All posts by h716a5.icu

It’s truly unthinkable where Manchester United would be without Bruno Fernandes, with the Portuguese international undoubtedly the shining light in the 2024/25 campaign.

The 30-year-old managed to register a total of 37 combined goals and assists throughout the most recent season – by far and away the highest tally of any player in the squad.

The £47m paid for his signature back in 2020 now appears to be a bargain, racking up just shy of 300 appearances for the club and hopefully many more in the club’s quest to return to their former glory.

However, if he is to lead the side to any success during Ruben Amorim’s reign, the hierarchy need to back the 40-year-old in his quest within the transfer market.

Whilst Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have already arrived at Old Trafford, further additions are also expected to help the side rise up the Premier League table.

Man United close in on midfield agreement

Douglas Luiz has been a player on United’s shortlist for a sustained period, but it appears they could be handed a boost in their pursuit of the Juventus star.

The midfielder’s agent has already travelled to England for talks with various sides, with the Red Devils interested along with Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Everton.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

However, he’s not the only midfielder in their sights, with Valencia star Javi Guerra another target during the current window, according to El Chiringuito.

They claim that Amorim’s side are “very close to reaching an agreement” this summer, with a £25m fee mooted for the youngster’s signature.

The report also states that his current side have tried to tie the Spaniard down to a new contract, but he wants a move to a bigger club during the off-season.

Why United’s latest target would take Bruno to the next level

Bruno’s impressive tally of combined goals and assists last season certainly saved United from a disastrous Premier League finish, but upon reflection, his efforts were even more remarkable than they originally appeared.

The Portuguese international often featured in a slightly deeper role, forcing him to operate in a somewhat unnatural position which should’ve restricted his efforts within attacking areas.

There’s no denying that the experienced talent is better in a more attacking role, subsequently able to have more of an impact within the final third – which will improve their goalscoring record.

However, any move for Guerra could enable him to do just that, with the Spaniard able to fill the void in the middle of the park and push Fernandes further forward.

Offering depth is one thing, but he has all the tools to make an impact within Amorim’s side, but also has the potential to improve further in the years ahead, given his tender age.

When delving into his stats from LaLiga last season, the Valencia talent showcased his skillset, potentially being a bargain given his £25m asking price.

Guerra, who’s been labelled “special” by analyst Ben Mattinson, managed to register 4.8 progressive passes and 4.2 passes into the final third per 90 – having the ability to provide Bruno with the added chances he needs in the final third.

Games played

36

Goals & assists

6

Progressive passes

4.8

Passes into final third

4.2

Take-ons attempted

2.7

Carries into final third

1.5

Tackles won

1.7

He also attempted 2.7 take-ons per 90, along with 1.5 carries into the final third – showcasing his ability to get the ball into the opposition’s defensive third.

Out of possession, the youngster had also won 1.7 tackles per 90, winning 46% of the tackles he entered, having the ball-winning capability that could make him the perfect deep-lying option.

If the Spaniard can transfer his skillset over to England with him, it would be one of the bargains of the summer window, massively bolstering the options at Amorim’s disposal.

Such an arrival would hand Bruno the licence to build on his success in 2024/25, with his talents subsequently pushing the side up the table next campaign.

More important than Mbeumo: Man Utd have tabled bid to sign £40m star

Manchester United appear to be continuing their work in the market after landing Bryan Mbeumo.

ByEthan Lamb Jul 23, 2025

Bates will replace Danni Wyatt-Hodge for the last three games of the tournament plus finals if Hobart qualify

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-2024New Zealand batter Suzie Bates will play for Hobart Hurricanes for the first time in the WBBL after being signed as an overseas replacement player for the back end of the tournament.Bates, 37, has played 100 WBBL matches representing Adelaide Strikers, Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers across eight seasons. The all-time leading women’s T20I run-scorer was not selected at this year’s WBBL draft.But with England’s players set to be withdrawn from the back end of the WBBL due to a tour of South Africa, Bates has been signed by Hurricanes as a replacement for Danni Wyatt-Hodge. England’s T20 players are expected in South Africa on November 17 which would see Wyatt-Hodge miss the last three games of the WBBL plus the finals if Hurricanes qualify.Related

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Hurricanes general manager Salliann Beams was thrilled to add Bates to the squad alongside Chloe Tryon and Lizelle Lee.”Bringing Suzie into our WBBL squad just made sense as soon as we saw she was not selected in the draft, we thought she would be the perfect replacement for Danni once we knew her availability,” Beams said.”She provides more than 130 games of T20I cricket [167] and will give us an experienced operator when we lose someone of Danni’s ability in our line-up.”Hobert Hurricanes WBBL squad:Suzie Bates (overseas), Nicola Carey, Heather Graham, Ruth Johnston, Lizelle Lee (overseas), Hayley Silver-Holmes, Tabatha Saville, Amy Smith, Lauren Smith, Molly Strano, Rachel Trenaman, Chloe Tryon (overseas), Elyse Villani, Callie Wilson, Danni Wyatt-Hodge (overseas)

West Indies broke a 13-match losing streak and topped Group B to set up a semi-final against New Zealand

Firdose Moonda15-Oct-2024West Indies pulled off the biggest heist of this T20 World Cup and qualified for the semi-finals, against all expectation, and knocked one of the favourites, England.Having last beaten England in 2018, West Indies broke a 13-match losing streak and topped Group B to set up a semi-final against New Zealand in Sharjah. That year was also the last time West Indies played in a semi-final of the T20 World Cup.This is only the second time England have missed out on the knockouts of a T20 World Cup after being eliminated in the group stage in 2010. After wins in their first three matches, they were confident of making the final four this time. Instead, it is South Africa who join West Indies, with England’s net run-rate leaving them third in the group.West Indies win was made all the more remarkable because they were without former captain and veteran batter Stafanie Taylor, who is struggling with a knee injury. In her absence, Hayley Matthews and Qiana Joseph, found form and wiped away the bulk of the 142-run target. Matthews, playing in her 100th T20I, scored her 14th half-century in the format while Joseph, who had a career-best of 34 before this game, scored a 38-run 52. The pair shared an opening stand of 102 inside 13 overs and West Indies were on their way. This is the sixth time West Indies have successfully chased a total of 140-plus, and the second time since their record chase of 213 against Australia last December.England may have thought they had enough after Nat Sciver-Brunt’s half-century but lacked contributions from the rest of the order. To add to their worries, Heather Knight retired with a calf-injury on 21, with the score on 80 for 3, which halted the momentum England regained after they slipped to 34 for 3 in the seventh over. Afy Fletcher and Deandra Dottin, bowling for the first time in the tournament, took four wickets between them and conceded 37 runs in seven overs, which gave West Indies an advantage they carried through the game.West Indies’ whirlwind start West Indies’ youngsters Zaida James and Ashmini Munisar spoke to ESPNcricinfo a few days ago about their commitment to building a new legacy for West Indies cricket and almost combined to start that today. James, recovered from a blow to the chin, tossed her second ball up to Maia Bouchier, who tossed it up to Munisar at cover point but she shelled a straightforward chance. Bouchier went on to hit the first boundary of the innings and England were up and away until Matthews brought herself on to bowl. Danni Wyatt-Hodge hit her behind point for four but when she tried that a second time, Dottin lunged forward to take a low catch and West Indies had a breakthrough. In the next over, Alice Capsey was run out for one, chancing Dottin’s arm at her peril, and immediately after the powerplay, Bouchier skied Afy Fletcher to Qiana Joseph at extra cover. England were 34 for 3 in the seventh over and stunned.Nat Sciver-Brunt’s fifty was in vain for England•ICC/Getty ImagesKnight and Nat: steady then surge Sciver-Brunt survived an lbw review when she was on 2 when Fletcher pitched it outside leg, and went on to open her boundary count with lap over Shemaime Campbelle and that got England going. Knight bisected the extra cover and mid-off fielder for two overs in succession to take England to fifty and beyond. The pair then brought out the sweeps and England were running away with it at 79 for 3 after 12 overs when injury struck. Knight had treatment during that over but then left the field with a calf concern. At the time, the partnership was worth 46 off 36 balls, which was the only stand of more than 30 in the innings. Sciver-Brunt watched Amy Jones hand Dotting a catch at backward point and Charlie Dean pick out Matthews at mid-off as the 17th over started. She played an almost lone hand in scoring 14 runs off the 18th over and 13 off the 20th to register her 14th T20I half-century and taking England over 140.Most runs in an over and the highest powerplay score It took until the final group stage match to see some proper aggression upfront and it came from the team with the reputation to hit big, but not always the results. Matthews, who has registered scores of 10, 8 and 34 in the tournament so far and has not been as much of a presence with the bat, hit Lauren Bell over long leg for six off the second ball. She went on to score fours through fine leg and mid-off and the first over cost Bell – the most expensive of the tournament so far. Matthew owned opening over and her and Joseph rode their luck to take charge of the rest of the powerplay but not without some nerves.Joseph got off the mark with a thick outside edge between backward point and short third that went for four, then hit Sciver-Brunt to deep mid-wicket, where the ball went through Sophia Dunkley’s hands for four more. She settled in the next over and hit Charlie Dean for six before taking on England’s trump card Sophie Ecclestone for back to back boundaries. West Indies were 67 without loss in the powerplay, the highest of the tournament so far.England’s drops add up Dunkley’s drop was the start of one of England’s worst fielding performances recently as they put down five catches. In the fifth over, Joseph was on 31 when she skied Sciver-Brunt into the night sky and though Alice Capsey settled herself underneath it at point, she tried to catch it reverse-cup and dropped it. Then, on 35 in the eighth over, Joseph hit Sarah Glenn to mid-wicket, where Bouchier ran to her left but let it slip through her fingers. The ball followed Bouchier for a little while after that, and she did not collect cleanly at mid-wicket when Campbelle called Dottin through for a run. Bouchier berated herself and England were falling apart. According to ESPNcricinfo’s ball-by-ball data, there have been 75 dropped catches in the group stage of the tournament, and England have been responsible for nine, the third most of any side.

Liverpool were told to trust in Arne Slot by Jurgen Klopp at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, and the Reds rode the crest of that wave of faith right through to the league title.

They won it confidently. They won it emphatically. Manchester City and Arsenal and the rest were dispatched by an outfit who, quite simply, were better than everyone else.

Now Liverpool have taken things to the next level, pulling in fresh faces from every which way in the summer transfer window to reinforce Slot’s squad ahead of the 2025/26 season.

The Reds will have their sights set on a successful Premier League title defence, but they will also be hungry to win the Champions League, and the FA Cup and Carabao Cup too.

Pre-season performances should be taken with a pinch of salt, but Florian Wirtz’s start to life as a Liverpool player has certainly fuelled hopes that these lofty goals are within reach.

Florian Wirtz's pre-season show-stopper

Wirtz signed for Liverpool in June for a £100m fixed fee. Potential add-ons could take that to £116m, which would make the 22-year-old the most expensive footballer in British history.

His illustrious career beginnings with Bayer Leverkusen have led him this far, though many rivals will wait to see how he fares amid new surroundings. But then Wirtz’s talent is off the scales, and he’s undoubtedly got the physical profile to match within the English game.

Across pre-season so far, the Germany international has shone, bagging a brace of assists against Stoke City back in England before jetting over to Asia, featuring against AC Milan and then picking up the Man of the Match award against Japanese side Yokohama FM.

He’s the real deal, all right, and Liverpool must know they have hit the jackpot. Wirtz is the cream of the crop of arrivals, but he may yet be trumped by another.

Liverpool lining up new striker

According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are now putting a British-record package together for Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, just waiting for the perfect moment to show their hand.

Isak, 25, has informed the Magpies that he wishes to pursue a move to Merseyside, having refused to go on their pre-season tour and instead using his former club Real Sociedad’s facilities.

One of the best strikers in the world, Isak would cost a staggering sum, with Newcastle expected to demand £150m for their talisman.

Why Liverpool want Alexander Isak

If Liverpool were to sign Isak, they would partner Wirtz with a truly special star. The German playmaker has already been called “the best midfielder in the world” by former Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes, and Isak is regarded by many – including pundit Alan Shearer – to be a “world-class” forward.

Building this new-look team is a staggering display of FSG’s intent, but the profiles of Wirtz and Isak could evoke a sense of nostalgia, potentially handing Slot his own version of Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres.

Torres’s game was built on pace and power, and this aligned perfectly with the robust creativity of Gerrard, who marshalled his midfield while playmaking for his Spanish frontman. The results were incredible.

Arguably at his career-finest when playing for the Anfield side, El Nino notched 101 goal contributions from 142 appearances as a Liverpool striker.

The legend who is Gerrard helped him reach that pinnacle, instrumental as he widened the scope of the Spaniard’s potential.

And Torres knew it. When the Scouser hung up his boots way back when, the forward said this: “I always say the best player I played with is Steven Gerrard. I found he was the player who completed my game. I think my level got into a different dimension when I was on the pitch with him.”

Fabrizio Romano has praised Isak for being a “machine” in front of goal, but he’s also elegant, athletic and creative in his attacking play. In this manner, he’s a bit like Torres.

As per FBref, the Sweden international ranked among the top 16% of strikers across Europe last season for shot-creating actions, the top 13% for progressive passes, the top 7% for progressive carries and the top 8% for successful take-ons per 90.

Truly, he’s the all-encompassing number nine. Torres was too. And with Wirtz pinging balls through to him, using his seamless movement to shift from left to right, left to right, there’s no telling how dangerous Slot’s Liverpool could be over the coming years.

Moreover, there’s a certain semblance between Isak at Newcastle and Torres in his Liverpool heyday, the strikers comparable in their rate of scoring and supplying for teammates.

Games

109

142

Goals

62

81

Goal rate

0.57

0.57

Assists

11

19

Assist rate

0.10

0.13

G/A rate

0.67

0.70

If the duo manage to bag themselves a partnership at Slot’s Liverpool next season, fans may well be treated to some incredible new football, but also a sense of the past, keeping the spirit of the club alive as they chase down more honours.

Whether Liverpool succeed in prising Isak away from Newcastle this summer is still open to the court, but the Merseysiders know that the £120k-per-week talent wants to join them, and they know that they have a world-class playmaker in Wirtz who could create a sensational new duo.

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ByAngus Sinclair Jul 31, 2025

General manager Trent Copeland said it “feels right” that the 21-year-old should lead the side

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Oct-2024The future of Australian leadership will have a chance to shine in this season’s WBBL with Phoebe Litchfield named Sydney Thunder captain and Annabel Sutherland taking over permanently from Meg Lanning at Melbourne Stars.At 21, Litchfield will be youngest full-time captain in WBBL history as she continues her rapid progression. She has been appointed ahead of England captain Heather Knight who led the side last season but enters the WBBL on the back of the injury she sustained at the T20 World Cup and will also miss the latter stages of this year’s competition due to a tour of South Africa.Related

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“It’s a huge honour to be named captain of Sydney Thunder,” Litchfield said. “I’ve grown up playing for this club and learning from some incredible leaders, so to now have the opportunity to lead such a talented group of players is really exciting.”We’ve got a great mix of experience and young raw talent, and I’m really looking forward to the challenge of captaining the side this season.”Sutherland, meanwhile, led Stars in three games last season when Lanning wasn’t available.”Annabel has proven herself as a standout performer at both domestic and international level and has worked extremely hard on and developed her leadership skills, particularly over the last couple of years,” Stars general manager Blair Crouch said. “Despite still being so young, Annabel is vastly experienced and her reputation within the game is second to none.”I’d also like to pay tribute to Meg Lanning’s captaincy during her time at the club and what an amazing resource and support for Annabel to still have, both on and off the field.”Litchfield made her Thunder debut aged 16 and has scored 1212 runs in 67 matches at an average of 24.24. Last season saw a notable increase in her strike-rate as she made 309 runs at 130.37.”Phoebe becoming captain of Thunder just feels right,” Thunder general manager Trent Copeland said. “She’s young, but her experience in the game makes this a natural progression. Phoebe has always been mature beyond her years, and her leadership qualities have been evident from the moment she joined Thunder.”We’ve seen Phoebe thrive under pressure, whether it’s for Australia in the World Cup or in key moments for Thunder. She’s a great leader, both by character and by example, and we are excited to see her step into this role.”Alongside Knight, Litchfield will be able to call on the experience of Chamari Athapaththu, Hannah Darlington (who led Thunder as a stand-in captain aged 19), Shabnim Ismail and Sammy-Jo Johnson alongside coach Lisa Keightley.Thunder, who reached the Eliminator final last season where they were beaten by Brisbane Heat, will begin their tournament against Hobart Hurricanes on October 28. Stars begin against Perth Scorchers at the WACA as the third game on the opening day on October 27.

The straight-talking Australian has replaced Nuno Espirito Santo in the City Ground dugout, but he must change his ways to survive

After a brief stay of execution, the axe has come down on Nuno Espirito Santo at Nottingham Forest just three games into the new season. The Portuguese has paid the ultimate price for a behind-the-scenes feud with recently-appointed global head of football, Edu, speaking candidly about his frustrations in the transfer window and the deterioration of his relationship with notoriously ruthless club owner, Angelos Marinakis.

Bizarrely, the decision to sack Nuno was confirmed shortly after midnight on Tuesday. Thirteen hours later, his replacement was already in situ; after brief links with a clutch of Premier League managers and the out-of-work Jose Mourinho, former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is Forest's new head coach.

It is a divisive appointment that is certain to ruffle some feathers after the Australian led Spurs to both a Europa League crown a dismal 17th-place Premier League finish in a bewildering 2024-25 campaign that was plagued by injuries. The 60-year-old is seemingly charged with delivering more silverware at the City Ground, but he must learn from past mistakes to be a long-term success.

Getty Images SportTactical antithesis

One of the most glaringly obvious issues with this appointment is that Postecoglou is a tactical misfit for a club whose success under Nuno in 2024-25 was built upon defensive solidity, a willingness to bide their time and control games without the ball, and relying on swift transitions and deadly counter-attacking.

Meanwhile, 'Ange-ball' – as it came to be known at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – is a possession-based system that is dependent on hassling opponents with high pressing, inverted full-backs creating overloads in midfield and the defence holding a very high line, with an uncompromising emphasis on all-out attack.

The Australian was often called out for being far too gung-ho and increasingly self-destructive in his approach during his time at Spurs, with his side found out on multiple occasions from the midway point of 2023-24 after a strong start where they seemed to have caught many of their rivals cold.

That gradual deterioration culminated in a humiliating 17th-placed finish in the league last season courtesy of some incredibly haphazard defensive displays, as Tottenham set the ignominious record for the most defeats without being relegated in a 38-game Premier League campaign (22). Notably, there were two losses to Forest among them, as the Midlands club secured one-goal victories home and away.

Something, then, has got to give as Postecoglou takes the reins at the City Ground. You could argue that he will have the players at his disposal to implement his ideas once again, with Morgan Gibbs-White, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Elliot Anderson and more probably well suited to his system, but Nuno has already drawn up a blueprint that really works – his successor will be taking a huge risk if he decides to rip it up and start again.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFitness woes

A crippling injury crisis provided the backdrop to Tottenham's nightmarish 2024-25 league season, and Postecoglou regularly attributed blame to their lengthy list of absentees as his side struggled to compete domestically. However, many of the coach's detractors pointed to his demanding methods as the root cause of the raft of muscular issues, and there will be concerns of a repeat on the banks of the Trent.

As reported by in January in the depths of the crisis, when Spurs had no fewer than 11 names unavailable, there was "no time for respite" in the 60-year-old's high-intensity training sessions, with the same vigour expected on the training ground as it is on the pitch on matchday with the aim of overpowering and outrunning the opposition. Indeed, injuries are supposedly even deemed par for the course as players adapt to the Australian's modus operandi.

Notably, the north Londoners' head of medicine and sport science, Geoff Scott, left his role at the end of 2023-24 after a 20-year association with the club, purportedly after a fallout with Postecoglou over his handling of the first team's workload and the recovery of those who are injured. Key stars were often rushed back or even played through the pain barrier throughout his tenure.

Nuno had already questioned Forest's readiness and depth on the eve of the new season as they prepared to fight on four fronts rather than three, after qualifying for Europe for the first time in 30 years and being promoted to the Europa League at Crystal Palace's expense, insisting his squad was "very, very far from where we should be". Although further additions have since been made, the lack of quality alternatives was a big problem at Tottenham, and the incoming boss can't afford to run his best players into the ground again.

AFPRisk of revolt

The new head coach could well find himself at the centre of a hostile situation at the City Ground, where a new manager wasn't needed and his predecessor was hugely popular having guided the club back into Europe for the first time in three decades. For many, Postecoglou wouldn't have been the first or even second choice to replace Nuno, either.

When it became clear that the Portuguese's position had become untenable amid the souring of his relationship with owner Marinakis and global head of football Edu, the likes of Mourinho, Marco Silva, Oliver Glasner, Andoni Iraola and Mauricio Pochettino were linked with the role – all of whom would arguably be more appealing to the Garibaldi faithful, albeit the latter four are currently in work and therefore would be difficult extract.

"Postecoglou is about as far removed from the Steve Cooper and Nuno school of football as it is possible to get," GOAL writer and Forest fan Chris Burton says. "Jose Mourinho, for all of the obvious questions that he poses, would have been a better fit for a counter-attacking model that leans heavily on defensive stability. If Postecoglou goes full Ruben Amorim-mode and refuses to change his ways, then he will find out that the tide can turn quickly on Trentside."

It would be difficult to dispel the buoyant mood around the club after an exceptional 2024-25 campaign, but Postecoglou will still have some work to do to get the fans fully onside. Despite his ultimate downfall, that was something he succeeded in doing in north London amid initial scepticism over his appointment, as the ex-Celtic boss fostered an us-against-them mentality.

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Getty Images SportEuropean pedigree

It's pretty clear that Postecoglou has been hired by virtue of his unlikely Europa League triumph last season, as he dragged his beleaguered Tottenham side to a predictably ugly victory over fellow Premier League strugglers Manchester United in Bilbao in May to end an agonising 17-year trophy drought, a success that belied Spurs' embarrassing league position.

In that moment, the Australian had rather bewilderingly maintained his status as a manager who has more or less guaranteed silverware throughout his storied career, even managing to stay true to his word after bullishly claiming that "I always wins things in my second year" in a now-famous post-match interview eight months prior. However, it wasn't enough to save his job.

As Forest prepare to embark on their own Europa League journey following their promotion from the Conference League, it's feasible that Marinakis believes a repeat is possible as he looks to follow Spurs through the backdoor into the promised land of the Champions League. He will believe they have the squad to compete in Europe.

The Forest owner actually presented Postecoglou with an award at a Greek Super League event in July for his achievement, saying at the time (as quoted by : "What he achieved, he did with a team that has not won any titles, it has had a very difficult time in recent years. Wherever he goes, the successes will come."

Gary Lineker has been best known for his presenter roles over the last 25 years, however, in his playing days, he was one of England’s greatest strikers.

At club level, Lineker starred for Leicester City, Everton and Tottenham, while also heading to Barcelona in 1986, the same year he won the Golden Boot at the World Cup for the Three Lions.

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The ex-forward, who almost signed for Manchester United before heading to Spurs in 1989, never received a yellow or red card during his career.

But who does Lineker see as his greatest of all time? He answered that question and, despite honourable mentions for Johan Cruyff and Zinedine Zidane, Lineker named his four-player Mount Rushmore of all-time greats, with no room for Cristiano Ronaldo.

4 Pele Brazil

An attacking icon for more than 20 years from 1956, Pele actually holds the record for most goals scored with 1,279 in 1,363 games.

He won three World Cups with Brazil in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and at club level, spent 18 years with Santos. Pele was the first player on Lineker’s Mount Rushmore, and following his passing in 2022, Lineker said:

“Pele’s hugely significant in not only the development of football, but also in football itself and the enjoyment of football – which is the most important thing. It’s an entertainment business, and he was one of the great entertainers – through his pure skill, talent and ability. He was also a proven goalscorer.

“Pele was an out-and-out goalscorer, and he’s played a huge part in football. The name Pele is just synonymous with football.”

3 Diego Maradona Argentina

Next on Lineker’s Mount Rushmore is someone who broke his and England’s hearts at the 1986 World Cup, Diego Maradona.

His famous Hand of God goal against England on the biggest stage has gone down in history, but he also scored one of the best individual goals in the same game to help Argentina win 2-1.

Maradona took his country to a World Cup triumph that year, and at club level, he starred for Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli, Sevilla and Newell’s Old Boys.

Following Maradona’s passing, Lineker said: “By some distance the best player of my generation and arguably the greatest of all time. After a blessed but troubled life, hopefully he’ll finally find some comfort in the hands of God.”

2 Ronaldo Brazil

Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima, nicknamed O Fenomeno and R9, also makes Lineker’s list, with the powerful striker winning two World Cups for Brazil.

As Lineker states, Ronaldo missed large parts of his career through injury, but when he was fully fit or close to 100%, he was unstoppable on his day.

1 Lionel Messi Argentina

Rounding off Lineker’s Mount Rushmore is Lionel Messi, who tops the charts as his “favourite player of all time”.

With his ties to Barcelona, the Englishman has been vocal in his thoughts about Messi all throughout the Argentine’s career, calling him “a gift from the footballing Gods”.

Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, finally lifted the World Cup in 2022, with Lineker calling the magician “the best player of all time”.

Years Messi has won the Ballon d’Or

Club

2009

Barcelona

2010

Barcelona

2011

Barcelona

2012

Barcelona

2015

Barcelona

2019

Barcelona

2021

Barcelona

2023

Inter Miami

Western Australia, the three-time reigning champions, haven’t lost a game this season so far

AAP16-Nov-2024Stumps Lower-order resistance helped Victoria claim a 206-run first-innings lead in their Sheffield Shield clash with three-time reigning champions Western Australia.After being skittled for 167, WA appeared to be containing Victoria at the Junction Oval when the hosts were 207 for 6 on Saturday. But No. 9 Xavier Crone hit an unbeaten 62 from 65 balls, smashing three sixes to help Victoria reach 373.Fellow lower-order batters Fergus O’Neill (44) and Sam Elliott (26) also chipped in to make WA’s bowlers toil in hot conditions for most of the day.Opening bowlers Joel Paris (3 for 44) and Cameron Gannon (3 for 59) as well as spinner Corey Rocchiccioli (3 for 115) took all but one of WA’s wickets.WA had to bat for the last hour before stumps on Saturday, reaching 33 for 1 with Sam Fanning and Jayden Goodwin at the crease. Opener Cameron Bancroft, who has endured an unfortunate form slump after dominating the Shield for the past two seasons, struggled again. After recently being overlooked for a call-up to the Test team for the first time since the 2019 Ashes, Bancroft fell to O’Neill for 11. In the first innings on Friday, Bancroft could only manage 12, also losing his wicket to O’Neill.Victoria have set themselves up nicely to become the first team to beat WA in the Shield this season. WA are aiming to claim a fourth straight title, and were undefeated after three matches before they headed to Melbourne.

Leeds United have placed a big emphasis on improving the defensive areas of their squad during the summer transfer window ahead of the Premier League opener against Everton.

Daniel Farke has added Lucas Perri, Gabriel Gudmundsson, Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, Sean Longstaff, and Anton Stach to improve the strength of the team out of possession.

The Whites have also brought in Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha in the centre-forward position to compete for a starting spot as the number nine, but they have yet to bolster their options out wide since Manor Solomon returned to Tottenham Hotspur.

Leeds closing in on deal for defender

Despite the need for more attacking players before the end of the summer transfer window, the Championship champions are now looking to bring in another defensive option.

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 LeedsUnitedNews, the club are closing in on a deal to sign Leicester City’s versatile full-back James Justin on a permanent transfer.

The report claims that the former England international is set to cost a fee of around £6m, with Leeds looking to beat Everton to his signature this summer.

It adds that Justin believes that he can come in and earn a starting spot straight away, either at left-back or right-back, which does not suggest that this is a signing with purely depth in mind.

Why this is bad news for Sam Byram

Sam Byram put pen to paper on a new one-year contract earlier this summer to play a back-up role as a versatile full-back who can play on the right or the left.

Jayden Bogle and Gudmundsson are the first-choice options at right-back and left-back, respectively, and the experienced Englishman is the current back-up in both positions.

This is why the arrival of Justin on a permanent deal from Leicester would be bad news for the Leeds academy graduate, because the Foxes star would, essentially, take his place in the pecking order.

Justin, like Byram, can play at right-back or left-back with ease and will provide strong competition in both positions, possibly being the first-choice replacement for Gudmundsson or Bogle, instead of the former Norwich man.

Appearances

36

36

Goals

2

1

Assists

2

1

Tackles + interceptions per game

2.9

1.5

Duels won per game

5.0

2.3

Ground duel success rate

59%

60%

Aerial duel success rate

55%

50%

As you can see in the table above, Justin offered more to his team defensively and in possession than Byram at league level last season, whilst playing in the Premier League.

These statistics, and the respective leagues that they were produced in, suggest that Leeds would be improving the quality of their options in both full-back positions by splashing £6m on the Foxes star to be a Byram upgrade, in a way.

Justin, who was described as an “adventurous” full-back by pundit Tony Cascarino, is a proven Premier League performer with the experience to hit the ground running at Elland Road, which also means that he will not need much time to adapt to the division.

Therefore, this could be bad news for Byram because he could be instantly dropped down the pecking order to, essentially, third-choice full-back on the right and the left, as the Leicester man can play both sides.

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Whilst it appears to be bad news for Byram and his prospects for the 2025/26 campaign, it does appear to be an upgrade and a good piece of business for Leeds, who look set to sign an experienced, strong, and versatile Premier League-level full-back to bolster their squad.

Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique showed off a new shaved look ahead of Les Parisiens' Ligue 1 clash with Lens on Sunday. The Spaniard was seen with his arm in a sling after undergoing surgery for a broken clavicle he sustained in a bike accident during the international break. It had previously been reported the manager could miss the game as he recovers, but he said he is "ready".

Luis Enrique's new look on return from injury

The 55-year-old cut a resilient figure in his pre-game press conference with a shaved head and his arm in a sling. He arrived with PSG's sporting director Luis Campos and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi.

AdvertisementResilient Luis Enrique determined to play part against Lens

Despite fears the serious injury and subsequent surgery could have sidelined Luis Enrique for three games, he will be present for Sunday's fixture. Despite his ongoing rehabilitation, he insisted he is ready to lead his team against Lens and beyond. 

What Luis Enrique said

Luis Enrique said: "I’m doing very well. I’m happy to return home. After an international break, these matches are always tricky. We are ready and focused solely on the game against Lens.

"I trained today, and I’ll be ready for the match tomorrow against Lens. Whenever something negative happens in my life, I try to find the positive side of it." 

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AFPA crucial week in PSG's season

Les Parisiens are of course favourites to win the French title again, but they face pressure from a Lyon side that has yet to concede a goal. A victory over Lens, as well as a strong startin the Champions League against Atalanta, as well as a marquee matchup against Marseille on September 21 represents a tricky period in this young season. Having their treble-winning manager on the sideline will be crucial for the players and fans.