O São Paulo terá duelos decisivos nas próximas semanas, tanto pelo Campeonato Brasileiro, quanto na Copa do Brasil, com três clássicos em quatro jogos. Nas quartas de final do mata-mata nacional, o Tricolor terá pela frente o Palmeiras, já nesta quarta-feira (5), às 19h30, no Morumbi.
Para os tricolores paulistas apaixonados: produtos a partir de R$39,90 na FutFanatics!
Depois, o São Paulo viaja para Bragança Paulista, onde enfrenta o Bragantino, no domingo (9), às 16h, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro. Após essa partida, o elenco terá três dias de preparação para o duelo de volta da Copa do Brasil contra o Palmeiras, na quinta-feira (13), no Allianz Parque, às 21h30.
O Tricolor encerra a sequência de clássicos enfrentando o Santos, no domingo (16), às 16h, no Morumbi, em duelo válido pela 15ª rodada do Campeonato Brasileiro. Será a última partida envolvendo clubes regionais e de rivalidade com o São Paulo.
Nuno Espírito Santo publicly expressed his disappointment about the lack of new signings Nottingham Forest had made and, well, this appears to have had the desired effect.
In the last week, they have signed Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee, both presented to the City Ground crowd before Sunday’s demolition of Brentford, before Arnaud Kalimuendo then also joined on Monday.
Nevertheless, as the Garibaldi Reds prepare for a first European campaign in 30 years, eagerly awaiting next Friday’s Europa League draw, they are far from finished in the transfer market yet, so will two familiar faces soon arrive at the City Ground?
Nottingham Forest's busy transfer activity
Confirmed by the club on Thursday evening, Nottingham Forest have now signed Douglas Luiz from Juventus.
Juventus'DouglasLuizreacts
The deal is a season-long loan containing a €30m (around £26m) option to buy, which becomes an obligation should he feature in a certain number of Premier League fixtures.
During his time at Aston Villa, the Brazilian international became one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, but endured a nightmare year at Juventus, accumulating a miserly 877 minutes in a Bianconeri shirt; that’s only 17.6% of their total minutes!
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However, he is not the only player on his way to Nottingham because, according to a report by the Guardian, Forest are ‘working on a deal’ to re-sign Matty Cash from Aston Villa.
The right-back joined the Tricky Trees’ academy as a 17-year-old, making 141 first-team appearances, before being sold to Aston Villa for £14m in 2020, the Villans’ first-choice in that position from the day he arrived until now.
The aforementioned Guardian report notes that, due to PSR concerns, Villa will sell ‘if his valuation is met’, while The Athletic add that the Poland international is now Forest’s primary target, having failed in the pursuit of Rico Lewis from Manchester City.
Thus, could Aston Villa cash in, so to speak, with Matty, potentially, nearing a return to the River Trent?
What Matty Cash would bring to Nottingham Forest
Cash has been a key figure during Aston Villa’s rise in recent seasons, making 181 appearances for the Claret and Blue Army to date, including starting their Premier League opener against Newcastle last weekend.
Manager Unai Emery labelled him “versatile”, adding that he is continuing to improve both going forward and defensively, while Gregg Evans of the Athletic claims that he is ‘one of the Premier League’s best right-backs’, so let’s test that assertion.
Tackles
56
25th
% of dribblers tackled
72.1%
8th
Interceptions
79
50th
Ground duels won
95
26th
Successful dribbles
19
15th
Big chances created
3
31st
Note: all rankings are among defenders only.
As the table outlines, Cash ranked highly for a wide variety of metrics in the Premier League last season, despite seeing only a little over 2,000 minutes, out of a possible 3,420.
The most eye-catching statistic is his percentage of dribblers tackled, with Toti of Wolverhampton Wanderers the only player to attempt 30 or more tackles who boasted a better figure.
So, why would he be such a shrewd addition for Forest?
Well, simply, they need full-back depth. Ola Aina and Neco Williams are the first-choice duo but beyond them, there isn’t much else.
Àlex Moreno provided left-back cover last season, but his loan from, coincidentally, Aston Villa is now over, while Nuno had such a scarcity of options that teenager Zach Abbott, a centre-back by trade, started the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley in April, just his second-ever senior start.
Going forward, as the Tricky Trees attempt to balance both domestic and Europa League commitments, Cash would get plenty of minutes, even if full-back is not an obvious position of weakness.
In midfield meanwhile, Luiz is going to have to work hard to earn his place.
The always impressive Elliot Anderson partnered Ibrahim Sangaré at the weekend, while Forest also have club captain Ryan Yates and Nicolás Domínguez in their squad.
During his final season at Villa, Luiz really flourished when deployed further forward, but that surely isn’t going to happen at the City Ground, considering they kept hold of talisman Morgan Gibbs-White, despite Tottenham triggering his £60m release clause, and have just signed Hutchinson and McAtee for a combined £67.5m.
So, while Luiz is an excellent player, he faces plenty of competition for minutes, while Cash fills a need for greater full-back depth.
More prolific than Wood: Nottingham Forest chasing £25m "physical beast"
As Nottingham Forest seek to add even more attacking firepower, could they sign a “physical beast” worth £25m who outscored Chris Wood last season?
“We need more domestic players like Vipraj Nigam to step up in the IPL,” Varun Aaron says
Ekanth11-Apr-20253:02
Are Delhi Capitals the most balanced side this IPL?
With Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam, Delhi Capitals (DC) have arguably the best spin attack in IPL 2025. But are DC also the most balanced side in the competition, given that Axar and Nigam’s all-round skills add depth to their batting order and provide six bowling options without having to think too much?After KL Rahul led them to victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), Sanjay Bangar and Piyush Chawla suggested that Capitals weren’t quite there yet but were very much in the conversation.”Good bowling attack, they still have some issues at the top of the order,” Bangar said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show. “Top order hasn’t really fired for them as expected. But with KL Rahul and [Tristan] Stubbs – like now Stubbs’ second back-to-back season that he’s really producing the goods for them – [they are] clearly a team to watch out for.”Related
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Chawla agreed. “They look like a good balanced side, but there is always a scope of improvement. Top of the order and I’ll say the fast-bowling department just feel… maybe a few wickets with the new ball, like you can’t always be dependent on [Mitchell] Starc and Mukesh [Kumar] all the time. When spinners are bowling in the powerplay, they have to come into the party as well.”They do have a point about the top of the batting order.Jake-Fraser McGurk, who has opened in all four of DC’s games so far, averages 11.50. Abishek Porel and Faf du Plessis, the others in the top three, also average in the 20s and the three of them have one half-century between them. Rahul, who was promoted to open against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), slotted back to No. 4 and had to pull off a rescue act against RCB. He led the way from the top of the order in du Plessis’ absence in the last game too.On the bowling front, they have Starc and Kuldeep, who have 17 wickets between them, but Phil Salt smashed 30 off a Starc over and 16 off an Axar over in the powerplay on Thursday. DC fought back strongly with Nigam dismissing Virat Kohli and joining Kuldeep later on to dismantle RCB’s middle order and reducing them to 125 for 7, before scripting a six-wicket win.3:17
Bangar: Rahul’s assault on Hazlewood was ‘terrific batsmanship’
Vipraj Nigam ‘a great find’Varun Aaron, the former India quick, said that along with his bowling, Nigam’s ability with the bat has highlighted the importance of domestic talent coming through in IPL 2025.”Vipraj was brilliant tonight, he’s a great find for Delhi Capitals,” Aaron said on JioStar. “He’s contributed with the ball and, as we’ve seen, can be destructive with the bat too. Going forward, he’s great value for the investment Delhi Capitals made in him. We need more domestic players like him to step up in the IPL and help take their teams over the line.”Nigam and Kuldeep finished with 2 for 18 and 2 for 17, respectively, to stop RCB at 163 for 7. They bowled 23 dots in the eight overs between them. That set up DC’s win, but watching them do their stuff worried Stubbs.”I went in at the break thinking ‘how are we going to make a run here’,” Stubbs, who went on to play the perfect second fiddle to Rahul in the chase, said at the post-match press conference. “It looked like it was really hard to bat, so I was like, ‘flip, what am I going to do’. But that just shows the three of them are world-class spinners. Kuldeep’s, if not the best in the world, [among them] at the moment.”2:13
Why was Kuldeep difficult to attack at Chinnaswamy?
Stubbs: ‘If you can get through net sessions, you feel confident’Stubbs, who bats in the top order in South Africa’s Test side and in the middle order in their white-ball sides, drew from his international experience to stitch a match-winning 111-run partnership with Rahul. His contribution wasn’t insignificant: 38 not in 23 balls.”I think my roles recently have been so different, like face the new ball in Test cricket and then, I feel like international cricket can still sort of be classed as old-school cricket because the scores aren’t as big as they are here [in the IPL], so you’re always that space,” he said. “So, you just fall back on past experiences and then, when it’s really good, it frees you up to [go], ‘okay, I can just play here’. But yeah, it’s tough playing different situations but it’s cricket and that’s why we love it.”Now, if spin does become more and more impactful at the IPL, Stubbs should be ready for it.”Kuldeep I faced in one net session. He actually asked to bowl to me because the last time he bowled to me was the [T20] World Cup final. So, he wanted to do it again,” Stubbs said. “But, honestly, if you can get through that net session, you feel really confident because they [DC’s spinners] are bowling really well.”And then if you walk out of that session feeling good, then you know you’re in good stead.”
Lionel Messi joined Carlos Vela in an exclusive MLS club after posting a hat-trick of assists for Inter Miami. The Argentine GOAT was at his brilliant best once again as the Herons eased to a 4-1 victory over the New England Revolution. When it comes to combined goals and assists in 2025, Messi has burst beyond 40 – a mark that only one other player has passed at the highest level of North American soccer.
What is Vela's MLS goal contributions record?
It appears unlikely that Messi will go on to make more history by eclipsing the achievements of former LAFC striker Vela. The ex-Arsenal frontman posted some incredible numbers in 2019, with the Mexico international involved in 49 goals. Inter Miami have just two fixtures left on their regular season schedule this term.
Messi has helped to guide the Herons towards the playoffs once more, with disappointment having been suffered at that stage 12 months ago after claiming the Supporters’ Shield in record-breaking style. That prize has eluded Inter Miami this time around, with the Philadelphia Union being confirmed as the best-performing team in MLS.
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Messi could make history with back-to-back MVP awards
Messi, though, remains in contention to become the first player to claim back-to-back MVP awards. The Revs had no answer to him at Chase Stadium, with the evergreen 38-year-old running rings around Pablo Moreira’s side at times. He racked up three assists on the day, taking him to 17 for the season. Messi has also found the target on 24 occasions himself in MLS – with his goal tally standing at 32 across all competitions.
Inter Miami boss Javier Mascherano continues to sing Messi’s praises, having played down talk of a rift between the former Argentina international team-mates, and told reporters after witnessing another masterclass: “He gave us the possibility of opening the score and then securing [the result]. Not only with the pass for Jordi [Alba], but when they [New England] made it 2-1, and in the next play with an assist that only he can give. He keeps showing the ability he has and, more than anything, the ambition and desire to go for more.”
Inter Miami surrender Supporters' Shield crown in 2025
Messi helped fellow countryman Tadeo Allende to get on the scoresheet, as he bagged a brace, with the Argentine winger saying of his illustrious compatriot: “This is routine for him. If he does not punish you all the time with goals, then he punishes you with assists.”
Inter Miami are not overly concerned at surrendering their Supporters’ Shield crown, as they remain in the hunt for ultimate MLS Cup honours, with Mascherano adding on the current state of play in South Florida: “If you look at it, Philadelphia is a deserving winner, but it also had an advantage of having played maybe 10 fewer games [across all competitions] than us. We would’ve loved to reach the final match day with chances to win, but this doesn’t change our objective at all. We want to finish as high as possible and go into the playoffs in the best position we can.”
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Messi to play in Miami but for Argentina
Inter Miami are due to be back in action next Saturday when playing host to Atlanta United. Messi is likely to miss that contest after being included in the Argentina squad that is preparing to play Venezuela in a friendly at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami on October 10.
Mascherano said of having to shuffle his pack: “We will see who we have available. The reality is that some players are off to be with their national teams.”
Despite defeat at Anfield before the international break, Arsenal return to action against Nottingham Forest on Saturday lunchtime to much excitement.
However, Mikel Arteta will be without key figures William Saliba, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka, the latter facing a race against time to be available for next Sunday’s huge clash with Manchester City in North London.
In the past, injuries have derailed the Gunners’ title hopes and dreams, because they’ve simply not had the squad depth to cope with key absences.
Now though, after spending over £250m in the summer transfer market, that has changed, so Arteta must unleash a few of his summer signings, one who some are forecasting could become even better than Saka.
Eberechi Eze's home debut
Ahead of Arsenal’s first home game of the season, a 5-0 demolition of Leeds United, Eberechi Eze was presented to the Emirates crowd.
It was a genuinely spine-tingling moment, with Eze himself taken aback by the welcome home he received, 14 years after being released as a child, thinking his dream was dead.
Now though, after he was given a mere brief cameo at Anfield, Eze is ready to take centre stage, with those attending Saturday’s clash with Nottingham Forest doing so in anticipation of witnessing a home debut to remember.
As noted by Match of the Day, Arsenal have the second-lowest expected goals from open-play in the Premier League this season, their figure of 1.57 above only that of newly-promoted Sunderland, continuing a problem that has hampered Arteta’s team for a while.
This underlines why Eze has been signed, adding that much-needed creativity, but he may not be the only summer signing Arsenal will be hoping can shine this weekend and beyond.
More than just Arsenal's Bukayo Saka back-up
When Noni Madueke was recruited from Chelsea for £52m in the summer, plenty of eyebrows were raised, but the early signs are that this could be a shrewd piece of business.
In defeat to Liverpool, the 23-year-old was the Gunners’ most dangerous attacker throughout, always giving Miloš Kerkez something to think about, even if the end product was lacking.
Nevertheless, based on what he has produced so far, speaking on the Arscast, Philippe Auclair believes Madueke is simply far too good to merely be considered a Saka back-up, and his statistics last season support this argument.
Shots
80
14th
Shots per 90
3.54
4th
Big chances missed
14
18th
Progressive carries
154
3rd
Carries into the box
93
3rd
Attempted take-ons
102
25th
Touches in the box
184
5th
As the table notes, Madueke ranked behind only Jérémy Doku and Mohamed Salah when it came to progressive carries last season, also ranked in the top five in terms of shots per 90 and touches in the opposition’s penalty area.
He has certainly impressed Thomas Tuchel, starting three of England’s last four World Cup qualifiers, including both this month, scoring his first-ever international goal against Serbia at Stadion Rajko Mitić in Belgrade on Tuesday.
During the international break, former Manchester United defender Paul Parker was so impressed with Madueke that he exclaimed “I actually think he’s better than Bukayo Saka”, praising his frightening pace and ability to strike fear into defenders.
Given that Saka has been consistently excellent since first breaking into the Arsenal team in early-2020, this is a bold claim.
However, this competition for places can only be a good thing for Arteta, given that his star man is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, having sat out more than three months last season due to the same issue, missing 19 games, unquestionably derailing the Gunners’ title aspirations.
On Saturday specifically, it is tough to forecast who Ange Postecoglou will deploy at full-back, given that Ola Aina is set to spend three months on the sidelines, after sustaining a serious hamstring injury during Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
It won’t be Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back, he’s ineligible to face his parent club, but whoever it is will not relish coming up against Madueke, who will surely start in Saka’s place, looking to score his first Arsenal goal.
Arsenal's first Dowman: Meet the best player to ever come through Hale End
The talented Hale Ender just wasn’t good enough to make it at Arsenal.
Arsenal finally ended their long search for a prolific number nine with the signing of Viktor Gyokeres in the summer, and Mikel Arteta is silently hoping the Swede can replicate his heroics from Portugal.
Over two sensational campaigns for Sporting CP, Gyokeres scored 97 goals in 102 appearances — firing Rui Borges’ side to a domestic double last season and motivating sporting director Andrea Berta to splash a potential £64 million on him.
Arsenal’s confirmed summer signings
Price tag
Kepa Arrizabalaga
£5m
Martin Zubimendi
£60m
Christian Norgaard
£15m
Noni Madueke
£52m
Cristhian Mosquera
£13m
Viktor Gyokeres
£55m
Eberechi Eze
£67.5m
Piero Hincapie
Loan
The Gunners agreed to pay a guaranteed £55 million, plus a further £9 million in potential add-ons for the 27-year-old, and you can make a serious case that this comes as a bargain fee.
Gyokeres’ proven goalscoring consistency in one of Europe’s top five leagues, not to mention the fact he’s currently in the prime of his career, emphasise how Berta potentially secured one of the signings of the summer.
The former Coventry City and Swansea City star also has some experience in England already, with Berta reportedly persuading Arsenal to move for Gyokeres over fellow long-time striker target Benjamin Sesko (The Athletic).
Arsenal made proposals for Sesko in the summer of 2024 and in January this year, making multiple attempts to sign the Slovenian, but Berta’s arrival prompted the north Londoners to shift focus towards Gyokeres instead.
Thus far, despite barely having a sniff against tough opposition in Man United and Liverpool, Gyokeres did net a Premier League brace during Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Leeds United, with the player still arguably finding his feet in Europe’s toughest, most competitive division.
That being said, some critics already have doubts, like Rio Ferdinand, with the pundit telling his YouTube channel that he’s yet to be convinced by Gyokeres after his performance at Anfield just prior to the international break.
Now, ex-Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy has explained his own doubts about the centre-forward in an interview with The Metro.
Gael Clichy explains why Arsenal could regret signing Viktor Gyokeres
The Frenchman says that Gyokeres lacks the link-up play to help Arsenal, insisting that now-Liverpool star Alexander Isak was far more suited to Arteta’s system.
Football is often very reactionary at the best of times, and perhaps Gyokeres has come in for some unfair criticism since his arrival from Sporting due to the heavy expectations on his shoulders.
Arsenal are desperate to end their two-decade-long wait for a Premier League title, with Gyokeres widely seen as one of the potentially game-changing signings to help them do just that.
Arteta’s side take on Nottingham Forest in the early kick-off on Saturday following the return from internationals, and Gyokeres can take advantage of the visitors settling under new manager Ange Postecoglou.
A convincing display against Forest in a must-win game will do wonders to restore faith in Gyokeres, with Postecoglou’s brand of open, high-pressing football potentially playing right into the number nine’s hands.
A FIFA vice president said that U.S. President Donald Trump cannot decide which cities host games in the 2026 World Cup. Victor Montagliani, who is also president of CONCACAF, was speaking at a conference in London after Trump suggested he could move games away from cities he thought might be "even a little dangerous for the World Cup.”
Montagliani reiterates FIFA's authority
Montagliani made the comments to an audience at The Summit, part of Leaders Week London. The Canadian was clear in his message to the Whitehouse; they have no jurisdiction over which cities will host games in the 2026 World Cup.
"It's FIFA's tournament, FIFA's jurisdiction, FIFA makes those decisions," he said. "With all due respect to current world leaders, football is bigger than them and football will survive their regime and their government and their slogans."
The 2026 World Cup will be hosted jointly between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.
AdvertisementGetty Images NewsPolicies cause problems for FIFA officials
The Trump administration has pursued a number of policies which could cause issues for football's governing body. Montagliani was specifically responding to comments Trump made last week about San Francisco and Seattle. At a news conference in the Oval Office, Trump was asked about safety ahead in those cities ahead of the World Cup.
Trump said, "It will be safe for the World Cup. If I think it isn't safe, we'll move it to a different city. If any city we think is going to be even a little bit dangerous for the World Cup, or for the Olympics, but for the World Cup in particular, because they're playing in so many cities, we won't allow it to go. We'll move it around a little bit."
The American cities hosting the 2026 World Cup
The majority of the tournament's fixtures will be held in the U.S., with 78 of the 104 games, including the final, played across 11 host cities: Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Seattle.
Seattle and San Francisco will host six games during the tournament, with Los Angeles hosting eight fixtures.
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Getty Images SportTrump and FIFA
The comments come as the latest intervention from Trump ahead of FIFA's marquee event. In March, he claimed the political and economic tensions between the US and its co-hosts Canada and Mexico would be a good thing for the tournament.
During the summer, Trump sparked headlines by inserting himself into Chelsea's celebrations after winning the Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium, the New Jersey stadium which will also host the World Cup final.
Mitchell Marsh’s fourth fifty of IPL 2025 and Nicholas Pooran’s 36-ball 87 took Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to 238, their second-highest total in the league. Marsh and Pooran launched from the base Aiden Markram had set for LSG with his 28-ball 47. Four of the six bowlers that KKR used went at over 12 an over.Marsh and Markram put on 99, the highest opening partnership in this season so far. They added 59 off the first six with 46 coming off three overs from one end and 13 off the other. The duo took left-arm quick Spencer Johnson for three fours and two sixes, most of them through the leg side, which had the shorter boundary.Narine’s introduction after the powerplay didn’t stop the openers from attacking. Marsh first swept a length ball off the stumps and then rocked back to punish a short, wide ball over cover. A similar shot yielded another boundary in Narine’s following over. Varun Chakravarthy bowled a cheap over in between and decided to bowl around the wicket.After KKR went back to their pacers, Harshit Rana removed Markram with a sharp offcutter. LSG, though, whacked six fours and a six in the following three overs. Varun’s final over went for two sixes, the first a slash from Pooran over the short boundary at cover and then a straight hit from Marsh. Angkrish Raghuvanshi replaced Varun as the Impact Player at the end of the 14th over, with LSG on 154 for 1.Pooran’s six-hitting then took centerstage as he whacked two off Narine and one off Russell. Two more off Harshit brought up a 21-ball fifty.Though Russell had Marsh hole out, Pooran kept going. With the platform set, LSG promoted finishers Abdul Samad and David Miller above captain Rishabh Pant. Russell bowled the 18th of the over to Pooran and conceded 24, the most expensive of the innings. Pooran picked Vaibhav Arora away for a four in the final over and remained unbeaten.
Paul Marsh returns for a second stint as the head of the players’ association at a critical time for the sport
AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff08-Apr-2025The incoming boss of the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) believes international contests are in “trouble” if scheduling continues to be dictated by T20 tournaments.Paul Marsh, who is leaving the AFL Players Association (AFLPA) to return to the ACA for a second stint, is strongly pushing for dedicated international windows to be introduced to counter franchise cricket.South Africa, who have qualified for the World Test Championship final, sent a squad to New Zealand last year without any first-choice players as it coincided with the country’s SA20 tournament.That was the most blatant example of T20 tournaments being prioritised in favour of international cricket, but the creep of franchise games has been happening since the foundation of the IPL back in 2008.Marsh recently chaired a sub-committee through the World Cricketers’ Association which proposed significant changes.”If we don’t get the scheduling sorted out in international cricket so we actually work out how international cricket will co-exist with the domestic Twenty20 competitions, then international cricket’s in trouble,” Marsh said on Tuesday after announcing he was quitting the AFLPA to return to the ACA.”So we are trying to get to windows. We are trying to get to a more structured format around how international cricket works. That’s one of the big priorities coming in, is to work with all the other countries to try to find the right solutions.”The current Future Tours Program ends in 2027, a year when Australia’s men’s team embarks on a tour of India, an away Ashes and an ODI World Cup.Australia are in a cycle when their three biggest series or tournaments fall in the same year, creating a massive 12 months every four years.”The cricket scheduling problem is not an easy one,” Marsh admitted. “It’s not like in AFL, where it’s pretty easy to put together and we’ve got complete control of it. Cricket Australia may want to have a schedule that’s a certain way, but you’ve then got to get the countries to come. So I’ll deal with that when I get started.”Marsh, the son of Australian cricket great Rod Marsh, felt it was time for a new challenge after 11 years and multiple historic player collective bargaining agreements (CBA) in the AFL.”It’s a good time, we’re a couple of years out from the next collective bargaining agreement. If I had to wait any longer, I think it’s difficult for the next person coming in,” he said. “So a variety of factors, but cricket’s in my blood.”Todd Greenberg, the new CA CEO who Marsh replaces at the ACA, said: “Paul brings a wealth of cricket experience to the role and a passion for the game and the welfare of our players.”A collaborative and productive relationship between CA and the ACA is important for the wellbeing of Australian Cricket and I’m sure this will continue well into the future.”
As part of the summer rebuild at Manchester United, Ruben Amorim has splashed the cash, with all three of his major additions to date being made in the final third of the pitch.
Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have all made the move to Old Trafford – setting the hierarchy back a sum in the region of £200m in the process.
However, such moves were desperately needed, especially after the Red Devils only managed to average 1.15 goals per game in the Premier League last campaign.
Such movement has formed a new deadly trio for Amorim, but he must now turn his attention to other areas of the squad, with the September 1st deadline rapidly approaching.
The midfield department is desperately crying out for another reinforcement, which could see the hierarchy land a big-money partner for Bruno Fernandes for 2025/26 and beyond.
The latest on Man Utd’s hunt for a new midfielder
Over the last few weeks, United’s hunt for a new midfielder has been dominated by a potential deal to sign Brighton and Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba.
Despite deliberations between the player’s representatives and Amorim’s side, it appears as though the Cameroonian will stay at the AMEX this window – with his £100m asking price deemed too expensive.
However, it appears as though the Red Devils hierarchy have moved onto another Premier League talent in the form of Crystal Palace youngster Adam Wharton.
According to Spanish outlet AS, Amorim’s side are currently leading the race for the 21-year-old’s signature, with Real Madrid also in the race for the Englishman’s signature.
The report also states it’s unclear whether the Eagles will be willing to let him depart after Eberechi Eze’s deal to join Arsenal, only entertaining offers in the region of €80m (£69m).
Why United’s target would be perfect for Cunha & Mbeumo
There’s an understandable amount of excitement building at United, with their business in the transfer market certainly playing a huge part over recent weeks.
Moves for Cunha and Mbeumo have added needed Premier League experience, with the hope the pair can replicate their impressive goalscoring form from the 2024/25 campaign.
The duo netted 35 times between them in England’s top-flight last season, which led to the Red Devils hierarchy forking out a combined £133.5m for the pair.
Both are likely to operate behind Sesko at Old Trafford, needing ammunition from players around them to provide the chances to impress within the final third.
Bruno has dropped into a deeper role in recent weeks, but could also be joined in such a position by Wharton before the end of the summer window.
The youngster would likely provide the ball-winning option needed at the heart of the side, but he could also offer a threat in forward areas – should he replicate his form at Selhurst Park.
Wharton, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by HLTCO, managed to complete 7.3 progressive passes and 5.3 passes into the final third per 90 last time around, having the ability to provide the aforementioned duo with numerous chances in front of goal.
Adam Wharton’s stats for Palace in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
20
Goals & assists
2
Pass accuracy
76%
Progressive passes
7.3
Key passes
1.8
Passes into final third
5.3
Tackles won
2.3
Interceptions made
1.4
Clearances made
1.8
Recoveries made
6.9
Stats via FBref
He also registered 1.8 key passes per 90 – at an accuracy rate of 76% – further highlighting the talent he possesses when having the ball at his feet.
However, out of possession, the youngster has also impressed, winning 2.3 tackles per 90 and making 1.4 interceptions – subsequently having the tools to offer the ball-winning player Amorim has craved at the heart of his side.
It would undoubtedly be yet another expensive addition for the Red Devils this summer, but it’s one that would massively solve the issues currently apparent at the Theatre of Dreams.
If he can sit deep and regain possession, whilst also having the tools to provide others with chances in dangerous areas – it would be an excellent piece of business, not to mention an investment that could be worth millions more in the years ahead, given his tender age.
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