With Kyogo Furuhashi, Nicolas Kuhn and Adam Idah among those to depart Parkhead in recent times, Celtic have frustratingly had to witness some of their best and brightest move on to pastures new, instead of sticking it out for the long haul in Glasgow.

Those who have moved on haven’t always enjoyed the best of fortunes, however, with the club’s record departures a case in point.

Indeed, Kieran Tierney – sold to Arsenal back in 2019 – has returned to Scotland this summer after six injury-hit years at the Emirates. Jota, meanwhile, is also now back on the books after enduring a miserable time in Saudi Arabia and France.

Celtic’s record sales

Player

Club

Fee

Matt O’Riley

Brighton

£25m

Jota

Al-Ittihad

£25m

Kieran Tierney

Arsenal

£23m

Moussa Dembele

Lyon

£19m

Nicolas Kuhn

Como

£16m

Odsonne Edouard

Palace

£14m

Kristoffer Ajer

Brentford

£13.5m

Virgil van Dijk

Southampton

£13.5m

Victor Wanyama

Spurs

£12.5m

Figures via Transfermarkt

In the case of Matt O’Riley, the elegant playmaker has joined Marseille on loan after just a solitary season at Brighton. Kuhn, now at Como, is yet to start a Serie A game since his £16m switch.

Even Kyogo – who departed for Rennes in January in the hope of securing a more prominent role for Japan – has found himself now operating in England’s Championship rather than the Champions League, with the grass certainly not always greener.

That being said, there are those who go on and flourish elsewhere after leaving the Premiership side, with young Ben Gannon-Doak proving a prime example.

Ben Gannon-Doak's display in numbers vs Belarus

Every club has a tale of ‘one that got away, with Gannon-Doak the most prominent name in recent times with regard to Celtic and their academy production line.

Handed two senior appearances by Ange Postecoglou as a mere 16-year-old, the flying winger could not be tempted to stay put in Scotland, instead moving to Premier League giants Liverpool for a compensation fee of just £600k.

While the intense competition at Anfield has seen the now 19-year-old move on to Bournemouth this summer, the nature of the £25m price tag emphasises just what a talent he truly is – a fact that he again showcased on Monday night away at Belarus.

The man who previously tormented Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol, Gannon-Doak is emerging as a real outlet for Steve Clarke and for Scotland despite his relative youth, with new Cherries teammate Ryan Christie highlighting just why he has become such a firm favourite for the Tartan Army:

That positivity was on full display on Monday, with Gannon-Doak – unleashed from the start by Clarke – proving a constant menace down the left flank, having been the away side’s ‘brightest creative spark’, according to GIVEMESPORT.

In his 74-minute outing, the youngster notably completed three of his four attempted dribbles, enjoyed a 93% pass accuracy rate and registered one key pass, as per Sofascore, having produced a performance of real authority off the left.

There was also steel to match the silk, however, a fact emphasised by a crunching challenge on the halfway line, that resulted in a yellow card, as he also notably won seven of his 11 total duels.

A player who looks like the complete package, Celtic will rue having let him slip from their grasp. That is in the past, however, with there now a new shining light to enjoy at Parkhead…

Callum Osmand could be Celtic's answer to Gannon-Doak

Too often in recent times have Celtic had to watch as their academy products have been snapped up by top-flight clubs south of the border, with teenage goal machine Daniel Cummings notably making the switch to West Ham United this summer.

In The Pipeline

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

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That being said, there are times where the Hoops are able to get their own back, with Brendan Rodgers and co memorably poaching a young Moussa Dembele from Fulham back in the summer of 2016.

Such a coup looks like it could well have been replicated this summer too, with the Scottish champions having managed to prise another teenage striker from Craven Cottage, in the form of Callum Osmand.

The 19-year-old may have yet to enjoy a taste of senior football in west London, although he has flourished at youth level in recent years, scoring 23 goals in just 38 U18 games, alongside netting 20 times in 35 games for the U21 side.

In one outing for Celtic ‘B’ team, the prolific teen has already got off the mark, emphasising just why he is so “highly-rated”, in the words of Rodgers:

Having discussed the potential move with another Fulham product, O’Riley, the Welshman will be looking to try and emulate the playmaker’s impact in green and white, with a starting berth seemingly up for grabs amid the uncertainty surrounding Celtic’s number nine berth.

Much like Gannon-Doak, the rapid talent appears to have that fearless quality to his attacking game, a point that has been emphasised by Fulham expert Jack Kelly:

While Celtic have had to witness Gannon-Doak flourish at international level, perhaps they could well get their own back with the case of Osmand, with it set to be intriguing to see if he can make a first-team impact under Rodgers this season.

There is a centre-forward vacuum to be filled in the wake of Idah’s departure – could Osmand now fill it?

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Posts ByBen Gray Sep 9, 2025

نجح الهلال السعودي في تحقيق فوز كبير على حساب السد القطري بثلاثة أهداف مقابل هدف، ضمن منافسات مجموعات بطولة دوري أبطال آسيا للنخبة.

واستقبل الهلال السعودي نظيره السد القطري، على ملعب المملكة أرينا، في الجولة الثالثة من دور المجوعات ببطولة دوري أبطال آسيا للنخبة.

طالع| فيديو | الأهلي السعودي يفوز على الغرافة القطري ويتصدر الترتيب في دوري أبطال آسيا

في الدقيقة 25 من الشوط الأول، سجل اللاعب يوسف أكتشيشيك الهدف الأول لصالح فريق الهلال السعودي.

وأضاف خاليدو كوليبالي مدافع فريق الهلال الهدف الثاني في مرمى السد القطري عند الدقيقة 40 من الشوط الأول بعد عرضية من روبين نيفيز.

وفي الدقيقة 63 قلص السد القطري النتيجة بالهدف الأول عن طريق روبيرتو فيرمينو بعد عرضية قابلها اللاعب في الشباك.

وسجل سافيتش ثلاثية الهلال من ركلة حرة سددها ببراعة في الدقيقة 81، وأضاع كايو ركلة جزاء للهلال في الدقيقة 90+2 تصدى لها حارس السد ببراعة.

وبهذه النتيجة، ارتفع رصيد الهلال إلى النقطة التاسعة في صدارة المجموعة من 3 انتصارات، بينما توقف رصيد السد عند نقطتين في المركز التاسع بجدول ترتيب دوري أبطال آسيا.  أهداف مباراة الهلال والسد في دوري أبطال آسيا

The platform will continue creating content around non-CSK games

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Apr-2025

R Ashwin has three wickets from four games this season with an economy rate of 9.23•PTI

Chennai Super Kings (CSK) games will not be previewed or reviewed on R Ashwin’s YouTube channel for the remainder of IPL 2025.”Given the nature of the discussions on this forum over the last week, we want to be mindful of how things can be interpreted and have chosen to step away from covering CSK games, both previews and reviews, for the rest of this season,” read a note from the admin of Ashwin’s channel. “We value the diversity of perspectives that come through on our shows and remain committed to ensuring the conversation stays true to the integrity and purpose of the platform we’ve established. The views expressed by our guests do not reflect Ashwin’s personal opinions.”A controversy arose last week when Prasanna Agoram, a former data analyst for South Africa and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and a regular on the channel, criticised CSK’s decision to pick Afghanistan wristspinner Noor Ahmad despite having Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the squad. Ashwin himself does not take part in these discussions.The video was taken down after sharp reaction on social media. After CSK’s chase against DC petered out on Saturday, coach Stephen Fleming was asked if such chatter about the team on a player’s YouTube channel might make things awkward. “I have no idea,” Fleming said. “I didn’t even know he [Ashwin] had a channel, so I don’t follow that stuff. That’s irrelevant.”

Orange Cap leaderboard

Lucknow Super Giants’ (LSG) Nicholas Pooran stays on top of the run-scorers’ table, with 201 runs from four innings. He scored only 12 in his latest knock, against Mumbai Indians (MI). But before that, he got 75 from 30 balls against Delhi Capitals (DC), 70 from 26 against SRH, and 44 from 30 against Punjab Kings (PBKS).GT opener Sai Sudharsan is in second position after a rare failure against SRH – he scored 5 off nine balls. Before this, he had scored 49, 63 and 74. All up, he has 191 runs in four innings.Mitchell Marsh is at No. 3. He has 184 runs from four innings. There was a duck against PBKS, but Marsh scored a half-century every other time he walked out.1:31

Rayudu: Siraj’s comeback since India omission has been amazing

Purple Cap leaderboardNoor Ahmad, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) left-arm wristspinner, continues to head the Purple Cap table with ten wickets from four games. His spell of 4 for 18 in CSK’s first game, agains MI, remains his best so far.DC’s Mitchell Starc, who picked up his maiden five-for in T20s, against SRH, remains second on the list with nine wickets in three games.GT’s Mohammed Siraj equalled Starc’s tally on Sunday night with his own IPL best, albeit he has played four games to Starc’s three. Siraj picked up 4 for 17 against SRH to hand them their four successive loss, and was named the Player of the Match.

Sean Abbott, Aaron Hardie and Todd Murphy are the three names to drop off the original list from last year

Alex Malcolm01-Apr-2025Sam Konstas and Matt Kuhnemann’s rollercoaster summers have been capped by being added to Cricket Australia’s central contract list for 2025-26 in a clear sign both are set for more Test cricket this year, while Cooper Connolly and Jake Fraser-McGurk have been overlooked in a T20 World Cup cycle.Konstas, Kuhnemann and Tasmanian allrounder Beau Webster are the three new additions to the 23-player list with Sean Abbott, Aaron Hardie and Todd Murphy all dropping off the initial group from 2024-25.Related

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Abbott and Hardie were both part of the Champions Trophy squad but did not play a game in the tournament while Murphy played one Test on the recent tour of Sri Lanka as the third spinner but Australia do not have a tour of Asia in the 2025-26 season. There is a chance Australia could play two spinners in their XI during the three Test tour of the Caribbean but the success of Kuhnemann and Nathan Lyon as a duo in Sri Lanka means Murphy has been squeezed off the list.It rounds out a remarkable period for Kuhnemann. He went from possibly missing the Sri Lanka tour with the broken thumb, to starring in both Tests before being reporting for a suspect action by match officials. He was subsequently cleared after undergoing ICC testing and is now clearly Australia’s No. 2 Test spinner.”Matt was outstanding once again in Sri Lanka and we believe he can play a key role across the next 18 months,” chair of selectors George Bailey said.Connolly’s absence is interesting given he played in Australia’s last Test and ODI teams. He also played two T20Is last year and might have played in Australia’s most recent matches against Pakistan in November had he not been nursing a broken finger. But despite earning an CA contract upgrade last year, he has not been placed on the central list for the next 12 months.Cooper Connolly featured across formats in the 2024-25 season•ICC/Getty ImagesKonstas, 19, is currently only a one-format prospect but he looks set to feature in a lot of Test cricket given he has been added to the list despite losing his place in Sri Lanka after playing the final two Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tests in Melbourne and Sydney where he cracked a remarkable 60 on debut.”In Sam we see promising upside in a young player who will continue to develop at first class level and in the international environment,” Bailey said.Nathan McSweeney earned a CA contract upgrade after playing the first three Tests of the India series and toured Sri Lanka as the spare batter but has not made the list.Mitchell Marsh remains contracted despite losing his Test place last summer. He is Australia’s T20I captain as they head into another T20 World Cup year but Bailey insisted his Test career was not over despite very lean returns during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.CA has continued to invest in injury-prone fast bowlers Lance Morris and Jhye Richardson. They played one ODI between them in the last contract period and Richardson is currently rehabbing from his third shoulder surgery. Xavier Bartlett has also been retained despite being overlooked for the Champions Trophy when Australia’s big three fast bowlers were all absent.Fraser-McGurk’s absence is notable given he earned an upgrade for playing five ODIs and seven T20Is in the 2024-25 period. He was in the Champions Trophy squad but was not selected for the semi-final when opener Matt Short was injured, with Connolly picked ahead of him having not been in initial 15.Sam Konstas will be looking to add to the two Tests he played against India•Getty ImagesT20 specialists Marcus Stoinis and Tim David have also been left off the list as they were last year. Both qualified for upgrades in the 2024-25 period with Stoinis receiving his before retiring from ODI cricket on the eve of the Champions Trophy.Players have the opportunity to upgrade to national contracts in the 12-month period via selection in Test, ODI and T20I cricket.Stoinis, David, Fraser-McGurk, Connolly, Abbott, Hardie, as well as white-ball bowlers Spencer Johnson, Ben Dwarshuis and Tanveer Sangha, who played in the Champions Trophy, will have the chance to earn an upgrade given Australia are set to play 19 bilateral T20Is across five series in 2025-26 as well as the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February and March next year.They will also play nine ODIs across three series. Australia only play seven Test matches in 2025-26 contract period, the last two of the West Indies tour and the five home Ashes Tests.Cricket Australia men’s contract list 2025-26Xavier Bartlett, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Lance Morris, Jhye Richardson, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster, Adam Zampa

Manchester United academy chief Luke Fedorenko, who helped sign wonderkid JJ Gabriel, will reportedly leave Old Trafford despite the Red Devils’ attempts to keep him at the club. The 35-year-old talent guru has reportedly accepted an offer to join a major football agency, marking the end of an influential nine-year spell shaping the club's youth structure.

Scouting king calls time on Old Trafford stint

According to Fedorenko’s decision has left United stunned, as he was one of the driving forces behind the resurgence of the club's youth recruitment model. His exit marks yet another behind-the-scenes shake-up at Carrington, as changes continue to ripple through the club’s football operations.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHow Fedorenko rebuilt United’s youth network

Fedorenko arrived at United in 2017 as part of the club’s internal reform plan, known as Project Bethlehem. The initiative was designed to modernise a once-proud academy that had been criticised for falling behind Premier League rivals such as Manchester City and Chelsea. A former Barnsley youth player, Fedorenko’s rise in scouting began at Sheffield United, where he developed a reputation for identifying top young talent. When he joined United, his mission was clear: rebuild and refocus the club’s recruitment system from the ground up.

Post-Brexit, he played a key role in shifting the club’s scouting priorities toward homegrown and domestic prospects, helping United adapt to the new transfer realities facing English academies. His philosophy combined traditional local scouting with modern data analytics and video recruitment, reshaping how the Red Devils identified the stars of tomorrow.

Getty Fedorenko’s youth revolution at Carrington

Fedorenko’s approach wasn’t just about signing promising teenagers; it was about building a sustainable development pipeline in line with Financial Fair Play (FFP) and Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). His work has directly influenced over £200 million ($269m) in player sales, with academy graduates moving on to bring in crucial funds for the club. On the pitch, several youngsters have flourished under his watch, including Chido Obi, who made history as the youngest academy starter, and Ayden Heaven, another standout recruit. 

Fedorenko also oversaw the arrivals of some of the most exciting names in United’s youth setup, JJ Gabriel, Bendito Mantato, and Jayden Kamason. Kamason, notably, became the first player from United’s Emerging Talent Programme to sign a professional deal with the club; a clear testament to the success of the system Fedorenko helped design.

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An era ends as Carrington undergoes more shake-ups

Fedorenko’s departure adds to a growing list of structural changes at Manchester United’s Carrington training base. His long-time ally, Nick Cox, who brought him from Sheffield United, has already left to become technical director at Everton. Cox’s replacement, Steven Torpey, recently joined from Brentford and will now have the task of assembling his own leadership team. United reportedly made a strong effort to convince Fedorenko to remain, but the lure of a new challenge outside the traditional club setup proved too strong.

The departures don’t stop there; Paul Brand, United’s head of performance analysis, has also exited after accepting a role at UEFA. He stayed on until his replacement, Ben Parker (formerly of Southampton), officially started on Monday, October 6.

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke wants the club to do more business at the top end of the pitch before the summer transfer window closes next week.

Speaking ahead of the clash with Arsenal on Saturday, the German head coach outlined how he would like the rest of the window to look over the next seven or eight days.

Farke said: “Let’s see if we do even more offensive signings. One maybe two would be beneficial. I’m not too strong about numbers. I think it’s necessary to do something in the full-back position.

“Noah and Dominic are two really good options but to have two or more signings for the offensive it would be beneficial but while not doing anything silly.”

Leeds were put to the sword by Arsenal, losing 5-0 at The Emirates, after those comments from Farke, and the front three showed that they may not be up to the task of starting week-in-week-out in the Premier League.

Wilfried Gnonto, for example, was not a guaranteed starter in the Championship for the German boss last season, yet has found himself starting both games in the top-flight this term.

Why Leeds may need an upgrade on Wilfried Gnonto

The Italy U21 international only started 26 of his 43 appearances in the second tier last term, per Sofascore, as Dan James and Manor Solomon were the preferred wing pairing when fit.

Solomon’s return to Tottenham Hotspur at the end of his loan spell left a vacant position on the left flank, though, which has been occupied by Gnonto so far.

It remains to be seen where new signing Noah Okafor will fit in, as the former AC Milan man has played on both wings and as a central striker in his career.

This means that one of the forwards that Farke wants to add to the squad before the end of the window could be a left-sided attacker to fill that spot that Solomon vacated, as Gnonto has yet to prove that he can be a regular starter in the Premier League.

The Italian forward scored nine goals and provided six assists in the Championship last term, which was a solid return, but he has had a less-than-impressive start to the top-flight campaign.

Wilfried Gnonto	Vs Everton	Vs Arsenal
Minutes	67	66
Shots	3	0
Shots on target	0	0
Key passes	0	0
Big chances created	0	0
Dribbles completed	0/2	0/2
Duels won	4/10	4/8
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Gnonto did not register a shot on target, create any chances, or complete any of his attempted dribbles in over two hours of football in the first two matches.

The 21-year-old attacker, who scored two goals in 24 games in the Premier League in the 2022/23 campaign, may not have what it takes to deliver quality on a regular basis at that level, which is why the club may need an upgrade on him.

Leeds ready to pay £30m to sign new forward

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieiri, Leeds United are keen on a deal to sign Strasbourg winger Dilane Bakwa before the end of the summer transfer window, and he could be an upgrade on Gnonto.

The reporter claims that the Whites are ‘leading’ the race to bring the French forward over to England, with Nottingham Forest also said to be interested in snapping him up.

Transfer Focus

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Tavolieri adds that Leeds are ready to pay the £30m asking price that Strasbourg have placed over Bakwa’s head, which is why they are now at the front of the queue of suitors.

However, the journalist does not reveal whether or not the Whites are in active talks with the Ligue 1 side or if they have already made an offer for the 22-year-old star.

It is now down to the Championship champions to agree a deal with Strasbourg and convince the player to make the move to West Yorkshire, before Forest have a chance to swoop in.

Why Leeds should sign Dilane Bakwa

The Whites should push to bring Bakwa to Elland Road before the end of the summer transfer window because he could arrive as a big upgrade on Gnonto, as a player who can play on the right or the left flank.

Whilst the Italian gem is only 21 and has room to develop into a Premier League-grade starter, the Strasbourg star’s performances in Ligue 1 suggest that he is ready to hit the ground running with goals and assists.

Bakwa created one ‘big chance’ and registered an assist in his team’s 1-0 win over Metz in Ligue 1 on the opening day of the current season, before he came off the bench to provide another assist against Nantes on Sunday.

The 22-year-old star’s performances in Ligue 1 in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns also suggest that he has the quality at the top end of the pitch to make a real impact for Leeds in the Premier League on the left wing.

Dilane Bakwa (Ligue 1)	23/24	24/25
Appearances	31	30
xG	3.17	4.36
Goals	3	6
Big chances created	13	12
Key passes per game	1.6	1.6
Assists	6	8
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Bakwa has created an eye-catching 25 ‘big chances’ for his teammates in 61 games in Ligue 1 in the last two seasons.

This shows that the French star, who was described as “menacing” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, could provide more than Gnonto as both a scorer and a creator of goals, given what he has shown in one of Europe’s major leagues in comparison to the Italian’s exploits in the Premier League.

Bakwa’s ability to play on either the left or the right flank also provides Farke with flexibility in how he can set his side up. He could play Bakwa on the right, as a left-footed player, with Okafor on the left, or the French star on the left with Dan James on the right, or even vice versa.

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The signing of the £30m-rated star would, therefore, open up a lot of interesting possiblities for the manager, tactically, whilst also providing him with an upgrade on Gnonto, on both flanks.

Newcastle United’s transfer strategy this summer has been one of urgency and precision.

After finishing fifth in the Premier League last season and securing a place in this year’s Champions League, the Magpies have been determined to strengthen in all departments.

The recruitment drive has already seen significant arrivals. Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, Anthony Elanga and Aaron Ramsdale have all arrived to add competition.

The club’s ambitions to compete both domestically and in Europe are plain to see, but the 3-2 thriller defeat against Liverpool at St James’ Park served as a stark reminder of how quickly plans can be disrupted.

Midfielders Sandro Tonali and Joelinton both picked up injuries, leaving fans and management concerned about the stability of the engine room.

With Champions League fixtures looming, Newcastle suddenly face the prospect of heading into winter without two of their most trusted midfielders.

Newcastle make move for new midfielder

While speculation over Alexander Isak’s future continues to simmer in the background, the pressing priority is now midfield.

Newcastle know they cannot risk being short in the one area of the pitch that dictates both defensive resilience and attacking creativity.

The search for a solution has therefore intensified in recent weeks, and the club has now turned its attention to one of the Premier League’s most exciting young talents.

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 reporter Jason Soutar, Newcastle United have opened talks with Manchester United over a deal for Kobbie Mainoo.

The 20-year-old midfielder is widely regarded as one of England’s brightest prospects.

The club have enquired about the conditions of a transfer, with the player thought to be open to a move away from Old Trafford.

Mainoo does not fall into the category of wantaway players currently unsettled at United – a group that includes Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia – but his long-term future under Rúben Amorim remains uncertain.

The Portuguese manager has so far preferred to use captain Bruno Fernandes in the central role, often alongside Casemiro or Manuel Ugarte, leaving Mainoo on the bench for two consecutive matches.

Reports have also linked Bayern Munich and former United boss Erik ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen with interest, though neither club has formalised a move.

Mainoo himself is said to favour a switch abroad, but Newcastle’s offer of regular first-team football at a Champions League club may be difficult to ignore.

How Mainoo and Bruno Guimarães could transform Newcastle

The growing recognition of Mainoo’s talent only adds to the intrigue.

Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has compared him to “a mix of Xavi and Busquets”, while United writer Alex Turk describes him as a future “£100m-plus footballer”.

Thus, for Newcastle, this is a chance to recruit not just a stop-gap solution, but a midfielder capable of becoming a cornerstone of their project for years to come.

The most compelling aspect of Newcastle’s pursuit is the potential partnership between Mainoo and club captain Bruno Guimarães.

Since arriving at St James’ Park, Guimarães has been the heartbeat of the team, combining defensive resilience with incisive creativity.

His influence is borne out in the numbers.

Matches Played

38

Minutes Played

3,271

Goals

5

Assists

6

Progressive Carries

64

Progressive Passes

271

According to FBref, last season he ranked in the 91st percentile for progressive passes per 90 (7.29), 78th percentile for progressive carries (1.73), and 89th percentile for shot-creating actions (3.69).

Simply put, he is among the most effective deep-lying playmakers in Europe.

The difficulty for Howe has been ensuring Guimarães is not shackled by too much defensive responsibility. Injuries to key personnel have forced him to sit deeper in the past, reducing his attacking output.

This is where Mainoo’s arrival could be transformative. Despite his age, the Manchester United outcast has already shown an impressive balance between defensive steel and technical quality.

Via FBref, he ranks in the 72nd percentile compared to positionally similar players in Europe for tackles per 90 (2.44) and the 78th percentile for dribblers tackled per 90 (1.25), demonstrating his ability to break up play and protect the back line.

At the same time, his composure on the ball and eye for a forward pass give him the qualities needed to recycle possession and progress play under pressure.

A partnership with Guimarães would allow the Brazilian to push higher up the pitch, dictating attacks and creating chances, while Mainoo shields the defence and links transitions.

It is a blend that mirrors some of Europe’s most successful midfield pairings – the balance of control and creativity that every top team requires.

For Newcastle, such a signing would not only fill the immediate gap left by injuries but also send a message about their long-term ambitions.

Bringing in a player who has already started for England in a European Championship final and scored in an FA Cup victory over Manchester City demonstrates both vision and intent.

At just 20 years old, Mainoo is a talent who could grow with the club as they continue to build towards competing consistently at the highest level.

Manchester United, of course, will be wary of letting such a player leave. He is a Carrington graduate, a fan favourite, and one of the few academy products to establish himself in recent seasons.

But with Fernandes an immovable figure in Amorim’s system and Baleba on the horizon, United may face a difficult decision.

For Newcastle, timing is everything, and their pursuit of Mainoo could prove one of the defining moves of the summer window.

He'd be Gordon 2.0: Newcastle in talks to sign "unbelievable" £60m talent

Newcastle could be set to land their next Anthony Gordon this summer…

ByJoe Nuttall Aug 28, 2025

Tamim Iqbal’s heart function “seemed fine” this morning according to doctors, who have advised the former Bangladesh captain plenty of rest following an angioplasty procedure after he suffered a heart attack during a DPL game on Monday.Health officials visited Tamim at the Savar Hospital on Tuesday and Abdul Wadud Chowdhury, director of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, said he had to be extremely careful over the next three days.”This morning his heart function seemed fine,” Chowdhury said at a press conference. “There may be an abnormal beat again. The risk is low. Less than 1%. But if it happens, then it is a 100% risk for that patient. Tamim is our national asset. He should stay at KPJ Hospital for 48 to 72 hours. Then he will be able to move.”We told him that there is a slight risk so that there are no further problems, that the next 48-72 hours are a critical period. He should talk less. He should rest a little. He should not be excited in any way. The initial period is for him to stabilise here for a while and then he can go to a good place for his rehabilitation.”Tamim was leading Mohammedan Sporting Club in a Dhaka Premier League match in BKSP in Savar when he was taken ill and had to be rushed to hospital for an angioplasty.Chowdhury said Tamim could play cricket again in three months if his recovery goes according to plan. “48 to 72 hours is risky. And he will have to be given three months to return to normal activities like sports. Apart from that, he will do normal activities and walk at home. But he will have to rest.”On Tuesday, Tamim wrote a post on Facebook thanking the doctors. “By the grace of Allah and all your prayers, I have come back,” he wrote. “I am fortune that so many amazing people were around me in my time of need. All your efforts and prudence helped me overcome the crisis. My request is for everyone to stand by each other. I thank all of you. Keep praying for me and my family. Without you, there’s no Tamim Iqbal.”He was moved to a hospital in Dhaka on Tuesday evening.

Santiago Giménez has yet to score in Serie A after six appearances for AC Milan, with his lone goal coming in the Coppa Italia. Still, manager Massimiliano Allegri insists the Mexico striker has his full trust, praising Giménez’s importance to Milan’s structure and work rate after Sunday’s goalless draw with Juventus.

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  'He gives us structure'

  AC Milan were forced to settle for a draw against Juventus on Sunday, ending their four-game winning streak in Serie A. couldn’t capitalize on their strong form and dropped to third place after six rounds after previously being on the top of the league. 

  Giménez led the line once again for Milan, logging just over an hour before being replaced by Rafael Leão. Despite the striker's scoreless streak extending to another match, Allegri couldn’t have been clearer about how much he values the Mexican's contribution.

  “Santiago is a fundamental piece of this team,” Allegri said after the match. “He gives us structure – the way he connects play, holds up the ball, and presses from the front is vital. The goals will come, but what he brings goes well beyond statistics.”

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  Still searching for a goal

  While the goals haven’t flowed as many fans expected, Giménez’s professionalism has earned him the trust of both his teammates and Allegri. Since arriving from Feyenoord, the 24-year-old has tallied seven goals in 27 appearances, numbers that don’t fully capture his influence on the pitch.

  “Giménez played really well today,” Allegri added. “He worked hard, created spaces, and even forced a penalty. I took him off thinking Leão could give us a different spark, but Santi didn’t deserve to come out.”

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  Milan in strong form

  Gimenez was reportedly close to leaving Milan on deadline day this summer, yet decided to stay and fight for his place. That decision seems to be paying off – Milan have won five of their last six games in all competitions.

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  Next stop: International duty

  Giménez now turns his focus to the national team, having been included in Javier Aguirre’s Mexico squad for the October friendlies against Colombia and Ecuador. With Raúl Jiménez unavailable due to injury, the Milan striker could lead the attack for – another opportunity to show why his club manager calls him “fundamental.”