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da mrbet： Manchester United's week went from bad to worse last night. Following a 3-0 derby day demolishing at the weekend in the Premier League, the Red Devils had a chance to get back to winning ways at Old Trafford against bitter rivals Newcastle United in the EFL Cup, a replay of February's final at Wembley.

da heads bet： The Magpies picked up just one point from their last two games in all competitions and Eddie Howe heavily rotated his starting eleven, with upcoming games against Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund on the near horizon.

However, it was Howe's men that came out on top, matching Manchester City's scoreline from Sunday and piling further misery on Erik ten Hag and his players, but one Manchester United man in particular dropped a below-par performance on the night.

Anthony Martial slammed for performance

Anthony Martial came from AS Monaco in Ligue 1 to Manchester United on transfer deadline day in 2015 as a relatively unknown entity, with the English giants forking out an initial £36m for his services, although this fee was to eventually rise to £57.8m with add-ons.

The Frenchman hit the ground running in his debut campaign as a 19-year-old, lighting up Old Trafford on his debut by scoring a memorable third goal in a 3-1 win over Liverpool after coming on for Juan Mata in the second half. Former teammate Paul Pogba even labelled the forward as "one of the best" players he had ever seen.

Martial started against Newcastle on Wednesday night, while summer signing Rasmus Hojlund dropped to the bench and the feeling around his performance was quite a contrast to his infamous debut eight years ago.

Manchester Evening News' Chief Writer Samuel Luckhurst, who was at the EFL Cup game, claimed that fans were "audibly irked with Martial" throughout proceedings. Club legend and pundit Gary Neville didn't hold back in his criticism of the centre-forward, stating that there "there is no way he should be leading the line in any competition".

The 27-year-old penned a new deal with the 20-time league champions back in 2019, keeping him at the club until 2024 with the option to extend his stay for a further year. According to Sportrac, Martial is currently on £250k per week at the Theatre of Dreams.

Martial's stats vs Newcastle

The frontman has earned £35.36m at Man United since the beginning of the 2021/22 campaign but has scored merely 11 goals in all competitions for the club, which comes to around £3.2m per goal. The France international even went on loan to La Liga outfit Sevilla during this time and the side's president, Jose Castro, admitted that the move "didn't work" out.

Last night, Martial's performance left a lot to be desired and the former Monaco man was replaced after 64 minutes by Hojlund after failing to make an impact on the game.

In fact, Martial registered just one shot across his time on the pitch which came shortly after the interval when he cut across the Newcastle defender to latch onto a nice low cross from Aaron Wan-Bissaka but failed to convert the opportunity. This shot registered an xG of 0.17 which was also his one and only touch inside the opposition's penalty area, as per FotMob.

Anthony Martial in numbers vs Newcastle

Minutes Played

64

Accurate Passes

13/15

Total Shots

1

Expected Goals (xG)

0.17

Expected Assists (xA)

0.02

Touches In Opposition Box

1

Duels Won

1/8

Stats via Fotmob

Furthermore, the opposition centre-backs had a relatively comfortable night against Martial who won merely one aerial duel from a possible five as well as zero ground duels and had only 22 touches of the ball in a side that ended the game with 62% possession.

With his contract running out at the end of the season, it looks highly unlikely that Manchester United will extend Martial's deal by a further year, particularly based on last night's turgid display.

Despite starting slowly, Leeds United's Championship season is up and running and Daniel Farke will be delighted with the way that his side have ploughed into third-place after 15 matches.

The engine did falter at the start, however, and as a consequence, Ipswich Town are eight points clear in second, despite five victories from six matches for the Whites.

It was always going to take a while to gel together, though, with a hive of transfer activity occurring at Elland Road across the summer following Leeds' relegation from the Premier League, ending a three-year stay.

Despite losing the likes of Jack Harrison, Rodrigo and Tyler Adams (not an exhaustive list), the Yorkshire club rebuilt under Farke's command, with Joel Piroe, Ethan Ampadu, Glen Kamara and co all bolstering the fold, with stars such as Wilfried Gnonto and Georginio Rutter retained.

For all of the talented acquisitions, Farke will be eager to utilise the club's excellent youth influx and cherry-pick the best options to improve the performances; this has already been evidenced through the likes of 17-year-old Archie Gray, who is currently subject to £40m transfer attention from Liverpool.

There is more to come, and based on the short but sweet impression that Mateo Joseph has made this season, he might be next in line to break into the first-team.

Mateo Joseph's youth statistics

Born in Santander, Spain, Joseph enjoyed prolific success with Racing Santander as a youth before joining Espanyol in 2017, scoring 14 goals from 21 appearances across the 2021/22 campaign and earning the attention of Leeds, who completed the signing of the player in January 2022 for an undisclosed fee.

Considered a player with "great potential' by Javier Rodriguez Alonso, Joseph has now plundered 20 goals and three assists from 33 outings for Leeds' development sides, having also made six senior displays – including three appearances in the Premier League – last season.

This year, after a productive pre-season, Joseph has only featured twice in the Premier League 2 but has clinched two goals and an assist from as many matches.

The eight-cap England U20 international has also found a place on the bench in the Championship on two occasions, though he is still awaiting his first senior showing of the campaign.

His rate of scoring this term surpasses that of Patrick Bamford, with the long-time Leeds player perhaps at a crossroads in his career at the club, and could find that he is left behind as Farke's engine churns forward.

Why Mateo Joseph should replace Patrick Bamford

Bamford has completed 158 appearances for United, scoring 51 goals, and was instrumental in guiding them to the Premier League and cementing a spot in the division, but his past few campaigns have been blighted by injury and a loss of form.

Impressed by the rising star's talent, Leeds' U21 manager Michael Skubala said: "He’s in a good place, he’s scoring goals, he’s a character, but he still needs to keep working hard. His finishing ability is top-drawer. He’s been training like a warrior and you can see that in his game."

Such attributes are glowing examples of why he would succeed under Farke's wing at senior level, and it might indeed be wise to promote him to the first team with regularity in the place of Bamford, whose best days at the outfit might now be behind him.

Bamford has only featured seven times this season, though he was absent for the start of the campaign due to a hamstring injury, but having yet to receive a starting berth and score his first goal, the 30-year-old is looking increasingly expendable, with Joel Piroe and Georginio Rutter both ahead in the pecking order.

The one-cap England international did have the opportunity to put his side ahead several weeks ago against Stoke City in the second tier but skied his penalty over the bar.

Division

Season

Apps

Goals

Assists

Championship

23/24

7

0

0

Premier League

22/23

28

4

2

Premier League

21/22

9

2

2

Premier League

20/21

38

17

8

Championship

19/20

45

16

4

Championship

18/19

23

9

2

*Sourced via Transfermarkt

The £70k-per-week striker still ranks among the top 11% of forwards for interceptions per 90, as per FBref, but it appears that his ship has sailed and his lack of minutes over the past several seasons could inhibit him from cementing a regular starting spot with Leeds once again.

With Joseph's dynamic skills and a prolific edge to perfectly complement the existing forwards, Bamford might find that he is playing his last year at the side, with priority handed to a player who could grow into a first-class phenom in the future.

The 20-year-old boasts 18 goals from just 28 games in the Premier League 2, and while the professional level is a whole other ballpark, he possesses the innate talent to wedge his way into Farke's plans.

Ultimately, the goal at Elland Road is to craft a campaign that will open the door to the top flight once again, and with the endeavours in the Championship confirming the squad's capability of securing a spot either in the automatics or in the play-offs, this is more than attainable.

The crux of Leeds' demise last year stemmed from the lack of stability, the wayward transfer activity, and the absence of cohesion on the pitch; now, Farke has instilled a winning mentality and will look to maintain that into the new year, and indeed beyond.

Bamford has not really contributed to this budding revival and it is hard to imagine that he will play a central role in the 2024/25 Premier League season, should Leeds secure promotion.

With Piroe and Rutter among the Whites' thriving forwards, Joseph would be an excellent addition to complement their talents and serve as an understudy.

The hope now will be to see the exciting prospect start to earn a place in the senior set-up, which could kick off a long and successful partnership.

Manchester United haven’t kicked on this term following a highly encouraging first season under the leadership of Erik ten Hag.

A League Cup triumph and a return to the Champions League following a year’s absence gave the United support some much-needed confidence that the club was trending in the right direction.

Although the Red Devils signed the likes of Mason Mount, Andre Onana and Rasmus Hojlund during the summer transfer window, they trio haven’t exploded onto the scene at Old Trafford thus far, and it could take some time to see them really thrive.

This has subsequently led to the club underperforming on the pitch, and while injury issues have engulfed the squad, Ten Hag should have vastly improved the depth of the team during the window, something which he may regret now.

Six defeats in 11 matches across all competitions this term isn’t exactly the hallmark of a team who are gunning for success, and the supporters will be hoping the tie against Sheffield United this weekend proves to be a fresh start.

While Ten Hag failed to attract some big names to United in the summer, he also failed to move on some players who might not have a long term future.

Harry Maguire saw a move to West Ham United collapse, while Scott McTominay was also linked with a move throughout the summer, but both have remained in Manchester – until January at least.

Anthony Martial is another player who hasn’t particularly enjoyed much success under Ten Hag and with less than a year left on his current contract, United could lose him for nothing in January, signifying a major loss of money.

How much does Anthony Martial earn at Man Utd?

The Frenchman is currently earning £250k-per-week, which places him joint fourth out of the whole squad, behind only Jadon Sancho, Casemiro and Raphael Varane.

It is a big salary for a player who has failed to contribute effectively since the Dutchman took over United ahead of the 2022/23 season, and it's clear that this sort of money could be better spent elsewhere.

How much did Man Utd sign Anthony Martial for?

Following a rather underwhelming debut season for Louis Van Gaal, he turned to the transfer window in order to improve his squad before the 2015/16 season.

Martial was arguably the most exciting signing, joining on deadline day for a fee in the region of £36m, making him the most expensive teenager in the world at the time.

15 goals in 70 appearances for AS Monaco was enough to convince Van Gaal that he was worth the extravagant fee, but fast-forward eight years later, and he hasn’t lived up to the vast expectations which were placed on him back then.

Louis Saha perhaps placed some undue pressure on the new arrival, saying: "In France we call him the next Thierry Henry because he can play left or right, he's got a great ability with the ball, he can take on three, four players with ease, there is no problem. At the same time, the new generation have no fear."

Despite the praise, he didn’t turn out to be the next Henry and has rinsed the club for millions during his stint in Manchester.

Does Anthony Martial deserve to earn £250k-p/w at Man Utd?

He enjoyed a wonderful start, scoring against Liverpool on his debut at Old Trafford, while going on to net 17 times across all competitions as the club won the FA Cup for the first time since 2004 and the future looked bright.

Under new manager Jose Mourinho, however, he struggled to build on this positive start, netting eight and 11 goals respectively in the following two seasons, while 12 were scored the season after, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had taken over and this gave Martial a much-needed boost.

He enjoyed his greatest-ever return in a United shirt during Solskjaer’s first full season in charge, scoring 23 goals and it certainly looked as though he was ready to finally fulfil his potential.

That was as good as it got for the Frenchman and over the previous three full seasons, he has found the back of the net on just 17 occasions for the Old Trafford side.

6

0

2

0

0.6

0.3

2

0

0.7

0.2

Is it any wonder then that Craig Burley described him as a “humongous waste of talent” following the recent defeat to Arsenal and his form this term has been underwhelming.

Indeed, he has fewer goals and assists in the Premier League than Maguire, Jonny Evans or Varane this term, while he ranks tenth in the squad for shots on target per game (0.3), 13th for big chances created (0.8) and 19th for successful dribbles per game (0.2), clearly giving off the impression that his future lies away from Old Trafford.

How much has Anthony Martial cost Man Utd?

Since arriving for an initial £36m transfer fee in the summer of 2015, Martial has earned a staggering £72m in wages up until the start of the current campaign,

The previous two full seasons have seen the forward earn a colossal £13m a year and considering his woeful record in front of goal, plus United’s lack of success, it is hardly money well spent by the club.

By combining his transfer fee and wages earned over the last eight years, Martial has somehow managed to rinse the club of £108m across a 424-week spell, a ludicrous number, and it proves just how badly the Red Devils have conducted themselves in the transfer market.

Ten Hag will be aiming to at least offload Martial for some sort of fee in January in order to add to his budget, while getting his eye-watering salary off the wage bill.

From prodigious teenager to overhyped flop, Martial’s career hasn’t gone to plan and while he is only 27 years old, his best days look like they are behind him.

If he makes the right move, there is a chance the former Monaco forward could regain his confidence and prove that he still has all the necessary abilities to impress, but the longer his poor performances drag on, the tougher regaining that early potential will be.

Poonam Yadav picked up four wickets•ACC

Legspinner Poonam Yadav’s four-wicket haul guided India women to a 13-run victory over Sri Lanka women in the first T20I at FTZ Sports Complex in Katunayake.After being asked to bat, India put up 168 for 8, courtesy a 35-ball 46 by Taniya Bhatia and 36 each by Jemimah Rodrigues and Anuja Patil. In response, Sri Lanka were 70 for 2 at the end of seven overs, with Chamari Atapattu batting on 27 off 21. However, Poonam dismissed Rebeca Vandort and Atapattu in the next over to jolt the chase. Eshani Lokusuriyage fought with a 31-ball 45, but there was not much support from the other end as the hosts were bowled out for 155 in 19.3 overs.Openers Atapattu and Yasoda Mendis gave Sri Lanka a breezy start of 39 in three overs before Mendis fell to the medium-pace of Arundhati Reddy for a 12-ball 32, studded with five fours and two sixes. Atapattu and Vandort took the side past 50 in the sixth over before Poonam’s double-strike derailed the chase.Lokusuriyage held the end together, despite the wickets tumbling at the other and brought the equation down to 18 off 12 balls with two wickets in hand. Radha Yadav, the left-arm spinner, then bowled a tight 19th over, conceding just three and taking out Lokusuriyage. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur bowled Sugandika Kumari in the next over to end the innings.Earlier, India lost Smriti Mandhana for a first-ball duck to Udeshika Prabodhani. But Mithali Raj and Rodrigues added 57 for the second wicket off just 24 balls. Rodrigues struck three sixes and a four off successive balls off Nilakshi de Silva, who leaked 27 in her first over.Sripali Weerakkody broke the stand by trapping Raj for 17, but Bhatia started in an emphatic manner, smashing three fours off the first four balls she faced. Atapattu dismissed Rodrigues and Harmanpreet, for a duck, in space of three balls to reduce India to 70 for 4.A 67-run partnership between Bhatia and Patil for the fifth wicket took India to 137 at the end of 15 overs. Sri Lanka pulled things back with Bhatia’s wicket as only 18 runs came from the next four overs. Veda Krishnamurthy’s unbeaten 15-ball 21, however, ensured India finished with a total that eventually proved too much for Sri Lanka.

This romantic tour through the 2009 English season is a must-read for those who love the game, and those who control it

Alan Lee18-Sep-2010Anyone who has watched cricket from the prim old Ladies’ Pavilion at Worcester, gazing through the green-and-white canvas to the cathedral and river beyond, will appreciate that such moments are made for profound thoughts on the best-loved game.Duncan Hamilton, whiling away a dreamy afternoon and doubtless awaiting the homemade cakes, found himself musingon what it is that sets Anglo-Australian rivalries so distinctly apart. “Beneath the thick crust of cynicism England and Australia are like the two old men in Somerset Maugham’s short story “The Sanatorium”, who squabble and feud, complain about and provoke one another – mostly over trivialities. The fractious relationship gives meaning and purpose and identity and definition to both their lives.”It was a summary to linger in the consciousness, encapsulating the work of a book that achieves more than its ambitions.Hamilton, already the recipient of five prestigious book awards, can confidently expect more to follow for this lyrical, evocative but absolutely timely volume, a kind of travelogue of the English cricketing summer of 2009.His inspirations were threefold: first his grandfather, who had introduced him to cricket and whose memory lives with himstill; secondly JB Priestley’s , a ramble round a changing land in 1933; finally Hamilton’s deep fears that the rhythms and romance of the game were about to be lost forever, bulldozed by rampant commercialism.Because cricket has, indeed, become avaricious and celebrity-led, Hamilton’s thoughts are not fashionable; these days the banal soundbites of Freddie or Jimmy or KP are so much easier to market. If sales of this book suffer for that, however, it will be the greatest shame. Everyone who loves the game, and especially those who administer it, should read this and prepare to weep.Hamilton admits he is something of a modern misfit. “To describe oneself as a ‘cricket purist’ these days risks derision. You’re dismissed as ultra-conservative, unprogressive and as fogeyish as a pocket watch and chain. I am that cricket purist.” He calls himself a “raving sentimentalist” and adds: “I am always measuring today against yesterday. I know there are times when it makes me sound one hundred years old.”

Mostly Hamilton’s comparisons are sharp and his longing for the eroded joys of the county game shrewdly expressed. Unsurprisingly he reserves his bile for Twenty20, and specifically for the noise and ballyhoo seemingly inseparable from it

And, yes, just occasionally, he does get almost tiresomely wistful, straining a shade too far for the right, regretful image. There is, too, the odd misspelling of a player’s name to irritate.Mostly, though, his comparisons are sharp and his longing for the eroded joys of the county game shrewdly expressed. Unsurprisingly he reserves his bile for Twenty20, and specifically for the noise and ballyhoo seemingly inseparable from it. He loathes “the show-off announcers” and the “acts of forced jollity”, comparing the experience to “someone at a party constantly blowing a streamer in your face and telling you to enjoy yourself”.Hamilton regards the IPL as “plastic cricket, pre-packaged and oversold”. The domestic product, he warns, has already been given undue priority. “Twenty20 is barging in on every summer like an exasperating holiday guest; not only demanding the best room in the house but insisting that everything is run to fit around its whims.”His graphic disapproval of the beer-drinking marathons that have been allowed house room in English cricket will strike a chord with many. He experienced it at the Edgbaston Test and reports his revulsion at the abuse and “rank obnoxious” conduct of the drunks. “If the ECB ignores the drinking culture, or allows it to go unchecked, it will at some stage find itself trying to explain away a profoundly serious incident.”Hamilton starts his odyssey at Lord’s, for the MCC v champion county fixture, and ends it at Canterbury deep in September. He is at his best and happiest away from the rowdy throng – at Colwyn Bay, for instance, earwigging on endearing conversations in the crowd, or at Scarborough, where his cricket-watching routines are engrained.At Cheltenham he reflects how county cricket has lost so much of its character through the steady elimination of outgrounds. He steals a look at a 1978 and counts 26 that have since disappeared. “It is as if cricket’s own version of a flint-eyed and unfeeling Dr Beeching stared at a map of England one summer’s day and tut-tutted his disapproval.”Hamilton feared the end of the line for the cricketing time tables he reveres. Most of us join him in hoping he is wrong.A Last English Summer
by Duncan Hamilton
Quercus
377pp, £20

اكتمل قبل قليل عقد الفرق المتأهلة إلى دور الـ16 ببطولة كأس مصر 2024-2025 بعد أن أسدل الستار على مواجهات دور الـ32.

وحجز الزمالك مقعده في دور الـ16 ببطولة الكأس موسم 2024-2025، بفوز على أبو قير للأسمدة بهدفين دون رد.

واختتمت المواجهات بفوز لفريق بيراميدز على المنصور بثلاثية دون رد، في اللقاء الذي أقيم على ملعب استاد 30 يونيو (الدفاع الجوي).

ويغيب الأهلي عن النسخة الحالية من البطولة تنفيذًا لعقوبة الاتحاد المصري لكرة القدم بعد انسحابه من النسخة الماضية. 

وشارك في دور الـ32 لبطولة كأس مصر أندية الزمالك وبيراميدز والمنصورة وبتروجيت والمقاولون العرب وإنبي وحرس الحدود والإسماعيلي وطنطا وغزل المحلة وسبورتنج وفاركو والترسانة والبنك الأهلي وبترول أسيوط والمصري ووادي دجلة ومودرن سبورت والشمس وسموحة ومنتخب السويس وطلائع الجيش والأولمبي والجونة والقناة والاتحاد السكندري وتيم إف سي وأبوقير للأسمدة وزد وديروط وسيراميكا كليوباترا ولافيينا.

طالع | مواجهات دور الـ16 من كأس مصر 2025

وشهدت منافسات الدور الحالي تحقيق مفاجأة بإقصاء نادي الاتحاد السكندري على يد فريق تيم إف سي الذي ينشط بدوري القسم الثالث. الفرق المتأهلة إلى دور الـ16 من كأس مصر

– المقاولون العرب

– زد

– الجونة

– فاركو

– إنبي

– طلائع الجيش

– الإسماعيلي

– البنك الأهلي

– سيراميكا كليوباترا

– سموحة

– غزل المحلة

– مودرن سبورت

– تيم إف سي

– الزمالك

– المصري

– بيراميدز.

It’s far from an ideal situation, but it has come to the stage in the season where Premier League action is more of a hindrance than anything else for Manchester United, with Ruben Amorim needing to find a way to keep his players motivated domestically.

With a crucial Europa League first-leg tie against Athletic Bilbao just a matter of days away, the Red Devils are faced with an unwanted trip to Bournemouth later today, having notably slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.

There is a sense that Amorim’s men have almost thrown in the towel on the Premier League front, following that 15th loss of the campaign, although the meeting with the Cherries could be another useful exercise to at least test out those on the fringes.

Sunday 27 April

Bournemouth (A)

Premier League

Thursday 1 May

Athletic Bilbao (A)

Europa League

Sunday 4 May

Brentford (A)

Premier League

Thursday 8 May

Athletic Bilbao (H)

Europa League

Sunday 11 May

West Ham (H)

Premier League

Friday 16 May

Chelsea (A)

Premier League

Sunday 25 May

Aston Villa (H)

Premier League

Equally, one form of motivation could be the current rumblings regarding potential transfer targets – namely Matheus Cunha – with the final weeks of the season providing a perfect audition period for a number of first-team and academy stars.

The changes Amorim could make vs Bournemouth

The trip to the south coast may also allow members of Amorim’s ranks to stake their claim for involvement in Thursday’s pivotal European encounter, with positions certainly up for grabs all across the park.

Indeed, there is now real competition in the defensive unit, not least with the academy duo of Tyler Fredricson and Harry Amass having caught the eye against the Old Gold a week ago.

That youthful pairing could again feature this time around, with Amorim likely not wanting to take a risk with the likes of Harry Maguire and Leny Yoro, particularly with Diogo Dalot the latest defender to be struck down by injury.

Meanwhile, following a rare rest against Vitor Pereira’s side, Bruno Fernandes may be called upon to try and ignite the Red Devils this afternoon, with the Portuguese skipper still leading the way for goals and assists this season at Old Trafford.

That pursuit of goals – and the absence of Joshua Zirkzee – could see Chido Obi handed a first senior start following his summer switch from Arsenal, with the 17-year-old a wise replacement for Rasmus Hojlund, considering that he is ineligible to feature on Thursday night.

Chalkboard

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

The teenage Dane could well be joined in the attacking unit by another man who came off the bench last time out, with Mason Mount running out of time to stake his claim for one of the two number ten berths.

The Man Utd star who could soon be replaced by Cunha

The suggestion is that Cunha – should a deal progress – will be brought in to play in one of those two roles off the main centre-forward, with the Brazilian catching the eye with 26 league goals across the last two campaigns combined.

If United are to fork out to meet his reported £62.5m release clause, such an outlay would suggest that the 25-year-old will then be a regular fixture in Amorim’s starting lineup next term, leaving the likes of Amad Diallo, Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and, of course, Mount to fight it out for the other playmaking berth.

With Fernandes dropping deeper of late, there has been something of a vacancy in the number ten role, although even then the returning Mount has still been restricted to a substitute berth, with that limited action set to be impacted even further if Cunha is to arrive.

Games (starts)

32 (27)

Goals

11

Big chances missed

4

Assists

10

Big chances created

10

Key passes*

1.8

Pass accuracy*

85%

Tackles*

1.3

Interceptions*

0.4

Successful dribbles*

0.6

While it is evident that the Englishman is being gradually eased back into the action following his recent absence – having only returned last month following an almost four-month spell on the sidelines – now is the time for Amorim to finally unleash the former Chelsea man from the outset.

Indeed, following what has been an injury-hit two years at Old Trafford – which has yielded just one goal and one assist in total – Mount now needs a run of games to stake his claim and justify the public faith that his new boss has placed in him.

Since first walking in the door, Amorim has repeatedly singled out the £55m midfielder for praise, having hailed the England international as a “proper footballer” back in late November.

While Mount’s cruel injury blow in the early knockings of the December Manchester derby has since hampered his progress, his recent return to fitness has afforded him a month or so to now kick on and finally begin to justify his exorbitant price tag.

Currently looking like another victim of United’s infamous number seven curse, the 26-year-old “pressing monster” – as lauded by Statman Dave – needs to showcase why he could represent a potential partner to Cunha, and not the man whom the Brazilian will replace.

Changes are likely to be in store this afternoon, and Mount’s recall to the starting lineup needs to be one of them. It’s approaching now or never for his stop-start Manchester United career…

Best signing since Bruno: Man Utd pushing to land "best ST on the market"

Man Utd are in desperate need of a new centre-forward this summer

ByRobbie Walls Apr 24, 2025

Newcastle United have been boosted in their efforts to sign an attacking "magician" in the near future, according to a fresh transfer update.

Newcastle's interest in Raphinha

The Magpies are badly in need of an injection of quality into their squad this month, following what has been a season of struggles to date. At the start of the campaign, there were high hopes that Eddie Howe's side could kick on to secure another top-four finish in the Premier League, as well as go far in the Champions League, but it hasn't panned out that way.

It would be a surprise if Newcastle failed to make any new signings in the January transfer window, with plenty of players linked and additions badly needed in order to give Howe's men any chance of getting themselves back in the top-four hunt.

One player who was seen as a big target for the Magpies last summer was Raphinha, who is currently at Barcelona after starring for Leeds United. A move failed to materialise at that point, with the Brazilian staying put, but he has struggled to be a regular in 2023/24 to date, only starting eight league matches.

Now, it looks as though the move isn't dead in the water, however, with Newcastle's hopes of acquiring his signature given a boost.

Newcastle handed Raphinha boost

According to a new update from Sport [via Sport Witness], Newcastle could have a second chance to sign Raphinha, with the La Liga giants increasingly of the feeling that he could be allowed to move on.

It is claimed that "patience is running out" with the winger given his disappointing impact at Barca since arriving from Leeds, and a second bid could now be accepted for him.

Raphinha may have been a little underwhelming in Spain thus far, but that's not to say that he couldn't be an inspired signing by Newcastle at a time when more attacking quality is required. The 27-year-old is someone who former Leeds teammate Dan James has raved about in the past, lauding his technical brilliance, saying:

"He’s a magician. He’s always been a great player – I played against him at United and he was always great – but he’s improved so much. He fully deserved his Brazilian call-up and I think since he got it, he’s pushed on even more, he’s even more confident. He can do absolutely anything on the pitch. It’s great playing with him."

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Raphinha has proven himself in the Premier League in the past, which means he could hit the ground running at St James' Park – he has 29 goal contributions (17 goals and 12 assists) in 65 appearances in the competition – and his class out on the right-hand side would provide strong competition for the likes of Miguel Almiron.

At 27, his best years could be about to arrive, and whether it is in January or the summer that he joins Newcastle, his flair and end product could make him a new hero at St James'.

The decision to sack Michael Beale in favour of hiring Philippe Clement could be looked back on as the best choice that any Scottish Premiership side have made this season. The former AS Monaco boss has completely turned things around for Rangers, not only putting them back in contention for the title but in control of their own fate.

When Clement first arrived, the thought of Rangers getting back into the title race seemed a world away. Now, however, they're five points adrift of Celtic with two games in hand, having failed to lose once in all competitions under their new manager.

Now, they could look to get one over on their Old Firm rivals away from the pitch and in the transfer market, having reportedly eyed up a move to sign one particular reinforcement.

Rangers transfer news

Clement's run as Rangers boss is even more impressive when considering that he hasn't even had a transfer window to make his mark on the squad as of yet. Clement recently spoke about the potential of January arrivals, saying via Rangers News: “I’m not going to put an amount on that but yes we have ambition to do things. We know also it’s a difficult period January to get players in because everybody who is performing really well in a club, the other club don’t let them go.

"It’s logical also – it’s the same on our side. So you need to look for opportunities. Maybe players who played less, (but) will they be fit then for the rest of the season? It’s more difficult decision-making than the summer transfer window but yeah we’re ambitious to make things better.”

Instead of winter arrivals, however, reports suggest that Rangers' attention has turned towards the summer. According to the Daily Record, Rangers are eyeing a move to sign Bournemouth goalkeeper Will Dennis, who is currently on loan at Kilmarnock. The shot-stopper is out of contract come the summer and will, therefore, be able to make a free move elsewhere after landing on the radar of Rangers' scouts. With Celtic also reportedly interested, however, the Gers may have to act quickly if they want to secure Dennis' signature.

Rangers can deal Celtic off-field blow

In one swoop, Rangers could steal in to win the Scottish Premiership from under Celtic's nose and then land Dennis ahead of their rivals in what would deal Brendan Rodgers a frustrating double blow. Dennis' stats have been impressive at Kilmarnock this season when compared to Jack Butland's, which means he'd be an ideal deputy to the Rangers number one.

Player

Clean Sheets

Save Percentage

Saves

Will Dennis

7

76.6%

50

Jack Butland

10

81%

33

When the summer window arrives, Dennis could get his biggest move yet in Scotland, with the expiration of his Bournemouth contract presenting the potential opportunity to pick between Rangers and Celtic. As the Old Firm rivals battle off the pitch, and the race for the title intensifies on it, the next few months should be an exciting watch in the Scottish Premiership.

Newcastle United are back in action tonight, as the Magpies host Borussia Dortmund at St James’ Park in the third fixture of the Champions League group stages.

Eddie Howe’s side were placed as far from the favourites when the lineup for Group E was revealed, with it being dubbed the 2023/24 edition of the ‘ Group of Death’ due to its challenges.

So far, the Geordies have secured a draw with AC Milan and an emphatic 4-1 win over Ligue 1 giants, Paris Saint-Germain, giving Howe’s squad added confidence going into tonight's big fixture.

What is the latest Newcastle team news against Dortmund?

After schooling PSG in their previous fixture in the Champions League, Newcastle will face another big challenge this evening when hosting the in-form Dortmund.

The German outfit remain unbeaten in the Bundesliga from their opening eight games, having won six and drawn two to put them in good stead to give the Magpies a battle.

Their start to the Champions League, however, has been a different story, having claimed just one point from a 0-0 draw against AC Milan, placing them at the bottom of Group E.

Newcastle will hope to take the victory over Dortmund this evening, however they will have to be at their best to do so, with some squad selection decisions to be made by Howe.

The talk of the Magpies’ squad is Sandro Tonali’s pending punishment over betting offences, yet the midfielder is in contention to play against the well-oiled Bundesliga side, albeit with the likes of Sven Botman and Harvey Barnes still sidelined.

Starting as a substitute last weekend, Tonali was joined by Alexander Isak, who came off the bench despite nursing a slight knee problem, opening a potential door for another forward to lead the line from the start tonight.

Should Callum Wilson start against Dortmund?

Howe is lucky to have two impressive goalscorers to rotate between, and despite being in fine form, Callum Wilson could have an argument over his claim to start against Dortmund.

The Englishman, who was once lauded as “clinical” by journalist Chris Waugh, has already scored five goals in the Premier League this season, with his tally added to last time out against Crystal Palace.

Wilson has played just 27 minutes in the Champions League this term, and could be in good stead to claim his first start of the tournament, in a rotation up-front that could cause the opposition added problems.

The £46k-per-week talisman is no stranger to scoring goals, and could be the ideal inclusion into the squad should Howe opt to keep Isak as a substitute and rotate from the side that beat PSG.

In the league this term, the former Bournemouth sensation has a scoring frequency of just 68 minutes, averaging 1.5 shots on target per game, despite only averaging 42 minutes of play per game, via Sofascore.

By fielding a scorer as clinical as Wilson, Howe could deal Dortmund additional blows by unleashing arguably his most prolific hitman on the defence, who have only conceded eight goals in the Bundesliga this season.

Newcastle will have to be at their best in the final third to break down Edin Terzic’s well-structured side, who will be desperate for a win against the Magpies at St James’ Park.