Arne Slot brushed aside "ridiculous" Trent Alexander-Arnold claims as the Liverpool boss denied credit for his winning goal against Leicester.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

TAA scored the winner against LeicesterDefender likely to leave Anfield in the summerSlot does not doubt his commitment to LiverpoolFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Reds secured a 1-0 victory on Sunday afternoon, with Alexander-Arnold scoring the decisive goal just minutes after coming off the bench – keeping Liverpool 13 points clear at the top of the Premier League table. The result puts Slot’s side within touching distance of the title, needing only three more points from their remaining five fixtures to mathematically seal the championship.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

After nearly six weeks on the sidelines due to an ankle injury sustained in the Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, Alexander-Arnold made an instant impact on his return to the pitch. Although his contribution has been widely hailed, questions about his long-term future continue to swirl as he continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid.

WHAT SLOT SAID

While Slot has received some recognition for the timing of his substitution, he humbly played down any suggestion that he deserved credit for the England international's superb strike.

“No credit for me, but definitely for Trent, because he worked so hard for five-and-a-half weeks and for the medical staff who worked so hard to get him back into the squad as soon as we could. And that is why we could use him for 15 minutes and I think I had to use him for 27 in the end because of the added time," he told reporters.

DID YOU KNOW?

Amid ongoing rumours linking Alexander-Arnold with a move to Real Madrid, Slot was quick to redirect attention away from the contract situation during his post-match comments. The manager instead insisted that the headlines should be around celebrating the goal and not questioning his work ethic.

“The headline today should be the goal he scored and not about his contract," he said.

“But what I can say is it would be ridiculous if someone argues his commitment for this club. The work-rate he put in to be back today and make such an important goal, and all the work he has done for this club in all the years he has been here, nobody in my opinion can argue his commitment to this club. The headlines should be his great goal and not his contract situation.”

India’s marks out of ten after they beat West Indies 2-0 on their Caribbean tour

Karthik Krishnaswamy23-Aug-20169R Ashwin (17 wickets at 23.17, 235 runs at 58.75)Only three players had scored two hundreds and taken two five-wicket hauls in the same series before Ashwin, and the last time it happened was in a series that everyone now calls Botham’s Ashes. Ashwin’s West Indies-India Test series doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, but there is no doubting his impact. His bowling, particularly when there was a breeze to aid his drift, was a pleasure to watch, and he showed he is perhaps the best in the world at beating batsmen in the air. He worked hard on his batting in the off-season and he was willing to grind it out for long periods, facing more balls than any other Indian batsman in the series, but it’s still too early to say if he can bat at No. 6 against better bowling sides. His limited footwork got him into a few tangles with swing and seam, but that’s not to say he cannot improve that aspect too.8Mohammed Shami (11 wickets at 25.81)Returning to Test cricket after a year-and-a-half’s gap, Shami showed he wasn’t just back to full fitness but also back to his best rhythm. He was India’s best fast bowler in the first two Tests, bowling with pace, making the batsmen play, and troubling them not just with swing and seam but new-found extra bounce as well. By the end of the series, he had bowled more overs than any of his fast-bowling colleagues, suggesting he had become Virat Kohli’s go-to quick.Wriddhiman Saha (205 runs at 51.25, 9 catches, 2 stumpings)A joy to watch behind the stumps, Saha came into the series with his batting ability under a bit of scrutiny, particularly with India looking to play five bowlers whenever possible. He did the job he was expected to when he scored 40 and 47 in the first two Tests, but the score when he walked in at St Lucia, 126 for 5, demanded more. A maiden Test hundred followed, and during the innings he showed on two separate occasions – late on day one and in the first session of day two – that he could switch instantly from single-minded defence to flurries of boundary-hitting, even on one of the slowest outfields in the world.Ajinkya Rahane (243 runs at 121.50)Rahane faced 522 balls in the series, and was only dismissed twice. With India dominant through most of the series, he ended up becoming something of a declaration specialist. His hundred at Sabina Park set India up perfectly, leaving them 304 runs ahead with just under half the Test match remaining. That they didn’t go on and win had little to do with Rahane’s batting and everything to do with the weather, the pitch, stubborn West Indies batting, and a bowling attack that wasn’t at its best on the final day. The second-innings 78* in St Lucia, full of hard, cheeky running, hurried India to another declaration, and this time, with far less time remaining, they managed to pull off a dramatic win.7Bhuvneshwar Kumar (6 wickets at 9.83)Bhuvneshwar did not play the first two Tests, but delivered exactly what his team wanted from him – accuracy, new-ball swing in both directions, and the smarts to know how to bowl to which batsman – when called upon in St Lucia, and did all this in his first Test since January 2015. He was unlucky not to win the Player-of-the-Match award for his 5 for 33 in St Lucia, which broke West Indies’ batting apart and gave India both the lead and the time they needed to force a win with a day lost to rain, and is perhaps unlucky not to get an extra point in our ratings as well.Virat Kohli (251 runs at 62.75)Arriving at the crease with India moving along at under three an over on the first day of the series, Kohli set the tone with a career-best 200 at a strike rate of over 70. It was the innings of a man in stupendous form, but the remainder of the series only brought him 51 runs in three innings, including scores of 3 and 4 in St Lucia, where he batted at No. 3. It’s too early to say whether he will be as successful in that role as he has been at No. 4, and equally difficult to say how often he will try it. As captain, he was unpredictable with his selections, unafraid to make bold and sometimes unpopular calls, and never dull.KL Rahul (236 runs at 78.66)Rahul gave India a pounding selection headache when he replaced the injured M Vijay in Jamaica and promptly made a career-best 158. It was an innings that showed he had the strokes to punish wayward bowling and get off to a brisk start, as he did on the first evening; that he had the ability to shelve those strokes against disciplined bowling, as he did on the second morning; and that he had the appetite to keep going even after a troublesome bout of cramps. He followed that with a half-century in St Lucia, but it was an innings that showed he can still be a fidgety starter, prone to wafting at balls in the channel. He still has work to do on his catching as well, and put down a couple of chances at third slip in St Lucia.Bhuvneshwar Kumar broke West Indies’ batting in St Lucia, his first Test since January 2015•AFP6Ishant Sharma (8 wickets at 32.12)A typically Ishant-esque series. At times, he attacked the stumps, used the short ball well, and looked like the most dangerous bowler in India’s attack. At other times, he struggled to make batsmen play, his line too wide of off stump to test them. There were some wayward spells too, such as the one he bowled post-lunch on the first day in Kingston, where Marlon Samuels took full toll of his long-hops. In the end, he finished with a typically Ishant-esque average – 32.12 – and strike rate – 63.0 – against an average batting side. With the likelihood that India may only play two seamers – and possibly only one – at most times during the long home season ahead, he may have to do better than that to keep his place.Ravindra Jadeja (3 wickets at 15.66)Like Bhuvneshwar, Jadeja might have finished with a better rating had he played more Tests. He did everything expected of him when he replaced Amit Mishra in St Lucia, getting through his overs in a blink and giving away less than two runs an over. But two of his wickets – Roston Chase in the first innings and Jermaine Blackwood in the second – came about in an unfamiliar manner, with the batsmen reaching out to drive slow, loopy balls outside off stump, suggesting he may have learned new tricks as well.5Shikhar Dhawan (138 runs at 34.50)Started the series brightly, showing plenty of self-control outside off stump while scoring 84 in Antigua, but did little of note in the next two Tests, and was left out in Port of Spain. It looks like he will remain on the bench when India begin their long home season, but as a left-handed opener capable of scoring quickly, he will remain in the team management’s thoughts.Cheteshwar Pujara (62 runs at 31.00)Only batted twice, weathered testing spells in both innings, and got out to soft dismissals after doing all the hard work. India tend not to lose top-order wickets in clusters when Pujara is part of their line-up, and that solidity cannot be underestimated, but he will remain an in-and-out member of the squad unless he makes bigger scores more consistently than he has done in the last two years.Umesh Yadav (5 wickets at 29.80)Five wickets in Antigua, where he swung the ball both ways and looked menacing in short, sharp bursts. None in Jamaica, where his bowling was wayward in both innings, particularly with the second new ball on the final day, which was India’s last chance to get through West Indies’ lower order and force a win. Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s accuracy suddenly looked more enticing than Umesh’s pace, and he lost his place in St Lucia. Given the competition for fast-bowling slots and the potential narrowing of the available slots in home conditions, Umesh will need to do more to remain a first-team regular.4Amit Mishra (6 wickets at 38.66)Sometimes, Mishra’s figures don’t reflect how well he has bowled, and there were times during the first Test and in the first innings of the second – when he bowled a classical spell of drift and turn – when this was the case. But on the final day in Kingston, he actually bowled poorly, sending down a regular allotment of full-tosses and half-volleys, and contributed to India’s worst bowling day of the tour. Having begun the series with his captain’s backing to do a more attacking job than Ravindra Jadeja in less spin-friendly conditions, he ended up losing a place in the pecking order.Rohit Sharma (50 runs at 25.00)There is some truth to Kohli’s assertion that Rohit hasn’t got a long-enough run in the Test side to establish himself properly, but there is also truth to the idea that he hasn’t done enough with the chances he’s got. His selection in St Lucia came out of the blue, and caused all manner of reshuffling in India’s line-up. He has only had two chances to bat since then, so it’s a little too early to say whether or not the move has worked.M Vijay (7 runs at 7.00)Batted once, got out to a snorter, hurt his finger in the process, and did not get to bat again. A strange sort of series for India’s best opener over the last three years. Having been left out in St Lucia despite regaining full fitness, Vijay came back in Port of Spain, at Dhawan’s expense. India look likely to start their home season with a Vijay-Rahul combination at the top of the order.

It has been an incredibly tough season so far for Wolverhampton Wanderers. They recently sacked Gary O’Neil as manager, with the club reeling in 19th place in the Premier League and with just nine points to their name. The Old Gold have managed to win just two games this term.

As The Athletic reported on Thursday afternoon, Vitor Pereira will be the new Wolves boss, and will leave his post at Saudi side Al-Shabab to take the job at Molineux. He will have a big task on his hands, looking to turn the fortunes of Wolves around this season.

Naturally, the new boss will want to get a look at his whole squad, but will no doubt also want to track the progress of those out on loan, in case they are options for his side in the long run.

Wolves’ players out on loan

Firstly, it is important to note that the Old Gold have some youngsters out on loan at various clubs across the Football League. Two of those, Joe Hodge who is at Huddersfield Town, and Tawanda Chirewa who plays for Derby County, are injured and have had little involvement this season. Chem Campbell has five goals and four assists in 18 games for Reading.

In terms of their more prominent first-team players who are out on loan, one in particular is thriving, although has struggled with injury.

Hugo Bueno is playing at Feyenoord in the Netherlands this term, and he has three assists in eight Eredivisie games, including one against FC Twente.

Another full-back, Ki-Jana Hoever, is plying his trade in France with AJ Auxerre, where he has had an eventful time. The 22-year-old has an assist and a red card in 13 games so far. Winger Chiquinho is having a less smooth ride, on loan in Spain at Mallorca. He has played just 140 minutes in La Liga this term.

There is another Wolves loanee out in Spain this season, who is thriving and could certainly be a player Pereira could utilise at Molineux.

The loan star who Pereira could love

The player in question here is striker Fabio Silva. It has been a mixed time of things at the Old Gold for the youngster, who cost £35.6m from Portuguese side FC Porto. He has not really lived up to the price tag at Molineux so far, with five goals and six assists in 72 games.

However, after a few loan spells across various clubs in Europe, it seems like the striker has finally settled down somewhere. Currently plying his trade in La Liga for Las Palmas, the 22-year-old seems to be hitting his best form.

He has five goals and two assists in 12 La Liga games so far, including a goal against Catalan giants Barcelona. Football talent scout Jacek Kulig described him as a “joy to watch” for a reason.

According to recent reports from Spain, via SportWitness, the striker will not be staying at El Pio-Pio beyond this season, due to financial constraints. The La Liga club cannot afford to pay his £78k-per-week wages, as per Capology.

This is certainly something that might be of interest to Pereira, who surely would not be opposed to bringing back such a talented player to the club.

Statistically on FBref, he has performed well in La Liga for Las Palmas, with an impressive 0.51 goals per game on average, ranking him in the top 18%.

Pereira has a real chance to revive Wolves’ season, and the same can be said for Silva’s career at Molineux. The Old Gold striker has not really left his mark on the club yet, but perhaps under the tutelage of the new manager, he can.

It will be fascinating to see if he can turn things around in the Midlands. An unlikely opportunity for a return to the club has presented itself, and it could be one both Silva and Pereira jump at and try to transform his career at Wolves.

As well as Andre: Pereira must instantly axe "promising" Wolves star

Vitor Pereira will want to leave his mark on the Wolverhampton Wanderers side.

By
Kelan Sarson

Dec 19, 2024

As a fast bowler you need a big heart to sustain your career in Sri Lanka, so perhaps it’s a good thing the 19-year-old has experienced so little of it

Andrew Fidel Fernando at Newlands02-Jan-20171:15

Lahiru Kumara: Want to play for a long time

Most Sri Lanka fast bowlers are lovers, not fighters. Sadly this is by process of elimination.Look, quicks don’t have to be angry. Chaminda Vaas rarely was. But many of the best, at least outside Sri Lanka, reserve the right to a stage persona. Andre Nel had a mountain man he called “Gunther”. Dale Steyn has a vein on his forehead that seems to be made of concentrated fury. Vernon Philander will bowl a 125kph delivery, then stare at you like he has raised the smell of sulphur from the surface and brought demons up from the ground.These are not the antics of the stereotypical Sri Lanka quick. The smile, the sigh, the arm around the shoulder of the team-mate who has dropped a catch, the loving caresses of the ball and the kiss before he lopes in to bowl – those are the island tropes.Lahiru Kumara’s delivery to dismiss Hashim Amla’s was electric – the ball whizzing in late towards the batsman, beating the drive, making a small eruption of the stumps. But it was his reaction to the wicket that really drew the eye: a yell, a violent pumping of the fists, and shoulder action that – so abundant have injuries been lately – you were worried he would dislocate it.He surged in after that first breakthrough. He hit 143kph in that same over, and once JP Duminy had been caught down the legside, hit 144kph in the next. On air, commentators had bemoaned the lack of skill from the visiting fast bowlers, and practically declared the attack toothless. Suddenly, with Kumara’s introduction there was tension in the ground. Through the rest of the day, it was his spells that brought the Newlands crowd to attention.He’s only 19, so perhaps it’s not surprising, but Kumara’s first ever game of real domestic cricket had only been played in December. Perhaps that is just as well. The school system, from which he only recently graduated, retains a little of its own glory, but the first-class circuit is known to turn fast bowlers into husks. Of the top fifteen wicket-takers last season, only one was not a spinner. You can almost imagine Kumara going into a first-class season with his ox’s shoulders and broad chest, and in the end emerging wimpy and 125kph, shorn of all his exuberance, dead in the eyes, and growing facial hair that looks like pubes.Though Kumara is light on senior experience, he does have the benefit of having begun his cricket at a young age – moving to Trinity College for his cricket in Year 9. In comparison, Nuwan Pradeep only played leather-ball cricket from around the age of 20, and Suranga Lakmal had not started long before. Unlike them, Kumara has bowled fast right through his adolescence, which could make him less prone to injury, or so that theory goes.He had four wickets in Zimbabwe before this match, but though he didn’t remember the names of the batsmen he dismissed on those occasions, he says he will not forget his victims on this one.”Of the three wickets today, I loved the one the Hashim Amla dismissal,” he said after play. “He is one of the greatest players in the world and to get him with the way I did was a sweet feeling.”I have three wickets now and maybe a chance for me to finish with a five wicket haul. Let’s see how it goes. But the most important thing is to bowl them out as quickly as possible.”It does seem strange when it is a Sri Lankan fast bowler, not a spinner, or batsman that emerges. Fast bowling is the nation’s cricket most faulty production line. At home they manage on dusty tracks, which sometimes even make the quicks completely superfluous, but on tours outside the continent they are like a car without an engine, with Angelo Mathews and his men sitting inside hoping no one notices that it is their own paddling feet that keep the body moving.Maybe in years to come they will have better resources to call on. When Dushmantha Chameera eventually reaches his best, Sri Lanka hope to have a bowler of serious pace. Lahiru Kumara is not quite that quick, but today he swung the ball, and he did it with an attitude. For now, at 19, that is enough.

Pep Guardiola's side might have lost their clutch on the Premier League crown, but should in the mix this summer

Manchester City, crisis club? It is sort of fun to say – or at least, see. From the neutral perspective, having someone other than the Cityzens win the Premier League, at the very least, makes for a refreshing change of pace.

And City have deserved their struggles this season. They have looked tired, out of ideas, frustrated. Erling Haaland is injured. Kevin De Bruyne is leaving. They lost the reigning Ballon d'Or winner to an ACL tear. Rotten luck? Sure. But it has made the Premier League that little bit more interesting.

The season is done now, though. City will finish third. They are winning games again, looking more like a Pep Guardiola side. Odds are, they will claim the FA Cup with a victory over Crystal Palace next month. And the Club World Cup, in some ways, could be a reset.

De Bruyne might be gone by then. New signings such as Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez will have been allowed to properly settle in. Haaland should be approaching full fitness. This machine could be whirring back into life again. Still, it might just come a bit too soon. There are no guarantees here, with tired legs and fitness issues likely to play a role.

A fully fit City should win this thing. Anything short of that? Then it's anybody's game.

The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup will be played in 12 stadiums in 11 U.S. cities, from the opener on June 14 until the final on July 13. In the U.S., fans can stream or watch matches on DAZN or TNT. Leading up to kickoff, GOAL will provide scouting reports on each of the 32 participating teams in the expanded field.

Next up is Manchester City with a look at key players to watch, and expectations for the English side at the tournament.

Getty ImagesThe Basics

DOMESTIC LEAGUE: English Premier League

CLUB WORLD CUP HISTORY: Second appearance (won 2023 edition)

GROUP: G (Al Ain, Juventus, Man City, Wydad Casablanca)

OPENING MATCH: Wydad – June 18, noon, Philadelphia

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHow they got here

Ironically, Man City have rather struggled in European competition, and finally won their white whale of a trophy in 2023 after many years of glorious failure. And it was that victory that sealed their spot in the tournament, Rodri scoring the only goal in a 1-0 clash against Italian giants Inter.

ImagoThe player to watch

Who else but Haaland? The striker hasn't enjoyed his best season in Manchester blue, struggling a bit for form, and then picking up a serious ankle injury in March – just as he was getting in a goalscoring groove.

Still, the expectation is that he should be fit an firing by the time the tournament comes around. It will, in truth, be interesting to see which version of Haaland shows up. Will it be the razor-sharp Nordic force that will batter through the tournament and lead City to glory?

Or will Guardiola work his main man back into the side steadily, saving him for the big moments? It is an interesting storyline to follow in a tournament admittedly lacking in them.

A word, too, for Phil Foden. The attacking midfielder followed a Premier League Player of the Year winning season with a pretty dire Euro 2024 – and equally miserable domestic season. He needs to turn things around, and this summer could be the time to start.

Getty Images SportRealistic expectations

Win the whole bloody thing.

Somehow, the Club World Cup field has gotten weaker as the season has chugged along. Real Madrid look a shadow of themselves, while Bayern Munich and Inter have struggled either domestically or in Europe.

Only PSG look to be at 100 percent heading into the competition. But a weaker field should make for an ample hunting ground for City. They will likely do away with Al Ain, Wydad and a pretty tepid Juventus side. After that, it's the knockouts – at which point City should be off to the races.

da esport bet： Leeds United are set to sign an “incredible” new forward player for Daniel Farke before the deadline, according to one report.

Farke outlines three positions Leeds could strengthen

da supremo： The Whites and the 49ers Enterprises are yet to make a signing in 2025, with the club’s only pieces of business being loan exits for Joe Gelhardt and Charlie Crew.

Related Sky Sports: Leeds "interested" in signing £6m "machine" who Liverpool love

RB Leipzig are also keen.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Jan 24, 2025

On the pitch, things are going to plan, with Leeds five points better off than they were at this stage last season after 29 Championship games. There is still time for the club to add to their squad before the February 3 deadline, though, and Farke said a centre-back, attacking midfielder and centre-forward are positions Leeds could still strengthen in.

“There are still a few positions we could have a deeper look at if they can improve the squad. But right now, I’m a little bit more calmer with not being in panic mode with the need to have to do something.

“I think it’s fair to say if there is a creative offensive player out there, like a number 10 position, then it is something that could be beneficial for our group.

“Brenden Aaronson has been excellent this season and a key player for us. But we might have a similar player like him in our group. Of course we have players who can play in this role.

“If there is a solution for a creative midfield player it definitely make sense to stay awake. In all the other areas we are covered. The only two [positions] we have to stay awake in my head is the centre-back position… and perhaps a bit in the striker position.”

In attack, Patrick Bamford continues to be out injured, leaving Joel Piroe and Mateo Joseph as the options for Farke. One attacker who has been loosely linked is Sevilla striker Kelechi Iheanacho, and it looks as if a move has gathered pace.

Leeds set to sign Kelechi Iheanacho, report claims

According to a report from Score Nigeria, Leeds are set to sign Iheanacho before the transfer deadline.

Akor Adams is set to join Sevilla from Montpellier which will allow Iheanacho to move back to England and Elland Road. The report doesn’t mention if a transfer will be loan or permanent, with things not going to plan for the former Leicester City striker in Spain.

Iheanacho’s career stats

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Leicester City

232

61

34

Manchester City

64

21

7

Sevilla

11

3

0

Nigeria

56

15

8

The 28-year-old, who has scored once against the Whites during his career, was brought to Sevilla by former Leeds chief Victor Orta, but it hasn’t been a move that has gone to plan, scoring just three times in 11 appearances.

Iheanacho, dubbed “incredible” by Brendan Rodgers, netted five times in 23 appearances in the Championship as the Foxes lifted the title, so he may have his eyes on another second-tier crown with Leeds in the final months of the season.

Tourists recover from 65 for 5 to pass 400 despite Jamal Richards five-for

ESPNcricinfo staff27-May-2023

Paul Stirling made a century and Lorcan Tucker 97 as Ireland recovered from a rocky start to their first innings against Essex, eventually being dismissed for 419 to take a lead of 76.Graham Hume then pushed his claims for a place in the XI at Lord’s next week by removing both Essex openers in the same over.Stirling, who scored his first Test hundred in Galle last month, had been expected to miss the game against England because of a deal to play in the Blast for Birmingham Bears, but was picked in the squad after a change of heart.Related

Debutant Das hits dashing ton as Ireland toil in warm-up

Little missing Lord's Test 'the best thing' for Ireland

He only joined the tour match in Chelmsford on Saturday, having turned out for Birmingham in Leicester less than 24 hours previously, and was quickly making the adjustment to facing a red ball after walking out in the sixth over of the morning.Ireland were 46 for 4 at that stage, and the score soon became 65 for 5 as Jamal Richards and Mark Adair – the Ireland seamer who is playing for Essex in this match – rattled the top order.However, Stirling and Tucker set about repairing the damage with a stand that was eventually worth 175 in 30.1 overs.Stirling brought up his half-century first, from 63 balls, with Tucker getting to the mark from 61 balls shortly after. Tucker, the wicketkeeper-batter, then accelerated towards a century with a flurry of boundaries, but required treatment for an arm problem on 96 and then cut tamely to backward point a few balls later.With Stirling content to weigh anchor, Andy McBrine breezed to a 48-ball fifty against a tiring attack, as Ireland added 105 for the seventh wicket. Stirling brought up his century from 137 balls shortly before tea.After the break, McBrine dragged on to his stumps to hand 18-year-old Noah Thaine a maiden first-class wicket, and Stirling miscued a pull off Richards with the second new ball. Fionn Hand’s belligerent 48 not out from No. 9 extended Ireland’s lead before Richards capped an impressive showing by completing a five-for on debut.There was time for Essex to begin their second innings, and Hume struck twice in the space of five balls – Nick Browne caught behind and Josh Rymell taken at slip – but first-innings centurion Robin Das once again played his shots to be 27 not out from 26 at the close.

Also, do Gujarat Giants still have a realistic chance?

S Rajesh19-Mar-20237:14

Devine scores the best knock of WPL and Mumbai finally get beaten

How can Royal Challengers overcome their net-run-rate deficit and take third spot?
Currently, Royal Challengers have an NRR of -1.044 after seven games and Gujarat Giants have -2.511 after the same number of games, while UP Warriorz have -0.117 after six. Given that Warriorz already have six points, Royal Challengers only have a chance if they win their last game and move to six, and if Warriorz lose their last two, against Giants and Delhi Capitals.If the three results pan out in that fashion, then three teams will be level on six points, bringing net run rates into play. For simplicity’s sake, let’s assume a 40-run margin in each of those three games, with the winning team scoring 160. Then, the NRRs will look like this: Warriorz -0.612, Royal Challengers -0.628, and Giants -1.893.That means Royal Challengers will need a slightly bigger margin in one of those games – a win by 43 runs for example, instead of 40 – to go past Warriorz’s NRR.Thus, Royal Challengers still have a shot at qualification, but they need several things to go their way, both in terms of results and their margins.Gujarat Giants’ NRR is -2.511•BCCIDo Gujarat Giants have a realistic chance?
Giants are so far behind on run rate that they might as well start planning for next year. Even if they score 160 and beat Warriorz by 100 runs, they will still need Warriorz to lose to Capitals by 112 runs to move ahead of them on NRR. Apart from these improbable results, they’ll also need Royal Challengers to lose their last game to Mumbai.What do UP Warriorz need to do to qualify?
Warriorz will be through if they win one of their last two games. They might even make it with two defeats, if they lose by narrow margins (as mentioned above).Do Delhi Capitals have a chance of taking the top spot away from Mumbai?
If Capitals beat Mumbai on Monday, then both teams will be level on 10 points with their last game coming up on Tuesday: Mumbai against Royal Challengers and Capitals against Warriorz. Thus, Capitals have a shot at the top spot, though their NRR is poorer (1.431 compared to 2.670 for Mumbai).However, if Capitals lose on Monday, then Mumbai Indians will be assured of the top spot.

Sheffield United are now stepping up their pursuit of a “superb” midfielder, with an official offer set to be made soon, according to a report.

Blades looking to strengthen in attacking areas

Chris Wilder clearly feels some new attacking reinforcements are needed if his side are to go all the way and seal promotion from the Championship this season, and the Blades are now well-placed to win the race for two strikers.

A £13m fee has now been agreed with Leicester City for the signing of Tom Cannon, meaning only personal terms need to be agreed to get a deal over the line.

Should Wilder want to bring in more than one new striker this month, he is also in a good position to win the race for Southampton’s Ben Brereton Diaz, as the Chile international would only consider a return to United, despite interest from elsehwere.

Sheffield United now eyeing move to sign £300,000-a-year international

They would get one over on their city rivals in the process.

ByBen Browning Jan 16, 2025

Not only do Sheffield United want to bring in a new striker, but they are also keen in bringing a new attacking midfielder this month, and there has now been a new update on their pursuit of Besiktas’ Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

According to reports from the Turkish media (via Sport Witness), the Blades have now stepped up their interest in Oxlade-Chamberlain, with Besiktas trying to offload him this month, having deemed him surplus to requirements.

The Championship promotion hopefuls are set to make an official offer for the attacking midfielder soon, aiming to take him on loan until the end of the season, although it is unclear whether they plan to make it a permanent deal in the summer.

There may be competition for the 31-year-old’s signature, however, with French side Nantes also said to be interested.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is proven at the top level

Although his Liverpool career was marred by injuries, the midfielder scored a memorable goal for the Reds against Manchester City in the Champions League back in 2018, one of nine in Europe’s top competition.

The Portsmouth-born maestro is a well-rounded midfielder, having also received praise from football writer Leanne Prescott for his defensive aptitude during his time on Merseyside.

The only concern over signing Oxlade-Chamberlain is the fact his best days are likely to be behind him, having failed to make an impact at Besiktas this season, appearing for a total of just 113 minutes in the Turkish Super Lig.

That said, the former Champions League winner with Liverpool may still be able to do a job at Championship level, and signing him on loan, rather than permanently, would make it a relatively low-risk move for the Blades.

Setting their sights on midfield reinforcements, Manchester United are now reportedly plotting a move to sign a young versatile La Liga star for Ruben Amorim in what could be a bargain deal.

Man Utd transfer news

Bargain is certainly a word that Manchester United will be keen to hear both this month and during the summer transfer window, with the club reportedly walking a fine line when it comes to profit and sustainability issues at a time when they once again need several reinforcements. The last thing that they need is to run into any sanctions on that front and that could yet see player sales take priority this month.

Man Utd discussing stunning Sanchez-esque swap deal to sign "fantastic" ace

They’ll be hoping he’s better than Sanchez…

ByTom Cunningham Jan 25, 2025

Out-of-favour stars such as Alejandro Garnacho could, therefore, provide the Red Devils with a parting gift if he does complete a mid-season switch to Chelsea as rumours suggest is certainly a possibility.

The same can be said for Marcus Rashford. Dropped since missing out on derby victory over Manchester City, the Carrington graduate desperately needs a move away and one which could yet fund the Red Devils’ pursuit of Patrick Dorgu this month.

His departure could also aid those at Old Trafford in pursuit of a summer target. According to Caught Offside, Manchester United are now plotting a cheap deal to sign Lucien Agoume from Sevilla this summer. The 22-year-old midfielder would reportedly not cost a substantial fee this summer, leaving the door ajar for United to potentially make a much-needed bargain move.

A rising star, Agoume would be well worth the gamble for a bargain fee this summer. The Frenchman could even become the missing piece in Amorim’s midfield next to Manuel Ugarte, whilst also providing centre-back cover thanks to his key versatility.

Whilst the Sevilla man is not a name that will instantly steal a number of headlines, he could quickly play a pivotal role in transforming Amorim’s side in his first full season in charge.

"Amazing" Agoume could partner Ugarte

Slowly but surely, Manchester United are moving beyond the need for Christian Eriksen and Casemiro in what should be a crucial step towards returning to the Champions League. But at least one more option must still arrive to compete with Kobbie Mainoo for a place alongside Ugarte and that may well prove to be Agoume this summer.

The Sevilla star certainly has the traits to step into the Old Trafford midfield, with analyst Ben Mattinson praising his “composed” ability to dictate play and “top ball retention” before dubbing him an “amazing #6 profile” at the end of last year.

With plenty to do when the summer arrives, Agoume should be among the options that Manchester United should consider if his valuation is, indeed, set at a cheap price.