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Muyeye and Finch the heroes with century stand before Billings knocks off winning runs

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay18-Jul-2025

The Kent Spitfires are through to the Vitality Blast quarter-finals after a thrilling final evening at Canterbury.The Spitfires eased to a seven-wicket win over Essex and thousands of fans stayed in the ground to watch Surrey’s nerve-shredding win over Sussex on the big screen, a result that confirmed Kent’s place in the top four.Kent held Essex to 172 for six after they’d raced to 65 for nought after the powerplay. Paul Walter top-scored with 52 while Charlie Allison hit 48.A 114-run partnership between Tawanda Muyeye, who made 80 from 49 balls and Harry Finch, who hit 64 from 35, effectively won Kent the game before Sam Billings hit the winning runs with 16 balls to spare.A crowd of 5,289 watched Kent initially struggle to contain Essex after putting them in, before Matt Parkinson got a desperately needed breakthrough when Michael Pepper reverse swept him to Klaassen for 28.Jordan Cox couldn’t repeat his epic innings from Thursday night, bowled by Joey Evison for six and Parkinson bowled tightly to drag back the scoring rate.Walter hit Denly straight to Harry Finch at square leg and it was 129 for 3 after 17. Gilchrist’s 18th went for 19 but got both Matt Critchley, who scooped him straight to Grant Stewart for 12, and Luc Benkenstein, who sliced him to Parkinson for six.Allison hit Stewart to Leaning on the long on boundary in the final over, leaving the contest evenly poised at halfway.Kent were 46 without loss after five overs when Walter came on at the Nackington Road end and took a wicket with his first ball, Daniel Bell-Drummond chipping him to Pepper. They eased to 82 for one at halfway, and Simon Harmer then came in for some punishment, Finch hitting him for successive sixes in an over that went for 19.Kent were aided by some problematic fielding, including a pivotal moment in the 12th when Finch hit Walter to backward square leg and Noah Thain could only parry him over the rope for six.Snater then bundled a routine stop over the rope for four and with Kent needing just 17 off the last five overs the chase was devoid of tension, although Muyeye holed out to Critchley and was caught by Benkenstein at the end of the 16th and Mohammad Amir then bowled Finch.Denly and Sam Billings waited out Amir before the latter creamed Snater for six and hit his next delivery for two to see Kent home.All eyes switched to the big-screen, which was showing the Surrey v Sussex game, with players and fans alike going through every possible emotion before they erupted when Chris Jordan took a wicket with the penultimate ball and it was finally confirmed they’d reached the last eight, for the first time since 2021.

Jean-Philippe Mateta insists he and Wilfried Zaha have cleared the air after their public spat last week. The Crystal Palace striker said, after scoring his first goal for France, that team-mates at Palace had laughed at his dream of playing for his country, and named Zaha as one of the players involved in the mockery, leading to a furious response from the FC Charlotte star.

• Mateta clears air

  Last week, Mateta was basking in the glow of his first France goal, and hit back at the critics in the Palace dressing room, as he alleged that Zaha and a gaggle of team-mates mocked his dreams of playing for his country. That led to an earnest response from Zaha in which he furiously denied the claim, insisting that he would never take aim at a team-mate in such a way. 

  He said: “My head’s on fire. I have to clear up this Mateta situation. Because he doesn’t want to. I spoke to him and he doesn’t want to, he’s okay with it. This just shows me, all the time I played for Crystal Palace, people watching me, it’s clear that they weren’t happy for me.

  “Because I never made anyone feel like ‘sh*t’. I never… everyone knows me. The only time on the pitch is when I’m passionate and all that stuff. But I’d never bully someone or say someone won’t make it here or won’t make it at all or nothing like that. It’s disgusting when I see someone that I thought was a friend do that.”

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  Mateta retracts statement

  Now, the Palace striker has insisted that pair have spoken, with Mateta preparing for the Eagles' clash with AEK Larnaca in the UEFA Conference League, and that the air has been firmly cleared. 

  He said: “I spoke with him, everything is good. We talked in private and that’s it.”

  Mateta has also confirmed his desire to keep playing for France, with his sights set on the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. He added: "I am very proud of myself. I am very happy. I think I deserved it because I train very hard with all of the team. It's a dream come true and I hope I get called upon again."

• Mateta met Deschamps' challenge

  Ahead of France's clashes with Azerbaijan and Iceland – Les Bleus won the first game 3-0 and drew the second 2-2 – France boss Didier Deschamps laid down the gauntlet for Mateta to prove himself, and he appeared to do just that. 

  He said: "He has to do what he knows how to do, which is to play as naturally as possible," Deschamps told reporters on Monday.

  "He has a good habit of scoring goals, whether for his club or with the younger teams and the Olympic team during the Olympic Games.

  "So this is a big moment for him. Let him come with his enthusiasm and his qualities. He knows most of the players because he's had seen in the younger teams too.

  "It's not about winning me over [personally]. That's not how it works. [He has to prove himself] in the team, in training and during matches."

  Mateta was called into the squad to deputise for Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappe, who was dealing with an injury blow throughout the international break. 

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  What comes next?

  Palace play Larnaca in Europe on Thursday before they return to Premier League action this weekend against Arsenal at the Emirates. Mateta is coming off the back of a hat-trick for the Eagles against Bournemouth at the weekend. However, despite scoring a treble, Mateta was left cursing a late miss that cost Bournemouth the chance to turn one point into three. 

  He told reporters: "With the last chance I had, I am very frustrated. I want to win every game, even if I did score a hat-trick. It was up to me to score the goal [with the late chance] and I didn’t score it, that is why I am like this.

  "I need a few minutes to speak with the team and cool down but now I am upset."

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

Manchester United’s lack of goals throughout 2024/25 was a real concern to everyone involved with the club – undoubtedly adding to their lowly Premier League finish.

The Red Devils ended the previous campaign in a measly 15th place, with no player in the first-team squad managing to register double figures for goals in the league.

Departures of Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho throughout the summer window saw the side lose 23% of their goals from the last campaign, showcasing the need for added goals in Ruben Amorim’s side.

However, spending has not been alien to the United supporters after Erik ten Hag was handed over £600m to make the desired changes during his tenure at Old Trafford.

Despite previous claims from the hierarchy that huge money wouldn’t be spent during the off-season, the side now have two top-level talents now within their ranks in the form of Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.

What Mbeumo & Sesko will bring to United

Mbeumo’s move to join United may have set the board back a huge £71m, but it offers the side a proven and talented Premier League option in their quest for success at Old Trafford.

The 26-year-old netted 20 goals in England’s top-flight throughout 2024/25, but his underlying stats further highlight his quality within the attacking department.

The Cameroonian ranked in the 96th percentile for goals per shots taken, whilst also ranking in the 98th percentile for goals scored per 90.

He didn’t just catch the eye for his ability to find the net, but also managed to create chances for those around him – as seen by his ranking in the 91st percentile for crosses completed per 90.

Such numbers would be hugely beneficial for numerous players at the club – but none more so than fellow new big-money addition Sesko.

Like Mbeumo, the former RB Leipzig man set the board back over £70m, but is undoubtedly seen as an immediate and long-term solution for the club’s dire goalscoring record.

The 22-year-old netted 21 times across all competitions last season, but also ranked in the 88th percentile for dribbles completed per 90 – subsequently handing the side a top-level all-round talent.

There’s no denying the big-money talents will hand the manager the quality he’s desperately lacked in recent times, but the hierarchy may have been better off keeping hold of another talent.

The former United star who outperformed Mbeumo & Sesko

Numerous big-money strikers have tried and failed to be a success at United, as seen by Hojlund’s recent spell at the Theatre of Dreams.

The Dane arrived with huge expectations after the club forked out £72m for his signature in the summer of 2023, but his time at Old Trafford has been nothing short of a disaster.

He only netted four league goals last season, even going on a 21-game goal drought – ultimately leading to his departure and the moves for Mbeumo and Sesko this summer.

Huge funds would’ve been saved had they kept hold of Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, with the forward potentially being offloaded too prematurely by the Red Devils.

Back in the summer of 2017, United forked out a mammoth £75m for the signature of the centre-forward in an attempt to bolster their frontline under José Mourinho.

Such a figure, like the recent additions, generated huge excitement amongst the fanbase, but the player certainly lived up to the hype he arrived at Old Trafford with.

He netted 27 goals in his debut year in Manchester, followed by 15 in his second, taking his tally to 42 goals in his 96 appearances across all competitions for the Red Devils.

However, Lukaku, who’s been labelled “world-class” by fellow professional Jordan Graham, would leave the side after just two years – moving to Italian side Inter Milan on a permanent basis in a £73m move.

Fast-forward to the present day, the 32-year-old is now plying his trade for Napoli – still possessing a clinical edge that catapulted Antonio Conte’s side to title glory in 2024/25.

Lukaku – Serie A stats (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

36

Goals & assists

24

Goals & assists per 90

0.76

Goals per shot on target

0.60

Aerials won

1.8

Pass accuracy

74%

Shot-creating actions

2.4

Fouls drawn

1.2

Stats via FBref

During such a campaign, he managed to outperform new additions Sesko and Mbeumo in numerous areas – posting more assists than the duo (11), having the ability to create carnage despite his centre-forward role.

The Belgian also ranked among the top 5% of strikers in Europe’s top five leagues for goals and assists per 90 (0.76) tallies that were both higher than United’s new big-money additions – showcasing the threat Lukaku still poses in attacking areas.

At 32, there’s no denying that the former United star is entering the back end of his career, but he still has the talents to make an impact under Amorim at Old Trafford, scoring a mega 128 goals since departing. Compare that to Mbeumo (79) and Sesko (51) and there is a big difference.

Had they kept hold of him in the last six years, the hierarchy could’ve saved themselves millions of pounds – arguably having a better chance at success had the centre-forward stayed put at the Theatre of Dreams.

Related The original Mainoo: INEOS must rue selling Man Utd star who's like Scholes

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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.”

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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Everton’s fourth summer signing of the 2025 window is through the door at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. The Toffees have brought in young Bayern Munich left-back Adam Aznou, for a fee reported by the Liverpool Echo to be in the region of £7.8m.

Indeed, the same report details that the Toffees’ summer spending is way past the £50m mark already. Charly Alcaraz made his loan move permanent, Mark Travers signed from Bournemouth as their new back-up goalkeeper, and the marquee signing so far has been Thierno Barry. The French striker joined Everton from Spanish side Villarreal.

Yet, David Moyes is not content, and reportedly wants five or six more signings this summer. Already, the Toffees have been linked with a new attacker.

Everton’s pursuit of a new attacker

It seems like Moyes wants to overhaul Everton’s attack this summer. Dominic Calvert-Lewin left the club on a free transfer, and Barry has been signed as his replacement. Now, the focus on the Blue half of Merseyside has seemingly switched to a new winger.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to a recent report from Fabrizio Romano, the Toffees have enquired about signing Como and Senegal international winger Assane Diao. He is one option on the list as Everton look to reinvent their forward line under Moyes.

However, this will not be an easy deal to do. Como, managed by Premier League legend Cesc Fabregas, have ‘already turned down a bid this summer’ for the young winger.

That club is unnamed, but perhaps it came from Everton’s Premier League rivals, Chelsea. One Spanish report said earlier in the window they were set to bid £43m for the 19-year-old.

Why Diao would be a good signing

After coming through Real Betis’ academy, Diao made the move to Italian side Como in January. Described as an “electric” winger by football scout Antonio Mango, the 19-year-old has made a huge impression in Serie A so far.

Although he is just 15 games into his Como career, Diao, already a Senegal international, has eight goals and one assist to his name. He was a key player under Fabregas, playing 1259 minutes, the equivalent of 13.9 full 90-minute games.

The former Betis star, who managed six goals and three assists for the club, showed in his short Como career that he can step up in the big games. Last season, he bagged goals against Milan, Juventus and Scudetto winners Napoli.

Moyes would surely be hoping the Senegal international could replicate the impact of his international teammate Iliamn Ndiaye. The Toffees’ attacker was described as a “superstar” by former defender-turned-pundit Jamie Carragher.

His impact last term, his debut campaign for Everton, was astronomical. He played 37 games across all competitions, scoring 11 goals. That included nine strikes in the Premier League, with this stunning effort against Tottenham Hotspur a standout.

Diao’s record at Como stands out in such a short amount of time, and he has a habit of finding the back of the net against big sides. There is reason to believe he has the talent to replicate what Nidaye has done.

He can also play on both wings. With his international teammate favouring the left, there is a chance Everton fans could see them line up on either flank.

The stats on Squawka, using Diao’s numbers from Serie A, are remarkably similar. For example, the Como star completes 1.4 take-ons and averages 0.6 chances created per 90 minutes. In contrast, Everton’s number 10 completes an average of 2.6 take-ons and creates 0.7 chances per game.

Goals and assists

0.7

0.4

Chances created

0.6

0.7

Forward passes

4.4

6.2

Take-ons completed

1.4

2.6

Duels won

7.9

6.7

Ball recoveries

3

6.4

With the Toffees looking to overhaul their attack next term, signing Diao could be the dream option. He is a direct winger with an eye for goal and has the ability to light up the Hill Dickinson Stadium with his flair.

Joining his Senegal teammate Ndiaye on Bramley Moore Dock would be an exciting move, especially if he can become the second coming of the Everton star.

Their new Gordon: Everton set to hold talks over signing big-money PL star

Everton eye sensational transfer for Manchester City’s treble-winning winger

ByWill Miller Jul 30, 2025

It has been a quiet summer so far for Aston Villa. After the disappointment of losing out on a Champions League finish at the back end of last season, the Villans have only made a couple of signings to strengthen ahead of the new season.

With the season now less than two weeks away, Unai Emery’s side have reportedly agreed a deal to sign OGC Nice striker Evann Guessand. The 24-year-old, who was also a target for Premier League rivals Crystal Palace, cost £30m including add-ons.

With Guessand all but through the door, Villa have seemingly turned their attention to another attacker, who can help to strengthen in forward areas.

Aston Villa’s next target after Guessand

The Villans lost Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio at the end of last season, with the loans of both players expiring. There is a clear focus from the club to strengthen in attack, with the signing of Guessand the first new forward through the door at Villa Park.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Now, a report from journalist Graeme Bailey suggests that the West Midlands club are ‘holding an interest’ in Manchester United and Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho.

The 21-year-old is said to be a target for three Premier League sides, with a desire to stay in England’s top flight, and Villa ‘have also entered the race’ for his signature.

Although it is West London giants Chelsea who are the ‘standout option’ for the youngster, he is ‘open to working’ with Emery, and Tottenham Hotspur are also showing an interest. Last month, it was reported by The Mirror that the Red Devils have slashed their asking price to just £40m.

Why Garnacho would be a good signing

Despite being just 21 years of age, Garnacho has already gained lots of experience at the highest level for United. Statman Dave described him as a “special talent” last season, and there were some standout moments.

He played 58 games in all competitions for the Red Devils, whose academy he came through back in 2022. In that time, the winger scored 11 goals and grabbed a further ten assists. However, just eight of those goal involvements came in the Premier League, in 36 appearances.

He has already played a lot of first-team football, notching up an impressive 144 games for United. His record of 26 goals and 22 assists stands out for someone aged just 21, and he’s scored some excellent goals, too. The most famous one came against Everton in 2023/24, with his stunning overhead kick earning him the Puskas Award.

The winger, who was born in Madrid, could well become unplayable with Guessand. Villa’s new attacker shone last term for Nice, scoring 12 goals and grabbing nine assists in 33 Ligue 1 games.

The Ivory Coast international can play right across the front line, highlighted by former manager Antoine Kombouare during his loan spell at Nantes in 2022/23.

Kombouare also described him as a “powerful” and “fast” attacker.

With the Nice academy graduate, a player who is effective both in and around the penalty box and out wide, he could form a deadly partnership with Garnacho at Villa. The winger is a player who loves to drive inside from wide positions, which could lead to some fluid rotations between the pair.

Garnacho’s numbers from the 2024/25 Europa League campaign suggest he could become a regular provider of goals for Guessand. The stats on FBref show he averaged 2.04 key passes per game and 0.37 assists, ranking him in the 82nd and 85th percentile, respectively. If he achieves those numbers for Villa, Guessand could strike gold.

Assists

0.37

85th

Key passes

2.04

82nd

Shot-creating actions

4.17

73rd

Goal-creating actions

0.65

78th

Progressive carries

5.84

95th

Despite his age, Garnacho is already very experienced and has shown his ability to score and assist regularly for United. With Guessand being a striker who facilitates play and creates chances, plus his ability to put the ball in the back of the net, this could become a deadly duo.

£40m is not too much of an investment for 21-year-old Garnacho, with United looking to move him on this summer. Perhaps he is the perfect player for Villa’s new look attack, alongside Guessand.

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A “very good” Birmingham City player has now reportedly agreed a deal to leave the Blues imminently, with a medical at his new club booked early this week.

Birmingham boss Davies positive ahead of Championship return

The Blues are edging closer to their return to the Championship, with the new season getting started with a mouthwatering home clash with Ipswich Town on August 8th.

On Saturday, Birmingham were beaten 4-0 by Crewe Alexandra in a surprise pre-season friendly defeat, but despite this, manager Chris Davies was in good spirits about what he saw from his side.

“The No. 1 thing you’re looking for is, can you build your fitness from these type of games as the first 60 minutes we’ve been exposed to this season? I think the boys looked leggy, they’ve had a strong week in training. So, I think that’ll do them the world of good having that 60 minutes under their belt for most of them.

“I thought first half we were very fluid, we conceded a ridiculous goal which we won’t concede any worse than that, so that’s something to learn from. “But then it was obviously all us and we were pretty fluid, we just lacked a bit of killer instinct in the in the final bit. That will come.”

Birmingham will know that new signings are needed before the end of the summer transfer window – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been mentioned as an ambitious target – but now a current player has been linked with a move away from the club.

Alfie May set for Birmingham exit

According to a fresh claim from Football League World, Birmingham striker Alfie May has agreed a move to League One side Huddersfield Town and could undergo a medical on Monday, having almost joined them last year.

A £1.2m transfer is expected to go through imminently, bringing an end to the 32-year-old Scot’s one-year spell with the Blues in the process.

May leaving Birmingham this summer may come as a surprise to some, considering he played such a key role in helping his side win the League One title last season, scoring 16 goals and registering eight assists in the competition, also being praised by Davies.

“He was very good. He dropped in as a false nine in possession and is very good at linking the play. He knows where the opposition players are and where to take his touch. He was brought in just to score goals basically and he took it brilliantly again. That’s why we signed him.”

That said, May isn’t considered a key starter and is now jumping up a division, not to mention being 32 years of age, so cashing in on him now makes sense, with his current deal expiring in the summer of 2027.

فارق أحد مشجعي منتخب بوركينا فاسو الحياة، خلال تواجده في مدرجات ملعب 4 أغسطس الذي احتضن مواجهة مصر في تصفيات كأس العالم.

والتقى منتخب مصر مع بوركينا فاسو، على ملعب الأخير، في إطار مواجهات الجولة الثامنة من مباريات المجموعة الأولى لتصفيات كأس العالم، وانتهى اللقاء سلبيًا.

طالع| صور | وزير الرياضة يستقبل بعثة منتخب مصر بعد العودة من بوركينا فاسو

وقالت إذاعة “Ouaga FM”، إن المشجع البوركيني موموني تراوري، فارق الحياة خلال حضوره مباراة مصر وبوركينا فاسو في مدرجات ملعب 4 أغسطس، وتحديدًا بالقرب من البوابة رقم 13.

وتابعت الإذاعة، أن المشجع تعرض لأزمة صحية مفاجئة عقب إحدى اللقطات داخل المباراة، ورغم التدخل السريع من قبل الطاقم الطبي داخل الملعب وتقديم الإسعافات الأولية، إلا أنه فارق الحياة.

ورغم النتيجة، واصل منتخب مصر تصدر المجموعة الأولى برصيد 20 نقطة، جمعها من 6 انتصارات وتعادلين، متقدمًا بخمس نقاط كاملة عن بوركينا فاسو صاحب المركز الثاني.