A thrilling final day could be in the works with WA needing victory to leapfrog second-placed Queensland

Tristan Lavalette17-Mar-2025

Campbell Kellaway celebrates his second Shield century•Getty Images

Even as Victoria’s hopes of making the final faded away, opener Campbell Kellaway batted through day three and struck a defiant century. His marathon innings ensures Western Australia face the daunting prospect of a big run chase at the WACA to keep alive their dreams of a fourth straight Sheffield Shield title.Kellaway finished unbeaten on 151 off 310 balls as Victoria reached stumps at 335 for 8 in their second innings with a lead of 346 runs.A thrilling final day could be in the works with WA needing victory to leapfrog second-placed Queensland, who are almost certain to draw their clash with South Australia. New South Wales’ chances of playing South Australia in the final on March 26 appear forlorn as they face a near impossible run chase on the last day against Tasmania.Related

NSW face chase of 529 for spot in Sheffield Shield final

“We’ve got nothing to lose tomorrow, that’s the attitude that we’ll take,” WA coach Adam Voges said.Victoria’s chances of progressing to the final are all but over. However, they will be aiming to end WA’s bid to become the first state to win four titles in a row since the six-team competition started in 1977-78.Kellaway, 22, continued his strong late season form on the back of making 79 and 77 last week on a tricky surface against South Australia. He became the first visiting batter to score a century at the WACA this Shield season. The surface, however, has flattened out considerably after the bowlers dominated on the opening two days.”We’re definitely looking to come away with a win. I definitely think there is enough in this wicket [to get ten wickets],” Kellaway said after his second first-class century.Kellaway batted through the entire day’s play after Victoria resumed with a lead of 43 runs and ten wickets in hand. WA hoped to regroup having been left flustered with several tight decisions not going their way, including a big lbw appeal from left-arm quick Joel Paris on Kellaway on the first ball of the innings.The surface had started to become easier to bat late on day two and flattened even more under the sun. Victoria had little trouble until Marcus Harris edged quick Brody Couch to second slip where Cameron Bancroft took a superb one-handed catch to his left low to the ground.Bancroft, one of the country’s best fielders, was ecstatic and his brilliant catch energised WA as Couch started to threaten with sharp back of a length bowling.He was rewarded with an outside edge from Blake Macdonald on four only for Hilton Cartwright to drop a sitter at third slip after moving in front of Bancroft.Couch was left further frustrated when a confident appeal for lbw on Kellaway was turned down in a tight call with height perhaps the only issue. After those fireworks, the batters took control in a rarity amid a particularly bowler-friendly period at the WACA in recent matches.Macdonald pounced on unusually ragged bowling from offspinner Corey Rocchiccioli, who was up against a surface giving him very little compared to when he took five wickets on the opening day.Macdonald reached his half-century off 67 balls, including ten boundaries, with his driving down the ground a feature. But nerves crept in just before lunch and he almost holed out to Cartwright’s handy seamers before falling down the legside on the last ball of the session.All eyes on resumption were on debutant Oliver Peake after his impressive 52 was the top score in Victoria’s first innings. Having had limited scoring opportunities on day one, the 18-year-old was faced with easier conditions although his first boundary was in streaky fashion through the slips.Peake could not find fluency and on 21 was well caught in the gully by Cameron Gannon after flashing at Paris. Having been a development tourist with Australia’s Test squad in Sri Lanka last month, Peake confirmed his status as a long-term Test prospect after facing 222 balls across the match.His wicket sparked a collapse out of nowhere with Rocchiccioli, who has a knack of making things happen, claiming the wickets of Peter Handscomb and Harry Dixon in the same over.However, Kellaway proved a thorn and he reached his century with a boundary through the off-side, but he celebrated modestly knowing there was still plenty of work to do.

Heading into the 2025 summer transfer window, Arsenal fans were expectant. They were promised an unprecedented summer and despite the slow pace with which a deal for Viktor Gyokeres was completed, the Gunners indeed had a crazy summer.

That striker deal was finally wrapped but Andrea Berta strengthened Mikel Arteta’s squad in every single position possible.

At the back, Kepa arrived from Chelsea in a £5m deal while Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie, two of the most exciting young defensive talents in Europe, both signed.

In midfield, Martin Zubimendi was the marquee addition but he was joined by former Brentford skipper, Christian Norgaard.

It was the forward line that was bolstered most, however. Gyokeres, of course, was the big addition but beside him came Noni Madueke – a signing that sparked controversy – and one that had the whole fanbase unified; Eberechi Eze.

What those signings have done is take this squad to the next level. It’s another phase and level of progression for Arteta’s side and even with a whole host of injuries – namely to William Saliba, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka – they swept aside Nottingham Forest with ease on Saturday.

It’s not the first time that Arteta has chosen to take the team in a new direction; Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko are testament to that.

The Jesus and Zinchenko sagas at Arsenal

In the summer of 2022, Arteta knew he needed something to take his project to the next level.

In order to do that, he signed Jesus for £45m and Zinchenko for £30m from Manchester City within just a few weeks of each other.

Proven winners, players he knew from his days as assistant head coach to Pep Guardiola, this was a strong recipe tor success and indeed they changed the game when they first arrived.

Zinchenko allowed a huge level of tactical progression. The left-back is one of the finest inverted full-backs in European football which allowed Arsenal to gain more possession and control the tempo of a game more efficiently.

Chalkboard

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

Expand Collapse

How about Jesus? Well, he brought spice, he brought trickery and he brought goals. The Brazilian’s first few months at the Emirates Stadium were a sight to behold.

A proper Brazilian forward, Jesus was spellbinding. He beat players for fun and, importantly, he scored goals. In his first nine Premier League outings, he bagged five times and also registered four assists, proving to be a unique all-round threat.

Zincheko + Jesus for Arsenal

Stat

Zinchenko

Jesus

Signed for

£30m

£45m

Games

91

96

Goals

3

26

Assists

5

20

Mins played

5,282

5,461

Stats via Transfermarkt.

The trouble is, while Arsenal got better as a squad, the importance of Zinchenko and Jesus became less and less.

The Ukrainian, for all of the good he brought in possession, was a liability defensively and Jesus, well, he just can’t seem to stay off the treatment table.

We all got a reminder of just how good the 28-year-old is when he scored six goals in the space of five games over the 2024/25 festive period, including a hat-trick in the Carabao Cup against Crystal Palace.

Yet, his season was turned upside down when he ruptured his ACL in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

Even before that, however, he was beginning to be phased out by Arteta. Kai Havertz was now the golden striker.

At left-back, meanwhile, Arteta upgraded on Zinchenko by adding Riccardo Calafiori to the fray. The emergence of Hale Ender, Myles Lewis-Skelly, also bumped him further down the pecking order.

Arsenal’s game-changers were no longer game-changers; they were merely spare parts in this squad.

The same is now happening for two of Arteta’s most trusted forward players at the Emirates. It would be a surprise if they started games regularly again.

£66m Arsenal duo are going to suffer this season

What a transfer window Arsenal had. Yet, unfortunately for two players in the forward line, they may well find themselves reduced to bit-part figures, just like Jesus and Zinchenko in the last few years.

The players here are Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, key components of the Gunners’ forward line for a number of seasons now.

Unfortunately for Martinelli, he doesn’t look as though he’ll ever live up to his sky-high potential. Once described as a “talent of the century” by Jurgen Klopp, it feels like a long time now since the Brazilian netted 15 Premier League goals in a single campaign.

It also feels like a long time since Trossard’s 17-goal haul in 2023/24. That season, only Bukayo Saka scored more goals for Arsenal.

It’s safe to say that 2024/25 was not one full of too much success for either player. While Martinelli did score inside the Bernabeu, he and Trossard both ended the term with ten goals apiece from 51 and 56 games respectively.

It’s not an awful tally, but you need more, particularly when Arsenal were contending with injuries to the likes of Saka, Havertz and Jesus.

So, over the summer of 2025, Arsenal have undergone another level of progression, one that could spell the end for any thoughts both Martinelli and Trossard had of gaining regular starts.

Indeed, with Madueke and Eze having entered the fray, immediate upgrades have been sourced on the £270k-per-week duo. We saw that first-hand during Arsenal’s win over Forest at the weekend.

While Madueke didn’t leave the pitch with a goal or an assist, he was relentless down the right-hand side and showcased why he will be the most natural back-up and competition for Saka. He completed five key passes and also registered five successful dribbles.

As for Eze, he was a breath of fresh air on the left-hand side of the attack. Jinking past players for fun, he was the player who registered the assist for Gyokeres’ goal.

Running in behind, the Hale Ender was picked out by Calafiori. Eze did not need a touch to set himself, ultimately sliding the ball into the path of the big Swede who couldn’t miss from a matter of yards out.

It was a performance that evoked memories of the 2022/23 side, one that Jesus and Zinchenko were part of. The football was slick, it was sweeping and it got past the Forest defence with ease.

Unfortunately for the £66m-rated pair of Trossard and Martinelli, it’s not good news. Still, for fans of the club, it was incredibly refreshing to see a pair of wingers with the desire to beat their man.

Related Arsenal star looks like their best bargain since the days of Henry & Vieira

Very rarely does a player feel like a bargain but Andrea Berta has struck gold on this one.

Posts ByMatt Dawson Sep 15, 2025

Aston Villa have not had the best of starts to the 2025/26 campaign, having picked up just one point from their opening three Premier League fixtures, yet to break their duck.

There was an acceptance from Unai Emery and the powers that be that the summer transfer window would weigh heavily on the club after missing out on Champions League football following a contentious final-day defeat at Manchester United.

However, a late flurry of activity indicates progress and promise. Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliot completed deadline-day loan moves; Victor Lindelof joined on a free transfer after his deal with Man United expired.

The late moves salvaged Villa’s frustrating summer, especially since Monchi and Damian Vidagany have retained the services of the most talented first-teamers.

Aston Villa have kept their best players

In August, Aston Villa sold Jacob Ramsey to Premier League rivals Newcastle United for a £43m fee. A poignant one, for sure. However, the sale of the homegrown talent has turned pure profit for the club, and perhaps played a role in securing a series of late-window additions.

Loan deals for Marcus Rashford, Axel Disasi and Marco Asensio came and passed, but the likes of Ollie Watkins and John McGinn remain at Villa Park after offers from divisional competition were resisted.

Watkins might not be coming off the back of his best season, but he still notched 17 goals and 14 assists across all competitions, while McGinn’s leadership, energy and presence within the dressing room are factors not easily replaced.

While the opening weeks of the campaign have felt somewhat stale, the mixture of fresh quality and abiding experience emphasises the club’s capacity to challenge in the Europa League and push for a high finish in the Premier League.

These players will play important roles this season, but none more so than Morgan Rogers, who was exceptional last season and might be viewed as the talisman of Emery’s project.

How Morgan Rogers' market value compares

Last month, Rogers was named the PFA Young Player of the Year for the 2024/25 Premier League season. The honour bears testament to his extraordinary strides in such a short time, only joining Villa from Middlesbrough in the Championship in January 2024.

The 23-year-old earned opportunities across the second half of the 2023/24 season in the Premier League, but it is last year that he truly came into his own, scoring 14 goals and supplying 16 assists across all competitions, including a haul of 19 goal contributions in the league alone.

He scored a hat-trick against Celtic in the Champions League and bagged a consolation goal as Villa were knocked out against eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain, with pundit Jamie Carragher hailing him as an “unstoppable” force.

The Lions might have started the campaign without much of a roar, but you can bet your bottom dollar that Rogers will be among the driving forces when Emery does create a winning formula for the months ahead.

Athletic and enterprising, no matter the tactical role handed to him, Rogers typically plays in a forward-thrust central midfield berth or out on the left flank, where his pace and power allow him to take on defenders and split lines.

Left winger

93

24 (10)

Attacking midfield

48

14 (10)

Right winger

43

9 (17)

Centre-forward

23

7 (4)

Young he may be, but Rogers has already led a storied career, developing his talents in the EFL after first looking for success within Manchester City’s packed youth academy.

The exciting part is there’s still so much for the England international to give, so much potential as yet untapped.

Senior figures at Villa feel Rogers has the potential to become one of the very best in the Premier League, defining the coming years for Emery’s side and perhaps fetching a transfer fee to rival that of Liverpool’s Alexander Isak, who joined the champions from Newcastle United for a British record £125m fee on deadline day.

One of the most dangerous strikers in the world, Isak’s name has come to be feared in English football, and he has made incremental progress across his three terms on Tyneside. Rogers, too, has shown the signs of bit-by-bit development, and could find himself stretching into even loftier conversations with another knockout year under Emery’s wing.

Indeed, as per CIES Football Observatory, Rogers has been valued at £99m, whereas Isak actually comes in at a smaller price: £89m.

Of course, this doesn’t paint an accurate picture in actuality, since Isak has just moved to Merseyside for a record-breaking fee. Still, it underscores the Three Lions star’s potential to develop into a star of a similar stature, having made such impressive progress across just one full season in the top flight.

Isak, 25, wasn’t refined when leaving Real Sociedad and arriving at St. James’ Park in 2022, but his years under Eddie Howe’s tutelage have shaped him into a superstar. So the parallels can be found with Rogers at Aston Villa.

Whether Aston Villa succeed in nurturing Rogers toward a world-class level remains to be seen, but there’s no question that he has the skills and passion to achieve just that.

Already considered by leading data and analytical site in CIES Football Observatory to have a projected value above that of Liverpool’s new striker (though take that with a pinch of salt, given Isak’s actual price), Rogers is the Midlands outfit’s biggest star, and many feel the best is still to come.

Aston Villa sold "one of the best young players", now he's emulating Sancho

Amid the signing of Jadon Sancho, Aston Villa may wish they still had another star at the club

ByJoe Nuttall Sep 3, 2025

Who’s playing

Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Delhi Capitals (DC)
Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai, March 15, 2025

What to expect: Two powerful line-ups

Is it 2023 again? MI and DC, two consistently good teams with all-star line-ups, meet again in the WPL final. While DC have breezed into the final this season, MI are coming in battle-hardened, having had to take the circuitous route by playing three matches in four days to get there.DC have been strong in most departments, and have got their selection calls right throughout the season. Their captain Meg Lanning hit form late in the tournament, Shafali Verma has continued to churn out the runs at the top of the other, and the move to promote Jess Jonassen to No. 3 has paid off. But for DC to look more threatening, they’d want their middle order to step up further. Their middle order (Nos. 4 to 7) collectively averages 17.50, the lowest this season, and have struck at 116.66, which is the second-lowest among all teams.MI’s line-up also drips with power and strength. Powerplay bowling has been one of DC’s strongest suits, but only MI have bettered that. DC’s bowlers have taken 50 wickets at 23.84 in this phase, while MI have 61 wickets at 22.68.Related

• Rodrigues: 'Energy in the field transformed DC's season'

• Sutherland: WPL will provide intel about India before World Cup

• Sciver-Brunt's purple patch rubs off on Matthews

For MI, Nat Sciver-Brunt has been at her brutal best, Hayley Matthews has delivered with both bat and ball, and captain Harmanpreet Kaur has hit high tempo. The rest of the line-up, though, has blown hot and cold.But MI will be playing at their home ground – a venue where they’ve lost just once in seven games – and that tilts the scales in their favour. DC, though, have had a good seven days break, and will be coming in without the pressure of having had to scramble for a place in the final. Two heartbreaking finals later, will third time be the charm for them?Meg Lanning or Harmanpreet Kaur, who will lift the WPL trophy on Saturday?•WPL

Team news: Who will open with Matthews for MI?

MI had promoted Amelia Kerr to the opening slot, and pushed Yastika Bhatia down the order for a couple of games. While Yastika was able to make quick runs from her new position, Kerr, who hasn’t been in the best of form with the bat, wasn’t able to capitalise on her starts. The order went back to what it was in the Eliminator against Gujarat Giants (GG), but neither player made an impact. Will MI switch their positions again to get the best out of Yastika?MI had also brought in left-arm spinner Saika Ishaque in place of Parunika Sisodia for the Eliminator. Will they pick Ishaque again for the final after she bowled just one over against GG?Mumbai Indians (probable): 1 Hayley Matthews, 2 Amelia Kerr, 3 Nat Sciver-Brunt, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Amanjot Kaur, 6 Yastika Bhatia (wk), 7 S Sajana, 8 G Kamalini, 9 Sanskriti Gupta, 10 Shabnim Ismail, 11 Saika IshaqueDC, who were last in action on March 7, are unlikely to make any changes to their line-up.Delhi Capitals (probable): 1 Meg Lanning (capt), 2 Shafali Verma, 3 Jemimah Rodrigues, 4 Annabel Sutherland, 5 Marizanne Kapp, 6 Jess Jonassen, 7 Sarah Bryce (wk), 8 Niki Prasad, 9 Minnu Mani, 10 Shikha Pandey, 11 Titas Sadhu

Players to watch: Jemimah Rodrigues and Hayley Matthews

Jemimah Rodrigues has endured a lean season with the bat. She has just one fifty – which came in a loss – in six innings that include three single-digit scores and one duck. Rodrigues has dropped down to No. 4 to accommodate Jonassen at the top, which has done the heavy lifting. She’ll be looking to make a stronger impression in her hometown in the most important match of the tournament. Rodrigues’ fielding, though, has been top-notch throughout the season.Hayley Matthews impressed with bat and ball in the Eliminator•BCCI

Hayley Matthews found form with the bat in the Eliminator, but it is her bowling that has stood out throughout the tournament. She is currently the top wicket-taker, with 17 wickets at an average of 15.88, and has been successful in all phases of the tournament as highlighted by her performance in the Eliminator. In the 2023 final, Matthews had bowled an extraordinary spell of 3 for 5 in her four overs, which included the wicket of Jonassen, and played a crucial role in MI’s title win at the Brabourne Stadium.

Stats that matter

• Sciver-Brunt is three runs away from becoming the first player to 1000 WPL runs. She’s also seven runs away from becoming the first player in the WPL to tally 500 runs in a single season.
• Rodrigues, Jonassen and Shikha Pandey will be playing their fifth tournament final as team-mates across franchise leagues in the last two years.
• Lanning has won all international titles in her career. In 2024, she won her first franchise title with London Spirit in the Women’s Hundred. The WBBL will be the only tournament left for Lanning to win if DC win on Saturday.

With time running out in the summer transfer window, Manchester City are now reportedly “exploring” a deal to sign a Gianluigi Donnarumma alternative for Pep Guardiola.

VIP Tickets

Secure your matchday experience with Seat Unique.

See at Seat Unique

In a late twist to the transfer tale, it looks as though Ederson could be on his way out of Manchester City this summer. The Brazilian missed his side’s opening game victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, as James Trafford made his second debut for the club, and has been the subject of interest from Galatasaray.

Fabrizio Romano has even gone as far as to suggest that the Turkish club have opened negotiations and talks are ongoing between themselves and Manchester City over a deal to sign Ederson. Whether they manage to match City’s reported £22m valuation before the end of the transfer window remains to be seen, however.

Of course, if Ederson does leave the Etihad this month, then it will likely trigger a domino effect of goalkeepers. Whether that sees Donnarumma head to Manchester City to replace the South American is another question entirely, though.

Although the Italian is certainly available after Paris Saint-Germain opted out of negotiations to extend their goalkeeper’s contract before signing Lucas Chevalier, the French giants’ price tag reportedly remains too high for City to consider as deadline day approaches.

Man City set to be offered £303m "best player in the world" in Haaland swap

One of Europe’s top clubs are preparing an audacious swap move for Erling Haaland.

By
Dominic Lund

Aug 21, 2025

That could still change as all parties become more and more desperate to reach a resolution, but for now it seems as though those at the Etihad are ready to shift their focus towards a fresh option.

Man City now "exploring" Lammens deal

Having initially hijacked their move to jump ahead in the race to sign Donnarumma, the Citizens have reportedly set their sights on another Manchester United hijack. According to Sacha Tavolieri, Manchester City are now “exploring” a deal to sign Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp this month after reaching a stand-off in negotiations to sign Donnarumma.

The shot-stopper has been on United’s radar for the majority of the summer as they look to land a much-needed upgrade on Andre Onana. Like their initial pursuit of Donnarumma, however, it looks as though City could now emerge to jump ahead of their rivals in ruthless fashion.

Described as “excellent” and a young talent who’s “like Alisson” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Lammens is still just 23 years old and would push Trafford all the way for a starting place under Guardiola. With a deal to sign the Royal Antwerp star, City would suddenly have two goalkeepers who are full of potential.

Readers like you help support FootballFanCast. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More.

He appeared for Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club in their Dhaka Premier Division League match against Gazi Group Cricketers in Mirpur on Monday.

Mohammad Isam07-Apr-2025

Before Monday, Nasir Hossain’s last competitive game was in May 2023•Remark Herlan Sports

Bangladesh allrounder Nasir Hossain, who was banned by the ICC for two years for breaching the Emirates Cricket Board’s anti-corruption code during the Abu Dhabi T10 league in 2020-21, has resumed playing competitive cricket.Nasir appeared for Rupganj Tigers Cricket Club in their Dhaka Premier Division League match against Gazi Group Cricketers in Mirpur on Monday.”As per the terms of the sanction, Nasir Hossain has now fulfilled all requirements, including completing the mandatory anti-corruption education session,” the BCB said in a release. “This has paved the way for his eligibility to re-enter official cricket as of April 7, 2025.”Related

Nasir Hossain banned for two years

Bangladesh allrounder Nasir Hossain faces corruption charges

Nasir was one of eight people associated with the Pune Devils franchise who were charged by the ICC in September 2023. Of his two-year ban, six months were suspended.The first charge against Nasir was that he “failed to disclose to the designated anti-corruption official (without unnecessary delay) the receipt of a gift that was offered to him that had a value of over US$750, namely the gift of a new iPhone 12”.The second charge was that he “failed to disclose to the designated anti-corruption official full details of the approach or invitation he received to engage in corrupt conduct via the new iPhone 12”.Nasir also “failed or refused, without compelling justification, to cooperate with the designated anti-corruption official’s investigation”. He had accepted all three charges.Nasir played 19 Tests, 65 ODIs and 31 T20Is for Bangladesh from 2011 to 2018. Before Monday, his last competitive game was in May 2023, for Prime Bank Cricket Club in a List A fixture against Gazi Group Cricketers.

The rain lashed down in almost biblical fashion at Blundell Park on Wednesday evening, yet there was to be no messiah for Manchester United, as League Two minnows Grimsby Town deservedly edged into the Carabao Cup Third Round.

Ruben Amorim – looking less and less like the Red Devils’ saviour – could hardly watch as his expensively assembled side crashed out on penalties, having only briefly spared their blushes with a late fightback in normal time.

£74m signing Benjamin Sesko had even come agonisingly close to snatching a winner at the death, although that scenario would have been deeply unfair on a home side who outfought and outmanoeuvred their opponents throughout the 90-minute affair.

Four times the ball was in Andre Onana’s net – the last of those ruled out in somewhat contentious circumstances – with that fact alone emphasising just what a bruising night it was for the men in red.

Yes, there have been flashes of positivity in recent weeks, but Wednesday’s result may well have extinguished all that. A new nadir in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era has been reached.

Just where do the Old Trafford side go from here?

Andre Onana takes the blame again

The best place to start, in the post-mortem that is to follow, would be the signing of a new starting goalkeeper. Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens appears to be the INEOS pick, although at just 22, the young stopper appears yet another gamble for the United hierarchy.

Chalkboard

Whatever the Belgian’s credentials, however, he could arguably do little worse than United’s current crop, with the aforementioned Onana failing miserably to take his chance following his return to the starting lineup.

Altay Bayindir – the man at fault for Arsenal’s strike on the opening weekend – has been shaky enough in recent weeks, although Onana’s performance takes the biscuit, with the Cameroonian arguably to blame for both of Grimsby’s goals on the night.

Having failed to keep out Charles Vernam’s early effort at the near post, the 29-year-old then compounded that error by needlessly racing out of his goal just eight minutes later, allowing Tyrell Warren to prod home into the empty net.

Even in the ensuing shootout, the former Inter Milan man – who had looked nervy from the off after flapping at an early inswinging corner – could only produce a solitary, albeit impressive spot-kick save, despite repeatedly getting his hand to the ball.

After making five errors in all competitions last term, as per Sofascore, the reported West Ham United target has picked up where he left off, with it perhaps easy to see why Amorim has been hesitant to reinstate him on the Premier League front thus far.

An exit for the £47.2m man now appears an inevitability, be it this week, or in 2026, with teammate Manuel Ugarte perhaps among those who should well join him in the departure lounge.

Manuel Ugarte's dismal display vs Grimsby

On a night that began with the talk centred around the future of a certain Kobbie Mainoo, it was telling that the United boss opted to replace Ugarte instead at the break, with the Uruguayan yet again failing to convince.

While passes went astray, there was purpose and poise to Mainoo’s game, with the academy starlet notably picking out Bryan Mbeumo to kickstart the comeback. His penalty was also dispatched with aplomb.

The same cannot be said for Ugarte, however, with the ex-Paris Saint-Germain man again looking uneasy in the centre of the park, having lost the ball on five occasions from his 44-touch cameo, while also failing to provide a single key pass.

Minutes played

45

Touches

44

Pass accuracy

88%

Key passes

0

Successful dribbles

1/2

Ground duels

2/4

Aerial duels

2/3

Possession lost

5x

Fouls

1

An unused substitute in the Bilbao showpiece back in May, the 24-year-old’s stock already looked to have plummeted heading into the summer, with Wednesday’s outing providing a further reminder of his deficiencies.

Despite only arriving under the INEOS regime last summer, it looks as if the former Sporting CP midfielder – who worked under Amorim in Lisbon – is now on borrowed time, with MEN journalist Samuel Luckhurst claiming that ‘people at the club are giving up on him’.

Hooked at the break following what Luckhurst noted to be just a 2/10 worthy performance, Ugarte appears to have a mountain to climb to revive his United fortunes, with both he and Onana having been “absolutely useless” against the Mariners, as per writer Muhammad Butt.

While there is little doubting his physical capacity, having ranked in the top 6% of Premier League midfielders in 2024/25 for tackles won, as per FBref, his woes on the ball are plain to see, not least when considering he ranked in just the bottom 18% for progressive passes and the bottom 23% for progressive carries per 90.

Having already been acquired at the expense of one academy hero in Scott McTominay, the £50m man must surely not be prioritised over another homegrown talent such as Mainoo.

If there was to be any shining light from an evening that put the grim in Grimsby, then it should hopefully be the realisation for Amorim and his staff regarding which United midfielder actually needs to make way before the deadline…

Bigger blow than Mainoo: £50m Man Utd ace in "very advanced" talks to leave

Manchester United look set to offload another star as Kobbie Mainoo exit rumours pick up pace.

2 ByEthan Lamb Aug 27, 2025

التقطت الكاميرات رد فعل المهاجم البرازيلي إندريك بعد أن تأكد أنه لن يشارك في المباراة أمام خيتافي في بطولة الدوري الإسباني أمس الأحد.

وتغلب ريال مدريد على خيتافي بهدف دون رد في المباراة التي أُقيمت ضمن مباريات الجولة التاسعة للدوري الإسباني، بفضل هدف سجله كيليان مبابي، في الدقيقة 80.

ويتصدر ريال مدريد جدول الدوري الإسباني قبل مواجهة برشلونة يوم الأحد المقبل في أول كلاسيكو هذا الموسم.

وكان إندريك يستعد للمشاركة في الشوط الثاني، وارتدى قميص الإحماء، إلا أن المدير الفني تشابي ألونسو قرر عدم الدفع به، وأعتمد على كل من إبراهيم دياز وجونزالو جارسيا.

اقرأ أيضًا | بشرى سارة في تدريبات ريال مدريد قبل مواجهة يوفنتوس

ووفقًا لما ذكرته شبكة “كادينا سير”، إندريك كان غاضبًا، حيث ركل زجاجة مياه في منطقة الإحماء الخاصة بريال مدريد، وهو تصرف لم يعجب المدرب تشابي ألونسو.

ولم يخض إندريك أي مباراة رسمية بقميص ريال مدريد حتى الآن منذ بداية الموسم، كما لم يُستدعَ أيضًا إلى صفوف منتخب البرازيل خلال فترتي التوقف الدوليين السابقتين.

وكان إندريك قد عانى من إصابة في وتر العضلة الخلفية للساق اليمنى في مايو 2025، وتكررت إصابته في يوليو، ما أثّر على مشاركته هذا الموسم.

If you are planning to visit Estadio BBVA for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, we've got you covered!

Nicknamed (The Steel Giant), CF Monterrey’s home ground Estadio BBVA is one of the three Mexican host stadiums for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside the historic Estadio Azteca and Chivas’ home, Estadio Akron.

For the tournament, the venue will be referred to as Estadio Monterrey due to sponsorship regulations.

Having already hosted numerous matches for Monterrey as well as the Mexican national team, 2026 marks a new chapter for this modern and striking stadium.

Estadio BBVA will host a total of four World Cup matches, including both group stage and knockout games.

If you are planning to visit the stadium soon or during the 2026 World Cup to support your team, this guide is for you. GOAL has got you covered with all the essential information before you visit the stadium. 

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Estadio BBVA Stadium overview

  Capacity	53,500
  Year opened	2015
  Tenant(s)	CF Monterrey (Liga MX)
  Address	v. Pablo Livas 2011, La Pastora, 67140 Guadalupe, N.L., Mexico

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  History of Estadio BBVA

  Estadio BBVA, originally opened as Estadio BBVA Bancomer in 2015, became the new home of CF Monterrey, replacing the historic Estadio Tecnológico, which had stood since 1950.

  In its opening match, Monterrey defeated Portuguese side Benfica 3–0 in a friendly. The stadium is considered a marvel of modern architecture, featuring stunning visuals and world-class facilities.

  In addition to Monterrey’s home games, Estadio BBVA has hosted Copa MX finals, CONCACAF Champions League finals, and Mexican national team matches.

  It is also a regular venue for major cultural events in Mexico, including concerts by world-renowned artists such as Coldplay, The Weeknd, Shakira, and more.

  At the 2026 World Cup, Estadio BBVA will stage four matches, including three group stage games and one Round of 32 clash.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Which teams play at Estadio BBVA

  Liga MX side CF Monterrey is the only tenant at the Estadio BBVA 

  Team	League
  CF Monterrey	Liga MX

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  How to get to Estadio BBVA

  How to get to Estadio BBVA by public transport 

  To reach Estadio BBVA by public transit, you can take Metrorrey Line 1 (L01). This metro line stops at Exposición Station, which is about a 10-minute walk from the stadium.

  Several bus routes also stop close to the venue, including routes 214, 223, TME, and 093. The Pablo Livas (Estadio BBVA) stop is just a couple of minutes’ walk from the stadium.

  How to get to Estadio BBVA by car 

  Both Avenida Constitucion (Highway 85D) and Carretera Miguel Aleman (Highway 54D) lead toward Estadio BBVA. Exits onto Avenida Pablo Livas or La Pastora are clearly marked with signs directing fans to the stadium on event days.

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras está forte na briga para contratar o volante Wendel, atualmente no Zenit-RUS e que foi revelado pelo Fluminense. O jogador de 25 anos possui proposta em mãos do alviverde e pode dar adeus ao futebol russo para voltar ao Brasil e defender o atual campeão brasileiro. A informação é do jornalista Fábio Aleixo e foi confirmada pelo Lance!.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasPalmeirasAbel comenta ações da CBF e reflete sobre seu lugar no futebol brasileiro: ‘Talvez eu seja pequeno demais’Palmeiras17/07/2023PalmeirasANÁLISE: Em má fase, Palmeiras não pode mais ‘se dar ao luxo’ de perder tantos golsPalmeiras17/07/2023PalmeirasVÍDEO: Abel Ferreira cutuca rival após eliminação do Palmeiras na Copa do Brasil: ‘Não sei quantos títulos ganharam’Palmeiras16/07/2023

+ Veja tabela e classificação do Brasileirão-2023 clicando aqui

No momento, o grande entrave na negociação é que o Fenerbahce, da Turquia, também possui interesse no jogador revelado nas Laranjeiras e também fez proposta pelo volante. O clube turco tem ótima relação com os russos e o destino do atleta não deve demorar para ser definido. Os valores do negócio não foram revelados para a reportagem.

Apesar de estar na busca de um camisa 5 para repor a saída de Danilo, Wendel atua mais como um segundo volante, e ainda não seria uma peça para resolver a posição de primeiro volante do Verdão.

continua após a publicidade

Wendel já foi procurado pelo Flamengo na temporada passada e também recentemente pela Roma-ITA de José Mourinho.

Contratado pelo Zenit-RUS em 2020, Wendel teve passagem pelo futebol português, onde atuou pelo Sporting-POR de 2018 até ir para o futebol russo.

O Palmeiras está em busca de uma reposição para a função de volante desde a venda de Danilo, ao Nottingham Forest-ING, em janeiro de 2023. Outros nomes como Walace, da Udinese-ITA, Matheus Henrique, do Sassuolo-ITA e Jean Lucas, do Monaco-FRA (hoje no Santos), chegaram a ser cogitados, mas nenhuma negociação foi para frente.

continua após a publicidade