Manchester United have signed Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig, with the towering Slovenian striker set to be the main centre-forward under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford.
Sesko snubs Newcastle move for Man Utd
After already signing Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season, the Red Devils have also pipped Newcastle United to a big-money deal for the Bundesliga star in a transfer worth a total of €85m.
Sesko always wanted a move to Old Trafford over St James’ Park, and we could see Cunha and Mbeumo line up behind the 22-year-old as two attacking No 10’s in a 3-4-2-1 system under Amorim.
AI predicts how many goals and assists Cunha and Mbeumo will get for Man Utd in 2025/26
The pair have been backed to star at Old Trafford.
ByCharlie Smith Jul 22, 2025
The striker has already penned a five-year deal in Manchester and will arrive in similar circumstances to Rasmus Hojlund. A young and exciting forward costing mega money, pressure will be on Sesko to perform after netting 27 times and registering six assists for Leipzig in 2024/25.
Grok, the AI tool on X, has already predicted how many goals Cunha and Mbeumo will score, and it has also forecasted how Sesko will get on in his first season in England.
AI predicts how many goals Sesko will score for Man Utd
When asked how many goals Sesko will score for the Red Devils in 2025/26, Grok gave a precise prediction.
Assuming Sesko plays 32 matches (accounting for rotation or minor injuries), he could score 13 Premier League goals if he adapts quickly and maintains his Bundesliga record in the Premier League.
In cup competitions, FA Cup and League Cup as United have no European football on offer, he could score 5 more goals, providing Amorim’s side go deep into both and play 10 games.
Premier League
FA Cup/League Cup
Games
32
10
Goals
13
5
Grok adds that ‘Sesko’s physical attributes and comparisons to Erling Haaland suggest he could outperform expectations if United’s system maximises his strengths, potentially pushing him towards 20 goals in an optimistic scenario’.
An 18-goal season in all competitions, Amorim, Man Utd and the supporters would be satisfied with that figure, considering Hojlund has scored just 15 goals in domestic competitions in the last two seasons.
Before Nair’s fireworks, Yash Rathod and Dhruv Shorey scored hundreds to set the platform for a comfortable win
Shashank Kishore16-Jan-2025Karun Nair’s glorious run of form brought him an unbeaten 44-ball 88 as Vidarbha beat Maharashtra comfortably in the second semi-final of the 2024-25 Vijay Hazare Trophy. The result sets up a fascinating prospect where Nair will be up against Karnataka, his former team, in Saturday’s final.Nair narrowly missed out on a fifth straight List A century only because he ran out of time. That he even got close to one is because of a sensational end-overs acceleration. On 51 off 35 balls with two overs remaining, Nair hit four sixes and three fours in the last two overs. This included a sensational sequence of 4, 0, 6, 4, 4, 6 in the final over against Rajneesh Gurbani, who was up against his former team. Nair took his run tally to 752 runs while being dismissed just once.The only time Nair didn’t middle something was while attempting a couple of reverse sweeps early in his innings to build on the platform laid by the openers. But that didn’t stop him from being enterprising, as he played some delicate paddles, audacious scoops as well as some clean strikes down the ground – he hit nine fours and five sixes in all.After being put in, and setting a target for the first time in the tournament, Vidarbha posted 380 for 3, the last seven overs alone producing 108. Nair’s sensational late carnage came on the back of a 224-run opening stand between Dhruv Shorey and Yash Rathod in 34.2 overs. Jitesh Sharma, who came in at No. 4, also cashed in, hitting a 33-ball 51 in a 93-run stand with Nair off just 59 deliveries.Maharashtra’s chase didn’t take off till the 30th over, when they were 153 for 3. Except for a four-over window from here, where Ankit Bawne and Arshin Kulkarni upped the ante with an array of stunning shots, the intent to make a serious pitch to scale down their target seemed missing.File photo – Yash Rathod was the Player of the Match for his 116•PTI It didn’t help that they lost Ruturaj Gaikwad in the third over when he top-edged a pull off Darshan Nalkande and was sensationally caught by Jitesh, who covered nearly 30 yards to his left before diving full-stretch to pluck a one-handed stunner.Rahul Tripathi, their other big-match player capable of taking the attack to the opposition from get-go, made an attractive 27 off 19 before a heave across the line had him nicking behind in the ninth over. This is when Kulkarni appeared to have gotten stuck, on the face of some impressive bowling from Vidarbha, particularly from Yash Thakur, who was zippy, and Harsh Dubey, who was able to keep it tight with his left-arm spin.Despite Kulkarni putting on a half-century stand with Siddhesh Veer, Maharashtra lacked the middle-overs firepower that allowed them to put any kind of pressure on Vidarbha as the game meandered until it briefly came alive in that short window after the 30th over. But those hopes ended when Kulkarni and Bawne fell in quick succession after scoring 90 and 50 respectively. Kulkarni’s runs came at a strike rate of 89.10 when the requirement was much higher.Earlier in the day, Shorey began with three fours in the very first over off Gurbani, while Rathod brought the typical left-hander’s flair to get going as he climbed into left-arm seamer Mukesh Choudhary. The pair accelerated steadily, bringing their half-centuries in the 19th over.Rathod was the more adventurous against spin and used his feet superbly to hit both with and against the turn. He brought up his second List A century of the season off just 90 balls in the 31st over and then tried to up the scoring. Shorey got there soon after, zipping through the 90s with two back-to-back boundaries and then bringing up his second straight hundred off 104 deliveries.Maharashtra had their chances but they didn’t take. In the 24th over, they should have had Shorey for 57 when he got a bottom edge to wicketkeeper Nikhil Naik off Siddesh Veer. Had Maharashtra opted to review, they would have been able to overturn the on-field decision of not out. In Veer’s next over, Naik missed a stumping chance to dismiss Rathod on 76.Then in the 45th over, Jitesh was put down on 19 when Naik failed to latch on to a skier to make it a forgettable day that even his 49 late in the second innings couldn’t quite compensate for. Nair, too, received a reprieve when, on 30, he was put down by Pradeep Dadhe at fine leg.Whatever Nair did on the field from there on worked magically as Vidarbha recorded their eighth successive win to secure a maiden entry into the Vijay Hazare final.
Xabi Alonso insists he's not making a “big deal” after growing speculation over Vinicius Jr’s substitution appearances. Real Madrid are on a good run in La Liga, but questions loom over player rotation as Alonso maintains a team-first approach, saying he wants all players to feel comfortable and that what matters most is the results and collective spirit.
The concerns surrounding Vinicius
Vinicius has been highly productive yet noticeably rotated this season. He has scored two goals and provided two assists in five La Liga matches so far. Despite being one of Madrid’s top attackers in terms of goal involvement, he has yet to complete a full 90 minutes in any of the 12 competitive matches under Alonso. This has fuelled speculation over his starting status.
With Vinicius' contract renewal also being the talk of the town, speculations have continued to form and gain traction. Reportedly, the Brazilian declined Madrid's latest offer, sparking concern about his future.
AdvertisementAFPCoach Alonso isn't bothered by the rising speculations
Alonso was asked about the apparent tension and substitution pattern involving Vinicius, to which he replied that he doesn't think about it much and rather maintains a team-first approach.
"I've been a player. Me too, when I was substituted, it wasn't the best time. I take it naturally and we talk about things. I like being close to the players. I don't make a big deal out of it," he said at a press conference.
"After the match I spoke to the players and they were all happy: for the victory and eager to continue improving. That's what we need, to be a team player and have a collective spirit . All the players understand the role we want for the team and they are contributing. I'm happy with Vinicius, we're just starting the season. He has to continue feeling comfortable. There's still a lot left."
Vinicius' Madrid future in question
Contract negotiations between Los Blancos and Vinicius have stalled since the end of last year, with the Brazilian pushing for wage parity with Kylian Mbappe and clarity over his role under Alonso. Despite interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City and Saudi Pro League clubs, Madrid are reluctant to let him run down his deal into its final year. While Alonso insists Vinicius remains central to his plans, uncertainty lingers as talks drag on, leaving both the player’s future and Madrid’s attacking balance under scrutiny.
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Getty Images SportMadrid needs undivided focus to win the league
Madrid are set to face Levante next in the league on September 23 and Alonso has emphasised that his team needs to maintain their focus to win the upcoming games. Alonso's men will then fly to Almaty to face Kairat Almaty in their next Champions League outing on September 30.
Tottenham are set to be very active in this final stretch of the window, and we can expect talks for attacking targets to intensify quickly after they were robbed of a deal for Eberechi Eze by north London rivals Arsenal.
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The Lilywhites thought they were closing in on Eze, then Arsenal moved, and everything changed.
Spurs were deep in talks with Crystal Palace, seemingly on the brink of agreeing a deal for their star number 10.
However, Arsenal reignited their long-standing interest almost immediately after losing Kai Havertz to injury – seizing the initiative and agreeing a deal worth £60 million upfront, plus £7.5 million in add-ons.
Despite Tottenham agreeing both personal terms and a deal in principle with Palace, the final decision rested with Eze, and he chose a move to the Emirates.
The 27-year-old grew up a Gunners fan, trained in their academy as a youth, and Mikel Arteta’s side needed fresh attacking flair amid Havertz’s fresh knee problem. Arsenal have been targeting Eze all summer, but Havertz inadvertently pushed them into action whilst breaking Spurs’ hearts in the process.
Now Spurs are left scrambling for different options to plug the creative voids left in their squad – made worse by Son Heung-min’s departure and James Maddison’s long-term ACL injury.
In just a few hours, the tag-team of Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta snatched the deal from under Daniel Levy’s nose. From nearly finalized by Tottenham to firmly Arsenal’s – this one will sting in N17 for some time.
Levy and Thomas Frank will be desperate to put the saga behind them whilst making a serious statement of intent, and they’ve been linked with a few intriguing attacking options in the aftermath of their botched Eze deal.
Tottenham are still trying to loosen Man City’s grip on Savinho, but another option is still there in the form of Real Madrid star Rodrygo.
Tottenham could be close to agreeing loan deal for Rodrygo
According to Defensa Central, the Brazilian is not in Xabi Alonso’s plans, and his pool of suitors is running thin.
As things stand, Spurs are the most realistic destination for him, and their eagerness to offload him has resulted in Bernabeu chiefs softening their stance when it comes to his £86 million price tag.
So much so, in fact, that Real are now prepared to green-light an initial loan for Rodrygo, something that is enticing Tottenham as Levy maintains an interest in the 24-year-old.
As per Defensa, this means that Tottenham “could be close” to reaching an agreement for Rodrygo, as they’re also ready to cover the player’s entire £208,000-per-week salary.
The only roadblock is apparently whether Levy will agree to include a buy-option/obligation, as Florentino Perez would ideally like his price tag paid in full, but could be forced to wait until 2026.
Rodrygo, for his part, has decided to leave Real in pursuit of more game time, and while not explicitly stated, the prospect of a Premier League move could well tempt him.
Called a “superstar” by Luka Modrić, Rodrygo bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions for Los Blancos last term.
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He also hailed Marco Jansen as ‘the complete package’ for South Africa
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Mar-20251:39
Do South Africa have the best attack in the tournament?
Anil Kumble feels that the variety offered by South Africa’s pace trio of Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi makes them the most complete attack for the not-always-bowler-friendly conditions seen in the Champions Trophy 2025.On Saturday, South Africa hammered England to progress into the semi-finals. In their two group stage matches (one was rained off), South Africa bowled England out for 179 and Afghanistan for 208 – the two lowest totals in completed innings in this edition of the Champions Trophy.”I think one good thing about South Africa is that all three of their fast bowlers that played today – of course Mulder is the one who bowls the middle periods – but if you look at the three tall fast bowlers, all of them are really tall. And all of them are different,” Kumble said on ESPNcricinfo’s Match Day show.Related
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“Their angles are very different. Rabada is very classical whereas Ngidi is pretty awkward to face with his action and Marco Jansen comes at such height. So all three are very different. So that’s the nature you want in a one-day. That’s the variation.”Even on a flat track, it’s not easy for the batters to line up because all three are very different. And that’s something that South Africa can certainly feel [confident] they have this kind of a quality and also the variety going into the business end of the tournament.”1:27
Kumble heaps praise on Jansen
Kumble: Jansen the ‘complete package for South Africa’Jansen set the tone in South Africa’s win against England, dismissing their top three inside seven overs with his bounce. He also took three catches, including one off his own bowling.”I think he’s still very young, although he has played quite a lot of cricket. He has certainly matured,” Kumble said. “I’m sure these three wickets [will give him confidence], and also you can see his athleticism in the field with all those catches.”He has improved a lot with his batting as well. He has contributed with the bat on many occasions for South Africa. So in that sense he’s a complete package for South Africa at No. 7 or No. 8.”And with the ball, with the new ball he can bring the ball back in. He’s tall so it’s not easy for the batters to just get under him,” he said. “We saw that with Phil Salt, it just took off. It was quite steep, the bounce, and he couldn’t get over it. You need that variety in your bowling attack and that’s something that South Africa have in plenty.”
Luis de la Fuente has dismissed Hansi Flick’s complaints about Spain’s handling of Lamine Yamal, saying he’s “not interested” in the Barcelona coach’s criticism. Flick was angered after the teenager was given painkillers on international duty, sparking fears of long-term damage. Now, Barca are carefully managing his recovery ahead of a key Champions League showdown.
Inside the Spain vs Barcelona rift
De la Fuente brushed off Flick’s remarks after the Barcelona coach accused Spain of mismanaging Yamal’s fitness. The 18-year-old winger was called up despite carrying a injury and played through pain against Bulgaria and Turkey in the World Cup qualifiers. Flick claimed the teenager was given painkillers and played almost full matches without training in between, which left Barca frustrated over his condition.
AdvertisementGetty/GOALFlick’s fury over Yamal’s treatment
Flick’s frustration boiled over as Yamal was sidelined with a pubic injury, missing key fixtures against Valencia, Newcastle, Getafe and Oviedo.
"They gave him painkillers and he played 73 and 79 minutes. And between the matches, he didn't train," the German boss said. "That's not taking care of the players. Spain has the best players and the best national team, but they haven't taken care of the players, and that's what I can say. I'm very disappointed."
Despite the youngsters absence, Barca maintained form with four straight wins, but the long-term fitness of their young star remains a major concern for both club and country.
De la Fuente hits back at Flick
The La Roja boss responded during a tribute event in Rioja, where a mural was dedicated to him. The Spain boss avoided entering into the controversy, brushing off Flick’s accusations.
"Do you think that today, in my homeland, and enjoying this moment, I'd remember what Hansi Flick said? Well, no, I'm not interested," he said.
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AFPFlick counting on Yamal for Champions League clash against PSG
Yamal is tipped to make his comeback this weekend against Real Sociedad, though Barcelona’s medical team see the clash with Paris Saint-Germain on October 1 as the true target. With Alejandro Balde also expected to return, Flick will be hoping his young winger can stay fit to inspire the Catalan giants in Europe’s toughest tests.
There may be some Glasgow Rangers supporters who are currently questioning the board, the recruitment department, and head coach Russell Martin.
You did not have to have super hearing to be aware of the feelings of some fans towards the manager during the 6-0 defeat to Club Brugge in Belgium on Wednesday night.
The Light Blues have conceded 17 goals in ten competitive matches under the new head coach, failing to qualify for the Champions League and failing to win any of their three games in the Scottish Premiership to date.
However, the recruitment department should also take some of the blame because it is, ultimately, the players on the pitch who are significantly underperforming at this moment in time.
Yes, Martin has to put a system and tactics in place that get the best out of the players, but there have been far too many simple mistakes that players signed by Rangers should not be making.
The recruitment team need to get the right calibre of players in the building, and that is why some may be frustrated to learn that Abdallah Sima currently looks set to leave Brighton for a relatively modest fee.
Rangers have missed a trick with Abdallah Sima
The Senegal international is reportedly on the verge of signing for Ligue 1 side Lens in a deal that is worth an initial fee of just £3.9m, plus add-ons on top of that.
Abdallah Sima
For context, Rangers paid £4.5m to sign Oscar Cortes from Lens as part of their obligation to make his loan permanent this summer. The Colombian winger has scored one league goal for Rangers since his arrival, initially on loan, in January 2024.
During Sima’s time on loan at Rangers from Brighton in the 2023/24 campaign, the left-sided attacker proved that he had the quality to make a big impact in Scottish football.
The £3.9m-rated star scored 16 goals in all competitions for the Ibrox giants, per Transfermarkt, and offered a big goal threat in the Premiership for Philippe Clement.
Appearances
25
Starts
17
Goals
11
Big chances created
2
Assists
2
Dribbles completed per game
1.2
Duels won per game
6.4
As you can see in the table above, Sima delivered 13 direct goal contributions in 17 starts in the top-flight for Rangers that season, before he returned to Brighton at the end of his loan spell.
The forward then scored 12 goals in all competitions for Brest on loan in France last season, which shows that he has continued to offer a threat in front of goal.
Abdallah Sima
This is why Rangers missing out on a £3.9m deal, particularly given what they paid for Cortes, could be seen as a blunder by the recruitment team and Martin.
However, the Gers are now reportedly looking at a move for a Premier League attacker who could be a Sima repeat at Ibrox in the 2025/26 campaign.
Rangers in talks to sign Premier League forward
According to RangersReview, Rangers have made contact with Everton over a potential deal to sign Portuguese centre-forward Youssef Chermiti.
The report claims that the Light Blues have enquired about a move to bring him to Ibrox on a season-long loan deal, with talks underway between the two clubs ahead of Monday’s deadline.
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Everton-based reporter El Bobble adds that the Gers are advancing in talks to complete a deal for the versatile forward, which suggests that progress has been made in recent hours.
The account, previously credited by David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano, claims that the Scottish giants are also looking to include an option to make the deal permanent.
It is now down to the club to ensure that they can wrap up a move for the 21-year-old star in the coming days before the window slams shut on Monday.
Why Chermiti could be the next Sima for Rangers
Supporters may take a look at Chermiti’s statistics and be concerned by the fact that he has not scored a goal in over two years with Everton, although he only played four times in the Premier League last season.
The young forward has failed to deliver a single goal or assist in 24 matches for Everton in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which is not going to instill much hope from fans looking into his career.
However, Chermiti, dubbed an “outstanding” talent by U23 scout Antonio Mango, also came through the ranks and made first-team appearances at Sporting, a huge club, before being signed for a whopping fee of £15m by Everton in 2023.
Despite not scoring a competitive goal for Everton’s first-team, there is potential for Chermiti to arrive at Ibrox as a repeat of Sima, as another loanee from a Premier League club who could make a big impact at Ibrox.
Prior to his loan move to Glasgow, Sima had not played a single game for Brighton and had only scored five goals on loan at Angers, which shows that they were not signing a proven talent at the time.
U21
2
1
U20
4
2
U19
4
3
U18
12
6
U16
12
1
U15
5
1
As you can see in the table above, Chermiti has showcased his goalscoring potential at youth level for Portugal across various age groups in recent years, scoring 12 goals in 22 games since making the step up to U18 football.
He has not had a run of starts to show what he can do at first-team level, yet, and that is why a move to Rangers could make a lot of sense for all parties involved.
Chermiti will have the chance to play regular football and translate his goalscoring prowess at youth level over to the Premiership, and Rangers will have a talented young player who could develop during his time at Ibrox, much like Sima did.
"They'll hate me saying it" – McCoist slams one thing on Rangers signings
Eight new signings started against Club Brugge.
ByCharlie Smith Aug 28, 2025
The key difference between the two deals, though, could be that Rangers may have an option to make the deal permanent next summer, which will be significant if he has a positive impact on the pitch.
Board accused of selecting best outcomes in dealing with the aftermath of investigations into allegations of racism
Osman Samiuddin14-Mar-2025Cricket Scotland’s (CS) race row is threatening to erupt again after the board was accused of being elusive and cherry-picking best outcomes in dealing with the aftermath of investigations into allegations of racism and racist behaviour.Majid Haq, the former cricketer and central figure in the row, his lawyer, and Running Out Racism, an anti-racism advocacy group that has been involved through the process, made the accusations after the emergence of a report which said that Haq had suffered racial discrimination and had been victimised for going public with allegations. Cricket Scotland has responded strongly to claims that it has not adopted an anti-racist stance in the aftermath, or that it failed to address issues raised by those investigations.Last year, Cricket Scotland had seemingly closed the chapter on the investigations sparked by a damning report in 2022 which found the board to be institutionally racist. That report had been set in motion by allegations of victimisation and racism by Haq and another former player, Qasim Sheikh.The report led to over 50 cases being investigated by an independent team comprising two legal firms and a race equality charity. Ultimately none of the cases resulted in sanctions against those accused, although the investigators made clear at the time that findings of guilt or innocence were not within the remit of their work. That no disciplinary action was taken in the cases, they said, illustrated the difficulties involved in such investigations, such as a lack of governance and process, the historic nature of some complaints, or incidents that were outside Cricket Scotland’s jurisdiction.Instead, they made 245 recommendations, or learnings, which Cricket Scotland has committed to – and is in the process of – implementing.Related
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But it has now emerged that the two legal firms had compiled reports based on their joint investigations which, according to Running Out Racism, includes “contradictory views between members of the investigation team”. The reports centre on the period when Haq was sent home from the 2015 World Cup for tweeting “Always tougher when in a minority #race #colour” after being dropped for a game. He never played another game for Scotland, despite being their leading wicket-takerAccording to Haq’s lawyer Aamer Anwar, one report makes it clear that Haq “was discriminated against and victimised for raising complaints of racism, and that victimisation continues today.” The report finds prima facie evidence that the decision to send him home, as well as several outcomes as a result of that decision, had elements of racial bias and discrimination. The other report is believed to hold a different opinion.The reports were meant only for internal consumption within the board and had not been shared in full with Haq, despite requests. Running Out Racism said they had been provided a full copy by an “anonymous source” and said it was clear why Cricket Scotland had been “so elusive in providing further details.””Whilst we accept that the reports themselves were prepared for Cricket Scotland, they were prepared independently, and Cricket Scotland have chosen to summarise the aspects they wish to share, and leave out the conclusions that they don’t like. These conclusions expose their lack of action when faced with clear evidence of issues.”Haq said the board had tried to hide the report’s conclusion from him. “[It] validates what I already knew – that I’ve been racially discriminated against and that I continue to be victimised as a result of speaking out. And yet Cricket Scotland have tried to hide that from me and brush me off with statements like ‘we could have handled your departure from the World Cup better’.”Cricket Scotland have hidden behind jurisdiction time & time again. Whilst I’m relieved to finally read my report and see the truth, I think everything should be disclosed & let the public decide who is culpable in all this. It’s clear that a lot of information has been swept under the carpet.”Cricket Scotland have stressed that the report was an opinion and one of multiple ones. They expressed their disappointment at the breach in confidentiality in it going outside the board.”We understand a small number of individuals continue to feel publicly aggrieved by the outcomes of the process,” the board said in a statement. “To suggest this means Cricket Scotland is not taking an anti-racist stance is simply wrong.”It is deeply disappointing that an investigative process which relied on the trust of individuals involved and a confidential report that followed is being utilised to further personal agendas.”The report is an opinion that was constructed around this matter, and not a declaration of fact. Other opinions as well as detailed legal analysis were provided for the Cricket Scotland Board to consider how it would act.”
Ex-Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara has called for Manchester United to hire former captain Roy Keane as manager, in a bid to reverse the Red Devils' atrocious form under Ruben Amorim. The talkSPORT pundit lauded the fiery Irishman for his leadership skills, saying the 58-year-old would "not allow poor standards". O'Hara did acknowledge the club was highly unlikely to make the move, however.
O'Hara praises Keane's leadership skills
Speculation over Amorim's future has predictably resurfaced after United fell to a lacklustre 3-1 defeat away to Brentford this past weekend. O'Hara believes the paucity of standards within the United dressing room needs an urgent fix, something a hard taskmaster like Keane could provide.
The former Tottenham midfielder went as far as to suggest it was "unbelievable" that nobody at United had reached out to Keane for his involvement in the increasingly shambolic goings on at Old Trafford
Speaking on Wednesday on Sky Sports, O'Hara said: "I'm amazed that no one has phoned Roy Keane and said, 'Can you come in at Man Utd and be part of what we're doing here?' because he is arguably Man Utd's greatest captain.
"He is a leader. He's unbelievable. When you watch him, he's ferocious, you listen to him, when he walks into a dressing room, you're going to listen.
"He's going to lead by example. He's not going to allow poor standards. I can't believe Manchester United have not phoned Roy Keane.
"Maybe it's because he can't be the manager.
"Maybe it's because he's too hot-headed, I don't know. They want someone in with more tactical nous or whatever.
"How Roy Keane isn't in there at that football club, in the dressing room, in there every day at the training ground telling them this is the standard, this is what's Man Utd, this is what we've built, this is how we do it… I cannot believe they've not done something like that."
AdvertisementGetty Images EntertainmentUnited's terrible form under Amorim
Whether O'Hara's idea has any legs, it's clear something needs to change at United. The Red Devils have won just two of their first six Premier League games this season, with Amorim criticised for failing to get the most out of notable summer signings like Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, while steadfastly sticking with a faltering 3-4-2-1 system.
His 34 points in 33 league games as United boss is a paltry return on his tenure. The 3-1 loss at Brentford is the Portuguese's 17th loss in the Premier League.
Keane's managerial record
While O'Hara's rousing call to arms for Keane to return to Old Trafford in some guise may resonate with some embattled United supporters, there's little evidence to suggest the Irishman could right the ship. The 54-year-old as not held a managerial position since leaving Ipswich Town in 2014. While he has experience as a number two since then, most notably alongside Martin O'Neill for the Republic of Ireland, his abrasive style which O'Hara seemingly thinks would return to the club to a golden age is just as likely to cause discontent in a modern dressing room.
Keane, of course, has not played the game since 2006 and played in a completely different era; however, he does know what success looks like, winning seven Premier League trophies, as well as four FA Cups and the Champions League during his time at Old Trafford. United's current woes would surely have him tearing his hair out.
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Getty Images SportKeane to stay in media, but farewell to Amorim?
For all of his intimation that he does not enjoy working in the football media, it seems Keane is very content with his current workload. His comedy double act alongside Ian Wright on Stick to Football and ITV's international coverage never fails to deliver, while his diatribes against the 'babies' in the Premier Leagues on Sky Sports makes for appointment viewing. It's unlikely he will want to return to the club in any guise given just how poorly it seemingly being run. O'Hara might just fancy nipping in a couple of Keane's vacant punditry spots rather than genuinely feeling the Irishman should involve himself in the Manchester United melodrama.
Birmingham City completed the summer transfer window with one of the highest quantities of arrivals in the Championship, despite being quite a way off the highest expenditure.
Tom Wagner and Tom Brady oversaw permanent transfers, loan moves and free agent arrivals for 14 new players for a net spend of just over £3.6 million for Chris Davies. They ranked 7th for highest net spend, and only a small number of teams had more arrivals; however, leading up to deadline day, Davies shared his desire for more arrivals:
“I think we need a little bit of reinforcement, just depth in our defensive area and again, we could do with a bit more depth, maybe higher up the pitch as well. But we have to see what the squad looks like in the next couple of days because there’s a lot of moving parts to it, as I said. But everyone’s trying, we’ll see what happens.”
The Blues did manage to bring in late additions in defender Jack Robinson and winger Patrick Roberts from Sheffield United and Sunderland respectively. However, it now looks like that deadline day didn’t satiate Davies’s desire for reinforcements and so Birmingham are looking to take advantage of the free agent market to bring in a Premier League-proven midfielder.
Birmingham front-runners to sign free agent Oxlade-Chamberlain
Birmingham City are looking to reinforce their midfield options and continue developing into a Premier League quality team by bringing in free agent and former Premier League winner Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Since leaving Liverpool in 2023, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been playing for the Turkish side Besiktas. However, in mid-August, it started being reported that Besiktas were looking to terminate Oxlade-Chamberlain’s contract and that the midfielder was interested in a move back to England. On August 27th, the Turkish side paid off the remaining £1.5 million of his contract, making him a free agent.
While any club could have signed the Nike-sponsored midfielder during the transfer window, clubs focused on deals that required an actual club-to-club transfer, as being a free agent, Oxlade-Chamberlain can be signed at any time.
Ever since the rumours of a contract termination first broke, Birmingham have been one of the most heavily connected teams. Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke has now reported that Birmingham are at the forefront of the race to sign Oxlade-Chamberlain and are the leading candidates. However, they face competition from European teams as well as Premier League side Leeds United.
Opportunity to sign "wonderful" midfielder
If Birmingham can tempt Oxlade-Chamberlain away from his other suitors, they will be receiving a seasoned player with Champions League and International experience.
When he joined Besiktas, his former Liverpool manager, Jürgen Klopp, had plenty of praise, calling Oxlade-Chamberlain “wonderful”.
In the years since Klopp said this about Oxlade-Chamberlain, his injury record hasn’t improved. However, the experience that he can bring to the Birmingham side, having gone through a successful promotion campaign with Southampton and having copious amounts of Premier League experience, will make him an invaluable addition to the team.