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Wasn’t that all a little inevitable? Time and again, this Manchester United side proceeds to fluff their lines, having failed to take advantage of the chance to move fifth in the Premier League following Thursday’s draw with West Ham United.

Much like a week ago in the dismal defeat to ten-man Everton, there was a real lack of energy and urgency about the hosts at Old Trafford this time around, with Ruben Amorim’s side merely letting the game drift for much of the first half.

Even after Diogo Dalot had nudged the home side ahead just before the hour mark, there was a distinct lack of a killer instinct, with Amorim’s raft of pragmatic changes ultimately backfiring in the closing stages.

Up against a team firmly in the relegation mix, the Red Devils – after failing to push for a second – were served up arguably what they deserved, with Soungouto Magassa poking home for his first goal for the Hammers to draw things level.

Despite two late attempts from skipper Bruno Fernandes, there was to be no stirring finale in front of the Stretford End, with the stop-start nature of United’s campaign showing no sign of ending.

Man Utd's worst performers vs West Ham

Two moments of quality aside in Sunday’s narrow win over Crystal Palace, it’s fair to say that it’s not been a good week for United’s captain, with Fernandes again rather erratic on Thursday evening.

He may, as usual, have been in the thick of the action with six total shots and five key passes registered, but the Portuguese notably regressed as the game progressed, squandering the ball meekly far too frequently.

Indeed, the 31-year-old lost the ball 22 times in all, as per Sofascore, while his delivery from wide areas was also unusually off the mark, having successfully completed just two of his eight attempted crosses.

The former Sporting CP star wasn’t alone in struggling on a difficult, turgid night for the hosts, however, with surprise inclusion Ayden Heaven hooked at the break, following a shaky first Premier League start of the season up against the experienced Callum Wilson.

Far more will have been expected of those operating at the opposite end of the pitch for United too, with the returning Matheus Cunha somewhat anonymous in his number ten berth, before being withdrawn late on, while Joshua Zirkzee failed to build on his weekend heroics after producing another limp showing through the middle.

Rounding off that trio was emerging talisman, Bryan Mbeumo, with the usually dynamic winger putting in arguably his worst performance for the club to date, following his £71m switch from Brentford.

Man Utd star produced his worst performance under Amorim

Right from the off, during the opening weekend defeat to Arsenal, Mbeumo has provided the spark in United’s attacking ranks, netting six times already across league and cup, including in key away performances against both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The Premier League’s Player of the Month for October has been riding high even amid a turbulent season for the club, although – with AFCON looming – his form appears to have stagnated, having failed to record a goal or assist in each of his last three outings.

That may be a case of a lack of service, although the Cameroonian was hardly able to create much for himself either on Thursday evening, registering just one key pass and attempting just two shots in all – albeit while forcing Alphonse Areola into a sprawling, clawing save early on.

The 26-year-old, like many of his teammates, was particularly ineffective as the game developed, looking weary late on as he failed to make things stick after moving into a central role, following the withdrawal of both Cunha and Zirkzee.

Like Fernandes, the left-footer regularly squandered potential openings after losing the ball on 15 occasions from just 52 touches, while failing to win a single aerial duel up against a physical visiting backline.

Such has been his impact in recent months, Mbeumo has set a high bar and raised expectation levels regarding his performances, although this was certainly not him at his best.

Typically the outlet for United when the going gets tough, the one-time Troyes man appeared to go missing late on, looking leggy and lethargic as Amorim’s men allowed the visitors back into the game.

With just over a week to go until the £150k-per-week star is set to head to international duty, Amorim needs him to find his best level again.

Let’s face it, while Mbeumo may have looked distinctly off it last night, even on his worst day, he still appears United’s biggest attacking threat.

Bad news for Mainoo: INEOS readying £30m Man Utd offer to sign "monster" CM

There appears to only be one outcome in the future of Kobbie Mainoo at Manchester United.

1

By
Robbie Walls

Dec 4, 2025

In 2022, a group of American and British investors purchased a third division Danish team, and have turned a bar in Brooklyn in a community that draws dozens to watch the club.

Joe Gordon put a hat on the moose’s head that peered over the musty back room of a Williamsburg bar. It was the centerpiece of a crowded space, and Gordon knew, for some reason, that the trophy screwed onto the wall needed dressing up. He could neither confirm nor deny whether placing that headwear – branded with the badge of the Danish club he owns, Akademisk Boldklub (AB) – had any impact. But his team was down 1-0, and he was feeling superstitious.

Ten minutes later, they scored. Gordon glanced across the room, shrugged, and pointed at the cadaver that loomed over Mugs Bar – a cramped back room tucked inside an otherwise unremarkable watering hole on one of Williamsburg’s busiest streets. Seventy-five people were there that day, standing shoulder to shoulder. Most matchdays, they are wedged into that space, chanting in a room that barely contains them.

But on that Friday at noon, for the final game of the regular season before the Danish league takes a winter break, they spilled out of their usual corner and onto the main floor. The whole bar was devoted to Danish soccer. It was a scene typical of Mugs, which routinely hosts an ever-expanding group of New Yorkers who watch and, in 2022, invested in AB, a struggling third-division club at the time.

What started with five industry veterans and a few friends has become fully fledged American ownership in Danish soccer. At first, it was a tiny group. Now, there are more than 150 owners, all bought in at various price points. As sports ownership goes, it’s cheap. It’s fun. And for the dozens that routinely show up at an otherwise unremarkable bar, it’s a joyful way to interact with the beautiful game.

“It’s changed my view of sports,” Chairman Brian Grieco, a business lawyer based in New York, said. “I have more excitement now for the team that I’m involved in than any of the other teams ever before.”

There are hundreds of bars in New York. Many show soccer these days. Almost every English club has an affiliation somewhere. Spike Lee owns an Arsenal pub called Gooners. There are at least two dedicated solely to Liverpool. There are bars for teams in Italy, Spain, Portugal, France, Argentina, and Brazil. Walk anywhere in New York, and the odds are there’s a screen showing soccer from somewhere in the world.

But Mugs is almost certainly the only bar dedicated to showing Danish third-division soccer. And it’s without question the only one where the people watching actually own the team. It’s not just about ownership – it’s about belonging, identity, and finding community through soccer.

• Andy Glockner
  

  ‘The best opportunity for us’

  The attendance was “above average,” Gordon remarked as he walked around the bar, exchanging greetings and smiles with every other person. Those gathered in the space took in quite the scene. In the corner, there were two kegs of beer. On the right, there were multiple television screens. And on the left, a massive projector displayed a remarkably high-quality stream of a midseason clash between AB and FC Helsingor – set up, very much legally, thanks to club ownership.

  This is a fairly average scene at Mugs when AB play, never mind the fact that it was a Friday afternoon kick off. In 2022, Five Castles Football Group LLC – named as such because two of the five founding members lived somewhat close to some real-life castles – started a hunt for a football club. They had some spare cash, time for investment, and a desire to expand their portfolios. And as they peered around Europe, it quickly became clear that Denmark was the right place to look.

  “When we looked at different countries there, you're looking at price point, you're looking at the affordability, you're looking at some of the rules in terms of contracts, work permits, that type of stuff. We just evaluated that we thought that this was, all in all, the best opportunity for us,” Andy Glockner, an original investor, told GOAL.

  AB, too, made perfect sense. The Danish third division was a unique place, especially at the time. Back then, it was a step above amateur soccer, but slow to professionalize. With shrewd investment, any club could be lifted up the standings. And AB were a fine one to go for. They had all of the right pieces: a stadium that seats just under 8,000 – and can fit another 5,000 standing – proximity to Copenhagen and a loyal fanbase that has supported the club since its inception in the late 1800s. But crucially, they also had a fine history. They have won nine first division titles, the fourth most ever.

  This was a team that had been mistreated, cast aside, and fallen on hard times. For fans, that was a point of frustration. For soccer nerds looking to get involved, it represented an immense opportunity. Still, they couldn’t do it alone. The original five decided, then, to reach out to friends. Gordon, of the moose and the hat, was one of them. He had some spare cash kicking around, and joined forces with dozens of others – all of whom put in stakes of various sizes – to become part owners of the club. In the winter of 2022, their takeover was finalized.

  This was community football, de facto fan investment, done from thousands of miles away.

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• Joe Gordon
  

  A wide-ranging crowd

  And they gather a few times per year at Mugs. On the Friday GOAL attended, the atmosphere was jovial. AB were hosting Helsingor, a struggling side who seemed on that unfortunate march towards relegation.

  The room was packed and full of green and white stripes. Kits were dotted throughout the crowd. Pints flowed from before kick-off. The youngest in the room were still infants, brought by their parents. Some were well into their 70s, part owners of the club in retirement. There were kids – let off early after a half day at school. Some owners and shirt sponsors were huddled nervously around a screen. A woman stood in the corner with a newborn. Her husband is an owner, but she still wanted to support.

  Some were there for the first time. Others haven’t missed a single game. Every single attendee wore a label with their name. They were encouraged to mingle. You could buy exclusive merch for a decent enough price (business, the sellers said, was pretty good).

  European football is known for its hardcore ultra culture, the sort of do-or-die, verging on intense fan who will give anything for their club. And certainly, there are some in the AB ownership collective who treat the team that way.

  “I’m pretty chill. I get excited, but if we win or lose. It's actually like it doesn't make my day, good or bad. I like it when we win, trust me, but I don't cry. There are some people you don't want to talk to,” Zach Smith, a board member who works primarily in sponsorship deals.

  But on Nov. 14, it was a family thing. Gordon played the main man, working the room. Yet there were loads of other familiar faces – young and old. And newcomers were welcome, too. The beer was free and provided by Carlsberg, which the club brought on as a front-of-shirt sponsor. The Danish beer brewer has been famously on the front of Liverpool kits for three decades, from 1992 to 2010.

  “It just goes to show that people are sort of in on this, you know what I'm saying? Like, Carlsberg is not putting their name on a club that they can't trust, that they think is going to be bad partners, that is going to be bad product,” Glockner added.

• AB
  

  'I grew up a 10-minute bike ride from the stadium'

  Troels Gadegaard Frølich’s tale is one of those magical stories that only football can bring.

  Two years ago, he moved to New York to work for the Danish Consulate General. There, he was introduced to Gordon, a quick hello between soccer fans. Gadegaard Frølich was unlikely to have heard of the club, Gordon assumed. After all, theirs was a third-tier team, which played outside of the city, in the suburbs. The stadium sat less than 10,000. In all likelihood, Gadegaard Frølich would support a Superliga club – likely FC Copenhagen.

  But Gadegaard Frølich knew it well. AB were, in fact, his boyhood club.

  “In Denmark, we measure distances in bike rides,” he said. “I grew up a 10-minute bike ride from the stadium.”

  He hadn’t engaged with the team in a while. They had fallen on hard times, slipping from the top division. He has a couple of Football Manager video game saves and follows from afar. But he couldn't watch the team in Denmark, where the games aren't streamed. And besides, there were other priorities.

  But after meeting the owners, he’s a regular at Mugs. He also now invests, too.

  “I'm pretty sure I'm, like, the smallest investor. I mean, I'm not sure if my money would buy me even, like, a couple of blades of grass, but it was like, when do I get the chance? If not now?” he said.

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• AB
  

  ‘Club of Nerds’

  Sponsors were a big focus on the day. Smith affectionately refers to AB as a “club of nerds.”

  And he has a point.

  AB were founded when two students studying in Copenhagen wanted to merge academics and sports. For a few years, in the late 1800s, AB only played cricket. But when English Football Association rules proliferated throughout Europe, the youngsters insisted on starting a team. They joined up with students from the Technical University of Denmark to form what is now AB in its footballing form.

  That academic heritage makes for a nice story. And it’s also something the club has leaned into.

  “AB stands for the academics. And it's really a nerd club. It started out of the university, like many clubs did in the late 1800s, and we've had this kind of history of entrepreneurs and scientists and whatnot related to our club. And so we were like, ‘Hey, let's figure out if we can build a nerd theme,’” Smith said.

  Smith has no real soccer background. He is a self-professed “soccer Dad” who has grown into the game through his kids. But he is also immensely successful in the tech space. He works for Datum, a tech startup that does networking for artificial intelligence. It was a fine excuse for him to get involved in soccer in a more official capacity. He kicked in some cash and brought his tech nous, and also utilized his industry connections to bring in sponsorship revenue.

  “Technology kind of permeates the world. It goes everywhere, but so do sports. And so it's been really fun to add this kind of nerd appeal,” Smith said.

  These days, the club has three tech sponsors on its jerseys. Those patches, along with the Carlsberg front of shirt sponsor, make for a unique vibe – but a strangely appropriate one. Beer and science? This is, after all, a university club.

Big picture: Can Pakistan put up a fight?

England have won all three matches so far this World Cup. Pakistan have won three matches ever in a World Cup, and are currently on a three-game losing streak in this one. Whichever way you slice this – individual stats, head-to-head, tournament record, cricketing pedigree – it feels like a serious mismatch on paper. England are making a strong World Cup charge, having pretty much smoked each of their oppositions so far. Pakistan, meanwhile, haven’t really got close to any of their oppositions.It has been the batting that has been Pakistan’s biggest problem, as usual. Their totals so far have been 129, 159, and 114. Only Sidra Amin has hit a half-century (though she’s got there twice). The Khettarama surfaces tend to be sluggish, but even by Colombo’s standards, Pakistan’s batters have been too staid, going long stretches without boundaries. They have something of an advantage in this tournament – they play all their matches at one ground. But it still doesn’t feel like they are in a position to capitalise.Where Pakistan are already at a stage where they need to salvage something out of this tournament, England have their sights on a semi-final spot. They will also feel they have the bowling to inflict another low score on Pakistan. On Saturday, the world’s top ODI bowler Sophie Ecclestone delivered one of the spells of the tournament to take Sri Lanka down. Fellow spinners Linsey Smith and Charlie Dean have also taken six wickets apiece so far this tournament.Related

• 'For Theo' – a century for Sciver-Brunt, a celebration for the Sciver-Brunts

Form guide

England WWWLW (last five ODIs, most recent first)
Pakistan LLLWL

In the spotlight: Muneeba Ali and Nat Sciver-Brunt

Although Amin has found success in this tournament, Pakistan’s other form batter, Muneeba Ali hasn’t quite made her mark yet. She had come into the World Cup with some decent form, having hit 76 and 44 in the pre-tournament series against South Africa, and had averaged 44.60 in the World Cup Qualifier in Lahore, in April. Pakistan have lost early wickets in each of their games so far. Runs from Muneeba will solve at least some of their batting woes.Pakistan need runs from Muneeba Ali•PCB

Nat Sciver-Brunt, meanwhile, strode to a fifth World Cup ton (her tenth in ODIs overall) on Saturday, and in the closing stages of that innings, unfurled some of the best batting this venue has seen in the tournament. She has partner Katherine Sciver-Brunt and their baby Theo along for this section of the World Cup, and was desperate to put on a show for them against Sri Lanka. Sciver-Brunt is never really far from form, but now that she has a hundred under her belt here, oppositions will be especially wary.

Team news

It’s possible that legspin-bowling allrounder Syeda Aroob Shah could enter the XI.Pakistan (probable): 1 Sadaf Shamas, 2 Muneeba Ali, 3 Sidra Amin, 4 Sidra Nawaz (wk), 5 Natalia Pervaiz, 6 Eyman Fatima, 7 Fatima Sana (capt), 8 Rameen Shamim/Syeda Aroob Shah, 9 Diana Baig, 10 Nashra Sandhu, 10 Sadia IqbalEngland could go in with an unchanged XI for the fourth match in a row.England (probable): 1 Tammy Beaumont, 2 Amy Jones (wk), 3 Heather Knight, 4 Nat Sciver-Brunt (capt), 5 Sophia Dunkley, 6 Emma Lamb, 7 Alice Capsey, 8 Charlie Dean, 9 Sophie Ecclestone, 10 Linsey Smith, 11 Lauren Bell

Pitch and conditions: More rain (perhaps), more spin (for sure)

Colombo’s weather continues as usual. The northeast monsoon has made less of an intrusion than feared at the start of the tournament, though there is always the chance it could impose itself. The pitch will take turn.

Stats and trivia

• Three of Sciver-Brunt’s hundreds have come against Pakistan, the opposition she averages a fearsome 92.33 against.
• Muneeba has a decent record against England, having made 47 and 44 in her two innings against them.
• England have won all 13 completed matches against Pakistan. The smallest margin of victory in terms of runs was 37, and in terms of wickets six.

Quotes

“Pakistan have been involved in some really exciting games of cricket, and they’ve had teams on the back foot a little bit.”

Whether this is his final season at Manchester United or not, there will come a time sooner rather than later when the Red Devils will line up without Bruno Fernandes in tow, with the Portuguese’s future likely to again be a talking point next summer.

As the 31-year-old revealed in a tell-all interview ahead of making his 300th United appearance last month, he had held talks with Saudi side Al Hilal over the summer regarding a potential move, only to eventually opt to stay put in Manchester with his business still seemingly unfinished.

Also the subject of interest from Paris Saint-Germain in 2024, the club’s long-serving talisman has rightly courted admiring glances amid his stunning form over the past five years or so, racking up 100 goals and 89 assists in his 302 outings to date.

While five of those goal involvements have come in this season’s Premier League already, it does appear that the baton is finally being passed, however, with Ruben Amorim’s influential skipper no longer the sole star attraction.

Indeed, all eyes are on INEOS’ £71m signing Bryan Mbeumo following his return of six goals in his first 12 games for the club, with Fernandes quietly pulling the strings in a deeper role.

With Amorim also outlining the prospect of his captain needing to adjust to potential “rotation” next season, should United return to European competition, the gradual phasing out of the playmaker might well have started…

The candidates to replace Fernandes as captain

Fernandes himself was awarded the honour back in the summer of 2023, with then-boss Erik ten Hag taking the decision to strip Harry Maguire of the captaincy, with reports subsequently stating that the Englishman was heading to West Ham United.

To his credit, the latter man stayed to fight for his place, since securing cult hero status with a string of vital goals, be it his last-gasp clincher against Lyon, or the late winner against Liverpool this season.

With the 32-year-old facing his own Old Trafford uncertainty amid his expiring contract, however, it would be unlikely to see him outlast Fernandes at the club, with other candidates in the running to take the armband.

Indeed, at present, Matthijs de Ligt – the hero against Tottenham Hotspur last time out – is showcasing captaincy material, albeit while not actually having been included in Amorim’s self-appointed leadership group in pre-season.

Instead, that experienced bunch includes Fernandes, Maguire, Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot, with the ex-Sporting CP boss singling them out as the leaders in his first-team ranks.

Like Maguire, however, Casemiro’s current deal expires in 2026, while Martinez may be more concerned with getting back fit and firing again, having been absent since sustaining an ACL injury back in February.

Mazraoui, too, has also endured an injury-hit start to 2025/26, with the Moroccan defender also no longer a guaranteed starter, following Amad’s emergence in that right wing-back berth.

The form of the Ivorian – which includes his stunning equaliser against Nottingham Forest – has also plunged Dalot’s long-term future into doubt, with the Portuguese full-back potentially in line for the axe before too long.

Why Man Utd's 'future captain' needs to be sold

The merits of Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system have long been debated, although amid United’s five-game unbeaten run, it looks like a corner may have been turned, with the squad beginning to find its feet at both ends of the pitch.

One area which remains something of a headache is at wing-back, however, with the 40-year-old coach having flitted between Patrick Dorgu and Dalot on that left-hand side in recent weeks.

While the latter man did assist Mbeumo from that role against Burnley, he has largely looked rather uncomfortable in an unorthodox role, having notably failed to prevent Nicolo Savona from converting at the City Ground two weeks ago.

In a system that demands an attacking intent from those on the flanks, even on his favoured flank, the one-time Porto man has hardly flourished in that sense in recent times, racking up just nine goals and 18 assists in 220 games for the club to date.

While once something of a “standout” under Ten Hag – having claimed the Players’ Player of the Year award at United in 2024 – Dalot no longer appears to have a defined role under the new regime, putting his future into doubt heading into 2026.

With a contract that expires in 2028, it could prove the perfect time to try and cash in on the £24m-rated defender – as valued by Transfermarkt – with the INEOS regime no doubt needing to do what they can to reshape the squad in Amorim’s image.

Of course, Dalot appears to be an influential figure under his compatriot, as his place in the leadership group showcases, having reportedly produced something of a rallying cry in the dressing room following the 3-3 draw with Porto last season.

It is for acts like that that the £90k-per-week star had emerged as one of the club’s “future captains” – as relayed by Samuel Luckhurst – although with his own form now under scrutiny, his Old Trafford stay should be coming to an end.

Forget Sesko: Man Utd's "anxious" dud is now becoming INEOS' worst signing

Manchester United have one player who has massively struggled to meet expectations at Old Trafford.

By
Ethan Lamb

Nov 11, 2025

Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs and Wiaan Mulder made merry as South Africa dominated the Chattogram Test

Sampath Bandarupalli30-Oct-2024575 for 6 South Africa’s total in Chattogram, their third highest in Tests in Asia. Their two bigger totals are 584 for 9 against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi in 2010 and 583 for 7 against Bangladesh in Chattogram in 2008.2020 Previous instance of South Africa going past the 500-run mark – 621 all out against Sri Lanka in the Boxing Day Test in Centurion. South Africa’s 575 for 6 in Chattogram is their highest total away from home since the 637 for 2 against England at The Oval in 2012.Related

• South Africa's batting close to finding the 'sweet spot' again

• Sweeping success – Stubbs and de Zorzi put the heat on Bangladesh

• Rabada's strikes, Mulder's century pile on the pain for Bangladesh

South Africa scored 95.83 runs per wicket in Chattogram, the highest by them in a Test innings since 2017, when they posted 573 for 4 against Bangladesh in Bloemfontein at 143.25 runs per wicket.3 Batters to score their maiden Test hundred in Chattogram – Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs and Wiaan Mulder. Only once before have three batters scored their maiden Test tons in the same innings – Gerry Gomez, Robert Christiani and Clyde Walcott for West Indies against India in Delhi in 1948.144.2 Overs batted by South Africa in their first innings in Chattogram, the most by them in a Test innings since their 146 overs against Bangladesh in Potchefstroom in 2017.1 Chattogram marked the first instance of three South Africa batters scoring hundreds in the same Test innings in Asia. It was also the first instance of three South Africa batters scoring a century in the same Test innings since 2017.Stubbs made the first century by a South Africa No. 3 since 2018•AFP/Getty Images201 Partnership between de Zorzi and Stubbs for the second wicket. It is South Africa’s first 200-plus partnership for any wicket in Tests since October 2017. South Africa had two 200-plus stands in the same innings against Bangladesh in the 2017 Bloemfontein Test.3 Century partnerships for South Africa in their first innings, the joint-most by them in a Test innings. They had 16 such instances previously, but only once since 2017 – against Sri Lanka in the 2020 Centurion Test.17 Sixes hit by South Africa in their first innings against Bangladesh, the most they have hit in a Test innings, surpassing their 15 against West Indies in 2010. Only two teams have hit more sixes in a Test innings – 22 by New Zealand against Pakistan in the 2014 Sharjah Test and 18 by India against England earlier this year in Rajkot.9 Sixes were hit off Taijul Islam’s bowling, the joint-second most conceded by any bowler in a Test innings. Rangana Herath was hit for ten sixes by India’s batters in the Brabourne Test in 2009.Paul Strang against Pakistan in Sheikhupura in 1996, Ray Price against South Africa in Harare in 2001, Dane Piedt against India in Visakhapatnam in 2019, and Ben White against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2023 have also conceded nine sixes in a Test innings.2018 The last instance of a No. 3 batter scoring a Test hundred for South Africa before Stubbs – Theunis de Bruyn scored 101 against Sri Lanka in the 2018 Colombo Test.

Rasmus Hojlund is thriving out on loan at Napoli currently and a new update claims that a permanent switch there from Manchester United is already close.

The £87,000-a-week Dane found it tough to shine in a Red Devils shirt after joining in a big-money move from Atalanta, proving to be one of many disappointing young signings at Old Trafford in recent years.

Last season, Hojlund only managed four goals in 32 appearances in the Premier League, not offering enough consistency leading the line, and it felt right for him to enjoy a new challenge.

The 22-year-old was shipped out on loan to Napoli during the summer transfer window, and he is enjoying a far more fruitful time of things in Germany, already netting twice in five Serie A outings, and also bagging a couple of goals in the Champions League.

It remains to be seen if Ruben Amorim sees a long-term future for Hojlund at United, but a new update suggests that a permanent exit is far more likley than him returning to Old Trafford.

Napoli close to permanent Hojlund move and now want Mainoo

According to a key claim from Caught Offside‘s Mark Brus, Napoli now want to trigger the buy clause in Hojlund’s Manchester United contract once this season comes to an end. Talks have been held and a deal looks set to be finalised ready for the summer.

“Napoli are confident. They’re in a strong position with the buy clause and they’re ready to activate it. Talks have been taking place and it should be finalised soon, ready to formally go through at the end of the season.”

It is also stated that Napoli want to sign Man Utd midfielder Kobbie Mainoo in the January transfer window, with the England international “likely to push for a move away” from the club.

There is a certain risk in United allowing Hojlund to leave, considering he is still young, but they now have Benjamin Sesko in their ranks, suggesting that they have moved on from the Denmark international.

With all due respect to Serie A, it is a weaker division than the Premier League, so he is naturally standing out more – Scott McTominay was arguably the best player in the whole league last season, which speaks volumes – and he has struggled with the pace of English football.

Hojlund may simply be one of many transfers that just hasn’t worked out for United, but that’s not to say he can’t still enjoy a strong career for club and country. He possesses plenty of attributes, from speed to power, but his finishing is inconsistent and the Red Devils need a far more prolific figure to lead the line.

Carragher said Man Utd star was "terrible", now he's Amorim's key player

Manchester United now have a talent who has managed to transform his career at Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 30, 2025

Granted, Sesko is still finding his feet and hasn’t exactly been perfect yet, but the likes of Amorim and Jason Wilcox seem to be confident in him being an upgrade on Hojlund, and they need to be trusted after this recent improved run of form.

As for Mainoo, on just £25,000-a-week, it would be a shame to see such a talented homegrown player leave, but if United’s manager doesn’t see him as an important part of his plans, a move away may be best for all concerned.

Man Utd flop Rasmus Hojlund has seen value fall £20m since Amorim was hired

They have received plenty of criticism for it over the last couple of years, but Chelsea seem determined to continue building a team full of exciting young talents.

For example, the West Londoners added Jorrel Hato, Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens and Estevao to Enzo Maresca’s side this summer.

However, one player who is just that little bit older than them is Liam Delap, who, at 22, is arguably still a prospect, but at the same time, needs to start delivering on a more consistent basis.

If he does do that, there is also more than a passing chance he could establish himself as an England regular; if not, Cobham is already producing an incredible gem who could surpass him for club and country.

Delap's route into the England team

While Thomas Tuchel arguably has the strongest England squad for a very long time, a narrative that has been doing the rounds this international break is that, after Harry Kane, there aren’t many, if any, obvious strikers to take as backup for the World Cup.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

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For example, Ivan Toney is still playing in the Saudi Pro-League, Ollie Watkins has just one goal and no assists in 16 games this season, and Dominic Solanke is still out injured.

In fact, the search for a backup number nine has been so desperate that there are now genuine conversations around recalling Danny Welbeck ahead of the summer, and while he deserves to be in the conversation, he’ll be 35 this month, so he is not a long-term option.

This, then, is how, even though he’s not had the best of starts this season, Delap could very realistically find himself on that plane to the World Cup next summer.

After all, even though he was playing for a really relatively poor Ipswich Town side last season, the former Manchester City prospect was still able to rack up a reasonable enough tally of 12 goals and two assists in 37 appearances.

So, if he can rediscover some form this year, there is surely a place in Tuchel’s squad with his name on it, but if not, one of Cobham’s most exciting prospects in a long time could eventually usurp him for club and country.

The Chelsea gem who could usurp Delap

Cobham have long produced Premier League-level youngsters who have gone on to star for Chelsea or other sides, and it looks like Shumaira Mheuka is the next one up.

The 18-year-old goalscoring machine began his footballing journey on the south coast with Brighton & Hove Albion, but made the move to Stamford Bridge in 2022.

In the two and a half years since, the youngster has gone from strength to strength and is without a doubt one of the most exciting up-and-coming centre-forwards in the country.

For example, even though he was just 16 at the start of last season, he ended the campaign with 11 goals and three assists in 30 appearances across the u18s and u21s.

However, while his exploits last year were impressive, what he has been able to do this year has been utterly remarkable.

Mheuka’s youth record

Appearances

61

Goals

34

Assists

9

Goal Involvements per Match

0.70

All Stats via Transfermarkt

So far, the teenage phenom, whom talent scout Jacek Kulig has dubbed “Cobham’s finest,” has scored 13 goals and provided three assists in 12 appearances for the youth sides, totalling 997 minutes.

In other words, he is currently averaging 1.33 goal involvements per game, or one every 62.31 minutes, which is frankly ridiculous.

If that wasn’t enough, the Birmingham-born monster is also doing the business for the national side, racking up a tally of 14 goals and three assists in 20 appearances for the u19s.

With numbers and performances such as these, it’s easy to see why Kulig described the youngster as “the future of Chelsea and English football.”

Ultimately, if Delap doesn’t start performing for Chelsea soon, there is every chance he could be replaced by Mheuka, who could also soon make his way into Tuchel’s plans.

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Posts ByJack Salveson Holmes Nov 20, 2025

NZC turned around a projected deficit of $ 6.8 million.

ESPNcricinfo staff19-Nov-2025Former wicketkeeper-batter Mark Greatbatch has been elected as New Zealand Cricket (NZC) president, the board said in a release on Wednesday. A press release from the board also announced a profit of NZ$ 2.2 million for this financial year, turning around a projected deficit of NZ$ 6.8 million.Greatbatch, who played 41 Tests and 84 ODIs for New Zealand from 1988 to 1996, has also served as head coach and selector for the national men’s team. He replaced Lesley Murdoch, who completed her three-year term.”I want to convey my enormous gratitude to Lesley for her professionalism as the NZC President over the past three years, and for her great support for the game as well as the organisation,” NZC chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon said.”I also want to welcome and congratulate Mark as our new President and wish him well in the role. We are fortunate in New Zealand cricket to have such strong figures wanting to contribute and give back to the game.”NZC had returned a surplus of NZ$ 8 million in 2024. Wednesday’s press release said NZC’s “reserves [were] at a record $37m, supported by strong broadcasting agreements, high-value playing programmes, and a solid commercial base.””NZC’s financial position is a strong one,” Puketapu-Lyndon said. “A small net surplus represents a significant outperformance against budget, reflecting prudent management and disciplined oversight – through what was a challenging operating environment.”Cricket here has never been a one-size-fits-all affair and NZC places great value in the ability of our Major and District Associations, and clubs to understand what works best in their regions and catchments.”We’re committed to working closely with them to ensure they’re well equipped to service the grassroots environment upon which our entire game is based.”

England heroes Hannah Hampton and Chloe Kelly, fresh from helping the Lionesses defend their European Championship crown, have been nominated for the 2025 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. If either is able to land the top prize, they will follow in the footsteps of iconic team-mates Beth Mead and Mary Earps – two former winners.

Lionesses legends: Mead & Earps are past SPOTY winners

Earps’ exploits were recognised by the British public in 2023 on the back of steering England to the World Cup final. A year earlier, she had made history when forming part of a Euro 2022-winning squad – with that achievement allowing Mead to claim the SPOTY prize.

Sarina Wiegman’s side were able to successfully defend that crown in 2025, with an epic final showdown with Spain going to penalties. Hampton delivered spot kick-saving heroics there while Kelly – who famously netted an extra-time winner against Germany in 2022 – held her nerve to convert the decisive effort from 12 yards.

Advertisement2025 SPOTY nominees: Who makes the shortlist?

Kelly, who is now playing her club football back at Arsenal, is one of six contenders looking to land the 2025 SPOTY award. She is joined on that shortlist by international colleague and fellow WSL star Hampton – who provides the last line of defence at Chelsea.

The other hopefuls looking to land a prestigious honour are rugby star Ellie Kildunne, darts sensation Luke Littler, golf superstar Rory McIlroy – who won the Masters in 2025 and completed the career Grand Slam – and newly-crowned Formula 1 world champion Lando Norris.

Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport, has said of that shortlist: “This has been a breathtaking year for sport, driven by athletes whose performances belong in the history books. Each one has delivered moments of pure brilliance that have defined 2025. It’s been incredible to watch, and I can’t wait to honour their achievements, and to see who the nation chooses as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025.”

The shortlisting panel for this year’s awards included 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Maggie Alphonsi, former England international Anita Asante, double Paralympic gold medal-winning sprinter Libby Clegg, former world champion boxer Carl Frampton, 2009 World Cup winning cricketer Ebony Rainford-Brent, media personality and sports presenter Josh Denzel, sports broadcaster and Match of the Day co-host Kelly Cates, chief sports feature writer for the Daily Mail, Riath Al-Samarrai and sports reporter for The Times, Molly Hudson. Representing the BBC were director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski, head of content Philip Bernie and executive producer Marc Vesty.

Can Kelly or Hampton continue SPOTY trend?

The winner of the 2025 award will be announced at a glitzy ceremony on December 18, as a memorable year of sporting action and achievement is celebrated. Another Euros-winning Lionesses star, Michelle Agyemang, is among the contenders for the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year Award.

In the World Sport Star department, Spain international Mariona Caldentey – who plies her club trade alongside Kelly at Arsenal – is competing with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Shohei Ohtani and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone for recognition.

Olympic gold medal-winning athlete Keely Hodgkinson is the reigning BBC Sports Personality of the Year. She extended the run of female winners to four consecutive years, with there every chance that a fifth addition will be made to that list.

Tennis star Emma Raducanu, having won the US Open in 2021, started the recent trend. Mead, Earps and Hodgkinson picked up that baton and ran with it, and Kelly and Hampton are looking to keep the run going.

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Getty ImagesHampton ignored pre-Euros Earps distraction

Earps have sparked controversy ahead of Euro 2025 when announcing her international retirement and calling out Wiegman for drafting Hampton back into the Lionesses fold. That decision was vindicated when the 25-year-old shot-stopper inspired England to continental glory.

Hampton has already won the inaugural Women’s Yashin Trophy this year and will hope to go on and emulate Earps again by claiming a FIFA Best Women’s Goalkeeper prize at some point in the not too distant future – with impressive standards being maintained at domestic and international level.

South Africa A finished the day on 299 for 9 despite a 100-run partnership between Hamza and Jordan Hermann

Shashank Kishore30-Oct-2025

Rishabh Pant spent an entire day on the field, seemingly untroubled by his foot, as he returned to action after more than two months in rehab for a foot injury sustained while batting during the fourth Test in Manchester.N Jagadeesan wasn’t as lucky, after B Sai Sudharsan’s spikes got stuck into his right hand during a training session on match eve. The selectors were forced to summon Ishan Kishan as cover. Jagadeesan’s injury meant an opportunity at the top of the order for Ayush Mhatre, the Mumbai opener, who was originally set to play only the second four-day fixture.All eyes were on Pant when he arrived early and began the day with warm-ups, timed sprints and a batting hit prior to the toss, which he won to put South Africa A in to bat. On a green surface at the Centre of Excellence, which offered plenty of seam movement and swing, the decision seemed justifiable. But gritty efforts from Jordan Hermann and Zubayr Hamza drove South Africa A to 299 for 9 at stumps. Nonetheless, they will be disappointed with the total, because there was the promise of a lot more earlier in the day.India A’s efforts in the field were led by Tanush Kotian, the offspinning allrounder, who picked up four wickets. He wheeled away for much of the second and third session, and was complemented by Manav Suthar, who was unlucky to have only two wickets next to his name at the end of a day where he got the odd ball to turn sharply, and jump up at the batters, whenever they seemed indecisive.Jordan Hermann used sweeps to great effect•PTI

Among the fast bowlers, Gurnoor Brar was potent but had just one wicket to show after 15 overs of toil himself. But the wicket he prised out – of Hamza for 66 – exhibited the virtues he’s been picked for. Gurnoor can hit hard lengths, hustle batters for pace, and have them hopping. This was exactly how Hamza fell, when he tried to evade a well-directed short ball to break a 130-run second-wicket stand.But Hamza had several moments he will look back on fondly from his innings. His manner of tackling spin against Tanush Kotian and Manav Suthar will stand him in good stead, if he gets an opportunity to feature in the two Tests that follow later this month. He didn’t let Kotian settle down, and used his feet superbly to hit him over mid-off repeatedly in his first two overs.Then, Hamza drove Kotian against the turn through extra cover, with Pant keen on leaving cover open to try and trap him into a false stroke. Against Suthar’s left-arm spin, he used his feet well to step out and cover the line to flick him against the turn through midwicket. One such stroke brought up his half-century.Hermann was more sedate after a fiery start. He began with square drive off Khaleel Ahmed, and was quick to pounce on anything short. Once Hamza took charge, however, Jordan slipped back into a more tempered pace, playing himself into the innings. Along the way, he was challenged by Brar’s pace and late movement.India A attacked with close-in fielders before stumps•PTI

Once spin came on, Jordan eased himself against Suthar by playing the lap sweeps and paddles, one of which had him fall over in a manner reminiscent of Pant’s red-ball pyrotechnics. He also played the shot of the afternoon – a sumptuous flick through midwicket, off Khaleel, in the first over after lunch. But he was eventually dismissed on 71, lbw while stuck on the crease to play Kotian against the turn.Shortly prior to his wicket, captain Marques Ackermann perished to Kotian when he tried to step out and flick, unable to get to the pitch and chipping one straight to Suthar. This dismissal briefly brought together Jordan and his older brother, Rubin Hermann, to the crease.The latter did a fine job, after it looked at one point as if India A would run through the lower middle-order, when Rivaldo Moonsamy fell just after tea to leave them 197 for 5. Ruben drove through the line fearlessly as Khaleel went searching for some reverse in the final session, and had a slice of luck when Sai Sudharsan put him down at deep backward square leg on 38.But it didn’t cost India A much as he was out soon after. He was bowled by Kotian for 54, to a delivery that kept low after he was too early into a pull shot. Shortly after, Kotian scalped up a classic offspinner’s dismissal, when he bowled Prenelan Subrayen through the gate, to claim his fourth towards the end of the day’s play.As stumps approached, Pant employed as many as six fielders around the bat, with South Africa A’s lower order at the crease. The tactic worked when Tiaan van Vuren’s top-edge off a slog sweep was lapped up by Devdutt Padikkal. India A then enjoyed the perfect finish to the day, when Khaleel trapped Lutho Sipamla lbw, to help them take the honours on the opening day.