Manchester United have endured yet another topsy-turvy start to the season, but Ruben Amorim is determined to turn things around and remains stubborn in his belief that his cast-iron system will remain the philosophy implemented.

For better or for worse. The Red Devils welcome Chelsea to Old Trafford on Saturday evening as they look to claim a second Premier League win of the season, and it’s crucial that they indeed score some points on the board and climb away from the foot of the division, having so shockingly finished 15th last year.

Having been trounced in the Manchester derby last weekend, Amorim will be feeling rather hot under the collar, aware that more misery might spell the end of his turbulent tenure, less than a year after his appointment.

The Portuguese tactician has been buoyed, however, by Matheus Cunha’s return to fitness, with the Brazilian forward having injured his hamstring before the September international break.

Why Cunha's return is so important

He’s yet to get off the mark for Manchester United this season after joining from Wolverhampton Wanderers in a bumper £62.5m package this summer, but Cunha, 26, has only played two full 90s in the Premier League so far, forced off after only half an hour with a hamstring injury against Burnley.

Described as having the qualities to be “one of the most transformational United players” by writer Wayne Barton, Cunha is the real deal, proven within the English game and boasting one of the most dynamic attacking skillsets across Europe.

United might have sold Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea – a warm welcome back to the Theatre for him on Saturday – and loaned Marcus Rashford out to Barcelona, but this versatile attacking force, usually out on the left but called into a number nine berth across the opening weeks of the term, has the chance to erase such former stars from the fanbase’s mind with a string of impressive showings.

We’ve already seen what he can do in a red shirt, and having been confirmed fit for this forthcoming fixture, all eyes will be riveted on him when the ball is claimed and space is found in the danger area.

However, he’s not the only one who could make an impact, and Amorim should consider unleashing his new version of Rashford on Enzo Maresca’s Blues.

Amorim's new version of Rashford

Rashford was once a superstar under the Old Trafford lights, but there’s no doubt that he ebbed and he flowed, and that his finest days as a Manchester United man passed some time ago.

But in Amad Diallo, Amorim might be guiding the new version to the fore.

Amad is still only 23, and came into his own as a United first-teamer last term, notching 21 goal involvements across 43 matches in all competitions.

69 games he has played in total for the club, posting 14 goals and 13 assists. Singled out by Sky Sport pundit Jamie Carragher for his “sensational” performances in a poor team last season, he must be unleashed in a role fit for his skillset against Chelsea, who boast an overload of firepower themselves.

Described as a “wizard” of a winger by journalist James Copley, Amad’s fast, furious dribbling style and innate potency have allowed him to cement a place in Amorim’s matchday squad. A strong grasp of the technical side of the attacking game is what he has, that and an eye for the spectacular.

Remind you of anyone? Was it not Thursday evening that Rashford rifled in from range to sink the Magpies around St. James’ Park? It was a bittersweet one to watch for those of a Man United persuasion, but not all that surprising for those aware of exactly what the Three Lions star is capable of.

As per FBref, the Ivorian winger ranks among the top 4% of positional peers for pass completion, the top 16% for shot-creating actions and the top 10% for progressive carries per 90, emphasising his ball-carrying skill, yes, but also the creative spark which could be crucial in serving a forward such as Cunha with ammunition from which to strike on goal.

Amad’s tactical range has been showcased across his years as a professional so far, but if Amorim opts to deploy him alongside Mbeumo in a more advanced berth than the wing-back role he has been placed in three times already this season, his attacking strengths could be maximised, thus providing United with the balance and fluency they need to finally make things tick.

Right winger

128

42 (35)

Attacking midfield

33

10 (3)

Centre-forward

22

9 (1)

Left winger

20

9 (4)

It’s curious that the nifty forward manages to maintain a degree of prolificness no matter where he is positioned across the frontline, and that’s something Amorim has clearly latched onto.

Rashford, too, could play in different berths, and though each prefers a different foot, there is much the same about their shared directness and natural goalscoring sense.

In November 2024, with United at a low ebb, only Rashford and Amad were in the positive in regard to xG totals, as per Statman Dave.

Given that that trend has continued into the current campaign, with no Premier League side having created a higher xG total than 14th-placed Man United, someone of Amad’s clinical calibre must now stand up and turn things around for Amorim and the club.

It's not Hojlund: Man Utd let "incredible" Sesko upgrade go for just £16m

Manchester United may now be regretting letting go of one former star who’s better than Benjamin Sesko.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 18, 2025

Pat Cummins led the way with three new-ball wickets and a terrific running catch as Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) limited Delhi Capitals (DC) to 133 after choosing to bowl first in IPL 2025 in Hyderabad. A grass-free surface at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium proved to be a tricky one, offering enough grip for balls banged into a hard length to nip sideways as well as stop on the batter, and Cummins is a master of banging the ball into a hard length.The SRH captain took the new ball himself with Mohammed Shami left out, and struck first ball, getting it to straighten and find Karun Nair’s edge. By the time he had bowled 19 balls, Cummins had taken three wickets and Ishan Kishan – keeping for the first time this season, relieving Heinrich Klaasen of the gloves – three catches.With Harshal Patel and Jaydev Unadkat also getting into the wickets column, DC were gasping at 29 for 5 in the eighth over. The fullish ball Unadkat bowled to dismiss KL Rahul, from left-arm around, summed up the conditions – on nine out of ten IPL pitches, Rahul would have probably middled the drive he attempted; this was the tenth pitch, and the ball straightened to kiss his edge and make Kishan the first keeper to catch out an entire top four in an IPL innings.Tristan Stubbs anchored DC’s recovery from that point, putting on 33 with Vipraj Nigam for the sixth wicket – Nigam sacrificed his wicket when both batters ended up at the same end following a dreadful mix-up – and 66 with Ashutosh Sharma for the seventh.As they have done in other recent games, DC named a bowler-heavy starting XI despite batting first, and brought Ashutosh off the Impact Player bench when the need arose. And Ashutosh was primarily responsible for a late flourish that brought DC 61 runs off their last six overs, hitting three sixes in a 26-ball 41. Stubbs finished unbeaten on 41 off 36 balls.Rain began soon after DC’s innings ended, leaving SRH waiting to begin their chase.

“I think the wicket was a whole lot better than 157, where a lot of batsmen made starts [but didn’t] go on to make those big scores,” Ricky Ponting says

Shashank Kishore20-Apr-20252:20

Finch: PBKS are leaving some runs on the table

Shreyas Iyer thinks Punjab Kings (PBKS) are suffering from a middle-order muddle in IPL 2025, especially at home in New Chandigarh – where they have played their final game of the season – with surfaces having thrown up a number of questions at their batters.On Sunday against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), PBKS scored 157 for 6 in their 20 overs; the last five overs produced just 38 as Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar put on a superb exhibition of death bowling. Even a feared finisher like Shashank Singh couldn’t quite find his hitting gears – he didn’t hit a single boundary in the last five overs.Their innings wasn’t as much of a struggle like it was in their previous game at the venue, where they successfully defended 110 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), but it wasn’t one they would look back on fondly either.Related

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Kohli, Padikkal fifties fire RCB to fifth away win

“If you see, a majority of our batters like to go [for it] from ball one,” Shreyas said after PBKS went down by seven wickets to RCB. “We’re finding it difficult to assess the wicket if we’re batting first. That has been the scenario from match one.”Otherwise, we’ve not been able to capitalise on the starts we’ve been getting. It’s just that the wickets have been getting slower and slower, [this] being an afternoon game, we weren’t able to set a total we could defend. Even in the middle phase when we thought we could take on the bowlers, we couldn’t capitalise.”PBKS head coach Ricky Ponting’s thoughts were along the same lines.”We didn’t bat well enough. That’s the bottomline in this game. I think the wicket was a whole lot better than 157, where a lot of batsmen made starts [but didn’t] go on to make those big scores,” he said at the press conference after the game. “That’s crucial in T20 cricket, especially the guys at the top of the order. And that’s the difference.”Virat [Kohli] bats through tonight, sees his team home, and we weren’t good enough to capitalise on a good start. At the end of the powerplay we were 1 for 62 – pretty much where you want the game to be. Straightaway you’re looking at a score of 180-plus, even pushing on to 200 if the middle order bats well. But we lost wickets in clumps again tonight, which is not the first time in the tournament.”I thought their spinners bowled well, and their death bowling was exceptional. Bhuvi [Bhuvneshwar Kumar] and [Josh] Hazlewood, the four overs they bowled at the end… At the second time out, we still thought we’d get to near 180. But their death bowling was too good and we struggled to 157. Unlike the last game here, where we dragged a win out of nowhere, we weren’t good enough to do that tonight.”Shreyas counted that “great start” with the bat as one of their positives. Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh put on 42 in just 4.2 overs. But their dismissals as they looked to pick boundaries led to that problem in the middle overs, where they kept losing wickets on the face of some excellent bowling from Suyash Sharma and Krunal Pandya.Since his century against CSK, Arya has laid down the marker in each of the four innings – 22, 16, 22, 36 – but hasn’t been able to kick on. The story is similar for Prabhsimran, who has scores of 33, 13, 30 and 42.When asked if the openers should tone down their approach, Shreyas cautioned against anyone curbing their instincts, stressing the need for some of the middle-order batters to take the “bull by the horns.””We keep talking about adapting to the wicket, but once the ball tends to get old it doesn’t skid off the wicket that well,” Shreyas said. “Both of them are great stroke players, it’s difficult to stop their instincts. Once you say they’ve got to play according to situation, it kind of becomes hard for them to comprehend as well.”If you see other games, they’ve been giving us absolutely brilliant starts. A few of the middle-order batters, we need to step up and take bull by the horns.”Shreyas has found himself in an unusual trend of either going all-in or being dismissed early. He has been out for single-digit scores in his last three outings, two of those against RCB. On Friday, he was out looking to slash Hazlewood after being cramped for room. On Sunday, Shreyas was caught looking to clear the long-on boundary.2:57

Pujara: ‘Calm’ Shreyas does not feel captaincy pressure

“I’m in a great mind space,” he said. “I just need to cross ten runs and after that I can take on the charge. I don’t want to give reasons that I played in a particulate way. I need to be freeflowing as well and not think about what we’ve been doing in the past. Just stay in the present as much as possible and capitalise on the starts we’ve been getting.”PBKS have a six-day break after two days of frenetic travel as they played RCB back-to-back. And the time off – before they play KKR at Eden Gardens – couldn’t have come at a better time for the team.”It’s important that we go back to the drawing board, more importantly rejuvenate and refresh, because we’ve been constantly travelling since the last couple of days,” Iyer said. “It’s important to assess our body as well and see to it we’re in the best shape possible before the next game.”That game is against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens on Saturday evening.”We’ve got a nice, little break, about a six-day break now,” Ponting said. “On the back of three games in about five days, the boys need a bit of a freshen-up, time to get away, forget about this result, and make sure we focus on our next challenge, which is KKR down there [in Kolkata], which we know will be a big game for us.”

Will Aston Villa woes in front of goal continue?

On Sunday, at the fifth attempt, the Villans did manage to score a Premier League goal for the very first time this season, thanks to this Matty Cash rocket at the Stadium of Light.

However, it did not help the Claret and Blue Army claim a maiden win of the season, with Sunderland equalising soon after, despite the fact the Black Cats played for around an hour with only ten men.

Next up, Unai Emery’s team will commence their Europa League campaign, welcoming Coppa Italia winners Bologna to Villa Park, hoping for a repeat of the 2-0 victory they enjoyed against the Rossoblù in the Champions League 11 months ago.

To do this, Villa will have to unearth a way to score goals, having managed only two in six fixtures across all competitions so far, which is why Emery should unleash his summer signing who is Bernardo Silva-esque.

Morgan Rogers' ongoing struggles

Last season was very much Morgan Rogers’ breakout campaign, scoring a whopping 14 goals and registering 16 assists across all competitions.

As recognition, he was named PFA Young Player of the Year, only the fifth Villa player to win the award, after Andy Gray (1977), Gray Shaw (1981), Ashley Young (2009) and James Milner (2010).

However, this time round, Rogers is yet to register either a goal or an assist in six appearances, seemingly struggling for confidence.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Rogers himself admitted “I might have been a surprise package last year, but now people know about me and they know about my game” adding, “they try to stop me…it’s been difficult”.

Given Villa’s ongoing struggles in front of goal, it is surely worth Emery trying something different when Bologna visit Birmingham on Thursday, so should he make a bold change instead?.

Who Unai Emery should start instead of Morgan Rogers

After a summer of frustrations due to PSR restrains, Aston Villa’s deadline day trolley dash saw them pick up Victor Lindelöf, Jadon Sancho and, most notably, Harvey Elliott.

The latter arrived from Liverpool initially on loan, but with a £35m option to buy, having starred at the under-21 European Championships, scoring five goals as England retained their title in Slovakia, named player of the tournament.

At the time of his Fulham debut against Wolves in May 2019, Elliott became the youngest player in Premier League history, subsequently spending six years at Liverpool without ever being a first-team regular, underlined by the fact that 78 of his 149 appearances for the Reds came as a substitute.

​​​​​​​

Still only 22 years old, he has moved to Villa aiming to become a first team regular, yet to start a league match in claret and blue, but that fact will surely soon change.

Well, Elliott did have an immediate impact at his new club, becoming the first Villan to score a goal this season, breaking the deadlock against Brentford in the EFL Cup last Tuesday, as they were ousted on penalties in West London.

His statistics from this summer’s aforementioned under-21 Euros underline Elliott’s potential.

Elliott – U21 Euros

Stat

Elliott

U21 Euros rank

Goals

5

2nd

Shots

20

1st

Shots on target

7

2nd

Big chances missed

3

2nd

Key passes

10

7th

Total passes

230

5th**

Average SofaScore rating

7.53

1st*

*minimum 5 appearances; **among midfielders only.

All stats via SofaScore

As the table notes, Elliott was key to England as an attacking force during the summer, with only Newcastle’s new signing Nick Woltemade​​​​​​​ scoring more goals, while only Mathys Tel of Tottenham registered more shots on target, both of whom are strikers.

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville said that the Englishman is “like a Bernardo [Silva]”, given his ability to “control the game from a wide area”, praising his “technical ability”, while former Liverpool striker Neil Mellor labelled him a “special young talent”.

Given Aston Villa’s lack of goal threat so far, they simply need to make room for Elliott in their lineup, ideally as a central figure, which could force Rogers onto the bench.

Their visitors on Thursday Bologna have lost both away matches so far this season, beaten 1-0 by both Roma and AC Milan in Serie A, while the Rossoblù have not won on English soil since beating West Bromwich Albion in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 58 years ago.

Thus, this is a match Europa League king Emery should be looking to win, but, stating the obvious, his team will need to score a goal to achieve this, and adding Elliott to his starting lineup may be his best hope of achieving this.

Related Weekly wages: Aston Villa FC 2025/26 highest-paid players

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Posts ByCharlie Smith Sep 23, 2025

Rasmus Hojlund has enjoyed a impressive start to life with Napoli, scoring four goals in six outings, following his arrival on loan from Manchester United on deadline day. Denmark Brian Riemer has since aimed a dig at the Premier League side for their use of the young striker, who struggled for consistency at Old Trafford following his arrival from Atalanta in 2023.

• AFP
  

  Hojlund failed to make an impact in England

  Hojlund moved to United from Atalanta in 2023 and while he wasn't a prolific scorer in Italy, the Premier League side were convinced to spend big to secure his services two years ago. The Danish striker, though, was unable to strike up any sort of form in England and scored just four goals in 32 appearances for the English giants last season.

  The arrivals of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko pushed Hojlund further down the pecking order at United and the club were happy to see him leave for Napoli on loan with a £38m obligation to buy at the end of the 2025/26 season. However, like many who have departed United in recent years, Hojlund has gone on to enjoy an uptick in form.

  The 22-year-old has only scored four league goals in 2025, but two of those have come across four Serie A appearances for Antonio Conte's side with Napoli currently top of the table after the opening six games of the season.

Advertisement

• 'He is now on a well-functioning team'

  Denmark coach Brian Riemer has since aimed a dig at United ahead of Denmark's win at Belarus on Thursday, a game in which Hojlund bagged a first half brace, and is quoted by The Metro as saying: "I think Rasmus has the quality for both leagues, without discussion.

  "‘Does he fit in Italian football? Yes. There was no doubt about that, because he had already proven that. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t fit in English football. On the contrary, I would almost say.

  "The fact that he is now on a well-functioning team and has players around him who take pride in doing good for others helps to make the outcome for a striker like Rasmus, who needs to be serviced. It is more important than which league you play in."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  ‘I’ve played a lot and it’s been going really well'

  Hojlund, meanwhile, was asked about his return to his best form, to which he replied: "Not much has happened other than me getting into a good football team.

  "I’ve played a lot and it’s been going really well. I’ve felt fit and sharp. I’ve made sure I was ready and I did a lot of things off the pitch in my summer break to be ready for the upcoming season.

  "It’s of course great to be in such a period. In my position, I’m basically there to score goals. That’s my job. When I go onto the pitch, I have extra faith in things, and I’m of course happy about that."

  On the Danish striker, Napoli boss Conte said: "He’s a 22-year-old who was on the sidelines at Manchester United. He has significant room for improvement, he needs to work because he has the potential to become a star, and he’s proving it."

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• Hojlund latest in long line of ex-United stars thriving

  Hojlund isn't the first player to leave United recently and go on to thrive elsewhere. The Premier League side have endured a significant downturn in fortunes in recent years, becoming the butt of jokes among football fans.

  And players seem to enjoy a return to their best form once they leave United, with Hojlund's Napoli teammate Scott McTominay among those to shine away from Old Trafford. McTominay was superb as Napoli won the Scudetto last season, and was named Serie A MVP in the process.

  Elsewhere, Marcus Rashford caught the eye during a brief stint with Aston Villa, while Antony played a key role as Real Betis progressed to the UEFA Conference League final last season, eventually falling to a 4-1 defeat to Chelsea in Poland.

  Napoli will look to maintain their title defence next weekend when they travel to Turin to face Torino on Saturday, 18th October, and capitalise upon Roma's meeting with Inter in Serie A's first round of games following the October international break.

Crystal Palace will no doubt be eager to put this hectic summer transfer window behind them.

Unfortunately, not even sealing a double whammy of successes in the FA Cup and Community Shield would be able to keep Eberechi Eze fixed at Selhurst Park, with the former Eagles attacking midfielder poached by fellow Premier League side Arsenal late on.

However, Palace could make the window look a tad more rosy very soon, with a verbal agreement now reportedly in place for Oliver Glasner’s men to sign this £17m attacker.

Palace verbally agree deal for £17m star

The Eagles might well still wave goodbye to Marc Guehi before the 7pm deadline, but there will be rays of positivity all the same regarding one incoming.

As has been reported by Fabrizio Romano, via X, Getafe ace Christantus Uche is now in London to seal a late switch to Palace, with a deal between the La Liga outfit and Glasner and Co. verbally agreed.

Uche has been subject to widespread interest from the Premier League this summer, with Wolverhampton Wanderers even close at one point to bringing in the £17m star.

But, it looks as if the Eagles will be the winners for his coveted signature after all, as Uche now dreams of forming a terrifying duo up top with Palace man of the moment Jean-Philippe Mateta.

How Uche and Mateta could link up

Mateta would get the ball rolling for his beloved side against Aston Villa last time out, as this calmly tucked away penalty then opened the floodgates to hand the visitors a comfortable 3-0 victory.

That bumps up the clinical Frenchman’s early-season total to three goals from six clashes, and with Uche soon to be by his side by all accounts, his overall tally of 49 strikes for the Eagles will surely just rise and rise.

Games played

33

Goals scored

4

Assists

6

Touches*

34.4

Accurate passes*

11.6 (67%)

Big chances created

7

Total duels won*

6.8

The £17m Nigerian already has a goal and assist next to his name this season from just three La Liga encounters, but it’s his consistent excellence last season in the testing Spanish top-flight that will be music to the ears of Palace – and Mateta in particular – with Uche picking up six assists, despite only averaging a low 11.6 accurate passes per clash.

Mateta often only needs a split second to wreak havoc himself, with a mere 22.6 touches averaged per league game across his standout 2024/25 offering for Palace in the Premier League, but a lethal 14 strikes would still arrive at his door, nonetheless.

Moreover, the one-time Wolves target often uses his strength to fire away goals, as seen in his high 6.8 duels won on average during his breakout campaign in Spain, with four strikes also coming his way to be branded a “defender’s nightmare” by scout Antonio Mango.

Of course, Mateta – coming in at a lofty 6-foot-4 frame – has also often used his brute power as an advantage, with Arsenal great Thierry Henry even going as far as to herald the Selhurst Park fan favourite as an “old-fashioned striker” for his physical approach.

With Eze heartbreakingly gone, adding in Uche could get the Palace fanbase back on side, particularly if he goes on to get even more out of an already red-hot Mateta.

After Pino: Crystal Palace now in advanced talks to sign "intelligent" star

He’s got Champions League experience…

ByTom Cunningham Aug 30, 2025

After an impressive start in the Premier League, Sunderland now reportedly face the threat of losing one of their star players amid fresh interest from rivals Aston Villa.

Le Bris: Sunderland have to be "adaptable" against Forest

Without a defeat in three Premier League games, Sunderland sit as high as seventh and now have the opportunity to extend Ange Postecoglou’s winless start at Nottingham Forest. Victory could even take the Black Cats to as high as second in the Premier League if a number of results go their way, but Regis Le Bris is well aware that Forest will not be a simple game despite recent form.

After last weekend’s 1-1 draw against Aston Villa, in which summer signing Reinildo received a red card, there’s certainly plenty to think about for the Sunderland boss.

As far as promoted sides are concerned, it’s worth noting that those in Wearside as well as Leeds United and Burnley have enjoyed a refreshingly solid start as they look to become the first sides in six to secure safety in their first season back in the top flight.

A number of players have particularly stood out at the Stadium of Light so far this season, with new signings such as Nordi Mukiele already settling in well. Meanwhile, those who were already at the club have also made the step up with unexpected ease. But what that has done is hand Sunderland a potential transfer dilemma.

Aston Villa interested in signing Wilson Isidor

As reported by Football Insider, Aston Villa now want to sign Wilson Isidor after the Sunderland forward impressed against them last weekend. The forward equalised in clinical fashion to make it three goals in three Premier League games at the Stadium of Light.

It’s the type of form that was always likely to attract suitors, but also the type that has seen Sunderland slap a £35m price-tag on their talented forward. If Villa want to steal in and sign the Black Cats star, it simply won’t come cheap.

Villa’s interest in a clincial forward like Isidor should come as no surprise. Unai Emery’s side have scored just one goal all season, which came against Sunderland last time out, and Ollie Watkins only extended his goal drought by missing a penalty in the Europa League this week.

Sunderland star Habib Diarra injury return date, how many games he'll miss

A blow for the Black Cats…

ByTom Cunningham Sep 23, 2025

The Midlands club are crying out for more firepower and it could come at the expense of Sunderland, who would be feeling the full effect of the Premier League’s ruthless streak.

Newcastle United’s summer has been a whirlwind of activity.

The Magpies made headlines with the British-record sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool, a move that reshaped their attacking plans.

While the summer window largely focused on the Swedish international’s acrimonious exit, manager Eddie Howe has successfully strengthened in all areas of the pitch.

Strikers Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa arrived from Stuttgart and Brentford to fill the hole left in attack, and Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, Aaron Ramsdale, and Anthony Elanga all arrived to provide competition in other areas.

Newcastle were able to prise Ramsey away from Aston Villa in a very similar way to which Elliott Anderson left the club last summer.

In a bid to balance the books, Anderson was allowed to join Nottingham Forest – a move that paid off, as he earned his first England Men’s senior call-up this week, before shining on debut in the World Cup qualifier against Andorra.

These moves underscore a summer of both tactical foresight and financial management, ensuring Newcastle can remain competitive both in Europe and the Premier League.

Why Elliot Anderson was sold

Anderson, a 22-year-old talent from the North-East, had risen through Newcastle’s youth system, establishing himself as a promising attacking midfielder.

Despite his evident potential, he was sold to Forest in 2024 in a £35m deal that saw goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos move the other way for £20m.

Crucially, the transfer was sanctioned to ensure Newcastle remained Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Regulations (PSR) compliant.

Both player and club reportedly had no desire to part ways, but financial regulations and squad depth necessitated the move.

Similar to Ramsey’s arrival this summer, Anderson’s departure reflected Newcastle’s need to carefully manage resources after heavy spending following the club’s takeover.

While Anderson may have remained lower in the pecking order under Howe behind Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton, his career has flourished at Forest.

Last season, he made 37 league appearances, scoring twice and assisting six, catching the eye of the national selectors with a first England call-up after representing Scotland at youth levels.

His on-field output underscores his growing influence. According to FBref, he ranks in the 88th percentile for assists per 90 (0.19), 77th percentile for shot-creating actions per 90 (3.07), 89th percentile for successful take-ons per 90 (1.18), 88th percentile for tackles per 90 (3.07), and 87th percentile for clearances per 90 (2.40).

The move has also proven financially shrewd for the Midlands club. That being said, Newcastle have their own rising England star…

How Tino Livramento's market value compares to Anderson

While Anderson’s departure dominated headlines, Newcastle have enjoyed the quieter rise of a defensive asset who has arguably outshone him in value and influence.

Tino Livramento, who joined from Southampton in 2023 on an initial £32m deal, has cemented himself as a key figure in the Magpies’ backline.

The 21-year-old Chelsea academy graduate famously contained Mohamed Salah in the Carabao Cup final.

With 66 Premier League appearances for Newcastle under his belt, Livramento has proven both durable and adaptable, earning him a spot, alongside Anderson, in Thomas Tuchel’s squad. The pair both featured in Saturday’s 2-0 victory, with Livramento replacing Reece James late on.

Football analyst Jacob Whitehead has described the Newcastle man as “outstanding,” highlighting the right-back’s intelligence on the ball, defensive awareness, and ability to contribute in the attacking phase.

Livramento’s statistical output reinforces this praise.

He ranks in the 88th percentile for pass completion rate at 86.1%, 87th percentile for progressive passes per 90 (5.26), and 83rd percentile for progressive carries per 90 (0.85).

His consistent performances not only provide a reliable defensive option but also support Newcastle’s attacking structure, showing he is more than just a defender.

Market Movers

The comparison between Anderson and Livramento highlights the strategic depth of Newcastle’s squad planning.

While Anderson has thrived at Forest, Livramento has quietly become one of the club’s most valuable assets, offering both immediate returns and long-term potential.

Indeed, Livramento is now deemed to be worth as much as €56m (£49m), according to Football Transfers, ensuring that is even more valuable than his compatriot, who has a market value of €52m (£45m).

Newcastle’s decision to allow him to grow within the squad ensures they are building a balanced team, blending youth development, strategic sales, and shrewd acquisitions.

In a summer where striker sagas and headline-grabbing moves often dominate coverage, Livramento’s understated rise is a reminder of the value in consistent, intelligent squad building.

Newcastle have managed to both comply with financial regulations and strengthen the squad, leaving the club well-positioned for the Premier League campaign ahead.

It's not Isak: Newcastle have already sold the "nearest" CF to Shearer

Alexander Isak is gone, but have Newcastle previously sold the next Alan Shearer?

By
Will Miller

Sep 5, 2025

Head coach Andy Flower has said Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) lead-in to the IPL playoffs is not ideal but wants his team to be ready for any eventuality.If RCB finish in the top two, which they might know only after their last league game on May 27 against LSG, they will have less than 48 hours before they’re back on the field for Qualifier 1 in Ahmedabad.”That’s not your ideal lead-in to a qualifying game,” Flower said ahead of Friday’s ‘home’ fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Lucknow. “We’ll finish late, get to bed quite late, then travel 28th and play 29th, but that’s the situation in front of us. The best way is for everyone to take in the reality of that, deal with it and we’ll be ready for that game.”RCB last played on May 3. Their first game after the IPL resumed on May 17, against KKR, was abandoned without a ball bowled. With heavy rainfall forecast in Bengaluru, the IPL’s decision to move this game to Lucknow meant RCB have had just two sharp training sessions in the build-up.Related

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“We’re disappointed not to be playing tomorrow’s game in Bangalore, but we’ve had to roll with that,” he said. “We trained in Bangalore yesterday around lunch time, flew here, have a training session tonight [Thursday] and we’ll be ready to go.”The boys have worked really well over the entire season, in the build-up to the first match. They’ve played some superb cricket through the season. Yes, we’ve had a little break now but for a couple of our players, that [break] has been a healthy thing.The break has given Rajat Patidar time to recover from injury, says head coach Andy Flower•BCCI

“Rajat Patidar for one, it’s given his right hand a little bit of time to settle after getting a bad knock. He’s fit to bat. Which is great. [Phil] Salt was sick for a while, it’s given him a little chance to get home, recharge his batteries, and he’s back at full force.”Flower is no stranger to the Ekana Stadium, having coached Lucknow Super Giants for two seasons in 2022 and 2023. He’s hoping RCB will continue their incredible away record of six wins in six games this season and push towards a top-two finish.”As you know we struggled in our home conditions initially, the pitch was a little bit different to what we were used to,” he said. “It took us a little while to adjust our game plan; we did adjust and won a couple of important games at home [against CSK and RR]. We’ve got a good record away, been able to flex for away conditions really well, backing our players to do that again tomorrow. We’re okay playing away.”When asked if they were aggrieved at the lack of home advantage in Bengaluru, Flower spoke glowingly of the relationship the franchise shares with the Karnataka State Cricket Association and its curators.”I think generally cricketers should be able to adjust to whatever conditions given to them,” he said. “Of course home advantage is a thing, but we’re comfortable with our relationship with [K] Sriram back at Chinnaswamy. He’s been outstanding, given us the best pitch he can given us each time. Like him and respect him, enjoy working with him … we’re looking forward to a similar relationship next season.”RCB are currently second in the points table with 17 points from 12 games. They need to win both their remaining games to give themselves the best chance of finishing in the top two. They will also have to deal with personnel changes ahead of the playoffs: Jacob Bethell and Lungi Ngidi will leave after Friday’s fixture against SRH due to international commitments.RCB have signed Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani and New Zealand’s Tim Seifert as short-term replacements. They are also waiting on Josh Hazlewood’s return as he continues his recovery from a shoulder injury in Australia.

Only 10.1 overs were possible on Thursday evening before the game was called off

Sreshth Shah08-May-2025

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs Delhi Capitals (DC) match in IPL 2025 in Dharamsala has been called off after 10.1 overs.”The Punjab Kings v Delhi Capitals match (Match#58) in Tata IPL was forced to be abandoned due to a significant technical failure at the HPCA stadium in Dharamsala,” an official statement from the IPL said. “Due to a power outage in the area, one of the light towers at the HPCA stadium malfunctioned. BCCI regrets the inconvenience caused to the in-stadium attendees.”In the 10.1 overs possible, PBKS openers Priyansh Arya (70) and Prabhsimran Singh (50*) dominated proceedings, stitching up a 122-run opening stand off 61 balls.Arya fell in the first ball of the 11th over, top-edging a T Natarajan slower-ball bouncer onto his helmet, which popped up for a simple catch. The players then left the field due to a floodlight failure at the stadium. Around 9.40pm IST, the match was called off.Before the abandonment, Arya and Prabhsimran took down Mitchell Starc and Dushmantha Chameera in the powerplay as PBKS raced away to 50 for no loss in four overs.After the powerplay, the pair took down Kuldeep Yadav as well, smashing him for two sixes and two fours. Arya reached his third fifty-plus score of the season in the seventh over off just 25 balls. Prabhsimran reached his own fifty in the tenth and in the process became the first uncapped batter to hit four half-centuries in a row in the IPL.PBKS next play Mumbai Indians (MI) on May 11, a game that was shifted from Dharamsala to Ahmedabad. DC will play Gujarat Titans (GT) in Delhi on the same day.