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Tottenham Hotspur are interested in a deal to bring Antonin Barak to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the summer transfer window.

What’s the word?

That’s according to a report by Italian media outlet Mondo Udinese (via Sport Witness), who claim that, following an extraordinary campaign in Italy, Antonio Conte is now keen on a move to bring the Hellas Verona attacking midfielder to the Premier League at the end of the current campaign.

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The report then goes on to state that the 52-year-old Spurs manager would play a key role in tempting the 27-year-old into a switch to north London, while it is also claimed that Juventus are also keeping a very close eye on the situation of the Czech Republic international.

He’s better than Soucek

With it being reported that a new central midfielder is one of Conte’s primary targets in the summer transfer window, and with Spurs having already been linked with a move to West Ham United’s Tomas Soucek, the argument that Barak would be a much better fit for Tottenham than his Czechia compatriot is a rather easy one to make.

Indeed, over his 29 Serie A appearances this season, the £18m-rated talent has been something of a revelation in the Hellas midfield, bagging 11 goals, registering four assists and creating three big chances for his teammates, as well as taking an average of 1.8 shots, making 1.0 key passes and completing 1.1 dribbles per game.

These returns have seen the £15k-per-week man who Josh Bunting dubbed a “fantastic” player average a highly impressive SofaScore match rating of 7.05, ranking him as Igor Tudor’s second-best performer in the top flight of Italian football – playing a key role in Hellas’ push to secure a top-half finish in the league.

In comparison, over Soucek’s 33 Premier League outings this term, the £43m-rated midfielder has scored five goals, provided one assist and created two big chances, in addition to taking an average of 1.3 shots, making 0.6 key passes and completing 0.3 dribbles per fixture.

These metrics have seen the £70k-per-week colossus average a SofaScore match rating of 6.99, ranking him as David Moyes’ fourth-best player in the English top flight.

As such, while Socuek’s returns are far from underwhelming, when taking into account the fact that Conte already has the options of the defensively-minded Oliver Skipp and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg in the middle of the park, the signing of a central midfielder who possesses a more attacking mindset would appear the smarter move by Spurs – something which it is undeniable that Barak is when compared to Soucek.

Furthermore, with it being reported that the West Ham star will be available for around £40m this summer – as well as the 27-year-old himself demanding a weekly wage well above his current salary at the London Stadium – compared to Barak’s more modest €20m (£17m) asking price, the Hellas sensation would appear much better value for money.

So, all things considered, it would indeed appear that a move for Barak would be a far more intelligent choice by Conte and Fabio Paratici this summer.

AND in other news: Spurs now plot £17m bid for “one of the top four or five No 8’s”, Conte would love him

Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has been told to ‘hold back’ by talkSPORT pundit Tony Cascarino after the Italian’s message on Eric Dier.

The Lowdown: Dier excelling…

The former Sporting Lisbon star has been shining as a member of Conte’s back three at Spurs, prompting England boss Gareth Southgate to grant him a recall to the national team squad.

Dier will travel with the Three Lions for their upcoming UEFA Nations League matches against Italy and Germany with members of the media even saying that his inclusion is ‘long overdue’.

The 28-year-old is one of just three Spurs players who have featured for every single Premier League minute so far this term, with Dier putting in another brilliant display yesterday against Leicester City.

The Latest: Cascarino criticises Conte after Dier message…

While Cascarino said that Dier has been brilliant over the last two months, the talkSPORT pundit has moved quickly to refute Conte’s latest message on the player.

Spurs’ head coach drew comparisons with Italian footballing legend Leonardo Bonucci, claiming that the Englishman can ‘replicate’ the Juventus captain.

After Conte’s statement, Cascarino has told the ex-Inter Milan boss to ‘hold back’, saying:

“He’s had a decent start to the season but comparing him to Bonucci is a bit of a long one for me at the moment, I’d hold back on that one.

“I wouldn’t have that he’s as versatile as Bonucci, maybe he was a failed midfielder more than a midfielder, he didn’t pull up any trees.

“I think he’s not bad, I’m still reserved in my opinion over the course of a season on Dier.”

The Verdict: Too soon?

Dier has been fantastic for Spurs this season and deserves praise from both Conte and the media. That being said, the season is a long one, and before measuring the Englishman’s contribution overall, we must judge him based off a whole campaign.

However, the 28-year-old shone as part of Conte’s back three over 2021/22, making more clearances per 90 than any Spurs player whilst racking up the second-most blocks in that time (WhoScored).

In terms of likeness to Bonucci, it isn’t beyond the realms of possibility that Dier could replicate the 35-year-old’s leadership qualities in the Lilywhites dressing room – especially given his experience of 328 appearances for the club and 45 caps for England.

Sunderland finally ended their unwanted stay in the third tier of English football earlier this year as they won promotion to the Championship.

Alex Neil led the club to glory via the play-offs to return to the second division for the first time since the 2017/18 campaign, beating Wycombe in the final at Wembley.

Following promotion, the Black Cats waved goodbye to a few players who served them well during their spell in League One and wing wizard Aiden McGeady was one of them.

The Republic of Ireland international had been at the Stadium of Light since 2017 and enjoyed himself on the pitch as he racked up goals and assists over his five years on Wearside.

He produced 36 goals and 34 assists in 149 games in all competitions for the club and 18 of those assists came in his last 43 League One outings.

McGeady was a magician on the ball, capable of creating opportunities for his teammates, and he had the quality to chip in with goals of his own from a left-wing position.

Tony Mowbray could now unearth the heir to the Irishman by dipping into the U21 set-up to unleash young winger Michael Spellman, who has “impressed” the Chronicle’s James Hunter.

The 19-year-old officially joined the club in the summer after a successful trial. He had caught Sunderland’s after impressing in non-league last season, managing an eye-catching 19 goals in 23 games for Chester-le-Street United.

His form last term shows that he has the potential to be a goalscorer from out wide and, since arriving at the Stadium of Light, he has also shown that he has the eye for a pass – like McGeady.

In three Premier League 2 matches this term, Spellman has racked up four assists for the club’s youth team and this suggests that he has the scope to develop into a winger with the ability to regularly create goals for others.

Of course, he must now prove that he can make a significant impact in the final third in the professional game and that is why Mowbray must give him a real opportunity to show what he can do.

The gem was handed a first-team squad number last month and he was given his debut against Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup, although it ended in a 2-0 defeat for the club. He played 10 minutes in the match and had nine touches of the ball, as he enjoyed his first taste of senior football with Sunderland.

10 minutes in a cup game whilst 2-0 down is a difficult situation for a teenage winger to show what he is all about and that is why Mowbray should look to unleash him, off the bench, in a Championship match or two.

Give him a platform to show off his quality on the ball and see if he can be the next McGeady racing down the left wing to score and assist goals for the Black Cats.

Celtic have suffered a setback ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk, following an update regarding the fitness of defender Carl Starfelt.

What’s the word?

As per The Scottish Sun, the Sweden international is set to miss that upcoming meeting with the Ukrainian outfit, having limped off in the recent Old Firm derby triumph with a knee injury.

The report suggests that while the 27-year-old does not require surgery for that issue, he is set to be absent until the start of next month, ensuring he is also set to be unavailable for next weekend’s league meeting with St Mirren.

That will ensure he is also unavailable to feature for his country in their upcoming Nations League games with Serbia and Slovenia, with it now a race against time to ensure he is fit again once the Hoops return to action after the international break.

Postecoglou gutted

It is has proven something of a frustrating start to the new season for the former Rubin Kazan man thus far, having made a late return to action after sustaining a hamstring injury earlier in the summer.

While summer signing Mortiz Jenz has impressed since his loan arrival from Lorient in the recent window, title-winning boss Ange Postecoglou will no doubt be gutted at having to be without Starfelt once again, with the Swede having thrived for the Hoops in recent times.

Even though his impact has been brief so far this term, the five-cap brute has caught the eye after netting twice in just four outings in all compeitions from his centre-back berth, with it no doubt a blow to see him restricted to a viewing brief once again.

The £5.4m-rated man had overcome a shaky start to life at Parkhead last season  – after his £4.3m arrival from Russia – to become a key figure in Postecoglou’s side, forming an “immense” partnership alongside Cameron Carter-Vickers, in the words of Chris Sutton.

The 6 foot 1 titan made 34 Scottish Premiership appearances in that glorious 2021/22 campaign – all of which came from the start – recording a hugely impressive haul of 18 clean sheets, while also averaging 1.2 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per game.

That record was even greater than that of the aforementioned Carter-Vickers, with the United States international averaging 0.8 tackles and 1.2 interceptions from his 33 top-flight outings, showcasing just what an asset Starfelt is.

His absence was keenly felt in the defeat to Real Madrid earlier this week, with the Glasgow side somewhat struggling defensively as they shipped three second-half goals after an initially encouraging display.

With a positive result needed away against Shakhtar to help spark any real hope of progression to the knockout round, it will come as a notable blow not to have the Stockholm-born star in tow.

Steven Gerrard has given Aston Villa’s campaign a jolt following the side’s impressive draw with Premier League champions Manchester City on Saturday evening, and they might have even won the match if it wasn’t for a controversial VAR decision that disallowed a goal for offside.

The draw ensured Villa didn’t slip to a fourth consecutive Premier League defeat and will give the side some momentum going forward, especially in their performance which was good enough to secure three points.

The club’s summer transfer business was solid and quality with the likes of Boubacar Kamara, Diego Carlos and Philippe Coutinho all being brought in on permanent deals. Deadline day saw moves for Leander Dendoncker in a permanent swoop from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Jan Bednarek joined on loan.

Therefore, there really is no excuse now for Villa to be languishing near the foot of the table.

It was perhaps a move that didn’t happen which might well be Gerrard’s saving grace this season, though, as the 42-year-old managed to keep hold of Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz.

Lange could strike gold

Arsenal bid three times for the Villa player on transfer deadline day as a move was rejected and given the need for extra quality in the squad, Lange could strike gold with this controversial call.

Indeed, with the midfielder’s contract due to expire at the end of the season, the club could have easily cashed in on the player instead of potentially losing him for nothing next summer. Instead, they have gambled with keeping an important cog to their side.

It’s clear the club wants to keep hold of him, with Gerrard rejecting a £30m bid from an unnamed Premier League club in January, he could be a key player this season for the club.

The Brazilian is in fact joint top scorer for Villa this season with two goals, alongside Danny Ings and Leon Bailey, proving that despite operating in a midfield role, he can be a huge attacking threat, especially from corner kicks, where he seems to have developed a canny knack for scoring directly from them.

The 24-year-old ranked seventh in the Villa squad last season with an average rating of 6.77 as per WhoScored, scoring twice and providing three assists, while having the second highest pass success rate with 86.8% (of players who played more than five matches).

He ranks highly again in that department this season with a success rate of 86.6% in line with last term and also the third-best rate in Gerrard’s ranks, only behind Jacob Ramsey and Calum Chambers.

Former Villa favourite Gabby Agbonlahor dubbed Luiz as “outstanding” at the end of last season and it looks like he has carried the same vein of form into this one, despite the links with Arsenal on deadline day.

The next move for Lange will be to tie him down on a long-term deal, otherwise letting him leave for free could be a disaster, not just from a financial point of view, but also from a playing perspective. That is precisely why deciding to keep him now is a big decision for the Villans to take.

Possessing the ability to dictate play and keep things safe in the middle of the park, Gerrard will be in need of a few players who are more assured about things and the Brazilian’s passing certainly falls into that category. It’s a risky decision but ultimately, one that might well be rewarding for the club if they stay in the division and improve upon their early results.

تحدث مدحت عبد الهادي، لاعب الزمالك السابق، عن رأيه في أداء الأبيض تحت قيادة أحمد عبد الرؤوف المدير الفني.

وقال مدحت عبد الهادي، عبر قناة “MBC مصر 2”: “أحمد عبد الرؤوف غير مقنع بالنسبة لي، والزمالك يحتاج إلى مدير فني أجنبي”.

طالع.. محامي رمضان صبحي: عقوبة إيقافه 4 سنوات من المحكمة الرياضية لن تخفض

وتابع: “عبد الرؤوف نجح في فترته المؤقتة، لكنه غير قادر على إدارة فريق كبير مثل الزمالك في بطولة إفريقيا والمباريات المقبلة لا نريد أن نظلم، لأن في النهاية المظلومين هم جماهير الزمالك”.

وأكمل: “أما عن إيقاف رمضان صبحي بسبب المنشطات، فقبل أن تكون هذه ثقافة اللاعب، يجب أن تكون ثقافة الجهاز الفني أو الطبي المسؤول عن اللاعبين، وبالأخص الطاقم الطبي بالكامل”.

وأتم: “الجهاز الطبي عليه وعي كبير جدًا بالنسبة للاعبين، فاللاعب ليس ملك نفسه”.

Adil Rashid four-for ensures New Zealand fall well short in chase of 237

Vithushan Ehantharajah20-Oct-2025

Phil Salt and Harry Brook combined to blow New Zealand out of the water in the second T20I, as England sealed a dominant 65-run win in Christchurch to take an insurmountable 1-0 lead in this three-match series.Both Salt (85 off 56 balls) and Brook (78 off 35) were independently brutal but came together in devastating fashion with a partnership of 129 from just 69 deliveries. England’s 236 for 4 was a new record T20I score at Hagley Oval, comfortably bumping off the previous best of 208 with 10 balls still to go in their innings. New Zealand were eventually dismissed for 171 with two overs to spare.Mitchell Santner’s decision to bowl first upon winning the toss was a case of rinse-and-repeat; both teams opting for the same XIs after Saturday’s washout in the first T20I. Unfortunately for the Black Caps skipper, this was a truer surface than the one which saw England scrape to 153 for 6.Drier with more pace, Santner’s bowlers were up against it from the off, with all six used posting double-figure economy rates. They were not helped by two dropped catches that would have given them a more realistic target.The one that mattered more gave Brook a life on 40, after he had successfully overturned a caught behind decision on 22. The visiting captain was at his destructive best, with 54 runs through boundaries, including five sixes, two of which were carted out of the ground. Despite Kyle Jamieson accounting for both Brook and then Salt in the space of three deliveries, Tom Banton’s unbeaten 29 from 12 added the record-busting cherry on top.Brydon Carse’s twin strikes in the second over clipped the Kiwis’ wings in pursuit of 237. And though Tim Seiffert and Mark Chapman restarted the chase with an engaging stand of 69, their respective demises to the spin duo of Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson all but confirmed the result.Santner did his utmost to inject some late jeopardy with a breezy 36 off 15, before falling to Rashid’s final delivery, the legspinner finishing a solid evening’s work with 4 for 32. Luke Wood then had the honour of capping off victory in the 18th over with two dismissals in four deliveries, with New Zealand losing all 10 wickets to catches.Salt in cruise modeThis new iteration of Salt is developing a knack of cashing in after missing out. His career-best 141 not out against South Africa in September came two days after a first-ball duck. And with as many days since 3 off 4 in the first T20I at Hagley Oval, he looked on course for a fifth century in the format.No doubt Salt will feel he missed out in a different way, falling for 85 when he was caught on the long-off sponge, 15 short of three figures with as many balls of the innings remaining. Once again he spearheaded a record total a month after leading the breaching of 300.He upheld his first-over responsibility by putting Matt Henry’s second ball on to the grass bank at midwicket, then whipping behind square leg along the floor once Henry had corrected. By the time Jos Buttler faced his second ball, Salt had already struck 20 from nine.That was as dominant as Salt was in his stands. Once Buttler was dismissed for 4, he adopted a secondary role during his work with Bethell (scoring 19 of their 44 together) and Brook (46 of their 129). Hardly a passenger but more than happy to cede the driving.Perhaps the best example of his continued intent was his dismissal, attempting a second six (and 13th boundary) two balls after Brook had holed out at deep midwicket. He now has more T20I runs than Jason Roy, despite 22 fewer innings, moving up to sixth for England run-scorers in the format, with a strike rate of 168.12 that is at least 16 ahead of any of those in the top 10.Brook does as he says”We’ve got such a strong batting line-up, we can keep going,” Brook said after a second coin toss of the series had gone against him on this tour. The response came after the England captain seemed nonplussed with being asked to set a total.And how. Arriving in the eighth over, Brook, a straight-talker, got straight down to business. He raced to 19 off six, courtesy of three successive boundaries off Santner, with two sixes – the first into the crowd, the second over the roof at midwicket – sandwiching a craftily ramped four.A second six beyond the confines of this boutique ground allowed him to knock two singles for a 22-ball half-century – his fifth overall in T20Is and first as captain.He celebrated with 21 off the returning Kyle Jamieson in the following over. Earlier, he had provided 14 of the 20 picked off from Jimmy Neesham’s one-and-only over.Both were examples of constantly putting bowlers under pressure, already a well-worn mantra in his six months at the helm. That knack of leading by example is not only why he was handed the keys to the white-ball job but instilled as Test vice-captain ahead of this winter’s Ashes.Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson successfully tied New Zealand down•Joe Allison/Getty Images

Dawson shows nousThat both teams opted for two spinners owed more to trending towards 2026’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. While New Zealand’s returned 1 for 77 from seven overs, England’s bagged 6 for 70 in eight.The fact both wanted to bowl first showed there was a collective misreading of conditions. And as the lights took over for the second half, the pitch did begin to grip. It was, in more ways than one, a great toss to lose.There is not much more to be said of Rashid, his status as one of England’s most-valuable white-ball cricketers set in stone long before becoming the first visiting bowler to take four or more in a T20I at this venue. But it was Dawson who laid down his credentials to partner the leggie for next year’s global tournament.The left-arm spinner’s wiliness was on show in his first three overs, manipulating his angles to remove Mark Chapman and then the dangerous Michael Bracewell. It took until Dawson’s 16th delivery for New Zealand to find a boundary off him – Jimmy Neesham smearing a four to midwicket – and even then, heading into his final over, the Hampshire allrounder had an impressive 2 for 15 by his name.Twenty-three conceded off a scatty fourth messed up those figures. Two sixes from Santner were responsible the untidy finish, triggering five wides as Dawson bunged a full toss down the leg side in an attempt to hide the ball from the home skipper’s arc. Nevertheless, Santner’s 0 for 41 earlier in the piece highlighted just how impressive England’s own southpaw twirler had been.NZ drop the ballFor all England’s enterprise with the bat, there was unnecessary generosity from their hosts. You do not usually associate slack fielding with New Zealand, but two drops tilted this match against them significantly in Christchurch.Tim Seifert was responsible for missing the first and tougher chance. Jacob Duffy, having pulled out of the previous delivery as Jacob Bethell gave himself room to the leg side, dug one in short with a bit of cut. Bethell, on 7, went for his pull shot, only to top-edge high towards short third.Seifert had tracked it well, but was done by the stiff north-west breeze, ending up on his back, palming the ball just before he hit the deck. Though Bethell “only” managed 17 more before being dismissed with the last ball of the sixth over, his back-to-back sixes off Bracewell lifted England’s powerplay score to 68 for 2.That it was the highest at this ground was a sign of things to come, but that, too, could have been avoided. At the start of the 13th over, Matt Henry returned and was greeted with a lofted straight heave from Brook. Somehow, Neesham, having just bowled an over that cost 20, botched a straightforward catch at long-on allowing Brook a life.They did not have to count the cost of dropping Sam Curran twice on Saturday, the allrounder’s 49 not out hustling England to a respectable total of 153 before the rain intervened. Here, the price of the combined errors was 55 – a figure New Zealand only made up for in their innings with the final ball of the powerplay.

With 323 runs in seven innings, Rahul is averaging nearly 65 in IPL 2025 and is the third-highest run-getter among Indians this season

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Apr-20253:37

‘Axar calm and authoritative as a leader’

KL Rahul scored his third half-century in IPL 2025 on Tuesday night in Delhi Capitals’ (DC) win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), taking his tally to 323 runs in seven innings after missing the start of the season for the birth of his child. He is DC’s highest run-getter this season and the latest innings – a match-winning 42-ball 57 – was yet another performance where his skills as one of the most dangerous Indian T20 batters was on display.He is now averaging nearly 65 in his first season with his new franchise, and Cheteshwar Pujara has credited Rahul for leaving last season’s “baggage” – the fallout with LSG – at the door and moving on.”Just move on, don’t carry any baggage from the past,” Pujara said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut, reflecting on Rahul’s IPL 2025 form. “And that’s a good thing. Look, KL is a mature player. Last couple of years, he’s been batting well across formats. He doesn’t want to think about the past and wants to enjoy his batting and be in his zone, rather than think about what went wrong when he was playing for the LSG team.Related

KL Rahul speeds up in bid to 'get back in the T20 team' ahead of 2026 T20 World Cup

Kevin Pietersen is helping make Delhi Capitals' players better cricketers and loving it

Abishek Porel: 'I know my game and the support staff knows my game'

Marsh, Markram and Rahul add spice to race for the Orange Cap

Pant goes the other way – what's the rationale?

“It’s good to move on, which will also help him play well for DC and even for the Indian team. Because, lately, he is someone the India team also relies on, the way he’s batting. Even as a person, he looks a lot more mature now, he understands his game very well. We have seen a different KL Rahul this season. When he started [against LSG], he didn’t look that [fluid], but still he picked it up.”On Tuesday, after LSG had put up 159 for 6, Rahul walked out with DC at 36 for 1 in the fourth over. He took his time to get going, only getting to 19 off 20 balls by the end of the tenth over, but with Abishek Porel scoring quickly at the other end, DC were still placed quite well at 80 for 1. Rahul got going after that with sixes in back-to-back overs, off Ravi Bishnoi and Aiden Markram, the spinners, and, while never frenetic, got to his fifty off 40 balls before finishing the game with his third six.Nick Knight, the former England opener, said Rahul might be thriving because he doesn’t have to shoulder the responsibility of captaincy, like he had to at LSG.”Captaincy can do funny things to you – sometimes you thrive on it, sometimes it’s a burden,” Knight said. “Whether that’s had any impact, of not being captain now, just being free and being able to play the match situation.”We’ve got this obsession in cricket that the best player has to be captain. That’s not always the case, is it? I’m not saying that’s the case with KL Rahul, or even Rishabh Pant, but he’s batting with so much freedom and looks relaxed in the crease.”1:51

Pujara: Mukesh got reverse swing, executed yorkers

Pujara: Mukesh is ‘always looking for a wicket’Pujara liked what he saw of Mukesh Kumar on the night, especially at the back-end of the LSG innings. His 4 for 33 ensured LSG finished with a below-par 159 that DC chased down with 13 balls to spare.”He is more than capable, even within the powerplay. He is someone who can take a couple of wickets in the powerplay, which he hasn’t done, but credit to him on how he came back after being hit in the powerplay,” Pujara said. “That yorker against Mitchell Marsh was probably one of the best [deliveries] in the IPL. He got the ball to reverse swing a bit, he executed his yorkers really well. Look, he is a confidence bowler, and he’s always looking for a wicket.”Knight also gave credit to DC captain Axar Patel for his bowling changes and making the best use of his resources. Axar had taken the new ball himself against the two overseas LSG batters – Marsh and Markram – and bowled four economical overs on the trot.”Axar, actually, had a good game,” Knight said. “I thought it was innovative to open the bowling with him [Axar]. I thought he used Mitchell Starc really well. It wasn’t swinging much up front so he took Starc out. Brought him back in the eighth over [ninth over] to make an impact and he did that with the Nicholas Pooran dismissal [later in the same spell].”Then he had Kuldeep [Yadav], himself and Mitchell Starc bowling in key moments in the middle to block LSG out. I thought it was an impressive performance from the skipper.”

علق أيمن علي حسن رئيس اتحاد الدراجات على إصابة ابتسام زايد لاعبة منتخب مصر خلال مشاركتها في بطولة العالم.

وقال أيمن في مداخلة على ملعب “أون” عن إصابة ابتسام زايد في بطولة العالم: “لاعبة منتخب مصر كانت تشارك في بطولة العالم في تشيلي، وسافروا يوم 18، وبدأوا اللعب يوم 22”.

وتابع: “بدأت يوم 22 سباق النقاط وحصدت المركز الـ15 عالميًا، ثم كان لدينا يوم 24 سباق اسمه الإقصاء بمشاركة 24 لاعبة بعد التصفيات، وكل لفتين بهما سبرينت، واللاعبة الأخيرة تودع المنافسة”.

طالع.. صورة | الاصابة تحرم ابتسام زايد من استكمال بطولة العالم للدراجات

وكشف: “طبعًا في اللفة الثامنة خرج خمسة، وابتسام كانت في موقع ممتاز يؤهلها للمنافسة على الصدارة، لكن حصل تصادم بينها وبين أربع لاعبات، فوقعت، وتعرضت لإغماء مؤقت، وانتقلت على الفور إلى المستشفى”.

وواصل: “عندما استفاقت أخذت حوالي 12 غرزة فوق حاجبها الأيسر، طبعًا حادثة كبيرة جدًا، فالحمد لله اتنقلت على المستشفى، وعملوا لها الإجراءات اللازمة، والحمد لله لا كسور، كلها كدمات والخياطة فوق الحاجب”.

واختتم: “عادت الحمد لله إلى الفندق، وكشف عليها رئيس اللجنة الطبية في الاتحاد الدولي، وقال إن أحسن شيء أن تحصل على راحة أسبوع، وفي التقرير الطبي مكتوب إنها راحة أسبوع، ولا تخوض السباق القادم (الأومنيوم)، وكان سيلعب يوم 26”.

Manchester United have been here before. And they are here again. Ruben Amorim was brought in from Sporting Lisbon to replace the floundering Erik ten Hag but his Red Devils side have sunk to a new low since his appointment.

Sunday’s chastening defeat against Manchester City at the Etihad kept United in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

It is, in fairness, just four matches into the new season, but with Chelsea travelling to Old Trafford next weekend and no European football on the cards, it’s crucial that an upswing is made and quickly.

Already dumped from the Carabao Cup by League Two’s Grimsby Town, United haven’t quite collapsed this term but they do need to right the wrongs, especially since Amorim’s win percentage is the lowest of any manager at the club in 80 years.

After finishing 15th last season and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur, the summer transfer window felt crucial, but much has been left to be desired.

Man United's missed summer targets

Man United did address a series of issues in the summer transfer market, welcoming Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, arguably the Premier League’s two standout forwards beneath the Champions League zone last season.

However, INEOS failed to sign a centre-midfielder, and scrambled to replace Rasmus Hojlund at number nine, eventually landing on Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig, signing him for a £74m fee.

Sesko ghosted throughout United’s recent drubbing by Man City, and while the talent is undeniable, it’s clear there’s much work to be done.

Does Amorim have the time on his side to nurture the Slovenian’s skillset over the coming months, years?

The deadline day signing of goalkeeper Senne Lammens adds further cause for optimism, with Andre Onana now gone, but Altay Bayındır stood between the sticks against Pep Guardiola’s side, still trusted despite his wobbles, two years on from his £4m move from Feyenoord in Turkey.

Lammens and Sesko are both 23, and both first-teamers might bloom into superstars at Old Trafford.

However, Amorim needs a fast turnaround, and he may well be frustrated that his side didn’t manage to sign two of their biggest targets instead of the developing talents.

Amorim wanted his own Donnarumma and Haaland at United

Both of those targets, coincidentally, remain at Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez.

At the end of the 2024/25 campaign, Martinez bid farewell to Villa Park. Teary-eyed, the distinguished shot-stopper appeared to be gearing up for a move away, and Man United were heavily linked.

But it wasn’t to be, with United opting to settle for Bayindir and sign Lammens instead. Thus, the Argentina hero is staying in the Midlands.

No doubt, Amorim has got his hands on an exciting up-and-comer, but Martinez is “genuinely world-class”, as said by Sky Sports’ Dan Bardell, and has 198 Premier League appearances and a World Cup gold medal to his name.

The 32-year-old’s distribution is good, but it’s his shot-stopping and command in the box that draws the plaudits. With Gigi Donnarumma standing in the opposing box at the weekend – another United summer transfer target – it’s perhaps frustrating to some that an established keeper has not been welcomed to Amorim’s project.

Watkins might also have been a top-class addition. The 29-year-old isn’t on the level of the finest striker in the league, the brace-bagging Erling Haaland, but he’s certainly got the skills to lead the line with confidence at Man United, actually described as “one of the best 9s in the world” by Statman Dave.

The England striker was reportedly really keen on joining Man United this summer, but ultimately, that wasn’t the track INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe headed down.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast’s One That Got Away series.

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Still, a powerful runner with sharp intelligence and silky link-up play, Watkins could have been an invaluable addition to this United side, certainly bearing the experience and know-how to have made more of himself against City, whereas Sesko let the game pass him by.

Players like Haaland and Donnarumma make up the benchmark for a team like Amorim’s United, chasing something greater than they’ve achieved in recent years.

But it’s easier said than done, and there’s little to suggest that the signings made have what it takes to propel the club back into the ascendancy with the speed that is required.

Man United’s strategy has been tailored toward a new emphasis on Prem-proven players, and though they haven’t clicked into gear yet, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have both shown flashes of brilliance so far this season; they look well-oiled and comfortable within the English game.

Sesko is a raw striker, and that’s why Jason Wilcox and co may be kicking themselves for failing to sign someone like Watkins. Older the Three Lions star may be, but he knows his game inside and out, and he’s a high-level goalscorer.

Watkins’ Premier League Career

Season

Apps

Goals (assists)

24/25

38

16 (8)

23/24

37

19 (13)

22/23

37

15 (6)

21/22

35

11 (2)

20/21

37

14 (5)

Data via Sofascore

Viktor Gyokeres is the same, and did so well under Amorim’s wing at Sporting Lisbon. You can certainly see why the Portuguese tactician wanted to sign him this summer.

Ultimately, United have to cope with the options at their disposal, and while the likes of Lammens and Sesko have plenty of potential yet untapped, there’s no denying that this was not a season that could afford a transitional period.

Instant results are still expected, and Martinez and Watkins, both so accomplished in the Premier League, might have proved the icing on the cake to achieve that.

Related Man Utd have two players to blame for Sesko's nightmare first start

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Posts ByMatt Dawson Sep 15, 2025