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Manchester United have massively struggled to find the back of the net over the last couple of years, which has massively held the side back in the Premier League.

The Red Devils have spent hundreds of millions of pounds on numerous attackers under multiple managers, but largely to no avail, as seen by their measly goal tally from 2024/25.

Ruben Amorim’s men only notched a total of 44 league goals last campaign, with two centre forwards, Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Hojlund, only netting seven goals combined.

The latter has rapidly fallen down the manager’s plans, leaving on a season-long loan to join Serie A side Napoli during the off-season, with such a deal having an option to buy in the summer of 2026.

In an attempt to improve the current first-team squad, many of the fanbase will have been craving a move for one talent who set England’s top-flight alight in recent years.

Alexander Isak’s form against Manchester United

Alexander Isak has been one of the Premier League’s leading attackers over the last couple of years, often being a player to be feared when coming up against the Magpies.

The Swede has registered 54 league goals in his three years in England, ending last year on 23 goals, sitting second in the goalscoring charts as he helped the Magpies secure Champions League qualification.

He is unbeaten in 63% of his matches against the Red Devils, scoring a header in the clash at Old Trafford as Eddie Howe’s side claimed a 2-0 win back in December.

Isak stated his desire to leave St James’ Park this summer, subsequently joining United’s rivals Liverpool in an English record £125m transfer on deadline day.

Such a move has massively strengthened Arne Slot’s side for the 2025/26 campaign, which could inflict more pain in the Derby matches for Amorim’s men in the near future.

The prospect of the Swede linking up with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Hugo Ekitiké is a dangerous one for the rest of England’s top-flight, with such a trio making the Reds favourites to retain their league title.

However, despite the business conducted elsewhere, the Red Devils have also landed numerous top-quality talents who could also make themselves fan favourites at the Theatre of Dreams.

Man United's Isak-level signing

In an attempt to avoid a repeat of 2024/25, the United hierarchy splashed £200m on three new attackers during the summer to inject the needed added quality to the frontline.

Matheus Cunha was the first to make the move, joining in a £62.5m transfer from Wolverhampton Wanderers after scoring 15 times in England’s top-flight last campaign.

The Brazilian has been joined by Benjamin Sesko in the final third, costing a fee in the region of £74m from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig – filling the void left by Hojlund’s departure.

The third and final player added to the attacking department was Bryan Mbeumo, with the Cameroonian arriving from English outfit Brentford as an “unplayable” star in the words of Thomas Frank.

His addition set the club back £71m, including add-ons – a mammoth sum of money, but one that could prove worthwhile after he scored 20 times in the top-flight last time around.

The 26-year-old was one of just five players in the division to achieve a total of 20 goals or more in the Premier League – highlighting the talent the club have on their books at present.

Such a move is similar to that of Isak to Liverpool this summer, with both players falling into the aforementioned bracket for goals scored in 2024/25.

Both players will be hoping to repeat similar feats at their new clubs this campaign, but for the Red Devils’ sake – they will hope Mbeumo can add further goals to add to his dominance over the Swede.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats in the league from 2024/25, Mbeumo managed to better Isak in numerous areas, subsequently highlighting the excellent addition made by Amorim and Co.

The Cameroonian, who’s been labelled “world-class” by Statman Dave, posted a better shot on target accuracy rate (44%) and a higher goal per shot on target rate (0.5).

Such numbers highlight the clinical edge he possesses within the final third, arguably making him a more threatening option than the English-record signing.

He also completed more of the take-ons he attempted (47%) whilst carrying the ball into the opposition’s box per 90 (2.1) – further highlighting his talent when in possession.

If he can replicate such numbers during his time at Old Trafford, Mbeumo may have all the tools to help the Red Devils return to their former glory in the near future.

It remains to be seen if he can once again outperform Isak in 2025/26, but if he does, his £71m transfer fee may be a bargain – especially if he can lead the side to any form of silverware.

Worth more than Baleba: Man Utd have struck gold on "generational" talent

Manchester United already have a big-money talent on their books despite missing out on Carlos Baleba.

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By
Ethan Lamb

Sep 10, 2025

Seamer asked to remain on standby for World Cup despite omission from initial squad

Valkerie Baynes24-Sep-2025Kate Cross has lost her England contract, capping a difficult month in which she also learned she had been overlooked for the World Cup.Cross revealed that England Women’s head coach Charlotte Edwards and director of cricket Jonathan Finch had told her during a post-season appraisal in August that her central contract wouldn’t be renewed, after playing 102 matches for her country across formats in an international career spanning nearly 12 years.”I had my appraisal with Lot and Finchy, our director of cricket, and they just told me that I’m not going to get my England contract renewed next year,” Cross said in a pre-recorded segment for the latest episode of , the podcast that she co-hosts with best friend and former team-mate Alex Hartley. “So as of October this year, 2025, I will not be a professional cricketer for England anymore.””I was dreading saying that, I feel sick,” Cross added in the episode released on Tuesday.Cross had her appraisal in early August, on the eve of the Hundred, in which she was ultimately part of the Northern Superchargers side that won the title, and learned of her World Cup omission partway through the tournament. She also revealed that Edwards had approached her after the Hundred to be a reserve for the World Cup.”I had a phonecall with Lottie at the end of the Hundred where she was like: ‘Look if you’re willing, can you keep training through October? Because if an injury goes down to one of the seamers, we are going to need you.’ That’s the bit I’m finding tough, because the end point isn’t now for me,” Cross said. “I’m back at Old Trafford next week bowling. It’s not been great. But I also have to think if an injury does go down, I have to go and be ready to play for England in a World Cup.”Cross claimed two wickets in the Hundred final to help power Northern Superchargers to the title•Julian Finney/Getty ImagesWith England Women’s central contracts due to be announced in December, Cross said she had a bad feeling about her future at the end of England’s home ODI series with India, which the hosts lost 2-1 in late July.”I started the India series opening the bowling for England as vice-captain, and I finished that series not even making the 13 that was named the night before, for the squad to play in that last ODI,” Cross said. “Lottie said to me, in a chat the day before the game, that it was a must-win game and I’m not part of the 13. As a cricketer who’s always prided myself on being a reliable bowler for your captain, who would hopefully stand up in big moments and do what I’ve done for a while for England, that was pretty tough to hear. I felt like a lot of trust had been lost quite quickly.”I’m not daft, I’m old enough and wise enough, and been around the block plenty of times to know that something’s happened there that might mean my future is maybe in a little bit of jeopardy.”When I came out of that India series, I felt a little bit lost and I didn’t feel like Lottie trusted me that much, having started the series where I did. I even said to Lottie, ‘I’m not daft, I know I didn’t bowl great (in the first ODI) at Southampton’. I didn’t feel like it was a droppable offence, but I know that wasn’t me at my best.”Cross wondered whether the back injury that she sustained in South Africa last year meant she had “lost a little bit of something”. Though she remained with the squad for England’s subsequent Ashes campaign in Australia, she didn’t play a match as England were whitewashed by seven matches to none.”That’s the stuff that you come to terms with, I guess, but I don’t quite feel like that’s the case,” she said. “I feel like I still have a lot to give the team and I know everyone that gets pushed out will say that, they’ll say that they always still felt like they’ve got stuff to give.Related

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“I’m so aware that my international career had to come to an end at some point, and it was going to be unlikely that I’d get to do it on my terms, because not many people get the privilege of finishing it on their terms. So I always knew that this would be probably how it was done, that I wouldn’t be ready for it.”But I think it’s just the speed of it. I honestly think in a couple of months’ time, a couple of years’ time, I might look back and be really pleased at how quickly it all happened, so I’ve not had to do that year of getting phased out and doing drinks and stuff like that. But I’m also sat here questioning whether I want to play cricket again.”With all this going on, Cross was also part of the Lancashire side which won the inaugural Metro Bank One Day Cup Women’s title on Sunday. She was unsure whether she would seek out a domestic contract for next year and said she would spend the winter away from the game deciding what she wanted to do.”Lottie has, to be fair to her, kept reaching out saying, ‘can we have a chat?’ and I’m like, there’s no point for me yet because I don’t know what to say,” Cross said. “I don’t have anything to say to you that’s going to make me feel better.”The chat might make her feel better, but I don’t think I’m ready for that yet. That almost feels like something that might happen next year or in two years’ time, or maybe never.”

Lancashire rack up 338 for 7 in Hove sunshine but valiant defence falls at final hurdle

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay15-Aug-2025Sussex 342 for 9 (Clark 139, Haines 90, Barnard 4-56) beat Lancashire 338 for 7 (Jones 82, Singh 74, Bell 66, Crocombe 3-61) by one wicketSussex Sharks’ hopes of progressing to the knockout stages of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup are alive after they squeezed past Lancashire by one wicket with three balls to spare in a thriller at Hove.Chasing 339, Tom Clark’s 139 and Tom Haines (90) appeared to have done the hard bit by adding 232 in 32 overs – a new second-wicket record in 50 overs cricket for the county – to leave 98 needed from 17 overs with eight wickets in hand.Instead, they collapsed in a flurry of poor shots to lose six wickets for 27 runs in 47 balls. When Archie Lenham was eighth out Sussex needed 39 from 27 balls but Jack Carson and Henry Crocombe held their nerve. Carson hit Charlie Barnard straight for six in the 48th over before launching Tom Bailey over midwicket and out of the ground in the next.With one to win there was another twist when Crocombe was lbw to left-arm spinner Barnard off the second delivery of the final over. But last man Sean Hunt bunted the next ball back over Barnard’s head to seal Sussex’s second win in four Group B games.Lancashire were in a good position at halfway after openers Michael Jones and George Bell put on 157 before Harry Singh’s 74 took them to their highest 50 overs total against Sussex.George Balderson picked up Charlie Tear with his second ball, but Clark and Haines then took control. The two left-handers didn’t offer a chance until Clark, on 120, top-edged a sweep but Barnard, running in from midwicket, couldn’t hold on as he dived forward.Clark deserved that fortune given the quality of his stroke play, particularly his inside-out driving through the off and his ability to find the gaps on the leg side. The 24-year-old can seldom have batted with more freedom in any format for his county. None of the seven bowlers employed could tie either of them down until a tired Clark was bowled by offspinner Arav Shetty in the 34th over. He faced 109 balls and hit 16 fours and five sixes.With an end to attack Lancashire were transformed. Shetty, in only his third List A game, finished with 3 for 51 while 20-year-old Barnard, who conceded 23 in his first two overs, ended up with 4 for 56.Lancashire’s 338 for 7 was underpinned by a fine opening stand of 157 in 25 overs by Jones and Bell, a new List A best against Sussex for the first wicket, beating David Lloyd and Farokh Engineer’s 146 at Blackpool in 1976.Jones was the more aggressive, hitting three sixes in his 77-ball 82 before he mistimed a drive at legspinner Lenham and was caught at extra at cover. Bell played nicely for his 66 off 74 balls until he mistimed a sweep at offspinner Carson. Between them Sussex’s two slow bowlers took a respectable 3 for 90 in 18 overs in batter-friendly conditions, but it was harder work for their seam attack on a sweltering afternoon.Left-armer Hunt returned after nearly three months out and picked up a wicket and there were two in two balls for Crocombe, who finished with 3 for 61, but 21-year-old Singh propelled Lancashire beyond 300 with some very impressive ball-striking and placement, hitting five sixes in his 61-ball 74 which was a career best to boot.

Chelsea winger Estevao has been named among the list of nominees for the 2025 Golden Boy Award. The Brazil international will compete against the likes of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham and Real Madrid talent Franco Mastantuono for the trophy which was last won by Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal, who is unable to defend his crown due to the competition’s rules.

• Estevao aiming to become third Brazilian to win Golden Boy gong

  Estevao is looking to become the third Brazilian to get his hands on the Golden Boy award after being named among a star-studded list of young hopefuls. The 18-year-old is hoping to follow in the footsteps of former Manchester United midfielder Anderson and ex-Milan striker Alexandre Pato by scooping the gong – created by Italian publication and honouring the best player in the world under the age of 21 – which they won in 2008 and 2009 respectively.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Revealed: The full list of nominees for the 2025 Golden Boy award

  Released on Wednesday evening, the full list of nominees includes:

  Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona and Spain)

  Desire Doue (Paris Saint-Germain and France)

  Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid and Spain)

  Kenan Yildiz (Juventus and Turkey)

  Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal and England)

  Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain and France)

  Arda Guler (Real Madrid and Turkey)

  Franco Mastantuono (Real Madrid and Argentina)

  Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)

  Jorrel Hato (Chelsea and Netherlands)

  Geovany Quenda (Sporting CP)

  Estevao (Chelsea and Brazil)

  Leny Yoro (Manchester United)

  Senny Mayulu (Paris Saint-Germain)

  Jobe Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)

  Nico O’Reilly (Manchester City)

  Eliesse Ben Seghir (Bayer Leverkusen and Morocco)

  Rodrigo Mora (Porto)

  Giovanni Leoni (Liverpool)

  Victor Froholdt (Porto and Denmark)

  Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham and Sweden)

  Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter and Italy)

  Archie Gray (Tottenham)

  Mamadou Sarr (Chelsea and Strasbourg)

  Aleksandar Stankovic (Club Brugge and Serbia)

• Estevao's nomination comes off the back of promising Chelsea start

  Estevao’s nomination comes off the back of his promising start to life at Chelsea. After joining the Blues in the summer following a pre-existing agreement with Brazilian side Palmeiras, the teen sensation has recorded one goal and one assist apiece in six Premier League appearances in 2025-26, including scoring the winner in the last-gasp 2-1 victory over Liverpool prior to the international break.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Bellingham and Mastantuono also vying for Golden Boy prize

  Also hoping to win the prize are Dortmund and Real duo Bellingham and Mastantuono. After helping Sunderland win promotion from the Championship to the Premier League last season, Bellingham joined Dortmund in the summer and has featured in all six of his side's Bundesliga fixtures this season. The 20-year-old is looking to match the achievement of his older brother, Jude, who was named the 2023 Golden Boy. Meanwhile, Argentina international Mastantuono has been in fine form in his debut season at Real, scoring one league goal in seven appearances to help Xabi Alonso’s side ascend to the top of La Liga.

John Cena is one of the most recognisable names in the world, whether it be for his wrestling or acting.

A WWE icon, Cena is set to retire from the sports entertainment business at the end of 2025, more than 23 years on from making his Smackdown debut. The American has had 17 separate WWE championship reigns, more than any other wrestler in the history of the business.

Due to his status, he has regularly been at the centre of numerous interviews away from the ring throughout his career, being asked questions not focused on wrestling.

Previously, when speaking to the BBC, Cena was quizzed on all things football, from his favourite player and Premier League team, to what role he would like if he was involved in the sport.

John Cena names Ronaldo the football 'GOAT'

When asked who his favourite player was, Cena chose Cristiano Ronaldo over Lionel Messi. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star is still going strong in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr and is showing no signs of slowing up in front of goal.

Ronaldo, who was won five Ballon d’Or awards, holds the record for the most international appearances and international goals with Portugal.

John Cena names favourite Premier League team

When asked who his preferred team is in England, Cena name-checked Tottenham Hotspur, citing a time when he visited White Hart Lane back in 2008 during a tour of the UK with the WWE.

With Spurs seemingly Cena’s favourite team and Ronaldo his best-ever player, Cena was then asked where he would play if he was a footballer. Instead of giving a position, the wrestling star fancied himself on the sidelines.

“If I were to play myself, I would be on the bench because I have watched a few games, and it is a lot of running – I don’t run very well, or very far. I could maybe go in goal but there is a lot of pressure on the goalie, because the net is so big and the goalies are so small, so it is tough to block the shots. So, I think being an inspirational coach might be my best role.”

If you are planning to visit Estadio Akron for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we've got you covered!

Situated in Guadalajara, Estadio Akron is an engineering masterpiece and currently serves as the home ground for Liga MX side CD Guadalajara, better known as Chivas.

Estadio Akron is set to be one of the host venues for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the biggest edition yet, with 48 teams competing in the month-long showpiece event. 

The stadium is currently undergoing renovation and will be ready in time for the tournament, featuring upgraded lighting, an improved sound system, enhanced viewing screens, a new playing surface, and more.

If you are planning to visit the stadium for the upcoming World Cup, this guide is for you. GOAL has all the information you need before stepping into this stunning venue.

• AFP
  

  Estadio Banorte Stadium overview

  Capacity	49,813
  Year opened	2010
  Tenant(s)	CD Guadalajara
  Address	Cto. J.V.C. 2800, El Bajío, 45014 Zapopan, Jal., Mexico

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• AFP
  

  History of Estadio Akron

  Estadio Akron opened in 2010 and has since served as the home ground for CD Guadalajara in Liga MX. Initially known as Estadio Omnilife, it hosted matches during the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where Mexico went on to win the tournament. In addition to Guadalajara’s matches, Estadio Akron has also staged several Copa MX finals.

  In 2016, the stadium was briefly renamed Estadio Chivas before Akron acquired the naming rights in 2017.

  The stadium will host its first ever FIFA World Cup next year, featuring four group stage matches, including one involving Mexico.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Which teams play at Estadio Akron

  Estadio Akron replaced Estadio Jalisco as the home ground of Chivas when it opened in 2010.

  Team	League
  CD Guadalajara	Liga MX

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  How to get to Estadio Akron

  How to get to Estadio Akron by public transport 

  Several bus lines stop near the stadium, with notable ones including A12, T02, T01, and C109.

  The BRT line Mi Macro Periferico is also an efficient way to reach the venue, with the Estadio Chivas station located close to the stadium.

  How to get to Estadio Akron by car 

  If you are traveling from Downtown Guadalajara, you can take Av. Vallarta (Highway 15D), follow the signs for Zapopan/Nogales, and then take Av. del Bosque to reach the stadium.

  If you are traveling from the airport, head northwest via Carretera Guadalajara–Chapala, then merge onto Periferico Manuel Gomez Morin and follow the signs to the stadium.