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Willey claims four wickets, Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Adam Lyth post fifties in Yorkshire victory

ECB Reporters Network29-Aug-2019Yorkshire lifted themselves off bottom spot in the North Group with a landslide 80-run victory over Northamptonshire in a Vitality Blast dead rubber at Headingley, with ex-Steelback David Willey starring with four new-ball wickets.Both sides went into their penultimate fixture of 2019 with no chance of qualifying for next week’s quarter-finals. The Vikings were bottom of the table with two wins from 12 games and the Steelbacks two places higher with three wins from the same number of fixtureBut Yorkshire amassed 187 for 7 thanks to fifties for openers Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Adam Lyth, who made 51 and 50 respectively, and then a breezy 38 off 16 balls from Harry Brook, who later took four catches – a joint Yorkshire record in a T20 fixture.In reply, former Northants Blast winner Willey struck four times in his first three overs, at a cost of only 11 runs, leaving the Steelbacks 43 for 5 after six. That was game over as they later slipped to 107 all out in 18 overs and Willey finished with 4 for 18.Having won the toss, Yorkshire’s innings could be split into three parts.They flew out of the blocks as captain Kohler-Cadmore and Lyth shared 88 of 91 for one in the first 10 overs. They then both fell the ball after reaching their fifties.Northants dragged things back as the hosts reached the 15-over mark at 122 for 3.Experienced left-arm spinner Graeme White was excellent in removing Lyth and former team-mate Willey, who both offered leg-side catches.Then, the Vikings regained their momentum as Brook, back in the side having made way following a run of low scores, found his range to help pick up 65 off the last five overs. He mixed power with invention, pulling South African Dwaine Pretorius for six and ramping him for four next ball in the 16th over. He also smashed Rob Keogh’s off-spin for a huge straight six into the upper reaches of the new Emerald Stand.Northants captain Josh Cobb used eight bowlers, with Keogh and Pakistani seamer Faheem Ashraf also claiming two wickets apiece.The visitors then got off to a flying start in their chase, with Richard Levi hitting the first three balls of the innings from Lyth for four before planting the fifth ball over mid-wicket for six into the Western Terrace, the same stand Ben Stokes peppered in Sunday’s Ashes heist. But he slapped Willey straight to mid-wicket with the first ball of the second over.Tim Bresnan bowled Adam Rossington with the first ball of the third and Willey struck again with the first ball of the fourth when he had Cobb caught at deep backward square-leg before getting Pretorius brilliantly caught by Will Fraine running back from point later in the over.Alex Wakely then holed out to deep square-leg off Willey, ending a miserable Powerplay at 43 for 5, before Bresnan struck again in the sixth to get Ashraf caught at mid-on with only two runs added to the total.South African left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj bowled Keogh early in the eleventh over as the score slipped to 68 for 7 before off-spinner Jack Shutt had White and Nathan Buck caught at long-off by Brook.Tom Sole played a lone hand for 41 not out before Lyth had Blessing Muzarabani caught behind to wrap things up.

West Ham United’s pre-season schedule is now underway.

On Saturday, in a behind-closed-doors fixture in Zürich, the Hammers beat Grasshoppers 3-1; Andy Irving, Callum Marshall and Lucas Paquetá the scorers.

Next up for Graham Potter’s team, they’ve travelled stateside for the Premier League Summer Series, facing Manchester United in New Jersey this weekend, before games against Everton in Chicago and then Bournemouth in Atlanta.

With the start of the proper season fast approaching, will the Irons get their hands on a new attacking midfielder?

Latest on West Ham's transfer activity

Fair to say, West Ham supporters were not best pleased about the news that star winger Mohammed Kudus had joined fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur for £55m, the first player to make the controversial move since Scott Parker 14 years ago.

In terms of arrivals, the Hammers have bolstered their full-back options, signing El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague for a reported fee of £19m, while Kyle Walker-Peters has joined from Southampton on a free transfer.

Nevertheless, Kudus’ departure means Potter will be demanding new signings in forward areas, hence why Sébastien Vidal of Weekend Sports is reporting that West Ham “have opened initial talks” to sign Georgiy Sudakov from Shakhtar Donetsk.

They add that the “creative midfielder” is valued at around £30m by the 15-time Ukrainian champions, with the Hammers “looking to accelerate the deal” and finalise the move as soon as possible.

Transfer Focus

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

So, could he soon become the third Ukrainian to represent West Ham United, after current national team head coach Serhii Rebrov and the country’s second-highest goalscorer of all time, Andriy Yarmolenko?

How Georgiy Sudakov would improve West Ham

After spending three years in Metalist Kharkiv’s academy, Sudakov joined Shakhtar Donetsk as a 15-year-old, before making his senior debut in 2020, this coming off the bench during a famous Champions League victory over Real Madrid at Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano no less.

Subsequently, the 22-year-old has accumulated 140 appearances for Shakhtar, scoring 35 goals and registering 24 assists, including netting against Barcelona, Young Boys and Stade Brestois in Champions League ties.

Despite being linked with a move away, Sudakov featured in both legs of his team’s Europa League qualifying victory over Ilves earlier this month, starting the first leg, a 6-0 demolition in Ljubljana; it’ll therefore be interesting to see if he’s involved in Thursday night’s second qualifying round match against Beşiktaş in İstanbul.

Having also already won 29 international caps, starting all three of Ukraine’s fixtures at Euro 2024, Sudakov has earned plenty of high praise.

Andy Jones of the Athletic labels him one of the ‘most exciting prospects’ and ‘brightest young talents’ in Eastern Europe, adding that he is a ‘versatile midfielder’ who operates best as a number ten, given that he is ‘technically gifted’ and poses ‘creative threat’.

Meantime, Shakhtar Donetsk sporting director Serhiy Palkin stated back in April that his star man “will definitely move to a top European club this summer”, with aforementioned national team manager Rebrov asserting that he has “a bright future”.

On top of this, analyst Ben Mattinson describes him as “exciting” and “unpredictable”, tipping him to replace Florian Wirtz at Bayer Leverkusen. The 22-year-old German has just joined Liverpool for £116m, a Premier League record fee, so let’s assess how the duo compare.

Appearances

8

9

Minutes

702

764

Goals

2

6

Assists

1

1

All statistics below are on a per-90 basis:

Shots

1.3

2.6

Shots on target %

40%

63.64%

Chances created

1.5

3.0

Passes

46.3

52.4

Pass completion %

83.1%

88.29%

Forward passes

11.2

9.8

Take-on success %

66.67%

46.15%

Touches

62.2

75

Of course, Wirtz does come out on top for the vast majority of statistics included, but this shouldn’t be too surprising, given that he is the one making a record-breaking move to the Premier League champions.

The caveat for the table above is of course the fact that Sudakov was playing for a Shakhtar Donetsk side who finished 27th in the gigantic Champions League table, winning only two matches, while Bayer Leverkusen ended up sixth with five victories to their name.

Nevertheless, Sudakov does have the edge when it comes to forward passes and take-on success %, and his numbers are pretty comparable to those of Wirtz across the board, especially in terms of chances created.

Thus, it is clear that the Ukrainian international is a player of vast potential and one West Ham should do everything in their power to get their hands on, before an even bigger European juggernaut comes calling.

Bowen 2.0: West Ham plotting offer for £6m star who “has got everything"

West Ham United could be about to land their second coming of Jarrod Bowen by making an offer for this £6m attacker.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 22, 2025

Arthur Okonkwo has completed his deal to return to Wrexham on a permanent basis after departing Arsenal as a free agent.

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Okonkwo signs for WrexhamSpent last season on loan at Red DragonsRed Dragons pre-season USA tour begins in JulyWHAT HAPPENED?

Okonkwo played a key part in the Red Dragons' promotion to League One after joining on loan from the Gunners. The goalkeeper became an integral member of the side and retaining his services became key for Phil Parkinson. When he was released from Arsenal at the end of his contract in north London, a return to Wales appeared inevitable.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesWHAT OKONKWO SAID

On returning to Wrexham, Okonkwo told the club: “I’m feeling very good, I’m so happy to have finally signed and I can’t wait to get back to it.

“It was amazing last season. We had so many good memories together with the fans, and knowing they wanted me back was a big reason that I’m back. It’s good to finally be here.

“This is home, it’s felt like that since last season when I came in. The co-chairmen are so good, the manager, the coaches, the players, and obviously the backroom staff that you don’t see. It’s so good to be here.”

WHAT PARKINSON SAID

The Wrexham boss was equally delighted to welcome back the goalkeeper to the squad. He said: "“We’re delighted with the signing. It’s such an important one for us.

“Arthur was outstanding for us last year, and since the season finished we’ve worked really hard to secure the signing.

“It’s great credit to all the work that has gone on behind the scenes, because it’s never straightforward but we’ve always said it’s important to have perseverance to try and get your number one target – and Arthur certainly was that."

“It’s a great first signing of the summer for us.”

GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Okonkwo made 36 appearances in League Two last season, conceding just 30 goals in the process. The goalkeeper kept a total of 14 clean sheets and sured up a defence that had initially struggled and saw Ben Foster retire just five games into the season.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been the club’s leading star over the last couple of years, with no player able to replicate the levels he’s produced in recent seasons.

The Portuguese international joined the club back in January 2020 and has certainly exceeded the expectations supporters would’ve had when he arrived at Old Trafford.

In the five years since his big-money transfer from Sporting CP, the 30-year-old has racked up 98 goals and 83 assists, a simply staggering feat for a midfielder.

During the most recent campaign, Bruno achieved a tally of 37 goal contributions, with it unthinkable as to where Ruben Amorim’s side would be without his efforts in the final third.

This summer presents an opportunity for the boss to make his own stamp on the side, needing to land players who can aid the captain in his quest for success at the club.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

A striker has been top of United’s shortlist over recent weeks, leading to numerous names being mentioned as potential targets to join the Amorim revival in 2025/26.

The likes of Ollie Watkins, Dusan Vlahovic and Nicolas Jackson have all been mentioned as names under consideration between now and the end of the window.

However, other areas of the pitch are also subject to investment, leading to Juventus star Douglas Luiz emerging as a target, according to Corriere dello Sport via Sport Witness.

They claim that the Brazilian has once again appeared on their radar after sides such as Nottingham Forest, Everton, and West Ham United failed to agree a deal with the Serie A side.

It also states that his agent has been in the UK for talks with interested parties, but it doesn’t state which clubs have been in discussions to land the former Aston Villa midfielder.

Why United’s latest target would be perfect for Bruno

As previously mentioned, Bruno was undoubtedly the shining light for United throughout 2024/25, with the fanbase hoping he can repeat such feats in the upcoming season.

However, alongside his tangible rewards for his performance, he also caught the eye with his versatility, which saw him operate in numerous positions.

There’s no denying his best position is in the number ten position, but he was also forced to operate in a slightly deeper number eight role at times, given the lack of depth in the squad.

Given the investment being placed into the squad this summer, you’d hope other midfield options are made to allow the Portuguese international to reach or even exceed the levels he produced in 2024/25.

Any potential move for Luiz would provide the captain with the opportunity to do just that, with the Brazilian having the tools to provide a quality addition for Amorim’s side.

Luiz, who’s been labelled “world-class” by former teammate John McGinn, registered 5.9 progressive passes per 90, with 2.7 progressive carries per 90, showcasing his talents at driving forward and finding a teammate at any given opportunity.

He also won 2.1 tackles per 90, whilst winning 68% of the dispossession attempts he’s entered, capable of regaining the ball – making him an excellent ball-winning option at the heart of United’s side.

Games played

19

Progressive passes

5.9

Progressive carries

2.7

Tackles won

2.1

Tackle success rate

68%

Take-on success

79%

Aerials won

56%

His further figures further back up why he’d be perfect in Amorim’s squad, completing 79% of the take-ons he attempted, having the capability to drive forward before making the killer pass to a teammate.

It’s unclear if the player himself will entertain any interest from the Red Devils this summer, but it’s clear he possesses a lot of talent that would make him a superb addition.

Any move for the former Villa star would allow Bruno to consistently operate in his natural position throughout 2025/26, adding another diamond to the club’s already impressive front line.

He finishes like RVP: Man Utd make "phenomenal" £67m CF their main target

Manchester United have set their sights on a new talisman for Ruben Amorim.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 24, 2025

The Red Devils have more than a few players at the tournament in Germany. Here's how you can follow each of their stars at Euro 2024

With a total of eight players competing at the European Championship in Germany this summer, Manchester United are well represented at the major international tournament.

Indeed, the likes of Luke Shaw, Bruno Fernandes and Rasmus Hojlund are among the Red Devils stars who will be present at Euro 2024 and each will be fighting for glory with their respective national teams.

Here, GOAL shows how you can follow each of the Old Trafford heroes present at Euro 2024.

Getty Scott McTominay | Scotland | Group A

Midfielder Scott McTominay is looking to help Scotland progress past the group stage of a major competition for the first time in the nation's history.

Fresh off a season in which he played 43 times for Erik ten Hag's United, the 27-year-old is expected to be a key figure for Steve Clarke's team, having shaken off a slight injury concern heading into Euro 2024.

With 49 caps to his name, he is one of Scotland's more senior players and will be kicking off the tournament with a headline showdown against hosts Germany in the opening game at the Allianz Arena in Munich on June 14.

The Tartan Army then travel to Koln to face Switzerland at the Koln Stadium on June 19, followed by a trip to the Stuttgart Arena on June 23, where they will take on Hungary in the final game of Group A.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesRasmus Hojlund | Denmark | Group C

After a promising debut season at Old Trafford, Rasmus Hojlund will spearhead the Denmark attack as they look to improve on their third-place finish at Euro 2020.

The 21-year-old has just 14 caps to his name and has scored an impressive seven times. Amazingly, all seven of those goals came across his eight Euro 2024 qualifying matches.

The Danes will be hoping the striker can carry that form into the final tournament in Germany, where they start with a match against Slovenia at Stuttgart Arena on June 16, followed by a rematch of their Euro 2020 semi-final against England in Frankfurt. They then round off Group C with a meeting with Serbia in Munich.

(C)Getty ImagesChristian Eriksen | Denmark | Group C

At 32 years old, Christian Eriksen has made a whopping 130 appearances for Denmark's senior team – Simon Kjaer, 35, is the only member of the squad with more caps than the midfielder, having featured 135 times.

Eriksen remains an important figure for the Nordic nation, having scored a goal and set-up another to mastermind a 2-1 win against Scandinavian rivals Sweden in their Euro 2024 warm-up on June 5.

He is expected to line up in the attacking midfield role when they kick off their campaign in Stuttgart and will hope to put in solid displays in Frankfurt and Munich, too, as the Danes aim to progress beyond the group stage again.

Getty ImagesLuke Shaw | England | Group C

Luke Shaw endured an injury-disrupted campaign with United, managing 15 appearances in all competitions. The 28-year-old, has, however, made England boss Gareth Southgate's final squad for the Euros, and is in contention to play a part in the group stages.

England are short of options at left-back and have opted to play natural right-back Kieran Trippier in Shaw's position in recent friendlies, so Southgate will undoubtedly be eager to have the United defender back in action soon.

Indeed, with the full-back having taken part in the Three Lions' first training session in Germany, fans will be hoping he may even be available for the trip to the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen for their opening game against Serbia. Otherwise, they will be desperate to have him in the starting XI when they meet Denmark in Frankfurt on June 20, or at least the June 25 match against Slovenia in Koln.

They enter this WPL after losing back-to-back finals, as Lanning looks to work on “just some small things here and there”

Sruthi Ravindranath11-Feb-2025Two seasons, two top-of-the-table finishes. Two finals, but no trophies. Delhi Capitals (DC) came close to title wins in WPL 2023 and 2024, before falling short in the final against Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, respectively. But for captain Meg Lanning, continuing to do what they’ve done the last two seasons along with “a few little changes” is all the team needs to go one step ahead and clinch the title in 2025.”We’ve had two good seasons without obviously being able to finish it off the way we would have liked in winning the title,” Lanning said. “I guess the key for us is maintaining what we’ve been doing well. We think we have been playing some really good cricket, and doing a lot of things right. We’re just evolving and making a few little changes here and there that we think will make a big difference, and hopefully allows us to take that next step. It’s not [a] big shift from us.”We’ve added some new players, and also the players who have been here previously have also improved and gotten better as well. We feel like we’re [at] a really good spot. It’s not [about] changing too much. We’ve been doing a lot right. It’s just some small things here and there to to take us to the next step.”Related

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Shafali, Reddy and others who could take WPL route to Indian team

Shafali focuses on 'playing long innings' as she eyes India comeback

Lanning has continued to be part of franchise leagues and domestic cricket after announcing her international retirement in 2023. Not playing for Australia has given her plenty of time at home, which she enjoys, but being around young players during franchise-based tournaments and giving them advice has been gratifying, Lanning admitted. Playing these leagues before a tournament like WPL also helps her get into the “rhythm”.Lanning is not only entering this WPL season as the tournament’s highest-ever run-getter – she has 676 runs across two seasons – but also on the back of some superb scores in the Women’s National Cricket League (WNCL), Australia’s domestic 50-over competition, where she averaged 51.14 in eight games.”Playing matches is important; there’s nothing quite like being out in the middle and being in a good rhythm with that,” she said. “I feel like those games are great for me in that respect. I feel like I’m in a good spot with my game. I always enjoy playing and batting over here in India. I’ve had some success in the past. So far, the couple [of] days I’ve been here, it’s been nice to just get used to the conditions again, and just be really clear on what my plan is and how I want to go about it.”I think having experienced international cricket for so long, I’ve picked up different things along the way on what works and what doesn’t. And I guess now I’ve got the opportunity to work with – particularly back home, but also in tournaments like this – younger players, and try and pass on some of the knowledge that I’ve picked up not just on the field but [also] off the field – in terms of how you can manage yourself with the pressures that come with playing cricket at this level.”So that’s something I try to do with any team I play in now is pass on some of that knowledge and answer any questions that any of the other players [have]. Everybody here wants to learn and ask questions, and I really loved that about the environment.”Meg Lanning on Shafali Verma: “She looks like she’s in really good touch, and enjoying herself and having fun too”•Delhi Capitals’I’ve got the best seat in the house’ – Lanning on batting alongside ShafaliAmong the biggest positives for DC over the last two seasons has been the Lanning-Shafali Verma opening partnership. Lanning has been the solid batter at one end with a regular flow of runs while Shafali has gone for the big shots, and together, they have broken several partnership records. So far, they have put up three 100-plus stands in the tournament, and also hold the record of the highest-ever partnership of 162, which they put up against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2023, in the tournament. Lanning hopes to repeat the feat this season as well, adding how much she enjoys playing with Shafali.Shafali has been in terrific form, having returned to domestic cricket after being dropped from the Indian team in November last year. She finished as the top run-getter in the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy and the One Day Challenger Trophy.”I love batting with Shafali,” Lanning said. “She often puts on a very entertaining show, and I’ve got the best seat in the house watching from the other end most of the time. In the practice game, she did a very similar thing a few days ago. She looks like she’s in really good touch, and enjoying herself and having fun too, which I think is really important. So for me, just watching her play with freedom, express herself…when she does that, that plays a really important role for our team.”I always enjoy batting with her; we get on really well. Hopefully, this season can continue on through from where we have been the first two.”

Millwall and Montenegro goalkeeper Matija Sarkic has tragically died at the age of 26.

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Sarkic fell ill in the weekWas away with Montenegro when he passedClubs, players and fans left devastatedWHAT HAPPENED?

The passing of the Championship goalkeeper has sent a shockwave across the world of football after appearing for several English clubs during his career. Sarkic fell ill while with his friends at an apartment in Budva, but attempts to save his life were unsuccessful. He was in action for his country just over a week ago against Belgium.

AdvertisementWHAT MILLWALL SAID

Millwall released a statement following the news and expressed their devastation at the incident. A post on their website read: "Millwall Football Club is completely devastated to announce that Matija Sarkic has passed away at the age of 26. Sarkic, The Lions' number one goalkeeper, made 33 appearances for the club since joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers in August 2023. A Montenegro international, Matija proudly represented his country on numerous occasions."

Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Tributes have been pouring in from a number of Sarkic's former clubs. Birmingham City said: "Everyone at Birmingham City is shocked and saddened to learn of the news that our former goalkeeper, Matija Sarkic, has passed away at the age of 26. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and all those that knew him."

The Villa Academy page posted a heartwarming message for their ex-stopper, adding: "Difficult to put the news of this morning into words. Former Villa goalkeeper Matija Sarkic has passed away at the age of 26. Rest in peace, Mati. You and your family are in our thoughts. 💜"

Millwall's official supporters club were also saddened to hear of his death, saying: "🖤 RIP Matija Sarkic 🖤 What horrendous news to wake up to this morning that our goalkeeper Matija Sarkic has died at the young age of 26. Devastating news for his friends and family and for all of us associated with Millwall. Once a lion, always a lion 🦁"

WHAT NEXT?

The world of football will mourn the tragic loss of a top athlete and person. Millwall will be keen to pay tribute to their goalkeeper further with fans of the club when they return from the summer break.

Manchester United continued their pre-season preparations with a fairly drab 0-0 draw against fellow Premier League side Leeds United on Saturday.

Ruben Amorim’s side featured two new signings in Diego Leon and Matheus Cunha, whilst the Red Devils are still finalising a deal to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford.

Whilst there will be a lot of focus on who Manchester United bring in to bolster their squad during the summer transfer window, the club also need to move on the players who are not going to be involved under Amorim next season.

One of those players, Marcus Rashford, appears to be on the verge of a move away from Old Trafford, as Barcelona have agreed a deal to sign the England international.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona are set to sign the 27-year-old attacker on a season-long loan, with an option to make the deal permanent next summer.

David Ornstein has added that the Spanish giants are also set to pay 100% of the forward’s wages during that loan spell, in what will come as a welcome relief to Manchester United.

Why Rashford to Barcelona is a good move for all concerned

Rashford is reportedly on £300k-per-week at Old Trafford, as per Capology, and that equates to around £15.6m per year, which shows that the club are set to save a huge amount of money as part of this deal.

Whilst it is not set in stone that the winger will sign for Barcelona on a permanent transfer next summer, as it is only an option, United can be thankful that they are not paying his enormous wages next season, given that he was not a part of Amorim’s thinking.

It is money that could be allocated elsewhere, potentially to bring in further attacking reinforcements, as Rashford has not been consistent enough in the final third to prove that he is worth spending that kind of money on.

The England international was sent out on loan to Aston Villa for the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, which shows that Amorim did not see a future for the academy graduate in his side.

24/25 (Man Utd & Villa)

11

£15.6m

£1.4m

23/24 (Man Utd)

8

£15.6m

£1.95m

22/23 (Man Utd)

30

£10.4m

£346k

21/22 (Man Utd)

5

£10.4m

£2.08m

As you can see in the table above, Rashford has failed to hit double figures for goals in two of the last four seasons in all competitions, and has only cost under £1.4m per goal scored in a season in one of the last four.

These statistics suggest that it is for the best that the English forward joins Barcelona on loan, with his wages paid in full, because United will be offloading a player, even if potentially just for next season, who has not justified his cost.

His exit will also create a space in the squad for United to bring in a replacement for him before the end of the summer transfer window, and the club are reportedly eyeing a star who could be an upgrade on him.

Man United make contact to sign Ligue 1 star

According to Foot Mercato, Manchester United are interested in a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s versatile attacker Randal Kolo Muani.

The reporter claims that the Red Devils have already made contact with the Ligue 1 champions, as they pursue a potential transfer for the France international.

Transfer Focus

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

Aouna adds, though, that Newcastle United have also made contact with PSG over a potential deal for the forward, which means that there could be stiff competition for his signature this summer.

The journalist’s article on Foot Mercato also reveals that Juventus are interested in a deal to bring him back to Turin, after he spent the second half of last season on loan with the Italian giants.

This latest report does not outline how much money it would take to strike a deal with PSG for Kolo Muani, but a price tag of £50m was mentioned earlier in the summer.

Why Man Utd should sign Randal Kolo Muani

The Red Devils should push to win the race for his signature in the coming weeks because he could arrive at Old Trafford as an upgrade on Marcus Rashford.

Like the soon-to-be Barcelona player, the French attacker is a versatile talent who can play out wide on either flank or through the middle as a centre-forward, which would provide Amorim with a plethora of ways in which to utilise his qualities.

In fact, France teammate Kylian Mbappe described Kolo Muani as being a “very complete” forward, and United could benefit from his brilliant all-round play as their new centre-forward, if they can secure a deal for him this summer.

The 26-year-old star scored eight goals and provided one assist in 16 matches in the Serie A during the second half of last term, whilst Rashford only scored six goals in 25 outings in the Premier League.

xG

0.36

Top 41%

Goals

0.62

Top 9%

Shots on target

1.08

Top 27%

Successful dribbles

1.39

Top 20%

Touches in opposition box

6.03

Top 20%

Interceptions

0.31

Top 14%

As you can see in the table above, the Juventus loanee produced high quality in a host of key metrics, as he excelled as a dribbler and a goalscorer, whilst also putting in hard work to win the ball back for his side.

Whilst, with one assist, the creative side of his game was not on full display, Kolo Muani did assist 17 goals in 46 games for Eintracht Frankfurt in the 2022/23 campaign, which shows that he can be a fantastic creative threat when at his best.

The £50m-rated star, who scored two goals in three games at the Club World Cup, has delivered at least ten goals in all competitions in each of the last five seasons, whilst Rashford, as aforementioned, has only managed that in two of the last four years.

Kolo Muani could arrive as an upgrade on the England international because of his impressive form for Juventus in the second half of last season, as well as the almost guaranteed goals that his record suggests that he would provide in the final third.

Amorim's own Rodri: Man Utd agree personal terms to sign £26m sensation

Manchester United are starting to make things happen in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 19, 2025

As he announces his retirement from Test cricket, we chart Moeen’s many ups and downs over the past four years

Matt Roller09-Aug-2019 • Updated on 26-Sep-2021Ashes 2017-18Moeen went into the 2017-18 Ashes on the back of a brilliant 2017 home summer, which included a haul of 10 for 112 at Lord’s and a hat-trick at The Oval in the South Africa series, and a swashbuckling hundred against the West Indies in Bristol.But after spending weeks in the nets and with Mark Ramprakash preparing for a barrage of bumpers from Australia’s quicks, he endured an awful run against Nathan Lyon: he was dismissed seven times in nine innings by him, and his struggles spilled over into his bowling, as he returned five wickets at 115.New Zealand 2017-18Moeen Ali is cleaned up•Getty ImagesWith Jack Leach in the squad as a possible replacement, Moeen needed to prove he was England’s best spinner, and that he could contribute with the bat, in the pink-ball Test at Auckland.Instead, he made 0 and 28, and took 0 for 59 in 17 overs, as England slumped to an innings defeat. By the time the Christchurch Test had come around, Leach was in for his debut.Pakistan 2018While England stumbled at Lord’s and then bounced back emphatically at Headingley, Moeen was playing for Worcestershire in the One-Day Cup, his Test career at a crossroads.With Leach injured, England plumped for Dom Bess as their first-choice spinner, who made one half-century and a 49, as well as taking three wickets in Leeds. The path back to the Test side for Moeen was far from clear.India 2018After controversially selecting Adil Rashid, who hadn’t played a first-class game in 11 months, England raced into a 2-0 lead before capitulating at Trent Bridge, and then found themselves facing a turning pitch at the Ageas Bowl.Step forward Moeen, to come into the side alongside Rashid, and take nine wickets at Southampton to propel England to victory. He was even promoted to No. 3 to allow Joe Root to return to his favoured number four, digging in for a 170-ball 50 at The Oval. Following six months in the wilderness, all seemed well with the world.Sri Lanka 2018-19Jack Leach, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid shared 19 of Sri Lanka’s 20 wickets•Getty ImagesPushed back down the order after two failures in the first Test, Moeen didn’t allow his loss of form with the bat to affect his bowling, as his 18 wickets at 24.50 underpinned England’s stellar efforts with the ball.With Leach (18 wickets) and Rashid (12) to keep him company, he formed part of a spin triumvirate that led England to an improbable 3-0 whitewash.West Indies 2018-19Despite 14 wickets in the series, including seven in the win in St Lucia, Moeen was outbowled by West Indies’ allrounder Roston Chase, and managed only 77 runs in his five innings.Following two brilliant series, this was a note of warning, and after an underwhelming World Cup and no red-ball cricket before the Ireland Test, Moeen was under pressure.Ireland and Ashes 2019Moeen Ali lost his off stump not playing a shot•Getty ImagesScores of 0 and 9 at Lord’s against Ireland, including a particularly soft dismissal to Boyd Rankin’s predictable short stuff, and only 4.2 overs in the match meant Moeen went into the Edgbaston Test sweating.And after an embarrassing duck in the first innings – bowled by, you guessed it, Lyon again, without playing a shot – Moeen found himself on a spinning pitch in Australia’s second innings, and needing to make a match-turning contribution.Instead, he returned 2 for 130 in his 29 overs, figures that were shown up horribly by Lyon’s 6 for 49, and not those of a man who leads the world for Test wickets since the beginning of August 2018. To make matters worse, he made only 4 when trying to save the game, prodding his opposite number to David Warner in the gully.By the time Lord’s rolled around, the selectors decided it was time up.Post-Ashes 2019Moeen declared he would take a break from Test cricket, citing a desire to “refresh my batteries” on the day it was announced he had been omitted from England’s list of centrally contracted Test players. It means missing England’s two Tests in New Zealand in November, and possibly the red-ball leg of the South Africa tour in December and January.While he retained his white-ball contract, and will be a central part of England’s plans for the World T20 in Australia next year, this was the first time since 2014-15, the year of his England debut, that Moeen had been overlooked for the top tier of ECB contracts.England’s director of cricket, Ashley Giles stressed that Moeen’s decision did not spell the end of his 60-Test career and revealed he had “encouraged him to leave that option open to come back” to the longer format in the future.Moeen Ali celebrates one of his four second-innings strikes•BCCIIndia 2020-21Moeen’s recall, for what would prove to be his final tour as an England Test cricketer, was doomed from the outset. He was diagnosed with Covid-19 on arrival in Sri Lanka in January, and so spent ten days in quarantine, wrecking any chance of playing in either Test at Galle, or the opening match of the subsequent India series – a famous England win, as it turned out.His comeback for the second Test was a success in isolation. Moeen claimed eight wickets for the match, four in either innings, although his economy-rate, pushing four an over, was too leaky to compete with the parsimony of his India rivals, Axar Patel and R Ashwin. His most arresting moment came with the bat, as he slammed 43 from 18 balls from No.9 in the dying moments of the match – a volley of strokeplay that may well have played a part in his subsequent £700,000 pay-day at the IPL auction.By that stage, however, Moeen had already departed from England’s Test tour, his pre-arranged downtime, as part of the ECB’s rest-and-rotation policy, courting controversy when Joe Root erroneously claimed he had “chosen” to fly home from the tour. Though he returned in the summer for three final Tests, the writing for his Test career was already on the wall.

Some of the planet's biggest superstars will be on show in Germany over the next month – but whose performances will shine above all others?

It's so close we can almost taste it. Euro 2024 is now just days away, with the best players from around the continent descending on Germany for what promises to be a superb summer of football.

While some teams will solely harbour dreams of getting out of the groups, others know that anything other than a trophy parade in mid-July will go down as failure. We're set, then, for four weeks of drama, filled with joy and heartbreak in equal measure.

Here at GOAL, we like to think we know a thing or two about the beautiful game, and so we've asked our team of writers and editors to make their predictions for the tournament. From the Golden Boot winner to the dark horses, we've got you covered on what to expect from the this hotly-anticipated Euros.

Today, we asked our team to predict who will claim the Player of the Tournament prize – here's what they had to say…

Getty Images'Expect Galactico performances from Mbappe'

Joe Strange: What better way for Kylian Mbappe to celebrate his protracted move to Real Madrid than by absolutely ripping up the Euros? France’s talisman heads into the tournament off the back of one last brilliant season for Paris Saint-Germain – despite plenty of issues on and off the pitch – and will be fuelled by his World Cup heartache, having scored a hat-trick in the 2022 final only to watch Lionel Messi and Argentina lift the trophy. Expect Galactico performances galore in Germany.

Advertisementgetty images'Musiala can be Germany's answer to Messi'

James Westwood: Germany are enjoying a resurgence under Julian Nagelsmann and will take some beating on home soil, especially with Jamal Musiala pulling the strings. The 21-year-old enjoyed another superb individual campaign at Bayern Munich, driving them forward at every opportunity with his excellent dribbling skills and eye for a killer pass. There is a reason Musiala has been described as Germany's answer to Lionel Messi, and they are certainly capable of going all the way if he's firing on all cylinders.

Getty Images'Mbappe arrives in decent physical condition'

Matt O'Connor-Simpson: Kylian Mbappe will be looking to whet the footballing world’s appetite ahead of his blockbuster move to Real Madrid. And he should be coming into the tournament in decent physical condition, having spent the second half of the season being rotated in and out of the Paris Saint-Germain first team, something he himself noted recently. “I'm going to find the best form possible and my objective is to put the team in the best possible position at the Euros. We want to bring the trophy home.” That’s us convinced.

Getty Images'Set up to be Foden's tournament'

Stephen Darwin: After his remarkable 2023-24 campaign with Manchester City, that saw him play a huge role in propelling Pep Guardiola's side to Premier League glory, the pressure is now on Phil Foden to take that form into an international tournament. In the past, Gareth Southgate never seemed sure of playing the 24-year-old from the start in a Three Lions shirt, but given the season he's had, he's simply undroppable. Euro 2024 is set-up to be Foden's tournament and, who knows, perhaps he'll inspire England to glory.