All posts by h716a5.icu

As their goalkeeper search goes on, Manchester United have now reportedly received the green light to sign an impressive shot-stopper in a cut-price deal this summer.

Onana keen to fight for Man Utd place

Amid links to the likes of Emiliano Martinez, it is expected that Andre Onana could face an uphill battle to keep hold of his No.1 spot next season. The former Inter star has been a liability for some time at Old Trafford and whilst they’re in the mood to spend big it looks as though INEOS have set their sights on an upgrade. Onana, however, isn’t keen to give up that easily.

Reportedly under the impression that he will stay put at Old Trafford, Manchester United could yet decide to burst Onana’s bubble by welcoming his replacement in the coming months.

To that end, Martinez would certainly be an impressive arrival. Weakening Premier League rivals Aston Villa in the process, United would be signing a World Cup winner who the Villans may be forced to sell amid their PSR concerns.

The Argentine star isn’t the only name on the Red Devils’ radar, however. The likes of Andriy Lunin have also threatened to steal the headlines in recent weeks. The Real Madrid No.2 could yet decide to leave the Spanish giants in pursuit of a starting role and that would open the door for United to come swooping in.

He's better than Nkunku: Man Utd make huge offer to sign "sensational" star

Manchester United appear to be moving one step closer to landing a key target this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Jun 24, 2025

A Champions League winner who has experience at the very top level, it’s no surprise that Lunin has found himself in United’s sights this summer. But they may still opt for an alternative option and one who is now reportedly pushing to leave his current club.

Man Utd receive green light from Diogo Costa

According to A Bola, Manchester United have now received the green light from Diogo Costa over a summer move from FC Porto. The goalkeeper is reportedly pushing to leave the Portuguese club and they are now willing to accept a cheaper offer than his €75m (£64m) release clause.

Costa is expected to leave Porto this summer and his desire to experience life outside of Portugal should place Old Trafford high up on his list of options. Given that he’s available at a cut-price too, it’s a deal that INEOS would be wise to pursue in the coming months.

Starts

32

34

Clean Sheets

16

9

Saves P90

1.78

2.59

Save Percentage

74.1%

68.9%

Described as “complete” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Costa would be a clear upgrade on Onana. Whilst the latter maintained a 68.9% save percentage last season, the Porto man thrived with a record of 74.1% to keep 16 clean sheets in 32 league appearances.

For the right price, a move to sign the Portugal international would represent yet more impressive business by INEOS this summer.

The left-arm spinner counts swing/drift among his main tools in T20 cricket

Andrew Fidel Fernando09-Jun-20241:50

Bishop: Hosein’s five-for will boost his morale

Late on a warm Saturday night in Providence Guyana, Akeal Hosein made spin bowling look easy. Big turn first ball, a plumb lbw with his second, then four more dismissals – all bowled or lbw – only two boundaries conceded, and his team on track to a rollicking victory by the time he’d finished his overs.An uninterrupted four-over spell, figures of 5 for 11… but all that only a cinch, Hosein said. Polishing up your skills to get to a place where batters, from however inexperienced a team, have no idea how to play you – all that takes time.Because there was serious skill in how Hosein bowled against Uganda. And these are skills that very few players ever in the history of cricket have possessed. Hosein is one example of an ultra-modern breed of cricketer – the spin bowler who operates in the powerplay. More than that, he is a spin bowler who counts swing/drift (in terms of physics acting on the ball, they are basically the same thing, we just tend to call it swing when it is fast and drift when it’s slow), among his main tools.Related

Stats – A record low for Uganda and a record win for West Indies

Akeal Hosein's great escape

Five-star Hosein helps West Indies blow Uganda away

While there was turn on offer for Hosein on the Providence surface, it is this drift with the new ball that brought him the majority of his wickets. He bowls at a fast spinner’s pace, but sends the ball down seam upright, a little tilted. On Saturday, he was getting the ball to swing/drift late. Batters frequently played down the wrong line, and as Hosein was frequently attacking the stumps, this meant a lot of lbw and bowled dismissals.After the match, Hosein revealed he’d been working with Sunil Narine – another ultra-modernist, and a bowler who uses swing/drift to excellent effect.”I’ve been doing lots of work here,” Hosein said. “We had a camp before we came into the World Cup, but I’ve been doing lots of work with Sunil Narine as well. He’s a very close friend of mine.”So, it’s just about constant work. And especially when you start getting success your way, we know the game has evolved so much that guys are going to be reading about you. Guys are going to be doing their homework. So, you always have to try and stay one step ahead.”Among the other reasons for Hosein’s success against Uganda is that he kept the length up, and the pace fairly quick, so batters had to keep committing to front foot shots to him.”Today I thought I’d judge my spell mainly on the lengths that I bowl, and I know once I execute those lengths it’ll be tough for most batsmen to play,” he said. “I think it’s a pitch where if you really go searching, sometimes you can miss your length.”With Hosein having bowled himself into some form in this match, West Indies are now looking increasingly ominous in what is a home World Cup for them. They have overcome two oppositions they were expected to beat – Papua New Guinea and now Uganda. But they have tougher games coming up – against New Zealand, and Afghanistan.”I think going into the third game, we definitely are force to reckon with,” Hosein said. “We have been playing good cricket over the last 12 years and we have improved immensely in areas that we weren’t the best at.”

Chelsea have taken their summer spending to around £140 million, with BlueCo once again showing they’re not shy about investing to compete at the very highest level.

Enzo Maresca first welcomed Liam Delap from Ipswich Town, who joined the Blues in a £30 million deal from relegated Ipswich, and he’s already scored his first goal for Chelsea at the Club World Cup.

Premier League club close to finalising deal for "world-class" Chelsea player

There’s been a key update out of Stamford Bridge.

ByEmilio Galantini Jul 3, 2025

Delap bagged a strike against ES Tunis and set up Enzo Fernández for Chelsea’s second of the game in a 2-0 win against Los Angeles FC, with Delap making a fine start to his Stamford Bridge career as he chases a potential spot in Thomas Tuchel’s 2026 World Cup squad.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens has also signed for Chelsea after the west Londoners finally agreed a £55 million deal, coming after they saw as many as three bids rejected for the Englishman before the start of this year’s CWC.

As well as the aforementioned homegrown duo, Chelsea confirmed the arrival of striker Joao Pedro from Brighton in a reported £55 million transfer, which could rise to £60 million with add-ons.

The Brazil international joins Maresca’s side after scoring 30 goals in 70 total appearances for Brighton, with Pedro also fresh off the back of his best Premier League season at the Amex.

Despite his young age, the 23-year-old has been playing top-level English football since 2019/2020, having also enjoyed a productive spell at Watford before his switch to the south coast.

Fabian Hürzeler praises "excellent" Joao Pedro move to Chelsea

Speaking to Brighton’s official website, Seagulls boss Fabian Hurzeler has piled praise on the transfer – calling it an “excellent deal” for them and an “exciting” move for the South American.

“This is a good move for all parties. It’s an excellent deal for the club, and a good return on a significant investment in an area of the pitch where we have a lot of competition and are already well served in terms of our attacking talent,” said Hurzeler.

“It’s also an exciting move for Joao: it gives him the opportunity to play Champions League football this coming season, and he will of course be keen to cement his position in the Brazil team ahead of the World Cup next summer.

“Joao has given us some wonderful moments – during my time and before I came to the club – so on behalf of everyone I would like to thank him for his service over the past two seasons and wish him the best for the future.”

With Delap and Pedro now arriving, it could spell the end for striker Nicolas Jackson.

Chelsea are reportedly open to selling Jackson, amid interest from the Premier League, Napoli and Juventus (Gianluca Di Marzio), while the likes of Noni Madueke and Chrstopher Nkunku are also being linked with moves away.

Stokes dismissed off final ball of day to dent Durham’s hopes of defendable lead

ECB Reporters Network01-Jul-2024Fantastic four-wicket returns from Tom Taylor and Nathan Smith gave Worcestershire a fighting chance in a rain-affected second day of their Vitality County Championship clash with Durham.The pair had the ball on a string at the Seat Unique Riverside and picked up key wickets, but 40 from Colin Ackermann helped Durham build their lead to 226 after finishing day two on 148 for nine.With plenty of rain around, there was no play at Chester-le-Street until just after one o’clock and the visitors took two wickets in a seven-over spell before being forced off by the weather once again.Wickets continued to fall in the evening session, but Ackermann adapted to the conditions and helped his side build a challenging lead.Smith, who is yet to be capped at international level for New Zealand, has been a fantastic addition to the Pears’ team, with the overseas star adding to the two second innings wickets he took late on in a chaotic day one, finishing with figures of four for 52.Meanwhile, Taylor picked up four for 46 including the vital wicket of England captain Ben Stokes with the last ball of the day.Durham resumed on 33 for three after the start was delayed by more than two hours due to rain.Nightwatchmen Matthew Potts and Peter Siddle resumed on nought and two respectively after the late spurt of wickets on day one.Potts, who has received a recall to the England Test squad for the West Indies series, looked to be positive and kept the scoreboard ticking over.The first wicket of the day fell in the fourth over of the day when Taylor bowled Siddle for three with a brilliant piece of bowling. Potts whipped a probing ball from Smith off his pads for four, a shot that any top order batter would be proud of, but he was soon back in the pavilion for 18 as Smith took two of his stumps out the ground.The rain then returned and there was a lengthy delay before Ackermann and Bedingham, who was accompanied by runner Scott Borthwick due to a hamstring niggle, returned to the crease.The pitch continued to offer plenty of assistance to the bowlers after the second rain delay, with the exceptional Smith getting the ball talking. Despite his injury, Bedingham crunched a lovely cover drive to the boundary, which got him off the mark.After a positive start to his innings, South African international Bedingham pulled a short ball from Smith straight to the hands of Amar Virdi on the legside boundary for 17.Ackermann continued to bat sensibly along with Ollie Robinson as they added to Durham’s lead.Robinson was then dismissed for nine in a similar fashion to Bedingham after he pulled a Ben Allison ball to Matthew Waite at fine leg.That brought England captain Stokes to the crease, with the all-rounder putting in a dogged performance with the bat, but he also showed his boundary-hitting capabilities as he pulled an Allison ball for six.Taylor got his third wicket of the innings, with Ackermann edging behind for a resilient 40 late on.Stokes departed with the last ball of the day for 26 as Taylor bowled him with one that kept low, however the hosts have a lead of 226 heading into day three on a challenging pitch.

Manchester United’s pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo feels as though it has been going on for months now, with no deal yet agreed for the Brentford star this summer.

The Cameroonian has been a key target for many months now, unsurprisingly so given his record of 20 Premier League goals for the Bees throughout 2024/25.

The Red Devils have so far had two separate offers rejected for the 25-year-old, with Ruben Amorim yet to get his hands on the player who could transform the club’s fortunes in attacking areas.

Keith Andrews’ side are said to be holding out for £65m to part ways with their star man during the current window, but the sides are yet to agree to such a figure, with United’s latest offer totalling £62.5m including add-ons.

It would be a huge disappointment to miss out on the forward, given the huge attempts made for his signature, but other targets have been drawn up over the last couple of weeks as a result of the delay.

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

Southampton forward Tyler Dibling was a name that was thrown into the mix last week over a potential move to join United, with his current employers demanding a fee in the region of £55m.

Other attackers such as Christopher Nkunku, Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Benjamin Sesko have all been touted with moves to join the Red Devils this summer.

However, other areas of the pitch have also been subject to interest, with the hierarchy currently exploring a deal to sign Brighton star Pervis Estupiñán, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

He claims that the club have already held talks with the player and his representatives over a move to Old Trafford, after he made 30 league appearances last campaign.

Jacobs also states that the Seagulls will be open to allowing the 27-year-old to depart this summer, after securing the signing of Maxim De Cuyper, but doesn’t state the fee any deal would cost Amorim’s side.

Why United’s latest target would be perfect for Mbeumo

Despite the delay around a deal for Mbeumo in recent weeks, there’s still a strong feeling that the club will complete a deal for his services at some stage this window.

It would be such a shame to miss out on the forward, especially considering the tiny difference of just £2.5m in valuation between the Red Devils and the Bees.

The player himself has previously expressed his desire to move to Old Trafford, which should only bolster their chances of landing the Cameroonian international in the coming weeks.

However, he will need to be aided in his attempt for success should he move to the club, with Mbeumo unable to transform the Red Devils’ fortunes all by himself.

The addition of fellow attacker Matheus Cunha will certainly help him in the final third, but Estupinan could also play a vital role in the Bees star’s hunt to be a success in the North West.

Despite being a full-back, the Ecuadorian international has showcased his talents higher up the pitch, potentially playing perfectly into the hands of Mbeumo as a result.

Estupinan, who’s been labelled “exceptional” by journalist Ryan Adsett, registered 4.9 progressive passes per 90 along with 3.9 passes into the final third – having the tools to provide Mbeumo with opportunities in attacking areas.

Games played

30

Goals & assists

2

Progressive passes

4.9

Passes into final third

3.9

Take-ons attempted

56%

Carries into final third

2.3

Tackles won

1.6

Interceptions made

1.4

He also completed 56% of the take-ons he attempted, whilst making 2.3 carries into the final third, able to overlap the forwards and add a new dimension to Amorim’s attack.

However, despite his attacking capabilities, he’s also been just as impressive without the ball, making 1.6 tackles per 90 and 1.4 interceptions per 90, arguably being the perfect wing-back in United’s 3-4-2-1 system.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the full-back would cost this summer, it’s evident that he has all the tools needed to thrive on the left side of United’s system.

If he can form a partnership with Mbeumo at Old Trafford, it would further add to the quality of any addition, helping the side massively in their quest for success in the near future.

Amorim's own Pogba: Man Utd leading race to sign "sensational" £42m star

Manchester United could be about to make a move to land a key target in their plans for the 2025/26 campaign.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 16, 2025

Glamorgan closing in on big win after claiming three second-innings wickets

ECB Reporters Network31-Aug-2024Leicestershire’s international pair Ajinkya Rahane and Peter Handscomb battled hard to give their side a chance of saving the game, after Glamorgan’s Colin Ingram had continued his batting masterclass.Rahane was 47 not out and Handscomb unbeaten on 33, Leicestershire 144 for 3, trailing by 155, when bad light stopped play with 21.2 scheduled overs remaining.Both the Indian and Australian were dropped by Glamorgan legspinner Mason Crane, two of his three dropped catches coming off his own bowling, in moments which may come back to haunt the home side as they chase victory on the final day.That was after Glamorgan had declared on 550 for 9, with a lead of 299, Ingram unbeaten on a personal best 257, Crane getting his day off to a better start with 49 runs to his name.Glamorgan started the day in a strong position and soon set about building on those solid foundations, with Colin Ingram carrying on as he had done over the previous two days.Having already notched his first ever double century, the fastest Glamorgan player to 1,000 runs in a season, he notched his first ever 250, confidently progressing in serene fashion.He had good support from Crane who was one short of a well deserved half century when he was dismissed in one of the most unfortunate ways possible.Ingram hit the ball firmly back down the ground, bowler Rehan Ahmed got a fingertip to the ball which went on to hit the stumps at the bowler’s end before Crane could regain his ground.New Zealander Fraser Sheat hit a breezy 34 while Ingram mainly watched on, Ned Leonard had one nice boundary before the declaration came just before lunch with Glamorgan nine down, 299 runs ahead on the first innings scores.Ingram was 257 not out, having been on the field for all but one ball of the match, batting just three minutes short of ten hours, as Glamorgan added 119 runs to their total during the morning.Leicestershire had a mountain to climb when they came out to bat, with their opening bowler, Ian Holland, also opening the batting.Both sides needed patience and Rishi Patel and Holland withstood an impressive opening salvo from Timm van der Gugten and Fraser Sheat.It was Dan Douthwaite who made the breakthrough, nipping one back to trap Patel LBW. Ned Leonard got the ball to nip back even more sharply to bowl Leicestershire captain Lewis Hill.Van der Gugten got in on the act with one which lifted outside off stump and Holland tamely lobbed it to point where Billy Root to the catch.That brought Indian Ajinkya Rahane and Australian Peter Handscomb together, who were always likely to form the nub of the resistance.Glamorgan had their chances as Rahane gave two caught and bowled opportunities to Mason Crane when on 32, but the leg spinner put them both down, the first low to his left and the second sharp to his right.Handscomb was on 26 when he pulled Sheat firmly in the air to midwicket where once again it was the unfortunate Crane who spilled the chance.There was confusion over bad light at the end of the day, but the early finish was inevitable after the umpires tried to come back on for 10 balls only to be forced to call events off in the growing gloom.

Manchester United have been extremely active within the transfer market during the summer, as the hierarchy look to back the manager in his quest for success.

Ruben Amorim took the reins back in November after Erik ten Hag was dismissed, only having the January transfer window to make the changes he desired to the squad.

However, this window presents fresh opportunities, securing the signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from fellow Premier League sides Wolverhampton Wanderers and Brentford respectively.

Such dealings have seen the Red Devils already splash over £125m on new additions this summer, but their spending looks set to continue in the coming weeks.

A new striker remains a priority for the club this summer, leading to numerous players being linked with a move to join Amorim’s revival during the 2025/26 campaign.

The latest on United’s striker hunt this summer

Randal Kolo Muani has emerged as a potential target for United this summer, with the Frenchman set to leave current side PSG during the off-season.

The Red Devils have reportedly prepared an offer for the 26-year-old in recent days, with the Ligue 1 outfit currently demanding a fee in the region of £39m for his signature.

However, he’s not the only name currently on their shortlist, with Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson firmly on their radar this window, according to TEAMtalk.

They claim that Jason Wilcox has been at the centre of internal talks to land the 24-year-old, after he registered 13 goals for Enzo Maresca’s side last campaign.

It also states that winger Alejandro Garnacho could be used to sweeten any deal after he was left out of the Red Devils’ pre-season tour, reducing the cost of the Senegalese international’s fee, as he’s currently valued at £80m.

Why United’s latest target would be perfect alongside Mbeumo

There’s no denying that Mbeumo is an exciting talent that will hand the United side the needed attacking threat they’ve craved ahead of next season.

The Cameroonian managed to register 20 goals in the Premier League last season, a tally that was just under 50% of what the Red Devils first team managed collectively during the same period.

Despite his goalscoring tallies, he’s also impressed in teeing up his teammates, ending the most recent season with eight assists across all competitions for the Bees.

His underlying stats are just as impressive, registering 1.8 chances created during the 2024/25 campaign under boss Thomas Frank, having the tools to create carnage at Old Trafford.

Such figures could hugely benefit potential new addition Jackson, with the forward potentially getting all the ammunition needed for success from the Cameroonian.

His stats from his spell at Stamford Bridge highlight the talent he possesses in the final third, certainly aiding Amorim in his quest for success during his time in the role.

Jackson, who’s been labelled a “monster” by former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel, registered 1.4 shots on target per 90 last season, playing a huge role in his tally of 13 goals across all competitions – subsequently handing the side the focal point they’ve been craving.

Games played

30

Goals & assists

15

Shots on target per 90

1.4

Pass accuracy

77%

Aerials won

38%

Touches in opposition box

6.2

Chances created

1.2

He also won 38% of the aerial battles he entered, offering Amorim’s side a focal point to play off, which could allow Mbeumo to improve his own tallies as a result.

That ability to aid United’s new man is also seen in Jackson’s statistical likeness to both Ollie Watkins and Yoane Wissa, as per FBref, two players whom Mbeumo thrived alongside at Brentford.

Indeed, the left-footer and Wissa contributed to 39 league goals between them last season, having previously scored 42 goals combined with Watkins during the 2019/20 campaign in the second tier. Could Jackson be next?

The Senegalese international’s impressive form within attacking areas is further reflected in his tally of 6.2 touches in the opposition’s box per 90, potentially being the poacher they’ve lacked since the 40-year-old’s appointment.

It may prove to be an excellent deal for United if they can land Jackson, with the forward able to transform the Red Devils’ fortunes in attacking areas – whilst also moving Garnacho out of the door in the opposite direction.

The prospect of the 24-year-old linking up with Mbeumo in 2025/26 is certainly an exciting one, certainly pushing the side in the right direction throughout the upcoming campaign as a result.

Better deal than Mbeumo: Man Utd preparing bid for "superstar" £39m CF

Manchester United appear to be making another huge move within the transfer market.

1 ByEthan Lamb Jul 22, 2025

Misson played five Tests for Australia between in 1960-61 and was a pioneer of physical fitness in cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Sep-2024Former Australia and New South Wales fast bowler Frank Misson has passed away at the age of 85.Misson played five Tests across the famous 1960-61 home series against the West Indies and the 1961 Ashes tour to England but his Test career was cut short by an Achilles injury. He took 16 wickets at 38.50 including a career best 4 for 58 against West Indies in Melbourne.He played 71 first-class matches, mostly for New South Wales, and finished with 177 first-class wickets at 31.13 in a short career that spanned from 1958 to 1964.Misson was a stellar athlete in his youth, training with legendary Australian athletics middle distance coach Percy Cerutty who famously coached Australia’s Herb Elliott to Olympic gold and a world record in the 1500m in Rome in 1960.Misson carried that fitness and athletics background into his cricket career, bursting onto the scene to take six wickets as a 20-year-old for NSW on Sheffield Shield debut in the last match of the 1958-59 season. At the end of the 1959-60 Shield season Misson was selected in an Australian second XI that toured New Zealand and he took 17 wickets at 12.47.The following summer he made his Test debut against the West Indies in the second Test in Melbourne that followed the famous tied Test in Brisbane.Misson played two more Tests in the five-match series before being selected on the 1961 Ashes tour. Former Australian captain Ian Chappell wrote about Misson’s incredible fitness regime to prepare for the tour.”The 1961 Australian team travelled to England by boat, but Misson was not to be denied his training regime,” Chappell wrote. “As he ran laps of the deck, some of the less physically minded players sitting in the bar saw Misson flash past the window. Perhaps embarrassed by Misson’s zealous workouts, they decided to complicate his exercise regime by placing deck chairs in his path. When Misson hurdled the first set of obstacles and did the same to yet another layer of chairs, the bar rats relented and left him to train in peace.”Misson played the first two Tests of the Ashes series but an Achilles injury caused him issues for the remainder of the tour and he did not play another Test match.Cricket NSW chief executive Lee Germon paid tribute to Misson following his passing.”We pass on our sincerest condolences to Frank’s family and friends, especially all of those that played with him as part of the NSW Men’s Team and the Australian Men’s Team,” Germon said.”Frank’s career was cut short by injury, which was ironic considering the focus he had on health, diet and fitness in an era where sports science was not very prevalent.”His five Test caps are recognition of his talent and determination and there is little doubt that if it wasn’t for injury he would have played many more times for his state and country.”Misson’s attitude towards cricket fitness would have a lasting legacy on Australian cricket with his son David Misson becoming the fitness advisor for the Australia men’s team between 1998 and 2000 as well as with Cricket New South Wales in the early 2000s.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has been the club’s leading star over the last couple of years, with no player able to replicate the levels he’s produced in recent seasons.

The Portuguese international joined the club back in January 2020 and has certainly exceeded the expectations supporters would’ve had when he arrived at Old Trafford.

In the five years since his big-money transfer from Sporting CP, the 30-year-old has racked up 98 goals and 83 assists, a simply staggering feat for a midfielder.

During the most recent campaign, Bruno achieved a tally of 37 goal contributions, with it unthinkable as to where Ruben Amorim’s side would be without his efforts in the final third.

This summer presents an opportunity for the boss to make his own stamp on the side, needing to land players who can aid the captain in his quest for success at the club.

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

A striker has been top of United’s shortlist over recent weeks, leading to numerous names being mentioned as potential targets to join the Amorim revival in 2025/26.

The likes of Ollie Watkins, Dusan Vlahovic and Nicolas Jackson have all been mentioned as names under consideration between now and the end of the window.

However, other areas of the pitch are also subject to investment, leading to Juventus star Douglas Luiz emerging as a target, according to Corriere dello Sport via Sport Witness.

They claim that the Brazilian has once again appeared on their radar after sides such as Nottingham Forest, Everton, and West Ham United failed to agree a deal with the Serie A side.

It also states that his agent has been in the UK for talks with interested parties, but it doesn’t state which clubs have been in discussions to land the former Aston Villa midfielder.

Why United’s latest target would be perfect for Bruno

As previously mentioned, Bruno was undoubtedly the shining light for United throughout 2024/25, with the fanbase hoping he can repeat such feats in the upcoming season.

However, alongside his tangible rewards for his performance, he also caught the eye with his versatility, which saw him operate in numerous positions.

There’s no denying his best position is in the number ten position, but he was also forced to operate in a slightly deeper number eight role at times, given the lack of depth in the squad.

Given the investment being placed into the squad this summer, you’d hope other midfield options are made to allow the Portuguese international to reach or even exceed the levels he produced in 2024/25.

Any potential move for Luiz would provide the captain with the opportunity to do just that, with the Brazilian having the tools to provide a quality addition for Amorim’s side.

Luiz, who’s been labelled “world-class” by former teammate John McGinn, registered 5.9 progressive passes per 90, with 2.7 progressive carries per 90, showcasing his talents at driving forward and finding a teammate at any given opportunity.

He also won 2.1 tackles per 90, whilst winning 68% of the dispossession attempts he’s entered, capable of regaining the ball – making him an excellent ball-winning option at the heart of United’s side.

Games played

19

Progressive passes

5.9

Progressive carries

2.7

Tackles won

2.1

Tackle success rate

68%

Take-on success

79%

Aerials won

56%

His further figures further back up why he’d be perfect in Amorim’s squad, completing 79% of the take-ons he attempted, having the capability to drive forward before making the killer pass to a teammate.

It’s unclear if the player himself will entertain any interest from the Red Devils this summer, but it’s clear he possesses a lot of talent that would make him a superb addition.

Any move for the former Villa star would allow Bruno to consistently operate in his natural position throughout 2025/26, adding another diamond to the club’s already impressive front line.

He finishes like RVP: Man Utd make "phenomenal" £67m CF their main target

Manchester United have set their sights on a new talisman for Ruben Amorim.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 24, 2025

Hosts wrap up their seventh victory of the season with a day to spare

ECB Reporters Network11-Sep-2024Sussex are closing in on a return to Division One of the Vitality County Championship after wrapping up their seventh win of the season with a day to spare against Glamorgan.Having established a first-innings lead of 305 they bowled Glamorgan out for 218 to win by an innings and 87 runs at Hove.The second division’s leading run-scorer Colin Ingram and Kiran Carlson scored half-centuries but Sussex’s relentless attack kept chipping away. There were three wickets each for Ollie Robinson, Henry Crocombe and off-spinner Jack Carson, the second division’s leading wicket-taker who took his tally to 45.Glamorgan had batted again after finally dismissing Sussex for 491 and Jaydev Unadkat made the breakthrough in his first over, Asa Tribe collecting a pair when he under-edged the Indian left-armer.Carson bowled just three overs after lunch before going off for treatment to a bad back and in his absence Robinson stepped up to bowl an excellent nine-over spell during which he had Ingram dropped at slip by Tom Alsop on 36.But it was Crocombe who struck in his third over when Billy Root, promoted to opener, played on and lost middle and off stumps.Ingram took his aggregate for the season to 1170 runs at an average of 97.5 and had moved onto 71 when Carson produced a fine delivery which turned and Ingram, aiming to drive down the ground, got a leading to cover.Glamorgan skipper Sam Northeast, coming in at No. 6 after spending time off the field with an elbow problem, became Crocombe’s second victim when he took on a well-directed short ball and picked out James Coles who didn’t have to move to take the catch at deep backward square.Carlson and Kellaway added 57 but Sussex were revived after a brief stoppage for rain. In the second over after the resumption Kellaway missed a reverse sweep and Carson struck again in his next over when Carlson, who had lodged his eighth fifty of the season, was caught at short leg propping forward to a ball which turned sharply.Carson bowled 16 overs in tandem with slow left-armer James Coles to get Sussex’s over-rate back down and, having done so, Robinson was summoned to sweep away the rest of Glamorgan’s resistance, pinning Chris Cooke with his second ball back and bowling James Harris and Andy Gorvin in the space of 17 balls before Crocombe wrapped things up when he plucked out Dan Douthwaite’s middle stump.Earlier, Tom Clark completed his third first-class hundred and first since May 2022 before Sussex were bowled out 40 minutes before lunch for 491.Clark and skipper John Simpson extended their sixth-wicket stand to 213 when Simpson, who’d added five runs to his overnight 112, missed a sweep at off-spinner Kellaway looking to accelerate the scoring rate.A sweep off Kellaway for his 11th boundary took Clark to a 220-ball hundred made in four-and-a-half hours and he finished unbeaten on 112 while Kellaway completed a maiden five-for in only his fourth first-class match when Robinson missed a paddle sweep.