When it comes to academies, few teams in the Premier League can match Chelsea.

While they do not always make it into the Blues’ first team, the number of top-flight footballers that come out of Cobham is staggering.

However, while the club have made an enormous amount of money from selling their academy stars, they have occasionally seen future superstars slip through their fingers, with Jamal Musiala being an example of this.

Fortunately, while Enzo Maresca is unlikely to ever get his hands on the German superstar, the club are closing in on a player who has won comparisons to him.

Chelsea target their new Musiala

As well as blowing teams away on the pitch, Chelsea have enjoyed a brilliant summer off of it, in the transfer market.

Transfer Focus

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

The board have backed Maresca in a big way by signing the likes of Joao Pedro, Jorrel Hato, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens.

Moreover, with just over two weeks remaining of the window, it looks like the Blues are planning to make at least one more addition to the team in the shape of a player previously compared to Musiala.

At least that’s according to a recent report from TEAMtalk, which has reaffirmed Chelsea’s intense interest in Alejandro Garnacho.

More than that, the report has revealed that the Blues are approaching a ‘breakthrough’ in negotiations for the Argentine and believe Manchester United will agree to a fee of around £35m before the window closes.

If this really is the case, then the West Londoners would have done incredibly well to sign a player as talented as Garnacho for such a low fee, especially as he’s been compared to Musiala.

How Garnacho compares to Musiala

So, before we get into some of the other positives to signing Garnacho, we should look at where this comparison to Musiala has come from, as some might describe it as a bold shout.

Well, in this instance, it stems from FBref, which looked at players in similar positions in the 23/24 edition of the Champions League and came to the conclusion that the German star was the eighth most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the United ace in the competition.

While that might not seem right to some, we can gain a better understanding of how this conclusion was reached by taking a look at some of the underlying numbers in which the pair ranked closely.

In this case, those metrics included things like non-penalty expected goals plus assists, shots, goal-creating actions, tackles and more, all per 90.

These numbers point to a player who, when he’s at his best, is capable of being just as much a creator as a scorer of goals, and that is very much how people would describe Musiala today.

However, while comparison to someone as incredibly talented as the German is arguably reason enough to sign the 21-year-old, another reason the West Londoners should go out and get him is his output from last season.

For example, despite playing for a historically poor United side, the future “superstar”, as journalist Liam Canning once dubbed him, was still able to score 11 goals and provide ten assists in 58 appearances.

Ultimately, while Garancho is not on the level of Musiala at the moment, the fact that he’s capable of putting up numbers so similar to his is hugely encouraging, and if Chelsea can get the best out of him, they may just have a world-beater on their hands.

Shades of Cesc & Hazard: Chelsea in talks to sign "one of the world's best"

Chelsea could sign their new Fabregas & Hazard.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Aug 15, 2025

قدم نجم منتخب النرويج، إيرلينج هالاند، أداءً مثاليًا في مباراة اليوم ضد الكيان الصهيوني، في إطار التصفيات المؤهلة إلى بطولة كأس العالم نسخة 2026.

واستضاف منتخب النرويج نظيره الكيان الصهيوني في خضم تصفيات قارة أوروبا المؤهلة إلى مونديال العام المقبل، حيث حقق أصحاب الأرض فوزًا كاسحًا بخمسة أهداف دون رد.

وأهدر هالاند ضربة جزاء، مرتين، بعدما تمت إعادتها، قبل أن يتألق ويسجل 3 أهداف، هاتريك في المباراة.

اقرأ أيضًا.. “مواجهة بين المُر والحلو”.. أعلام فلسطين تجتاح ملعب مباراة النرويج في تصفيات كأس العالم

ووصل هالاند بذلك إلى هدفه رقم 51 رفقة منتخب النرويج، وأصبح أسرع لاعب يصل إلى 50 هدفًا مع منتخب بلده، حيث حقق ذلك في 46 مباراة فقط، متفوقًا على نجوم مثل هاري كين (71 مباراة)، نيمار (74)، كيليان مبابي (90)، روبرت ليفاندوفسكي (90)، ليونيل ميسي (107) وكريستيانو رونالدو (114).

وسجل هالاند 21 هدفًا في 12 مباراة رفقة مانشستر سيتي ومنتخب النرويج، ذلك الموسم، مسجلًا أهدافًا في آخر 10 مباريات متتالية.

كما سجل هالاند 8 أهداف في آخر مباراتين رفقة منتخب النرويج، بواقع هاتريك ضد الكيان الصهيوني وميجا هاتريك ضد مولدوفا، وكلتا المباراتين في تصفيات كأس العالم.

Australia allrounder Ashleigh Gardner has been named Gujarat Giants captain for WPL 2025, ending fellow national team-mate Beth Mooney’s two-year reign at the helm.”It is an absolute honour for me to be named the captain of Gujarat Giants.” Gardner said in a Giants statement. “I have loved being a part of this team and I am excited to lead this fantastic group in the upcoming season. We have a great mix of young and experienced players and plenty of Indian talent in our squad. I am looking forward to working with the team and making our fans proud.”Related

• WPL 2025: Can new captain Gardner change Gujarat Giants' fortunes around?

• Shafali, Reddy and other players who could take the WPL route to Indian team

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Gardner has been a vital cog for Australia across formats, chipping in with her all-round credentials. In the recent Women’s Ashes, she picked up five wickets including a second-innings four-for in the only Test match – a pink-ball affair at the MCG – and scored her maiden ODI century in the third ODI of the series. She missed the T20I leg of the multi-format series with a calf strain but had provided a reminder of her bowling abilities by picking 16 wickets for Sydney Sixers in WBBL 2024.”She is a fierce competitor,” Giants head coach Michael Klinger said. “Her game awareness, tactical acumen, and ability to inspire players make her the ideal choice to captain Gujarat Giants. We believe she will lead from the front and guide the team towards a successful campaign.”Gardner has been with Giants since the inaugural season and the move to elevate her to captaincy was made to free up Mooney, who is also the designated wicketkeeper and the opening batter for them. Gardner was also Giants’ vice-captain for most of the first season after Mooney picked up a calf injury one game into WPL 2023.Gardner is the No. 1-ranked allrounder in ICC’s ODI rankings while Mooney is the leading T20I batter.”I would like to thank Mooney for her highly valued leadership,” Klinger said. “Now, she will be able to focus on wicketkeeping and opening the batting lineup. She continues to be a major leader of our group.”Ahead of the auction for WPL 2025, Giants rejigged their support staff with assistant coach Nooshin Al Khadeer and mentor Mithali Raj parting ways. Australia assistant coach Daniel Marsh joined as the batting coach while IPL team Lucknow Super Giants’ spin-bowling coach Pravin Tambe is the bowling coach.

Glasgow Rangers signed central midfielder Joe Rothwell to add some poise and class to their options in the middle of the park earlier this summer.

The English metronome joined on a permanent basis from Premier League side Bournemouth, after playing a part in Leeds United’s 100-point Championship title-winning season last term.

Unfortunately, though, Rothwell has yet to show his class on the pitch for the Light Blues. He was subbed off at half-time in the 6-0 hammering against Club Brugge and only played eight minutes off the bench against Celtic at Ibrox on Sunday.

Rangers eyeing move for new midfielder

The experienced ace may end up finding himself further down the pecking order after the deadline passes tonight, as the club have set their sights on another number six.

Transfer Focus

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

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According to L’Equipe, Glasgow Rangers are one of the clubs interested in a deal to sign central midfielder Pierre Ekwah from Saint-Etienne today.

The report claims that Levante and Rangers are both keen on tying up a deadline day move for the French star, who wants to leave his current club after they were relegated from Ligue 1.

It states that the Light Blues are considering an approach to sign Ekwah, who joined Saint-Etienne from Sunderland for £5m this summer, if they are able to move a player on to make way for him, although it is unclear as to who that player would be.

What Pierre Ekwah could bring to Rangers

The former Black Cats man could be exactly what Russell Martin needs at the base of his midfield to improve the defence, as an instant upgrade on Rothwell.

Rangers have already conceded 17 goals this season, and failed to win any of their four matches in the Scottish Premiership, and signing a defensive midfield enforcer like Ekwah could provide the back four with the protection that they clearly need.

In four outings in the Premiership this season, Rothwell has averaged 2.0 tackles and interceptions per game and only won 50% of his physical duels, per Sofascore, which does not suggest that he is a defensive powerhouse.

24/25 Ligue 1

Pierre Ekwah

Appearances

29

Pass accuracy

88%

Tackles + interceptions per game

3.6

Error led to goal

0

Duel success rate

57%

Duels won per game

5.0

Aerial duel success rate

71%

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Ekwah has the potential to offer more to the team out of possession by making more tackles and interceptions and winning a higher percentage of his duels with opposition players.

Ekwah, who Tony Mowbray claimed could do “amazing” things with his feet, also ranked within the top 34% of midfielders in Ligue 1 for progressive passes (5.29) per 90, which shows that he is also adept at playing forward passes to spark attacks.

This means that he is not only a defensive monster who can break up play, but he can also play with the ball and build attacks, which is important in a Rangers team that want to dominate and win games consistently.

Overall, Ekwah’s performances in a greater league, one of the major leagues in Europe, suggest that he would be a significant upgrade on Rothwell in the number six position and go a long way to improving the team’s worrying defensive issues.

Related Aarons upgrade: Rangers lining up Deadline Day deal to sign £22k-p/w star

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Posts ByDan Emery Sep 1, 2025

Arsenal laboured against a spirited Port Vale to ease into the League Cup fourth round, courtesy of Eze's first goal in a Gunners shirt early in the first half and a late strike from substitute Trossard. The Gunners made a flying start to the match, scoring inside the opening 10 minutes and looked like they would blow League One Vale away. But chances were hard to come by and the hosts enjoyed more possession as the match progressed, then Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta introduced Trossard who secured the win with five minutes remaining.

Arsenal were captained by Bukayo Saka, making his first start since suffering injury against Leeds in the season curtain-raiser. And while Arteta will be pleased with the result he'll know his side were efficient, but not impressive on the evening as they struggled to break Vale down. 

The Gunners needed just eight minutes to open the scoring, with Eze sliding home a low finish after a neat team move. The visitors looked set to run away with it after netting an early goal but found it tough going against a resolute Port Vale side.

Arteta threw on reinforcements in the second half, including Viktor Gyokeres and teenage talent Max Dowman, but it was Trossard who came up with the goods again. The Belgium international fired a low shot into the bottom corner with just four minutes of normal time remaining to seal Arsenal's place in the next round.

GOAL rates Arsenal's players from Vale Park…

AFPGoalkeeper & Defence

Kepa Arrizabalaga (6/10):

Making his first appearance this season, but had little to do all evening. Could've taken a seat in the away end with the travelling Arsenal fans. 

Miles Lewis-Skelly (7/10):

Has been urged by Arteta to make the Arsenal manager's life difficult this season as he battles for a regular starting place and he responded well by being awarded the assist for Eze's opener – but whether he got a touch on it is debatable. 

Cristhian Mosquera (7/10):

Has impressed following his move from Valencia this summer, plays like he's been at the club for years. Happy to shift from central to wide positions later in the game. One risky pass raised a few eyebrows. 

William Saliba (7/10):

Typically composed performance, snuffed out Vale threats, but had to work hard for the clean sheet. 

Ben White (6/10):

Making his return after picking up a knock against Manchester United in the opening day fixture. Made forays forward, but failed to make an impact and hooked off in 71st minute.  

AdvertisementAFPMidfield

Mikel Merino (6/10):

Knows he has a battle on his hands to land a starting place in Arsenal's talent-laden midfield. Dealt well with Vale's physical presence, subbed in 71st minute. 

Christian Norgaard (6/10):

Making his first start for Arsenal following his switch from Brentford. Busy presence in midfield as Vale pressed to create chances. Solid. 

Ethan Nwaneri (7/10):

Promising start to the season after signing a new long-term contract in the summer. Worked hard, but struggled to make an impact in the final third. 

AFPAttack

Bukayo Saka (7/10):

Arsenal captain for the evening and will be very pleased to play just over an hour. Offered threat down the right and was very grateful to be able to shake off a very hefty challenge in the second-half. 

Eberechi Eze (8/10):

Confidently scored his first goal for the Gunners in the eighth minute, alive and bright all evening, a constant thorn in Port Vale's side. Taken off in 81st minute. 

Gabriel Martinelli (7/10):

Laboured across the front line all evening and while he deserves credit for the leg work, he struggled to create many chances. Subbed with nine minutes remaining. 

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Subs & Manager

Mikel Arteta (8/10): 

Named a very strong side and, despite the nine changes, his side were dominant from start to finish. His side had 82% possession in the opening 15 minutes. Job done. 

Max Dowman (6/10):

Youngest Arsenal player to feature in the competition, replacing Saka in the 62nd minute.

Gabriel Magalhaes (6/10):

Replaced White in the 71st minute, too few touches to make an impact. 

Viktor Gyokeres (6/10):

Brought on to add more attacking threat, replacing Merino in the 71st minute. 

Declan Rice (N/A):

Introduced with only a few minutes remaining, no significant impact. 

Leandro Trossard (8/10):

Given just under 10mins by Arteta, but did excellently with his control and strike from edge of the box to seal the game for the Gunners. 

Aston Villa had a quiet start to the window but it appears to be ramping up in the final few weeks. The club was at risk of breaching the Premier League’s PSR rules, but with the impending sale of Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle, they have more freedom to spend.

Unai Emery has already brought in Nice forward Evann Guessand for around £30 million – the boss seems to have been a major contributing factor in the 24 year-old’s decision to come to Birmingham, as in one of his first interviews as a Villa player, he spoke of their relationship.

Villa are looking to quickly follow up this signing with another forward who has already spent some time with the club.

Villa working to bring back Asensio

With the sale of Jacob Ramsey almost complete, Aston Villa have started the process of bringing Marco Asensio back to the club (Sky Sports). Asensio joined Villa on loan from PSG from January until the end of the 24/25 season, but until now, there have been no official moves to make the signing permanent.

Negotiations are already proceeding well, with an agreement in place with the player to sign a three-year contract with all other personal terms having been agreed. On the club front, PSG has already informed Asensio that they are open to selling him in the event that a satisfactory offer is received.

Later this week, Villa are expected to place their first official bid with PSG, with a figure of £17.2 million including bonuses being their asking price.

Asensio to build on his fantastic first impression

From the moment Asensio joined Villa last season, he seemed to buy into Emery’s vision and the club’s project. In February, he held an interview with Sky: “Happy to join the project, be with my teammates and staff, and grateful to be able to give a lot of joy to the fans as well. I want to be able to help us achieve the goals that we have, collectively, as a team and a club.”

His teammates also took a liking to him, with Matty Cash calling him a “Mentality Monster”. His teammates would also have loved his creativity, as he featured in the top 25% of players for chances created per 90 minutes.

As a well-regarded figure, both in the dressing room and global football, who already has a good relationship with the club and the manager, resigning Asensio on a three-year deal for less than £20 million feels like a no-brainer for Villa.

MatériaMais Notícias

As negociações do Fluminense com Clayson tomaram novo rumo. De acordo com o “GE”, após o acordo estar bem encaminhado, o vazamento da notícia fez com que o Tricolor das Laranjeiras paralisasse as tratativas. O motivo foi a repercussão negativa da torcida tricolor diante da possibilidade do atacante poder desembarcar no clube.

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Clayson foi acusado de ter agredido uma mulher em dezembro de 2021. O caso foi parar na Justiça, mas o jogador foi absolvido por falta de provas. Como torcedores reagiram com maus olhos, o caso preocupa o clube das Laranjeiras, que pode desistir do acordo.

Clayson tinha sido escolhido por Fernando Diniz como ponta para ser alternativa a Keno. O jogador está prestes a encerrar seu contrato com o V-Varen Nagasaki, da Segunda Divisão do Japão, e acena com um retorno ao futebol brasileiro.

A notícia da negociação causou mobilização nas redes sociais para que o Fluminense não contratasse o atacante. De acordo com o “Canal do Lessa”, houve divisão entre a cúpula tricolor.

No fim de 2021, Clayson foi acusado por Danielle Sarti, jovem de 22 anos, de ter sido agredida em um motel em Cuiabá, onde estavam com outros dois homens e duas mulheres. O Cuiabá rescindiu o contrato do atacante, que estava emprestado pelo Bahia. O Tricolor baiano também o dispensou em janeiro de 2022.

O jogador de 28 anos foi atuar fora do país, mas o processo continuou na Justiça. A sentença absolvendo o jogador e os outros dois homens em setembro do ano passado por falta de provas. Segundo a juíza Maria Rosi de Meira Borba, “as partes envolvidas deram versões diferentes e contraditórias sobre a ocorrência”.

Lionel Messi sent a special message to ex-Barcelona team-mate Ousmane Dembele to congratulate him on winning the Ballon d'Or this year. Dembele edged out Blaugrana sensation Lamine Yamal to grab the Golden Ball. The French winger experienced the best season of his career in the 2024-25 campaign as he inspired Paris Saint-Germain to a historic treble.

• PSG and Dembele's historic campaign

  Dembele was presented with the prestigious Golden Ball in Paris on Monday, after he played a pivotal role in helping PSG make history in the 2024-25 season. The Ligue 1 giants stormed to another Ligue 1 title and the Coupe de France while also securing their first Champions League crown. The Frenchman contributed with 35 goals and 16 assists. 

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Messi congratulates Dembele

  Barcelona legend Messi, who shared a dressing room with Dembele for four years at Camp Nou, left a comment on Dembele's Instagram post celebrating his Ballon d'Or triumph. The Argentine maestro wrote: "Grande Ous !!! Congratulations I’m so happy for you. You deserve it."

• Mbappe celebrates Dembele's triumph

  Dembele's France national team colleague Kylian Mbappe was also over the moon seeing his close friend winning the Golden Ball, as he wrote on his Instagram story: "Ousmane Dembele. It's the emotions, my brother. You deserve it a thousand times over."

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• Getty
  

  When is Dembele playing next?

  Dembele was able to attend Monday's ceremony in Paris and skip PSG's rescheduled Ligue 1 clash with Marseille as he is still nursing an injury that he suffered during the international break. He is hoping to regain full fitness in time for his club's next domestic game on Saturday against Auxerre. 

The 29-year-old quick took 10 wickets in the match as the home side overcame being a bowler down

AAP and ESPNcricinfo staff11-Feb-2025

Peter Handscomb’s rearguard fell short as Kieran Elliott powered Tasmania home against Victoria for a thrilling 20-run Sheffield Shield victory.Elliott followed his first innings, four-wicket haul with 6 for 84 in 28.1 overs on Tuesday as the hosts defied early rain and several Victorian stands to notch a crucial, second victory this season. They were comfortably career-best innings and match figures for 29-year-old Elliott.Related

Weatherald's dominant century gives Tasmania chance of victory

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Tasmania were down a bowler with Lawrence Neil-Smith have gone off injured on the third day which made their success even more noteable.Set 270 for victory after Jake Weatherald’s blazing day-three century, Victoria resumed on 55 for 2 and inched towards the total in between morning rain delays.Handscomb had support from nightwatchman Sam Elliott before Sam Harper joined and put the visitors within reach. But Kieran Elliott ended both of those partnerships and then nabbed Will Sutherland to again stunt their march before the second new ball was due.Gabe Bell then found Fergus O’Neill’s edge and left Victoria needing 21 from their final partnership.Handscomb tried to do it himself, but could only sky an attempted flick over midwicket, Nivethan Radhakrishnan running in from the boundary to take the catch and spark wild scenes.The only wicket not taken by Elliott of Bell fell to debutant Aidan O’Connor who had Jonathan Merlo top-edging to fine leg early in the day. O’Connor had contributed a vital half-century on the opening day.Tasmania lifted off the bottom of a crowded ladder while second-placed Victoria missed a chance to push clear of the pack with three matches to play.

The rain lashed down in almost biblical fashion at Blundell Park on Wednesday evening, yet there was to be no messiah for Manchester United, as League Two minnows Grimsby Town deservedly edged into the Carabao Cup Third Round.

Ruben Amorim – looking less and less like the Red Devils’ saviour – could hardly watch as his expensively assembled side crashed out on penalties, having only briefly spared their blushes with a late fightback in normal time.

£74m signing Benjamin Sesko had even come agonisingly close to snatching a winner at the death, although that scenario would have been deeply unfair on a home side who outfought and outmanoeuvred their opponents throughout the 90-minute affair.

Four times the ball was in Andre Onana’s net – the last of those ruled out in somewhat contentious circumstances – with that fact alone emphasising just what a bruising night it was for the men in red.

Yes, there have been flashes of positivity in recent weeks, but Wednesday’s result may well have extinguished all that. A new nadir in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era has been reached.

Just where do the Old Trafford side go from here?

Andre Onana takes the blame again

The best place to start, in the post-mortem that is to follow, would be the signing of a new starting goalkeeper. Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens appears to be the INEOS pick, although at just 22, the young stopper appears yet another gamble for the United hierarchy.

Chalkboard

Whatever the Belgian’s credentials, however, he could arguably do little worse than United’s current crop, with the aforementioned Onana failing miserably to take his chance following his return to the starting lineup.

Altay Bayindir – the man at fault for Arsenal’s strike on the opening weekend – has been shaky enough in recent weeks, although Onana’s performance takes the biscuit, with the Cameroonian arguably to blame for both of Grimsby’s goals on the night.

Having failed to keep out Charles Vernam’s early effort at the near post, the 29-year-old then compounded that error by needlessly racing out of his goal just eight minutes later, allowing Tyrell Warren to prod home into the empty net.

Even in the ensuing shootout, the former Inter Milan man – who had looked nervy from the off after flapping at an early inswinging corner – could only produce a solitary, albeit impressive spot-kick save, despite repeatedly getting his hand to the ball.

After making five errors in all competitions last term, as per Sofascore, the reported West Ham United target has picked up where he left off, with it perhaps easy to see why Amorim has been hesitant to reinstate him on the Premier League front thus far.

An exit for the £47.2m man now appears an inevitability, be it this week, or in 2026, with teammate Manuel Ugarte perhaps among those who should well join him in the departure lounge.

Manuel Ugarte's dismal display vs Grimsby

On a night that began with the talk centred around the future of a certain Kobbie Mainoo, it was telling that the United boss opted to replace Ugarte instead at the break, with the Uruguayan yet again failing to convince.

While passes went astray, there was purpose and poise to Mainoo’s game, with the academy starlet notably picking out Bryan Mbeumo to kickstart the comeback. His penalty was also dispatched with aplomb.

The same cannot be said for Ugarte, however, with the ex-Paris Saint-Germain man again looking uneasy in the centre of the park, having lost the ball on five occasions from his 44-touch cameo, while also failing to provide a single key pass.

Minutes played

45

Touches

44

Pass accuracy

88%

Key passes

0

Successful dribbles

1/2

Ground duels

2/4

Aerial duels

2/3

Possession lost

5x

Fouls

1

An unused substitute in the Bilbao showpiece back in May, the 24-year-old’s stock already looked to have plummeted heading into the summer, with Wednesday’s outing providing a further reminder of his deficiencies.

Despite only arriving under the INEOS regime last summer, it looks as if the former Sporting CP midfielder – who worked under Amorim in Lisbon – is now on borrowed time, with MEN journalist Samuel Luckhurst claiming that ‘people at the club are giving up on him’.

Hooked at the break following what Luckhurst noted to be just a 2/10 worthy performance, Ugarte appears to have a mountain to climb to revive his United fortunes, with both he and Onana having been “absolutely useless” against the Mariners, as per writer Muhammad Butt.

While there is little doubting his physical capacity, having ranked in the top 6% of Premier League midfielders in 2024/25 for tackles won, as per FBref, his woes on the ball are plain to see, not least when considering he ranked in just the bottom 18% for progressive passes and the bottom 23% for progressive carries per 90.

Having already been acquired at the expense of one academy hero in Scott McTominay, the £50m man must surely not be prioritised over another homegrown talent such as Mainoo.

If there was to be any shining light from an evening that put the grim in Grimsby, then it should hopefully be the realisation for Amorim and his staff regarding which United midfielder actually needs to make way before the deadline…

Bigger blow than Mainoo: £50m Man Utd ace in "very advanced" talks to leave

Manchester United look set to offload another star as Kobbie Mainoo exit rumours pick up pace.

2 ByEthan Lamb Aug 27, 2025