Paul Scholes claims that Marcus Rashford “quit on Manchester United” and has branded the England international’s attitude a “disgrace”. A product of the Red Devils’ famed academy system spent time on loan at Aston Villa last season, having slipped out of favour under Ruben Amorim, before linking up with La Liga giants Barcelona for the 2025-26 campaign.
GettyRashford's record for Man Utd: Appearances & goals
Rashford has taken in 426 appearances for United, scoring 138 goals, but he may not figure for the Premier League outfit again. His form dipped on the back of signing a lucrative new contract, leading to questions being asked of his commitment to the collective cause.
AdvertisementChampions League double & benched by Barcelona
A spark of sorts was rekindled at Villa, while a stunning brace was recorded for Barcelona in a Champions League clash with Newcastle at St James’ Park on September 18. Rashford was, however, benched by Hansi Flick for a domestic date with Getafe after reporting late for a team meeting.
GettyMan Utd legend Scholes slams Rashford
United legend Scholes has hit out at Rashford on podcast, accusing the 27-year-old forward of letting the Red Devils and himself down. Scholes said: “I really struggle to feel happy for Marcus Rashford.
“Mainly because of his attitude. His attitude towards Man United towards the end was disgraceful. The amount of times I saw him walking because he wanted to leave… His whole demeanour about him was a disgrace.
“I think he quit on Man Utd. When you quit once, you’ll quit again. He was late last night [for Barcelona]. He wont get away with that for long at Barca. There’s absolutely no chance. How can you sleep in these days? Your phone, f*cking alarm, whatever. How can you sleep in?
“He’s definitely got the talent to be [one of the best players in the world]. But he’ll never have the mentality.”
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Rashford future: Contract at Man Utd & Barca purchase option
Rashford made unfortunate headlines in January 2024 when being spotted on a night out in Belfast before calling in sick to miss United training. He remains under contract at Old Trafford until 2028, but Barca’s season-long loan agreement includes an option to buy.
Manchester United have now hatched a plan to sign an “exceptional” £120m star in a swap deal for Jadon Sancho, with Ruben Amorim pushing INEOS to get a deal done, according to a report.
Man Utd still keen to strengthen in several areas
With their Premier League opener against Arsenal a matter of days away, Man United still remain keen on strengthening in several key areas, and Gary Neville believes his former side’s most important task will be to bring in a new goalkeeper.
Neville is relatively encouraged by the additions Amorim has made up to this point, but added: “If they get a goalkeeper, I think that they could get into the top six, but a lot of things have to go on.”
Paris Saint-Germain’s Gianluigi Donnarumma has recently entered the frame as one of the Red Devils’ main targets, but it remains to be seen whether they are able to sign the Italian, given that they are now planning to break the bank on a midfielder…
Bigger talent than Baleba: INEOS chasing "phenomenal" £100m CM for Man Utd
Manchester United are making another huge move in the transfer market this summer.
1
By
Ethan Lamb
Aug 13, 2025
Indeed, Man United are expected to make a huge bid for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, but they have also hatched a plan to secure the central midfielder’s signature in a different way.
That is according to a report from The Independent, which states Man United would be willing to use Sancho as a makeweight in negotiations with Brighton, although it is deemed unlikely that the Seagulls will be tempted by a deal of that nature.
Instead, owner Tony Bloom is holding out for the huge sum of £120m, and INEOS are now actively trying to figure out a way of orchestrating the deal, amid pressure from Amorim.
The United boss is said to be pushing for the club’s hierarchy to bring in Baleba, with the manager keen on a new midfielder to fit the team together, and the Brighton star has the best profile of any player on the shortlist.
"Exceptional" Baleba very keen on Old Trafford move
With the defensive midfielder thought to be very keen on joining Amorim’s side, the move could be a formality if United are able to agree a suitable fee with Brighton, although they are driving a very hard bargain with the £120m asking price.
That said, there are some signs the Cameroon international could be worth the huge outlay, having performed extremely well on some key defensive metrics over the past year compared to other midfielders.
Statistic
Average per 90
Interceptions
1.56 (90th percentile)
Blocks
1.59 (85th percentile)
Tackles
2.67 (79th percentile)
Lauded as “exceptional” by scout Ben Mattinson, the 21-year-old is also Premier League proven, which is crucial, given that previous signings, such as Rasmus Hojlund, have failed to adapt to life in England after joining for huge transfer fees.
It seems unlikely that a swap deal for Sancho will be possible, but it is exciting news that Amorim is pushing to get a deal for Baleba over the line.
Judgement on Ruben Amorim’s spell as Manchester United manager has been held back, after the 40-year-old took the reins at Old Trafford midway through the previous campaign.
He joined the club in November 2024, leaving Sporting CP to take the reins after Erik ten Hag was dismissed from the role after a dismal start to the season.
However, this window has been the first chance for the boss to make his own stamp on the first-team squad – already spending big money in his quest for Premier League success.
Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo have all joined the Red Devils, with the attacking trio setting the hierarchy back around £200m this window.
Despite the big-money additions, other areas of the pitch are set for further investment, undoubtedly helping the manager be a success during his tenure at the club.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimapplauds fans after the match
United’s pursuit of Carlos Baleba & Adam Wharton
The midfield area of the pitch has been the latest on United’s shortlist, resulting in Brighton star Carlos Baleba being the main name touted with a move to Old Trafford.
The 21-year-old, who made 34 appearances in England’s top-flight last campaign, had previously held talks with Amorim’s side, but no deal could be completed for his signature.
The Seagulls were demanding a £100m fee to part with the Cameroonian, but changed their stance, stating the youngster wasn’t for sale at any price during the summer window.
Such a decision has seen attention being turned towards Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton, but a deal for the Englishman would also cost a pretty penny, given his tender age.
At just 21, he’s already made seismic waves in the Premier League, even being named in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the European Championships back in 2024.
His current employers are also demanding a fee in the region of £100m to offload the midfielder, with such a sum evidently too much, resulting in various other options being considered by the hierarchy.
The latest on United’s hunt for a new midfielder this summer
In an attempt to bolster the midfield, United have since turned their attention to Sevilla star Lucien Agoume over recent days, offering the side a cheaper alternative compared to the aforementioned targets.
Lucien Agoume in action against Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe.
It’s been reported that the LaLiga outfit are currently demanding a fee in the region of £35m for the 23-year-old, who made 37 appearances in all competitions throughout 2024/25.
However, he’s not the only Frenchman currently in their sights, with the Red Devils also closely monitoring a move for Real Madrid star Eduardo Camavinga, according to one Spanish outlet.
They claim that Amorim’s side are preparing a £69m bid to land the 22-year-old star, who could be an immediate and long-term option at the heart of the side.
It also states that Xabi Alonso’s side could be open to allowing the former Rennes star to depart before the transfer deadline, but it’s unclear if the player would be open to a switch to Old Trafford.
Why United’s target would be a better signing than Baleba & Wharton
Given their experience in England’s top-flight, supporters may prefer any deal to land Baleba and Wharton this summer, but they could cost the hierarchy a pretty penny.
Adam Wharton in action against Chelsea.
Deals in isolation could prove to be worth it, but given the money splashed elsewhere, cheaper alternatives will have to be considered if the side are to land the reinforcements they crave.
Options such as Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte have often failed to deliver when called upon, as seen by the Uruguayan’s speculative effort in the defeat against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon.
Bruno Fernandes will operate in a deep-lying position, but he will need a partner alongside him at the heart of the side if they are to have any chance of success in 2025/26.
A deal for Camavinga would provide just that, with the Frenchman a cheaper alternative than the pair, but also a more experienced one in the club’s hunt for future success.
Despite the Frenchman’s tender age, he’s already racked up 41 Champions League appearances, having the ability to offer top-level European experience – that’s if the Red Devils manage to qualify for such a competition under Amorim.
When delving into his stats from the previous campaign, he managed to produce numerous impressive numbers that rank him among Europe’s elite.
Games played
19
Goals & assists
3
Pass accuracy
88%
Progressive passes
4.9
Progressive carries
2.2
Tackles entered
3.4
Interceptions made
1.5
Blocks made
2.1
Aerials won
1.6
According to FBref, Camavinga ranked in the 98th percentile for tackles made in LaLiga last season, whilst also in the 96th percentile for blocks made – leading to Raj Chohan labelling him a “monster”.
Such numbers are simply superb, undoubtedly handing Amorim the ball-winner he’s desperately craved, which could free up Fernandes to operate in a free role at the heart of the side.
However, in possession, the Madrid star was just as impressive, completing 88% of the passes he attempted, with 4.9 of his efforts being labelled as progressive – having the tools to provide the new additions ahead of him the chance to impress.
His talents are further reflected in his tally of 1.6 aerials won per 90, also putting him in the 87th percentile, an asset that could make him a key threat at both ends of the pitch.
£69m would be an excellent price for a young star with bags of experience at the very top of the European game, having the chance to improve further, given his tender age.
The difference between Camavinga and the likes of Baleba and Wharton is truly staggering, with United making a better addition should they land the Frenchman, given his career achievements up to now.
The new Carrick: INEOS now preparing offer to sign £86m talent for Man Utd
Manchester United could be about to make another big-money move this summer.
Newcastle United are ready to pay £55m to sign a Premier League star ahead of both PSG and Tottenham Hotspur.
Newcastle’s transfer window going from bad to worse after Sesko snub
The Magpies have so far had a transfer window to forget, missing out on numerous targets to bolster Eddie Howe’s side ahead of their Champions League return.
PIF have tried and failed to bring Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Bryan Mbeumo, James Trafford and Hugo Ekitike to Newcastle, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City all beating them to deals.
New Gordon & Isak: Newcastle in talks for "special" £70m Sesko alternative
Newcastle may have to sell Alexander Isak in the transfer market this month.
1 ByAngus Sinclair Aug 6, 2025
Now, it looks as if those at Old Trafford are about to pip them to a transfer for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, with both clubs making offers. Sesko wants to move to Man Utd instead of Newcastle, despite the Magpies having a €85m proposal accepted by the Bundesliga side.
Time is ticking ahead of the opening Premier League weekend and the transfer deadline on September 1, with Anthony Elanga the only real marquee signing to shout about at St James’ Park.
Now, it looks as if they are willing to make a move for another target who is also wanted by numerous clubs.
Newcastle ‘ready’ to pay £55m for Zabarnyi
According to reports in France, Newcastle are now willing to hijack PSG’s move to sign Bournemouth star Illia Zabarnyi.
The Cherries have been holding out for €70m but are reportedly willing to accept PSG’s offer of a €60m fee, should they also include €3m in add-ons, which takes the total package to £55m.
However, the report adds that Newcastle are ‘ready to immediately meet’ Bournemouth’s demand, if they get wind that Zabarnyi is willing to make the move to St James’ Park. Tottenham have also been linked and are in the same position as Newcastle.
Those at the Parc des Princes are still expecting to sign the Ukraine international, but it appears as if PIF are ready to complete a hijack of their own after experiencing multiple transfer blows in recent weeks.
Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool
Manuel Akanji
Man City
Levi Colwill
Chelsea
Jonathan Tah
Bayern Munich
Maxence Lacroix
Crystal Palace
As can be seen, Zabarnyi has been compared to numerous high-profile defenders after starring on the south coast for Bournemouth, including Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.
Still just 22 years of age, Zabarnyi could partner Sven Botman in the long run at St James’ Park, but it looks as if any attempted deal would be tough to complete given PSG’s optimism.
Deal for English county confirmed after former majority owner Rod Bransgrove sells stake
Nagraj Gollapudi30-Sep-2024
An aerial view of Hampshire’s Utilita Bowl•Getty Images
The GMR Group, the newly unveiled owner of Hampshire, is “keen and open” to buying a majority stake in the Southern Brave franchise in the Hundred. That confirmation has come from Grandhi Kiran Kumar, GMR’s corporate chairman, who recently sealed a multimillion-pound deal which has made Hampshire the first English county to have overseas ownership.ESPNcricinfo understands that GMR Group’s parent company, GGPL, will initially hold a 53% stake in Hampshire Sport & Leisure Holdings Ltd, Hampshire’s parent company, with a completed 100% acquisition expected within the next 24 months. The overall deal, which was sealed earlier this year, is close to £120 million, half of which is understood to be operating debt. The equity part of the deal is worth £43 million.It is understood that GMR, an Indian infrastructure conglomerate that owns teams in various T20 leagues, including the Delhi Capitals in the IPL and WPL, have paid 53% of that equity amount upfront with the remainder to be be paid in a phased fashion. There is also an incentive element in the deal which is related to the performance component, but the exact nature of how that will work will be worked out by all parties soon.The process does not guarantee GMR’s acquisition of Southern Brave, the Hundred team who play at Hampshire’s Utilita Bowl, though they are clear favourites to acquire full ownership. The ongoing sale of equity in the eight Hundred teams by the ECB will involve 51% stakes being transferred to host counties – in this case, Hampshire – but the process includes a mechanism which would require GMR to pay fair market value for the remaining 49% before that transfer happens.Grandhi told ESPNcricinfo on Monday that the acquisition of Southern Brave was part of his plan. “We will evaluate as we go forward,” he said. “Certainly, we are happy to work with ECB. We are certainly very keen and open.”Jofra Archer is Southern Brave’s star player•Harry Trump/Getty Images
Both parties have stressed that the Hundred was not a significant part of the original plan when Rod Bransgrove, Hampshire’s majority owner, first pitched the idea of selling his 60% stake in the company. It was in June of 2023 when India and Australia were playing the World Test Championship final at The Oval that Grandhi was alerted to a possible investment opportunity in Hampshire.As the months went by, GMR started looking at the opportunity seriously. While the cricketing aspect of the deal was appealing, GMR, whose core business remains in infrastructure, was equally – if not more – attracted to five-star Hilton hotel and golf course at the Utilita Bowl.”We come from an infrastructure background,” Grandhi told ESPNcricinfo. “We are into airports, roads etc. When you see this, it is quite amazing with what they have done. When we visited the facilities, including the hotel, we were impressed.”The entire concept is very nice, especially the fact that it was developed with keeping the fans in mind. Rod [Bransgrove] and his management team have kept the cricketing and sporting culture intact. I was quite amazed with the other facilities like the golf course. It is quite inclusive.”Kiran Kumar Grandhi (left) sits on the IPL auction table•BCCI
Grandhi assured Hampshire fans and members that GMR do not intend to “come and takeover”. He said: “We are looking at this opportunity holistically. The Hundred [opportunity] came only recently. Our discussions with Hampshire started nearly one-and-a-half years ago. When I heard about the opportunity I said, ‘Why not?’ The first six months went knowing each other and become comfortable. The deal happened much later.”The deal makes GMR Group the majority shareholder in the club, after Hampshire’s former chairman, Rob Bransgrove decided to sell his 60% stake in the company. Bransgrove will, however, continue as group chairman until at least September 30, 2026, with David Mann retaining his role as group CEO.While its business focus has been in the infrastructure business, GMR Group made its first major sporting investment in 2008 when it bought Delhi Daredevils. In 2018, GMR sold a 50% ownership stake in the Delhi franchise to Jindal South West (JSW), a fellow Indian business heavyweight. In cricket, the GMR Group also owns the Dubai Capitals franchise in the UAE’s ILT20 and has a stake in Seattle Orcas in MLC.The potential for overseas investment in Hampshire derives from Bransgrove’s original bail-out of the county in 2000, when he secured the club’s move from its 116-year home at Northlands Road in Southampton to the Utilita Bowl, on the outskirts of the city.Related
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Kevin Pietersen helped to broker Hampshire's 'historic' GMR deal
In so doing, he converted Hampshire from a members-owned club to what was then known as Rose Bowl PLC, and oversaw the building and development of the venue – which now includes the Hilton hotel and Boundary Lakes Golf Course, with plans for more additions currently under consideration with Eastleigh Borough Council.The Utilita Bowl hosted its maiden Test match against Sri Lanka in 2011, while in 2020, its on-site hotel and remote location made it an ideal venue for the ECB’s bio-secure summer during the Covid pandemic. The ground hosted three Tests against West Indies and Pakistan, and six white-ball matches against Australia and Ireland.”This is the fulfilment of a dream for me and, I hope, for all Hampshire Cricket supporters,” Bransgrove said. “Beyond our team’s accomplishments on the field over the past 24 years, we have transformed our stadium into a premier Test Match and events venue and one of the most exceptional cricket and leisure facilities in the country. We have also been pioneers in the development of women’s cricket and have consistently innovated throughout this relatively short history.”After a thorough selection process, we chose GGPL as our partners due to their shared values and commitment to our vision. We believe GGPL is the perfect organization, with the right people, to build on our proud legacy. Becoming the first English cricket club to join an international cricket group will open exciting new opportunities as we embrace the globalization of this great sport.”Rod Bransgrove (left) and David Mann (right) were GMR’s guests at the ILT20 in February•ILT20
In 2021, Hampshire also hosted the inaugural World Test Championship final between New Zealand and India, again with Covid restrictions, while in 2027, it is due to host its maiden Ashes Test.Richard Gould, the ECB’s chief executive, said that the deal “demonstrates the global interest” in investing in English cricket and underlines “the continuing appeal of county cricket.”Gould said: “This is an exciting time for Hampshire Cricket, and I’d like to welcome GGPL to cricket in England and Wales. I am pleased to see their commitment to continuing to develop Hampshire’s cricket teams and pathways and enhance facilities at Utilita Bowl, and their respect for the traditions of the game in this country.”I’d like to thank Rod Bransgrove for all he has done in transforming Hampshire and creating a world-class stadium, and look forward to continuing to work together in his role as Group Chair.”
Fabrizio Romano recently reported that Sunderland are in talks with OGC Nice over a deal to sign Polish goalkeeper Marcin Bulka this summer.
The Black Cats are interested in a swoop for the former Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper to bolster Regis Le Bris’ squad, as he would come in as competition for Anthony Patterson.
Marcin Bulka.
If they can sign the Ligue 1 star, the Premier League side will also need to bolster the defence in front of him, but Chris Mepham is unlikely to be a part of that.
Journalist Graeme Bailey reported earlier this month that a move back to the Championship is more likely than a permanent return to the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland eyeing up new centre-back
Whilst a deal for the Bournemouth central defender seems unlikely, given Bailey’s report, the Black Cats reportedly have their eye on another centre-back 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 the Sunderland Echo, Sunderland are eyeing up Lyon defender Duje Caleta-Car as a potential signing to bolster their squad before the end of the summer transfer window.
The report claims that the Croatia international – who is valued at £6m, according to Football Transfers, has been transfer-listed by the French club, despite starting 17 of his 19 appearances in the league this season.
It adds that Lyon have been relegated to Ligue 2 following a financial audit, which could provide Black Cats with further encouragement in their pursuit of Caleta-Car, but that they are set to appeal that decision.
Why Sunderland should sign Duje Caleta-Car
The newly-promoted side should pursue a deal to sign the Croatian giant this summer because he could come in as an upgrade on Mepham, who spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland will need strong defenders to protect their goal, which could be guarded by Bulka, as they battle against relegation next season, and the Lyon titan’s performances in Ligue 1 suggest that he would offer more to the team than the Wales international would.
Chris Mepham in action for Sunderland.
Caleta-Car, whose former boss Ralph Hasenhuttl claimed he has a “big presence” on the pitch, also caught the eye for his country recently, winning seven of his nine duels and making eight clearances combined in a 7-0 win over Gibraltar and a 5-1 win over Czechia.
Stats
Caleta-Car (24/25 Ligue 1)
Mepham (23/24 Premier League)
Appearances
19
10
Tackle + interceptions per game
2.0
1.9
Clearances per game
5.1
2.9
Dribbled past per game
0.5x
0.5x
Blocks per game
0.2
0.0
Ground duel success rate
44%
37%
Aerial duel success rate
75%
60%
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see in the table above, the Croatian star’s defensive performances in Ligue 1 this season were simply better than what Mepham produced in his last season in the Premier League.
These statistics suggest that Caleta-Car would be far more dominant defensively, particularly in aerial battles, whilst also making more interventions, with tackles, interceptions, clearances, and blocks, each game to stop attackers from troubling the goal.
Southampton centre-back Duje Caleta-Car.
The Lyon defender would also arrive with Premier League experience under his belt. He started nine matches for Southampton in the 2022/23 campaign, winning 57% of his duels and making 2.3 tackles and interceptions per game.
Caleta-Car – who transfer insider Dean Jones lauded for having “major quality” – was not available enough to make a telling contribution to their season, though, and they were relegated from the top-flight that term.
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The Black Cats are in the hunt for a new stopper.
BySean Markus Clifford Jun 26, 2025
However, his form for Lyon since returning to France suggests that he does have the quality to be an impressive performer in a major European league, particularly in comparison to Mepham.
Therefore, Sunderland should pursue a deal to sign the Croatia international after a move for Bulka this summer to improve their defensive options, whilst removing any need to bring Mepham back on a permanent transfer.
Leeds United are thought to be ready to trigger a former Premier League forward’s release clause this summer, as the 49ers Enterprises and Daniel Farke prepare for a return to the top flight.
Leeds celebrate Championship title with huge parade
It has been a memorable few weeks for the Whites, who have enjoyed their last three Mondays by officially winning promotion, partying in front of fans at Elland Road and most recently parading the Championship title around the city.
Manor Solomon’s late injury time winner down in the south west against Plymouth Argyle in the final game of the season ensured Leeds would finish top ahead of Burnley. Both sides finished on 100 points, and Leeds players have since partied hard with an open-top bus parade which saw an estimated 150,000 supporters come out to celebrate.
Talking during the bus parade, Leeds chairman Paraag Marathe said: “I don’t think anyone realised, this wasn’t easy This was really hard to do. Two years of getting to this point, but all that hard work and all that difficulty, makes right now that much more rewarding and makes today so special. I hope I never forget this moment. I want to live in this moment as much as I can.
“This is a journey, this is not the end. We have to keep going, this is what Leeds does. We are going to have some difficulties, but we are going to get where we want to go and we are going to be one of the best clubs in all of Europe.”
Leeds: 49ers feel "fantastic" £30m forward is perfect and want to sign him
The Whites have joined the race for a forward, who has attracted the attention of a number of Premier League clubs.
ByDominic Lund May 5, 2025
Marathe has also confirmed Farke will be continuing as Leeds boss in the Premier League after claims he could be sacked, and the pair appear to have their eyes on a new 26-year-old forward.
Leeds ready to pay release clause to sign Moussa Djenepo
According to reports relayed by Sport Witness, Leeds are ready to trigger Moussa Djenepo’s €2m (£1.7m) release clause this summer.
Currently on loan at Antalyaspor from Standard Liege, Djenepo doesn’t want to make a move to Turkey permanent, which may open the door for the Whites.
An approach has reportedly been made by Leeds for Djenepo, who made more than 70 Premier League appearances for Southampton between 2019-2023.
A Mali international, Djenepo is primarily a left-winger but can also turn out on the right as well as in an attack midfield role. During his time at Southampton, former teammate Nathan Redmond said: “He is a super-talented boy who is so open-minded and eager to learn every single day. He gets on well with everybody and has fitted in so well.”
He’s scored just two goals in 26 for Antalyaspor, but at £1.7m, a move to Leeds could be one to keep an eye on.
From afar, the intense battle for automatic promotion in the Championship is an enthralling spectacle to watch.
But, for those locked deep in it, there is nothing more nerve-wracking, with one minor misfire squandering your chances of an instant path up to the Premier League.
Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United have found out the hard way how cruel the tense promotion fight can be, with the one-time leaders now out of the top two after two humbling losses on the spin.
Time is still on their side to atone for these missteps, but Wilder will need to be more cutthroat with his team selections and drop underperformers, with Ben Brereton Diaz’s first-team spot on shaky ground.
Why Brereton Diaz needs to be dropped
The Chilean attacker won’t be deemed as a blunder in the transfer market, however, with Brereton Diaz boasting a mildly impressive three goals and three assists from 14 encounters since joining on loan in January.
But, to the dismay of the Blades faithful watching on alongside his manager, the usually potent forward was largely anonymous in the last two defeats against Oxford United and Millwall.
Brereton Diaz’s numbers vs Oxford + Millwall
Stat
Oxford
Millwall
Minutes played
59
45
Goals scored
0
0
Assists
0
0
Shots
0
2
Touches
20
21
Accurate passes
7/10 (70%)
9/14
Possession lost
7x
6x
Stats by Sofascore
Looking at the table above, it’s clear that Brereton Diaz has been massively underperforming to the detriment of his promotion-chasing side, with only two shots registered in total across a combined 104 minutes versus the U’s and Alex Neil’s visitors.
Moreover, his wastefulness on the ball as a right winger has killed many an attacking opportunity, with possession given up a high seven times at the Kassam Stadium, despite only mustering up a weak 20 touches of the ball.
Wilder substituting off the Southampton loanee at the half-time interval versus Millwall could mean he’s willing to drop the 25-year-old completely for his side’s mammoth trip to Plymouth Argyle later on, therefore, which might potentially gift this exciting winger the chance to nail down a starting spot on the right subsequently.
How Wilder can replace Brereton Diaz
After all, if the Blades do decide to go all gung-ho on their travels to Devon, they could gain a lot of joy from a leaky, relegation-doomed side in the Pilgrims, considering Plymouth have given up a high 81 goals in league action.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
Jesurun Rak-Sakyi could be licking his lips at the prospect of a start at Home Park, consequently, with the Crystal Palace loanee gifting his side a lot more on the right flank last time out than the out-of-sorts Brereton Diaz.
Across his bright 45-minute stint on the Bramall Lane turf, Rak-Sakyi managed to tally up three more shots than his poor counterpart, on top of also twisting and turn Millwall shirts for fun with three successful dribbles, as per Sofascore.
Winning 100% of his ground duels too, the 22-year-old attacker would have been kicking himself that he didn’t add to his growing goal and assist tally for the club in the unfortunate 1-0 defeat, having picked up six strikes and two assists away from this second successive loss.
Hailed as a “remarkable” player by former Eagles boss Roy Hodgson, Rak-Sakyi would love to close out his memorable stint in South Yorkshire with a promotion on his fledgling CV.
With double the amount of strikes compared next to Brereton Diaz’s league output – on top of his promising cameo against Millwall – the time could be right to hand the entertaining youngster a start, as Wilder attempts to roll the dice subtly to get his team’s stuttering promotion push back on course.
Wilder must axe Sheffield United man earning more than Cooper & Campbell
Chris Wilder could soon ditch this Sheffield United high earner.
Ravindra Jadeja did not bowl in either innings to manage his workload ahead of the England ODIs and the Champions Trophy
Hemant Brar01-Feb-2025
Defending champions Mumbai through to quarter-finals
To qualify for the knockouts, defending champions Mumbai needed two things: a win against Meghalaya, ideally with a bonus point, and the Baroda vs Jammu & Kashmir result to go their way. When J&K took a first-innings lead against Baroda, Mumbai had their destiny in their own hands. On Saturday, they duly beat Meghalaya by an innings and 456 runs to seal their quarter-final spot. Shardul Thakur, who took a hat-trick in the first innings, and scored 84 off 42 with the bat, picked up 4 for 48 in Meghalaya’s second innings. Tanush Kotian took care of the lower order, finishing with 4 for 15, as Meghalaya folded for 129.
Controversy in Vadodara
Play in Vadodara started after a delay of an hour and 25 minutes as J&K alleged that the pitch was tampered with overnight to force a result. J&K had finished the second day on 125 for 1, their lead a healthy 205, and needed just a draw to make the quarter-finals, while Baroda were chasing a win. J&K said the pitch was way too damp; the Baroda Cricket Association denied any wrongdoing, blaming it on the early-morning dew.After a lot of deliberations between the umpires, the match referee, and the J&K team management, play finally resumed at 10.55am. Shubham Khajuria scored 94 and Kanhaiya Wadhawan 84 as J&K posted 284. For Baroda, Krunal Pandya, Ninad Rathva and Mahesh Pithiya picked up three wickets each. Chasing 365, Baroda were 58 for 2 at stumps.
KL Rahul watch
With Karnataka out of the race for the knockouts, the main interest on day three of their match against Haryana was how KL Rahul would fare. After Nishant Sindhu’s 165 off 184 balls, studded with 15 fours and six sixes, gave Haryana a lead of 146, Karnataka lost their first wicket early. Having scored 26 in the first innings, Rahul walked in at No. 3 once again. He got a good start, and hit seven fours, but failed to convert it into a big score as Anuj Thakral bowled him for 43.Mohammed Siraj picked up 3 for 59 in 20 overs for Hyderabad on his Ranji Trophy return•PTI
Saurashtra into quarter-finals
Having beaten Delhi by ten wickets in the previous round, Saurashtra registered another bonus-point win, beating Assam by an innings and 144 runs in Rajkot. The win took them to the top of Group D, thus confirming their quarter-final spot. Following on, Assam could add only 99 to their overnight 67 for 1 as Dharmendrasinh Jadeja picked up 5 for 50 to finish with nine wickets in the match. It is understood that Ravindra Jadeja did not bowl in either innings to manage his workload ahead of the England ODIs and the Champions Trophy.
Tamil Nadu in knockouts despite losing
Stars aligned for Tamil Nadu as they qualified for the knockouts despite their 44-run loss to Jharkhand in Jamshedpur. Tamil Nadu finished with 25 points. Even if Chandigarh pull off a miraculous victory over Chhattisgarh to finish on 25 points, Tamil Nadu’s extra bonus point will see them through.Chasing 234 on a turning track, Tamil Nadu resumed the day on 137 for 5. But Jharkhand took a little more than an hour to end their resistance. Left-arm spinner Manishi took 4 for 49 as Tamil Nadu were bowled out for 189, with B Indrajith unavailable to bat.
Nair hundred gives Vidarbha hope
Vidarbha were wobbling at 62 for 3 in the morning, still 74 behind Hyderabad’s first-innings total. But Karun Nair and Atharva Taide brought them back into the contest with a stand of 124 for the fourth wicket. Taide fell for 93 but Nair brought up his hundred, his second of the season. A quickfire half-century from Harsh Dubey took them to 355. Mohammed Siraj was the most successful bowler for Hyderabad with 3 for 59. Chasing 220, Hyderabad lost Tanmay Agarwal early and were 23 for 1 at stumps. The result is inconsequential for both teams. Vidarbha are already through to the quarter-finals and Hyderabad out of the race.
Five players who were almost forgotten but are now putting in match-winning performances
Deivarayan Muthu20-Apr-2023
Ajinkya Rahane (Chennai Super Kings)
He had struggled to keep pace with T20 cricket in the past. More recently, he was dropped from India’s Test team. But Ajinkya Rahane has scripted an unexpected turnaround in IPL 2023 – his strike rate of 222.22 in the powerplay is by far the best among those who have scored at least 100 runs during that phase in an IPL season.After a hamstring injury had curtailed his stint in IPL 2022, where he managed just 133 runs in seven innings at an average of 19.00 and strike rate of 103.90, he was bought by Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2023 auction for his base price of INR 50 lakh. Rahane didn’t start for Super Kings this IPL, but after Moeen Ali was sidelined with a stomach bug, he dashed out of the bench and regularly hit over the top against both pace and spin in the powerplay.ESPNcricinfo LtdSuper Kings would have expected Rahane to perform the role Robin Uthappa used to do before his retirement from international and Indian cricket. But, with his high intent and role clarity, Rahane has exceeded all expectations so far.Rahane hasn’t been fielding at slips – MS Dhoni has often posted Moeen in that position – but he has been manning the hotspots in the outfield. His spectacular leap right at the edge of the long-off boundary at the Chinnaswamy Stadium denied Glenn Maxwell a six and saved five runs for Super Kings. Royal Challengers ended up hitting one six fewer than Super Kings’ 17 and losing by eight runs.
Sandeep Sharma (Rajasthan Royals)
After having played every IPL season from 2013 to 2022, Sandeep Sharma went unsold in the most recent auction. However, after Prasidh Krishna was ruled out of the entire IPL 2023 with a stress fracture, Sandeep joined Rajasthan Royals as his replacement and has been a reliable bowler in both the powerplay and at the death.Sandeep Sharma nailed yorkers in the final over against MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja to seal a tense win at Chepauk•BCCITasked with defending 20 in the last over against Dhoni at Chepauk, Sandeep started the over with two wides and then conceded back-to-back sixes, but he held his nerve to stop Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja with back-to-back yorkers. Sandeep had also set up Royals’ defence of 175 by dismissing Ruturaj Gaikwad in the powerplay. After the game, Sandeep said that he had been nailing his yorkers at the nets and perhaps that’s why Sanju Samson backed him to bowl the final over to Dhoni ahead of Kuldeep Sen, who can generate extra pace and bounce.After Sandeep helped Royals breach CSK’s fortress, he took the key wickets of Shubhman Gill and David Miller to set the scene for another away win, this time against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad.Related
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Piyush Chawla (Mumbai Indians)
Piyush Chawla was ignored at the mega auction in 2022. In the next auction, the 34-year-old was the last player to be bought by Mumbai Indians for his base price of 50 lakh before the start of the accelerated rounds. Chawla is currently Mumbai’s highest wicket-taker this season with seven strikes in five games at an economy rate of 7.15.He rolled back the years against Delhi Capitals , when he took 3 for 22, including the wickets of Rovman Powell and Manish Pandey, at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. Chawla also got his legbreaks and wrong’uns to rip against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium, where he sent their chase into a tailspin with the wickets of Abhishek Sharma and Heinrich Klaasen.Piyush Chawla is currently the leading wicket-taker for Mumbai Indians•BCCI
Amit Mishra (Lucknow Super Giants)
Just like Chawla, Amit Mishra had gone unsold in the IPL 2022 mega auction. Just like Chawla, he got a gig this year and has proved once again there’s still room for old-school flight and dip in the age of fast legbreaks and mystery spin.Mishra, 40, was the oldest player at the auction, where Lucknow Super Giants snapped him up for his base price of INR 50 lakh. Super Giants unleashed him on Sunrisers on a black-soil turner at the Ekana stadium, where he came away with 2 for 23 from his four overs. He could be a regular feature for Super Giants at home, especially if they continue to use black-soil pitches. Plus, the introduction of the Impact Player rule means he doesn’t have to toil in the field like Rahane and can just put his feet up in the dressing room after finishing his bowling shift.
Mohit Sharma (Gujarat Titans)
Before IPL 2023, Mohit Sharma’s last season as an IPL regular was in 2018. Before that, he was the Purple Cap winner in 2014 and was part of the India team that reached the semi-final of the 2015 ODI World Cup.Injuries then ravaged his career, but a net-bowling stint in IPL 2022 with the eventual champions Gujarat Titans paved his way back. Ashish Nehra, the Titans coach who had also worked with Mohit at Super Kings, liked what he saw in the nets and Titans bought him at the IPL 2023 auction for his base price of INR 50 lakh. He was then brought into the XI ahead of Shivam Mavi and R Sai Kishore, after Yash Dayal was smashed for successive five sixes by Rinku Singh in the final over the match.Mohit marked his return, against Punjab Kings, with into-the-pitch offcutters and back-of-the-hand slower ones that had once impressed Dhoni at both CSK and India. He conceded only 18 runs in his four overs to go with the wickets of Jitesh Sharma and Sam Curran in a Player-of-the-Match-winning performance. Comebacks don’t get better than this.