Elly De La Cruz has been historic this season and the Cincinnati Reds shortstop has put up some huge numbers. Both good and bad.
De La Cruz enters the final week of the 2024 season with some tremendous numbers. He's currently hitting .261, has an on-base percentage of .343, while slugging .476. He has 25 home runs, 74 RBIs and leads all of baseball with 65 stolen bases. His OPS is .819, he boasts an fWAR of 6.5 and a wRC+ of 121.
His campaign has been historic as the 22-year-old is the first shortstop in MLB history with 25 or more home runs and 65 or more stolen bases in a season. Additionally, he's only the fourth player since 2000 to register 90 or more home runs and stolen bases combined in a season. He's tied at 90 with Jose Reyes's mark from 2007, but trails only Ronald Acuna's 114 from 2023 and Shohei Ohtani's 108 this season. That's some pretty great company to be in.
De La Cruz is electric and has become a budding star, but the Reds have had to take the bad with the good as he's developed. He does lead MLB in stolen bases, but he's also tops in strikeouts (210) and errors (28).
The closest competition for the lead in strikeouts is Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar at 193, so there's very little chance he loses the strikeout crown. The MLB single-season record for strikeouts is 223, set by Mark Reynolds in 2009. The Cincinnati Reds record is Adam Dunn's 222 from 2012. De La Cruz is also on pace to become the first player to lead MLB in strikeouts and steals in the same season.
Despite the negatives, it's easy to see why De La Cruz is so exciting. His StatCast page is a really fun read. He's in the 90th percentile in average exit velocity, 89th in bat speed, 77th in hard-hit percentage, 98th in defensive range, 90th in arm strength and 100th in sprint speed. Then there are some weird takeaways. He's in the 34th percentile in xBA (.244), 25th in percentage of balls squared up, eighth percentile in whiff percentage, and fifth in strikeout percentage.
De La Cruz is a ball of contradictions, but he has a long career ahead of him to iron out his issues. His 2024 season has seen him post ridiculous numbers, both positive and negative. But he's been incredibly fun to watch the entire time.
Kyle Abbott takes two wickets for Hampshire on overcast day on south coast
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Freddie McCann on his way to a half-century•Getty Images
Nottinghamshire 241 for 5 (McCann 79, Haynes 70*) vs Hampshire Nottinghamshire batters Jack Haynes and Freddie McCann continued to score runs against Hampshire in the 2025 Rothesay County Championship on an even first day at Utilita Bowl.Haynes and McCann both collected centuries in the reverse fixture at Trent Bridge in May, before each picking up half-centuries on the south coast.Haynes ended the day unbeaten on 70, after McCann was dismissed for 79 – one of two scalps for Kyle Abbott, with Eddie Jack also picking up a couple of wickets.Nottinghamshire ended the day on 241 for five, with neither side able to complain too much about their position in the match.Haseeb Hameed called incorrectly at the toss and was inserted on a very green looking pitch, with plenty of threatening clouds overhead.The Nottinghamshire captain was the only victim in a truncated nine overs before rain came down – which lumped 30 overs off the day. The highly-talented Jack got Hameed chasing a wide delivery which seamed even further away to edge behind.Hampshire’s slip fielding which had blighted them at Trent Bridge returned for another two dollies put down in the cordon.Tilak Varma unsuccessfully juggled to spill Ben Slater, while Joe Weatherley gave McCann a life from first slip.While Slater didn’t make the most of the drop – he scored just two more runs before he was bowled by a Abbott beauty that kissed the top of off – McCann did.The 20-year-old’s season has been plagued by unfulfilled starts save for his 79 against Durham and the 138 against Hampshire.He weathered the early Kookaburra ball movement, which Kyle Abbott had on a string, and was backed up by Jack and Sonny Baker.McCann rebuilt from 31 for two with Joe Clarke and Haynes – putting on 74 and 43 – in a non-flashy, but effective manner.He dominated square of the wicket in a 65-ball half-century, his sixth in first-class cricket.Clarke and Haynes were happier to take risks with their shot-making in the partnerships as runs became easier as the day progressed and the ball softened.Hampshire bypassed that with a plan, which worked to see off Clarke and McCann.It revolved around slightly shorter pitch bowling and a fly gully – aiming to capitalise on the amount of balls being hit square on the offside.Clarke couldn’t keep down a cut shot to pick up the odd field placing, while McCann stuck his bat up like a periscope to unusually guide to the man.Kyle Verreynne returned for the first time since becoming a world champion, having helped South Africa to the ICC World Test Championship.He was punchy in his quick-fire 42 before Jack drew a false pull, which was wonderfully caught by the sprawling James Fuller at deep square. Jack picked up a deserved second to end his first home Championship day two for 57.Haynes passed his fifty in a blink and you’d miss it 54 balls before slowing towards the close, with Lyndon James now for company.Bad light prematurely knocked off another 23 balls from the day’s play.
Tahir, 46, was retained by Amazon Warriors, while TKR recruited the Pakistan pair of Amir and Tariq
Deivarayan Muthu18-Jun-2025St Lucia Kings, the defending champions of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), have signed IPL winner Tim David as their first-round pick at the draft for the 2025 season. Kings, however, will be without Faf du Plessis, who had led them to their maiden title last year, prioritising the Hundred over the CPL this season.Du Plessis will instead play for Southern Brave in the Hundred, whose signing was the result of his involvement with Delhi Capitals in the IPL. The Capitals’ co-owners GMR Group are finalising their deal to buy Southern Brave, having taken over at host county Hampshire last year.Moeen Ali, who had announced his international retirement in September last year, has opted to skip the Hundred for the CPL, where he was re-signed as a seventh-round pick by Guyana Amazon Warriors. Imran Tahir, 46, was retained by Amazon Warriors as their first pick.Related
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Four-time CPL champions Trinbago Knight Riders recruited the Pakistan pair of Mohammad Amir and Usman Tariq. While this will be offspinner Tariq’s maiden CPL stint – he plays for Quetta Gladiators in the PSL – Amir is a familiar name in the CPL, having turned out for Barbados Royals, Jamaica Tallawahs, Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the past.As for the Falcons, they snapped up Imad Wasim as their first pick and Shakib Al Hasan as their second pick. Shakib holds the record for the best figures in an innings in the CPL – he had claimed 4-1-6-6 for the Barbados franchise back in 2013.Rashid Khan will miss the CPL once again, but other spinners contribute to a fairly significant Afghanistan presence in the league. Mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar, who was picked by Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2025 auction and is currently in fine form for Derbyshire in the T20 Blast, will join Naveen-ul-Haq at Falcons.Left-arm wristspinner Waqar Salamkheil moved from TKR to St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman will return to Barbados Royals. When Royals made the final in CPL 2022, Mujeeb had collected ten wickets in seven matches at an economy rate of 6.11. Seam-bowling allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai will join Mujeeb at Royals.Bevon Jacobs, the big-hitting New Zealand batter, will link up with Falcons for his first CPL gig after having stints with Mumbai Indians in the IPL and MI Emirates in the UAE’s ILT20. Glenn Phillips, who first made his name as a franchise player at the CPL before establishing himself as an allrounder for New Zealand, will join Amazon Warriors. Wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert will stay with Kings while Colin Munro will return to TKR.Imran Tahir, 46, was retained by Guyana Amazon Warriors•CPL T20 via Getty ImagesMunro, who was signed as an eighth-round pick, has previously enjoyed success with TKR – he is still their highest run-getter with 2178 runs in 72 innings at a strike rate of 129.56. Munro, 38, has retired from international cricket but continues to be active in franchise leagues around the world. Darren Bravo, the second-highest scorer for TKR behind Munro in the CPL, will also return to the franchise and will reunite with his brother Dwayne Bravo, who is set to take over as head coach.Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran and Andre Russell were all retained by TKR as expected.Allrounder Matthew Forde, who recently equalled AB de Villiers’ record for the fastest ODI fifty, was retained by Kings while fast bowler Shamar Joseph was retained by Amazon Warriors.Incentive for emerging playersIn CPL 2025, each franchise must play at least one player from the Breakout League, a new tournament that was held to identify emerging talent from the region, in every game. This also gives the franchise the option of picking five overseas players in their XI to go with their ‘breakout’ player.The last three rounds in the draft – 15, 16 and 17 – were all reserved for emerging players from the Breakout League.Reigning champions Kings brought back St Lucian Ackeem Auguste as one of their breakout players. After winning the CPL title with Kings, Auguste visited India to train at the Chennai Super Kings academy and his recent form for West Indies Academy is also encouraging.Having captained Trinidad & Tobago Legions to the 2025 West Indies Breakout League T20 title, Joshua da Silva will now link up with his home franchise, TKR, in the CPL.Jyd Goolie, a former Under-19 World Cup winner who recently earned a call-up to the senior squad, was picked by Patriots as a player from the Breakout League.CPL 2025 squadsSt Kitts & Nevis Patriots: Kyle Mayers, Jason Holder (traded), Rilee Rossouw, Evin Lewis, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Corbin Bosch, Waqar Salamkheil, Andre Fletcher, Alick Athanaze (traded), Mohammad Nawaz, Dominic Drakes, Mikyle Louis, Ashmead Nedd, Jeremiah Louis, Jyd Goolie, Navin Bidaisee, Leniko BoucherAntigua & Barbuda Falcons: Imad Wasim, Shakib Al Hasan, Fabian Allen, Naveen-ul-Haq, Obed McCoy, Justin Greaves, Bevon Jacobs, Jayden Seales, AM Ghazanfar, Rahkeem Cornwall (traded), Odean Smith, Jewel Andrew, Shamar Springer, Amir Jangoo, Karima Gore, Kevin Wickham, Joshua JamesBarbados Royals: Rovman Powell, Brandon King (traded), Sherfane Rutherford (traded), Quinton de Kock, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Azmatullah Omarzai, Jomel Warrican, Kadeem Alleyne, Shaqkere Parris, Kofi James, Nyeem Young, Rivaldo Clarke, Zishan Motara, Johann Layne, Ramon SimmondsTrinbago Knight Riders: Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Alex Hales, Akeal Hosein, Mohammad Amir, Colin Munro, Usman Tariq, Ali Khan, Darren Bravo, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Terrance Hinds, McKenny Clarke, Joshua Da Silva, Nathan EdwardGuyana Amazon Warriors: Imran Tahir, Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Shai Hope, Glenn Phillips, Gudakesh Motie, Moeen Ali, Shamar Joseph, Keemo Paul, Dwaine Pretorius, Shamarh Brooks, Kemol Savory, Hassan Khan, Jediah Blades, Kevlon Anderson, Quentin Sampson, Riyad LatifSaint Lucia Kings: Tim David, Alzarri Joseph, Johnson Charles, Tim Seifert, Roston Chase, Tabraiz Shamsi, David Wiese, Delano Potgieter, Matthew Forde, Aaron Jones, Khary Pierre, Javelle Glen, Micah McKenzie, Shadrack Descarte, Johann Jeremiah, Keon Gaston, Ackeem Auguste
Arne Slot brutally branded Manchester United a "long-ball team" as he claimed Liverpool "hardly conceded a chance" in their disappointing 2-1 loss at Anfield on Sunday. United registered their first victory at Anfield since 2016 and secured back-to-back wins in the Premier League for the first time since Ruben Amorim took over as head coach in November last year.
Liverpool stuck in a rut
Reigning champions Liverpool kicked off the season on a bright note as they won seven games in succession, including five in the Premier League. However, things went south towards the end of September when they suffered a 2-1 loss against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. More heartbreak followed in Turkey as they went down 1-0 against Galatasaray in the Champions League. Slot's men were then beaten 2-1 by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and failed to bounce back against United, slumping to a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions for the first time since 2014.
Bryan Mbeumo handed the visitors a surprise early lead, which was later cancelled out by Cody Gakpo's equaliser in the 78th minute. Just when the Reds appeared to have gained the upper hand, Harry Maguire came out of nowhere and scored the winning goal with a clinical header in the 84th minute. The win helped United climb up to ninth in the table, while Liverpool dropped to fourth, four points behind leaders Arsenal.
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Slot aims dig at Man Utd tactics
Slot was understandably disappointed with the result, but felt that Liverpool did well to create several goal-scoring opportunities against a United team that often went route one.
Reflecting on the match, Slot told : "It is always difficult to play against a team that defends in a low block and mainly plays the long ball. It makes it even more difficult when you go one down after one minute when one of our players are on the floor. If you would have told me before the game that against the low block, against so many long balls, that we would have created as many chances as we did I would have not expected us to lose. But that is what we did. We had enough chances to score more than one goal, but on the other hand again conceding two and one of the two was the set piece."
Concerns over set-piece vulnerability growing
Slot also expressed his concern over Liverpool conceding from set pieces as he issued a warning to his players. The Dutchman added: "Yes. Of course, we concede maybe one or two extra chances apart from the goals we conceded but you always have to take extra risk when you are 1-0 down. Taking that into account, we hardly conceded a chance and we are waiting for us to score a goal, we have to defend the set piece. Like against Palace and a few other moments this season, we've conceded on a set piece and that is hard to take because it is very difficult to win a game of football if you have a negative balance on set pieces."
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Referee hit with 'corruption' allegations
Mbeumo put United ahead inside two minutes with a composed finish after running in behind the Liverpool defence and firing into the back of the net. As he wheeled away in celebration, Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister was sprawled out on the turf. The World Cup-winning Argentina international was holding his head, having been caught in a challenge just inside the Liverpool half. He was struck by a stray elbow from Van Dijk, which clearly left him in some discomfort and forced him to play the remainder of the game with a headguard. The game, however, was not halted, with Oliver allowing play to go on and the Red Devils to take the lead. Liverpool fans were frustrated with the referee's call as some of them even made 'corruption' allegations against the match official.
However, former referee Keith Hackett has backed Oliver for making the correct decision, as he told : "Three players challenged in a fair manner for the ball which bounced and put Man United on the attack. They went in to score a good goal. It appeared that Oliver had not seen the head injury and play was allowed to continue. Goal scored and correctly allowed. VAR cannot intervene on this, it is not a clear and obvious error."
For a free-flowing team that confidently strolled to the Championship title last season, Daniel Farke’s Leeds United have unfortunately misplaced their shooting boots in the Premier League so far.
Indeed, the entertaining Whites fired home a devastating 95 strikes in total last campaign, as 100 points were also tallied up.
Now, from their opening three games up a division, they have just a paltry single goal to shout about, with a mixed bag of four points next to their name.
Farke will just be praying it’s early-season nerves holding his wasteful team back, with lots more expected of Dominic Calvert-Lewin as he acclimatises to his new environment at Elland Road, after becoming synonymous with ex-employers Everton.
Calvert-Lewin's early Leeds struggles
After lining up for the Toffees 273 times across nine seasons, Calvert-Lewin walked away from Merseyside this summer for a fresh opportunity in West Yorkshire.
Everton did try to tempt the ex-Sheffield United striker to stay with a new, extended deal, but Farke and Co proved to be a more enticing next step, as the 11-time England international now attempts to recapture his best form in front of goal after an injury-ravaged few campaigns at Goodison Park.
Leeds will hope they can move past these recurring niggles and reawaken a clinical monster, with journalist Patrick Boyland once labelling the attacker as “outstanding” when he was scoring goals for fun at the Toffees.
In total, an impressive 71 goals would come Calvert-Lewin’s way at Everton, with 16 of those coming during just one Premier League season.
Yet, the early signs at the moment suggest that the Sheffield-born forward is bereft of confidence in front of goal, having endured a nightmare day at the office against Sheffield Wednesday recently.
Staring down the barrel of an embarrassing exit in the EFL Cup to Sheffield Wednesday, Farke would throw on Calvert-Lewin for the final 30 minutes of action, hopeful that he could be the difference-maker on his debut run-out.
Instead, he depressingly fluffed his lines whenever the pressure was ramped up, with four big chances spurned, before he also missed a penalty kick to hand the Owls a shock Cup win.
Farke could well feel it’s necessary to keep Calvert-Lewin on his toes now, knowing he’s still a little rusty, with a rising starlet perhaps pushed up for more first-team chances.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
The Leeds prospect who could compete with Calvert-Lewin
Farke was the manager at the Elland Road helm who brought Archie Gray into the senior spotlight.
Gray would then go on to be a £40m sale to Tottenham Hotspur after seriously impressing throughout Leeds’ promotion-near miss.
Amazingly, the majority of his family members will be hoping for a similar rise for brother Harry Gray, who has already made waves in the first team picture.
With promotion all but wrapped up last season, the former Norwich City boss threw the 16-year-old sensation into the first-team mix, with a memorable eight-minute cameo handed to him against Stoke City in April.
It wasn’t just purely sentiment that gifted Gray a chance to strut his stuff with the likes of Manor Solomon and the other promotion heroes, however, with the teenager already tipped to have an immensely bright future in the game by analyst Ben Mattinson.
Indeed, he boldly stated that he is “one of England’s best prospects in his generation” after briefly lining up against the Potters.
25/26
3
4
24/25
8
3
23/24
11
8
The table above proves that Mattinson’s words aren’t just hyperbole either, with the 16-year-old already up to seven goals from ten games for the U21s at Premier League 2 level, away from collecting a lethal 15 strikes overall at youth level.
Calvert-Lewin could only dream of being in such a rich vein of goalscoring form himself, with a weak three strikes next to his name in the main Premier League last season.
Of course, just for his experience alone, Leeds will continue to try and get a tune out of their new marksman.
But, in the long run, do not rule out Gray making strides in the senior picture, having also been previously branded an “unbelievable” talent by former Leeds favourite Dominic Matteo.
Leeds now want international star who ripped Real Madrid defender to shreds
The Whites have sat up and taken notice of his performance.
An Arsenal target now has his heart set on joining Manchester United, due to his deep respect for former manager Sir Alex Ferguson and the club’s traditions.
Man Utd's standards have slipped since Ferguson's retirement
Man United are well-known for their rich history and traditions, which included wearing suits when arriving ahead of matches, but Wayne Rooney has revealed that standards started to slip after Ferguson’s retirement back in 2013.
Rooney said: “I remember we went to the League Cup final and players were wearing the suits with big, bright yellow trainers and stuff like that.
“I remember we went to the League Cup final and players were wearing the suits with big, bright yellow trainers and stuff like that. I went to Mourinho and said, ‘Listen, I’ve spoken to the players and you need to have a word here and to keep the standards. We can’t have that going to Wembley into a cup final.’
“He’s like, ‘Yeah, yeah, I’ll speak to them’. And then as we came down to leave, I’ve seen Jose there and he’s got a zip-up top with no tie on. I was thinking, “What’s the point?”
With Rooney going on to reveal that players are allowed to wear whatever they want nowadays, one of United’s traditions has arguably been eroded, but that hasn’t stopped an up-and-coming star setting his sights on a move to Old Trafford.
According to a report from Caught Offside, Arsenal target Kirill Glebov, who currently plays for CSKA Moscow, has his heart set on joining Man Utd and dreams of a transfer, citing the Old Trafford atmosphere, the club’s traditions, and his deep respect for Ferguson as the key reasons.
Glebov is currently valued at just €1.5m (£1.3m), but the winger’s price tag could rise considerably if he continues his current form, having started the season very well, which has attracted the attention of the likes of Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Brighton.
Glebov could be future star for Man Utd
At this stage, United don’t appear to have a great deal of interest in the Russian, but there are indications he has plenty of potential, having made a flying start to the 2025-26 campaign for CSKA Moscow.
The 19-year-old already has four goals and two assists to his name in all competitions, which recently earned the teenager a first call-up to the Russian national side, making his debut in the 0-0 draw against Jordan last week.
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The Red Devils are looking to sign a central midfielder, who could be perfect for Ruben Amorim.
1 ByDominic Lund Sep 10, 2025
That said, Glebov is still at a very early stage of his career, and having strengthened their attack considerably in the summer, signing Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, Man United should now focus on bringing in a new central midfielder instead.
There is certainly no shortage of options on the shortlist, with Al Hilal’s Ruben Neves, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba and Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson all believed to be of interest.
As the transfer deadline looms, Everton are once again at the centre of speculation.
The Toffees have been among the more proactive Premier League sides this summer, with David Moyes overseeing a rebuild designed to inject both quality and long-term stability into the squad.
Jack Grealish’s high-profile switch from Manchester City dominated headlines, and he wasted little time in making his mark at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, registering two assists on his competitive debut in a 2-0 win over Brighton.
Everton backed up that performance with a comfortable 2-0 EFL Cup victory over Mansfield Town, further raising optimism among supporters.
Despite those encouraging results, Everton’s league campaign began with a setback – a narrow 1-0 defeat away at Leeds United.
That loss underlined the need for further reinforcements if the club are to mount a genuine push into the top half of the Premier League.
Everton looking to sign another English talent
Moyes has already welcomed the likes of Thierno Barry, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Tyler Dibling into his squad, yet midfield remains an area of focus.
With Abdoulaye Doucouré departing earlier in the summer, a vacancy exists in the heart of Everton’s team.
The Toffees have been linked with a possible reunion between Moyes and Tomas Souček, but there is also a strong suggestion that another deal could be in the works – one that could see Everton land a player reminiscent of club stalwart Gareth Barry.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
According to Football Insider, Everton are one of several Premier League clubs weighing up a late move for Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney.
The 23-year-old has told his boyhood club that he would consider leaving if a top-flight opportunity presents itself before the window shuts. Crystal Palace and West Ham are also monitoring developments.
Hackney, described by analyst Ben Mattinson as a “special player,” has been integral to Middlesbrough’s perfect start under new manager Rob Edwards, playing every minute of their three consecutive Championship victories.
He has already contributed a goal and an assist this season, showcasing his ability to influence matches in the final third.
Why Hackney evokes memories of Gareth Barry
For Hackney, the chance to step up into the Premier League could be a natural next step in a career that has already seen him capped 13 times at England U21 level, including as part of the squad that retained the European Championship this summer.
England'sHaydenHackneyscores their first goal
Marketed at around £10m by Transfermarkt, the youngster would represent an affordable option compared with some of Everton’s other recent investments.
That figure is particularly notable when set against the £42m the club committed to sign winger Dibling from Southampton earlier this week – a move that underlined Moyes’ determination to secure the best emerging English talent.
For Everton fans, however, Hackney’s potential arrival carries echoes of one of the club’s most successful midfield signings of the Premier League era: Gareth Barry.
Like Barry, Hackney is a technically accomplished left-footed midfielder who thrives in dictating tempo, recycling possession, and providing a calm platform for more attacking players to flourish.
Statistically, his numbers suggest a player already capable of making the step-up.
According to FBref, he ranks favourably compared to midfielders in similar divisions to the Championship, sitting in the 99th percentile for progressive passes per 90 (9.92) and the 91st percentile for shot-creating actions (3.80) among players in leagues of Championship equivalence.
Hayden Hackney for Middlesbrough
His ability to move the ball forward – whether through incisive passing or by carrying possession himself (97th percentile for progressive carries) – highlights his suitability for Moyes’ system, which increasingly relies on controlled build-up from deep.
Defensively, Hackney also contributes, sitting in the 82nd percentile for blocks (1.54 per 90), which demonstrates an ability to screen effectively and disrupt opposition attacks.
This blend of on-ball quality and off-ball responsibility is precisely what made Barry such a valuable figure during his time at Goodison Park.
Hackney – 2024/25
Matches Played
43
Minutes Played
3,792
Goals
5
Assists
3
Progressive Carries
118
Progressive Passes
440
Source: FBref
The contrast with Everton’s other major summer signing, Dibling, is instructive.
Whereas Dibling’s profile – marked by elite percentile rankings for dribbles attempted (5.28), fouls drawn (2.49), and dribblers tackled (61.5%) – reflects the skillset of an explosive wide player, Hackney offers a quieter but equally crucial influence.
He would provide structure and control from midfield, knitting phases of play together and giving Everton stability in possession.
This dual-pronged approach of flair on the flanks combined with composure and tempo in midfield is central to Moyes’ vision of a balanced squad.
Hackney would not only cover the void left by Doucouré’s departure but also give Everton something they have lacked in recent years: a metronomic midfielder capable of dictating rhythm against stubborn opponents.
Much like Barry did during his four-year spell at the club, Hackney could serve as the understated yet indispensable figure around whom others operate.
His consistency at Middlesbrough – 43 appearances last season, contributing five goals and three assists – shows a player with the reliability and endurance to take on such a role at the top level.
With a market value of £10m, Hackney represents both a relatively low-risk and potentially transformative addition.
His signing would also reinforce Everton’s emerging identity as a club investing in technically proficient English players who could form the core of the team for years to come.
With the window set to close on Monday, Everton must act swiftly if they are to secure Hackney’s signature ahead of their rivals.
For the player himself, the lure of the Premier League and the chance to develop under Moyes could prove decisive.
Dream Grealish repeat: Everton enter race to sign "mind-boggling" £40m star
Everton could seal a stunning Jack Grealish repeat by snapping up this exceptional ace.
Kobbie Mainoo has reportedly had concerns over his Manchester United future for months as the midfielder eyes a January exit. Mainoo was once hailed as the heartbeat of United’s next generation, but fast-forward to September 2025, and the 20-year-old is facing the harshest dilemma of his young career: fight for scraps at Old Trafford or walk away temporarily to save his England dreams.
Mainoo unsettled by the lack of minutes
Loan move blocked, but could revive
Contract talks stalled under new regime
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WHAT HAPPENED?
According to Mainoo has grown increasingly unsettled over his lack of opportunities under manager Ruben Amorim and even asked for a loan move before the transfer window slammed shut. That request was rebuffed, but the door could reopen in January. Mainoo’s push wasn’t a last-minute panic call. The youngster and his camp had been weighing up his situation for months before formally speaking to Amorim and football director Jason Wilcox. Their fear was simple: limited minutes at United risk derailing his progress and destroying his chances of making Thomas Tuchel’s squad for next summer’s World Cup.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Whispers of discontent have been swirling since the turn of the year. It's reported that Mainoo first grew uneasy when stories broke that United might cash in on him or fellow academy graduate Alejandro Garnacho to ease Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) pressures. At that time, Mainoo sought advice from a former player but chose to stay quiet. It was only toward the end of the summer that his frustrations boiled over, prompting the loan request. Napoli emerged as a serious destination, but United vetoed the move. Insiders believe the deal could be revisited in January if Mainoo’s role doesn’t improve, though only if United secure a suitable replacement.
DID YOU KNOW?
Looming over the playing-time saga is a contract cloud. Mainoo penned fresh terms in 2023, tying him to Old Trafford until 2027, with the club holding an option for another year. Following his breakout at Euro 2024, early talks began about upgrading his salary to reflect his rising profile. But since Sir Jim Ratcliffe assumed a controlling role, those conversations have frozen. With Ratcliffe’s regime placing stricter controls on wages, Mainoo’s future looks no clearer off the pitch than on it.
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WHAT NEXT FOR MAINOO?
Mainoo’s absence from Tuchel’s latest Three Lions squad hardly raised eyebrows, given his lack of playing time. Yet for the teenager, it was a hammer blow. Just over a year ago, he was touted as a future midfield general for England, but now he stands on the outside looking in.
Após definir pela saída de Fernando Lázaro do comando do Corinthians, o remanejando para a função de auxiliar-técnico da comissão permanente, a direção do clube já conversa nos bastidores para acertar com um novo treinador.
O retorno de Tite é sonhado pela direção corintiana. Porém, em contato com pessoas próximas ao ex-comandante da Seleção Brasileira eles foram informados de que a volta dele para o futebol brasileiro é improvável no momento. O grande desejo dele é dirigir um time na Europa e um regresso ao Brasil, ainda que dirigindo o Timão, só poderia acontecer no ano que vem. A resposta foi a mesma quando o profissional foi tentado no fim do ano passado, depois da saída de Vítor Pereira.
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Cuca foi oferecido à direção do Timão antes mesmo da confirmação da saída de Lázaro do comando do clube. Os responsáveis pelo departamento de futebol corintiano não barraram a ideia, pois consideram um ótimo nome no ponto de vista do futebol e também financeiro. Por outro lado, há o receio de represália da torcida corintiana, principalmente por conta da condenação por estupro recebida pelo técnico na década de 80, quando ainda era jogador e defendia o Grêmio em uma excursão que o clube gaúcho fez à Europa.
Cuca sabe que não é bem-vindo pela torcida corintiana, mas não se incomoda com isso e estaria empolgado para dirigir o clube alvinegro, que é o único entre os quatro principais do Estado de São Paulo que o profissional ainda não trabalhou.
Nomes como Jorge Jesus e Marcelo Gallardo também foram debatidos, mas a parte financeira pesa. O padrão salarial de ambos é alto e eles recebem em moeda estrangeira. Assim, a prioridade neste momento é um técnico brasileiro, que possa ajustar o time, dar a competitividade necessária para o segundo semestre, mas também se enquadre na realidade financeira do clube.
Alguns nomes estão fora de cogitação, são eles: Fábio Carille, Mano Menezes e Rogério Ceni. Os dois primeiros, além de estarem empregados, não estão alinhados com as ideias da diretoria atual. O último, demitido do São Paulo na última quarta-feira (19), tem forte ligação com o Tricolor e histórico de rivalidade com o Corinthians.
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A diretoria do Corinthians, neste momento, conversa com empresários próximos do clube e que podem fazer o papel de intermediários nas negociações com os nomes que forem traçados como planos A, B e C. A ideia é que o anúncio seja o mais rápido possível e o novo treinador fique à disposição já no duelo contra o Goiás, neste fim de semana, em Goiânia, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro.
Setting their sights on signing another attacking addition this summer, the Friedkin Group are now reportedly plotting a move to sign a talented £50 million star for Everton.
Friedkin could hand Everton £150m spree
Friedkin are in a strong position to make some much-needed changes at Everton this summer. As revealed by earlier reports, the Toffees are able to spend as much as £150m if they please ahead of next season, having already signed Thierno Barry, Mark Travers and Carlos Alcaraz on a permanent deal.
Villarreal's Thierno Barry
As they head into a new era at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, David Moyes still reportedly wants to sign two midfielders to soften the blow of Abdoulaye Doucoure’s exit and a new winger.
Several targets have emerged who would tick those boxes too, with the likes of James McAtee and Takefusa Kubo chief among their priorities. Both would be excellent additions, especially the latter, who came through at Real Madrid and has since thrived at Real Sociedad.
The Japan international, whilst not at his true best last season, still managed seven goals and four assists; the type of numbers that would see Everton land an instant upgrade on former loanee Jack Harrison.
Whether Moyes’ side can agree a deal with Sociedad in the coming weeks is the big question.
The Merseyside club are reportedly preparing to submit an offer worth around £35m, which they hope will be enough to advance any deal to sign Kubo. The move would mark Everton’s second La Liga signing of the summer after Barry and would once again steal plenty of headlines.
That said, Kubo isn’t the only option on their shortlist.
Takefusa Kubo scores for Japan
Indeed, reports are now suggesting that Friedkin have set their sights on another talented winger.
Everton plotting Tyler Dibling swoop
As reported by The Times’ Paul Joyce, Friedkin are now plotting a fresh swoop to sign Tyler Dibling from relegated Southampton this summer. The teenage talent was one of few standouts for the Saints in a season to forget last time out, and he could now get the chance to retain his Premier League place.
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Dibling won’t come cheap, however. There are claims that Southampton are looking to secure as much as £50m to sell the 19-year-old this summer in what would make him Everton’s joint-record signing with Richarlison.
The big question will be whether Dibling is worthy of breaking that record, and based on Russell Martin’s praise last season, the answer is a resounding yes.
Southampton's TylerDiblingin action with Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers and Ian Maatsen
The former Southampton boss told reporters:
“Tyler was unfortunate not to play earlier because he had an amazing pre-season.
“So he has an incredible belief in himself in a really nice, humble and modest way. But he has to just keep living at 100 per cent and understand where that is and understand what’s got him this far.
“I think he has a brilliant support network with his family. He has a lot of trust from us and he has that back. It’s not always plain sailing with young players.”