Aston Villa are poised to wave goodbye to a “wonderful footballer” pretty shortly, as a new report reveals this week.

Aston Villa turn corner under Unai Emery after disastrous start

It took Unai Emery’s side five Premier League games to score their first goal of the season, with Matty Cash’s long-range pile driver against newly-promoted Sunderland finally opening their account.

After a very difficult summer transfer window marred by issues with PSR, their severe lack of attacking impetus had many supporters fearing the worst, but in a huge sigh of relief for the Villans, they’re starting to hit an excellent run of form.

Aston Villa 0-0 Newcastle

Brentford 1-0 Aston Villa

Aston Villa 0-3 Crystal Palace

Everton 0-0 Aston Villa

Sunderland 1-1 Aston Villa

Aston Villa 3-1 Fulham

Aston Villa 2-1 Burnley

Since Cash burst the net at the Stadium of Light, Villa have sealed two wins from two of their opening Europa League games, whilst securing precious back-to-back Premier League wins against Fulham and Burnley.

The recent departure of Monchi, who left his role as Aston Villa sporting director, also marks the beginning of a new era, with former Real Sociedad chief Roberto Olabe brought in as Villa’s replacement.

Aston Villa's president of football operations, Monchi.

In one of his final acts as the club’s ‘president of football operations’, Monchi agreed to let midfielder Enzo Barrenechea join José Mourinho’s Benfica on loan with an obligation to buy.

Enzo Barrenechea on the verge of permanent Aston Villa exit to Benfica

Interestingly, according to A Bola this week, the conditions of his loan-to-buy clause mean that Barrenechea is just one game away from becoming a permanent Benfica player and leaving Villa Park for good.

Apparently, all requirements for the permanent option to be triggered are nearly met, including appearances, and Villa are about to receive a £10 million payment for the Argentine, on top of the £2.5 million loan fee they got in the summer, right after he makes another cameo.

Indeed, once Barrenechea is given his next nod for Benfica, he’ll have met the 15 games required to activate his permanent move to Portugal.

The 24-year-old joined Villa in a swap deal last year with Douglas Luiz heading the other way to Juventus, but he hasn’t made a single appearance for Villa.

He was sent out on loan to Valencia in his debut season, where he seriously impressed for the La Liga side, though it is now Mourinho who’s poised to snap up Villa’s forgotten “wonderful footballer”.

“You called me to talk about my favourite player,” said coach Andrea Bonatti, who worked with the player at Juve’s youth academy.

“He is a wonderful footballer. He has many virtues. He is very technical, he controls the ball very well under pressure, he has that ability that comes from futsal, which allows him to have good ball coverage. He has an excellent short game with both legs. And a great long movement, when you have to give speed to the game.

“He is very brave in aerial play, in heading. He is very helpful in defensive and offensive actions in the air. He covers a lot of ground, he is a 6 that gives a lot of balance, that frees up a lot for the teammate next to him. He is always on alert, with a great tactical sense, giving orders to avoid transitions against the rival team.”

Everton weren’t able to learn all that much from their recent draw in the Premier League against West Ham United.

The central forwards are still misfiring, but there is a new spring in the Toffees’ collective step, and David Moyes’ system continues to show an impressive degree of dynamism.

Against West Ham, there were both winners and losers in Blue. A draw was the result, and Everton shift into ninth place, alongside a huddle of sides on eight points after six games.

Michael Keane continues to stake his claim for a regular starting role in this improving Everton side, while Jack Grealish, even on an ‘off day’, created three chances and looked a focal source of joy from an attacking standpoint. The flow of Moyes’ system runs through the esteemed loanee.

However, we cannot hide from the fact that there were a few who flattered to deceive. In particular, Beto’s woes in front of goal persisted against Nuno Espirito Santo’s Irons, and the Bissau Guinean striker needs to click into gear quickly if he is going to confidently lead the line across the term.

Beto's struggles in front of goal

Manager bounce. A sporting phenomenon that can be defined as a temporary improvement to an ailing team’s performance levels as a direct result of a change in leadership, invigorating the players with a fresh lease of life.

For Everton, this was certainly the case, but then they have also plateaued at a level above that which was being played when Sean Dyche was in the dugout and battling against relegation.

However, for Beto, his post-Dyche purple patch is beginning to look like a flash in the pan. Peripheral across the first half of the 2024/25 season, the 27-year-old scored five goals in four Premier League matches after Moyes’ arrival. He has since scored three times across 18 league fixtures.

Beto in the Premier League
Stats	Pre-Moyes	Under Moyes
Games	42	23
Starts	10	20
Goals	4	8
Assists	0	0
Data via Transfermarkt

Work is needed, but Thierno Barry, £27m summer signing from Villarreal, has yet to prove that he has what it takes to supersede his positional rival.

Against West Ham, Beto struggled once again, missing a chance to score in the first half, with sports writer Barry Viner even describing the forward as “useless”.

If an upswing in form is not on the horizon, changes will be needed. And Beto isn’t the only one, with another Everton star proving against West Ham that he is not the solution in his current role.

Moyes must ditch Everton star

Moyes has an aptitude for lifting players. He recognises the strengths and qualities inherent in any given star and knows how to apply their preferred style within his tactical system.

And the rise and rise of Jake O’Brien since the beginning of 2025 has been a testament to this argument. The Irishman joined from Lyon for around £16m in July 2024, but he scarcely played until the new year had dawned.

More often than not, he has played as a right-back, moonlighting in a role he probably didn’t envisage when crossing the Channel and heading to Merseyside.

But the 6 foot 6 O’Brien has typified the commitment and willingness needed to succeed in a Moyes team, having played every minute of the Premier League campaign from the right side of the defence.

This needs to change, and the draw against West Ham underlined that, with the Liverpool Echo branding the 24-year-old with a 5/10 match rating after a performance that laid bare his lack of focus and deficiencies when getting forward and contributing toward the attack.

He also left something to be desired from an aerial standpoint. As per Sofascore, O’Brien only won three of his six headed challenges, dribbled past twice and having lost the ball 12 times despite failing to create a single chance.

Iliman Ndiaye is playing in an unnatural right-flanking role this season, so to accommodate Grealish on the left. He’s shown flashes of quality across his five appearances, but then Senegalese talent is being supported by a right-back more naturally suited to the centre-half role.

This is not to say that O’Brien never deserves a starting berth again. He has been dependable and industrious since Moyes arrived at the club. However, not signing a right-back this summer was a confusing decision from the Friedkin Group, especially with Ndiaye playing on the right and thus in need of more support.

Former Everton writer Adam Jones even noted during the game that “O’Brien at right-back just does not work in the long term”, continuing to criticise the “mind-boggling” decision not to sign a natural wideman this summer.

While Moyes intimated during the transfer window that this new Everton project cannot be built in a day, or, more accurately, a single transfer window, there’s a sense that the club have sold themselves short in some areas, and with such promise coursing through the squad, it would be disappointing for a dearth of options in key areas to unravel the hard work plied across the year.

O’Brien is a talented and combative defender who has a long-term place in this Everton squad, but it’s clear that TFG needed to sign a natural right-back this summer, especially with Seamus Coleman at the twilight end of his career and Nathan Patterson embroiled in an interminable battle against injuries.

As the season deepens, it’s becoming clear that Beto might not have what it takes to lead the line for Everton in the long run. Is this the same for O’Brien? It is not.

However, as Moyes’ system continues to develop and modernise, so too must an emphasis be placed on an upgrade on the right.

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Real Madrid centre-back Dean Huijsen has leapt to the defence of his team-mate Vinicius Junior following his temper tantrum during the 2-1 win over Barcelona. The Brazilian was enraged after being asked to come off in the second half by Xabi Alonso, with the reaction drawing significant backlash. Huijsen, however, blamed the media for making a "huge fuss" over the incident.

Vinicius' frustration captured headlines in El Clasico win

Vinicius Junior looked like a man possessed – a player on a mission – as he tore down the left flank in Real Madrid’s 2-1 triumph over Barcelona in last month’s El Clasico. From the opening whistle, the Brazilian was relentless, dazzling with his trademark pace and footwork, and keeping the Catalan defence constantly on edge. But despite his effervescent performance that caused the visitors considerable damage, the night took an unexpected turn. In the 72nd minute, head coach Xabi Alonso called for Rodrygo, signalling for Vini to come off.

“Me? Me? Mister, mister! Me?" Vini Jr. shouted in disbelief as Alonso prepared the substitution. The Madrid No.7 trudged off visibly frustrated before heading straight for the tunnel. "Always me… I am leaving the team. I am leaving. It's better I leave," he reportedly muttered, bypassing the bench and disappearing from view.

His reaction drew immediate attention – and criticism. Cameras captured his visible anger, sparking debate across Spain and in media about the winger’s temperament and professionalism. Vini did eventually return to the dugout before the final whistle, but the incident had already made headlines.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHuijsen blames media for creating 'huge fuss'

Huijsen spoke to reporters on Monday and provided his thoughts on his team-mate's Clasico substitution controversy. The former Bournemouth centre-back criticised the media for overexaggerating things. His words acted as a shield for his Real Madrid team-mate, who is often in the spotlight for reasons not related to his game.

"There's a lot written in the press, and you've made a huge fuss over something that wasn't such a big deal," said Huijsen. "He apologised, which I thought was fair, but he's an incredible teammate, a really good guy, and it's no big deal. These things happen in football."

Vinicius apologised to Xabi Alonso

In the aftermath of his controversial temper tantrum, the Brazil international issued a public apology, but did not mention Alonso in the statement. "Today I want to apologise to all the Madridistas for my reaction when I was substituted in the Clasico," he wrote. "Just as I have already done in person during today's training, I also want to apologise again to my teammates, the club, and the president. Sometimes passion gets the better of me because I always want to win and help my team. My competitive character stems from the love I feel for this club and everything it represents. I promise to keep fighting every second for the good of Real Madrid, as I have done since the first day."

As if his theatrics after being substituted weren't enough, the apology drew further criticism for not including his head coach in the statement. However, Alonso was quick to quash any speculation, insisting that everything had been cleared up after a frank, face-to-face conversation with the attacker.

"Has Vinicius apologised to me? We had a meeting with everyone on Wednesday, and Vinicius was impeccable," the Madrid manager told reporters last weekend. "He spoke honestly and was very good. For me, that settles the matter.

"It was a very valuable, very positive statement. He demonstrated his honesty; he spoke from the heart. What he said was the most important thing, and I was very satisfied. I've already said it, I was very proud and the matter was settled on Wednesday itself. We trained well yesterday, I see Vini doing well, and we're all in the same boat and rowing in the same direction."

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Getty Images SportAll eyes on Madrid's visit to Liverpool

Real Madrid face a formidable test on Tuesday evening as they prepare to take on Liverpool at Anfield in the Champions League. The clash marks the highly anticipated return of Trent Alexander-Arnold to his boyhood club, just months after leaving on a free transfer to join Los Blancos. It will also be a homecoming of sorts for Alonso, who spent five memorable seasons with the Reds during his playing career.

As for Vini, few opponents seem to inspire him quite like Liverpool. The 25-year-old has faced the Premier League giants five times, scoring as many goals – including a stunning brace at Anfield that spearheaded Madrid’s remarkable 5–2 comeback victory in the Champions League knockouts after falling two goals behind in the 2022–23 season. 

Tuesday's encounter also provides Alonso's men an opportunity to avenge last season's 2-0 loss at the same venue. Madrid will be licking their lips at the prospect, as Arne Slot’s men have lost six of their last eight games.

Whisper it quietly, but Manchester United are showing real signs of improvement under Ruben Amorim’s management this season.

Shout it loudly: the Red Devils went to Anfield on Sunday afternoon and emerged victorious, having put Liverpool to the sword and condemned Arne Slot’s side to four successive defeats.

That’s three wins from four in the Premier League for United, who are certainly starting to find some semblance of coherence and style as they march back into European contention.

There’s a lot to like within a burgeoning frontline, but Benjamin Sesko will be disappointed to have been left on the bench for the weekend win.

Why Sesko was left out of the starting line-up

Sesko had previously played his first two full 90s in the Premier League, and he scored on both occasions. The Slovenian centre-forward moved to Old Trafford this summer for a £72m fee, having shown plenty of promise previously with RB Leipzig.

Benjamin Sesko’s Last 2 Prem Starts
Stats	vs Brentford	vs Sunderland
Minutes played	90′	90′
Goals	1	1
Assists	0	0
Touches	25	40
Shots (on target)	6 (4)	1 (1)
Accurate passes	8/15 (53%)	14/22 (64%)
Chances created	1	2
Dribbles	0/1	1/4
Recoveries	1	3
Tackles won	0/0	1/3
Ground duels won	0/1	5/12
Aerial duels won	3/6	4/14
Data via Sofascore

There’s no question that the 22-year-old has sharp footwork for such a rangy forward. He creates chances with comparative consistency while providing an aerial threat each game.

However, there’s a case to be made that United are more fluid, interchangeable, when opting for Matheus Cunha in the middle, flanked by Mason Mount and Bryan Mbeumo.

But then, there’s also a case to be made that the 6 foot 5 striker has the trappings of a world-class goalscorer, and must be trusted after such a pretty penny was spent on his signature this summer.

He’s a talented forward, and there’s a sense he will keep on improving in concurrence with United’s own resurgence.

But Sesko might want to keep an eye on his six, for there’s a prolific academy star over at Carrington who might just fancy a shot at the number nine berth in the coming years.

Man Utd's future number 9 could replace Sesko

Manchester United’s academy is intertwined with the senior set-up. However, with Kobbie Mainoo out of favour, it would be nice to see a new starboy emerge from the ground and play a pivotal role in Amorim’s system.

Well, JJ Gabriel might just be the forward United are searching for. The 15-year-old is a long way away from establishing himself on the professional stage, but he’s developing at a prodigious rate, with ten goals and an assist from his first nine matches with the U18s.

Fast-tracked due to his innate ball-striking ability and dribbling skills, Gabriel could shape into a striker who would provide the best of both worlds for Amorim, blending Cunha and Mbuemo’s athleticism with the sharpness of Sesko in the box.

Described as by “one of the most exciting talents in the world” by the Manchester Evening News’ Steven Railston, Gabriel would hardly be the first to have made the trip from Carrington to superstardom under the Old Trafford lights, and he will use the fuel from the promotion of the class of 92′ and, more recently, the likes of Marcus Rashford.

Also hailed as a “goalscoring machine” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Gabriel might only be 15 but if he keeps on firing at such a clinical rate, he could make his senior bow sooner rather than later, with Angel Gomes Man United’s youngest-ever Premier League debutant at 16 years and eight months old.

The England U15 international, yet to score across six caps, has what it takes to become a success at Man United, but though this is a player to keep a close eye on, his physical and mental development must be prioritised at this stage, and we won’t see him in action for some time.

But when Old Trafford is treated to this precocious youngster’s emergence, he might just ruffle a few senior feathers.

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Now we have a crisis. West Ham United are not doomed, but a little over two months into the season, there’s a real sense of foreboding as the relegation-threatened Hammers struggle to climb out of the drop zone.

Leeds United were well worth their win as they saw off Nuno Espirito Santo’s side on Friday evening at Elland Road, with shaky West Ham lacking any of the principled, well-drilled defensive solidness that Nuno sides come to be defined by.

Early days yet, but it’s concerning that the Portuguese tactician has failed to structure his squad effectively across his opening Premier League matches at the London Stadium, drawing at Everton on his debut but since losing three on the bounce.

Journalist Jacob Steinberg commented on the issues, criticising the manager for fielding “inexplicable line-ups” and even saying he has “botched both games this week”, having slumped to a home defeat against Brentford on Monday.

But, equally, the players needed to step up against the newly-promoted Whites, and that they did not do.

West Ham's biggest villains at Leeds

West Ham didn’t turn up. Though Mateus Fernandes claimed his first goal for the club when heading Jarrod Bowen’s whipped cross into the net late on, it wasn’t enough and the Londoners retreated with none of the spoils, and the knowledge that they have just four points from nine fixtures thus far.

Bowen was as lively as ever, nearly sealing a show-stopping moment when his bicycle kick was saved in the first half, the Hammers 1-0 down.

But this was about the extent of the positives. Tomas Soucek was particularly poor. An industrious player and one of the finest stalwarts from the illustrious David Moyes era, the 30-year-old’s lumbering limitations were exposed, and aside from that chance which went begging, he was too high too often, leaving Andy Irving exposed.

Crysencio Summerville also flattered to deceive against his former side, but in fairness, he was a victim of tactical confusion, starting on the right and then moving to the left following Ollie Scarles’ first-half injury. There was a lot of huff and puff without any end product.

The 23-year-old has looked bright this term after an injury-hit 2024/25 campaign, but he remains inconsistent and needs to be more outgoing in front of goal.

Electric and inventive, he adds something different, and though the Netherlands-born talent shouldn’t be dropped, there’s little question that he needs to offer more.

However, there’s another member of the starting line-up who has proved he’s not cut out for the task at hand, and Nuno must surely think about dropping him soon.

The West Ham star who must be axed

After the full-time whistle screeched in Leeds, it was made known that West Ham have suffered their worst start to a top-flight campaign in 52 years. Nuno has yet to win a game since replacing Graham Potter.

What, then, needs to be done? Well, for one thing, United’s messy defending needs sorting out – and quickly. And to achieve this, it might be worth pulling Jean-Clair Todibo from the starting line-up, with the Frenchman putting in another poor performance on Friday.

Todibo, 25, spent last season on loan in east London before completing a permanent £35m transfer earlier in 2025. He had been coveted by Juventus and was regarded in France as one of the most athletic and exciting ball-playing defenders in the business.

But the Premier League is a different beast, and after lacking clarity and conviction in his performances last year, Todibo has now fallen by the wayside, with West Ham Fav TV contributor Nick Marsh saying after the match that he and Max Kilman are “comfortably the two worst centre-backs in this league.”

One website even saw it fit to brand Todibo with a lowly 3/10 match rating, and this was echoed across social media, with supporters fed up with the limp and unconvincing defensive displays.

Todibo’s quality in the air must be questioned, and he leaves so much to be desired when dealing with whipped deliveries. Herein lies the crux of West Ham’s issues, and Todibo is very much a part of the problem.

Looking at it across the span of the season, he doesn’t win enough duels – albeit proving strong in the few ground battles he has won – while failing to muster the creativity and initiative on the ball that drew such acclaim while with OGC Nice in France.

Matches (starts)

4 (4)

Touches*

60.0

Clean sheets

0

Accurate passes*

43.8 (88%)

Key passes*

0.0

Recoveries*

3.0

Tackles*

2.0

Interceptions*

0.8

Clearances*

3.5

Ground duels won*

2.8 (73%)

Aerial duels won*

1.5 (38%)

Standing at 6 foot 3, to be averaging success in just 38% of his aerial duels is inexcusable. Todibo must be dropped. But who comes in?

Former Brighton & Hove Albion defender Igor Julio continues to languish on the sidelines, though there are suggestions that the 27-year-old has impressed in training and could be in line for a debut soon, having only made one substitute appearance so far this term.

Meanwhile, Soungoutou Magassa has played in central defence before and has already been shown some trust by Nuno, starting twice in the Premier League this year.

In any case, changes are needed in east London. West Ham boast plenty of quality in their squad and cannot allow themselves to tumble from the first tier. If dropping Todibo is a means toward this goal, then so be it.

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Jeff Stelling has criticised Unai Emery as a result of one moment in Aston Villa’s 1-0 victory against Manchester City on Sunday afternoon.

Cash leads Villa to victory over Man City

Emery continued his stellar record at home against Man City on Sunday, with the manager overseeing his third straight victory against Pep Guardiola’s side at Villa Park, courtesy of Matty Cash’s first-half strike from just outside the box.

It was a stellar performance from the full-back, who was voted the Player of the Match, and the Poland international has since put pen to paper on a new contract which lasts until 2029.

The Villans have really turned a corner in recent weeks, having picked up victories against some top teams, defeating Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 on the road earlier this month, and the Premier League table now makes for much better viewing, having moved up to eighth.

The manager has also silenced the talk about his future, after it was reported last month that Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Martinez, Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers were all unhappy with the Spaniard, given the slow start they made to the campaign.

The 53-year-old has certainly turned the corner, but Stelling was still left unimpressed with some of the decisions he made on Sunday, calling out the decision to substitute Jadon Sancho in the second-half, having only introduced the winger just before the 30-minute mark.

Speaking on talkSPORT, Stelling came to Sancho’s defence, saying: “He’s a soft target, because over the years it’s been easy to point the finger at him, but I think on this occasion it was wrong to point the finger at him.”

Sancho's Villa career yet to truly take off

It was always going to be a risk signing the 25-year-old, given that he was unable to live up to his huge price tag at Manchester United, and his Villa career is yet to take off, having only featured for 226 minutes across five matches in all competitions.

Emery defended the decision to substitute the former Man United man by pointing out he has done the same thing with other players before and wants to introduce the Englishman slowly: “Yes, sure he’s (Sancho) not happy but I did it before with Morgan Rogers, with Emiliano Buendia, with Leon Bailey, and he played 60 minutes on Thursday,”

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“Today when he (Buendia) was injured, my plan was maybe in case he (Sancho) was going to play 30 minutes, but I decided to play more and he played 45 minutes.”

That said, given the scale of media attention Sancho received at Man United, it was a strange decision from Emery, who risks damaging his summer signing’s confidence, even if the manager didn’t substitute him due to being unhappy with his performance.

In what would hand their promotion hopes a major boost, Southampton are now plotting a January move to sign a Premier League star who’s been told to leave his current club.

Will Still "delighted" after much-needed Sheffield United win

Prior to their 2-1 victory over a struggling Sheffield United side, Southampton had gone as many as six Championship games without a win. It’s a run that included frustrating draws against Watford and Portsmouth and one that could have quite easily led to several questions about Will Still’s position. But, at long last, it is now a run that has come to an end courtesy of Sheffield United.

In the end, it was Ross Stewart who was the hero of the hour as his brace secured the Saints’ 2-1 victory against Chris Wilder’s side in what Still described as the “ultimate Championship game”.

Asked if Southampton deserved all three points, the manager told reporters: “Overall, yes. I think we’ve been in control of large parts of it. We probably conceded another one of those annoying goals.

“You then miss a penalty and think, ‘Jesus, it’s going to happen again’, but we’ve not done that at all. We’ve made a few tweaks. We bought a bit of energy on the pitch and managed to turn it around. Getting back into the game is always tough when you’re away here.

“Then we’ve just kept at it and not felt sorry for ourselves. We’ve dug deep and got a brilliant win from Roscoe. It was the ultimate Championship game.”

Even after getting back to winning ways, however, there’s still work to be done at St Mary’s and the January transfer window will present Southampton with the perfect opportunity to welcome one particular upgrade.

Southampton plotting Ward-Prowse return

As reported by GiveMeSport, Southampton are now plotting a move to sign James Ward-Prowse in the January transfer window. The West Ham United midfielder has been told that he’s not in new manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s plans and could now return to the Saints less than three years on from sealing a £30m exit.

It would be a sensational return for the Southampton academy graduate, who could certainly do with a return to where it all started. Already dropped by Nuno, Ward-Prowse arguably needs the Saints just as much as they need him.

Whilst it’s been a frustrating couple of years, Ward-Prowse is still capable of taking Southampton to promotion if he completes his return in January. The 30-year-old could instantly partner Shea Charles at the heart of Still’s midfield and suddenly take the Saints from play-off hopefuls into automatic promotion contenders.

There will, of course, be question marks over their ability to afford such a player but West Ham could yet set a cut-price amid Nuno’s desire to show the midfielder the door. If that proves to be the case, then Southampton should take full advantage.

Manchester United have had some sensational midfielders over the years. Two of the players who spring to mind are Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick. The England pair formed a crucial midfield pivot in the later years of Sir Alex Ferguson’s dynasty.

Of course, Scholes was a graduate of the United academy and had plenty of success before Carrick signed for the club in 2006. Once they were playing together week in, week out at the Theatre of Dreams, they formed one of the best midfield pairings in the Premier League.

United have long been searching for a midfielder who possesses as much class as Scholes Carrick did. Kobbie Mainoo is someone who would surely fit that bill.

What Scholes has said about Mainoo

Life under Ruben Amorim this season hasn’t been easy for Mainoo. The 20-year-old has been continuously overlooked, which is strange given the pedigree he comes with, built up in such a short amount of time.

His astronomic rise under Erik ten Hag began with a spellbinding performance on debut away to Everton.

Mainoo’s technical brilliance was on show then, picking up the ball off the back four with ease and carrying forward to progress play.

Touches

61

Passes completed

38/46

Ground duels won

3/5

Aerial duels won

2/3

Ball recoveries

3

Long balls completed

2

Tackles won

1/1

He continued to shine in that United midfield, with Scholes someone who heaped praise on him.

The United great said, “I remember that calmness” Mainoo had on the ball, before going on to admit, “I just couldn’t believe such a young player could do that.”

Mainoo’s excellent performances were capped off last summer. He started and shone in the Euro 2024 final, which England lost 2-1 to Spain.

Given his quick rise and obvious talent, it is baffling that he continues to get ignored for a starting spot by Amorim.

Incredibly, United have a midfielder in the academy who might be even more like Carrick and Scholes than Mainoo, however.

United’s Carrick and Scholes hybrid at Carrington

The Red Devils are no strangers to incredible midfield talent. Of course, Scholes and Carrick are two of them, and Mainoo is the current example, but the likes of Paul Pogba certainly fit into the category.

Well, the next off the incredible production line at Carrington could well be Jim Thwaites. The 17-year-old has shone in the centre of the park for United’s under-18 side this season, under another midfield great, Darren Fletcher.

This season, sitting at the base of the midfield for Fletcher’s team, Thwaites has played six times in the under-18s Premier League. He’s started all of those games, skippering the side once and chipping in with a couple of goals.

Speaking of those strikes, and ones in the past, Thwaites is a bit of a specialist when it comes to free kicks. Look at this effort against Manchester City in what turned out to be a 4-2 defeat for his side.

The United youngster rifled home the set piece into the top left corner, with an inch-perfect effort.

That goal itself showcases Thwaites’ excellent ability. You can’t take a free kick like that without possessing technical brilliance. It is easy to see why he can be such a good controller in midfield, pulling the strings for his side.

In fact, coach Seb Ostergren was full of praise for the youngster. He said Thwaites is like a “hybrid between Scholes and Carrick,” noting he has the “line breaking forward passes” of United’s former number 16 and the “switches” of their academy graduate.

Thwaites is certainly a talent United fans can get excited for. At just 17 years of age, he knows how to make things tick in the centre of the park.

Once he gets used to the pace of senior football, he could become a huge asset for the club.

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ByEthan Lamb Oct 23, 2025

افتتح إيرلينج هالاند مهاجم مانشستر سيتي، التسجيل لصالح فريقه أمام ليفربول، ضمن منافسات الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

ويستقبل مانشستر سيتي ليفربول على ملعب “الاتحاد” في أول لقاء يجمع بين الفريقين هذا الموسم.

وجاء هدف النرويجي هالاند في الدقيقة 29 من أحداث الشوط الأول من زمن اللقاء، بعد صناعة من البرتغالي ماتيوس نونيز، ليستقبلها مهاجم مانشستر سيتي ويسددها برأسية رائعة.

اقرأ أيضاً.. فيديو | هالاند يهدر ركلة جزاء لـ مانشستر سيتي أمام ليفربول

ودخل جوارديولا لقاء اليوم بتشكيل مكون من: دوناروما، نونيز، دياز، جفارديول، أوريلي، سيلفا، جونزاليس، فودين، شرقي، هالاند، دوكو.

بينما دخل سلوت لقاء اليوم بتشكيل مكون من: مامارداشفيلي، روبرتسون، فان دايك، كوناتي، برادلي، جرافنبيرخ، ماك أليستر، فيرتز، سوبوسلاي، محمد صلاح.

Matheus Cunha recalled his tunnel conversation with Ruben Amorim last season after starring in Wolves' 1-0 win at Old Trafford in April. Cunha eventually went on to sign for Manchester United in the summer transfer window after the English giants triggered his £62.5million ($85m) release clause. Cunha, along with Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, was brought in at Old Trafford as part of Amorim's squad overhaul.

• Cunha's impressive start

  Cunha has quickly established himself as one of United’s standout performers this season so far following his big-money summer move from Wolves. The 26-year-old Brazilian has become a fan favourite at Old Trafford, with his blend of flair, aggression, and creativity earning him comparisons to former club legend Eric Cantona. While his goalscoring numbers remain modest, with one goal in 10 games so far across all competitions, his influence on matches has been undeniable, sparking the Red Devils’ offensive setup. 

  Amorim has built his front line around Cunha and fellow new arrival Bryan Mbeumo. The Red Devils boss' tactical setup has given Cunha the freedom to roam between the lines, link play with midfielders, and exploit gaps between the defensive line. 

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  Cunha recalls conversation with Amorim

  In April this year, Cunha visited Old Trafford with the Wolves side for a Premier League clash and starred in his club's 1-0 win over the hosts as Pablo Sarabia scored the only goal of the match. After the full-time whistle, as the Brazilian was about to enter the tunnel, Amorim grabbed him and had a conversation. 

  Recalling the discussion with the Portuguese manager, Cunha told : "He said, ‘Hey, take care today. What do you feel about the stadium? After the first game, Wolves against United [on Boxing Day], it was a good moment to feel like we have this connection. Wolves is very passionate. We discussed a little bit in the game and he [said] something to me. 

  "And then I said: 'Hey, take care of that thing!' or something like that. He’s someone that pushes us forward. This is the most important thing to be a coach in this big environment. The results start to come much more now. But personally, he’s someone that can show you the energy and then the passion to be part of his team and do the things for him, for the club and to show what you can do to be better. He’s someone who’s very passionate about his job. Someone who I feel is privileged to be the manager of one of the biggest clubs in the world and he shows us this. He shows us our responsibility to use this shirt and then show everyone what is to be part of Manchester United. Every single day he’s with me is a little bit more intense! But I know 100 per cent it’s because he wants to get out my best and then show everyone what I think he knows I can do."

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• Cunha responds to comparison with Cantona

  Last month, former Premier League defender Stephen Warnock said Cunha has "got the aura of Cantona". Responding to the comparison with a club great, the Brazil international said: "Wow, what a player. I need to do much more things to be compared to him. When someone says something like this to me, I try to see the good part of this. To be someone who has a lot of passion to play for this club, to play football – and then try to represent everyone inside of the pitch. I feel privileged to be associated with these kind of things and with Cantona also. He made history. And if I can do a little percentage of what he did already, I’ll be very happy and then try to build my way to the guys to remember me also. I’m new at the club. I’m new in terms of the look, all the other performances from the past. Everything for me is new. So I have only my mind in bringing back the United glory days."

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  United's Tottenham test

  United saw a sudden surge in form since October as they have remained unbeaten in their last four league matches, including three back-to-back wins against Sunderland, Liverpool and Brighton. They faltered against Nottingham Forest last weekend after being held to a 2-2 draw. Amorim's side will aim to get back to winning ways this Saturday as they take on Tottenham in a key away fixture.