rebuild

Guardiola has already started to add new flavours to his regimented City side, seen in seven-goal hero Omar Marmoush immediately making an impression on the English game after a statement January move.

With Kevin De Bruyne exiting the building this summer, the midfield is in slight need of a revamp too, leading to City now being linked with players like Morgan Gibbs-White and now Barcelona ace Frenkie De Jong to bolster centrally.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

As per reports from Spain, the Dutchman is an in-demand figure from a whole host of Premier League outfits, with Liverpool, Man CIty and Arsenal interested in signing the 27-year-old.

It’s further stated that a £34m bid could be made by Arne Slot’s title-winning Reds to try and tempt De Jong to Anfield, but City and the Gunners are still closely monitoring the Barca star’s situation to see if they can steal his services.

If De Jong can recapture the heights of his Ajax best at the Etihad, picking up such a talent for £34m will go down as a sterling bargain, with the 27-year-old also a potential upgrade on an ageing Gundogan if everything goes swimmingly.

Why De Jong could be a Gundogan upgrade

Before delving deeper into why the Dutchman might well be an inspired pick-up, it’s only right to look back at Gundogan when he was at his unbelievable peak in England.

After all, the German veteran hasn’t just fluked his sensational tally of 62 goals and 43 assists from 351 first-team appearances, but his numbers have been on an unfortunate slide this campaign.

Only five goal contributions have come his way in the Premier League this season, with De Jong amazingly only one off his ex-Borussia Dortmund’s counterpart’s total for the campaign back in La Liga.

This is a surprise considering the Barca number 21 has had many an injury setback to endure in the Camp Nou dressing room of late, but an impressive two goals and two assists have still managed to come his way, even as a mere seven league starts have been handed to him.

However, it’s over the last few seasons where we can really see the difference between the two players. Described by former Barca boss Xavi as “one of the best midfielders in the world”, he’s notably a more progressive passer and dribbler, with that no doubt a key attribute as Guardiola aims to refresh and rebuild his midfield.

Gundogan has, of course, displayed his class in the past for his current employers, but it does feel as if he’s reaching the end of his playing days now.

Whereas, De Jong – who has amassed 42 goal contributions and counting in Spain – has plenty of room to grow and impress, especially if he’s soon supplying the likes of Marmoush and Haaland with chances galore up top.

Rodri 2.0: Man City make "one of the best CMs in the world" a top target

Man City have earmarked potentially their next Rodri as a top target this summer

By
Ross Kilvington

May 2, 2025

This summer is massive for West Ham United if they are to right the wrongs of this season and push on under the guidance of manager Graham Potter.

The Hammers currently sit in 17th place in the Premier League, just one place above the relegation zone, and are lucky not to be in a scrap to maintain their top-flight status.

It’s certainly been a year to forget, with the 49-year-old unable to change the club’s fortunes after taking the reins from Julen Lopetegui, who was sacked after just six months in charge.

The former Chelsea boss has the summer window to try and transform the Hammers’ fortunes and push the side back up towards the European spots in 2025/26.

With the opening of the market rapidly approaching, groundwork is already being laid ahead of a huge period for the club – needing to make the right signings if they are to progress.

The latest on West Ham’s hunt for signings this summer

In the last couple of days, West Ham have entered negotiations with the representatives of left-back Junior Firpo over a potential deal this summer.

The Dominican international is currently on the books of Leeds United, but looks set to depart the Whites with his contract set to expire at the end of June.

The defender, who’s registered 14 combined goals and assists this season, isn’t the only player on their shortlist, with midfielder Morton Frendrup also on their radar, according to GIVEMESPORT.

Their report claims that the Hammers’ hierarchy have already made contact with Genoa over a deal for the 24-year-old, who could be available for £17m this summer.

It also states that he’s one of a number of options being considered for the upcoming window, but face competition from fellow Premier League outfit Brentford for his signature.

Why West Ham’s £17m target would be an upgrade on Soucek

Tomas Soucek has been a regular in the heart of the West Ham midfield this season, registering 35 appearances across all competitions, scoring on eight separate occasions.

However, despite his excellent record for the Hammers, he could be set to depart East London during the off-season, with newly-promoted Leeds just one potential destination.

It’s unclear if Potter will be wanting to cash in on the Czech international during the coming months, with his future in the capital certainly up in the air to say the least.

Should he leave, it would be a blow given his output across the field, but it would allow the manager to land an upgrade in the form of Genoa star Frendrup.

When comparing their respective figures from the current campaign, the Dane has managed to outperform Soucek in various key areas – highlighting how much of a bargain he would be at £17m.

Frendrup, who’s been labelled a “midfield machine” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has starred in possession, completing more of the passes he’s attempted along with more progressive passes – aiding other players within the final third.

He’s also dominated without the ball, winning nearly double the number of tackles per 90, along with more interceptions made – handing Potter the added quality he desires out of possession.

Since the departure of Declan Rice, the side have desperately needed the ball-winning presence in front of the back four, undoubtedly having an impact on their league standing.

Frendrup could provide just that for the Hammers, but the hierarchy will need to act quickly to avoid missing out on such a talent given the interest from elsewhere.

The £17m fee touted is a bargain in today’s market, with the Dane having all the tools to push the club back towards the European spots in the 2025/26 campaign.

He'd make Bowen unplayable: West Ham in the hunt for £30m "wrecking ball"

West Ham are eyeing up a new striker this summer

By
Joe Nuttall

May 8, 2025

Since leaving Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United side, Marcus Rashford and Antony have played important roles for high-performing sides on the European scene.

Rashford hasn’t been at his rip-roaring best with Aston Villa, but the game-changing winger has still played his part for a side that sit on the cusp of a return to the Champions League, victory at Old Trafford this afternoon standing in his way. He’s scored four goals and provided six assists from 17 games for the Villans.

At Real Betis, Antony looks not like a man reborn but a different player altogether. The right-sided forward became something of a whipping boy for his struggles at the Theatre of Dreams after joining from Ajax in an £86m deal, but has hit nine goals and five assists since moving to Spain in January.

However, these aren’t the only former Red Devils, those having toiled in existing memory at Old Trafford, who have been remade elsewhere, with Scott McTominay forging an incredible campaign for himself over in Italy.

Scott McTominay's Serie A season

Less than a year after leaving Man United and joining Napoli in a £25m deal, McTominay has won the Scudetto and been crowned the Serie A MVP.

It’s been quite the year for the Scotland international, who has long played the bit part at Old Trafford but has been reborn as a bona fide superstar in Naples, the architect of their second league title in three years.

The 28-year-old never quite brought it all together in the Premier League, but he’s channelled his innate goalscoring ability and reinforced his underlying metrics, averaging 6.1 successful duels and 4.2 ball recoveries per game, as per Sofascore.

It’s exactly the type of midfield robustness that has been lacking for the Red Devils this term, and McTominay’s success will not have been lost on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

However, he’s not the only former Manchester United star performing under Antonio Conte’s wing right now, and you could stake an argument for Romelu Lukaku having been even better than his Scottish teammate.

Romelu Lukaku has been outrageously good

Lukaku first moved to Italian football in August 2019, signing for Inter Milan in a deal worth £74m, leaving Man United.

He didn’t have a terrible spell at Old Trafford by any stretch, but the 32-year-old, then 25, failed to capture the magic of his time with Everton, who the Glazers paid an initial £75m (rising to £90m), two years earlier.

Scoring 42 goals and adding 15 more assists across 96 matches, Lukaku made inroads in his first year but struggled across the 2018/19 season, only bagging 15 goals from 45 fixtures in all competitions.

He’s been something of a nomad across his storied career, but who can say Lukaku hasn’t left an indelible mark on so many of his clubs?

Now, Napoli have been added to that list, with the number nine’s return of 14 goals and ten assists across the league campaign proving instrumental in the title-winning success. This means that he produced more goals and more assists than the Scottish midfielder, which is why he was even more influential and even better for the Italian outfit.

Football writer Muhammad Butt even took the time to draw praise to Lukaku amid the effusions directed McTominay’s way, hailing the “outrageously good” Belgian for his talismanic role across the campaign, bagging his second Serie A title after winning the 2020/21 edition with Inter Milan.

His goal against Cagliari on Friday night, following McTominay’s acrobatic opener, was certainly ‘outrageous’, and a reminder that he’s not just a poacher.

Here is one of the finest centre-forwards of his generation, and he underscored his legacy with a stunning season under Conte’s wing, a manager who has fallen in love with the nine and sought to make use of his talents across a number of different environments.

McTominay might have won the MVP, but Lukaku will no doubt feel that his prolific season may have warranted the vote angling his way. Ah well, the title will soften that so-called blow.

Not just Garnacho: Amorim must sell Man Utd dud who's a "serious problem"

Manchester United are in need of a serious overhaul this summer, with numerous players needing to be sold.

1

By
Ethan Lamb

May 24, 2025

Leeds United have now joined the race to sign a £20m Championship star, who amassed more goals than fellow target Gustavo Hamer across the 2024-25 campaign, according to a report.

Leeds looking to raid Championship clubs after promotion

With Leeds securing the 2024-25 Championship title, they are now at liberty to raid some of their former rivals for their best players, and it appears as though that could well be one of the strategies heading into the summer transfer window.

Sheffield United’s Gustavo Hamer is one of the potential targets, with the Whites now said to be plotting a move for the Brazil-born midfielder, who missed out on promotion in gutting fashion, courtesy of Tommy Watson’s last-gasp winner for Sunderland.

It is little wonder that Daniel Farke’s side are keen on the 27-year-old, considering the level of his performances for the Blades, with the maestro regularly chipping in with goals and assists to fuel his side’s promotion charge.

However, Hamer is not the only Championship attacker on Leeds’ shortlist, with a report from The Sun stating they have now joined the race to sign Middlesbrough star Finn Azaz, alongside AFC Bournemouth and Crystal Palace.

Michael Carrick will likely be unwilling to lose Azaz, given the level of his performances over the past two seasons, and he is thought to be valued at £20m, which means the Whites will have to shell out a sizeable fee for his services.

The Irishman is thought to be high on their shopping list, however, and a move to the Premier League could appeal to the attacking midfielder, given that he has certainly earned the chance to prove himself in the top flight.

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Azaz outperforming Hamer in the Championship

Indeed, at 24-years-old the maestro could be entering his prime years, and his performances in the Championship last season suggest he could make a real impact at Premier League level, collecting 12 goals and 11 assists in 45 outings.

The Ireland international outperformed Hamer in terms of attacking numbers, while also placing in the 83rd percentile for assists per 90 over the past year, when compared to other attacking midfielders and wingers.

As such, there was some controversy that the London-born attacker was overlooked for the end-of-season awards, but his omission likely relates to the fact that Middlesbrough finished in 10th place.

While Azaz’s attacking quality wasn’t enough to secure Boro a play-off spot, he could be a real difference-maker in Leeds avoiding relegation next season.

Arsenal’s recruitment drive is becoming more interesting by the day, with news coming to light on their attempts to sign a highly-rated forward for Mikel Arteta.

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The Premier League title eluded Arteta by a seismic distance last term, and sporting director Andrea Berta is working to back the Spaniard with new signings to reinforce the squad ahead of a more hopeful challenge next season.

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The reasons behind Arsenal’s failed title bid come down to injuries and a lack of potency in the final third, with a plethora of key first-team players, including the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz, all sidelined for extended periods throughout 2024/2025.

Gabriel Jesus’ ACL injury, sustained in an FA Cup defeat to Man United, also left Arteta without a senior natural striker for the majority of 2025. Mikel Merino was forced to play in an emergency striker role, and Berta will be determined to ensure Arsenal’s manager isn’t left so short of options next term.

Arsenal are currently working to discover the conditions of deals for both Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko, who are fresh off impressive campaigns at Sporting CP and RB Leipzig respectively (BBC).

Meanwhile, extensive groundwork is being laid when it comes to Arsenal’s pursuit of a new wide option, with Real Madrid sensation Rodrygo reported as a top target for Berta. However, talks have currently stalled due to salary demands, prompting the north Londoners to weigh up alternatives (Florian Plettenberg).

According to BBC reporter Sami Mokbel, one of those was Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo.

The Cameroonian has enjoyed the season of his life under Thomas Frank, scoring 20 goals in all competitions, but it looks highly likely that Old Trafford will be his next destination.

Negotiations have now started between United and Brentford over Mbeumo, but there is still a glimmer of hope for Arteta.

Arsenal tried to sign Bryan Mbeumo before Man United decision

Mokbel reports that Arsenal had “big” interest in Mbeumo and tried to sign him, before the African gave priority to Ruben Amorim’s side. However, if a move falls through, the BBC reporter suggests Arsenal could be there to salvage a move.

“I think Bryan Mbeumo is probably going to be ending up at Man United. I think that probably will happen,” Mokbel told Highbury Squad on YouTube.

“But I do know that Arsenal had a big interest in him and have tried. I think perhaps what Man United put on the table may be more favourable than Arsenal, and I think that perhaps that might be why he’s chosen to go to Man United.

“If the Mbeumo deal, for whatever reason, didn’t happen, I would not be surprised to see Arsenal be there or thereabouts to try to pick up the pieces of that deal.”

Reports suggest Man United have bid around £55 million for Mbeumo, but given Brentford’s valuation is actually around £60 million, there is still work to be done there.

While the 25-year-old only has a year left on his contract, Brentford possess the option to extend it by a further year, meaning they can charge a much higher fee than what you’d expect.