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For some, a shirt number may seem arbitrary, although it is hard to ignore the status and significance of the number seven at Manchester United, having become synonymous with the club’s brightest and best.

From Eric Cantona, to David Beckham, to Cristiano Ronaldo, the Red Devils enjoyed a glittering 17-year period in the Premier League in which that shirt had a rightful home, with all three wearing it with distinction.

In the 16 years since Ronaldo’s exit for Real Madrid, however, the No.7 has become something of a poisoned chalice, a cursed offering for a string of new signings who have all flattered to deceive.

Its current incumbent, Mason Mount, has notably scored just five goals during an injury-hit two-year spell at Old Trafford, with questions likely to be asked over whether the Englishman was worthy of such an honour in the first place.

Talented, but undoubtedly unreliable due to his repeated stints on the treatment table, Mount could well benefit from relieving that burden and pressure on himself, with Ruben Amorim perhaps already having the perfect successor lined up.

Man Utd's post-Ronaldo number seven curse

Have United ever truly recovered from the summer of 2009? Out went Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez, with Sir Alex Ferguson securing Gabriel Obertan, Antonio Valencia and an ageing Michael Owen as their replacements.

That significant drop in quality perhaps epitomises the malaise that has set in during the much-maligned Glazer regime, with initial success post-Ronaldo having quickly been extinguished in the years following Ferguson’s retirement.

To have gone from the Portuguese sensation to that man Owen as the club’s new no.7 remains a real headscratcher, with the former England international – that Manchester derby goal aside – proving something of a forgotten figure at Old Trafford.

The mantle was subsequently passed on to Valencia for 2012/13, although the Ecuadorian swiftly relinquished such status, while the next recipient – Angel Di Maria – lasted just a solitary season before departing the club for Paris Saint-Germain.

Memphis Depay, meanwhile, scored just seven times in 53 games before being shown the door by Jose Mourinho, while Alexis Sanchez could only fire home five times in 45 games, during his miserable £400k-per-week stint at the club.

Fellow South American star Edinson Cavani enjoyed a promising first campaign as the no.7 with 17 goals in all competitions, before the decision was made to hand the returning Ronaldo the honour instead, for the 2021/22 campaign.

The Portuguese goal machine’s homecoming ultimately proved short-lived, amid his explosive exit under Erik ten Hag, with Mount later taking on the honour following his 2023 summer arrival from Chelsea.

Michael Owen

52

17 (3)

Antonio Valencia*

40

1 (6)

Angel Di Maria

32

4 (11)

Memphis Depay

53

7 (5)

Alexis Sanchez

45

5 (9)

Edinson Cavani**

39

17 (6)

Cristiano Ronaldo

54

27 (5)

Mason Mount

53

5 (2)

*just in 2012/13 season

**just in 2020/21 season

All in all, the jersey has been an albatross around the neck for a succession of high-profile figures, with United now needing to look inwards to find a rightful holder again.

Why Bruno Fernandes should be the new number seven

The man who scored the opener against Sunderland last time out, Mount has shown flashes that he can be a go-to figure under Amorim, with the Portuguese coach lauding him as a “proper footballer” amid his arrival at the club just under a year ago.

As already explained, however, the 26-year-old unfortunately can’t be trusted to stay injury-free, making just 53 appearances in all competitions since joining on a £55m deal.

Whether Mount stays or goes next summer, it would be wise for United to consider re-housing the number seven, with ever-reliable skipper, Bruno Fernandes, surely deserving and worthy of such an honour.

Described as a “genius” in the past by Ten Hag, Fernandes has been central to anything and everything good about the club over the past five years or so, recently reaching a milestone of 100 goals from his now 298 appearances.

With a further 86 assists to add into the equation, the 31-year-old has for so long been United’s chief provider and goal-getter, a fact emphasised only last season, as he ended the campaign with 38 goal involvements across all fronts.

Despite flirting with an exit both last summer and during the most recent window – amid interest from Saudi Arabia – the Red Devils skipper has remained intently loyal to the club, seemingly relishing his talismanic status as the central figure in the side.

Right from the off, the ex-Sporting CP man has been a game-changer for United, even while those around him might have suffered, with comparisons to that man Cantona having flooded in amid his early impact at Old Trafford.

While the silverware has unfortunately not followed in the degree that it did after the Frenchman’s entrance in 1992, Fernandes is a similarly heroic figure, carrying the responsibility on his back time and again.

Like Cantona, he certainly isn’t perfect – having notably seen red on three occasions in 2024/25 – but the at-times combustible playmaker more than makes up for that with his repeated genius.

Two penalties might have been missed this season, but Fernandes is never one to shy away from the pressure and the limelight, showing all the attributes of a player worthy of joining the likes of Cantona and Ronaldo as the next number seven.

It would perhaps be a brutal act to snatch that status away from Mount, although few could argue against Fernandes being rewarded for such fine service with a richly deserved promotion.

Man Utd's "insane" talent is being given the Mainoo treatment by Amorim

It isn’t just Kobbie Mainoo who is being given the cold shoulder by Man Utd by Ruben Amorim.

ByRobbie Walls Oct 11, 2025

Liverpool aren’t quite right this season. Despite an incredible summer spending spree that soared above anything that English football has seen before, Arne Slot’s side are struggling to recapture the verve of last season.

But for Liverpool to have completed an underwhelming start to their title defence and perch at the top of the table after six games, winning the first five before suffering defeat at Crystal Palace last weekend.

Many Redmen have struggled to find their finest form, but not all have flattered to deceive, with Federico Chiesa already looking leaps and bounds above the rarely-seen winger on the margins last year.

Chiesa's Liverpool resurgence

Liverpool hardly broke the bank after replacing Jurgen Klopp with Slot during the summer of 2024, only adding Chiesa to the ranks, and for a shrewd £12.5m fee at that.

However, Chiesa arrived having been ravaged by injury problems in recent years at Juventus, and he spent the lion’s share of the 2024/25 campaign on the sidelines, either suffering from fitness issues or overlooked by Slot.

This year, however, he is looking to make up for lost time, already with two goals and two assists apiece across all competitions. So impressive has he been that there have been calls for the underperforming Mohamed Salah to be dropped, and for Chiesa to start from the right.

Hugo Ekitike

9

5 (1)

Mohamed Salah

9

3 (3)

Federico Chiesa

6

2 (2)

Alexander Isak

5

1 (0)

Cody Gakpo

9

1 (2)

Rio Ngumoha

5

1 (0)

The versatile Italian will play an important role across the term, but there’s another member of Slot’s squad who has fallen deeper into the fringes of the squad and is beginning to look like last year’s version of the 27-year-old.

Slot's new version of Chiesa

While Chiesa is enjoying a resurgence on Merseyside, Wataru Endo’s role at the club continues to become more and more insubstantial, having

Described by Liverpool correspondent David Lynch as being an “unsung hero” for Liverpool, Endo was instrumental in steering Klopp toward a trophy-winning crescendo at the Anfield helm, and he achieved cult status last year for his tough-tackling cameos in the dying embers of matches.

Having joined for about £16m from Stuttgart after Liverpool missed out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, both signing for Chelsea, the 32-year-old Endo has played a crucial role in getting this current Liverpool team off the ground, but he’s into the penultimate year of his contract and has sat as an unused substitute for each of his side’s past three top-flight fixtures.

Tenacious, industrious and a model professional, Endo remains a valued member of Slot’s squad, but it’s hard to see him earning many opportunities, with his quality on the ball admittedly limited.

Given Gravenberch came into his own last year and is now one of Liverpool’s most important players, even said by journalist Beth Lindop to be “on par with Salah and Van Dijk”, it doesn’t look like Endo will be earning a string of starts in the Premier League any time soon, with Slot sure to look for other ways to cover at number six, should the Dutchman fall to an injury.

With Stefan Bajcetic also waiting in the wings and boasting a confidence in receiving the ball, pivoting and progressing forward, there’s a sense Endo’s fringe role at Liverpool may become more peripheral still as the year goes on.

While Chiesa’s bounce-back across the opening weeks of the season serves as inspiration for any footballer looking to pick themselves up from the wayside, Endo is not a spring chicken anymore, and his big moments in Slot’s squad might trail behind him.

Trent 2.0: FSG have already sold a Bradley & Frimpong upgrade at Liverpool

Arne Slot has problems to fix at Liverpool after an up-and-down start to the season.

ByAngus Sinclair Sep 30, 2025

FC Porto president Andre Villas-Boas has lifted the lid on a bold new plan that could reshape European football, an Iberian Super Cup featuring Spanish and Portuguese giants like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Benfica, and Sporting. The concept, still sitting in what he called “the drawer”, could see Iberian powerhouses go head-to-head in a cross-border spectacle aimed at expanding brands and global reach.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  AVB cooking up Iberian revolution?

  Just as reports of a rejigged European Super League converging with the Champions League have surfaced, Villas-Boas has added spice to the pot, revealing that he personally pitched the idea of a brand new Super Cup to key figures in Spain and Portugal and got a surprisingly warm reception. He used his appearance at the Portugal Football Summit this Friday to issue a rallying cry to football leaders: adapt or be left behind, and warned that football was heading “inevitably” toward this kind of competition within the next decade, where the best teams from each country will face each other more frequently on the continental stage. 

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• Villa-Boas makes his case

  Speaking at the event, Villas-Boas said: "We're on a path to brand expansion and international positioning. It's a huge challenge, which will likely come with new competitions. If we consider sports other than football, we have other competitions like the Iberian Super Cups, cross-border leagues… I believe football will be heading in that direction within ten years. 

  "I launched the challenge of an Iberian Super Cup to Pedro Proença [president of the FPF] and other great Portuguese and Spanish clubs. Now we're all at loggerheads, but the idea of creating one remained. At the time, it was very well received by Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Benfica, Sporting, and the FPF." 

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  More domestic matches on foreign lands?

  While the Iberian Super Cup remains on the drawing board, La Liga is already taking bold steps. League president Javier Tebas has all but confirmed that Barcelona’s regular-season clash with Villarreal will take place in Miami on December 20, the first-ever official Spanish league game held outside Europe. Originally slated for Villarreal’s Estadio de la Cerámica, the fixture will mark a historic step in La Liga’s long-term push to expand into international markets, particularly the lucrative North American one.

  “This is a landmark moment for La Liga and for world football,” Tebas said in a statement. “By bringing an official match to the United States, we are not only connecting with millions of fans across North America, but also reinforcing Spain’s leadership as a global soccer powerhouse. With the support of all relevant institutions, this initiative is bold, historic, and designed to inspire both our fans abroad and those at home in Spain.”

  The decision hasn’t gone down well with everyone. UEFA officials made it clear they were “opposed” to domestic league games being exported, arguing that it breaks the principle of national competition. However, the lack of explicit FIFA rules on the issue meant they were forced to give the green light, a loophole Tebas eagerly exploited. Real Madrid, however, are furious. The club has publicly condemned the idea, saying it undermines tradition and gives Barcelona an unfair commercial advantage. Tebas has brushed off the criticism, insisting fans, players, and sponsors all support the move.

  "See what they say now, but I know players from both teams want to come," he said. "Madrid has nothing to say on this issue. Not even the League itself. The regulations establish that the clubs request it from the Federation. La Liga gives its opinion, and it is favourable.

  "But with the current leaders [Madrid], it's impossible. It makes me sad because they don't like everything La Liga does. If it weren't Miami, it would be something else. We're very bad and we don't do anything right. To have the squads we have, we have to remember that 42% of our audiovisual income comes from outside Spain. We have to respect those fans who pay to watch football. Because if not, we wouldn't have them."

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• Villas-Boas wants to follow La Liga's footprints

  Spain isn’t alone in taking football on tour. Serie A confirmed that its January fixture between AC Milan and Como will be played in Perth, Australia, another groundbreaking moment in the sport’s globalisation. League officials say the match will help grow Italian football’s visibility in Asia and Oceania while generating significant commercial income. For Villas-Boas, the writing is on the wall. The former Chelsea and Tottenham boss argues that Portuguese football’s leadership needs to think creatively and collaborate more closely with La Liga and UEFA to unlock new cash flows and revenue streams.

  "We'll see a Villarreal-Barcelona match in Miami and a Milan-Como match in Australia. We have to seize this opportunity," he said. "We have games with 1,500 spectators. A Casa Pia-Sporting match, for example. Wouldn't our game in Newark or Geneva, with our expatriates, have more than that? President Ceferin said that leagues should be played in their countries, that this was an exception, but it's up to the federations to seize these opportunities. These are new cash flows and revenue streams.  It's up to the presidents of the league and the FPF to create summits of presidents rich in content and discussion."

Nigar Sultana scored an 80-ball 101. Bangladesh put up their highest score in ODIs – 271. They then bowled Thailand out for 93 to record their biggest win in terms of runs in the format – 178. The most remarkable event in the win in the World Cup qualifying match in Lahore, though, was Fahima Khatun and Jannatul Ferdus, the spin twins, picking up five wickets each, the first time it has happened in women’s ODI cricket.In fact, it’s the second such occurrence in all ODI cricket – Greg Chappell and Gary Cosier had done it for Australia against England in Birmingham in 1977.”Such a record, where two bowlers pick up five-wicket hauls in an innings, is a remarkable achievement,” Sultana said in a video released by the BCB. “Their contribution today is inspiring for the team. I am hoping they continue to do similar things in the rest of the games.”Related

• Sana's all-round heroics take Pakistan to ODI World Cup

• Six teams, two World Cup spots on offer, many intrigues

• Sultana ton and Fahima, Ferdus five-fors give Bangladesh big win

In another BCB video, where legspinner Fahima, who took 5 for 21 in 8.5 overs, and Ferdus, the offspinner who returned 5 for 7 in five overs, chat with each other, Fahima said, “Of course it’s reason to be very happy. I have had the opportunity to do this before, pick up five wickets in an innings, but I haven’t been able to do it, so this is very pleasing.”I must say that the end I was bowling from, when I started bowling, I felt that I would pick up three wickets today. I felt I had more wicket-taking options. Fortunately, it worked out.”In an ODI career that’s worth 45 matches now, Fahima had two three-wicket hauls but never a five-for. In T20Is, she has one four-for. For Ferdus, playing just her third ODI and seventh game for Bangladesh overall, it was well beyond anything she had achieved – the five wickets took her tally to eight, across formats.”This is the first time I have picked up five wickets for Bangladesh,” Ferdus said. “Of course, it’s very special. The first time is something to remember for the rest of my life. It will be a wonderful memory. I started bowling late in this game, so I didn’t think there was any opportunity to pick up five wickets. But I was trying to maintain the process, and fortunately it worked out.”Fahima had three wickets to her name – and figures of 5-1-8-3 – when Ferdus came on to bowl in the 20th over of Thailand’s chase. Ferdus’ first over was a double-wicket maiden. Fahima came back soon enough, and they had four wickets each soon after. Ferdus got to her milestone first, and Fahima got there when she finished off the match.”At what point did you feel you could pick up five wickets?” Fahima, the senior pro, asked Ferdus.”The thought had never crossed my mind. I was trying to follow the plan of bowling wicket to wicket. And, fortunately, I was successful,” Ferdus replied.The achievement of the two spinners overshadowed, somewhat at least, a remarkable innings from Sultana, the Bangladesh captain, where she walked out in the 28th over, but still managed to get to the three-figure mark. Sharmin Akhter, the No. 3 batter who was part of two century partnerships, ended on 94 not out, while Fargana Hoque, the opener, scored 53.”It’s our first win of the tournament, and I am very happy to have contributed to it,” Sultana said. “It’s my first century in ODI cricket, but there was no such target in my mind. The target was to take the team score to 250-plus. So, when [Hoque and [Sharmin] were batting, I felt that when I go out, I should also score at a good strike rate and score quickly. So that the batters to follow are in a position to take Bangladesh past 250. There was the opportunity, we grabbed it, so we got a good total.”The margin of victory has put Bangladesh at the top of the points table after all teams have played a match each. They next play Ireland on Sunday.

Whilst recent weeks at Birmingham City have been focused on making a strong start to their Championship return, this week’s PFA Awards served as an evening of celebration for their promotion from League One.

Seven of last season’s squad were named in the PFA League One Team of the Year 2025 following their record-breaking 111-point season.

In addition to the team of the season, Tomoki Iwata and Jay Stansfield were shortlisted for the PFA League One Player of the Year, with QPR’s new striker Richard Kone taking home the award.

Birmingham had been building a squad in League One that was capable of competing in the Championship, and they’ve continued to add to it this summer. Their next target looks to be a young Premier League forward, but the Blues are facing competition from one of the sides that got promoted with them.

Birmingham and Wrexham front-runners in race for Koumas

Birmingham City are one of the teams in pole position to sign young Liverpool forward Lewis Koumas. The 19-year-old spent last season playing Championship football whilst on loan at Stoke City and is set to leave the club permanently before the transfer deadline.

This report comes from Liverpool Echo, who have indicated that Koumas has received significant Championship attention this summer, with Norwich City, Preston North End, Sheffield United and Hull City all monitoring the player’s situation. However, Birmingham’s biggest rivals for this transfer will be Wrexham, who are the other team said to be “leading the chase” for Koumas.

The young striker will cost a pretty penny, as the Reds see Koumas as more developed than Bobby Clark was when he joined RB Salzburg for £10 million last year. Koumas’ family has ties to the Birmingham metropolitan area, as his father, Jason Koumas, played for West Bromwich Albion for the first few years of Lewis’ life.

Why so many teams are interested in Koumas

At 19 years old, Koumas is already attracting a lot of attention. Not only are there the interested Championship parties, but he has also received recognition at the national level, having represented the Welsh National Team on six occasions.

During his season spent in the championship with Stoke, Koumas was one of the top players in a number of attacking metrics. Koumas registered in the top 25% of players for both shots and shots on target, meaning not only does he shoot often, but when he does shoot, it is accurate.

While he did underperform his xG by just over two goals, Koumas is still only a teenager and calmness on the ball and precision with his shots will further develop as he matures.

In addition to his impressive attacking attributes, what’s unique about Koumas is his ability to defend from the front. The teenager ranked in the top 15% of wingers for tackles made and the top 20% of wingers for possession won in the final third of the pitch. His ability to win the ball high up the pitch can often catch the opposition by surprise, leading to important attacking opportunities.

Based on his current skill set, it wouldn’t be surprising if Liverpool asked for a similar figure to what they did for Clark, but given his age and potential future development, he could be a worthwhile transfer in the long term.

on 72 off 69.Mandhana was dismissed when she failed to clear short fine leg against Prendergast. But there was no respite for Ireland as Richa Ghosh, promoted to No. 3, took over the baton and scored 59 off 42. She and Rawal added 104 in 12 overs.Rawal opened up after her hundred and raked in 54 off the next 29 balls she faced. Today’s innings took her ODI run tally to 444 – no batter has scored more in her first six innings.Pratika Rawal brought up her maiden international hundred•BCCI

By then, there was more interest in if India could reach 400. They got there with four overs to spare, and then got some more.With Renuka Singh rested, Titas Sadhu and Sayali Satghare opened the bowling for India. Both picked up a wicket each with the new ball but also conceded 15 extras in the first seven overs. India’s fielding was also as poor as their counterparts, with Mandhana dropping a skier from Sarah Forbes off Deepti at extra cover.Forbes and Prendergast made India pay for their mistakes and took the side to 85 for 2 after 14 overs. Tanuja Kanwar broke the 64-run stand by dismissing Prendergast. The batter tried to steer her towards deep third but failed to connect and was bowled. It was Kanwar’s first wicket in ODIs. Three overs later, Forbes was run out going for a quick single.Ireland capitulated after that. From 100 for 3, they were all out for 131. Deepti was the most successful bowler for India, with figures of 3 for 27. Kanwar chipped in with 2 for 31 and two batters were run out.

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Calleri se despediu de Rogério Ceni nas suas redes sociais. O agora ex-treinador do São Pauloteve sua saída anunciada pelo clube na tarde desta quarta-feira (19). O argentino agradeceu pelo ‘tempo que tiveram juntos’ e destacou o trabalho feito pela equipe. O centroavante ainda destacou que ‘Rogério sempre será São Paulo’.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasSão PauloApós saída de Rogério Ceni, Dorival Júnior é opção para assumir o cargo de treinador do São PauloSão Paulo19/04/2023São PauloCaiu! São Paulo confirma a saída de Rogério CeniSão Paulo19/04/2023ListasRogério Ceni deixa o São Paulo: veja 25 técnicos brasileiros livres no mercado da bolaListas19/04/2023

Pressionado, o futuro de Ceni após a partida contra o Puerto Cabello, da última terça-feira (18), era uma grande incógnita. Após uma reunião envolvendo a diretoria, sua saída foi acertada. Embora ainda não tenha deixado o CT da Barra Funda, o clima de despedidas já começou.

ATUAÇÕES: Em noite ruim, Marcos Paulo salva, e Calleri mostra que faz diferença em vitória do São Paulo

Veja tabela do Campeonato Brasileiro

– Rogério, gostaria de agradecer por esse tempo que passamos juntos. A oportunidade de ter convivido foi bem especial. Seu profissionalismo e competitividade são coisas que sempre levarei comigo. Você sempre será São Paulo – escreveu Calleri na homenagem.

continua após a publicidade

Quanto ao sucessor, embora ainda não tenha sido anunciado de forma oficial pelo Tricolor, Dorival Júnior é o principal cotado.

Veja a postagem realizada por Calleri nas redes sociais:

Two black-soil surfaces are being prepared, but it isn’t clear yet which one will be used for the Kanpur Test

ESPNcricinfo staff26-Sep-20242:23

Manjrekar: I will play Kuldeep Yadav for second Test

There is some uncertainty around the conditions that the second Test between India and Bangladesh will be played in with representatives from both teams admitting that they didn’t know which pitch will be used.”To be honest, I don’t know which surface we are going to play on yet,” India batting coach Abhishek Nayar said on Thursday afternoon, which followed similar thoughts expressed by Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusinghe on Wednesday.”Yes I had a look at [the pitch],” Hathurusinghe had said, “But the groundsman has prepared two pitches. We don’t know on which we will play on. Tomorrow we will find out.”During Wednesday’s training session, India captain Rohit Sharma and coach Gautam Gambhir had a look at the two pitches that have been prepared for this Test match. They seemed to spend a little more time looking at the drier of the two black-soil surfaces.Related

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Weather and pitch in focus as India, Bangladesh ponder three spinners

Indications are it might start as a good batting surface before taking slow and low turn from the third day onwards. But the weather in the week of the Test match might complicate matters. It’s overcast and there are thunder storms expected on the first three days of the game, which may slow down the natural wear and tear that helps subcontinental pitches become spin-friendly. There was some rain after India’s training session ended on Thursday as well and the groundstaff were quick to get the square covered.India, as a result, are waiting until the morning of the Test to finalise their XI, specifically whether they need an extra spinner instead of the extra seamer they used on Chennai’s red-soil surface.”Both the pitches look pretty good,” Nayar said. “Kanpur is always known to have good pitches. I am not sure about the bounce yet. I think, with the conditions and the forecast, it is going to be interesting as to how when we turn up to go in the morning, the conditions are. I think a lot will depend on that because as you know in Test wicket, conditions can be a huge factor in how the pitch plays. So it is too early for us to judge and decide or have any sort of thought process on the pitch or the conditions. But we are hoping we come in tomorrow to a sunny day and not an overcast Kanpur.”India lead the series 1-0 and if they go in with a spinner over a seamer, their choice will be between local boy Kuldeep Yadav, who had an outstanding series against England at the start of the year, and Axar Patel, whose ability to relentlessly attack the stumps can come in quite handy if there is low bounce. Axar joined R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the last Test that India played in Kanpur, against New Zealand in 2021, which went into the fifth day with the visitors holding onto their last wicket and drawing the game.

Leeds United made their second signing of the summer transfer window on Monday evening when they officially confirmed the arrival of Jaka Bijol from Serie A side Udinese.

The central defender is now set to compete with the likes of Ethan Ampadu, Pascal Struijk, and Joe Rodon for a place in the starting XI in the Premier League next season.

Daniel Farke is also in the market to add another number nine to his squad, having already brought in Lukas Nmecha on a free transfer from Wolfsburg.

Football Insider claims that Leeds are interested in a deal to sign Fulham centre-forward Rodrigo Muniz, but the Cottagers are confident of keeping hold of the Brazilian frontman.

The report adds that the Whites have already had an offer of £32m rejected by the fellow Premier League team, and that the London-based side are prepared to price the Championship champions out of a move for the striker.

This latest update suggests that the Fulham marksman will not be making his way to Elland Road this summer, but what could he have brought to the team?

What Rodrigo Muniz could bring to Leeds

If Leeds can turn it around to sign him, the 24-year-old attacker would join the Whites to provide Farke with a Premier League-proven number nine who has shown that he can score goals at that level.

In the last two seasons, Muniz has racked up 17 top-flight goals for the Cottagers, which shows that he knows how to find the back of the net in the top division in England.

As you can see in the table above, the Brazilian forward also outperformed his xG in both of those seasons, showing that he is also a reliable and clinical finisher.

However, creativity is not his strong suit. A return of two assists in two seasons, and a peak of 0.7 key passes per game, does not suggest that he would create many high-quality opportunities for his teammates.

Muniz would, though, offer physicality in the number nine position. He won 52% of his duels and won 2.2 aerial battles per game in the Premier League this season, which shows that he can hold his own against top-flight defenders.

Whilst there are clearly a lot of strong qualities that the Fulham star could bring to West Yorkshire, Leeds are now reportedly pursuing a striker who could be an even better signing.

Leeds pursuing deal for Serie A star

According to Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno, as relayed by Sport Witness, Leeds United are expected to make another bid to sign Nikola Krstovic from Lecce in the summer transfer window.

The report claims that the Championship champions have already had an offer of £19.7m rejected by the Italian side for the Montenegrin centre-forward, but they are now plotting another attempt to snap him up.

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It also reveals that AS Roma are interested in signing the 25-year-old marksman, and that they would be prepared to offer a player in exchange for him, although they have yet to make an official bid.

Meanwhile, the print edition of Corriere dello Sport, via MOTLeedsNews, reports that Lecce value the forward at a fee of around £26m, and claims that Leeds are ready to pay big money to get a deal done for the striker.

It now remains to be seen whether or not their second offer for the Montenegro international will be enough to tempt the Italian team to part ways with the attacker.

Why Leeds should sign Nikola Krstovic

The Premier League new boys should push to sign the Lecce number nine before the end of the summer transfer window because he would be an even better signing than Muniz.

Krstovic would be considerably cheaper if the latest reports are to be believed, with Lecce valuing him at £26m compared to the significantly more than £32m that Fulham want for Muniz in order to price Leeds out of a deal.

This means that it could be more financially viable for the Whites to pursue the Montenegro international, which would also free up more funds to be spent on other areas of the squad as they look to build a team that can compete in the Premier League.

Krstovic, as shown in the clips above, is a versatile goalscorer who has shown that he can find the back of the net in a variety of ways, with either foot, from close or long range, and with his head.

The Lecce sensation, who was dubbed “integral” by former boss Roberto D’Aversa, has proven that he can score goals in a major European league, netting 18 Serie A goals in the last two seasons combined.

As you can see in the table above, Krstovic outperformed Muniz at league level in the 2024/25 campaign, with three more goals and four more assists, whilst also winning more duels per game.

The Montenegro international’s ability to generate high-quality opportunities for himself is one of his most impressive attributes, as he has accrued 24.80 xG in two seasons in the Serie A, compared to the Fulham man’s tally of 15.32 in two Premier League campaigns.

This could suggest that Krstovic is better at getting himself into goalscoring situations, which could be particularly useful in a season that Leeds are expected to be battling relegation in.

Overall, the Lecce star could be a better signing than Muniz for the Whites as the striker may be able to offer more goals and assists in the top-flight, whilst being a cheaper addition to the squad.

Best signing since Raphinha: Leeds close to landing "exceptional" £21m star

Leeds United are closing in on a deal for a star who would be their best signing since Raphinha.

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By
Dan Emery

Jun 23, 2025

Charith Asalanka had been appointed their T20I captain just before the ongoing series against India

Andrew Fidel Fernando30-Jul-2024

Sri Lanka’s selectors have appointed Charith Asalanka as the new ODI captain, replacing Kusal Mendis. Asalanka had been named T20I captain as well, ahead of the ongoing series against India after Wanindu Hasaranga had resigned from the role following Sri Lanka’s early exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup.The same set of selectors had appointed Mendis as the ODI captain in December 2023, though he had also led Sri Lanka in several matches in last year’s World Cup in an acting capacity. Though Mendis has been in good touch with the bat, and Sri Lanka won six of the eight completed ODIs under his leadership, the selectors opted to go in a different direction. Under Mendis’ captaincy Sri Lanka had won five consecutive home matches against Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, but lost 2-1 away to Bangladesh.Asalanka’s elevation to the T20I captaincy was expected following Hasaranga’s resignation, but a change in the ODI leadership was somewhat unexpected, largely because Mendis has not been in the position long. Nevertheless, Asalanka has been one of Sri Lanka’s more consistent ODI batters, averaging 43.59 with a strike rate of 90 across 52 innings.Test batter Nishan Madushka, 24, has also been included in Sri Lanka’s squad for the three ODIs against India on August 2, 4 and 7, while the likes of Akila Dananjaya and Chamika Karunaratne receive recalls.Seamers Dilshan Madushanka and Asitha Fernando, who were only added to the T20I squad after Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara were ruled out, will stay on for the ODI series. Left-arm spinning allrounder Dunith Wellalage has also found a place.The remainder of this squad is largely as expected. Illness continues to keep Chameera out, while a fractured thumb makes Thushara’s participation impossible. In addition to Madushanka and Asitha, Matheesha Pathirana is the only other specialist seamer. This is understandable given Khettarama stadium in Colombo, where the three matches will be played, tends to be spin-friendly. There is no room for Lahiru Kumara or Pramod Madushan, who had played in Sri Lanka’s most-recent ODI series, against Bangladesh.On the spin-bowling front, Sri Lanka have plenty of options, between Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dananjaya and Wellalage. Kamindu Mendis and Asalanka himself can send down some part-time spin as well.The top order seems fairly set. Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, and Mendis are likely to form the top three. Kusal Perera has not been included, despite some good T20 performances recently. Sadeera Samarawickrama, Janith Liyanage, and Kamindu are in the mix to be in the middle order. Captain Asalanka will likely bat at No. 5.Sri Lanka squad for ODIs vs IndiaCharith Asalanka (capt), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nishan Madushka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, Asitha Fernando