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Hrishikesh Kanitkar, who’s been named batting coach, will take charge of the team in the lead-up to the 2023 T20 World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff06-Dec-2022Ramesh Powar’s tenure as head coach of the India women’s team has ended, a little over two months out from the next T20 World Cup in South Africa. India will be without a head coach for the upcoming five-match T20I series at home against Australia.For now, the team’s support staff group will be headed by former India allrounder Hrishikesh Kanitkar, who has formally been handed the position of batting coach. Kanitkar, who was most-recently in charge of a second-string Indian men’s team in similar capacity during their limited-overs tour of New Zealand, has linked up with the women’s squad in Mumbai ahead of the Australia series beginning on December 9.Powar, meanwhile, is set to return to his role as spin-bowling coach at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). In a media release, the BCCI termed Powar’s switch to men’s cricket as part of a “restructuring module”. It’s a position he had previously held at the NCA between 2019 and 2020, before taking over as head coach of the Mumbai men’s team, who he guided to the Vijay Hazare Trophy title in March 2021.For Kanitkar, the role is a step up from his present role as a batting consultant at the NCA. Earlier this year, he was head coach of India’s victorious batch of Under-19s, who became world champions in the Caribbean. His NCA stint aside, Kanitkar has also coached Tamil Nadu, apart from being player-mentor at Rajasthan towards the end of his career. Like Powar, Kanitkar has been an active part of NCA’s redevelopment under former India captain and current India men’s head coach Rahul Dravid. He was with the Indian women’s team as the batting consultant during the tour of Sri Lanka and then the victorious Asia Cup campaign.Powar has had two stints with the women’s team, the most recent of which was a mixed one. Having taken over in May 2021, he oversaw the team’s lead-up to the 2022 World Cup (50-overs), where they crashed out in the group stage with three wins in seven. More recently, though, the team finished silver medalists behind Australia in the Commonwealth Games, before recording their first-ever white-ball series win in England, when they blanked the hosts 3-0 in the ODIs in September. His final series with the team was a victorious one, India storming to their seventh Asia Cup title in October.”I have had an enriching experience in my stint as head coach of the senior women’s team,” Powar was quoted as saying in a BCCI release. “Over the years I have worked closely with some of the stalwarts of the game and upcoming talents of the country.”With my new role at the NCA, I will be looking [to use] my experience [from] over the years to help build talent for the future. I look forward to working in tandem with [NCA head coach] VVS Laxman for the further development of the game and bench strength.”For Kanitkar, the five-match series against Australia will be followed by a tri-series in South Africa, also involving West Indies, in the lead-up to the World Cup.”I see tremendous prospects in this team, and we have a good mix of youth and experience,” Kanitkar said, looking ahead to his new role. “I believe this team is ready for the challenge ahead. We have a few marquee events coming up and it is going to be exciting for the team and myself as batting coach.”

It's been revealed what Virgil van Dijk said to Paris Saint-Germain chiefs Nasser Al-Khelaifi and Luis Campos after Liverpool's Champions League exit.

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VVD's contract is set to expire in the summerTunnel chat with Campos gave rise to transfer speculationDutch defender allegedly apologised for previous commentsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Liverpool’s European campaign ended in heartbreak after a dramatic clash with Luis Enrique’s side. The tie, which finished level on aggregate after Ousmane Dembele’s goal forced extra-time, ultimately saw PSG triumph in a tense penalty shootout as Darwin Nunez and Curtis Jones failed to convert their spot-kicks. However, rather than focusing on the match’s outcome, attention quickly shifted to Van Dijk’s tunnel conversation, sparking concerns over his long-term future at Anfield as his contract is set to expire in the next few months.

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According to French broadcaster RMC Sport, the encounter between Van Dijk and the PSG officials was not pre-arranged, but rather an unplanned crossing of paths. During their exchange, the Liverpool captain reportedly apologised to Luis Campos for his comments in the first leg of the tie.

The initial altercation stemmed from Campos’ frustration when Ibrahima Konate escaped a red card for an incident involving Bradley Barcola. The challenge had undergone a lengthy VAR review, but the officials ultimately decided against issuing further punishment. After the match, Van Dijk fired back at an infuriated Campos, saying: "It’s not Ligue 1, bro." However, the two parties have mended their relationship after a respectful exchange at Anfield.

DID YOU KNOW?

Van Dijk apparently also went on to praise PSG, stating that they were not only the best team he had faced this season, but the strongest side he had encountered over the past three years. The top brass of the French club reportedly enjoyed the discussion and any previous tensions were put to rest.

AFPWHAT NEXT FOR VAN DIJK?

While his chat with PSG chiefs has raised eyebrows, Van Dijk has done little to dispel the uncertainty surrounding his Liverpool future. Speaking on Wednesday, the Dutchman admitted he has no clarity on whether he will be part of Arne Slot’s squad next season. With his contract set to expire at the end of the campaign, Liverpool and Van Dijk have yet to make progress on an extension, further fuelling speculation that his time at Anfield could be coming to an end.

أقيمت منذ قليل، قرعة بطولة كأس العالم للشباب تحت 20 عامًا والتي أسفرت عن وفوع منتخب مصر في المجموعة الأولى من البطولة.

نجح منتخب مصر للشباب في حجز مقعده في بطولة كأس العالم تحت 20 عامًا، بعد أن احتل المركز الرابع في بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا للشباب، التي استضافتها مصر مؤخرًا. وجاء تأهل “الفراعنة الصغار” عقب خسارتهم أمام منتخب نيجيريا بركلات الترجيح في مباراة تحديد المركزين الثالث والرابع.

طالع.. خاص | تحديد موقف منتخب مصر للشباب من المشاركة في بطولة خوفو الدولية ويمثل القارة الإفريقية في كأس العالم أربعة منتخبات هي: مصر، المغرب، نيجيريا، وجنوب إفريقيا، وهي المنتخبات التي بلغت الدور نصف النهائي من البطولة القارية.

ويتولى قيادة منتخب مصر للشباب جهاز فني بقيادة أسامة نبيه مديرًا فنيًا، ويعاونه كل من علاء عبده مدربًا عامًا، ومحمد عمر النور مدربًا مساعدًا، إلى جانب أيمن طاهر مدربًا لحراس المرمى.

وسحبت قرعة البطولة في العاصمة التشيلية سانتياجو، حيث جاء منتخب مصر ضمن التصنيف الرابع للمنتخبات المشاركة. مجموعة منتخب مصر للشباب

-تشيلي 

– ونيوزيليندا

– واليابان

-مصر

da pinup bet： Manager bounce. It’s a fear-inducing thing when you’re up against a team that has been struggling, only to dispose of its manager and replace them with a shiny new leader.

da premier bet： For Chelsea, this is the task. Enzo Maresca’s squad travel to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United in the Premier League this afternoon, seeking three points against a team boasting one measly win across eight matches in all competitions.

Erik ten Hag was sacked at the start of the week, but thankfully, Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim will not alight in England until the November international break. Even so, interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy will galvanise the Theatre into a cacophony of noise, having led United to a 4-1 win over Leicester City in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.

Chelsea were dumped out of the domestic cup competition that evening, losing to Newcastle United after a disasterclass in defence, but thankfully, Maresca is bound to ring the changes, shifting his set-up back to its usual Premier League model.

Chelsea team news

With no fresh injury concerns for Maresca’s squad, this is a good opportunity to inflict further misery on Man United before Amorim stamps his style on the team.

That said, Jadon Sancho is ineligible to feature at Old Trafford since he is on loan from Man United, and cannot participate against his parent club as per the terms.

Omari Kellyman, signed from Aston Villa in deal worth up to £19m this summer, is also sidelined, though the 19-year-old has yet to feature for the senior side anyway.

The visitors must launch a concerted attack on the wobbly United backline, all the while standing firm against a profligate side, yes, but one that has created 24 big chances in the Premier League this year, the joint-third-highest score in the division.

Cole Palmer will hold the key to victory.

Cole Palmer will be crucial

It hardly takes a perusal through the memory bank to recall Palmer’s stunning hat-trick against the Red Devils last season, turning the Premier League match on its head with an incredible final flourish. It, perhaps, truly established the ace as one of the finest talents on the continent.

After blitzing past Premier League defences in his first full season as a professional, as if they were paper cutouts, rival supporters understandably prayed for a future tag of ‘one-season wonder’, but it hasn’t been forthcoming.

Already this season, just a few months in, Palmer, aged only 22, has posted seven goals and five assists across nine league matches, with his stunning showings even leading Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher to pronounce him “the best player in the Premier League.”

What a player, ay? As per FBref, he ranks among the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for goals scored, the top 2% for assists, the top 8% for shot-creating actions and the top 8% for progressive passes per 90.

Last season’s heroics established Palmer as a force to be reckoned with, but now he’s growing into a top, top player. Refined and robust, he’s so important for the west Londoners.

Premier League 23/24: Most Goals + Assists

Rank

Player

Apps

G+A

1.

Cole Palmer

34

33

2.

Erling Haaland

31

32

2.

Ollie Watkins

37

32

4.

Mohamed Salah

32

28

5.

Phil Foden

35

27

5.

Heung-min Son

35

27

Sourced via Statmuse

Chelsea are blessed to have an attacking midfielder with such a potent threat, and though Sancho is unavailable, Maresca will still be able to unleash a thrilling frontline.

Noni Madueke will be on the right flank; Nicolas Jackson will of course reprise his role at number nine. However, Pedro Neto may well find himself benched even after impressing against Newcastle last weekend, because Mykhaylo Mudryk – the club’s Ukrainian Neymar – might be the perfect man for the left wing on this occasion.

Maresca must unleash Mykhaylo Mudryk

Mudryk has had a tough ride throughout the duration of his Chelsea career so far, but there are genuine signs of progress under Maresca’s wing this season.

Now, many might assume that Neto would be the shoo-in for a starting berth on the left flank with Sancho out of action, but this might not actually be the best idea.

The Portugal international is an electric and dynamic talent, impressed against the Magpies in the Premier League last weekend, but he faded as that one dragged on and lost eight of his 12 duels. That is something that might be exploited by his countryman Diogo Dalot, who flattered to deceive last time out but has arguably been United’s best player in 2024/25, winning an eye-catching 64% of his duels, as per Sofascore.

Man United are an aerially dominant team, ranking fifth in the Premier League this term (53% average), whereas Chelsea (47% average) languish in 15th.

Therefore, it’s perhaps not the best idea to utilise a cross-heavy star in Neto, who of course is not one-dimensional, and instead unleashes Mudryk, whose ability to weave past the last line is an uncanny thing.

With Palmer capable of incredible defence-splitting passes, and also among the finest creators in Europe, such strengths could be maximised.

The Ukraine international also produced quite an impressive performance in midweek, even if Chelsea’s defensive disaster pulled them out of the Carabao Cup.

He looked lively in flashes, and though Chelsea struggled to really get going – something that Mudryk was candidly a part of – he was certainly a bright spark, making three key passes, completing two dribbles, and winning nine duels, as per Sofascore.

That success in the duel is something that could be crucial in claiming purchase against Man United and is a large part of why Mudryk must be unleashed for this one – after all, he has a point to prove and is maybe, just maybe, starting to click into gear.

This is a glorious opportunity for Chelsea to leapfrog Arsenal, who were defeated at Newcastle on Saturday, and condemn the Red Devils to more misery before their new era gets going.

Mudryk has only started once in the top flight this year but now is his time to shine, and with Palmer pulling the strings from the centre, and that is why Maresca should boldly drop Neto after his assist last weekend to start the winger.

Related Imagine him & Palmer: Chelsea battling PL rivals to re-sign £110m sensation

Chelsea would be getting themselves an unbelievable talent.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Nov 1, 2024

كشف الكونغولي فيستون مايلي، مهاجم نادي بيراميدز، عن تواصل أحد مدربي الأندية الإفريقية معه من أجل الانضمام إلى صفوف فريقه والرحيل عن نادي بيراميدز.

ويستعد بيراميدز لمواجهة صن داونز، مساء غد السبت، في إطار ذهاب دور النهائي من بطولة دوري أبطال إفريقيا في تمام الساعة 4 عصرًا، على أن تقام مباراة الإياب في القاهرة يوم 1 يونيو المقبل.

طالع | الأهلي يخطط للتوقيع مع لاعب بيراميدز قبل كأس العالم للأندية.. ومنافسة شرسة

وقال مايلي خلال تصريحات عبر قناة ” قناة SABC Sport” الجنوب إفريقية: “مدرب كايزر تشيفز الجنوب إفريقي، نصر الدين النابي كان على اتصال معي، لكن الآن ليس الوقت المناسب للحديث عن ذلك”.

وأضاف: “الأولوية في الوقت الحالي هي مساعدة فريقي على الفوز بالمباراة النهائية، تركيزي منصب على الفريق ومساعدة بيراميدز على الفوز بالنهائي، وبعد النهائي، الجميع حرّ في الحديث والتكهن”.

وأكمل: “كنت سعيدًا جدًا بتسجيل الهدف الأخير في مرمى أورلاندو بايرتس، ولكني سعيد أيضًا بمساعدة الفريق بأي طريقة ممكنة في ما سيكون أول نهائي لدوري أبطال إفريقيا لبيراميدز”.

وسينتهي عقد الكونغولي مايلي مع فريق بيراميدز في نهاية الموسم المقبل، صيف 2026.

Tottenham Hotspur’s momentum was curbed before the October international break, with Ange Postecoglou’s side squandering a two-goal lead on the South Coast and falling against Brighton & Hove Albion.

The patchy start to the Premier League term looked to have been cast into the background but it’s clear that Spurs have plenty of work to do if they are to battle their way back into the Champions League.

Postecoglou has a talented squad at his disposal, but the most exciting part about the project might be the rich spring of youth talent that suggests the club is set for a prosperous new era.

Spurs' biggest talents

There has been a concerted effort toward strengthening the younger generation emerging from N17 over the past few years, with Postecoglou’s willingness to work with youth bearing dividends for Tottenham’s talented teenagers.

This summer, Lucas Bergvall was welcomed from Sweden, a talented midfielder with a range of passing and maturity that belies his age. Archie Gray, 2023/24 Championship Young Player of the Year with Leeds United, joined in a £30m transfer.

Moreover, there’s a whole host of talent out on loan – such as Jamie Donley, Alejo Veliz, Ashley Phillips and Dane Scarlett – while an existing crop of potential continues to make headway in the youth scene. Indeed, Spurs won the Premier League 2 last term.

Postecoglou is relishing his younger crop and promoting them this season, which makes a telling comment on the calibre of quality that sits beneath the surface at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

(GK) Guglielmo Vicario

27

(RB) Pedro Porro

25

(CB) Cristian Romero

26

(CB) Archie Gray

18

(LB) Ben Davies

31

(DM) Yves Bissouma

28

(CM) Pape Matar Sarr

22

(CM) Lucas Bergvall

18

(RW) Mikey Moore

17

(LW) Timo Werner

28

(CF) Will Lankshear

19

As you can see, the Australian unleashed four full debutants against Ferencvaros in the Europa League, with all four yet to reach their 20th year.

There’s some real quality there, but Mikey Moore is surely the cream of the crop. He’s earning quite the reputation and might even prove to be the latest prodigy to emerge from north London.

Chalkboard

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

Spurs' very own Bukayo Saka

Sometimes, you just know. Those at Tottenham certainly know that they’ve got a potential gem on their hands, but it is oh-so-important that he is managed deftly and not thrust into a starring role

Moore, after all, is still a 17-year-old, earning action for the first team simply because he carries the trappings of a world-class “superstar”, something that he has already been called by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.

Last season, the winger burst onto the stage and obliterated the competition at youth level, posting 14 goals and eight assists across just 12 matches in the U18 Premier League and also scoring two goals and adding an assist across two matches in the FA Youth Cup.

Against Ferencvaros, Moore’s first start as a senior, he showcased some impressive qualities, winning six duels and attempting seven dribbles, as per Sofascore. It was an imperfect display but one that highlighted the giddy potential, with football.london awarding the youngster an 8/10 match rating and hailing the ‘thrilling’ debut.

With such glittering potential discernible from the offing, Moore might prove to be Hotspur Way’s answer to Bukayo Saka, with the Arsenal sensation proving himself to be one of the Premier League’s superstars over the past few seasons.

Like Moore, the homegrown Gunners star was handed his Premier League debut as a teenager and made impressive early strides, although initially at full-back before bursting into life in forward areas.

2024/25

7 (7)

2

7

1.28

2023/24

35 (35)

16

9

0.71

2022/23

38 (37)

14

11

0.66

2021/22

38 (36)

11

7

0.47

2020/21

32 (30)

5

3

0.25

2019/20

26 (19)

1

5

0.23

2018/19

1 (0)

0

0

0.00

As you can see, Saka’s getting better with age – naturally. The England international has been praised as the Gunners’ “living legend” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, despite the fact that he’s still only 23.

With Harry Kane plying his trade over in Germany with Bayern Munich and Heung-min Son out injured, the timing has never been more apt for a precocious youngster to stake their claim for a starring place in the Tottenham senior squad.

Moore has the athleticism and natural potency to make significant headway under Postecoglou’s wing over the next several years, and he might just rise to rival a player of Saka’s stature for the crown in north London.

Spurs want to sign £30m "wonderkid" who's better than Brennan Johnson

Tottenham are looking at strengthening their forward line.

ByMatt Dawson Oct 13, 2024

Jordi Alba has explained a dream that he shares with Lionel Messi, as contract extensions at MLS Cup hopefuls Inter Miami are hinted at.

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Barcelona greats contract through 2025Future decisions yet to be madeIconic figures want to grace new stadiumFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

As things stand, all of the Herons’ former Barcelona heroes are only tied to terms through the 2025 campaign. Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets also have less than 12 months left to run on their respective deals in Florida.

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There are, however, options for 2026 that can be taken up and further talks to be held, with Inter Miami preparing to move into their new 25,000-seat Freedom Park stadium next season. That big move has captured the imagination of some illustrious performers.

WHAT JORDI ALBA SAID

Alba has told of future plans for Messi and Co: “I’d love to play at the new stadium, all of us, with Leo, Busi and Luis. It’ll be spectacular. As of today, I’m just going year by year, to see how I feel physically, mentally. So we’ll see, but yeah, it’d be great.”

GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Ex-Spain international Alba is delighted to be playing with Messi again in the United States, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner still going strong at 37 years of age. Alba added: “Other teams try everything they can to stop Leo. In the end, stopping him is difficult. But they show a lot of respect to him, to all of us. For them, it’s also a privilege to be able to play against Leo. It’s not every day you get to share a pitch with the best player in history.”

With more and more money being pumped into the Premier League every season, transfer fees and player wages are ballooning. With that in mind, we have taken a look at what teams are paying their star players, specifically Aston Villa.

In 2025/26, those at Villa Park have an annual payroll of £123,110,000, with the average first team player collecting more than £4.3m per season. Here are the Villans’ best-paid players this year, per Capology.

Disclaimer – only the club and the players themselves truly know their wages, so take each of these figures as you will.

Rank

Player

Wage per week

Wage per year

1

Jadon Sancho

£200,000

£10,400,000

=2

Emiliano Martinez

£150,000

£7,800,000

=2

Boubacar Kamara

£150,000

£7,800,000

=2

Youri Tielemans

£150,000

£7,800,000

=5

Amadou Onana

£140,000

£7,280,000

=5

Donyell Malen

£140,000

£7,280,000

7

Lucas Digne

£135,000

£7,020,000

8

Ollie Watkins

£130,000

£6,760,000

=9

John McGinn

£120,000

£6,240,000

=9

Victor Lindelof

£120,000

£6,240,000

11

Tyrone Mings

£110,000

£5,720,000

=12

Pau Torres

£100,000

£5,200,000

=12

Ian Maatsen

£100,000

£5,200,000

14

Matty Cash

£80,000

£4,160,000

=15

Emiliano Buendia

£75,000

£3,900,000

=15

Ezri Konsa

£75,000

£3,900,000

=15

Evann Guessand

£75,000

£3,900,000

=15

Morgan Rogers

£75,000

£3,900,000

19

Harvey Elliott

£65,000

£3,380,000

20

Ross Barkley

£60,000

£3,120,000

21

Marco Bizot

£45,000

£2,340,000

22

Lamare Bogarde

£30,000

£1,560,000

=23

Andres Garcia

£15,000

£780,000

=23

Samuel Iling-Junior

£15,000

£780,000

25

Lewis Dobbin

£7,500

£390,000

26

Joe Gauci

£5,000

£260,000

Here is a look at Aston Villa's top 10 earners… 10 Victor Lindelof £120,000 per week

After being released by Manchester United in 2025, Aston Villa eventually swooped in and signed Victor Lindelof on a free transfer.

The Swedish defender signed a two-year deal at Villa Park and will collect just under £12.5m in wages during his time in the Midlands.

9 John McGinn £120,000 per week

Since he joined the club from Hibernian in 2018, John McGinn has been a consistent performer for Aston Villa, and when he’s at his best, he can pull some magic out of nowhere.

The club clearly value the 29-year-old as he signed a new deal in 2023 that will keep him in the Midlands until the summer of 2027. We’d argue McGinn has more than earned his spot on this list.

8 Ollie Watkins £130,000 per week

Striker Ollie Watkins has had the time of his life at Villa Park, and his form in front of goal helped the club achieve regular European qualification.

Watkins isn’t far off 100 goals in a Villa shirt, therefore a fine justification of his £130,000 per week wage, and he is under contract until 2028.

7 Lucas Digne £135,000 per week

Lucas Digne’s time at Villa Park is rather hard to judge due to injuries derailing his momentum whenever he looked like he had found some form.

In fairness to the Frenchman, he did make his way into Unai Emery’s plans at the start of the previous season, though he is under contract until 2028.

6 Donyell Malen £140,000 per week

Donyell Malen

5 Amadou Onana £140,000 per week

Amadou Onana, signed in 2024, was one of the club’s marquee additions that summer, with Villa putting the lure of Champions League into full effect by winning the race for the Belgian.

Onana arrived from Everton for around £50m and looks set to be a mainstay in the side, potentially over the next five years of his contract. He will only be 28 years of age in 2029 as well, so Villa may have secured a shrewd deal over time.

4 Youri Tielemans £150,000 per week

Youri Tielemans was the first signing of the 2024 summer and helped set the tone for the calibre of player that fans could expect to come in.

The Belgian has been a Premier League regular ever since he joined Leicester City from Monaco in 2019. In fact, it was quite the coup for the Villans to land the midfielder as he had been linked to Arsenal for well over a year.

3 Boubacar Kamara £150,000 per week

Boubacar Kamara made the move to Birmingham in 2022 after his contract with Ligue 1 giants Marseille expired.

He has had his injury issues, however, the midfielder still done enough to earn a huge new £150,000 per week deal which was signed in 2025.

2 Emiliano Martinez £150,000 per week

Emiliano Martinez is another on a hefty £7.8m per year salary. However, given his international pedigree and general performances in the league since joining the Villans, he’s probably well worth it.

The World Cup winner joined the Villans in the summer of 2020 for just £17m from Arsenal and has been brilliant in Claret and Blue, although he did nearly leave in 2025.

1 Jadon Sancho £200,000 per week

Jadon Sancho tops the charts as Aston Villa’s top earner after joining on a season-long loan from Manchester United over the summer.

The winger spent the 2024/25 campaign with Chelsea, however, the Blues turned down the chance to sign the Englishman on a permanent basis. He also wasn’t in Ruben Amorim’s plans at Old Trafford, leading to Villa making a late swoop.

da 888casino： You know things are going pretty bad when for the first time in his entire career, Bruno Fernandes gets sent for an early bath.

da dobrowin： It just about summed up the opening month and a bit of the new season for Manchester United, who surprise surprise, are getting no better under Erik ten Hag.

INEOS kept the faith with the Dutchman over the summer but they are yet to be vindicated by that decision with the Red Devils sat in 12th place with a goal difference of minus three. It’s grim reading for what is a historic institution. We dread to think what Sir Alex Ferguson makes of it all.

What supporters would give to see the glory days of Fergie brought back to Old Trafford. Sadly, they are some way off rediscovering that level of performance.

It’s a chaotic mess and Ten Hag doesn’t seem to be able to find a remedy to drag them from what feels like rock bottom. They will have to navigate the next few weeks without their captain too.

Bruno Fernandes' season in numbers

The Portuguese has been a wonderful servant to this great football club. During his time in Manchester to date, Fernandes has scored an impressive 79 goals and supplied 70 assists. He has been a marvel in the red shirt.

Sadly, this season his performance levels have dropped. The 30-year-old is yet to find the net and has only registered three assists in all competitions, only one of which has come in the Premier League.

To make matters worse, he was given a red card in the dismal 3-0 defeat to Spurs on Sunday, slipping and catching James Maddison with his studs. It was a harsh sending off but it ultimately summed up his lack of influence so far this term.

In the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace last weekend he gave the ball away a staggering 34 times and failed to hit a single shot on target. It didn’t get much better in their Europa League clash with FC Twente either where the Portugal international created just one goal-scoring chance, lost possession 19 times and completed just 75% of his passes.

Fernandes vs Crystal Palace

Stat

Number

Touches

113

Passes completed

60/83

Pass accuracy

72%

Number of times possession lost

34

Ground duels won

7/9

Tackles won

4/4

Key passes

2

Stats from Sofascore

Sunday’s awful display, meanwhile, saw a pass completion rate of just 74% while he didn’t win a single duel either.

It might not be the worst idea for him to sit out the next few games, then. He will be suspended for three matches which gives the likes of Mason Mount and Christian Eriksen a chance to prove themselves.

They could also look at bringing in some more young players like Toby Collyer and Dan Gore. However, they are not of a similar ilk. Isak Hansen-Aaroen is, however, but he’s already left the club.

What happened to Isak Hansen-Aaroen

It’s unlikely that the decision-makers at United will be losing too much sleep over seeing the Norwegian walk away last January.

Hansen-Aaroen wanted game time, he wanted first-team football and the Red Devils could not deliver that. So, he was off on his merry way to Werder Bremen in Germany, signing for a fee of around just £200k.

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Why is this a loss? Well, Hansen-Aaroen would be a pretty handy replacement for Fernandes in the here and now. He wouldn’t do any worse than the current crop, that’s for sure.

After all, his playmaking abilities have already been compared to a fellow countryman and one of the finest in the Premier League.

A former teammate of his at Tromso, Yttergård Jenssen, is one name who has rushed to praise the youngster. “He has some skills that are completely raw. He’s so playful with the ball. And the way he moves on a football field… There’s something artistic about it. He is a bit reminiscent of Martin Ødegaard.”

Fine praise indeed for a player who is still only 20. The young Norwegian has featured just three times for Bremen since moving but his numbers at youth level speak for themselves.

He left Carrington having registered ten official assists at youth level alongside eight goals. They’re not jaw-dropping numbers by any means but the fact he’s left and immediately playing senior team football in a major European league suggests he’d have something to offer this current United side.

Sadly, they will never quite know whether he’d have made the grade or not at Old Trafford.

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Manchester United resemble a sinking ship under Erik ten Hag’s stewardship.

Posts ByMatt Dawson Sep 30, 2024

As the transfer window approaches the deadline, Manchester United are still looking to round off an excellent summer and have reportedly tabled an offer worth over £40m to sign a Europa League winner.

Man Utd transfer news

Welcoming Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, the Red Devils, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Dan Ashworth have so far enjoyed a solid transfer window, bolstering Erik ten Hag's backline and offensive options. Those at Old Trafford were instantly rewarded for their business on the opening day of their Premier League campaign too, when Zirkzee scored the winning goal in a 1-0 victory over Fulham.

Yet, even after welcoming such reinforcements, Manchester United remain without a potential long-term replacement for Casemiro, who struggled to keep up with the pace of the Premier League last season.

Of course, the main name mentioned on that front has been Manuel Ugarte. The Red Devils are reportedly advancing with talks to sign the midfielder, having already agreed personal terms. But whilst they remain without an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain, those at Old Trafford have reportedly explored another option.

According to reports, which have been relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester United submitted an offer worth €50m (£43m) to sign Ederson from Atalanta after talks, however, the Serie A side instantly turned the bid down.

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The offer came Atalanta's way during a meeting with Manchester United chiefs in Italy, which was initially meant to be about sorting paperwork regarding Rasmus Hoijlund's move to Old Trafford last summer before the subject and subsequent bid for Ederson was reportedly brought up.

A recent Europa League winner, the Brazilian could certainly solve Ten Hag's Casemiro problem, but as things stand, he remains an Atalanta player.

"Machine" Ederson is arguably better than Casemiro and Ugarte

If Manchester United saw their chase to sign Ugarte fall apart and leave them with no choice but to go all out for Ederson, then it could arguably be a blessing in disguise. The Brazilian played a pivotal part in Atalanta's Europa League campaign, including in impressive victories over Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen, as the Italians became the only side to defeat Xabi Alonso's side last season.

League stats 23/24 (via FBref)	Ederson	Ugarte	Casemiro
Progressive Carries	32	16	12
Progressive Passes	214	87	112
Tackles Won	49	57	56
Ball Recoveries	188	181	133

What instantly stands out is Ederson's ability to progress play, with an impressive 214 progressive passes to his name last season, over 100 more than both Ugarte and Casemiro managed. As United look to step on the front foot every week, that ability would quickly prove to be vital.

Dubbed a "machine" by Football Transfers' Carlo Garganese following his display against Leverkusen in the Europa League final, Ederson could slot straight into Ten Hag's side. Alas, with just over a week left until the transfer window slams shut for the summer, he is currently on course to remain an Atalanta player.