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Pakistan, meanwhile, rode on half-centuries from Muneeba and Aliya to go to the top of the table

Firdose Moonda11-Apr-2025West Indies survived a major scare against Ireland on their way to their first points of the Women’s World Cup Qualifier. Chasing 182 in a match reduced to 33 overs a side, Ireland were 57 for no loss in the 11th over, then lost 4 for 23 and needed 98 runs from 96 balls with six wickets in hand. The required rate ebbed and flowed as wickets fell, and at nine down, Ireland needed 26 from 23. That became 15 off 12 and eight off the last over, but Hayley Matthews once again had the decisive say and claimed the final wicket to finish with figures of 4 for 24.Ireland will rue their batting effort in the immediate aftermath, but once the dust has settled will know the game was lost in the field, where they dropped six catches and allowed West Indies to post a challenging target. At least in the batting department, West Indies had contributors other than Matthews as they shook off a slow start in the tournament, following defeat to Scotland two days ago, and criticism over the lack of contributions from other senior stars. This time, a pair of 46s from Stafanie Taylor and Chinelle Henry anchored the innings.Related

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Matthews did provide a rapid start. She hit five boundaries in the 18 balls she faced and was on 23 when Orla Prendagast dismissed her in the fifth over, taking a tumbling catch off her own bowling. Qiana Joseph followed in the next over when tried to hit her way out of trouble but skied Jane Maguire straight up for Arlene Kelly to take a simple catch. Joseph had already been dropped once in her short time at the crease.Zaida James could have gone cheaply for 2 but Ava Canning was unable to hold on and James went on to score a composed 36 off 54 balls and shared in an 87-run stand with Taylor, who was put down on 22. Just as the pair were looking settled, Maguire removed both in the same over. Taylor slashed at a wide ball and was caught at extra cover and James was undone by a slower ball and bowled.From there, Ireland could have run through West Indies’ middle order but they gave Henry chances on 1, 11 and 38 and had to content themselves with wickets at the other end. Henry finished unbeaten on 46 off 36 balls and hit the innings’ only six, and both she and West Indies seemed to have left some runs in the middle.That sentiment was confirmed with the way Ireland started. Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter put on 57 for the first wicket inside 11 overs before Matthews made a telling double-strike. She bowled Lewis with the fourth ball of her third over and then gave Prendagast a taste of her own medicine, taking a catch in her follow-through. Hunter was bowled 19 balls later for 48 by Afy Fletcher, and when Leah Paul fed Matthews a chance at slip, Ireland looked done and dusted.Laura Delany and Christina Coulter Reilly steadied them with a 42-run fifth-wicket stand and the game was slipping away from West Indies. Ramharack didn’t let it. She was at point when Delany cut with little control. The ball reached Ramharack at chest height and she held on. That wicket sparked another collapse as Ireland slipped to 146 for 7, but still stayed in the hunt.Matthews brought herself back at the death when Ireland needed 32 runs off 30 balls, and trapped Ava Canning lbw though the Irish No. 9 seemed to suggest she thought the ball was missing leg. A run-out off the next ball left Ireland teetering, and it was Matthews who had the final say when Arlene Kelly slashed her to Henry at long-on and left Ireland seven runs short of a first win over West Indies since 2003.File photo – Muneeba Ali’s 71 set up Pakistan’s successful chase of 187•Asian Cricket CouncilIn the day’s other match, also reduced (but to 32 overs a side), Pakistan secured a second win to go top of the points table and a step closer to the World Cup. They beat Scotland by six wickets, with eight balls to spare, in a batting display that started nervously and became more assured as it went on.Chasing 187, Pakistan’ were 36 for 2 in the eighth over after both Gull Feroza and Sidra Amin were out stumped, but half-centuries from Muneeba Ali and Aliya Riaz, who put on 93 for the third wicket, steered them towards victory. Muneeba’s passed 50 for just the fourth time in her 45-match career and her innings was crucial to Pakistan’s cause. She was particularly strong on the pull shot, scored at almost a run a ball – she finished with 71 off 72 – and combined well with Aliya. When Chloe Abel had Muneeba caught at mid-wicket trying to clear the inner ring, Scotland’s chances were all but gone. Though Fatima Sana was dismissed cheaply, Aliya (68* off 70) and Sidra Nawaz eased Pakistan to victory.Pakistan will also be fairly pleased with their bowling performance as only Kathryn Bryce and Aisla Lister put any real pressure on them. Sadia Iqbal and Diana Baig made the early breakthroughs and had Scotland in trouble on 17 for 2 before the Bryce sisters shared a 51-run third-wicket stand. After Sarah was dismissed for 21, Kathryn and Lister put on 55 and were separated by Sadia Iqbal, and only then did the captain see fit to bring herself on. Sana bowled from the 24th over and challenged Scotland’s middle and lower order with her yorkers, one of which bowled Megan McColl. Kathryn stood alone and delighted with excellent footwork and confident sweeping before her opposite number dismissed her nine short of a century. Sana picked up 4 for 23 in five overs.Pakistan have now won matches defending what seemed a below par score of 217 against Ireland and chasing what looked a tricky target of 187 in 32 overs against Scotland, and will feel ready for their big match against West Indies on Monday.

Noor Ahmad and Michael Bracewell net £200,000 deals; David Warner and Rachin Ravindra set for first Hundred gigs

Vithushan Ehantharajah12-Mar-2025

James Anderson has gone unselected for the 2025’s men’s Hundred after the veteran quick was overlooked in Wednesday’s draft.The 42-year-old, who retired from international cricket at the start of the 2024 summer, had put himself forward in the draft after signing a one-year contract with Lancashire for the upcoming season. Anderson has not played T20 cricket in over a decade, though his new deal will see him play in the T20 Blast. Despite going into the draft without a reserve price, he missed out on one of the 26 available domestic spots across the eight teams. He could still feature in The Hundred if he is selected as a Wildcard pick.Afghanistan left-arm wrist spinner Noor Ahmad and New Zealand allrounder Michael Bracewell were the big winners as far as overseas signings were concerned, each securing £200,000 deals. Ahmad will join Manchester Originals, whose new owners RP Sanjiv Goenka Group also own his SA20 franchise Durban Super Giants.Bracewell was picked up by 2024’s defeated finalists Southern Brave, and his huge price tag reflects his displays for the Black Caps in their recent Champions Trophy campaign. As a vital part of their spin attack and their lower-order batting, he came to the fore in last Sunday’s final with 2 for 28 after a crucial unbeaten 53 which made India work for their victory.Related

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David Warner earned his first deal in the Hundred, selected by London Spirit at £120,000 after being overlooked in last year’s draft. The move sees him reunite with his former Australia head coach, Justin Langer, who replaced Trevor Bayliss at Spirit in January. Warner is one of five Australians – along with Ashton Turner (Spirit), Riley Meredith, Chris Green (both Welsh Fire) and Jason Behrendorf (Oval Invincibles) – to take up the 10 remaining overseas player slots after clubs made 14 direct signings between them, as per new regulations brought in for this season.Another Hundred first-timer Rachin Ravindra was selected by Manchester Originals for £120,000. Fresh from being named player of the tournament at the Champions Trophy with 263 runs and three dismissals, Ravindra’s stock has never been higher and his presence is an undoubted boost for the Hundred in a transitional year following the recent sale of its teams. Fellow Kiwi Lockie Ferguson joins Trent Rockets in the same pay bracket, having previously featured for Originals and Fire.England players also earned big, with Jamie Overton securing a £200,000 deal with Spirit following a year in which he has established himself as the designated seam-bowling allrounder across ODIs and T20Is. He will be joined at Lord’s by Jamie Smith as their England centrally contracted pick. Zak Crawley, released by Spirit, landed a £120,000 contract with Northern Superchargers.How they stack up: The men’s Hundred squads for 2025•ECB

Elsewhere, Chris Woakes’ acquisition by Fire as their designated England player created a domino effect that saw David Willey secure a lucrative £200,000 deal with Rockets, with fellow left-arm seamer David Payne picking up Willey’s vacated £120,000 contract in Cardiff.Fire had initially planned to play their right-to-match card for Willey. However, they were unable to use that option when Rockets opted for Willey in the top bracket as they had filled both spots with Steve Smith (a direct overseas signing) and Jonny Bairstow. Bairstow had previously been Fire’s central contract player before they moved him to a £200,000 slot to acquire Woakes. Payne, who entered this year’s draft seeking an improved deal having joined Fire for £40,000 in 2019’s inaugural draft, came up trumps.Harry Moore, Derbyshire’s highly-touted 17-year-old quick, has been acquired by Birmingham Phoenix for £41,500 while Durham batter Ben McKinney was rewarded for a strong winter with the England Lions by Manchester Originals, who selected him as their £78,500 pick. His Lions teammate Rocky Flintoff, son of Lions and Superchargers head coach Andrew, went undrafted.All in all, 270 domestic and 350 overseas cricketers registered for the men’s Hundred draft. The eight teams will be able to add two more players to their squads in May’s wildcard draft, ahead of the start of the competition on August 5.

Leeds United now hold a strong interest in signing a “phenomenal” 2024/25 title-winner, who is “open” to leaving his club this summer, according to a report.

Leeds keen on defender despite resilient performance vs Everton

Leeds have already made major improvements to their defence this summer, bringing in the likes of Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw at centre-back, but Daniel Farke had to stick with the old guard in the Premier League opener against Everton.

With Bijol serving a suspension and Bornauw only recently returning from injury, Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon were given the nod in defence, and the Championship promotion-winning duo certainly delivered, with the Whites collecting a clean sheet.

Gabriel Gudmundsson was the only new signing to start for Farke’s side in defence, having been brought in as a replacement for Junior Firpo at left-back, and the 26-year-old achieved a 7.5 SofaScore match rating, the highest of any player on the pitch.

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Despite Gudmundsson putting in an excellent performance on his Premier League debut, Farke clearly remains keen to bring in more depth at left-back, and the newly-promoted side have now set their sights on a 2024/25 title-winner.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Leeds now hold a strong interest in signing Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas, who could be ready to move, amid widespread interest from within the Premier League.

Nottingham Forest and Fulham are also named as potential suitors for the left-back, who has fallen down the pecking order at Anfield since the arrival of Milos Kerkez, meaning he is now ready to consider a move to a new club.

A CaughtOffside source said: “As for Tsimikas himself, he hasn’t made a final call yet. He’s open to joining a project where he can play regularly, with clubs competing in European competitions likely to be his top choice.”

"Phenomenal" Tsimikas could be solid signing for Leeds

It would be fair to say Gudmundsson enjoyed a fantastic competitive debut for Leeds, making a number of important defensive contributions to keep the Toffees at bay, while also contributing on the front foot.

Statistic

Number completed

Duels won

7

Clearances

4

Interceptions

2

Dribbles completed

4

However, Farke is arguably light on quality back-up options in that area of the pitch, with Sam Byram the natural alternative, and the 31-year-old has spent the majority of his career in the Championship.

Tsimikas, on the other hand, has experienced winning trophies with a top club, making 115 appearances for the Reds, during which time he has been lauded as “phenomenal” by football writer Leanne Prescott.

Earlier this summer, it was suggested that Liverpool could accept bids of around £12m – £15m for the Greek defender, meaning a deal would not break the bank, and he could be capable of pushing for Gudmundsson’s starting spot.

Who are the big-ticket players to find no bidders at the two-day IPL auction?

ESPNcricinfo staff25-Nov-2024

David Warner, 38, was arguably the biggest name to go unsold at the IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah. Warner, who retired from international cricket in June, had entered the auction at a base price of INR 2 crore. After going unsold on Sunday, his name came up again in the accelerated round on Monday, but there were no takers for him.Over the years, Warner has been one of the star performers in the IPL. His 6565 runs from 184 matches are the most by an overseas batter, and the fourth-highest overall at the tournament behind the Indian trio of Virat Kohli (8004), Shikhar Dhawan (6769) and Rohit Sharma (6628). Warner crossed the 500-run mark in a season seven times – a record he holds jointly with Kohli. But he had a lukewarm IPL 2024 for Delhi Capitals (DC): 168 runs in eight outings at a strike rate of 134.40.Warner’s last competitive game was in August, at the MAX60 tournament in the Caribbean. He was the highest run-getter there, with a tally of 297 at a strike rate of 181.09. He will be in action for Dubai Capitals at the ILT20 early next year.Related

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Among Indians, Shardul Thakur was the most high-profile player – with a base price of INR 2 crore – to not attract a bid. A seam-bowling allrounder, Thakur was with CSK last season. He played nine games, picking up five wickets at an economy of 9.75. He got to bat only three times and scored 21 runs.Thakur, though, hasn’t played for India in any format since December 2023 and underwent foot surgery in June this year and returned to competitive cricket only in early October in the Irani Cup for Mumbai.Shardul Thakur has only just returned after a long injury layoff•AFP/Getty Images

Prithvi Shaw, who was retained by DC ahead of IPL 2022, also did not get a bid at his base price of INR 75 lakh.Shaw struggled with form in the last two seasons and was dropped for Abishek Porel during IPL 2024. More recently, he was dropped from Mumbai’s Ranji Trophy squad for poor fitness and “general conduct”.England’s Jonny Bairstow was another big name that went unsold. Bairstow was with Punjab Kings (PBKS) from 2022 to 2024, and scored 551 runs in 22 innings at a strike rate of 148.92 for them in that period. No bids for him – from a base price of INR 2 crore – at this auction, though.The same was the case for Daryl Mitchell, who was bought by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for INR 14 crore at the IPL 2024 mini-auction and has been one of New Zealand’s best performers across formats in recent times. He also came in with a base price of INR 2 crore.

West Ham United have now submitted an offer for a £34m “revelation”, who is also a target for Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, according to a report.

West Ham set sights on midfielder amid Soucek uncertainty

Tomas Soucek has been a key player for West Ham ever since his arrival, with the midfielder featuring in a minimum of 35 Premier League games in each of the last five seasons, but there has been speculation over his future at the London Stadium for quite some time.

With the Toffees now set to make a bid for the 30-year-old, the Hammers have started running the rule over potential replacements, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Granit Xhaka was recently identified as a target.

The former Arsenal man could be a solid option, given that he has already proven himself in England, but the Switzerland international is not the only ex-Premier League player on the Irons’ shortlist.

According to a report from Gazzetta Dello Sport (via West Ham Zone), West Ham have now tabled an offer for Juventus midfielder Douglas Luiz, having emerged as one of the clubs most keen on securing his signature, alongside Everton.

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The Italian club had been hoping to receive a fee of £34m for the former Aston Villa man, but given that he has failed to impress since making the move to Italy, they may be forced to cash-in at a lower price.

In order to get a deal over the line, the Hammers may also have to fend off interest from bitter rivals Tottenham, who recently held internal talks about signing Luiz.

Luiz could be "revelation" at West Ham

Any club would find it difficult to replace Declan Rice, although Soucek has stepped up in the England international’s absence, recording the third-highest average rating of any West Ham player in the Premier League last term.

However, with the Czechia international now edging closer to Everton, it could make sense to bring in a new midfielder with similar qualities to Rice, and the Juventus midfielder certainly fits the bill in that regard.

Much like Rice, the 27-year-old is a very well-rounded midfielder, impressing in both an attacking and defensive sense for Villa during the 2023-24 campaign.

Having also been lauded as a “revelation” by Garth Crooks, Luiz could be the perfect signing for West Ham this summer, but the rival interest from Tottenham could pose a major problem.

Leeds United now hold an advantage in the race for a £17m midfielder, who Red Bull will know “all about”, transfer expert Graeme Bailey has revealed.

Leeds eyeing midfielder after missing out on Diarra

After being promoted from the Championship alongside Sunderland, it is no surprise that Leeds have identified similar targets to the Black Cats, and they will be extremely disappointed to have lost out to the play-off final winners in the race for two midfielders.

Habib Diarra had been on the Whites’ shortlist prior to the 21-year-old’s move to the Stadium of Light, and they now appear to have missed out on a deal for Noah Sadiki, with the Union Saint-Gilloise maestro set to complete a move to Wearside.

As such, Daniel Farke’s side will now be forced to move on to different options in the middle of the park, and Bailey has dropped a more promising update on their pursuit of Hoffenheim midfielder Anton Stach.

The transfer expert told Leeds United News that the Whites’ Red Bull connection should give them the edge over their Premier League rivals in the race for the German’s signature, given their minority owners’ involvement in the Bundesliga.

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Bailey said: “He’s on the list I’m told. Hoffenheim are not keen for him to go. Leeds aren’t the only ones interested from what I’m told. A very good player and obviously through Red Bull, Leeds are well-versed on him.

“They’re ahead of many other Premier League teams when it comes to German-based talent. So, it’s not a surprise, you know, it’s not going to be a huge surprise. If there’s a good one, Leeds know all about it.”

"Underrated" Stach could be better signing than Sadiki

Leeds will be frustrated that Sunderland were able to pip them to Sadiki’s signature, but there are signs that Stach could be a better signing than the Belgian-born midfielder.

Firstly, the two-time Germany international is more experienced in a top league, having made 122 Bundesliga appearances, while Sadiki remains unproven outside Belgium.

Not only that, but the “underrated” Hoffenheim star excels defensively, outperforming the new Sunderland signing across a number of key metrics over the past year.

Statistic

Anton Stach

Noah Sadiki

Interceptions

1.65 (93rd percentile)

1.08 (55th percentile)

Blocks

1.60 (85th percentile)

1.34 (64th percentile)

Clearances

3.65 (99th percentile)

1.34 (38th percentile)

Aerials won

1.83 (88th percentile)

0.30 (8th percentile)

Stach should be available for a fee of around £17m, which seems a reasonable fee, given the level of his performances for Hoffenheim, and it could be a blessing in disguise that Leeds missed out on Sadiki and Diarra.

Manchester United need a huge transfer window if they are to be a success in the Premier League once again in the near future, with the responsibility falling into the hands of Ruben Amorim.

The 40-year-old took the reins back in November last year, but has so far struggled to transform the side as he would’ve wished, only achieving a win percentage of 40%.

However, he is yet to have a full pre-season with the first team squad, with the current period pivotal in his stint as manager, needing to try and get his ideas across to the squad.

He also has the opportunity to add to his squad this window, with the hierarchy set to hand him the funds he requires to allow him to be a success during his tenure at Old Trafford.

Numerous players remain on their shortlist during the current window, potentially helping the manager in his quest to rise up the Premier League in 2025/26.

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

A new striker has been the priority for United over the last couple of days, especially after it was reported that Rasmus Hojlund had agreed personal terms with Inter Milan over a move to the San Siro.

The likes of Ollie Watkins, Victor Osimhen and Dušan Vlahović have all been touted with moves to join the Red Devils, but no deals have yet been completed for any of the trio.

However, the same can’t be said about Bryan Mbeumo, with the latest update around his future from journalist Graeme Bailey providing a positive outlook on the move.

He confirmed that talks are ongoing between the two clubs and, despite a fee not yet being agreed, a move could be finalised for his signature by the end of Monday.

Bailey also states that the 25-year-old has made it clear that he wants to depart Brentford this window, wanting to make the next step in his career after scoring 20 league goals in 2024/25.

Why United’s latest move would be bad news for Amad & Bruno

Amad Diallo has been a player who has enjoyed a huge rise under Amorim since his appointment, cementing his place as a regular starter before his ankle injury that ruled him out for three months.

The Ivorian managed to register 11 goals and eight assists across all competitions this campaign, most notably with his last-minute winner against Manchester City at the Etihad.

He’s mainly operated in a number ten role for the Red Devils, with captain Bruno Fernandes the player usually featuring next to him in the position behind the striker.

As for the Portuguese international, he enjoyed one of the best seasons of his career, notching 37 combined goals and assists across all competitions – the highest of any player in the squad.

He single-handedly helped the club get to the Europa League final, with it unthinkable to imagine where the side would’ve been had he not been as impressive throughout 2024/25.

The 30-year-old and Amad may be about to take a hit, though, despite their impressive numbers under Amorim, subsequently having to drop into deeper roles after the arrival of Matheus Cunha and pending deal for Mbeumo.

Bailey’s latest report claims that the Brentford star would likely play in a number ten role should he complete his deal, alongside Cunha, which would lock those positions out for the current Red Devil stars.

Bruno Fernandes’s stats in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

36

Goals & assists

18

Shots on target per 90

0.7

Progressive carries

2.3

Pass accuracy

76%

% of tackles won

40%

Take-on success

41%

Fouls won

1.1

Stats via FBref

As a result, Bruno would likely operate in a central midfield position, with Amad having to revert to a wing-back role – undoubtedly restricting the pair as a result, given they aren’t operating in their natural roles.

The additions will certainly bolster Amorim’s side at Old Trafford, but it may have a knock-on effect for the aforementioned talents, subsequently having to change their game to accommodate their arrivals.

Both players certainly still have the talent to thrive out of position, as seen by their respective outputs in the final third, potentially able to star in such positions by aiding the players ahead of them.

However, if the new additions can hit the ground running and point the club in the right direction, the supporters and manager wouldn’t have any complaints, with fresh blood and new ideas needed if the side are to be a force in the Premier League during 2025/26.

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Offspinner impressed at Under-19 World Cup in January, having progressed through academy ranks

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jun-2024Farhan Ahmed, the England Under-19 offspinner and younger brother of Rehan Ahmed, has signed a three-and-a-half year deal with Nottinghamshire, his first senior contract with the county.Farhan, 16, is the second Academy product to sign permanent terms with the club in recent months, after Freddie McCann joined the playing staff in November, and comes after a run of appearances for the club’s Second XI, in between his academic studies, over the past two seasons.”There is no doubt that this is an exciting time for Farhan and the club,” Peter Moores, Nottinghamshire’s head coach, said. “He is a player with bags of talent and a high ceiling in the game. He’s a grounded individual, though, and he knows the work starts now for him to fulfil that potential in the years ahead.”He’s focused on forging his own path in the game, and he’ll have our full support as he begins to do that.”Like his elder brother Rehan – who was England’s youngest Test debutant, aged 18 years and 126 days, when he played at Karachi in December 2022 – Farhan was just 15 when he featured in England’s Under-19 World Cup campaign in South Africa in January.”I’m obviously very happy and excited to have signed this contract – it is something I’ve been working towards since I started playing cricket,” Farhan said. “For it to be for my home county is a dream come true, too. The history of the club is clear, and to be part of it myself is something I am looking forward to.”I’ve seen other players make that step from the Academy onto the pro staff then play first-team cricket, which gives me confidence that I can do the same in the years ahead.”Equally, I don’t want to look too far ahead. I’ll do my best to take every chance I’m given and keep improving as a player in all aspects, while I hope I can help put Nottinghamshire in winning positions when I get the opportunities.”Farhan joined Nottinghamshore’s academy in 2022, having taken 86 wickets in 57 games for the county’s Under-18s.”Farhan has been with us for seven years now, and his talent has been obvious across that time,” Matt Wood, the Elite Pathway Manager, said. “He is a clever bowler – he’s very mature in that sense – and his trajectory over the last couple of years has been exceptional.”It’ll be another step up for him to play regularly with the senior squad, but his focus and attitude is second to none, and that’ll help him in that transition.”

After taking the reins back in November, Ruben Amorim has injected the feel-good factor back into Manchester United – helping the side qualify for the Europa League final.

However, there’s only so much success the 40-year-old can achieve with the players who were at the club after he took over from former boss Erik ten Hag.

The attacking department is the area in need of desperate attention in the coming months, with the hierarchy needing to back the manager with funds if he is to improve the lack of goals currently plaguing his centre-forwards.

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee are the two senior options at his disposal, but the pair have only netted a combined tally of seven goals in the Premier League after costing the Red Devils upwards of £100m.

If they are to take the next step under Amorim, a new striker is a must during the upcoming window, potentially ending the spells of either of the aforementioned talents in the process.

An update on United’s pursuit of new strikers this summer

Even though the summer window is yet to be open, United have already wasted no time in targeting new talent to strengthen the current first-team squad.

Liam Delap was once seen as the Red Devils’ main target for the centre-forward role, especially considering his £30m relegation release clause – but look set to face tough competition from Nottingham Forest in the coming months.

The 22-year-old will certainly remain on the shortlist, but potentially not at the top, with Moise Kean now the club’s main priority, according to one Spanish outlet.

The report claims that Amorim believes he is the perfect option to fit into his 3-4-2-1 system at Old Trafford, having the right profile given positioning, pace and clinical nature.

Kean, who’s netted 23 goals in all competitions this season, is said to cost a fee in the region of £42m, given the release clause in his contract at Serie A outfit Fiorentina.

Why United’s £42m target would be unplayable with Amad

Amad Diallo has been a shining light for United this campaign in what’s been a year to forget in the Premier League, often providing the goods within the final third.

The Ivorian has registered 10 goals and seven assists across all competitions, with his latest coming against Brentford after his recent three-month injury lay-off.

His underlying stats at Old Trafford have been just as impressive, with his output handing other attacking options around him the ammunition to be a success at the club.

Amad has registered 2.2 chances created per 90 this campaign, whilst also completing 2.1 dribbles – often liking to take the ball into attacking areas at any given opportunity.

Such tallies could fall perfectly into the hands of transfer target Kean, who could well turn out to be the attacking saviour the Red Devils have been crying out for over the past few months.

The Italian, who’s been labelled “sensational” by content creator Elliot Hackney, has resurrected his career in the last couple of months after flat-lining following his breakthrough at Juventus.

The 25-year-old currently sits as Serie A’s second top scorer, registering 1.6 shots on target per 90 – benefiting from Amad’s service within the final third should he move to Manchester.

He’s also completed 72% of the passes he’s attempted, whilst also completing 1.5 dribbles per 90, having the tools to return the favour to the Ivorian in the final third should he need to.

Kean’s talents don’t stop there, winning 51% of the aerials he’s contested, notching 4.7 touches in the opposition box per game – handing the manager the ‘fox in the box’ style forward he’s lacked since he joined the club.

The £42m fee touted would be an excellent deal for the club, potentially getting themselves a bargain and a player who can provide the goods for the club for many years to come.

The thought of the Italian forming a partnership with Amad is certainly an exciting one, handing the club the platform to recapture their success endured in previous years.

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6

By
Ethan Lamb

May 9, 2025

One of Aston Villa’s top earners is reportedly open to a summer exit due to limited playing time, according to a new report.

Aston Villa's forwards thriving in charge for top five finish

Despite being knocked out of the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, Aston Villa are enjoying a superb run of form, having won 10 of their last 11 games in all competitions. Their most recent triumph was a resounding victory over high-flying Newcastle United at Villa Park.

Romano: Aston Villa star club are "happy" with could leave for right offer

He’s future at Villa Park isn’t guaranteed.

ByBarney Lane Apr 22, 2025

A significant factor behind Villa’s recent success has been their in-form forward line, with Ollie Watkins, Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Donyell Malen all playing pivotal roles in recent months.

Asensio, in particular, has been hugely impressive since joining on loan from PSG in January, notching five goals and four assists for Unai Emery’s side — including a brilliant brace in a 2-1 win over top-four rivals Chelsea back in February.

Speaking on the Spaniard’s impact, former Villa defender Matthew Upson described him as “world class,” telling BBC Radio 5 Live: “He’s going to play a big part in the exciting finish to the season they have ahead.”

Leon Bailey attracting offers to leave Villa

With Asensio and co. flying at Villa Park, one man who has found game time hard to come by this season is Leon Bailey. The Jamaica international, who joined Villa from Bayer Leverkusen in 2021, has started just 14 Premier League games this term — though his cause hasn’t been helped by injuries, particularly since the turn of the year.

Amid his struggles, GIVEMESPORT now reports that the 27-year-old, who earns £120,000 per week, could be open to leaving Villa Park this summer if the right offer comes in, and there are suitors queuing up to tempt him away.

According to the publication, Bailey would prefer to stay and fight for his place in Emery’s plans, but if it becomes clear that regular minutes are unlikely, he would be “prepared to listen to offers from interested parties”.

Bailey has scored 22 goals and provided 24 assists in 142 appearances for Villa since joining from Bayer Leverkusen — a respectable, if unspectacular, return for a player who cost the club around £30 million.

While consistency has sometimes eluded him, the Jamaican winger has certainly shown flashes of brilliance during his time at Villa Park. One such moment came in Villa’s 3-1 win over Club Brugge in the Champions League back in March, where Bailey found the back of the net inside just three minutes.

Commenting on the goal, former Chelsea forward Pat Nevin was full of praise: “The game has started in slow motion and the goal was scored in slow motion. The ball was played to the back post and Tyrone Mings nods it back and the defenders were stationary. The control from Leon Bailey is sensational and it was a lovely little side-foot finish. Dream start for Villa.”