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Arsenal’s Hale End academy has been on a brilliant run of producing top-quality talent over the last few years.

When Mikel Arteta first took over, it was Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe who were the new youngsters taking the first team by storm.

Last season, it was Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly who burst into the senior side, and this year, it looks like Max Dowman is going to be the most talked-about youngster in the league.

However, despite producing numerous elite wingers and midfielders, the club has yet to develop a striker of the same calibre, selling those that have come through the ranks, including one who is now winning comparisons to Alexander Isak.

Arsenal's Hale End strikers

When talking about recent Hale End strikers, it’s impossible to ignore Eddie Nketiah.

Where Are They Now

Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

The Englishman joined Arsenal at 14 years old, made his debut for the first team in September 2017, and for a time looked like he was going to be a star for the club.

After all, he was given a new £100,000-per-week contract and the legendary number 14 in the summer of 2022, following his scoring of 10 goals and providing one assist in 27 appearances at the end of the 2021/22 season.

Unfortunately, while he was a useful squad player, that was as much as he was ever going to be at the Emirates, and so when Crystal Palace offered £30m for him last summer, the club couldn’t say no.

While that was an excellent deal for the Gunners, you’d have to say the £4m they got for Mika Biereth in the same window was anything but.

In the second half of last season, the Danish poacher racked up an impressive haul of 14 goals and provided five assists in 25 appearances for Sturm Graz, which was enough to convince AS Monaco to sign him in January for just over £10m.

Since joining the Ligue 1 side, the 22-year-old has scored 13 goals and provided three assists in just 22 appearances, which is precisely the sort of forward Arteta could use in the squad today.

However, perhaps the most regretful sale is of another player plying his trade on the French Riviera, a striker who has been compared to the record-breaking Isak.

The former Arsenal ace compared to Isak

Beyond the pair already mentioned, Arsenal have not sold a great deal of strikers in recent years, so it probably won’t come as a surprise that the player in question is none other than Florian Balogun.

The American international joined the Gunners at the age of eight and worked his way up through the academy, making a name for himself as a prolific number nine.

In fact, he was so prolific that he remains the club’s all-time leading goalscorer for the U21 side with 37 in just 62 games.

However, it wasn’t until his loan move to Stade Reims for the 22/23 season that he began to translate his form at the junior level to the senior game, as in just 39 appearances for the Ligue 1 outfit, he scored 22 goals and provided three assists.

Such a rate of return gave Arteta and Co. a decision to make when he returned: play him or sell him? They opted for the latter when Monaco offered to pay a whopping £34m for the then 22-year-old.

It’s been mixed for the New York-born poacher since then, as injuries have been a problem, but he’s still managed to rack up a tally of 21 goal involvements in 50 appearances, totalling just 2829 minutes.

Moreover, FBref has come to the conclusion that Liverpool’s new record-breaking number nine, Isak, has been the sixth most similar forward to the American over the last 365 days, which is quite the flattering comparison.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.82

0.70

Shots on Target

1.46

1.34

Goals per Shot on Target

0.40

0.46

Live Passes

17.4

19.8

Tackles Won

0.15

0.16

Carries

21.0

20.1

We can get a better understanding of how this conclusion was reached by looking at some of the underlying numbers that the pair rank closely in.

These include metrics such as non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots on target, goals shot on target, carries, live passes and more.

These statistics suggest that, with the right coaching and the right system, the “special” Hale End gem, as dubbed by Arteta, could potentially perform similarly to the Swedish marksman, at least in terms of his ability to carry the ball and get into dangerous areas.

Ultimately, given the money they were offered at the time, Arsenal probably did the right thing selling Balogun, but we can’t help wondering how he would have fared had Arteta opted to keep him.

Arsenal have Dowman 2.0 in 16-year-old Hale Ender who's a "top prospect"

The incredibly exciting gem could be Arsenal’s next big thing after Dowman.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 9, 2025

Ruben Amorim was shocked by the 'knee-jerk reaction' to Manchester United's latest defeat, as they lost 3-1 to Brentford, and insiders at the club now fear that he will resign, instead of being sacked, per a new report. The Red Devils have lost three of their opening six Premier League games and were dumped out of the League Cup by Grimsby Town.

Amorim surprised by fallout

Per the , Amorim has been surprised by the sheer amount of scrutiny that is on both the club and his position after their uninspiring start to the season. The Portuguese is said to be shocked by the fact there is a 'knee-jerk reaction' after every single defeat, and United have, thus far, lost half of their Premier League fixtures, and were also embarrassed by Grimsby in the League Cup. The most recent loss, to Brentford, has left Amorim with the sixth-lowest points tally after 33 games at any club in the history of the Premier League. Nevertheless, the club are said to have faith that the former Sporting CP boss can turn their season around, but insiders now fear he could walk away.

Chairman Sir Jim Ratcliffe is said to be very keen to ensure that Amorim has a full season to prove himself but there is a concern that Amorim will see United as being a career-defining job, particularly if they keep losing games with the same regularity they are currently. 

AdvertisementAFPUnited being linked with other managers

United have been heavily linked with potential replacements for Amorim, although the report states that sources at the club are maintaining they have yet to draw up any kind of shortlist. While Erik ten Hag was in charge, the club did actively speak to other potential hires, doing so with Amorim before the Bayer Leverkusen boss moved on, but they are insistent there has been no repeat this time. Reports are linking the club with both Michael Carrick and Gareth Southgate, however, but the latter has not had any contact with Ratcliffe, despite the owner being an admirer of the former England boss.

Carrick could be seen as a potential interim appointment if Amorim does move on, but it speaks to the faith INEOS have in the 40-year-old that they are yet to open direct communications with anybody else. United play Sunderland before the international break and that game has already become a must-win, with the newly-promoted side in fine form with only one defeat from their opening six fixtures.

Amorim's defining period?

Amorim said after the defeat to Brentford that he was not concerned about his immediate future. 

He said: "I am never concerned about my job – I am not that kind of guy It is not my decision. I will do the best I can every minute I am here."

He was also not willing to throw his players under the bus after such a poor display, adding: "I think we played the game they wanted us to play, the opponents – really confused: first balls, second balls. If we play the game of the opponent, it’s harder for us. We never settled the game down. We suffered two goals where we knew they are really strong on that, with the long balls. Then we tried to get back in the game. We miss a penalty, and all these moments are a little bit against us. That could change the game, but in the end, we need to – and we should do – better.

"We need to have those moments for us. In the last game we had that, especially in the beginning of the game. Today, my biggest concern is the way we didn’t settle down the game, to control the game, to play our game. We should do that more in the game."

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(C)Getty ImagesWhere next for Man Utd?

United face Sunderland before the international break but they then face a huge test once they return: A trip to Anfield to face Liverpool. The two sides could not be enjoying more different seasons, and the Reds will be out to hand down another major defeat on their bitter rivals. Last season at Anfield, Liverpool were held to a 2-2 draw by Amorim's men, and a similar result for United would feel like manna from heaven given the state of their current campaign. 

LSG chasing down their target with 23 balls and five wickets to spare was giving SRH a taste of their own medicine

Hemant Brar27-Mar-20251:28

What makes Shardul Thakur effective?

Before the match, many expected Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to post the first 300-plus total in IPL history. There were reasons to justify the speculation. After a record-breaking IPL 2024, SRH had posted 286 for 6 in their IPL 2025 opener, also in Hyderabad, and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) were without at least two of their first-choice bowlers.Forget 300, SRH could not even score 200. They managed 190 for 9 with Shardul Thakur picking up 4 for 34, his best figures in the IPL.Still, 190 was not a small total. But Nicholas Pooran made it look minuscule. He smashed 70 off just 26 balls, hitting six fours and as many sixes. By the time Pat Cummins had him lbw, LSG needed only 71 from 68 balls.Related

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Batters hitting their first three balls in an IPL innings for sixes

Mitchell Marsh, who played second fiddle to Pooran while they were together, also scored a fifty before Abdul Samad applied the finishing touches.LSG chasing down their target with 23 balls and five wickets to spare was giving SRH a taste of their own medicine. Last season, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma had taken just 9.4 overs to chase down LSG’s 165 at this very venue.Thakur gets two in twoLSG knew the only way to stop the marauding SRH batting unit was to take early wickets. Thakur went in search of swing in the first over but did not find success. But in his next over, he dismissed Abhishek and Ishan Kishan off successive balls. Abhishek pulled a short ball into the hands of deep square-leg, and Kishan was caught down the leg side.1:28

What makes Shardul Thakur effective?

Head went after the returning Avesh Khan, hitting him for two sixes and a four in the fourth over. Two overs later, he tried to take on Ravi Bishnoi but ended up skying a slog sweep. Pooran, though, put the chance down at long-on. Four balls later, Bishnoi failed to latch on to a tough return catch. Head was on 35 at the time of the first drop but it cost LSG only 12 as Prince Yadav made a mess of Head’s stumps for his first wicket in the IPL.Klaasen’s bizarre run outNitish Kumar Reddy and Heinrich Klaasen took SRH past 100 in the 11th over before Klaasen was run out in bizarre fashion. Nitish hit a full toss from Prince to the bowler’s left. Prince failed to hold on to the catch, but the ball found a way to ricochet on to the stumps at the non-striker’s end with Klaasen well outside his crease. Soon after, Bishnoi castled Nitish for 32 off 28, leaving SRH in a spot.Sixes and outsIn keeping with the SRH team ethos, the batters kept attacking. But while they kept hitting sixes, they also kept getting out. Aniket Verma smashed Bishnoi for back-to-back sixes and repeated it against Digvesh Rathi in the following over before getting out for 36 off 13 balls. Cummins walked out at No. 8, hit the first three balls he faced for three sixes, and was out on the fourth. That took SRH to 180 for 8 after 18 overs. However, only ten runs came from the last two.1:49

Knight breaks down Pooran’s six-hitting

Pooran makes it a one-sided contestMohammed Shami removed Aiden Markram in the second over of the chase, but Pooran took the attack to the opposition as soon as he walked out. His first boundary came via a misfield before he smoked Simarjeet Singh over deep midwicket twice in two balls.Bringing on a left-arm orthodox spinner with Pooran in the middle is always risky. But Cummins took that gamble with Abhishek. Pooran faced only two balls from him and slog-swept both for sixes. He has now hit seven sixes off nine balls against Abhishek in T20 cricket.He didn’t spare legspinner Adam Zampa either, hitting him for two sixes and a four in the seventh over. Off the first 20 balls he faced, he hit five fours and six sixes.Marsh’s fifty, Samad’s cameoMarsh was on 37 off 22 balls when Pooran got out. He had hit Shami for two straight sixes in the powerplay. In the 11th over, he hit Cummins for back-to-back fours to bring up his fifty off 29 balls. Cummins had him caught at long-on soon after but it was too late.At the end of 11 overs, LSG needed only 53. They did lose Rishabh Pant and Ayush Badoni along the way, but their victory was never in doubt. Samad, a former SRH player, smashed an unbeaten 22 off eight balls to complete the formalities.

For so many years, the Europa League offered Rangers supporters a safe space away from their domestic trials and tribulations, but even that is no longer the case.

On Thursday night, Russell Martin suffered yet another defeat, with his side defeated 1-0 at the hands of Genk in their league phase opener.

Only 38,000 were in attendance at Ibrox, around 12,000 below capacity, as supporters voted with their feet against the manager and CEO Patrick Stewart, considering the Gers currently sit second bottom of the Scottish Premiership table, ahead of Sunday’s trip to Livingston.

In the Europa League meantime, former Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-gyu was the main character of the evening, seeing a penalty saved by Jack Butland, missing at least two guilt-edged opportunities, before eventually scoring the only goal of the night, poking home at the back post, getting on the end of Patrik Hrošovský’s ball across.

From a Rangers perspective, most of the heat will be on the under-fire manager, but many of his players simply aren’t pulling their weight, one in particular not having any discernible positive impact on the night’s proceedings.

Mohamed Diomandé's costly red card

Rangers are finding winning football matches difficult enough right now with the full complement of 11 players, let alone ten.

In the quarter of an hour before half time, referee Matej Jug took centre stage, making three key decisions that all went against the home side.

The most outcome-altering was of course the red card, with Mohamed Diomandé dismissed for a foul on Zakaria El Ouahdi.

The Ivorian did win the ball, but his foot then bounced off the top of the ball and into El Ouahdi’s calf, thereby deemed a dangerous tackle.

Mere moments before, the Ibrox faithful thought their side were going to be given a penalty, Joris Kayembe seemingly set to be penalised for a handball, but the referee instead adjudged that James Tavrnier had committed a foul, which Ally McCoist said, speaking on commentary for TNT Sports, was the “biggest cop out you’ll see all night… he’s invented a shove there to take the easy way out”.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Even after the sending off, there was still time for Jug to award Genk a penalty in first-half injury time, following video review, but Oh’s attempt was saved by Jack Butland, eliciting the loudest cheer of the night.

Nevertheless, they were never truly able to recover from the loss of Diomandé and, even though he clearly didn’t mean to put in a dangerous challenge, he did ultimately, as McCoist put it, “cost his team”.

However, another Rangers starter offered even less on Thursday night, bringing into question why so much was paid for his services.

Rangers' anonymous attacker

Martin made just one change to his Rangers team that beat Hibs in the League Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, with Bojan Miovski, who actually scored his first goal for the club in that one, dropping to the bench, with Youssef Chermiti handed a first start for the club.

The 21-year-old joined the Light Blues for a reported fee of £8m, potentially rising to £10m, from Everton on deadline day, despite having scored zero goals in 24 appearances for the Toffees.

In fact, his most recent senior goal came for Sporting CP against Paços de Ferreira on 7 May 2023, underlining why this enormous fee raised so many eyebrows.

Well, as Chermiti seeks to change public perception of him in Glasgow, he didn’t do a very good job of it against Genk, as the table below outlines.

Shots

Zero

6th

Accurate passes

10

12th

Key passes

1

3rd

Duels contested

15

2nd

Duels won

5

4th

Possession lost

10

4th

Touches

24

11th

Sofascore rating

6.3

14th

As the table documents, Chermiti essentially had no impact on Rangers as an attacking force on Thursday, touching the ball a mere 24 times, nine fewer than the dismissed Diomandé, as well as five less than Oliver Antman, who was introduced as a half-time substitute. That return was also less than the aforementioned Butland, who recorded 45 touches.

Of course, it isn’t easy playing the role of a lone striker, especially when your side are down to ten men, but the Portuguese youngster lost possession ten times, as well as winning only five of 15 duels, not mustering a single shot, which simply isn’t good enough.

It is obviously unfair on the youngster, but when you cost as much as Chermiti has, big things are expected.

That fee will only prove to be value for money if he fires Rangers to league titles and scores crucial goals in European competition, so the fact that it is over two years since the striker scored a goal for anybody has to be alarming.

The most galling fact is that Martin left a proven goalscorer in Miovski, one who literally scored a goal less than a week ago, in reserve, watching on like the rest of the Rangers support, wondering how on earth this team are ever going to score a goal.

Reports suggest Martin now has three games to save his job, all away from home, facing Livingston, Sturm Graz and then Falkirk on the road in the next ten days, so, if he is to remain in situ during the international break, he must ditch Chermiti and get Miovski back up front.

Not Dyche or Gerrard: Rangers should axe Martin for future "elite manager"

With Russell Martin under intense pressure as Rangers boss, the 49ers should make a future “elite manager” their top target to replace him at Ibrox.

ByBen Gray Sep 25, 2025

Carlo Ancelotti insists Neymar remains in his plans for the World Cup next year, but has warned the Santos star that he must be fully fit to earn a recall to the final Brazil squad. The forward has not played for the Selecao since October 2023, in a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay, but Ancelotti says he could yet play a part in next summer's tournament.

Getty Images SportTwo years out of the Brazil picture

Neymar has 128 caps for Brazil but has not featured for his country since 2023. Now, though, Ancelotti has claimed that there is a route back into the squad for the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward, who is back playing for Santos, having returned to the club earlier this year.

Since his exit from PSG, the 33-year-old has struggled immensely with injuries, sustaining a cruciate ligament tear while with Al Hilal in 2023/24; he has subsequently had to deal with a recurring hamstring problem that has further limited his minutes. And while Ancelotti admits he has been planning for the 2026 tournament Neymar involved, he has warned that he must regain full fitness. 

AdvertisementAncelotti's warning to Neymar

Ancelotti told reporters: "Neymar can play at his highest level in this team without any problems. When he is in good physical condition, he has the quality to play not only in Brazil but in any team in the world because of his talent."

He added: "Brazilian players have the quality to play beautiful football but you have to think about what you mean by beautiful football. Brazilian players have individual quality but that is combined with teamwork and movement off the ball, and that's very important in football.

"My goal is to give my best for the Brazil national team, to try to get them to perform at their best and to win the World Cup. Of course, no foreign-born coach has ever won the World Cup but there is always a first time in life."

GettyNeymar faces fierce competition

Neymar has often been hailed as one of the best Brazilian players of his generation but he now faces immense competition if he is to reclaim his starting spot under the former Real Madrid boss.

In his last squad, Ancelotti included the following attacking players: Richarlison, Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli, Joao Pedro, Luiz Henrique, and Estevao. In their most recent outing, they beat South Korea 5-0 in an international friendly. That was a fine response to their most recent World Cup qualifying defeat to Bolivia, which left them fifth in the South American qualification standings. Nevertheless, they have qualified to maintain an ever-present record at the tournament stretching back 95 years, doing so in their lowest-ever qualifying position. 

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Ronaldo hangs his hat on attacker

Brazil legend Ronaldo Nazario has claimed that Neymar is central to his side's hopes of winning a first World Cup since 2002, when R9 himself walked away with the Golden Boot.

He said: "Brazil can achieve anything with the players they have available. Neymar can be, and I believe he will be, an important player in the World Cup. Everyone wants Neymar at 100%. That's what Ancelotti wants, and what he wants too. In his mind, I see a strong desire to be at the World Cup and help the Brazilian team."

He added: "I hope he's 100%. He's coming off a serious injury, and what he's going through is very natural: re-adaptation, game rhythm. The criticism is exaggerated, but expectations for him are always high, and that's why they exist. But Neymar knows what needs to be done to be 100% at the World Cup."

Piyush Chawla feels the lack of success so far this season has made Chahal “play more of a safe game”

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Apr-20252:33

Chawla: Not the Chahal we’re used to seeing

Last year, Yuzvendra Chahal the first bowler to reach the 200-wicket mark in the IPL. No one else has reached there yet – the next best among active bowlers is Bhuvneshwar Kumar with 186. But a year on, and five matches into IPL 2025 for his new team Punjab Kings (PBKS), questions are cropping up about Chahal’s effectiveness.In this IPL, Chahal has picked up just two wickets in five innings at an economy rate of 11.13 and has not bowled his full quota in three games. Since making his debut in IPL 2013, Chahal – a wicket-taking option – has never had an economy rate of over 9.41 (2024) in a season. This year, he is going at 11.13, the 56 he conceded in his four overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Saturday not helping that number.Piyush Chawal, another legspinner and the second-highest wicket-taker in the history of the IPL, felt Chahal has been playing a “safe game”, which is new for him.Related

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“Well, he created that chance [Chahal dropped Abhishek Sharma off his own bowling] and you need at least one chance, and he created that one and he has nobody [else] to blame for that,” Chawla said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show. “He almost reached there but apart from that… later on when both the batters [Abhishek and Travis Head] were going after him, I didn’t find that Yuzvendra Chahal which we used to see a couple of years back and even till last year. He was just not trying to get the batter out. He was just trying to toss it wide and playing more of a safe game, defensive bowling. That Yuzvendra Chahal we have not seen.”What would Chawla have done on a flat pitch like the one in Hyderabad where the opponents are playing a high-risk, high-reward game chasing a huge target?”I have not seen him bowling googlies also. If you’re bowling wide outside off stump for them [left-hand batters] and it’s going away from there, so you eventually get a chance to get a wicket or something like that,” Chawla said. “But he didn’t bowl that, maybe because of the lack of form. If you see this season, he has bowled some 14-15 [15] overs and he’s not bowled his four [overs] quite often, and he’s conceding more than 11-12 runs in a season at the moment, which [makes] you feel you want to play a defensive game.Yuzvendra Chahal has looked off-colour so far•BCCI”You just want to get your four overs in and then try to pick up a wicket. But today, I felt it was the day when you have 245 runs on the board, any which way you’re going for runs, so you should better try for wickets and if you pick up those couple of wickets, then you are in the game.”PBKS, who have never won the IPL, went hard for Chahal at the auction and spent INR 18 crore for him, making him the most expensive spinner ever bought at an IPL auction. He is their premier spinner. Though PBKS have won three of their five matches so far, will Chahal’s form affect them as the race for the playoffs heats up?”I think the few deliveries that he bowled when he picked up Travis Head’s wicket, that is what we need to see Yuzvendra Chahal bowl more often,” Wasim Jaffer said. “You’re looking to spin the ball, looking to bowl googly, looking to put some revs on the ball, which I think we are missing from watching Yuzi. He is very defensive in his mindset and the pressure is pretty much visible on his face that, you know, he’s off colour. But you know for Punjab to become good, he’s the main puzzle that they need to solve.”

Somerset batters graft to post 131 for 6 but come up well short in final analysis

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay30-May-2025Danni Wyatt-Hodge and Paige Scholfield raised a match-winning stand of 112 as Surrey women launched their Vitality Blast campaign with a convincing eight-wicket win over Somerset at the Cooper Associates Ground, Taunton.Both hit half-centuries, Scholfield top-scoring with an enterprising 63 from 48 balls with 11 fours, while former England star Wyatt-Hodge made 53 not out from 35 deliveries in a sparkling innings that included six fours and a six as the visitors chased down a modest target with 4.3 overs to spare to claim a bonus point.Put into bat, Somerset struggled to build partnerships, lost early wickets and came up short at 131 for 6, Alex Griffiths top-scoring with an unbeaten 37-ball 36 and Bex Odgers contributing 27. Surrey’s spinners made scoring difficult, Tilly Corteen-Coleman taking 2 for 21 and Danielle Gregory 1 for 18 from four tight overs.It was a disappointing outcome for Somerset, who were watched by a crowd of more than 2000. Surrey skipper Bryony Smith won the toss, elected to field and watched her bowlers make crucial early inroads during a powerplay in which the home side flattered to deceive.Amelie Munday came out swinging on debut and contributed 12 in an opening stand of 39 in four overs with Odgers before dragging a delivery from Ryana MacDonald-Gay onto her stumps. Alexa Stonehouse struck another blow for Surrey in the next over, having Emma Corney held at backward point, while Corteen-Coleman comprehensively bowled Fran Wilson as Somerset lost three wickets in seven balls, finding themselves in need of a rebuild at 47 for 3 in the sixth.Unperturbed, the no-nonsense Odgers continued to take the aerial route, accruing a quartet of fours in hurrying to 27 from 20 balls, only to then blot her copybook by offering a return catch to Gregory and departing with the score on 54 for 4. Seeking to stabilise the innings, the experienced pair of Sophie Luff and Griffiths were necessarily cautious in advancing the score to 74 for 4 at the halfway stage.Somerset’s fifth-wicket pair had added 34 in 5.3 overs and were looking to launch when Luff, who had scored 22, took on Phoebe Franklin and sliced high to Corteen-Coleman at short third man.Griffiths and Amanda-Jade Wellington attempted a change in tempo, but the latter fell for 11, attempting to reverse sweep Corteen-Coleman and finding point as the hosts slipped to 111 for 6 after 17 in the face of accurate bowing. Scoring at a run-a-ball, Griffiths did her utmost to haul Somerset to a competitive total, providing a flourish at the death in partnership with Chloe Skelton. But the visitors had good reason to feel satisfied with their work in the field.Somerset needed early wickets and Ellie Anderson removed Smith for 4, Surrey’s captain sending a top-edged pull shot to backward point in the second over. But Wyatt-Hodge and Scholfield quickly redressed the balance, finding the gaps with regularity and ruthlessly exploiting the poor ball, advancing the score to 44 for 1 at the end of the powerplay.Australia spinner Wellington kept the second wicket pair in check for a time, but there was a certain inevitability about proceedings as the partnership realised 50 from 35 balls. Growing in confidence, Wyatt-Hodge plundered a straight six off Wellington as the boundaries began to flow and Somerset’s fielding became ragged under pressure.Surrey reached halfway on 86 for 1, at which point the required rate was under five an over and the outcome a foregone conclusion. Playing fluently by now, Scholfield was first to 50, attaining that landmark via 37 balls with her ninth four, a straight drive at the expense of Wellington that also brought up the hundred partnership. Wyatt-Hodge brought up her half century from just 33 balls, seeing the job through after Scholfield had been bowed by Olivia Barnes.

Manchester United’s situation on the pitch is one that needs a rapid change in the coming weeks, especially if boss Ruben Amorim is to save his job at Old Trafford.

The 40-year-old will mark a year in charge in just over a month’s time, but it remains to be seen if he will reach such a landmark given the Red Devils’ dismal displays in recent weeks.

His men have lost three of their first six Premier League matches in 2025/26, whilst also being knocked out of the Carabao Cup by League Two Grimsby Town.

Such results see the club occupy a place just above the relegation zone, just as they did last campaign, whilst already missing out on the opportunity to win a piece of silverware this season.

As a result, pressure has rapidly been building on Amorim’s shoulders, with numerous options already being lined up by the hierarchy should they decide to make a change of manager.

The latest on Man Utd’s shortlist of Amorim replacements

After winning the FA Cup and Community Shield within the last few months, Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has emerged as one of the options United could turn to if Amorim is sacked.

Such a move would be an excellent appointment, but it remains unclear at this stage whether the Austrian would be open to a switch to Old Trafford given his recent success at Selhurst Park.

However, he’s not the only manager currently in their sights, with Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola another option under consideration, according to TEAMtalk.

Their report claims that the Spaniard “would love” to take over at the Theatre of Dreams, with such a move reflecting his rapid rise in his managerial career.

It also states that the 43-year-old only has one year left on his contract at the Vitality, with the Cherries potentially having no choice but to allow him to depart in order to gain a compensation package.

Why United’s manager hunt could see an Amorim upgrade arrive

After joining last November, it’s safe to say no United fan would have expected the club’s form to take a further nose-dive after Amorim filled the hot-seat after Erik ten Hag’s dismissal.

The Portuguese boss arrived with huge expectations after winning two Liga Portugal titles during his spell in charge of Sporting CP – even beating Manchester City 4-1 in the Champions League prior to his move to England.

However, the 40-year-old has only achieved a 39% win rate in his 49 matches at the helm, with the defeat against Brentford last Saturday, the 21st of his tenure.

Such a result made it nine losses in the club’s last 15 league matches, with promoted sides such as Sunderland and Leeds United already ahead of them in the current standings.

A change is desperately needed, with a move for Iraola offering the Red Devils the fresh impetus they’ve desperately craved over the last couple of months.

Should he join the club, the first team would no doubt go back to a 4-2-3-1 system, something which Amorim has refused to do, but also offering the hierarchy an improvement on the man currently at the helm.

When comparing their respective stats in the Premier League, the difference is there for all to see, with the Spaniard a perfect option to right the wrongs of the last 12 months.

Games managed

94

49

Wins

38

19

Draws

22

9

Losses

34

21

Goals conceded

1.4

1.9

Points won

115

66

Points per game

1.5

1.3

Win percentage

40.4%

38.7%

Iraola, who in the words of journalist James Horncastle – via John Brewin of the Libero podcast – is the “best coach in the Premier League”, has achieved a 40% win rate at the Vitality, a rate higher than that of Amorim, winning 38 of his 94 matches in charge – subsequently doing so on a shoestring budget.

He’s also achieved a better point per game rate to date, with his side also conceding fewer goals per 90 – subsequently offering the Red Devils the needed defensive quality they’ve lacked.

The former Rayo Vallecano boss led the Cherries to a top-half finish last time around, something which Amorim was unable to do with a vastly more expensive squad at his disposal.

There’s no denying that the 40-year-old is on borrowed time, with the hierarchy desperately needing to make a decision soon to avoid another embarrassing campaign.

Should he be given his matching orders, it’s clear that Iraola would be a phenomenal option, with the Spaniard’s desire to make the move another reason why he should be the man to transform the club’s fortunes.

He's Klopp 2.0: "Incredible" boss is Man Utd's top target to replace Amorim

Manchester United now have a new option to replace Ruben Amorim as manager at Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 1, 2025

Santos have reportedly paused contract renewal talks with Neymar amid growing concerns over his fitness and high wages. The 33-year-old forward has missed significant time through injury this year. Despite the excellent relationship between Neymar and the club, officials want to reassess the situation before committing to an extension as his current contract runs until December.

Santos hit pause on Neymar's renewal

Santos are delaying negotiations over a new deal for Neymar as they continue to fight against relegation in the Brazilian Serie A. ESPN reports that the club’s board is in no rush to finalise a renewal, with doubts emerging over the star’s physical condition and the financial burden of maintaining his high salary. Neymar’s current contract expires in December 2025, and talks are expected to resume only after a full internal review.

The veteran forward’s return to Santos was initially seen as a fairytale homecoming when he rejoined from Al-Hilal in January. However, injuries have marred his comeback season, limiting him to just 21 appearances, in which he scored six goals and provided three assists. His latest setback, a rectus femoris muscle injury in his right thigh, has sidelined him since September 19.

Santos officials insist that no rift exists between the parties, despite the pause in talks. They believe Neymar must first regain full fitness before discussions over a long-term extension can continue. Behind the scenes, expectations are that he could return to action in November, giving him a final chance to prove his value before the season ends.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesNeymar's wages a burden for Santos

The situation marks a stark contrast from earlier in the year when Santos proudly announced a short-term renewal with Neymar. Back in June, the 33-year-old was in better form, attracting interest from European clubs and bringing renewed optimism to Vila Belmiro. Now, persistent injuries and inconsistent displays have shifted the club’s priorities as they focus on survival rather than star power.

Santos’ board must weigh the financial implications of keeping their marquee player while struggling in the league. Neymar’s salary is among the highest in South America, and his absences have amplified questions about whether he remains a sustainable investment for a club facing financial and sporting instability. With limited resources, Santos cannot afford to carry an injured talisman indefinitely.

Still, Neymar’s return to his boyhood club has provided commercial benefits. Shirt sales, attendances, and global attention surged after his signing, reinforcing his off-field influence. Yet, those gains now appear insufficient to offset the uncertainty surrounding his fitness — an all-too-familiar theme throughout his post-Barcelona career.

AFPNeymar's decline puts question marks on World Cup 2026 availability

Neymar’s physical decline has been a major storyline in recent years. After leaving Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 for Al-Hilal, the Brazilian suffered a devastating ACL injury that derailed his Saudi Pro League campaign, limiting him to just seven appearances. Since returning to Brazil, he has endured three more injuries, continuing a frustrating cycle that has haunted him since his European days.

His struggles have also affected his international career. Neymar hasn’t featured for Brazil since October 2023, when he played in a 2-0 defeat to Uruguay during World Cup qualifying. However, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that the forward remains in contention for the 2026 tournament — provided he proves his fitness.

“Neymar can play at his highest level in this team without any problems,” Ancelotti told reporters. “When he is in good physical condition, he has the quality to play not only in Brazil but in any team in the world because of his talent.” The Italian added that teamwork and movement off the ball will be crucial if Neymar is to adapt to Brazil’s evolving system.

Competition for attacking places has intensified in Neymar’s absence. Ancelotti’s latest squad featured Richarlison, Raphinha, Gabriel Martinelli, Joao Pedro, Luiz Henrique, and Estevao — a youthful, dynamic group redefining Brazil’s frontline. If Neymar hopes to return to the national team setup, he must prove that his experience outweighs concerns about his durability.

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Contract talks will be held in 2026

For now, Santos’ focus remains squarely on avoiding relegation and managing Neymar’s recovery carefully. The forward is expected to resume training in November, though the club will monitor him closely before clearing him for full competition. Any decision on his future will hinge on whether he can demonstrate lasting fitness and consistent form before the end of the campaign.

If his performances improve, Santos could reopen contract talks before the year concludes. However, if injuries persist, the club may choose to let his deal expire, allowing him to explore free transfers abroad. Reports suggest that European clubs such as Inter Milan and Napoli are keeping tabs but share similar reservations about his medical history.

Middlesex made to rue timing of declaration, and a spate of missed chances in the field

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 25-Jun-2025Luke Procter and James Sales both hit brilliant centuries to crown a remarkable Northamptonshire run chase against Middlesex as they reached their 311-run target in just over two sessions with 10 overs to spare at Wantage Road. It took Northamptonshire to their second Rothesay County Championship win of the season by five wickets and keeps their hopes of promotion alive.Procter played a true captain’s innings of 107 (137 balls, 14 fours), his second ton of the campaign in a third wicket partnership of 156 in 26.4 overs with Sales who picked up the mantle when his captain fell, going on to make 108 (120 balls, 12 fours, 2 sixes).Middlesex skipper Toby Roland-Jones (2-48) was left to rue his declaration calculations despite the visitors adding another 117 runs for the loss of five wickets in the morning session, Max Holden making 54 and Ryan Higgins a quickfire 44. With Roland-Jones calling time on 332 for eight, Calvin Harrison finished with figures of four for 107, while Liam Guthrie (2-60) took a further wicket to register a career best match haul of nine for 154.It left Northamptonshire with 73 overs to reach their target at 4.2 runs per over, a rate they matched and then exceeded as the day wore on. Middlesex will also reflect on their fielding performance with Procter given three lives off dropped catches on 12, 27 and 88.Earlier Middlesex resumed on 215 for three and were proactive from the outset as they went in search of quick runs to set up the declaration.Holden was unable to press on further after his half-century, bowled by Guthrie, but Higgins motored on, hooking Guthrie for six, flat batting Procter down the ground and attacking the spinners. Harrison had the final word when Higgins was deceived by the wrong’un as he attempted to sweep, the ball hitting the base of middle stump.A brilliant piece of fielding from Ricardo Vasconcelos accounted for Ben Geddes (24) as he swept Harrison. Vasconcelos took the catch on the square leg boundary, throwing the ball up as he stepped over the rope before walking in to pouch it safely.Middlesex’s lower order tried to keep up the pace, but lost a couple of quick wickets, Luke Holman coming down the wicket to Lloyd Pope and picking out long-off while Zafar Gohar cut Harrison straight to extra cover.With runs drying up, Roland-Jones called time to give Northamptonshire an awkward 20 minutes before lunch. It almost paid off when Vasconcelos edged Tom Helm, but Leus du Plooy shelled the chance at slip.The hosts were gifted another life after the interval when Procter was put down by a diving Josh de Caires at midwicket, but they picked up Vasconcelos three balls later when he drove loosely against Roland-Jones, Hollman taking a tumbling catch at point.Gohar found turn straight away, causing problems for the left-handers, bowling into the rough outside off-stump and almost removed Procter when he swept out to the square leg boundary. Hollman took an excellent running catch but could not hold on.Amid a fiery but expensive spell from Higgins, Procter powered one down the ground while Harrison cracked him over midwicket for six before the bowler trapped him lbw with one that kept low.Sales ran a single off de Caires to take Northamptonshire to 100 off 26 overs and dispatched Gohar over cow corner for six before Procter swept Gohar to bring up his half-century.Sales was using his feet well against the spinners, coming down the wicket to drive Gohar through the covers, going back to cut him behind square and when Hollman dropped short, he whipped him through midwicket. On the stroke of tea, he swung de Caires high over midwicket as Northamptonshire went in on 149 for two, still needing 162 in 39 overs.Northamptonshire came out firing after tea, Sales hooking Helm in front of square as he reached his half-century. Procter ran a quick two off Robson to reach his century, while Sales disdainfully put away a half-tracker, dissecting two fielders.Runs kept flowing as Procter reverse swept Gohar for four to take the run rate required below three and bring up the 150 partnership, before he was trapped lbw by Robson.Tim Robinson deposited a Robson full toss over extra cover, while Sales steered Roland-Jones down to third to take the target down to 50 and move into the nineties.Northamptonshire lost a fourth wicket when Robinson lofted Roland-Jones to wide mid-off, but Sales continued to attack, coming down the track against Gohar to move to 99 before working Roland-Jones to fine leg to reach his century.There was some late drama when Saif Zaib was caught on the boundary off Hollman and Sales finally departed, edging to slip off Robson. But with Justin Broad deploying his favourite sweep shot, Northamptonshire duly sealed the win.