USMNT stars Christian Pulisic and Yunus Musah are in need of a new manager, with AC Milan confirming the departure of Stefano Pioli.

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Rossoneri parting with Serie A title winnerSearch being opened for a successorAmerican stars hoping to figure long-termWHAT HAPPENED?

A change in the dugout at San Siro has been mooted for some time, with Serie A title winner Pioli failing to deliver major silverware in 2023-24. Protests against his reign have been staged by disgruntled supporters, making a parting of ways inevitable.

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Milan have said on the club’s : “AC Milan and Stefano Pioli announce that the Mister will be departing after the end of the current season, having been in charge of the First Team since October 2019. AC Milan extends heartfelt thanks to Stefano Pioli and his entire staff for leading the First Team over the past five years, securing an unforgettable League title and re-establishing AC Milan's consistent presence in the top European competition. Stefano's professionalism and human touch have significantly contributed to the growth of the squad, embodying the Club's core values from day one.”

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The Rossoneri went on to say: “Stefano Pioli expresses his gratitude to AC Milan for the opportunity to be part of the history of this glorious Club. He is deeply thankful to the ownership, management, team, staff, and everyone at Milanello and Casa Milan for their support and outstanding commitment. He also extends a special thanks to the many fans who have passionately supported AC Milan over the years, demonstrating unwavering dedication.”

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?

Pioli’s final game in charge of AC Milan will take place on Saturday, when they play host to Salernitana. The search for a successor will then begin in earnest, with United States internationals Pulisic and Musah waiting to discover where they fit into the bigger picture under a new boss.

The Australia batsman has made 19 runs in his first three one-day innings for Glamorgan

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Apr-2019

Marnus Labuschagne bowls for Glamorgan•Getty Images

Marnus Labuschagne will be one of three Glamorgan batsmen sent to play a 2nd XI county match to try and find form after a poor start to the Royal London Cup.He has made 3, 15 and 1 in his first three one-day innings for Glamorgan with the team losing their opening three matches of the competition to leave them a tough ask to qualify for the knockouts.Labuschagne will join fellow Queensland batsman Charlie Hemphrey and Kiran Carlson in playing against Somerset on Tuesday ahead of Glamorgan’s next Royal London Cup match against Kent on Thursday.”It’s far better than netting and a great opportunity on a very good wicket,” Glamorgan coach Matthew Maynard told . “It’ll give them [Labuschagne, Hemphrey and Carlson] an opportunity to score runs. You can play as well as anything in the nets, it doesn’t always translate to the middle.”Steve Waugh talked about how his mental resilience was developed by going back and playing grade cricket because he was expected to succeed and if the he failed, the opposition could take the micky for a long time.”The three lads want to play. Four of our top seven batsmen are short of runs, hopefully they’ll get an opportunity to score those runs and give them some confidence ahead of Thursday.”Labuschagne made a promising start to his Glamorgan spell, having signed as cover for Shaun Marsh, with a century on Championship debut against Northamptonshire, but in the one-day game he has enjoyed more success with ball than bat, collecting four wickets in three matches including 3 for 46 against Somerset.He was one of the players left out of the Australia A squads to tour England with the selectors opting for most of those with county deals to continue them while the A-team one-day and four-day matches take place. Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said that county form would be considered equally along with how the A side performs.”We have Joe Burns, Cameron Bancroft, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Renshaw, Peter Siddle and Daniel Worrall in our sights but they have not been included in the squad and will continue to play through this period with their county teams,” Hohns said. “However, we have made it clear that strong form with their county teams will be taken into account for selection in the Ashes squad or the Australia v Australia A tour match.”Labuschagne is an incumbent member of the Test side having been recalled to face India in Sydney in January then played the two Tests against Sri Lanka, where he scored a maiden half-century in Brisbane, but he will face a challenge to retain his place in the squad for the Ashes with the return of David Warner and Steven Smith.

A goal for Fran Kirby in her last Blues game capped a super day out for the travelling fans as their side were crowned champions of England again

Ahead of Chelsea's title-deciding trip to Old Trafford, where a win over Manchester United was likely to clinch the Women's Super League title, it was all about Emma Hayes and her final game in charge of the Blues. But Mayra Ramirez's match-winning performance in a 6-0 thrashing was so good that it even overshadowed that narrative for large parts, the Colombia star returning from injury in time to put the Red Devils to the sword with two goals and two assists in an absolutely blistering individual display that helped Chelsea win a fifth successive league title.

There were only two minutes on the clock when Guro Reiten's inch-perfect cross was met by Ramirez to break the deadlock, and just six more minutes had passed when the forward turned provider with a through ball that Johanna Rytting Kaneryd finished well. United's biggest chance came from a corner, perhaps unsurprisingly given their influence on last weekend's FA Cup final triumph. But after Maya Le Tissier saw her header come back off the bar midway through the first half, Chelsea spent the next 20 minutes truly putting the game, and the title race, to bed.

The Blues' third and fourth goals were devastating from Ramirez. First, she burst past Millie Turner and even left the England defender on the floor before teeing up Sjoeke Nusken for a tap-in, then a similarly destructive run into the box ended with the striker finishing for herself, a thumping shot far too powerful for Mary Earps to stop. There was at least some brief respite for the Red Devils after the break, albeit only after Melanie Leupolz made it five straight after the restart – and there would be a sixth, as Fran Kirby came off the bench and bid farewell to the club with a goal on her final appearance.

Hayes said before the game that she wouldn't bother keeping an eye on the Manchester City score at Villa Park as she would be focused on securing a necessary win. In the end, she didn't need to anyway. As it played out, City would've needed to beat Aston Villa by nine goals to claim the title ahead of Chelsea, rather than by the 2-1 scoreline they managed. Instead, after some difficult weeks that saw a quadruple hunt fall apart, Hayes and her team got their hands on the title once more – sending their iconic manager off to the United States on a high.

GOAL rates Chelsea's players from Old Trafford…

• Getty
  

  Goalkeeper & Defence

  Zecira Musovic (6/10):

  Hardly had anything to do.

  Jess Carter (7/10):

  Some solid interventions in a different role to usual.

  Millie Bright (7/10):

  Another encouraging display as she works her way back to her best after several months out.

  Nathalie Bjorn (7/10):

  Totally reliable at the back and played a superb ball to Reiten for the first goal.

  Niamh Charles (7/10):

  Dealt well with the lively Garcia, though was inevitably beaten from time to time. No one won possession more often.

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• Getty
  

  Midfield

  Erin Cuthbert (7/10):

  Her scrappy, tenacious self in the middle of the park. No one won more headers.

  Melanie Leupolz (7/10):

  Battled well in midfield and made a good run from deep to get on the scoresheet for 5-0. Off before the hour.

  Catarina Macario (5/10):

  Came off in the first half with an injury.

• Getty
  

  Attack

  Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (8/10):

  Electric pace caused Man Utd real problems. Great finish to make it 2-0.

  Mayra Ramirez (10/10):

  Two goals and two assists all before being taken off just before the hour. Simply unplayable.

  Guro Reiten (8/10):

  Sublime cross to allow Ramirez to break the deadlock and her perseverance was key in the fifth goal, too.

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• Getty
  

  Subs & Manager

  Sjoeke Nusken (6/10):

  Had not even been on the pitch five minutes when she got on the scoresheet.

  Sophie Ingle (6/10):

  Slipped into midfield for the final half an hour and didn't put a foot wrong. Nice pass in the build-up to Kirby's goal.

  Aggie Beever-Jones (5/10):

  Came on with just over half an hour to go but the game started to peter out from there so there were not too many bright attacking moments.

  Fran Kirby (N/A):

  Got a raucous applause from the away end as she came on for her final Chelsea display in the final stages – and marked it with a goal.

  Ashley Lawrence (N/A):

  On to help see the game out. Some nice touches.

  Emma Hayes (8/10):

  There were a couple of surprises in the line-up but they all paid off and helped produce a dominant, title-winning display. To have Ramirez back available was an incredibly timely boost.

Newcastle United had scored through Alexander Isak's penalty. Nottingham Forest, without a win in seven matches and losing lionised manager Steve Cooper as a result, were surely headed for further misery.

But Newcastle's faltering form proved to unravel what promised to be a triumphant day at St. James' Park, and Chris Wood came back to haunt his former club with a well-taken hat-trick to offer some respite.

PIF eyeing Newcastle deal to sign "great" goalkeeper in January

This could be a shrewd move by the Magpies…

ByTom Cunningham Dec 28, 2023

The Magpies, having qualified for the Champions League last season, have now lost six matches from their past seven across all competitions and are in dire need of some reinforcements, having been decimated by injuries across the campaign.

Eddie Howe will remain convinced of his squad's ability to succeed in the Premier League, but there is no disputing the fact that something needs to change in January, with recent rumours suggesting that a summer transfer target could now make the move to Tyneside.

Newcastle transfer news – Kalvin Phillips

According to the Daily Telegraph, Newcastle bosses are confident that a deal can be struck to sign Manchester City outcast Kalvin Phillips on loan for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Magpies are desperate to fortify their squad with impactful signings this winter but are constrained by Profit and Sustainability rules, effectively restricting the options available in the transfer market.

Phillips would be allowed to depart the Etihad Stadium on loan and would bring industriousness and Premier League experience, with Howe and United's technical director Dan Ashworth hoping to agree a deal swiftly.

Transfer specialist Rudy Galetti has confirmed that the club are "set to open talks" to sign their number one target, but with Juventus also pushing for a deal, it's right that efforts are made early to secure his services.

Kalvin Phillips' Manchester City career in numbers

Having dazzled with Leeds United and played an instrumental role in his boyhood club's rise from the Championship and sublime return to the Premier League, Phillips turned the heads of more than a few top European outfits.

And when Manchester City came calling in 2022, the 28-year-old couldn't resist the allure of English football's standout side and completed a £45m transfer.

However, a dream move turned into a nightmare when injuries precluded a chance at wedging his way into a prominent position, and the £150k-per-week ace would ultimately only start four matches across the entirety of the 2022/23 campaign as the Sky Blues won the treble.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Tackling

Aerial duels

Intercepting

Discipline

Blocking

Direct free-kicks

*Sourced via WhoScored

Despite a full pre-season under his belt this summer, Phillips' fortunes have not turned any brighter and he remains marooned on the fringe of one of English football's greatest squads.

Often, pragmatism is a virtue and it seems that all parties have accepted that a change of scenery would be apt for Phillips' future, and Newcastle are only too happy to accommodate.

Kalvin Phillips' style of play

At his best, Phillips is a tenacious and cultured midfielder with a wealth of tools fit to serve a squad like Newcastle's challenge for continental qualification.

The 31-cap England star was fantastic as Leeds recorded a ninth-placed Premier League finish in 2020/21, on their return, captivating with their offensive efforts and winning over supporters through their energy and expression.

Across 29 appearances that season, he made 2.6 tackles, 1.6 interceptions and 1.7 clearances per game and completed 85% of his passes, leading The Times' Henry Winter to marvel over his all-encompassing skill set.

As per FBref, Phillips ranks among the top 1% of midfielders across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 2% for passes attempted, the top 9% for shots taken, the top 7% for clearances and the top 19% for aerial wins per 90.

While he has only received limited action over the past 12 months, such statistics do highlight the crispness and composure that Phillips holds within his skill set.

Once described as a “monster” of a midfielder by former Crystal Palace maverick Yannick Bolasie, Phillips' struggle to make an impact under Pep Guardiola's tutelage does not define him as a player, and he would be a credit to Newcastle's impressive team, perhaps even merging with Bruno Guimaraes in the centre to revive the squad's success.

Imagine Kalvin Phillips & Bruno Guimares

Howe is the mastermind behind Newcastle's stunning rise to the fore since the PIF takeover in 2021, but the £40m acquisition of Lyon midfielder Guimaraes has proved to be one of the most influential additions to any Premier League side in recent memory.

Having now amassed 84 displays for Newcastle, scoring 11 goals and supplying nine assists, the Brazilian is regarded as one of the division's standout stars, with teammate Dan Burn even dubbing him "world-class" for his performances.

Ranking among the top 16% of midfielders for shot-creating actions, the top 12% for progressive passes and the top 9% for successful take-ons per 90, the 26-year-old is the perfect orchestrator in the centre, but Sandro Tonali was signed in the summer to complement his style, and after struggling to acclimatise the Italian was banned from football for ten months in October for breaching betting rules.

#

Player

Club

1

Gavi

Barcelona

2

Adrien Rabiot

Juventus

3

Manuel Locatelli

Juventus

4

Rodrigo Bentancur

Tottenham Hotspur

5

Guido Rodriguez

Real Betis

*Sourced via Football Transfers

Once hailed as a “Rolls-Royce” by journalist Josh Bunting, Phillips is composed and assured in his passing and could offer the kind of style to allow Guimaraes to assume an even more remarkable role.

While Newcastle probably need to make several signings to combat the injury problems, Phillips' availability on a loan deal marks an excellent opportunity to complete an astute move, and Howe must ensure that this one gets over the line.

Sunrisers Hyderabad broke Chennai Super Kings’ winning streak, and secured a vital victory after three losses on the trot, with a six-wicket win at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. Super Kings were without their talismanic captain MS Dhoni, who was rested after pulling up with back spasms in their last game. And aside from a 79-run opening stand between Shane Watson and Faf du Plessis, their innings lacked oomph. Despite the slowness of the track, their 132 for 5 was sub-par and after David Warner’s rapid fifty had set the innings up, Jonny Bairstow closed the match with an unbeaten 61.With stand-in captain Suresh Raina having opted to bat, halfway through their innings Chennai would have been pleased with their progress at 80 for 1. But just 52 runs came from the next ten as the innings fizzled out. The much-hyped showdown between Vijay Shankar and Ambati Rayudu came to nought, but in truth Super Kings could have done with a little more fire in the belly at the death.ALSO READ – Ambati Rayudu v Vijay Shankar – the non-fight after the mega hypeIndeed, Warner’s response at the top of Sunrisers’ chase showed that there were quick runs to be made despite the slowness of the pitch. Warner dominated the Powerplay and left Sunrisers’ brittle middle order with a very easy job to complete. Bairstow ensured there were no slip-ups, and a struggling Sunrisers unit took down the table-toppers with 19 balls and six wickets to spare.Watson, du Plessis lay platform
With three single figure scores and a duck in his last five innings before Wednesday, Watson came into this match without much form to speak of. Neither Watson nor du Plessis looked in particularly world-beating touch when the openers crawled to just 15 from the first four overs. The pressure was on, and a wicket at that stage could have been disastrous, but the experienced pair shrugged it off with five fours and three sixes in the next five-and-a-half overs to set the innings up.Rashid finds his length (eventually)
Rashid Khan’s mid-match comeback mirrored his team’s. One sensed a big moment when he was introduced in the eighth over with both openers set, but his first ball was a half tracker that was spanked to the square-leg boundary and Rashid leaked 14 from his first two overs as he struggled to find his length and repeatedly dropped short. His third changed the complexion of the match. With du Plessis and Watson having fallen in quick succession of each other either side of the halfway mark, Rashid finally got things right in his third over, nipping out Suresh Raina and Kedar Jadhav in the space of four deliveries – both batsmen unsuccessfully reviewing their dismissals – as Super Kings slipped to 99 for 4.Jonny Bairstow and David Warner get together•BCCI

Bhuvneshwar keeps it tight
Super Kings might still have made a fist of things at the death from that position, and they may well have been looking to target Bhuvneshwar Kumar in that regard. He had an economy rate of 12.6 between overs 16 to 20 heading into this game, and was seen practicing various versions of the cutter with head coach Tom Moody on the eve of this match. The extra work clearly paid off, and Kumar gave away just 15 runs in his last two overs – and just five off the final over of the innings – to stall Super Kings’ charge. Rayudu managed to get a couple away, but Ravindra Jadeja’s innings completely failed to launch as he finished with 10 not out from 20 balls.Warner moves back into the fast lane
Since his 55-ball hundred against Royal Challengers Bangalore almost three weeks ago, Warner had scored 146 runs off 140 balls at a strike rate of 104.28 coming in to this match. Despite his two fifties in the interim, Warner hadn’t been able to set the pace as he usually does, part of the reason Sunrisers had lost their last three matches. But tonight Warner once again rocketed through a Powerplay that brought 68 runs, racking up a fourth consecutive fifty-plus score against Super Kings at a strike rate of 200. At the other end, Bairstow faced just nine balls in the first six overs, but thanks to Warner the asking rate had been brought down to just 4.64 when he fell, toe-ending an attempted loft to mid off.Bairstow takes it home
Despite Warner’s quick runs, Sunrisers still had Imran Tahir to deal with. Warner had plundered three boundaries in a row in Tahir’s first over, but the legspinner recovered to have Kane Williamson caught and bowled in his second. However, Bairstow saw Tahir off and punished the other bowlers. Karn Sharma was swatted for two clean sixes in his first over, and Bairstow added a third off him to end the game in the 17th over. Though a couple of wickets fell at the other end, Warner’s knock had broken the back of the chase and Bairstow’s sealed the result.

Tottenham Hotspur appear to be preparing an offer to sign a new in-demand midfielder in 2024, according to a report.

Arthur Vermeeren to Spurs transfer update

Overall, Ange Postecoglou’s side have made a solid start to the Premier League season, averaging two points a game after 18 fixtures. Spurs still have two more games to play before 2024, with a trip to Brighton & Hove Albion and a home clash with Bournemouth on the agenda.

However, the club, and by extension chairman Daniel Levy and technical director Johan Lange, already have their eye on potential new signings in 2024, with Royal Antwerp midfielder Arthur Vermeeren on their list of targets.

Ange gifted Spurs injury boost with star now in line to face Brighton

There’s been some good news out of N17.

By
Emilio Galantini

Dec 26, 2023

Those in north London made an approach for the 18-year-old back in October, and by the looks of things, they are now ready to step up their interest in the player who has been described as a budding “superstar” by 90min's Graeme Bailey.

According to The Sun in the last 48 hours, Spurs are lining up a £25m swoop to sign Vermeeren in a similar deal to the one that saw Destiny Udogie arrive from Udinese. The full-back was secured 18 months ago before being loaned back to the Serie A side, so it looks as if an identical move could be made.

The report adds that Tottenham feel they have the edge over rivals Arsenal and are at the front of the queue to sign Vermeeren, with the likes of Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona also keen.

Arthur Vermeeren profiled

Vermeeren has enjoyed a phenomenal 2023, seeing his Transfermarkt valuation rise from just €500,000 to a career-high €30m in the space of just over 12 months. The Belgian is primarily a central midfielder but can also play in a holding role and is already a senior international for his country.

The 18-year-old has progressed through the Antwerp academy and has gone on to make 65 senior appearances for his current employers, scoring three goals and registering eight assists. (Arthur Vermeeren stats – Transfermarkt)

He has been playing alongside former Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld, helping the club win a first Pro League title in 66 years last season, and the ex-Tottenham man has heaped praise on the youngster, saying:

"Do I sometimes watch with my mouth open? Certainly. Everyone knows perfectly what to do when in possession of the ball and when losing the ball. Then the qualities of such a boy come to the fore. What he shows at his age is fantastic. I have rarely seen that."

"You often see players who have been told from a young age that you have to pay attention to them. That is actually not the case with him. He came into the team due to circumstances and now he learns very quickly. He reads everything very well. His potential is enormous."

It looks as if a move for Vermeeren is one to keep a close eye on over the coming weeks, and in the long run, a move could be seen as a major coup if he continues his rapid progress in England.

Rangers will be well aware of just how important the January transfer window is. The Gers sit second and eight points behind Old Firm rivals Celtic with two games in hand in the Scottish Premiership. Philippe Clement's first transfer window at the club will afford the boss his first chance to shape his squad exactly how he wants it and bring in some players specifically suited to his style.

The former AS Monaco man has already made some changes, welcoming Fabio Silva on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers and allowing Sam Lammers to leave. Now, he could dip back into the market to sign an in-demand defensive reinforcement.

Rangers transfer news

With Clement getting his first chance to make his mark on the current Rangers side that he inherited from Michael Beale, he could shape a title-winning squad once again at Ibrox. He's so far had impressive success with the current squad, losing just once, which came against rivals Celtic. His side still sit behind in the title race, meaning that any reinforcements could quickly make themselves heroes.

According to The Daily Record, Rangers chiefs are battling to sign Max Willoughby ahead of both Norwich City and Bournemouth, as Motherwell face a battle to keep hold of their young defender. The Gers already have a link to the defender, with his Grandad Alex Willoughby playing for Rangers in the late 1960s. Perhaps keen to follow in his footsteps, the Motherwell youngster could jump at the chance to complete a move to Ibrox this month.

As the weeks go by, Willoughby could certainly be one to keep an eye on in the January transfer window, as Rangers chiefs battle to secure his signature.

Willoughby an exciting long-term addition

Yet to make an appearance for Motherwell's first team, Willoughby could be wise to make the switch to Rangers if he gets the chance. The young defender is unlikely to get the chance to impress Clement just yet, but the potential to follow in his Grandad's footsteps could be a difficult one to turn down. If he can be part of a title-winning side this season too, it would certainly be quite the experience and one that he can only build on.

Whether his opportunity to make a first-team impact arrives at Motherwell or not remains to be seen, potentially handing Willoughby a tough decision to make. If he sticks, the chance could come his way this season. Meanwhile, if Rangers do come calling and he completes an ambitious move, the young defender may be forced to wait even longer for his first foray into first-team action.

Those at Rangers will be hoping to land one for the future, whilst keeping an eye on the title race this month. In the best-case scenario, they could end the month with reinforcements aplenty and a place at the top of the tree in the Scottish Premiership which would leave them on course to win Clement's first title at the first attempt.

Chelsea have made their move to sign Newcastle United's Callum Wilson before Thursday’s deadline, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

Chelsea striker rumours

The Blues appear to be on the search for a new addition in the final third before the window slams shut, especially as there seems to be a possibility of Armando Broja leaving Stamford Bridge. Recent reports have claimed that Chelsea could sell the Albanian for around £35m, with the likes of Crystal Palace, Fulham, West Ham and Wolves all expressing an interest.

Related £250,000-a-week striker has “chosen” to join Chelsea

This will come as a big boost for Mauricio Pochettino.

Posts ByCharlie Smith Jan 29, 2024

Should the 22-year-old leave, Mauricio Pochettino would be left with just Nicolas Jackson as his only senior centre-forward option. The Senegal international is away at the Africa Cup of Nations, just like Napoli star Victor Osimhen of Nigeria, who is reportedly on course to join Chelsea later this year.

Therefore, a short-term solution for the remainder of the campaign could be on the cards, with the likes of Karim Benzema mooted as a possible option. Meanwhile, AZ Alkmaar’s Vangelis Pavlidis, Zenit St Petersburg’s Mateo Cassierra, Cercle Brugge’s Kevin Denkey and Atletico Mineiro’s Paulinho have all been offered to Chelsea. Wilson is another to have been offered to the Blues, and a new development has now emerged.

Chelsea make Wilson approach

According to Phillips, relayed by The Chelsea Chronicle, the Blues have made a late enquiry to Newcastle over a loan deal for Wilson. However, the Magpies would only reportedly be willing to listen if a transfer was a permanent offer.

It has been claimed that Newcastle value Wilson at around £18m, with Arsenal and Manchester United also on alert alongside Chelsea.

The England international has now made more than 100 appearances for Newcastle after joining from Bournemouth in 2020. The 31-year-old has scored 46 times and registered 11 assists for the Magpies, but this isn’t the first time he’s been on the radar at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea actually wanted to sign Wilson from Bournemouth back in 2018, with assistant manager at the time, Gianfranco Zola, saying:

"I'm sure that there are a lot of players, they are linked with us. Certainly Callum Wilson is doing very well for this club and he's an interest not only for us but for many.

"He's strong, fast and he sees the goal. I like him because he's quick but also strong in the air, which is also a very important quality.”

Related All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

Posts ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

Phillips has also said in recent days that Wilson is open to a Chelsea transfer, so this could be one that goes down to the wire, with time ticking until the deadline.

Australia’s warm-up in England brought three victories, but now Justin Langer has to finally nail down his starting XI for the opening game of the World Cup

Andrew McGlashan28-May-2019Khawaja v MarshBarring injury, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh cannot fit in the same XI now that David Warner and Steven Smith are back, so one will be carrying the drinks. Each have strong cases to make the cut, although if the most recent success carries weight then that favours Khawaja, who has scored 769 runs in 13 ODIs this year (more than any other player). He was shuffled around in the warm-up matches – batting in an unaccustomed No. 5 against West Indies then opening against Sri Lanka and making 89 – and has shaken off two injury scares (a blow on the head and the knee) during the preparation. The other debate with Khawaja, if he plays, is where he bats – either opening where he has forged a strong alliance with Aaron Finch or at No. 3 to allow Warner to return at the top. Marsh, meanwhile, could rightly feel hard-done by if he misses out having carried Australia’s batting during their one-day struggles with four centuries in eight innings against England, South Africa and India.One spinner or twoThe warm-up matches allowed teams to use more than eleven players so there was a chance for Adam Zampa and Nathan Lyon to get a good amount of work. During the camp in Brisbane, Finch said that Zampa was the No. 1 spinner given he provides an attacking option, but the ball has also been coming out nicely for Lyon since arriving in England. However, it’s tough for Australia to balance their side with three frontline quicks and play both frontline spinners – the only way would be to leave out a batsman, play Alex Carey at No. 6 and a collection of bowling allrounders. Glenn Maxwell’s bowling is shaping as an important part of the gameplan – good for a full quota if things go well – and he has previously spoken about the value of his stint with Lancashire earlier in the season. It was also interesting to see Smith given a twirl against West Indies and Sri Lanka, clearly Finch is trying to have as many options as he can. And could the captain be one himself? Remember that ODI against Pakistan in March when he took 1 for 41 off his 10 overs?Who supports Starc and Cummins?The big two are locked in, but in the absence of Josh Hazlewood and Jhye Richardson there remains a jostling for who the third quick will be between Nathan Coulter-Nile, Kane Richardson and Jason Behrendorff. They all bring something a little different; Coulter-Nile offers more batting, Richardson is known for his skills at the death and Behrendorff can be a threat if the new ball moves. Richardson was given both official warm-up matches although he was expensive against the Sri Lankans, Coulter-Nile took a pasting from Jos Buttler before claiming his wicket and Behrendorff collected 2 for 43 in his outing against England. It is likely that all will be needed at some stage of the tournament but it remains tricky to say who is the frontrunner.

Manchester United’s 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest at the weekend was their ninth loss in the Premier League.

This is the same number they suffered in the whole of last season, and Erik ten Hag’s side sits eighth, nine points off fourth.

All confirmed Premier League done deals: January transfer window 2024

With the January transfer window coming towards its conclusion, FFC has all the info for tracking your club’s winter transfer activity.

By
Luke Randall

Feb 1, 2024

With that in mind, the former Ajax boss could look to enhance his squad this winter, with outgoings expected and incomings potentially on the cards.

Man Utd transfers latest – Andre

According to a report from Brazilian outlet Trivela earlier this week, Man United are interested in signing Andre, who has been labelled as “one of South America’s biggest jewels” by Football Talent Scout Jacek Kulig.

Other Premier League clubs, such as Fulham and Liverpool, are also monitoring the Brazilian.

It is rumoured that a fee of around £17m could secure the services of the Fluminense star, which could represent something of a bargain, even for a cash-strapped side like United.

Andre’s style of play

Casemiro has been unavailable for United since October, missing 17 matches in the process due to a knock. In truth, his performances before the injury were subpar, with his lack of athleticism and Ten Hag’s lone defensive midfield tactic exposing the 31-year-old, having notably been "torn to shreds" in the defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers on the opening weekend, according to Gary Neville.

Therefore, it is reported that a move to Saudi Arabia could be on the cards for the former Real Madrid winner.

Although unlikely, United could cash in on their number 18 with the view of investing in Andre as his replacement. The 22-year-old has become a key player for Fluminense, featuring 60 times for the club in 2023 and playing 75% of his matches in a defensive midfield role. The table below gives a concise look at the number 7’s style of play by looking at his statistics from the last year.

Andre's Stats
Stats (per 90)	Andre	Percentile
Passes completed	76.27	Top 1%
Pass completion % (short, Medium, Long)	96.2%, 97.3%, 79.9%	Top 1%, Top 1%, Top 5%
Passes into the final third	6.63	Top 8%
Touches (Def third)	89.95 (30.39)	Top 2% (Top 1%)
Successful take-ons	1.38	Top 14%
Tackles won	1.50	Top 26%
Stats via FBref

As you can see, Andre has a completely different profile from Casemiro, with the former being described as a “roaming playmaker” by Jacek Kulig. That is obvious when addressing his stats, such as his ability to complete passes with accuracy regardless of the range. He rarely gives the ball away, but his passes into the final third stat show that he isn’t safe in possession, and he is willing to progress play if the opportunity presents itself, which would give much-needed control to the United side.

Furthermore, the Brazil star plays in Fernando Diniz’s demanding side, which is fluid and willing to play the ball out from the back. Ten Hag also wants to progress to using his goalkeeper Andre Onana in the build-up, and Andre would allow the boss to implement that philosophy, as he is used to playing one touch in his own box. His calmness in possession, ability to evade the press using his quick feet, and awareness are attributes that Casemiro cannot provide.

Andre’s defensive stats aren’t near Casemiro's – who averages 3.03 tackles per 90, for instance – but that is going to be the case when he plays for a side that dominates the ball in almost every game. However, his energy and ability to win duels in the middle of the park make up for that.

Overall, Andre would be an excellent signing for Man United, and he would improve their approach massively, focusing on ball retention and not always forcing the ball forward. The 22-year-old has plenty of room to develop, so the Red Devils would be buying a future gem, not just a player who could improve the team now.

If it’s not United, whoever signs up Andre will be getting themselves a bargain.