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England coach hopes to unleash Ecclestone and Linsey to exploit India’s vulnerability against left-arm spin

S Sudarshanan18-Oct-20252:41

Edwards: ‘Ecclestone is bowling as well as I’ve seen’

“What collapse?” Charlotte Edwards joked.England have three wins from four outings and are yet to lose a game at the 2025 Women’s World Cup. And they will face an under-pressure India on Sunday, stinging from defeats to South Africa and Australia.It’s a good place to be, if you put aside England’s batting issues, which their head coach has been trying to. “Seriously, in a tournament like this, you have to forget about things quite quickly,” Edwards said in Indore on the eve of the match against India.England were 78 for 7 in their most recent game against Pakistan and were lucky to split points after rain put an end to proceedings in Colombo. “We’ve obviously reviewed that last game, but we are not dwelling on that,” Edwards said. “We’re focusing on India and we know from the summer how tough a challenge India are going to be in home conditions.Related

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“It’s exciting to be here tomorrow in front of a massive crowd, who I’m sure will be supporting India. There’s just this real sense of excitement around our group and not thinking too much about what’s happened.”One of England’s concerns with the bat is their vulnerability against swing bowling. Bangladesh’s Marufa Akter exploited that in Guwahati by dismissing Amy Jones and Tammy Beaumont, and almost dismissed the eventual match-winner Heather Knight, too. Pakistan’s Fatima Sana and Diana Baig inflicted the early damage at the Premadasa stadium this week resulting in a bit of a trend.Fast bowlers have recorded a tournament-high strike rate of 22.7 against England at this World Cup.”I am not concerned,” Edwards said. “You have days where it doesn’t go particularly well. I’m disappointed, probably, that we didn’t adapt quick enough, but I’m certainly not concerned. You have got to move on quite quickly in tournament cricket. If you look at South Africa in the first game, they were bowled out for 70 [69] and have played brilliantly since.”Edwards: ‘Wanted Ecclestone to enjoy her cricket again’Sophie Ecclestone has been in top form•Getty ImagesEngland’s spinners have picked up 24 of the 30 wickets so far, and left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone has led the pack with nine at an average of 6.66. That haul included figures of 4 for 17 against Sri Lanka in Colombo and Edwards said England were just happy she was back playing again.During the English summer, Ecclestone had taken time away from the game to prioritise her wellbeing. She had also considered quitting cricket following some off-field drama that cropped up during the last Women’s Ashes.”We’re all incredibly proud of Sophie, she obviously had a tough winter and worked through some issues,” Edwards said. “First and foremost, we wanted Sophie to enjoy her cricket again. It’s really evident to see that she’s enjoying cricket again. She’s probably bowling as well as I’ve ever seen her and that spell against Sri Lanka was unbelievable. I know she’s looking forward to playing tomorrow. She’s over her illness [that kept her out of the Pakistan game] and really excited to get out there playing again for England.”India have lost the most wickets to left-arm spin at this World Cup. On Sunday, they will be faced with two exponents of the art in Ecclestone and Linsey Smith. Ecclestone has dismissed Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur a combined seven times in ODIs.”Left-arm spin has been quite prolific in women’s cricket over the last few years, probably more in the T20 format,” Edwards said. “With this tournament being in India, our reasons for picking two left-arm spinners was because I knew they’d be really effective. We’ve got two of the best in the world and well, certainly, the best in the world in Sophie Ecclestone. It’s just one of those bowling styles that’s been hugely effective and I’m glad we’ve got the two.”Any sort of advantage you can get over an opposition, you’ll look into. We do know there is a vulnerability there and we’ve got two left-arm spinners, which is great that we’ve got that option to play them.”

Can Rob Edwards save Wolverhampton Wanderers from relegation?

During the international break, the 42-year-old controversially left Middlesbrough, currently second in the EFL Championship, to take over the reins at Molineux, returning to the club for whom he made 111 appearances as a player, but he has a massive task on his hands.

Wolves currently have just two points on the board after 11 matches, no side in Premier League history has ever survived from this position, losing four on the spin ahead of Crystal Palace’s visit to the Black Country on Saturday afternoon.

The Old Gold’s eight-year stay in the top-flight is under serious threat, so if Edwards harbours any realistic hopes of leading Wolves to a great escape, he must surely unleash a new-look forward line in attack.

Jørgen Strand Larsen's downturn in form

Last season, his first after arriving from Celta Vigo, only nine players scored more Premier League goals than Jørgen Strand Larsen’s tally of 14, an impressive figure considering Wolves finished 16th.

This saw Newcastle make multiple bids to sign the 25-year-old, the highest of which was £55m, despite the fact he had cost the Old Gold only €30m (around £26m).

Wolves rejected all of these bids, with Strand Larsen instead signing a new five-year contract, but now they desperately need him to rediscover his best form.

So far this season, the striker has just three goals to his name, bagging a Carabao Cup double against West Ham in August, while his only goal in the Premier League thus far was a penalty during the infamous 3-2 home defeat at the hands of Burnley that ultimately cost Vítor Pereira his job.

Strand Larsen did find the target last Sunday as Norway crushed Italy 4-1 at San Siro, officially confirming his country’s place at next summer’s World Cup, so will be hoping to take confidence from that back into his club form.

Nevertheless, Wolves could be doing more to get the best out of their number nine, underlined by the fact that Strand Larsen’s shots and shot on target per 90 statistics have significantly decreased this season, so could partnering him alongside a “huge talent” be the solution?

Rob Edwards must unleash Wolves' next Jimenez

Wolves only made five senior summer signings, all of whom have had varying degrees of little impact, namely Fer López, Jhon Arias, David Møller Wolfe and Jackson Tchatchoua.

The last of the additions, arriving on deadline day, was striker Tolu Arokodare, joining from Genk for £24m, and he is possibly the most exciting of the quintet, even if the Wolves faithful have seen very little from him thus far.

The 24-year-old has taken an unusual route to the Premier League, beginning his senior career at Latvian club Valmiera, scoring 22 goals in just 34 appearances, hence why Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout described him as “simply too good” for the Virslīga, currently ranked the 36th best league in Europe.

​​​​​​​

After a brief and unsuccessful stint at Köln, scoring no goals for die Geißböcke, Arokodare​​​​​​​ rediscovered his mojo at Amiens, netting 21 times across two seasons for the Ligue 2 side, earning a move to Genk, scoring on 41 occasions for the Smurfs.

Of these goals, 21 came in last season’s Jupiler Pro League, which Global Football Rankings believes to be the sixth-strongest league in the world, and the Nigerian international’s statistics make for impressive reading.

Goals

21

1st

Goals inside the box

21

1st

Headed goals

3

3rd

Expected goals

28.53

1st

Shots

158

1st

Shots per 90

4.9

1st

Shots on target

52

2nd

Big chances missed

34

1st

Assists

5

17th

Big chances created

7

32nd

Key passes

32

52nd

Shot-creating actions

77

16th

Goal-creating actions

9

13th

Aerial duels won

156

3rd

Touches in the box

217

1st

The table makes for interesting reading, emphasising the fact that Arokodare is a penalty box presence, considering all 21 of his goals came inside the area, while also ranking first for shots, shots per 90 and touches in the opposition area.

Meantime, he is also excellent in the air, scoring three headers while also ending up third for aerial duels won, behind only Daan Heymans​​​​​​​ and Aurélien Scheidler​​​​​​​; the former joined Genk to replace Arokodare, while the latter moved to Royal Charleroi to replace the former.

The statistic though that leaps off the page most is the fact that Arokodare missed 34 Opta-defined big chances.

For comparison, the leaders in this metric across other European leagues last season were Ollie Watkins in the Premier League (27), Kylian Mbappé in La Liga (29), Serhou Guirassy in the Bundesliga (21) and Roberto Piccoli in Serie A (26), so no one came close to the Nigerian’s 34, which shows he is often in the right position, albeit is regularly an erratic finisher.

Chalkboard

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

Despite this, Arokodare is still highly rated, with journalist Graeme Bailey​​​​​​​ labelling him a “huge talent”, while the aforementioned Kulig notes that “physicality, heading and link-up play” are his primary assets.

This all sounds rather reminiscent of Wolves’ best striker of their current stint in the Premier League, Raúl Jiménez, who is the club’s all-time leading scorer in the competition with 40.

After bouncing around Club América, Atlético Madrid and Benfica, the Mexican really flourished at Molineux, very much considered to be one of the best centre-forwards in the division prior to suffering a horrific fractured skull in November 2020.

Arokodare certainly possesses all the raw attributes to be as good as Jiménez, so now is the time for him to prove this.

Well, Wolves supporters have been treated to a mere amuse-bouche of what their new striker could offer so far, scoring in EFL Cup ties against Everton and Chelsea, starting only once in the Premier League thus far, not doing so in any of Wolves’ last six.

So, pairing him with Strand Larsen would certainly give opposition defences something to think about, with the duo possessing similar but also complementary skillsets.

With Palace captain Marc Guéhi a doubt due to a foot injury, surely Wolves’ best hope of claiming a first win of the season is to deploy the two strikers together.

£55m spent & Hackney signs: Dream Wolves XI Edwards can build in January

This is the dream Wolves starting line-up that Rob Edwards could build in the January window.

ByDan Emery Nov 11, 2025

With Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic playing in big games, and others hoping to establish themselves again, it should be a captivating week

Welcome back from the international break. Did you miss club soccer? There are certainly reasons to do so – but after a genuinely excellent 10 days for the international game, you'd be forgiven for feeling a little lukewarm about what comes next.

From an American point of view, though, there’s plenty to keep an eye on. Two of the USMNT’s biggest names stayed home as the U.S. won back-to-back friendlies. One was AC Milan's Christian Pulisic, who wasn’t risked after picking up an injury in October – an unsurprising call for a player, especially with the Milan derby ahead. 

The other absence was far more surprising. Juventus' Weston McKennie missed out despite no injury, no reported fallout, and no indication of any issues within the camp. When he’s with the U.S., he's usually just fine. But apparently, that wasn’t enough this time. Either way, both stars return to big Serie A fixtures this weekend.

And then there's Gio Reyna, who suddenly channeled prime Kaka for the U.S. 10 days ago. If only that version showed up more often for his club, Gladbach.

GOAL breaks down the four main storylines to watch among Americans Abroad this weekend…

GettyMore minutes for Gio?

The international break proved one thing definitively:  Reyna can still play a bit. It's something we perhaps all knew deep down. Class doesn't just go away, and this 23-year-old remains an immense talent – no matter how much he has struggled at the club level for the last few years. And Reyna showed that there's still a player there, running the show in a 2-1 win over Paraguay, before grabbing an assist as a second-half sub in a 5-1 hammering of Uruguay. 

The question is, then: were you watching, Monchengladbach? They have struggled immensely to start the season, and a tad unfairly sacked Gerardo Seoane after going winless in their first three. Under-23s manager Eugen Polanski was named interim shortly after, and has now been handed the reins on a full-time basis, with a contract in place until the end of the 2027-28 season – which is a lot of trust to put in someone who is yet to have a senior managerial position. 

But, to his credit, the 39-year-old has steadied the ship a little. Monchengladbach are 12th and climbing. They play relegation strugglers Heidenheim, Mainz, and Wolfsburg in the next month. This would seem to be high time for Reyna to perform. Heidenheim, Saturday morning, is a fine starting point. 

AdvertisementGetty ImagesChristian Pulisic, on the big stage

We are told that Pulisic is a "big game player" – whatever that means. OK, there is something to that sentiment. The American does tend to show up when the stakes are at their highest, when something is truly on the line. He is, historically, not one to go quiet when his side needs him. And, for the first time this season, he has a chance to show off his big game chops. 

The Milan derby has been a fine hunting ground for Pulisic of late, with the American scoring in two of the last three – and turning in a dominant performance in the other. This is his forum against the team that his club hates more than any other. Pulisic should come into the game well rested, too. He missed out on the most recent USMNT camp, still nursing a bit of a knock picked up in October. He's had two weeks, then, to get fit, prepare, and prime himself to turn in the kind of performance that he can hang his hat on. 

These fixtures always tend to mean something, and this iteration of the Milan derby is no different. Inter are in first. Milan are two points behind them in third. "Early title decider" this isn't, but the three points here could be crucial come May.  

Getty ImagesMcKennie fights to get Juve on track

So what’s going on with McKennie, then? Every year, we hear the same cycle: transfer-listed, written off, then suddenly indispensable again. And this season feels no different. The American hasn’t exactly lit up Luciano Spalletti’s Juventus, but he remains a key piece and played every minute against Torino before the international break.

The numbers, though, aren’t especially inspiring. And he isn’t getting much love from Mauricio Pochettino, either. So what gives? Is McKennie just the kind of player who eats up minutes, does a solid job, and goes home? If that’s the case, it feels like a waste of talent – and it certainly isn’t enough to sway the U.S. manager with a World Cup less than a year away.

Some factors are out of his control, of course. But McKennie could use a sharp reset, and that starts with Fiorentina this weekend. Juventus sit sixth and badly need a win to get their season back on track. What role McKennie plays remains to be seen, but if history is any indication, he’ll be involved – one way or another.

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Getty Images SportJosh Sargent struggles for form

A few months ago, Josh Sargent looked like he had a real shot at becoming the USMNT’s long-term No. 9. A month into the Championship season, he was top of the scoring charts. And with Folarin Balogun injured, it felt like the door had finally swung wide open for him.

Since then, though, things have unraveled. The goals have dried up. Norwich have lost four of their last five. And Sargent? He hasn’t scored since August. He’s still the focal point up front for , and his overall play has picked up a bit recently, but the results haven’t. With Norwich winless for months, he’ll be under pressure to rediscover his finishing touch against a surging Birmingham City on Saturday morning.

Four match referees and 14 umpires form the 18-member group that will officiate in India and Sri Lanka

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-2025The upcoming women’s ODI World Cup in India and Sri Lanka will feature an all-female line-up of match officials. On Thursday, the ICC announced the panel of four match referees and 14 umpires, featuring women from nine countries for the tournament that runs from September 30 to November 2.The match referees are Trudy Anderson (New Zealand), Shandre Fritz (South Africa), GS Lakshmi (India) and Michell Pereira (Sri Lanka).The on-field and TV umpires are Sue Redfern (England), Claire Polosak and Eloise Sheridan (Australia), Candace la Borde and Jacqueline Williams (West Indies), Kim Cotton (New Zealand), Sarah Dambanevana (Zimbabwe), Shathira Jakir Jesy (Bangladesh), Kerrin Klaaste and Lauren Agenbag (South Africa), N Janani, Vrinda Rathi and Gayathri Venugopalan (India) and Nimali Perera (Sri Lanka).Related

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Among them, Polosak, Williams and Redfern will be appearing in their third women’s ODI World Cups, while Agenbag and Cotton will be at their second.Three recent events – the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and the two most recent women’s T20 World Cups – also featured all-female panels of match officials.Panel of match officials

Match referees: Trudy Anderson, Shandre Fritz, GS Lakshmi, Michelle Pereira
Umpires: Lauren Agenbag, Candace la Borde, Kim Cotton, Sarah Dambanevana, Shathira Jakir Jesy, Kerrin Klaaste, Janani N, Nimali Perera, Claire Polosak, Vrinda Rathi, Sue Redfern, Eloise Sheridan, Gayathri Venugopalan, Jacquline Williams

“This marks a defining moment in the journey of women’s cricket, one that we hope will pave the way for many more trailblazing stories across all facets of the sport,” ICC president Jay Shah said in a statement. “The inclusion of an all-women panel of match officials is not only a major milestone but also a powerful reflection of the ICC’s unwavering commitment to advancing gender equity across cricket.”This development goes beyond symbolic value. It is about visibility, opportunity, and the creation of meaningful role models who can inspire future generations. By highlighting excellence in officiating on the global stage, we aim to spark aspiration and reinforce that leadership and impact in cricket know no gender.”We are honoured to recognise a new chapter in the growth of the women’s game. We believe the influence of this initiative will resonate far beyond this tournament, motivating more women worldwide to pursue officiating careers and helping redefine what’s possible within the game.”The 13th women’s ODI World Cup begins with hosts India and Sri Lanka facing off on September 30. Defending champions Australia will take on New Zealand on October 1. Each team will play the other seven teams once with the top four moving into the semi-finals.The matches will be played in Guwahati, Indore, Visakhapatnam, Navi Mumbai and Colombo with the final scheduled for November 2.

Nottingham Forest’s plans for the transfer window suffered a dent after Nuno Espírito Santo’s side lost out in the race for Champions League qualification, instead settling for Conference League place, but Evangelos Marinakis and co appear determined to bolster the squad.

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According to an in-depth analysis of the club’s transfer plans by Telegraph reporter John Percy, Forest are targeting at least five new signings this summer as they seek to build off what was a very promising 2024/2025 overall.

Marinakis and co are extremely eager to back Nuno in the market, with the Telegraph reporting they’ll aim to recruit players who are valued around the £20-30 million mark.

Nottingham Forest’s rumoured transfer targets this summer

Target

Current club

Position

Taty Castellanos

Lazio

Striker

Jarell Quansah

Liverpool

Centre-back

Martin Baturina

Dinamo Zagreb

Attacking midfield

Adrien Truffert

Rennes

Left-back

James McAtee

Man City

Attacking midfield

While Forest are not under any pressure to sell players to appease PSR, with their balance sheet described as being in a “healthy state” (John Percy), star midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White could still be sold amid links to Man City.

Gibbs-White’s sale could fetch at least £70 million for Forest, which would go a long way to improving Nuno’s first-team in other areas, and the manager has already confirmed that City Ground officials will be working to recruit fresh blood ahead of next term.

“People in the club are dealing with next season, not us as coaching staff,” said Nuno when asked about Forest’s plans for the summer.

“This moment requires everything that you have for the responsibilities ahead of us. The recruitment staff and scouting team will be working on that and there will be the right moment to speak and sit down.”

Defensively, Forest are keen to bring in a left-back to assist this season’s breakout star Neco Williams (The Telegraph), and the addition of another centre-back cannot be ruled out either.

Nottingham Forest make offer for Botafogo defender Jair

According to South American news outlet GE Globo and their reporter Jessica Maldonado, Botafago defender Jair Cunha is attracting serious interest from Forest.

Nuno’s side have already submitted a proposal for their striker, Igor Jesus, and they’re now pursuing his central defensive teammate.

The outlet reports that Nottingham Forest have made an offer to sign Jair, and while they cannot disclose the amount, it comes in at above £11.5 million – which is the amount Botafogo paid Santos to sign the 20-year-old back in February.

As the Brazilian club reportedly evaluate this bid, it is worth noting that Jair has drawn comparisons to Liverpool legend Virgil van Dijk, and he’s described by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig as a “complete, dominant, and elegant central defender”.

He’s also able to play as both a right and left centre-back as part of a four-man defensive line, with Jair towering over most of his teammates at 6 foot 3.

The Brazilian is highly-rated and could come as an excellent back-up option behind the likes of Murillo and Nikola Milenkovic.

Newcastle United have now made contact over the signing of an “incredible” player, who could be set to leave his club for a very low fee in the summer, according to a report.

Magpies set sights on new goalkeeper

Nick Pope has struggled with injuries at times during the current season, and with the Englishman now arguably in the latter stages of his career at 33-years-old, Newcastle are looking at bringing in a new goalkeeper at the end of the campaign.

One of the most exciting targets on the shortlist is Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, fresh off the back of a fantastic season with the Clarets in the Championship, shipping a total of just 16 league goals across the entire season.

Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel is another option for the Magpies, having made contact over a deal for the shot-stopper back in April, while they have expressed a strong interest in signing Southampton’s Aaron Ramsdale, who has impressed Eddie Howe in the past.

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According to reports from France (via Sport Witness), Newcastle also have their eye on a goalkeeper who has impressed in Ligue 1 this season, namely Angers’ Yahia Fofana, having now made contact over a deal for the Ivorian.

With his contract set to expire in 2026, Fofana could be in line to leave Angers this summer, and there is a feeling he could be available on the cheap, with an €8m – €10m (£6.8m – £8.4m) transfer fee being touted.

There could be fierce competition for the Paris-born shot-stopper’s signature, however, who came through the same Le Havre academy that produced talents such as Paul Pogba and Dimitri Payet. Torino and Southampton also in the picture, but a move to St. James’ Park would be preferred over St. Mary’s, given the Saints’ impending relegation from the Premier League.

"Incredible" Fofana impressing in Ligue 1

Angers are among the middle of the pack in Ligue 1, but they could be a lot lower in the table if not for the performances of their goalkeeper, who is ranked as their best-performing player this season, achieving an average WhoScored league match rating of 6.88.

The Ivory Coast international has stood out for quite some time, having previously been lauded as “incredible” by scout Antonio Mango, who also added: “His agility, reactions and positioning is outstanding. Whilst being institutive with his distributions.”

Fellow scout Ben Mattinson has also stated the 6-foot-4 colossus “claims crosses well”, while praising him for his range of passing, indicating that he could be a fantastic modern-day goalkeeper.

With Fofana set to be available for a fee as low as £6.8m this summer, he could be a bargain signing for Newcastle, but Trafford should remain their number one target to replace Pope long-term, having matched the EFL record of 29 clean sheets last season.

Bruno Fernandes is the obvious recent example of a Manchester United signing who hit the ground running at Old Trafford, although just over a decade ago, it was Robin van Persie who proved an instant hit under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Having been stung on the final day of the 2011/12 campaign, Fergie – who was entering what would prove to be his final season in charge of United – was hellbent on wrestling back the title, thus identifying the Dutchman as the potential difference-maker in the race for Premier League glory.

A £24m fee was agreed to controversially pluck the experienced striker – then 29 – from rivals Arsenal, with the player himself memorably stating at the time that the boy inside of him was “screaming for United”.

Right from the off, the club’s new number 20 looked set to be the man to lead the Red Devils to a 20th league title, scoring the first of his 26 top-flight goals that season on his home debut against Swansea City.

While the following two years may have been a disappointment on an individual and collective basis, in the wake of Ferguson’s retirement, Van Persie still managed to depart in 2015 with a healthy record of 58 goals in just 105 games in all competitions.

Season

Player

Goals

2024/25*

Bruno Fernandes

8

2023/24

Bruno Fernandes & Rasmus Hojlund

10

2022/23

Marcus Rashford

17

2021/22

Cristiano Ronaldo

18

2020/21

Bruno Fernandes

18

2019/20

Marcus Rashford & Anthony Martial

17

2018/19

Paul Pogba

13

2017/18

Romelu Lukaku

16

2016/17

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

17

2015/16

Anthony Martial

11

2014/15

Wayne Rooney

12

2013/14

Wayne Rooney

17

2012/13

Robin van Persie

26

How Ruben Amorim could do with a player of that clinical ilk now…

Latest on Man Utd's striker search

It remains to be seen just which marquee centre-forward will be brought in to Old Trafford this summer, with a cut-price move for Napoli’s Victor Osimhen having been touted, while there were also claims that an agreement was close for Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres.

Asked about his former talisman ahead of Thursday’s meeting with Athletic Bilbao, Amorim claimed that he had not spoken to the prolific Swede, while also outlining that any player who was merely chasing Champions League football would not end up at United.

Elsewhere, meanwhile, talk is rife over a move for Ipswich Town’s £30m-rated marksman, Liam Delap, albeit with GIVEMESPORT outlining that the Manchester side are considering alternatives to the 22-year-old, should a move for the Englishman prove too difficult.

Transfer Focus

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Indeed, the report suggests that Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick has emerged as something of a wildcard option in reserve, with United said to be considering engaging in talks with the Bundesliga side, if they do decide to turn their attention away from Delap.

In the case of Schick, the Czech striker is viewed as an ‘attainable alternative’ for Amorim and co, not least considering that he could have a price tag of ‘just’ £34m this summer.

With a healthy goal return to his name too this season, a left-field move for the 29-year-old may certainly have its merits.

Why Man Utd could be targeting the next Van Persie

Figures such as Gyokeres and Osimhen may be the names on everyone’s lips heading into yet another pivotal window for the Red Devils, although it would be foolish to overlook the impact that Schick can make.

Described as “a proven goalscorer” by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley – who also tipped him to be an “[Alexander] Isak replacement” for Newcastle United – the 6 foot 3 ace has scored 25 goals in all competitions this term, including a standout total of 19 Bundesliga goals thus far.

That follows on from the Prague native’s vital role in Leverkusen’s unbeaten domestic season under Xabi Alonso in 2023/24, in which the towering striker scored 13 times despite only starting 18 games, amid early struggles due to injury.

A player who now boasts 79 goals in 165 games for the German outfit, Schick has three games remaining to break the 20-goal barrier in the league. As alluded to in the prior table, now player has scored 20 top-flight goals in a season for United since Van Persie.

Not only are both men prolific finishers in front of goal, but they are also stylistically similar as left-footers, with Schick mirroring the former Netherlands star with his quality on the volley, as indicated with his stunner for Leverkusen back in 2020.

Van Persie famously sealed the title for Ferguson and co with that volley from range against Aston Villa in April 2013, having latched onto Wayne Rooney’s lofted pass before rifling home in expert fashion.

Like mentioned with his 2020 strike for his club, Schick is also no stranger to the spectacular, having also memorably scored from just inside the opposition half for his country against Scotland at Euro 2020.

In a similar mould to Van Persie too, the former Roma man is simply an out-and-out poacher and an ‘old fashioned number nine’ – as remarked by pundit Chris Sutton – with 17 of his 19 league goals coming inside the penalty area in 2024/25.

A player who also ranks in the top 1% of strikers in Europe’s top five leagues for non-penalty goals per 90, Schick may represent the ruthless finisher that Amorim desperately needs in order to replace the struggling Rasmus Hojlund.

Yes, he may represent something of a short-term fix due to his age, much like Van Persie, although if the £34m man can spearhead United to a dramatic improvement next term, then such a decision could prove a masterstroke.

Like prime Rashford: Man Utd keen to sign "one of the best STs out there"

Man Utd could be looking to sign a player with shades of Marcus Rashford…

ByRobbie Walls Apr 30, 2025

Everton lost their second game on the bounce in the Premier League, falling short against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge with a 1-0 loss. David Moyes’ side held 45% possession, creating two ‘big chances’ in the match, but only generating 0.52 xG and taking six shots in total.

Meanwhile, Chelsea held 55% possession, having more control of the game, taking 10 shots and generating 0.98 xG. Whilst it wasn’t a blockbuster game, the Blues had enough control to see the game out, making it back-to-back losses for the Toffees without scoring a goal.

Everton have only scored 34 times this season in 34 games, so we already know they aren’t the most lethal attacking team, but they have been one of the tighter defensive sides this season, conceding 41 goals and holding plenty of teams to frustrating draws, having 14 draws this season. But they were unable to keep a clean sheet today against Chelsea, despite Jordan Pickford’s best efforts.

How Pickford kept Everton in it

The Everton and England shot-stopper has already made 36 appearances this season, conceding 43 goals in all competitions and keeping 11 clean sheets in his 3,240 minutes played. The 31-year-old was unable to add to his clean sheets, despite making some big saves to keep Chelsea out.

Pickford made six saves in the game, preventing a total of 0.66 xG, with four saves coming from inside the box. The only goal of the game came from Nicolas Jackson in the 27th minute, catching Pickford off guard with a shot from a turnover, finding the bottom corner from outside the box.

If it wasn’t for Pickford, Chelsea could have had a few more, but Everton didn’t really look like scoring themselves, apart from the odd snapshot, which isn’t a new story this season for the Toffees.

Why Everton should drop Beto

Beto has made 31 appearances for Everton this campaign, netting 10 goals in all competitions, six of which came in the Premier League in his 1,583 minutes played. All six of his league goals have come under Moyes since his arrival, but he now finds himself eight league games without a goal after not scoring against Chelsea.

Minutes

64

Touches

23

Accurate Passes

4/9

Shots

1

Dribble Attempts

0/1

Ground Duels Won

2/7

Aerial Duels Won

1/3

Possession Lost

12

Error leading to goal

1

The 27-year-old only managed 23 touches in the game, fewer than Pickford, who managed more than double Beto’s touches (54). He only made four of his nine passes, having a 44% pass accuracy in the match, and lost possession 12 times.

This saw Beto given a 1/10 match rating by Football Insider, labeling his afternoon as ‘horrendous’. Whilst the target man was often feeding off scraps at Stamford Bridge, his inability to make it stick up front and get bodies around him as an outlet saw Beto hooked after 64 minutes.

Therefore, Moyes should drop the Portuguese centre-forward from the starting line-up for the next match, because he has not done enough to keep his shirt.

Everton are being heavily linked with strikers for this summer, with both Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Armando Broja not expected to be at the club next season. This could see Beto fighting it out next season for a starting spot, with far more competition in his position than there currently is.

Eddie Howe may not have been at St. James’ Park on Wednesday evening, but the Newcastle United manager’s genius was very much present as his team brushed Crystal Palace aside.

Brushed them aside as if they were nothing. Eagles reduced to mites, returning to Selhurst Park in tattered frustration. For Newcastle, the 5-0 win has lifted them above Nottingham Forest and into third place, further into the firm soil of Champions League qualification.

With six Premier League games left to play, the Carabao Cup champions are playing brilliantly, top of the form charts and determined to return to Europe’s elite stage.

The unity from head to toe is a product of Howe’s tactics and the players’ reaction to the boss’s teachings. So many good performances. However, Jacob Murphy and Alexander Isak proved themselves the picks of the bunch once again.

Isak & Murphy run riot

Last season, Anthony Gordon was crowned Newcastle’s Player of the Year after a standout season that saw him guide his team through injury-troubled waters.

Gordon remains a core part of a high-flying, trophy-winning Magpies attack, but this has been Isak and Murphy’s year. Both were on the scoresheet against Palace, with Murphy also setting up Fabian Schar’s goal before the break.

Isak is one of Europe’s best strikers, now boasting 25 goals and six assists across all competitions. It’s no wonder that the likes of Arsenal and Liverpool want to sign the £150m-rated man, but their efforts will likely fall short this summer.

Murphy, however, has ripped up the narrative to shift from inconsequential squad player to an utter force in the Premier League. How it’s happened? Hard graft and unbreakable trust from his manager, who has hailed his industriousness and promoted his potency in front of goal.

This new regime, painstakingly constructed, has served as a solvent for the years of hurt and upset on Tyneside, but Newcastle aren’t just an outfit pieced of superstars, with Murphy’s rise evidence that all can step up and reach new heights in Howe’s system.

Indeed, there’s another Newcastle star who’s gone from strength to strength in recent weeks and is now recorded as playing like Barcelona sensation Raphinha, who is one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or this year.

Newcastle's own Raphinha

The man in question, as you may well have guessed, is Harvey Barnes, who has risen in stature and responsibility over recent weeks and has been praised, alongside Murphy, as being one of the “two best wide players in the Premier League right now” by pundit Chris Sutton.

Newcastle ran rampant against Oliver Glasner’s Palace, and he got himself another goal.

Talk about a purple patch. Barnes’ strike means he has scored in three successive Premier League matches, four goals in total, having laid on two assists in as many fixtures before.

Barnes’ beauty lies in its simplicity. He carries an Arjen Robben-esque quality of swooping inwards and firing at goal. His strikes bear the crispness of a sure-handled rifle shot, the snap and confidence of a predator starting to pounce.

The 27-year-old played the full 90 against Palace, and though he wasn’t in the thick of the action, he still came away with an excellent goal to add to the haul, underlining his ability to strike when a chance falls his way. The Shields Gazette could award him no less than a 9/10 match rating for his performance, hailing his finishing.

Barnes might not have started all the time since transferring to Tyneside from relegated Leicester City in 2023, but he carries that natural threat that makes him such a dangerous weapon.

It’s something that Raphinha has built up himself under Hansi Flick’s wing at Barcelona this term. Though the Brazilian is more of a natural playmaker than Newcastle’s man, there’s little question that there are similarities between the two.

Both players have been clutch for their sides this season, Barnes growing into his increasingly talismanic role in recent weeks following Gordon’s suspension, picked up against Brighton & Hove Albion during that bitter FA Cup defeat.

Goals

0.64

0.50

Assists

0.21

0.31

Shots taken

3.35

3.38

Shot-creating actions

3.35

5.19

Touches (att pen)

6.28

5.76

Pass completion

78.6%

69.4%

Progressive passes

4.28

4.69

Progressive carries

4.71

2.96

Successful take-ons

1.36

1.69

Both wide forwards are among the most statistically prolific players in their divisions, with both athletically remarkable yet opting against the kind of unrelenting runs and creative passes that others produce. Instead, they conserve their energy, use their intelligence to pick out teammates or strike on goal at the perfect moment.

Barnes might not have enjoyed his counterpart’s consistency, but FBref record that data-wise they are comparable, a testament to the England international’s quality. It’s exciting to think that with further success over the coming weeks, he might indeed finish the season as one of the most talked-about stars.

Of course, the United star might be one of the best wide players in English football right now but Raphinha has actually been dubbed “Europe’s best player” across the 2024/25 campaign by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley.

Barcelona would hardly want to sell such a superstar but are financially troubled and have been reported to have listed him at €100m (roughly £86m) as suitors begin to circle.

It all just goes to show how staggering the project that Howe has created at St. James’ Park really is.

Newcastle were interested in signing the La Blaugrana sensation last summer but opted against it in the end due to PSR concerns. Perhaps they will be among the crowd of contenders this summer, for inevitably the clubs will line up for a player so talented, so in-form.

Chalkboard

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

However, with Barnes already in the mix, alongside a dynamic and deadly frontline, fans won’t lose any sleep if it doesn’t come to play. They already have their own version of the £86m-rated star.

103 touches, 87% passing: 9/10 Newcastle star is now as undroppable as Isak

Newcastle romped home to victory against Crystal Palace in a 5-0 demolition job at St James’ Park.

ByKelan Sarson Apr 17, 2025

Sheffield United are thought to be looking to tie down three different key players to new contracts, according to an exciting new update regarding their futures.

Sheffield United reach defining moment in season

The Blades are seven games away from returning to the Premier League, with Chris Wilder’s side topping the Championship table heading into the vital remaining weeks of the season.

United have won four of their last five league matches, seeing them leapfrog a stalling Leeds United side, going two points ahead of them in the process. Perhaps more importantly, they are also only two ahead of third-place Burnley, highlighting how tight things are in the automatic promotion battle.

While on-pitch matters are clearly huge, tying down certain players to new contracts is also essential, with Wilder making it clear that he wants deals for Rhian Brewster, Anel Ahmedhodzic and Jack Robinson sorted: “For me, as you can imagine, all the focus and concentration is on what happens here but if you’re asking me, would I like them all to re-sign, yes. One hundred per cent. They’ve all been outstanding for us and have still got a part to play going forward.”

Sheffield United want new deals for key trio

According to The Star, the futures of Sheffield United trio Brewster, Ahmedhodzic and Robinson were “discussed last week when members of the group that own United, including Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy, visited Sheffield”.

Wilder has also claimed that “Steve Bettis is on with that and in discussion with the owners”, as they look to get some big in-house business over the line.

This would be great news for United, with the £90,000-a-week-combined trio of Brewster, Ahmedhodzic and Robinson such important players this season. This season, they have made 89 appearances in the Championship in total, showing how important they are to the cause, with 67 of those starts.

Ahmedhodzic and Robinson have both been reliable members of the Blades’ defence, but the emergence of Brewster has arguably been one of the biggest feel-good stories of the campaign at Bramall Lane.

Having suffered so much with injuries and not kicking after leaving Liverpool as a highly-rated player, the 24-year-old has scored in his last two appearances, including the priceless winner in the 1-0 victory away to local rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

The Englishman’s influence is going to be big in these next few weeks, given his form, and he has the ability to steer United back to the Premier League.

Sheffield United ready to sign £25k-p/w "natural leader" from league rivals

Chris Wilder could bolster his Sheffield United squad by snatching one of their rivals’ finest talents.

BySean Markus Clifford Apr 3, 2025

New deals for him and his two Blades teammates feels like a no-brainer, especially as Wilder values them all so much, and the hope is that all three of them are still at Bramall Lane next season, at which point United are back where they belong.