Manchester United had to react to what happened in the 2024/25 campaign after they endured a dismal end to the season under head coach Ruben Amorim.

The Red Devils lost 18 of their 38 Premier League matches, finishing 15th in the division, and lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the final of the Europa League.

Instead of opting to change manager once again, despite Amorim’s struggles and some question marks over his 3-4-2-1 system, the club opted to change things by dipping into the transfer market.

Manchester United invested in the forward line, despite a lack of European football, by signing Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko to bolster the manager’s options up front.

It is now down to Amorim to find a way to get the best out of those three exciting attacking recruits to ensure that the Red Devils do not go through another dismal season.

Mbeumo has already scored twice, against Grimsby and Burnley, since moving from Brentford, but United supporters are still waiting to see the best out of Cunha in a red shirt.

Why there is more to come from Matheus Cunha

The Brazil international has failed to score a goal or create a ‘big chance’ for the team in his three Premier League starts for United so far this season, per Sofascore, which shows that he has had an underwhelming start to his career in Manchester.

However, there is no need to panic because Cunha is a proven Premier League star who has shown that he can deliver consistent quality at the top end of the pitch, as evidenced by his form for Wolverhampton Wanderers last season.

The chart above shows that he should be a huge upgrade on Mason Mount in the number ten position when he finds his feet at Old Trafford and starts to deliver the kind of performances everyone knows that he is capable of, due to his ability to make an impact in front of goal.

Cunha, who signed for Wolves from Atletico Madrid, has proven that he can score goals and create high-quality opportunities for his teammates at an impressive rate in the Premier League.

Matheus Cunha (Premier League)

23/24

24/25

Appearances

32

33

xG

9.49

8.63

Goals

12

15

Big chances created

7

13

Key passes per game

0.9

1.8

Assists

7

6

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Brazilian maestro scored 27 goals and created 20 ‘big chances’ in 55 appearances in the top-flight for Wolves in the last two seasons, outperforming his xG by a significant margin in both of those campaigns.

This shows that Manchester United have signed a star who is proven in the division and will deliver quality in the final third if Amorim can set the team up to get him in enough positions to make an impact at the top end of the pitch.

Therefore, there is no need to panic or rush to judgement over Cunha’s fairly slow start to life at Old Trafford, because there is plenty more to come from the Brazilian maestro, given what he has already achieved in the Premier League in the Midlands.

If the former Atletico Madrid attacking midfielder does fail to translate his Wolves form over to Manchester, though, Amorim may find the club’s own homegrown version of Cunha from the academy.

In The Pipeline

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

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19-year-old attacking midfielder Jack Moorhouse, who is currently on loan at Leyton Orient in League One, could emerge as Manchester United’s own Cunha in the future if he continues to develop and progress in his career.

Why Jack Moorhouse could be a homegrown Matheus Cunha

Judging young players and predicting what their ceiling is or how they will develop over time is not an exact science, which is why so many players fail to make the grade after emerging as exciting talents early on in their careers.

Moorhouse did not burst onto the scene at 16 like Lamine Yamal or score in the Premier League at 18 like Kobbie Mainoo, but he has shown some very promising signs that bode well for the future.

The teenage talent scored four goals and provided two assists in 13 starts as an attacking midfielder for the Red Devils at U18 and U21 level, per Transfermarkt, almost a goal contribution every other game.

Analyst Ben Mattinson, in the post above, was impressed by his performances for United’s academy sides, describing him as a “game-breaking ball carrier” who is “ideal” for the left-sided number ten role in Amorim’s system, which is currently occupied by Cunha.

Moorhouse’s best performance for Leyton Orient so far this season came in a 3-1 win over Peterborough United in the EFL Trophy, and his display was Cunha-esque on paper.

Vs Peterborough

Jack Moorhouse

Minutes

63

Sofascore rating

8.1

Shots

2

Goals

1

Pass accuracy

86%

Key passes

2

Dribbles completed

3/3

Duels won

4/6

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Ireland U21 international showcased his quality as a goalscorer, a creator, and a dribbler, which are Cunha’s main three attributes as a player.

You can see in the clips above that Moorhouse loves to drive forward with the ball at his feet, taking players on, and he scored an excellent goal from range with his weak foot.

Albeit against very different opposition, the goal was not too dissimilar to the one that Cunha scored against Premier League champions Liverpool earlier this year for Wolves.

Both Moorhouse and Cunha are attack-minded midfielders who can score goals and create chances for their teammates, but they are also exciting players to watch because of the way they carry the ball and take defenders on.

Therefore, Manchester United may be brewing their homegrown version of the Brazil international at Carrington and Leyton Orient, and it is now down to the Irish maestro to develop and take the next steps in his career to convince Amorim to bring him into the first-team next season.

Related Amorim can revive Mainoo by binning £150k-p/w flop in Man Utd system switch

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim can revive Kobbie Mainoo by changing his formation.

Posts ByDan Emery Sep 7, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Novo reforço do Santos, Dodô está regularizado para estrear com a camisa alvinegra em sua nova passagem pelo clube. Isso porque o lateral-esquerdo teve seu registro publicado no Boletim Informativo Diário (BID) da CBF nesta quinta-feira (13) e pode jogar contra o São Paulo.

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O defensor foi anunciado pelo Peixe na última segunda-feira (10). Ele estava no Atlético-MG, que não impôs grandes dificuldades na negociação com o Alvinegro, pois conta com Guilherme Arana e Rubens para a posição. Os dois estavam à frente de Dodô na concorrência.

O lateral de 31 anos, único contratado oficialmente nesta janela, jogará na equipe da Vila Belmiro pela segunda vez. Ele atuou no time em 2018, emprestado junto à Sampdoria, da Itália.

Na época, Dodô se destacou e disputou 50 partidas, marcou um gol e distribuiu quatro assistências pelo Santos. Agora, ele chega para brigar por posição com Kevyson e Gabriel Inocêncio, mas é o provável titular do Peixe para a sequência da temporada. Felipe Jonatan está lesionado e deve retornar somente em 2024, e Lucas Pires está afastado por indisciplina.

A reestreia do lateral-esquerdo, então, pode acontecer neste domingo (16), às 16h, no clássico contra o São Paulo. A partida será disputada no Morumbi, pela 15ª rodada do Brasileirão.

It was obvious that Jose Mourinho was finished at Fenerbahce the moment the full-time whistle blew in last month's Champions League qualifier at Benfica. However, it also felt like his time at the top was over, too, because Mourinho no longer seemed quite so special.

During this year in Turkey, he had continued to court controversy like no other figure in football, but he failed to win a trophy, which is why Fenerbahce decided that the outspoken Portuguese was more trouble than he was worth and, thus, dismissed him on August 29 – two days after the 1-0 loss in Lisbon.

And yet less than three weeks after his sacking, Mourinho was asked to return to the Estadio da Luz, with Benfica president Rui Costa having come to the rather surprising conclusion that the best man to replace Bruno Lage was the coach he'd just outwitted to reach the Champions League proper.

Consequently, Mourinho is not only back at Benfica, he's also back where he belongs – at least as far he's concerned.

"I was lucky in my career to coach a lot of giants: Real Madrid, Inter, Manchester United and Chelsea. Benfica is also a giant and a giant club entails giant responsibilities, giant expectations – it's all giant," Mourinho told UEFA. "But it's the kind of challenge I need."

Whether it's the kind of challenge he can still overcome remains to be seen. Indeed, as the 62-year-old prepares to lead the Eagles out in Tuesday's Champions League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, the scene of some of his most memorable triumphs, Mourinho is undeniably under pressure to prove that he can still cut it at the very highest level.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  'What was done before doesn't count'

  Mourinho has always claimed that while his enemies in the game can "steal everything" from him, nobody can take away the "story" he has created – and he's got a point.

  The Portuguese is one of the most compelling characters in football history – and also one of its most successful. He really has seen and done it all, the only manager to have won all three current UEFA club competitions.

  For all the accusations of arrogance levelled against him, one can hardly blame him, then, for considering the room full of trophies, medals and mementos that he has in his home as a kind of "museum". After all, when it comes to retelling the story of modern football, Mourinho's name will feature frequently.

  However, he is absolutely adamant that he's not done yet, that there are still a few chapters to be written. "When you're still working," Mourinho says, "when you still have your ambitions, what was done before doesn't count."

  It's a sentiment that explains why he jumped at the opportunity to make an immediate return to club football with Benfica. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  An unquenchable fire

  Mourinho himself thought that when he finally returned to work in his native Portugal, it would be to take charge of the national team. Even from the outside, it looked like the logical step – and particularly at this stage of his life, and his club career.

  As a younger manager, Mourinho wasn't sure if he would always have the same fire burning inside him – but former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson once assured him that, for men like them, it never goes out. And Mourinho has found that to be the case.

  After taking charge of his first Benfica match on September 20 – just under 25 years after his last – Mourinho realised that while the time had flown by, it had not changed his "nature", "passion", or "way of being".

  And there can be no arguments on that front.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  A 'f*cking disgrace'

  When Mourinho returned to Italy to take charge of Roma in 2021, 11 years after his treble triumph at Inter, he claimed that he was a changed man. He'd matured, he insisted, and no longer went looking for arguments.

  However, in his very first press conference as Roma coach, he immediately opened fire on a wide range of targets, including Didier Deschamps, Antonio Conte and even Luke Shaw. Then, just over a month into his first season in the Italian capital, he received the first of his seven red cards with the Giallorossi.

  During his two-and-a-half-year spell at the Stadio Olimpico, Mourinho showed that when it comes to firing up a fan base, he has few rivals, while he also led a success-starved club to back-to-back European finals.

  He won the first, too, against Feyenoord, but after losing the second, to Sevilla, he waited around in the carpark at the Puskas Arena to launch a foul-mouthed tirade at the blameless officials.

  The only "f*cking disgrace" in Budapest that night was Mourinho and it didn't really come as much of a surprise to see the Friedkin Family fire him after a rotten run of Roma form midway through the 2023-24 season.

  Basically, once Mourinho stops winning games, it becomes difficult to justify either his tedious tactics or touchline tantrums – as Fenerbahce quickly discovered to their considerable cost.

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• AFP
  

  A clever PR move from the president

  Fenerbahce took a major gamble on Mourinho reproducing his old magic in Istanbul but it backfired badly. According to , sacking Mourinho and his coaching just over a year after hiring them will set the Super Lig side back more than €10 million (£8.7m/$11.7m).

  So, why did Benfica feel that Mourinho was a risk worth taking?  Well, for starters, Mourinho's stock has fallen in recent years – meaning so, too, have his salary demands.

  Rui Costa revealed that Mourinho will earn €3m (£2.6m) in the first season at Benfica, and €4m (£3.5m) in the second. These are obviously not insignificant sums of money but they are quite small for a man that was once considered the best manager in world football.

  It's not just about money for Rui Costa either. Mourinho remains "a global brand", as he put it. "Jose's presence will spark interest and curiosity," the former Portugal international said. "Both Benfica and the league will benefit from his exposure."

  Certainly, from Rui Costa's perspective, you really can't put a price on this kind of publicity – and particularly just a few weeks before a presidential election…

Tottenham Hotspur have received a boost in their pursuit of a “fantastic” Chelsea player, with it being revealed the Blues are now willing to sell him to their rivals.

Tottenham prioritise signing of new number 10

As we enter the final week of the summer transfer window, Tottenham still have an awful lot of work to do, having missed out on a number of their main targets, and Alasdair Gold has revealed signing a new attacking midfielder is now deemed a priority.

However, Spurs were recently handed yet another setback, with it emerging that Como have rejected the north Londoners’ offer for Nico Paz, as the Italian wants to stay with the Serie A club, ahead of a potential move back to Real Madrid in the future.

Consequently, Thomas Frank’s options are thinning, although the manager has made it clear he is never too disheartened by rejections, as he only wants to sign players who are committed to playing for Tottenham.

Frank said: “I don’t want any players who don’t want to come to the club. If they don’t want to come here and wear this fantastic badge, we don’t want them here.”

The Lilywhites have previously held talks over a deal for Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, who is expected to leave the Blues this summer, and there has now been a promising new update, which suggests a move to N17 could be possible.

Indeed, according to a report from The Daily Mail, the west Londoners have previously been unwilling to do business with their rivals, but if Tottenham made an approach for Nkunku before the deadline, they would now be willing to take the call.

Enzo Maresca’s side would still prefer not to strengthen a direct rival, but the willingness to listen to a Spurs approach suggests a deal could be possible.

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"Fantastic" Nkunku could reignite career at Spurs

Once lauded as “absolutely fantastic” by members of the media, the Frenchman has struggled to force his way into Maresca’s plans, often featuring as a substitute last season, which meant he was never truly given the opportunity to prove himself.

However, there are signs the £195k-a-week forward could reignite his career if given consistent game time at Tottenham, having previously demonstrated a very keen eye for goal in the Bundesliga.

Season	Appearances	Goal contributions
2021-22	34	35
2022-23	25	22

With James Maddison out injured, and Son Heung-min departing, Frank could also do with a versatile forward, and the 27-year-old fits the bill, having regularly featured in attacking midfield, on both wings, and at centre-forward throughout his career.

It would be a risk to sign Nkunku, given that his Premier League career is yet to truly take off, but Tottenham are running out of options as we approach the end of the transfer window.

Manchester City are already looking ahead to the January window and appear primed to commence talks with a prime target to strengthen their forward line.

Manchester City prepare to face Manchester United in derby clash

Despite their dominance in the fixture since 2010, Manchester City take on Manchester United this Sunday in a match that Pep Guardiola will be hoping to see a vast improvement from his side in following a poor Premier League start.

The Citizens’ opening day victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers delivered some early promise for supporters to work with, but back-to-back defeats against Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion have left the club in an unusual position of 13th.

In what could be a potential baptism of fire for Gianluigi Donnarumma, the Italy international has signalled his excitement to work under Guardiola and outlined his hopes to be a major part of future success at the Etihad Stadium.

“I think his history speaks for itself. The fact that he wanted me here is a reason to be proud of. It’s an indescribable emotion. Being coached by him I think is the best for a football player.

“I can’t wait to follow him and take to the pitch with him. I’m sure he will help me a lot and we will do great things together, this season as well as in the following years. As we said, it’s been an era of unbelievable success here.”

Looking ahead, January could be a big month at the club and Manchester City are reportedly plotting a mid-season move for Real Madrid attacker Rodrygo, though he isn’t the only high-profile star they are considering to add some inspiration to their forward line.

Manchester City preparing bid to sign Bradley Barcola

According to reports in Spain, Manchester City are set to commence talks as they prepare to bid for Bradley Barcola in January, who has been identified as a target due to uncertainty over Savinho’s future at the Sky Blues.

Establishing himself as a key figure at Paris Saint-Germain, the France international is said to be valued at around £87 million and has registered 27 goals and 31 assists in 107 appearances across all competitions.

The report states Guardiola thinks Barcola could be key in the second half of the season alongside Erling Haaland, Phil Foden, and Jeremy Doku.

Liverpool battling Man Utd and Man City to sign towering Dutch defender

He could have a big future in the game.

ByHenry Jackson Sep 9, 2025

Dubbed “one of the best dribblers in Europe” by Luis Enrique, he has already put that to the test this campaign, evading his marker four times and creating six chances in Ligue 1, per Fotmob.

Guardiola sees the arrival of Barcola as a priority to strengthen his frontline, which already includes the likes of Erling Haaland, Phil Foden and Oscar Bobb and his versatility on both flanks is something that he feels would offer balance in the long-term.

Manchester City have enacted a notable squad refresh this summer and being able to secure another talented star with a high level of pedrigree would be a statement to their competitors across Europe.

تحدث محمد الدماطي، عضو مجلس إدارة الأهلي، المرشح لنفس المنصب في الانتخابات القادمة، عن تواجد سيد عبد الحفيظ وياسين منصور في قائمة الكابتن محمود الخطيب.

وقال الدماطي خلال تصريحات عبر قناة “إم بي سي مصر 2” لبرنامج “الكورة مع فايق”: سيد شاطر ومطلب جماهيري والكابتن محمود الخطيب مؤمن به جدًا، وهو يرى أن سيد هو الشخص القادر على الإدارة”.

وأضاف: “سيد عمل مدير كرة، وحقق نجاحات كثيرة جداً، وشاهد على إخفاقات أيضًا، وتدرّج في النادي، يعرف متى يتكلم وماذا يقول في كل المواقف، سيد شخصية هادئة، يعرف كيف يتغلب على المشاكل بطريقة منضبطة”.

وتابع: “ياسين منصور، رجل أهلاوي، ومتواجد في الأهلي منذ أيام كابتن صالح سليم، وكان متواجدا معنا والجميع سعيد بتواجده، قامة اقتصادية تطمئن الناس على مستقبل النادي الأهلي”.

طالع | ياسين منصور يوضح حقيقة بيع النادي الأهلي.. ويوجه رسالة خاصة لـ الخطيب

وبسؤاله هل كان ممكن تتراجع عن قرار الانسحاب أمام الزمالك لو عاد بك الزمن؟، قال الدماطي: “كنت هاخد نفس القرار، القصة كلها كانت بها استهانة باسم النادي الأهلي، يعني مرة واحدة حصلت قرعة بالذكاء الاصطناعي الساعة 3 الفجر، وكان من المفترض أن تأتي بحكام أجانب للمباراة”.

وأردف: “لكن تفاجأنا بالرد من اتحاد الكرة حكم من إيطاليا اعتذر وحكم من اليونان أعتذر، وكنا نرى أنه يوجد توجيه كامل في جزئية التحكيم”.

وعن أزمة تصريحات حسام غالي، أوضح: “لم تكن أزمة، حسام شخص مباشر، ومن النوع يا أبيض يا أسود، فهو من الواضح أن هو الفترة الآخيرة كان قد أخذ قرارا بالابتعاد، وبعدها خرج وتحدث قبل شهر من الانتخابات، ووضح فيه نيته أنه لا يريد أن يكون متواجدا”.

وأكمل: “حسام من الشخصيات الواضحة، هو هيحبك يقول لك في وشك: أنا بحبك، بيكرهك يقول لك في وشك: بكرهك”.

وأتم: “من ضمن الأهداف في الدورة الجديد إن شاء الله لو ربنا قدر لنا وأصبحنا موجودين، نعمل على أنشاء فرع جديد، بالنسبة لنا من أهم ما تم إنجازه لنا في الـ 10 سنين، أننا قمنا بفتح فرعين جداد فرع الشيخ زايد وفرع التجمع”.

It has been a slow start to life at Manchester United for Benjamin Sesko. The Slovenian joined the Red Devils over the summer, costing the club £74m, including £66.3m plus add-ons. He signed a five-year deal at Old Trafford.

Yet, the 22-year-old has not really hit the ground running since his big-money move from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. The six-foot-five centre-forward is being eased in by manager Ruben Amorim, and has played just 80 Premier League minutes. He did play a full game in the Carabao Cup defeat away to Grimsby Town, but did not score.

Despite the slow start for Sesko, the same cannot be said for fellow summer signing Matheus Cunha.

Cunha’s start to life at United

Football statistician Statman Dave said it best: Cunha is “going to light up Old Trafford this season”. The Brazilian has started life for the Red Devils in excellent fashion, despite not finding the back of the net yet.

A starter in all four of United’s games so far this term, the former Wolverhampton Wanderers player has added a real spark to Amorim’s attack with his directness and creativity.

He’s come close to scoring several times, with this effort against Fulham one of the closest.

The underlying numbers from Cunha’s time at United so far highlight how well he has started. The Brazil international averaged 1.3 key passes and 1.7 successful dribbles per 90 minutes already this season, as per Sofascore.

Unfortunately for the Red Devils, the 26-year-old picked up an injury in their most recent Premier League clash against Burnley at Old Trafford. It was serious enough for Amorim to substitute Cunha 31 minutes into the game.

At this stage, it is unclear if the Brazilian attacker will be back in time for Sunday’s Manchester Derby at the Etihad Stadium. If not, Amorim has someone waiting in the wings to unleash.

United’s ready-made Cunha replacement

Despite Cunha’s injury, United are not short of options for one of those number ten roles next to Bryan Mbeumo. Bruno Fernandes could be pushed higher up the pitch, Amad could move from wingback, and Kobbie Mainoo could get a well-deserved first Premier League start.

But the ideal option for Amorim to unleash could be Dutch forward Joshua Zirkzee. Described as a “monster” of an attacker by football analyst Ben Mattinson, the 24-year-old impressed in the second half of last season, especially as a number ten.

Having featured in 34 games under United’s Portuguese manager so far, Zirkzee has found the back of the net six times and assisted one goal.

One of those strikes came in the 2-2 draw away to Olympique Lyon in the Europa League, a goal which proved crucial given the fact United were 7-6 aggregate victors.

One of Zirkzee’s biggest strengths is his silky link-up play. The attacker, who can play as a centre-forward as well as a number 10, is excellent when it comes to dropping into pockets of space to link play together with quick give-and-go passes.

He also excels in one-vs-one situations in tight spaces, able to dance past defenders with his quick feet, often leaving them in the dust. Although he doesn’t possess lightning-quick pace, his superb technical ability shines through.

Indeed, the stats from the Europa League last season back up the theory that those attributes are his very best.

For example, he had a 70% take-on success rate and played 3.4 progressive passes per 90 minutes. Those metrics place him in the top 2% and 6% of forwards in the competition last season.

Expected assists

0.2

86th

Progressive passes

3.4

94th

Key passes

1.19

71st

Shot-creating actions

3.23

79th

Take-on success rate

70%

98th

Zirkzee could be the perfect option for Amorim to unleash as one of the number 10s. He has only played an hour or so of football this season, but he is perfectly suited to playing in that same role as Cunha.

It means the likes of Sesko would miss out on a spot in the starting lineup, but Zirkzee’s technical ability might be too good for Amorim to ignore, going into a huge week for the Red Devils.

Man Utd talent who left the club for £0 has been outscoring Sesko & Mbeumo

Manchester United may have made a mistake in allowing one former talent to depart Old Trafford.

1 ByEthan Lamb Sep 11, 2025

Leeds United desperately needed additions during the summer transfer window if they were to have any chance of securing survival in the Premier League throughout 2025/26.

The hierarchy have already backed manager Daniel Farke during the off-season, making nine additions to the first-team squad, spending nearly £100m in the process.

Noah Okafor is the latest player to make the move to Elland Road this summer, arriving in Yorkshire from Italian giants AC Milan, costing a fee in the region of £18m.

Despite the big money being splashed already this window, further additions are also being lined up ahead of the September 1st deadline to further bolster the chances of top-flight survival.

Experience in such a division will be vital to avoiding an immediate return to the second-tier, leading to multiple players currently plying trade in the Premier League being touted with moves.

Leeds targeting numerous Premier League talents this summer

Former loanee Manor Solomon has been on Leeds’ radar constantly this summer, understandably so given his record of 23 goal contributions for the Whites in the promotion-winning campaign.

He could be allowed to depart Tottenham Hotspur this window, opening the door for the 26-year-old to return to Elland Road on a permanent basis before the September 1st deadline.

However, he’s not the only player in England’s top-flight to appear in their sights, with Farke’s men considering a move for Bournemouth star James Hill, according to Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam.

He claimed that the Whites have been tracking a deal for the 23-year-old in recent weeks, potentially making a move for his signature in the coming days.

It’s also been confirmed that the defender only has one year left on his deal at the Vitality, which could see the Cherries cash in on him to avoid losing him for nothing in 12 months time.

Why Leeds’ latest target would be a repeat of Longstaff

During the current window, Leeds completed a deal to sign Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff, handing needed Premier League experience to the middle of the park.

The Englishman joined the Whites on a four-year deal from the Magpies, costing a fee in the region of £15m – after making 214 appearances for Eddie Howe’s men.

He was utilised off the bench during the opening day win over Everton on Monday night, with his arrival undoubtedly bolstering the squad at Farke’s disposal.

Whilst he didn’t start the win, the 27-year-old will have a huge role to play throughout 2025/26, potentially seeing the hierarchy land a bargain deal if he can replicate his form from 2023/24, which saw him score eight times.

However, the Whites could be about to replicate a move for Longstaff should they pursue a move for Hill, with the Bournemouth ace also able to offer an excellent squad option to the current first-team squad.

The Englishman made 14 appearances for the Cherries in all competitions last season – mainly being the backup for Dean Huijsen and Illia Zabarnyi – who both left for a combined £107m this summer.

Despite his lack of minutes in the Premier League, he managed to produce some impressive numbers, many of which would make him a superb addition to Farke’s outfit.

Games played

10

Minutes played

448

Pass accuracy

72%

Chances created

0.6

Dribbles completed

50%

Tackles won

1.6

Duels won

7.1

Aerials won

3.1

Interceptions made

1.8

Hill, who’s been dubbed “outstanding” by one podcast host, achieved a 50% dribble success rate and completed 72% of the passes he attempted – handing the side another option should they want to play out from the back.

The youngster also ranked in the 97th percentile for aerial duels won (3.1) and the 95th percentile for ground duels won (7.1) – offering a dominant presence at the heart of the backline.

His impressive numbers didn’t end there, making 1.8 interceptions per 90 and 1.6 tackles per 90, highlighting his talented ability to regain possession for his side.

It’s unclear how much a deal for the Englishman would cost the Whites this summer, but it’s clear from the stats produced that he would improve the options at Farke’s disposal.

Such a move would replicate a move for Longstaff, potentially being another shrewd addition in the club’s hunt to maintain their Premier League status beyond the 2025/26 campaign.

Their new Raphinha: Leeds could hijack late move to sign £32m "magician"

Leeds could pull off a last-minute hijack

1 ByJoe Nuttall Aug 22, 2025

Sianna Ginger takes five wickets as hosts reassert dominance after T20I series loss

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Apr-2025

Georgia Voll led the Australia A chase with an unbeaten century•Getty Images

Australia A 215 for 5 (Voll 137*, Villiers 3-28) beat England A 214 for 9 (Scrivens 43, Armitage 43, Ginger 5-35) by five wicketsGeorgia Voll continued her rapid rise with an unbeaten century for Australia A against their England counterparts, as her side secured a comfortable five-wicket win in the opening encounter of their three-match 50-over series at Cricket Central in Sydney.Voll, 21, missed the recent T20I leg of the tour – which England A won 1-0, after victory in the opening match followed by two wash-outs – as she was playing for Australia’s senior team in New Zealand, where she returned scores of 50, 36 and 75 in their three T20I victories.And having made her Test debut in Australia’s whitewash-sealing innings win against Heather Knight’s team in Melbourne in February, Voll continued her winning ways with a commanding innings of 137 not out from 122 balls, as England’s sub-par total of 214 for 9 was hunted down with 53 balls remaining.England A won the toss and chose to bat first, making a very solid start, particularly through Grace Scrivens and Hollie Armitage, who have shared the captaincy on the tour to date and who both made 43 from 59 balls. Earlier, Seren Smale had helped add 61 for the first wicket with Scrivens, and at 98 for 1 in the 21st over, England were on course for a competitive total.However, Queensland allrounder Sianna Ginger stepped up with a five-wicket haul to instigate a familiar subsidence from England’s lower-order. with the key wickets of Armitage and Bess Heath in the same over. Ella Hayward also claimed two wickets in two balls, as Mady Villiers was bowled immediately after Alice Capsey had fallen for 24.England’s bowlers put up a fight initially, with Australia wobbling early on 22 for 2. However, Voll found a solid ally in Charli Knott, who made 33 in a third-wicket stand of 91, before proving a cut above with 13 fours and a six in her unbeaten innings.Villiers atoned for her golden duck with figures of 3 for 28 in six overs, as England briefly threatened to rally at 125 for 5. But Tess Flintoff provided a powerful finish to the chase with 29 not out from 32 balls.The second match of the 50-over series will take place at the same venue on Friday.

Starc’s maiden five-for in T20s overshadowed Aniket Verma’s 41-ball 74

Shashank Kishore30-Mar-20255:41

Do SRH’s batters lack a plan B?

Mitchell Starc’s T20 best powered Delhi Capitals (DC) to a second straight win in Vizag as Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) all-out approach backfired for the second time in two games.Faf du Plessis then set the tempo for the chase with a half-century and despite Zeeshan Ansari’s three quick wickets on his T20 return after six years, DC’s strong 81-run opening stand set up an easy win in 16 overs with seven wickets in hand.This meant Aniket Verma’s blazing 41-ball 74, highlighted by his takedown of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, was overshadowed as SRH slumped to their second straight loss.Related

Rookie Aniket Verma and his incredible six sense

Starc's 'out of the box' ways prove too good for Head

Starc 2-0 HeadLike he did in last year’s IPL final, Starc proved menacing, but he was aided along the way. Abhishek Sharma ran himself out in the first over, Ishan Kishan slashed to deep third, and local boy Nitish Reddy heaved a slow offcutter to mid-on.Head vs Starc was brewing to be a contest within a contest. Head began by hitting him for two back-to-back fours, but after the flurry of wickets, Axar Patel’s decision to persist with Starc for a third over paid off when Head’s attempted ramp against him found KL Rahul’s gloves. SRH were 37 for 4 in the fifth over.Mitchell Starc picked up his maiden five-for in T20s•BCCIAniket, Klaasen lead recoveryAniket, 23, was all of three T20s old coming into this game. But he showed why SRH have so much faith in him. His incredible 41-ball 74 formed the bedrock of the SRH innings. He hit five fours and six sixes in his innings, twinning with Heinrich Klaasen during a 77-run stand off just 40 balls to lift the team after the Starc menace.Aniket shouldn’t have lasted that long, though. In the fourth over, he survived a run-out chance when Tristan Stubbs missed a direct hit at the striker’s end. In the sixth, his leading edge off Axar was put down by Abishek Porel circling from extra cover.Aniket made them pay – well, almost – by hitting Axar for back-to-back sixes in his next over. Klaasen, whose first six was a whip off Starc, wasn’t too far behind, but when he was out to Mohit Sharma after being brilliantly caught by Vipraj Nigam running back from point, SRH needed a semblance of stability at 114 for 5 in the 11th over.Kuldeep shines, Starc finishes it offSRH’s lower order was put to the test, and they were undone by DC’s spinners. Kuldeep had Abhinav Manohar slicing one to long-off and Cummins holing out to the lone man at deep midwicket. Aniket then decided to take control, hitting Axar for 4, 6, 6 to start the 16th over. Fraser-McGurk and Axar’s athleticism – at deep midwicket and mid-off, respectively – then helped close out the innings as SRH left eight deliveries unused.Faf du Plessis was quick off the blocks•BCCIDu Plessis sets the tempoFraser-McGurk’s powerplay salvo set the tempo for DC last year, but he struggled for rhythm for large parts tonight. This was offset by du Plessis’ fluency as he raced to a 26-ball half-century during the course of an 81-run opening stand. Du Plessis took a liking to Abhishek early on, and was equally brutal when Pat Cummins erred in length.Ansari strikes but Porel sees DC throughAnsari, 25, last played a T20 in 2019. But he got a second wind when he ended up as the highest wicket-taker in the latest UP T20 League. On Sunday, he began with a series of half-trackers but settled in to have du Plessis miscue to long-on and Fraser-McGurk chip one back on either side of a sequence of 4, 6, 6.In his first innings for DC, Rahul thrilled briefly when he got stuck into Mohammed Shami, muscling him over deep midwicket for a six and then launching him up and over the infield for a four. Rahul became Ansari’s third wicket when he was bowled around his legs. Porel and Stubbs put together 51 off just 28 balls to see DC home without further alarms.