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Whatever happens this summer in terms of incomings at Manchester United, there is likely to be nothing more crucial than the news surrounding Bruno Fernandes, with the talismanic skipper outlining his desire to stay put at Old Trafford.

The 30-year-old – who helped steer Portugal to Nations League glory on Sunday night – has opted to shun the Saudi riches in order to remain a central figure under Ruben Amorim, having reportedly turned down an offer of around €25m-per-season from Al-Hilal.

While there could be question marks over where the former Sporting CP star will fit in Amorim’s 3-4-3 system in the long-term, having frequently flitted between operating as a central midfielder or as a number ten to date, there’s no denying that United remain a better side with him in it.

Indeed, his tally of 38 goals and assists in all competitions last term says it all, with that return far exceeding anyone else in Amorim’s ranks, as Amad and Alejandro Garnacho finished in second place with 21 goal involvements a piece.

Season after season, Fernandes delivers the goods, with now the time to finally build a side around him that can compete for the top honours. Thankfully, it looks like that work is already underway..

Latest on Man Utd's summer rebuild

Matheus Cunha is already in the door, following his £62.5m switch from Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo appears next on the agenda, with a second bid for the 25-year-old seemingly in the works.

Thomas Frank’s expected move to Tottenham Hotspur could reportedly put a spanner in the works regarding that deal, albeit with it having previously been reported that United were the winger’s preferred destination – fresh off the back of scoring 20 Premier League goals in 2024/25.

The final piece of the attacking jigsaw could well be completed with the addition of Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres, with reports in Spain suggesting that INEOS are ready to make an offer for the prolific Swede.

Transfer Focus

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

Indeed, the report outlines that United are ready to go ‘all out’ for the signing of the 27-year-old, with the club willing to lodge a bid of around £60m in order to get their man.

The belief is that discussions are at an advanced stage, with hope at Old Trafford that an ‘understanding’ between the two clubs can be reached soon, amid prior reports that Gyokeres himself is open to making the switch.

The chance for Amorim to reunite with his 6 foot 2 goal machine appears to good to ignore, not least after missing out on new Chelsea man Liam Delap, with it a frightening prospect to see how Gyokeres could flourish with Fernandes behind him.

Why Gyokeres could thrive with Bruno Fernandes

Lauded as the “hottest striker in Europe” by ESPN’s Mark Ogden, Gyokeres is perhaps already reaching world-class status, having notably scored 97 goals in just 102 games in Lisbon – including six goals in eight Champions League appearances last time out.

The dream XI Man Utd could build: £156m quartet sign after Cunha & Mbeumo

Work is already underway ahead of what could well be a seismic summer for Manchester United…

1 ByRobbie Walls Jun 8, 2025

That said, the quality of the Portuguese top-flight ensures that doubts remain over whether he truly is in the top bracket of centre-forwards in Europe, with the Primeira Liga said to be just the seventh best league in the world, behind the Brazilian Serie A.

It would then be interesting to see if a player who never played in the Premier League during his time at Brighton and Hove Albion – and Coventry City – can translate his recent heroics in England’s top tier, with United in dire need of a success story following Rasmus Hojlund’s return of just four league goals in 2024/25.

Well, fear not – enter, Fernandes.

If anyone is to help Gyokeres to thrive, it is the Red Devils skipper, with the experienced playmaker possessing a magic ability to unlock a defence, having put together a highlight reel of assists or chances created in recent years.

Indeed, Fernandes ended last term as the player to have laid on the most chances in the Premier League for the third season in a row, having also created 16 ”big chances’ – despite registering ‘just’ ten assists.

In essence, the midfield genius – who also averaged 2.5 key passes per game – is in need of someone to finish off the plethora of opportunities he conjures up, with Gyokeres perhaps the perfect fit.

Bruno Fernandes

91

Cole Palmer

89

Mohamed Salah

89

Enzo Fernandez

79

Bryan Mbeumo

70

Dejan Kulusevski

65

Martin Odegaard

63

Mikel Damsgaard

63

Leif Davis

61

Yourie Tielemans

61

An “insane” ball-striker, as per analyst Ben Mattinson, the one-time St Pauli marksman netted a mammoth haul of 39 league goals last term, having scored once every 72 minutes with a goal conversion rate of 28%.

While he did miss 23 ‘big chances’, Gyokeres would almost be supplied with an endless stream of openings to convert by Fernandes, with the latter man notably teeing up Amad to header home with a delightful dinked pass against Aston Villa on the final day.

You can only imagine the success that Gyokeres would enjoy if supplied with similar service, with combining with Fernandes a way to truly elevate his game, thus confirming that ‘world-class’ status.

Man Utd eyeing "monster" £63m striker who'd be Amorim's new Gyokeres

Manchester United could find Ruben Amorim’s new Viktor Gyokeres by signing this star.

ByDan Emery Jun 9, 2025

Aston Villa have now submitted an enquiry over a deal to sign a “highly-talented” midfielder, according to reporter Mohamed Toubache-Ter on X.

Villa's summer transfer plans taking shape

Villa’s summer transfer business could be significantly hampered by their failure to qualify for next season’s Champions League, following Thomas Bramall’s controversial decision to rule out Morgan Rogers’ opening goal at Old Trafford last Sunday.

Missing out on the top five may also be a double whammy for Unai Emery, as the manager could now find it more difficult to hold on to some of his better players, with Emiliano Martinez looking like he could be heading for the exit door this summer.

£25m Aston Villa target set to snub Barcelona to seal Premier League move

Unai Emery has been handed a boost in his pursuit of an “elite” summer transfer target.

ByDominic Lund May 27, 2025

As such, signing a new goalkeeper is on the agenda for the Villans in the upcoming window, while they are also clearly keen on bringing in a new central midfielder, having been linked with a range of different targets in both positions.

Target

Current club

Potential cost

Aaron Ramsdale

Southampton

£25m

Joan Garcia

Espanyol

£25m

Mateus Fernandes

Southampton

£30m

Angel Gomes

Lille

£0

Caoimhin Kelleher

Liverpool

£40m

Fernandes and Gomes could be able to make an instant impact at Villa Park, given that the former has experience in the Premier League, while the Lille star’s performances in Ligue 1 last season earned him a first England call-up from Lee Carsley.

However, there have also been reports that Aston Villa and NSWE could be willing to take a risk on more of an unknown quantity, with Toubache-Ter taking to X to reveal Emery’s side have now made an enquiry about “highly talented” Lens midfielder Neil El Aynaoui.

A further report goes on to state that Italian giants Juventus have also expressed an interest in El Aynaoui, who is now looking likely to leave Lens this summer, having previously been close to joining AS Monaco before failing a medical.

El Aynaoui impressing in France

Gomes may be the more well-known Ligue 1 central midfielder, but the Lens star was arguably just as impressive last season, putting in some particularly solid performances in an attacking sense, having picked up eight goals and one assist in 24 games.

The Nancy-born midfielder routinely finds the back of the net for Lens, but he is also clearly a well-rounded central midfielder, considering he places in the 95th percentile for interceptions and blocks per 90 over the past year, when compared to his positional peers.

As such, while El Aynaoui, 23, wouldn’t be the most high-profile of signings for Aston Villa, there are plenty of indications that he could be a shrewd acquisition this summer, and it is promising news that steps are being taken to assess a potential deal.

After putting in what might be one of the club’s all-time great performances away to European champions Real Madrid on Wednesday night, Arsenal had the task of dispatching Ipswich Town yesterday afternoon.

Given the hype before their Champions League game and the sheer jubilation that followed it, it wouldn’t have been all that surprising to see the Gunners struggle to motivate themselves for a Premier League game that ultimately now means little in the grand scheme of their season.

However, Mikel Arteta has instilled a certain philosophy in his team, and they came out flying against the Tractor Boys, coming away from Suffolk as fully deserved 4-0 winners, with the likes of Mikel Merino and Leandro Trossard seriously impressing.

Yet, as good as the two starters were and as vital as they will be for the rest of the season, one of the second-half substitutes is now worth considerably more than both and could even be the Gunners’ new Cesc Fàbregas.

Merino & Trossard's game vs Ipswich

With Thomas Partey set to miss the first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain thanks to his brainless yellow card in the closing stages of last week’s win, Arteta left him out of yesterday’s starting lineup, moving Merino into midfield and starting Trossard up top, in preparation for the upcoming game.

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Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

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While some were understandably worried about changing a winning formula, it would be fair to say it was a tweak that worked perfectly.

For example, the Belgian scored a goal in both halves and what made them all the more impressive was that he did so with little space to manoeuvre in the box, which might be how he has to operate next Tuesday.

We weren’t the only ones impressed with the former Brighton & Hove Albion man either, as the Standard’s Simon Collings awarded him an 8/10 match rating at full-time, writing that he ‘made his case’ to start against PSG and ‘offered more than just goals.’

Moreover, be it the confidence he’s gained from playing up top or the simple fact that he’s now had a sizable run of games in the side, the former Real Sociedad star was phenomenal and earned an 8/10 rating from Collings.

For example, his brilliant backheel allowed Gabriel Martinelli to score his 50th goal for the club, and while he didn’t get on the scoresheet himself, he was here, there and everywhere in the middle of the park, as exemplified by his statistics.

For example, in just 57 minutes of action, the “duel monster,” as dubbed by Arsenal content creator Adam Keys, amassed a combined expected goal plus assists figure of 0.48, provided one assist, took 33 touches, played one key pass, was accurate in 100% of his crosses, created one big chance, won ten duels and made six tackles.

Merino’s game in numbers

Minutes

57′

Expected Assists

0.04

Assists

1

Expected Goals

0.44

Key Passes

1

Big Chances Created

1

Crosses (Accurate)

1 (1)

Touches

33

Duels Won

10

Tackles

6

Dribbled Past

0

All Stats via Sofascore

In short, both Trossard and Merino put in stellar displays yesterday and should now be nailed-on starters for next Tuesday’s season-defining encounter.

Yet, both players are worth considerably less than one of yesterday’s substitutes, who could be the club’s next Fabregas.

The Arsenal gem worth millions more than Trossard & Merino

So, first things first, how much are Merino and Trossard worth today? Well, according to Football Transfers, the former is worth around €39.7m, which is about £34m, and the latter is valued at €31.8m, which is about £27m.

Now, while those are not insignificant valuations, they are, surprisingly so, much lower than Ethan Nwaneri’s, which is a whopping €54.6m, which comes out to about £47m, or £20m more than the Belgian and £13m more than the Spaniard.

It might seem like an absurd number for someone who’s just turned 18, but that might actually work in his favour, as the Hale Ender is already showing an ability to thrive in a title-chasing side at such a young age, scoring nine goals and providing two assists in just 33 appearances, totalling 1294 minutes.

In fact, it’s this ability to step up and perform like a seasoned professional at such a young age that makes him so similar to Fabregas.

The former captain became the youngest player to represent the team in a competitive fixture – a title now held by the Enfield-born gem – when he came off the bench against Rotherham United in a League Cup match in October 2003.

Then, over the next few years, he became a regular starter in the team, so much so that he started the club’s triumphant FA Cup final against Manchester United in 2005.

On top of breaking through in similar ways, there is a real possibility that the Gunners’ “unplayable” young star, as dubbed by Jack Wilshere, could eventually move into the position once held by the Spaniard in time, as while he’s thriving on the wing at the moment, his most played position across his junior career was attacking midfield.

Finally, like the former Barcelona star, the teenage phenomenon has already shown that nothing about top-flight football fazes him, which could be one of the characteristics that help him establish a starting role in the first team in the years to come.

Ultimately, while Merino and Trossard should and almost certainly will start against PSG, Nwaneri looks like he will be one of Arsenal’s best players for potentially the next decade or more.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 21, 2025

This summer is crucial for Ruben Amorim in his quest to return Manchester United to glory, with the upcoming window handing him his first opportunity to overhaul the squad.

The 40-year-old took the reins from Erik ten Hag back in November, but the January transfer window was no way near long enough to make the wholesale changes needed.

The showing against Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday night is evidence that he has an excellent spine of the side to build on, but is still in desperate need of investment to catapult the Red Devils up the Premier League table.

It remains to be seen how much money Amorim will have at his disposal given Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s cost-cutting operation, but it’s pivotal that the manager is given the funds to make his mark.

With the window just a couple of months away, rumours have already started circling, with numerous players already on the club’s radar ahead of 2025/26.

The latest on Man Utd’s hunt for a new striker

Over the last couple of days, it has emerged that United have made Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap their number one target to become their new talisman at Old Trafford.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed a superb first season in England’s top flight, finding the net 12 times in his 31 appearances for the relegation-threatened outfit.

However, should the Tractor Boys drop back into the Championship come the end of the season, the forward could be available for just £30m – putting Amorim and the hierarchy on red alert.

Despite the interest in Delap, the likes of Matheus Cunha and Viktor Gyokeres continue to be touted with a move to the North West, also joined by Victor Osimhen if one report is to be believed.

According to Turkish journalist Ali Naci Kucuk, the Red Devils have already made an offer to the Nigerian’s representatives of around €20m a season (£660k-per-week) to prise him away from Napoli.

Why United’s latest transfer target would be an upgrade on Hojlund

Danish forward Rasmus Hojlund arrived with huge expectations at United after the hierarchy forked out £72m for his services back in the summer of 2023.

However, his time at the club has been nothing but successful, only scoring 24 times in his 87 appearances to date, with only eight of his efforts coming in 2024/25.

He’s often shared the centre-forward role with Joshua Zirkzee this campaign, failing to nail down the starting position constantly – understandably so given his run of 21 games without a goal earlier in the season.

Such a lack of form has led to the recent rumours over a new forward arriving this summer, with Osimhen the latest player to be thrown into the mix ahead of the opening of the window.

The Nigerian, who’s currently spending the season on loan at Galatasaray, looks almost certain to leave his parent side, Napoli, in the coming months, with United desperately needing to pounce and complete a deal for his services.

When comparing his figures with Hojlund from 2024/25, the 26-year-old has massively outperformed the current Red Devils talent, with his signing taking the attacking department to the next over.

Osimhen, who’s been labelled “sensational” by commentator Matteo Bonetti, has hugely outscored the Dane, whilst also notching a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate – demonstrating the clinical edge he possesses in attacking areas.

Games played

33

44

Goals scored

29

8

Shot-on-target accuracy

56%

55%

Shots on target per 90

3.4

1.5

Shot-creating actions

3.8

2.8

Take-on success

60%

16%

Aerials won

4.2

1.3

Aerial success rate

64%

39%

He’s also managed to complete more of his attempted take-ons, whilst also winning more of the aerial battles he’s entered – offering the all-round presence the club have desperately craved.

Whilst the touted weekly wage offered for Osimhen’s services may seem ludicrous, his stats prove that he’s way above the levels of the options currently at Amorim’s disposal.

If the former Sporting CP boss is to mastermind a revival over the summer, he needs to attract elite-level talents to transform the side, with the Nigerian certainly needing to be at the top of his shortlist.

Ugarte upgrade: Man Utd in advanced talks for "out of this world" £52m ace

Man Utd are looking to strengthen in midfield

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 17, 2025

Regardless of what division Leeds United find themselves in next season, this summer is a huge window for boss Daniel Farke to provide the added quality to the first-team squad.

The German has already made some shrewd additions in the transfer market, landing the likes of Ao Tanaka and Jayden Bogle, who have both been two of the Championship signings of the season.

However, he will have to replicate such dealings this summer – especially if they secure promotion to the Premier League, needing to invest if they are to secure survival in 2025/26.

The Whites already have serious quality within the current squad, helping them sit second in the division with just a handful of games remaining this campaign.

If they are to reach the next level, Farke will want to build on the progress made, with one player seemingly already on their radar ahead of the summer transfer window.

Leeds set to make offer for defensive star

According to Africa Foot, Leeds are set to make a €2m (£1.7m) bid for Porto left-back Zaidu Sanusi regardless of what division they find themselves in next season.

The Nigerian has only made six first-team appearances for the Liga Portugal outfit this season as he continues his recovery from the ACL injury he suffered last season.

However, Sanusi has already stated that no deal has been agreed after other rumours suggested a deal was already agreed for him to move to Elland Road.

This report claims no bid has yet been made, but the Sanusi could be open to a move to Yorkshire in the near future to gain more first-team minutes given his lack of action since his return from injury.

It would be a superb addition for the Whites, potentially being the next version of a former fan favourite who captured the hearts of many during his time at the club.

Why Sanusi could be Leeds’ next Ben White

Defender Ben White thrived during the 2019/20 season at Leeds, spending the season on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion, making 49 appearances across the promotion-winning campaign.

He featured for every minute of the league campaign that season, highlighting the importance he held under Marcelo Bielsa in their return to the Premier League.

However, after promotion, the club tried to sign him on a permanent basis, but were unable to strike a deal with the Seagulls despite offering a £30m deal for his signature.

He’s since moved to Arsenal in recent years, featuring for the Gunners in the Champions League and thriving at right-back, taking his career to the next level.

The Whites could land their next version of White with a move for Sanusi, with the full-back being ranked as a similar player to the Arsenal star by FBref for his displays in Europe last campaign.

When delving into their respective figures, the Nigerian has matched or bettered the 27-year-old in various key areas, showcasing what a phenomenal addition he would be to Farke’s side.

Sanusi, who’s been labelled a “superstar” by one analyst, managed to win more tackles per 90 along with more interceptions made, highlighting the defensive quality he possesses – aiding Farke should he sign this summer.

How Sanusi compares to White in the UCL (2023/24)

Statistics (per 90)

Sanusi

White

Games played

4

10

Minutes played

307

754

Tackles won

1.2

0.6

Interceptions made

1.2

1

Clearances

1.8

1.2

Take-ons completed

1.5

0.5

Aerials won

2.7

1.1

Stats via FBref

He’s also managed to complete more take-ons per 90, whilst also winning more aerial battles, offering that all-round presence that may be needed should they achieve promotion this summer.

With Junior Firpo’s contract set to expire this summer, the club will need added reinforcements in the left-back area, with the Porto star certainly providing just that.

Should he get anywhere near the level produced by White during his time at Elland Road, he would be a superb addition – especially for the bargain fee touted for his signature.

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Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Apr 2, 2025

Fortunately, their spin department is firing on all cylinders and in Dubai, the venue of all their matches, that could be crucial

Karthik Krishnaswamy17-Feb-2025How do they look?This is the same team, more or less, that looked like one of the all-time great ODI sides while all but winning the 2023 World Cup. The more-or-less clause, however, could be significant to their push to make up for losing that fateful final by winning this Champions Trophy.First up, Jasprit Bumrah will not be there. As good as the rest of this team is, it’s almost like Argentina without Diego Maradona in 1986 or Lionel Messi in 2022. Mohammed Shami will be there but he’s yet to show, in the handful of international games he’s played since his return from injury, the pace and incisiveness that made him near-unplayable in that World Cup.This means India may have to try and win games with their spinners, which, fortunately for them, is likelier to work as a strategy in Dubai, the venue for all their matches, than at any ground in Pakistan. They may look to play three spinners whenever possible, which will come with the added benefit of greater batting depth.The batting, too, carries the more-or-less clause. India have a line-up full of frighteningly good players, but there’s a little more uncertainty around some of them than there was a year-and-a-half ago – quite likely because there have been so few ODIs in the lead-up to this tournament. The two biggest names have both endured a difficult time of late, but India will be relieved that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have both shown, over the course of the recently concluded three-match series against England, that they might still be at a similar level to their ODI selves of 2023.Who are their opponents?India have been drawn in Group A of the Champions Trophy. Either side of the obligatory ICC-tournament-group-stage meeting with Pakistan on February 23, they will face Bangladesh on February 20 and New Zealand on March 2. Dubai will host all their group matches – and their semi-final and the final, should they get that far.Likely best XI1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 KL Rahul (wk), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Mohammed Shami.Bench: Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Varun Chakravarthy.Hardik Pandya’s all-round prowess gives India a signficant advantage•BCCIPlayers to watchThe man who makes India’s combination work, and for that reason one of the most important players in the entire tournament, is Hardik Pandya. He bats at No. 6, and when fully fit is a good enough bowler to be a proper third seamer. He has endured a difficult history with injuries, however, and his early exit from the 2023 World Cup cost India a lot of flexibility. If Hardik is fit, India can play either three frontline quicks or – as seems likely in this tournament – three spinners.Of their spin options, Axar Patel is turning into a key player. The pitches in Dubai, which tend to be of the skiddy, low-bounce variety, could be conducive to his left-arm spin. Perhaps even more crucial is his skill with the bat, particularly against spin, which has turned him into a reliable left-hand floater whom India often promote to break up their predominantly right-handed top order.Key stats Since the start of 2023, India have a win/loss ratio of 3.333 in ODIs. All the other seven Champions Trophy teams have managed ratios below 2. In this period, five India batters – Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer – have scored over 1000 ODI runs, with all four managing either 50-plus averages, 100-plus strike rates, or both.Recent ODI formSince losing the World Cup final to Australia, India have only played nine ODIs across three series. They beat South Africa 2-1 in South Africa with a second-string team in December 2023, then suffered a 2-0 setback on turning pitches Sri Lanka with a near-full-strength side in August 2024, before pulling off a reassuringly dominant 3-0 win over England in the weeks leading up to the Champions Trophy.Champions Trophy historyIndia have won the Champions Trophy once outright, in 2013, and shared it with Sri Lanka in 2002, when the final was rained off on successive days. They’ve also been losing finalists twice, to New Zealand in 2000 and Pakistan in 2017.

The New Zealand left-armer talks about his new ball – the Claw – bowling to lefties, and how his time at Chennai Super Kings will help him in the World Cup

Deivarayan Muthu04-Sep-2023In this age of mystery spin and quick wristspin, there are still some capable fingerspinners who are fighting the tide. Among them, Mitchell Santner stands out for his remarkable control, despite having spent most of his career on the easy-paced bash-through-the-line pitches on small grounds in New Zealand.Mohammad Nabi (4.29), Shakib Al Hasan (4.44) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (4.70) all have better career economy rates than Santner (4.87) in ODI cricket, but they’ve all been bred on spin-friendly tracks in the subcontinent. That Santner is keeping pace with these fingerspinners – and even some wristspinners – is a credit to his defensive skills.So what’s on Santner’s mind when he is at the top of his mark, preparing to bowl to big hitters in ODI cricket?Related

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“I guess in recent times in one-day cricket, everyone is coming out quite hot with the bat,” he says. “We’ve seen some bigger scores, and it can be quite challenging at times for bowling. Our recent [bilateral] series in India was an example of that – where scores were 350-plus, and it makes a massive difference only having four men out vs five [between overs 11-40].”One [extra] guy you’ve got to have up [in the circle] and it’s usually a cow [midwicket] to the right-hander or mid-off to a left-hander. We know that the bowling style isn’t too different between T20 cricket and ODI cricket at the moment. You get a couple of dots, and you know the batsman wants to try some stuff and you try to build the pressure the same way.Santner says the strategy changes depending on the pitch he is bowling on. “You’re going to get a few more dots in one-day cricket, depending upon the surface. But if there’s a little bit there, you can probably be a bit more attacking. If it is a very flat wicket, like it could be in some of the World Cup games [in India], you have to be a bit more defensive and try to get wickets through false shots.”Santner used to be a left-arm seamer until he was about 15. Inspired by Daniel Vettori, he belatedly switched to left-arm fingerspin. When he was 17 or so, he suffered a back injury and he returned to action with a stiff non-bowling arm. The little pause in his bowling action and the effort he puts into reading the batter’s intention have helped him gain an advantage, though he isn’t a big turner of the ball.3:14

Mitchell Santner: ‘We’ve got our fast bowling and spin sorted for the World Cup’

“If you talk to some of the other bowlers, they try to probably look at some spot on the pitch. I try to watch the batter the whole time. The little delay [in my action] helps me if they’re going to charge at me or try something… At times, especially when it’s flat or if I think the batsman is going to do something, I watch him even harder. And at times, if it’s spinning, I might just bowl my best ball – the one that spins – and see what happens.”It has become increasingly difficult for left-arm fingerspinners to operate against left-hand batters in white-ball cricket. Colin Munro, a former New Zealand team-mate of Santner’s and currently a freelancer, recently spoke about playing Bazball-style cricket against left-arm fingerspinners. He talked about how Brendon McCullum, who was a mentor of sorts to him, spoke about picking match-ups. “If the left-arm spinner comes on to a left-hand batter, take him down. Don’t just get ten runs in the over; if you can get 18, it accelerates the game.”These days, even right-hand batters are switching into left-handers to spook left-arm spinners. For instance, in his first full season at Wellington Firebirds, Finn Allen switched his stance and monstered Santner into the grass banks beyond midwicket at the Basin Reserve. Santner says in these situations he tries to watch the batter’s feet and movements even more carefully than usual, and to vary his pace even more.”With the nature of these pitches being flatter and a lot of T20 cricket [being played], people are being very aggressive in ODI cricket. [As a bowler] there are times to attack and there will be times to defend as well, so being able to watch the batter is massive… see when the guy is going to switch [-hit] or run down.”With the lefties, you have to try and vary your pace [more] and maybe bowl a few variations to try to keep it away [from them]. Being a left-hand batter, if a left-arm spinner comes on, I try to take him down as well. So, it’s obviously vice-versa when I’m bowling.”Santner is also planning to use his version of the carrom ball, “the Claw”, to counter left-hand batters on particularly placid pitches in the World Cup. He recently flicked it out during his T20 stint with Worcestershire Rapids in the Blast in England.On bowling with Ish Sodhi: “We have a very good relationship, so we talk about different roles between each of us. If it’s spinning, we could do it [attack] together and at times we might both have to defend, depending upon the conditions”•Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images”I think it’s definitely an option to some left-handers. Something that just goes away from the left-hander has been so effective. I know [R] Ashwin uses it a lot against right-handers as well, so just some variation outside of the natural stuff to keep the batsmen guessing, especially when the pitches are flat.”Santner usually dovetails beautifully with legspinner Ish Sodhi, and their partnership will once again be crucial to New Zealand’s success in India. They combined spectacularly to spin India out for 79 in Nagpur in the T20 World Cup in 2016 and have both grown in stature since. New Zealand also have other options in Rachin Ravindra (another left-arm spinner) and Glenn Phillips (part-time offspinner).”Me and Ish have done it for a very long time,” Santner says. “We have a very good relationship, so we talk about different roles between each of us. It might be on me to tie up one end and he can be more aggressive at the other. If it’s spinning, we could do it [attack] together and at times we might both have to defend, depending upon the conditions.”In New Zealand, you might just go for one spinner every now and then, but in the World Cup in India, you might see at least two.”Michael Bracewell’s injury has stripped New Zealand of batting depth, but Santner’s improved power-hitting could help make up for that. Some of that power was on display when he cracked 64 off 46 balls at No. 3 for Worcestershire against Derbyshire in July.”Yeah, it’s been nice to get some opportunities [to bat up the order]. When you’re playing a lot for New Zealand, you’re kind of coming at the end. With our top order and middle order, we’ve got quite a good line-up, so you don’t get that much opportunity. It’s nice to go back and play for ND [Northern Districts] and get some more batting opportunities and then with Worcestershire. Michael Bracewell got injured, which wasn’t ideal for us, but it was an opportunity for me to go from No. 5 to No. 3, which was nice. Batting in the powerplay is definitely different to batting at the end. The more I can bank those experiences, and have good opportunities with the bat, the better.”Santner has been working on his batting ahead of the World Cup and worked with power-hitter Albie Morkel while playing in MLC in the USA•Dan Mullan/Getty Images”I think we’ve seen in one-day cricket, but especially in T20 cricket, power-hitting at the end of an innings – or even throughout the innings – is so important. We had Albie Morkel [assistant coach] with the Texas Super Kings [in MLC, the US-based T20 league] who was a very good exponent of that in his time. It was nice to work with him for a little bit as well.”More recently, on his Hundred debut for Southern Brave in August, Santner made an immediate impact, taking the new ball and giving away only 20 runs in his four sets, handcuffing Jos Buttler and Phil Salt with his subtle variations.Santner also fronted up to take the newish ball in MLC. He could perhaps do a similar job for New Zealand in their two World Cup games in Chennai, which is also his home base in the IPL.”The nature of playing leagues is, you come up against some of the best players and you’re likely to play them in these World Cups coming up. You get more of an understanding about each person playing and the conditions.”The IPL has been so good for that. You play a lot of games in India on some pretty good pitches – some slightly slower and some that can go through. Having that understanding of what you think batters are going to do and pitches are going to do is a massive one. Adapting on the day might be slightly different and you have to keep your options open when you’re out there.”Santner’s first introduction to the World Cup was through footage of the 1992 edition, when New Zealand bossed their way to the semi-final. Dipak Patel was New Zealand’s trump card at the time with his cagey fingerspin on small grounds with fielding restrictions in place. After that Vettori did that job for New Zealand, and though the landscape of the game has changed vastly since, Santner has taken over and continues to show the way for fingerspinners.

Jasprit Bumrah suffers his most expensive spell in T20s

Sampath Bandarupalli01-May-2021138 – Runs scored by the Mumbai Indians in the last ten overs, the most by any team in a successful IPL chase. Mumbai broke their own record of 133, set against the Kings XI Punjab in 2019. The 138 runs by Mumbai are also the third-most in the final ten overs of a successful T20 chase.Trinbago Knight Riders scored 144 runs against St Lucia Stars in CPL 2018 when they needed 139 runs in the final ten, a week after being on the receiving end of a 139-run effort by Jamaica Tallawahs in Port of Spain.ESPNcricinfo Ltd219 – The target chased down by Mumbai, which is the second-highest successful chase in the history of the IPL. The highest chase is by the Rajasthan Royals against the Kings XI, when they chased down a 224-run target in Sharjah last year. Tonight’s chase against the Super Kings was the first successful chase of a 200-plus target by Mumbai in the IPL across eight attempts.ESPNcricinfo Ltd0 – Quicker IPL fifties for Mumbai than the 17-ball effort by Kieron Pollard today. Pollard himself in 2016, Ishan Kishan in 2018 and Hardik Pandya in 2019 also had fifties off 17 balls for Mumbai previously, all against the Kolkata Knight Riders.This was also the fastest fifty by any player in the IPL against the Super Kings. KL Rahul in 2019 in Mohali and Sanju Samson in 2020 in Sharjah had fifties in 19 balls against the Super Kings. The unbeaten 87 from Pollard is also his highest IPL score.ESPNcricinfo Ltd16 – Sixes hit by the Super Kings batters in this match, the most by any team in an IPL match against Mumbai. The previous most was 15, by the Knight Riders in 2019 in Kolkata. In reply tonight, Mumbai struck 14 maximums, the most by them in an IPL game against the Super Kings.0 – Instances of more than one century partnership in an IPL innings before the Super Kings’ innings tonight. Faf du Plessis and Moeen Ali added 108 runs for the second wicket, before Ambati Rayudu and Ravindra Jadeja shared an unbeaten 102-run stand for the fifth wicket.218 for 4 – The Super Kings’ total is their highest against Mumbai. Previously, 208 for 5 in Chepauk in 2008 was the only instance of the Super Kings posting 200+ against Mumbai in the IPL.62 – Runs conceded by Lungi Ngidi in this game, the most by any player in an IPL match for the Super Kings. The previous most conceded by a CSK bowler in an IPL game was 58 by Mohit Sharma vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2015, and Sam Curran earlier this season against KKR.56 – Runs conceded by Jasprit Bumrah, in four overs, in this match, which is the most by him in a T20. The previous most conceded by Bumrah was 55 against the Delhi Daredevils in Delhi in 2015.

Celtic have just under two weeks to find their long-term successor to Brendan Rodgers in the dugout at Parkhead before the end of the international break.

Martin O’Neill has been in interim charge for the last four matches in all competitions, winning three of them, but he may have managed his last game for the club if they can find a permanent head coach in the coming days.

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph recently claimed that Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy has emerged as one of the contenders to replace Rodgers in Glasgow.

Celtic considering move for title-winning manager

The French MLS head coach is not the only name under consideration during this international break, though, as they are also looking at a title-winning boss who would be an upgrade on Nancy.

Manager Focus

Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.

According to Sky Sports, Celtic have drawn up a shortlist that includes several of the usual suspects, including Nancy, Kieran McKenna, Craig Bellamy, and Kjetil Knutsen.

The report claims that Club Brugge head coach Nicky Hayen is also one of the tacticians on their radar, as they consider who they want to replace Rodgers this season.

It remains to be seen who they will decide to pursue as their number one target, at this moment in time, but Hayen could be a much better option than Nancy for the Hoops.

Why Nicky Hayen would be a better option than Wilfried Nancy for Celtic

The 4-2-3-1 head coach could be an upgrade on the Columbus Crew manager for Celtic because of his experience in European football and his superior domestic performances.

Per Transfermarkt, Nancy has averaged 1.70 points per game over 169 MLS matches in his career. He also ended the 2025 campaign with a points per game average of 1.59, winning 14 and losing eight of his 34 games.

Meanwhile, per Transfermarkt, Hayen has averaged 2.00 points per game across 83 matches as Club Brugge’s permanent manager, after averaging 2.21 points per game in 14 outings as their caretaker before landing the permanent job.

The Pro League boss, who was described as “tactically unbeatable” by one scout on X, has also won three trophies, including a league title, since the start of the 2023/24 campaign.

Meanwhile, Nancy has won one trophy, the MLS Cup, since the start of 2023, which suggests that Hayen would be the better option out of the pair when looking for domestic success in the Scottish Premiership.

As you can see in the table above, the Club Brugge head coach has also had success on the European stage, going further in the Conference League and the Champions League than Rodgers ever did across his two spells at Parkhead with Celtic.

These statistics suggest that Hayen would help the Hoops to compete on the European stage, as he has proven that he can coach at that level, whilst Nancy has only ever coached in the MLS and has no prior experience in the Europa League, Conference League, or Champions League.

Dream Knutsen alternative: Celtic want to interview "incredible" manager

Celtic want to interview a manager who would be a dream alternative to Kjetil Knutsen.

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Therefore, the Club Brugge boss could be a much better option for the Scottish giants than Nancy, because their respective careers suggest that he has a higher chance of being a success domestically and on the European stage.

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Após voltar para o Allianz Parque e vencer tanto a semifinal do Paulista, quanto a grande final de garantiu o tricampeonato estadual ao Palmeiras, o time de Abel Ferreira se prepara para voltar para Barueri mais uma vez.

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Por conta de shows que serão realizados na casa do Verdão, nestes próximos dois meses, a diretoria alviverde já bateu o martelo de que mandará três rodadas do Brasileirão 2024 na Arena Barueri.

Os jogos contra Internacional (2ª rodada), Athletico-PR (6ª rodada) e Vasco (8ª rodada), serão realizados na segunda casa alviverde que já foi utilizada pelo Verdão por cinco jogos neste ano.

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O aproveitamento do Verdão atuando por lá é ótimo e neste ano foram quatro vitórias e somente um empate atuando em Barueri.

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Apesar da frustração da torcida que terá que sair do Allianz Parque mais uma vez, pelo menos no duelo diante do Flamengo, pela terceira rodada, o jogo está confirmado no novo Palestra Itália.

Além do prejuízo esportivo de atuar longe do Allianz Parque, o prejuízo financeiro é alto para os cofres do alviverde imponente, que deixa de faturar milhões de reais por conta da diferença da bilheteria.

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