It has been a frustrating start to the summer of 2024 for Manchester United so far. The Red Devils’ new owners, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS, are yet to formally announce any clarification over Erik ten Hag’s future as the club’s manager, with the review following the FA Cup final taking two weeks already.

Tyrone Marshall, a senior football writer for The Manchester Evening News, explained in an article yesterday that the owners are 'continuing to weigh up' whether or not to stick or twist with the Dutchman. Marshall explained that those finalising his future want to ensure it is a 'considered decision'.

This has somewhat affected United in the transfer market already. They could miss out on their rumoured primary target, Michael Olise. According to multiple reports, the Crystal Palace winger could be set to rejoin Chelsea, a side who he played academy football for as a youngster, for a fee of around £60m.

However, there are still deals United could be poised to do. Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite seems destined for United, provided the Toffees do not ask for an extortionate price. There is also a midfielder who has been strongly linked to Old Trafford this week and could join the club as the summer window develops.

Man Utd target Serie A midfielder

The player in question here is Atalanta and Netherlands international midfielder Teun Koopmeiners. After a successful season in Bergamo, in which his side lifted the Europa League, the Dutchman could be set for a big move over the summer.

According to a report from the Italian news outlet Calciomercato, the Red Devils are 'willing to immediately pay' to sign Koopmeiners this summer. The report explains that it could cost United €70m (£60m) to tempt Atalanta into selling their talismanic Dutchman this summer, although they are not alone in their interest.

Italian giants Juventus are one side who are thought to be interested in the midfielder this summer. However, the report suggests that the Old Lady can only offer up to £34m, although if that doesn’t convince Atalnata to sell, they could also offer a player plus cash; namely, that man would be young defender Dean Huijsen.

United might also be joined in the race for Koopmeiners’ signature by rivals Liverpool. The Anfield side’s new boss, Arne Slot, wants to bring his fellow Dutchman to the Red side of Merseyside, having already managed him at AZ Alkmaar. However, if United pay the requested £60m first, they could win the race.

Why Koopmeiners would be a good signing

Should United get a deal over the line for Koopmeiners this summer, they would be signing “one of the most intelligent players in Serie A”, according to football analyst Ben Mattinson.

Indeed, the Dutchman had a productive season from attacking midfield in Italy’s top flight this season. He scored 12 goals and registered five assists in 34 games, as well as chipping in with two assists in the victorious Europa League campaign.

According to Fbref, Koopmierners is comparable to United’s own talismanic midfielder, and captain, Bruno Fernandes. Creatively, both of their numbers are similar, with the Dutchman averaging 2.05 key passes per 90 minutes, 4.32 passes into the final third per 90 and 1.54 passes into the penalty box per 90. In comparison, Fernandes averages only slightly more, with 3.29 key passes per 90 5.40 passes into the final third per 90 and 2.57 passes into the penalty box per 90.

Having two players with such creativity is important for depth in United’s squad, and Mattinson has previously highlighted his “well-weighted through balls”, which reflects well in his stats shown above.

Where Koopmeiners excels over United’s captain is ball-carrying. He averages 2.71 progressive carries per 90 and 1.85 carries into the final third per 90, compared to Fernandes’ 2.49 progressive carries per 90 and 1.76 carries into the final third per 90.

Something that Mattinson noted about Koopmeiners’ game is his “box crashing” ability, which is comparable to United midfielder Scott McTominay. An article by Breaking The Lines noted how McTominay’s role in 2023/24 'mainly focused on him ‘box crashing', which is why he has been so 'prolific' in front of goal.

Interestingly, Koopmeiners’ 15 goals in all competitions easily trump the ten that McTominay scored, suggesting United could bring in an upgrade in such a role if they look to sign the Dutchman this summer.

Stat

Koopmeiners

McTominay

Games

51

43

Goals

15

10

Assists

7

3

For £60m, it is an expensive deal, but signing the 26-year-old could help improve United’s creativity in the final third, and add to their goal threat even more. Koopmeiners to United could well happen if Ten Hag stays at the club, given the Dutch connection and his value in such a profile.

Man Utd struck gold on free signing who's now worth more than Fernandes

The Man Utd star has now become well and truly irreplaceable.

ByTom Lever Jun 5, 2024

After a season of ups and downs in which they came so close to finishing in the Champions League places, Tottenham Hotspur have a big summer of transfers ahead.

Ange Postecoglou got off to a flyer in North London, but injuries and a downturn in form saw his side slip down to fifth by the end of the campaign, with star signing James Maddison missing out on a place in the Euros due to his lacklustre performances.

Luckily for him and the manager, the latest player heavily touted for a move to N17 could be the perfect midfielder to help the Englishman rediscover his form and power the Lilywhites back up the table next year.

Tottenham Hotspur transfer news

According to a recent report from Football Insider, Tottenham are interested in Juventus' star midfielder Weston McKennie, and have already held talks with the Serie A side over his potential move.

Earlier this month, Football Insider claimed that the Lilywhites had 'jumped ahead' of Aston Villa and made themselves favourites to secure the American's signature, and this latest story has revealed that the Villans have ceased their interest in the player over wage demands.

In more good news for the Lilywhites, it looks like they won't have to pay a great deal for the 25-year-old, as the report claims that further talks have taken place over a £15m fee due to his contract expiring next summer.

It might not be the most exciting name and conjures up images of Leeds United's relegation in the minds of Premier League fans, but McKennie has been immense for Juventus over the last year and could be the perfect player to play next to Maddison.

Why McKennie would be a great teammate for Maddison

Now, I know McKennie's last showing in England was, to put it diplomatically, dreadful, but it was a tough stage for him to show his worth.

Brought in by compatriot Jesse Marsch for half a season to try and help the Peacocks fend off relegation in the 2022/23 season, the American looked woefully out of place in England's top flight, even being called a worse signing than Jean-Kevin Augustin by presenter and Leeds fan Joe Wainman.

However, last season, the USMNT star proved that his poor spell in West Yorkshire was just that, a spell.

Back in Turin, the "dangerous" ace, as Marsch dubbed him, made 38 appearances, 33 of which were starts, provided ten assists, and helped the Old Lady win the Italian Cup – oh, and he also won the CONCACAF Nations League with the US in March.

He's clearly left quite an impression on people in Italy as well, as former Juventus great Mark Iuliano described him as a player with "a good sense of position" who "never gives up" and, arguably just as important, a player who "puts a lot of heart into it."

Weston Mckennie in 23/24

Appearances

38

Goals

0

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.26

Domestic Trophies

1

International Trophies

1

All Stats via Transfermarkt

These are the things that would make him the perfect midfielder to play in the left-eight alongside Maddison. His ability to get all over the pitch put out fires, and start attacks would allow the former Foxes star to focus on what he is best at playmaking.

The 27-year-old was on fire in the opening stages of the season, scoring three goals and providing five assists in his first ten full league games, but following his return from injury, he only managed one goal and four assists in 17 games.

It could be a little reductive to blame it on fatigue, but if he has an incredibly mobile player next to him willing to do more of the running, it can only help him in the long term, and according to WhoScored, one of McKennie's key strengths is his defensive contribution from midfield.

Ultimately, this may not be a move that gets fans out of their seats, but given his performances last season and the incredibly low price, it would make sense for Levy and Co to go ahead and get it done.

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Aston Villa are reportedly ready to accept offers for another star player this summer alongside Douglas Luiz and Jhon Duran.

Luiz to Juventus, Duran to Chelsea updates

After qualifying for the Champions League in Unai Emery’s first full season in charge at Villa Park, NSWE and Monchi are once again ready for a busy summer transfer window.

There could be plenty of incomings and outgoings in the Midlands, with plenty of rumours regarding the futures of Douglas Luiz and Jhon Duran at this moment in time. The Brazilian midfielder has now agreed personal terms with Juventus ahead of a player-plus-cash swap deal. Villa could receive Weston McKennie, Samuel Iling Jr and a €20m fee for Luiz.

Meanwhile, there has also been speculation that Villa and Chelsea have agreed on a £42m fee for Duran. However, it doesn’t look as if Villa will stop there when it comes to player sales. There have been rumours of a move to AC Milan for right-back Matty Cash, but it looks as if another defender is no longer wanted at the club.

Aston Villa ready to sell Diego Carlos

According to Football Insider, Villa and Emery are now ready to accept an offer for centre-back Diego Carlos during the current transfer window.

It is stated that Villa need to raise funds to comply with PSR before the end of the month, and alongside Luiz and Duran, Carlos is ‘another first-team starter who could leave Villa Park this summer to help balance the books despite featuring heavily last season’.

Carlos, who picks up £100,000-a-week in the Midlands, joined the club from Sevilla during Steven Gerrard’s time as manager back in 2022. Since then, the Brazilian has gone on to make 41 appearances for the club, the majority of which came last season due to an injury-hit 2022/23 campaign.

The 31-year-old came in for praise from Gary Neville last season after Villa’s 2-0 win over Arsenal back in April, describing him as a “man mountain” at the back.

“He’s been Villa’s best player in the first half Diego Carlos, he’s been immense. Diego Carlos, outstanding in that first half. Clean sheet, he’s been outstanding. In the first half, he was a man mountain.”

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ByAngus Sinclair Jun 13, 2024

Alongside Carlos, Villa have Pau Torres, Ezri Konsa, Calum Chambers and the returning Tyrone Mings as centre-back options, so if they can bring in a figure more than the £26m fee they paid Sevilla two years ago, Villa could see it as good business, making this one to watch over the coming weeks before the June 30 PSR deadline.

The Harris sisters inspired defending champions the Heat to a crucial victory and the Stars made it six in a row

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Nov-2020

Rachel Priest produced a spectacular innings•Getty Images

Mignon du Preez struck the ball sweetly•Getty Images

The Stars moved to the brink of the WBBL finals for the first time as England allrounder Nat Sciver continued her influential WBBL campaign with another fine display, taking a contender for catch of the tournament then helping finish the Stars’ chase. Mignon du Preez made a boundary-studded half-century, timing the ball beautifully from the start, and closed out the game with three boundaries in four balls as she passed fifty off 36 deliveries.In the field, Katherine Brunt made the early inroads striking twice in her second over which including remove England captain Heather Knight for duck – Erin Osborne taking a super, low diving catch. However, that grab was outshone considerably by Sciver’s magnificent grab, leaping high, one-handed, to her weaker left side at point to intercept Tammy Beaumont’s well-struck reverse sweep. As she has during the competition, Beaumont’s was a labored innings (14 off 27 balls) and it was the closing overs where Rachael Haynes, Phoebe Litchfield and Rachel Trenaman showed more intent that got the Thunder as far as 131.Sophie Devine gets in position to go big on the leg side•Getty Images

The Scorchers continued to build their mid-tournament momentum as Sophie Devine’s thumping innings followed up a very fine bowling performance against a Renegades side facing a forgettable season. The Renegades’, whose resources have been badly stretched by injury, produced a poorly-paced innings with the power of Lizelle Lee, coming in at No. 4, arriving in the 14th over. Captain Amy Satterthwaite, who has struggled to lift her scoring rate in the tournament, later admitted she was a culpable as most with 48 off 56 balls although Sophie Molineux’s 39 only just hit a run-a-ball.Though only taking three wickets, the Scorchers were excellent with the ball led by Taneale Peschel’s 2 for 17 with her four overs including 15 dots. Although Beth Mooney, the competition’s leading run-scorer, fell in the third over it never felt as though the chase would be a problem although there was a stroke of fortune for Devine in the eighth over when a delivery from Rosemary Mair clipped the stumps but the zinger bails did not dislodge. During her innings Devine clocked up her 100th T20 six while Chloe Piparo, promoted to No. 3, provided excellent support in an unbroken stand of 102 which will also have significant helped the Scorchers’ net run-rate.Grace Harris secured victory with three wickets in an over•Getty Images

The Harris sisters combined to earn defending champions the Heat a vital victory, firstly with Laura Kimmince (née Harris) crunched 41 off 17 balls to light up a faltering innings then Grace Harris took four wickets, including three in the penultimate over, in what was a badly misjudged chase by the Strikers.The Heat were floundering on 5 for 71 in the 16th over after Amanda-Jade Wellington struck twice in three balls. They had struggled for momentum through the first two thirds of their innings, the normally free-flowing Grace Harris making 32 off 41 balls. However, Kimmince changed the complexion of the day as 38 runs came off the 17th and 18th overs from Sarah Coyte and Tahlia McGrath and all of a sudden she had 41 off 14 deliveries. Amelia Kerr played a part, too, with 16 off 10 balls and the last five overs brought 65 runs. The Strikers then made the error of not keeping up with the asking rate: the opening stand of 57 between McGrath and Katie Mack taking 10.4 overs. Problems then arrived when Mack was stumped to give Harris her first wicket and Laura Wolvaardt gloved Kerr down the leg side. McGrath and Stafanie Taylor added 50, yet they came to the last two overs needing 29. Taylor swung a boundary, but then Harris sealed the game with three wickets in five balls.

Some of the most gifted and influential football players in history have come from Serbia. These players have made a lasting impression on the international scene, either with the Serbian national team as we know it today or during Yugoslavia’s heyday.

While Yugoslavia were two-time runners-up at the European Championship, the famous nation has never won a trophy since declaring independence in 2006, despite being blessed with a real array of talent.

Here is the list of who we believe are the ten greatest Serbian footballers, based on their overall impact at either club or international level during their careers…

Rank	Player	Career span
1	Dejan Stanković	1995-2013
2	Blagoje Marjanović	1920-1951
3	Dragan Stojković	1981-2001
4	Nemanja Vidić	2000-2016
5	Predrag Mijatović	1987-2003
6	Branislav Ivanović	2002-2021
7	Aleksandar Mitrović	2011-present
8	Rajko Mitić	1940-1958
9	Nemanja Matić	2006-present
10	Dušan Tadić	2006-present

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By
Charlie Smith

Jun 9, 2024

10

Dušan Tadić

2006-present

Dušan Tadić has excelled at club and international level. When Tadić joined Southampton in 2014, his club career took a major turn, as his goalscoring and inventiveness immediately made an impression. He played in 162 games over his four seasons at Southampton, tallying 24 goals and dishing out 35 assists.

After moving to Ajax in 2018, he helped them win multiple Eredivisie titles and reach in the Champions League semi-finals in the 2018/19 season, only to be edged out by Tottenham Hotspur. His stats in Amsterdam were quite remarkable, having bagged 105 goals and 112 assists in just 241 appearances.

Tadić has also been a vital member of Serbia’s international team, winning 111 caps and captaining the side.

International caps	111
International goals	23
Clubs played for	Vojvodina, FC Groningen, FC Twente, Southampton, Ajax, Fenerbahce

9

Nemanja Matić

2006-present

Nemanja Matić has established himself as a formidable midfield player for his clubs and the Serbian national team. The 35-year-old, who is well-known for his strength, tactical acumen, and remarkable game-reading skills, has made a big impact on European football.

During his time playing for Chelsea in England, Matić experienced a great deal of success. His contributions to Chelsea becoming Premier League titles in 2014/15 and 2016/17 were crucial, becoming one of the league’s best defensive midfielders as a result.

He then moved to Manchester United in 2017, where he kept showcasing his midfield abilities and helped the Red Devils reach the Europa League final in 2021, as well as finish second in the 2017/18 Premier League season.

Matić had been a vital member of Serbia’s national team, featuring at the 2018 World Cup, which contributed towards his 48 caps, before his retirement from the international stage in 2019.

International caps	48
International goals	2
Clubs played for	Chelsea, Man Utd, Roma, Lyon, +5 others

8

Rajko Mitić

1940-1958

Rajko Mitić is a highly regarded figure in the history of football in Serbia and Yugoslavia. Prominent for his commitment, aptitude and guidance, Mitić’s professional life is mainly linked to Red Star Belgrade, where he made a lasting impression as a manager and player.

As a player, Mitić had an incredible career at Red Star Belgrade, winning multiple national cups and Yugoslav First League championships in the 1940s and 1950s. His efforts were crucial in making Red Star the undisputed power in Yugoslavian football.

Mitić was acknowledged for his leadership on the pitch when he was appointed as the first captain of the Yugoslavian national team, amassing 58 caps, scoring 32 goals and competing in two FIFA World Cups (1950 and 1954).

If that wasn’t enough, Red Star Belgrade opened the Rajko Mitić Stadium in his honour in 1963.

International caps	58
International goals	32
Clubs played for	BSK Beograd, Red Star

7

Aleksandar Mitrović

2011-present

Aleksandar Mitrović has made a name for himself as a strong striker who possesses aerial skill, physical strength and an innate talent to score goals.

Throughout his career, Mitrović has gone from being a potential talent at Partizan Belgrade to being an important player for clubs all across Europe and a crucial member of the Serbian national team.

The 29-year-old moved to Newcastle United in the Premier League after having a breakout season at Anderlecht, when he finished as the Belgian league’s top scorer. Although he had inconsistent results during his time in England, he proved that he was a strong forward with the ability to play at the highest level.

A move to Fulham triggered a completely new Mitrović, as he bagged 111 goals and assisted 21 during his time in west London, before securing a move to Saudi Arabia, in order to join Al-Hilal

He’s also been a vital member of Serbia’s international team, making big contributions in European Championship and World Cup qualifying, including scoring the goal that took them to the 2022 World Cup. This has led to him being the nation’s top scorer of all time with 59 goals to his name in 98 caps.

International caps	98
International goals	59
Clubs played for	Teleoptik, Partizan, Anderlecht, Newcastle, Fulham, Al-Hilal

6

Branislav Ivanović

2002-2021

Branislav Ivanović’s career has been distinguished by notable successes with Serbia and Chelsea in the Premier League. After joining the Blues in January 2008, he developed into one of the league’s most dependable and well-respected defenders over the course of the following nine years.

His versatility as a centre-back and full-back allowed him to positively impact Chelsea’s offensive set-pieces and defensive stability, which helped the west London club win numerous Premier League crowns, FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League.

With 105 caps for Serbia, Ivanović is the second-most-capped player for his country. He was a real leader on the international stage, competing in the 2010 World Cup and multiple European Championship qualification campaigns.

International caps	105
International goals	13
Clubs played for	Srem, OFK Beograd, Lokomotiv Moscow, Chelsea, Zenit, West Brom

5

Predrag Mijatović

1987-2003

Predrag Mijatović gained widespread recognition for his ability as a forward, due to his substantial contributions for club and country. His time at club sides Valencia, Real Madrid and Fiorentina, together with his accomplishments with the national teams of Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro, are particularly noteworthy.

The most memorable moment of Mijatović’s Real Madrid career was his game-winning goal against Juventus in the 1998 Champions League final, which sealed Real Madrid’s first European Cup in 32 years and cemented his place in the club’s history. This high point came from a career in which he was successful in both Italy’s Serie A and Spain’s La Liga, scoring 115 goals in total.

As a forward, Mijatović further cemented his position as one of the best in Europe by representing Yugoslavia in important international competitions such as the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. He was always a menace to defenders because of his technical prowess and penchant for being in the right place at the right time.

International caps	77
International goals	28
Clubs played for	Buducnost Titograd, Partizan, Valencia, Real Madrid, Fiorentina, Levante

4

Nemanja Vidić

2000-2016

There’s no doubting that Nemanja Vidić is regarded as one of the most formidable defenders of his time. His tenure at Manchester United, where he and Rio Ferdinand created a renowned defensive partnership, is what most defines his career.

Vidić joined Manchester United in January 2006, and his aerial skill, aggressive defending, and leadership abilities helped him become an instant mainstay. His talents were essential to Manchester United winning the Champions League in 2008 and several Premier League titles, notably three in a row from 2007 to 2009. Vidić’s excellence was acknowledged on an individual basis with other honours, such as being awarded the Premier League Player of the Season two times.

In the global arena, Vidić amassed 56 international caps, which included 19 for Serbia & Montenegro and a friendly appearance for Yugoslavia. He was a key member of his nation’s sides, as they qualified for two World Cups in 2006 and 2010.

International caps	56
International goals	2
Clubs played for	Red Star, Spartak Subotica, Spartak Moscow, Man Utd, Inter

3

Dragan Stojković

1981-2001

Dragan Stojković is considered one of the most gifted football players to come out of Yugoslavia and a key player in the history of Serbian football. Throughout his brilliant career, Stojković, who was renowned for his exceptional technical abilities, vision and inventiveness, flourished as a midfield player.

At Red Star Belgrade, where he won national championships and demonstrated his extraordinary potential, his club career took off, leading to a transfer to Europe’s more competitive leagues. His time at Marseille in France was especially noteworthy as he helped his side win the French league title and go to the UEFA Champions League final in 1991, ironically against Red Star.

He later secured a move to Japan, where he made 225 appearances for Nagoya Grampus, scoring 68 goals before retiring.

He played for Yugoslavia in a number of major international competitions, such as the World Cup in 1990, where he was a standout performer that helped his side advance to the quarter-finals.

International caps	84
International goals	15
Clubs played for	Radnicki Nis, Red Star, Marseille, Hellas Verona, Nagoya Grampus Eight

2

Blagoje Marjanović

1920-1951

Blagoje Marjanović was a notable Yugoslavian football player who was known for his extraordinary goalscoring ability. As one of the most productive forwards of his day in Yugoslavia and throughout Europe, he spent the majority of his career at BSK Belgrade (now OFK Belgrade).

BSK Belgrade won multiple Yugoslav First League titles while he was a member of the squad from 1926 to 1941, with Marjanović leading the league in scoring for multiple seasons. His goal total is still among the highest in the team’s and the league’s history, and it’s easy to understand why, as he played 566 matches for BSK, scoring 575 goals.

The striker was also one of the greatest goalscorers in Yugoslavia’s history, achieving 58 caps and scoring 37 goals. His participation in the 1928 Summer Olympics and the 1930 FIFA World Cup in Uruguay allowed him to demonstrate his talent away from home and solidified his reputation as one of the greatest football players of all time.

International caps	58
International goals	37
Clubs played for	SK Jugoslavija, SK Olimpija, BSK Beograd, Cukaricki, Dinamo Pancevo

1

Dejan Stanković

1995-2013

Dejan Stanković is regarded as one of the best midfield players of his time because of his variety, strength of shot, and outstanding leadership. Throughout his brilliant career, which saw him play in some of Europe’s top leagues, Stanković made a big impact for the Serbian national team, as well as the likes of Lazio and Inter.

He started his professional career at Red Star Belgrade, where he became a vital member of the squad and helped them win several domestic titles. His achievements in Serbia led to him joining Lazio in Serie A, where he continued to show off his skills, helping the team to win the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, Coppa Italia, and Italian Super Cup.

Still, it was at Inter that he solidified his legacy. He became a crucial part of Inter’s heyday after joining the team in 2004, helping his side win multiple league titles and domestic cups. His most notable accomplishment was in 2010, when he assisted Inter in winning the Champions League, the Coppa Italia, and the Serie A title.

On the international stage, he participated in three World Cups (1998, 2006, 2010), becoming noted for doing so for three different countries. Also a participant at Euro 2000, Stankovic earned over 100 caps across his glittering international career.

International caps	103
International goals	15
Clubs played for	Red Star, Lazio, Inter

Tom Curran’s bowling figures – 1 for 55 in four overs – in Friday night’s game against South Africa were the sixth-most expensive in England’s T20I history. But at least none of the five men above him in that list had to walk off alongside their grinning brother after he had taken three cheap wickets.”Tom’s very competitive and is a relaxed guy, so he’ll move on pretty quickly,” Sam said after England’s five-wicket win. “T20 is a very strange game. You can bowl well and still get hit for a lot of runs, and you can bowl badly and get loads of wickets.”But in truth, Sam bowled well, and Tom bowled poorly. While Sam managed to disguise his variations, change his lengths and nail a hard length, Tom was taken to pieces in his second over by Faf du Plessis and ended up leaking 24 runs as he strayed into the slot.The upshot is that if England decide to inject Mark Wood’s pace in Sunday’s game at Paarl, it is likely to be Tom rather than Sam that makes way. If that seems unsurprising, it is evidence of the effect that the IPL has had on Sam’s reputation as a T20 player: Friday night was only his sixth T20I appearance and his first in over a year.It is quite a reversal. While Sam’s first exposure to professional cricket was in Surrey’s T20 Blast side, he has generally been considered to be the slightly better red-ball cricketer, while Tom was ahead of him in the white-ball pecking order. Now, Tom has not played a first-class game since April 2019, and is arguably a less attractive proposition in limited-overs cricket, too.Sam Curran bumps fists with Tom after England’s intra-squad warm-up – in which the younger brother dismissed the older•Getty Images

That is not to say that he has undergone any major decline. Eoin Morgan, England’s white-ball captain, evidently has faith in him, deciding to give him two powerplay overs and continuing to back him at the death even after du Plessis’ onslaught.It is worth noting, too, that he spent much of the IPL sitting on the Rajasthan Royals bench, so was not match-fresh in the way most of his team-mates were. He will return to the Big Bash League with Sydney Sixers after this tour, for whom he has played some of his best cricket, and is likely to remain very much in the England reckoning.In contrast, Sam – in recognition of his lengthy stints in the biosecure bubbles this summer – will return home after the T20I leg of this tour is complete. That speaks volumes of the strides he has made and his importance to the England set-up across formats. He received glowing reviews during his time at the IPL with the Chennai Super Kings – captain MS Dhoni labelled him “a complete cricketer” – and said that he had taken his game to “a different standard” at the tournament.ALSO READ: A victory for England, and a victory for the IPLWhile his bowling caught the eye in Friday’s series opener, Sam’s three-ball innings with the bat was just as entertaining. After being hit on the grille by a Lungi Ngidi bouncer, the first ball he faced, he lined up Kagiso Rabada to smite his second for six over long-on – evidence, perhaps, of his mischievous streak.That Sam has caught up with Tom so quickly should not come as a surprise: tennis fans, for example, will note the relative successes of the Williams and Murray siblings (in both families, the younger sibling is the superstar). There is a sociological explanation for ‘the sibling effect’, in which younger siblings enjoy more success than their older siblings, rooted in their early exposure to regular sport, the need to keep up, and psychological rivalry. As Tim Wigmore and Mark Williams write in their book : “If you have a younger sibling, they are probably better at sport than you are.”That seems to fit in the example of the Currans: Sam’s emergence as a T20 allrounder puts his brother’s England place in jeopardy. When Jofra Archer has been unavailable through injury or rest, Morgan has backed Tom Curran and Chris Jordan as their death-overs specialists, but Archer’s presence in this series means both seamers need to prove their versatility.With Wood – or Reece Topley, the tall left-armer who last played a T20I in the 2016 T20 World Cup – in contention as England look for extra pace with the new ball, there may well be room for only one Curran in this side. Sam’s advantage with the bat and his new-found ability to bowl in all three phases of an innings means that Tom finds himself looking over his shoulder.

Manchester United’s summer transfer window of 2020/21 did not go the way they had intended it to at the start of the summer.

The club, then managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, were strongly rumoured to want to sign the likes of Jack Grealish and Jude Bellingham, but they ended up signing very different players.

Their marquee signing that summer was legendary striker Edinson Cavani, on a free transfer. The Uruguayan striker had left Paris Saint Germain just months before, with United eventually snapping him up in October, at the end of what was an extended transfer window.

Young wingers Amad and Facundo Pellistri were also signed during the summer window of 2020, from Atalanta and Penarol respectively. Both are slowly beginning to make a name for themselves in the first team and have enjoyed successful loan spells, with Amad scoring an incredible late winner against Liverpool in the FA Cup last April.

Brazilian left-back Alex Telles, who now plays for Saudi side Al-Nassr, was also brought in by United that summer, from Porto. He struggled to nail down a starting spot during his time at Old Trafford.

However, there was one other signing, who still remains at this club to this day, who has never settled in at Old Trafford and could well depart four years after he made the move to Manchester, to make room for potential incomings such as Manuel Ugarte.

Midfielder to leave Man Utd

The player in question here is Donny van de Beek, who joined United from Ajax in 2020, for an initial £34.6m, which could rise to £39m due to add-ons. However, after a tough time at Old Trafford, he could be in line to leave the club this summer.

At least, that is according to a report from Tyrone Marshall, a journalist for the Manchester Evening News. He reports that United are “working on a permanent exit” for the Dutchman, who himself would like to leave Old Trafford.

A potential destination for the player has not been made clear at this stage, although his loan to Eintracht Frankfurt did not offer any clarity on his future.

The German side declined to turn his loan spell at the club permanent, deciding against activating the £9m buy-clause in his contract. However, United will search for a new club this summer, given Van de Beek’s contract expires in 12 months, with the club not willing to let him leave for free.

Why Man Utd should cut their losses

Van de Beek’s time at United has been very frustrating for all parties, given his lack of game time and injury record. He has played just 62 times for United in all competitions across his four seasons at the club, scoring twice and registering two assists. Not only that, but he has missed 52 games for the Red Devils due to injury.

Incredibly, the Dutchman is one of the top 15 highest earners at United and is currently within the top 10 highest pay brackets at the club. This is certainly a problem for United, given his lack of minutes at Old Trafford, hence why a sale is best for all parties, meaning United can reinvest that money.

Amount per week

Player(s)

£350k

Casemiro

£300k

Marcus Rashford

£250k

Mason Mount

£200k

Antony

£195k

Jadon Sancho

£190k

Harry Maguire

£150k

Luke Shaw, Christian Eriksen

£120k

Victor Lindelof, Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez

£90k

Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Donny van de Beek

£85k

Rasmus Hojlund, Diogo Dalot

The player who they could bring in as an alternative to Van de Beek is Ugarte. The PSG midfielder is thought to be “close” to joining the Red Devils, as reported by Diego Munoz of ESPN Uruguay.

The pair are nothing alike in terms of their midfield profile, with Van de Beek a number 10 who likes to pick the ball up in pockets behind the striker, and PSG’s number four a defensive midfielder who excels as a ball-winner, exactly what United are missing.

As per Fbref, he averages 5.97 tackles and interceptions and 8.14 ball recoveries per 90 minutes, both of which rank him in the top 1% amongst midfielders in Europe.

Incredibly, Van de Beek is worth substantially less than the Uruguay international, according to Football Transfers. The former Ajax man is valued at just £4.3m, compared to Ugarte’s valuation of £35m, a whopping £30.7m less than the PSG midfielder.

It really seems as though selling Van de Beek to make room for the likes of Ugarte might well be the best possible move for United to make this summer. Not only would they be allowing the Dutchman to rebuild his career elsewhere, but they would be saving money on wages and adding a profile to their squad that fits better.

Therefore, ten Hag must brutally ditch him from the squad before the end of the summer transfer window as he continues to reshape his midfield options.

Neymar claims to have “suffered every day” during his 12-month injury nightmare, with the Brazil international breaking down in tears.

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• Damaged knee ligaments in 2023
• Has taken in long road to recovery
• Determined to entertain fans again

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 32-year-old playmaker has been reflecting on his latest spell stuck on the sidelines as he prepares to make a long-awaited return to action with Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Hilal. Neymar has, after stepping back into full training, been included in their squad for an AFC Champions League trip to Al-Ain.

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• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Neymar has not figured for club or country since suffering knee ligament damage while on 2026 World Cup qualifying duty in October 2023. Questions have been asked of his future while on the treatment table, with there suggestions that his time in the Middle East could be cut short, but Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer is ready to silence any doubters.

• WHAT NEYMAR SAID

  Discussing his epic journey back to full fitness with the YouTube channel, a tearful Neymar said: “I felt a huge pain. In that moment I already knew it was serious. What I want most in life is to play football. I have suffered every day I've been away from the pitch. This is what hurts me the most. I am focused on the most important people in my life, my family and friends, and football. I have risen every time I have been injured. But I don't return halfway.”

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  WHAT NEXT?

  Neymar has been restricted to just five appearances for Al-Hilal since completing a big-money transfer from Paris Saint-Germain. His contract is only due to run until the summer of 2025, but there is an extension option within those terms that could keep him in Riyadh for another year.

As Southampton prepare for life back in the Premier League, Russell Martin's transfer policy appears show a desire to balance top flight experience with exciting young talents.

Saints want premiership ready players

After the final whistle at Wembley signalled Southampton's instant return to the Premier League, the higher ups at St Mary's immediately started assembling a squad ready for the top flight.

Related Southampton now hold talks to sign 16 goal teenager who’s leaving his club

He has interest from multiple teams.

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The first man through the door on the South Coast was Adam Lallana. The midfielder made his return to Southampton almost a decade after he swapped St Mary's for Merseyside in a £25 million move to Liverpool back in 2014. The now 36-year-old will add to his 265 Saints appearances when he makes his return to his boyhood club next season.

Another former Saint linked with a return is Danny Ings. The striker currently plies his trade at West Ham, however after struggling to impress at the London Stadium is set to be offloaded this summer. Ings scored 46 goals in 100 games for Southampton and will look to add to this tally if he is to return this summer.

The Saints aren't shopping exclusively among their former players with the club also linked with a move for Peterborough United star Ronnie Edwards. Southampton are one of many sides interested in meeting the £10 million price tag that the Posh have attached to the 21-year-old.

With a young defender clearly high on Martin's list of priorities, Southampton have now entered the race to sign a player being shown the door at a fellow Premier League side this summer.

Saints show interest in Anfield exile

As first reported by Sport Witness, the Italian press are reporting that Southampton are showing an interest in Liverpool defender Sepp van den Berg. The outlet claims that the Saints are set to compete with Italian outfit Bologna as well as Bundesliga stalwarts Wolfsburg to secure the services of the 22-year-old.

Sport Witness states that van den Berg has an apparant value of £12.5 million which would have to be met by any side wanting to get a deal over the line. The Dutch defender is being shown the door at Anfield after managing just four appearances since arriving on Merseyside in 2019.

The 22-year-old has spent much of his senior career out on loan, with his most recent spells coming at Championship side Preston and Bundesliga outfit Mainz. It was his time with the former that saw him earn praise from then manager Alex Neil, as the former Preston boss spoke highly of the defender after his debut.

"We know Sepp is very good on the ball, he's quick and gives us good size in terms of defending crosses into the box. I thought he had a really good performance for his first game, really strong."

Whilst Southampton's newfound status as a Premier League club may go some way to help in the race for van den Berg they will face stiff competition from Serie A's fifth-placed side Bologna. After qualifying for the continent's premier competition for the first time in 60 years, the Italian side may prove a thorn in the Saints' side as they attempt to get their man.

Leah Williamson is happy to join up with the Lionesses squad after suffering a tough start to the Women's Super League season with Arsenal.

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Williamson happy to join England squadSuffering torrid time in WSL with Arsenal Believes the break has come at the 'right time'Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱GettyWHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal have had a torrid time since the start of the season as the Gunners have only won twice in five games so far in the Women's Super League and have lost one of their first two clashes of the Women's Champions League group stage. Manager Jonas Eidevall has resigned from his role, meaning Arsenal are currently with interim boss Renee Slegers as they look to land a permanent replacement over the current international break.

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Arsenal vice-captain Williamson has been called up to the England national team by Sarina Weigman for their friendlies against Germany and South Africa. The England captain has admitted that leaving the Arsenal squad amid these turbulent times has been 'refreshing' as she also admitted that the break has come at the 'right time'.

Getty ImagesWHAT WILLIAMSON SAID

Speaking to the media, Williamson said: "I'm a footballer, our job is to win games and that hasn't happened so smoothly.

"Results tell a story, performance is another thing that you can actually change and affect on a day-to-day basis and to be honest, I'm happy to be here in a different environment. I think sometimes that comes at the right time and since I've been here, I've had no contact with club.

"To be here in this environment is refreshing, obviously; it is natural for that to be the case at this time and playing for this team, everyone knows how much we love it. I think you see that every day.

"It's been a different start to the season. Obviously, we've been at club for a long time. Normally, we'd have an international break window before this so it's been different in that sense of being there [with Arsenal] for so long and being in one place, we're not used to that."

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WHAT NEXT FOR WILLIAMSON?

The England captain will likely be a starter for Wiegman in both matches for the Lionesses as they take on Germany on Friday, October 25, and then South Africa on October 29.