Manchester United are in the process of being taken over at Old Trafford; however, it is unlikely that minority investment firms will usurp either the Nine Two Foundation or INEOS, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.
What's the latest Manchester United ownership news?
According to Reuters, Manchester United 'is negotiating' granting exclusivity to Qatari businessman Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al Thani and the Nine Two Foundation.
The report states that the bid from Sheikh Jassim is viewed as more favourable to the Glazer family than Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his petrochemicals firm INEOS' offer to assume control of the Premier League giants.
As per The Times, whoever becomes the new owner of Manchester United is unlikely to be in place before the new season begins at Old Trafford.
There is said to be an 'approval process' before any deal is concluded, something which could take between eight and 12 weeks to complete and consequently drag the timeline of the ownership battle on while vetting procedures are carried out.
ESPN understand that several minority investment firms are still waiting to find out whether they have been successful in their efforts to buy into Manchester United.
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Jacobs has indicated that it is unlikely that any minority investors will win the bidding war to invest in Manchester United.
Jacobs told FFC: "My understanding is that the minority investors are largely just waiting at this point. They now have a lower confidence that option will be one that the Glazers take. It looks like the focus is now on the two main groups INEOS and the Nine Two Foundation. Of course, no sale can ever be ruled out, but I wouldn't want to go in and paint to Manchester United fans that that is a likely scenario."
What now for Manchester United?
Manchester United boss Erik Ten Hag will be focused solely on trying to identify new recruits ahead of 2023/24 as the Red Devils look to build on a strong debut campaign under his stewardship.
Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is a key target for the Dutchman; however, Manchester United were rebuffed in their first attempt to try and land the England international, in an offer that was said to be worth in the region of £40 million, as per BBC Sport.
The Daily Mail report that Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund is also on the radar at Old Trafford, though the Serie A outfit will demand around £86 million to sanction his exit.
Brentford goalkeeper David Raya is another name that has been mentioned in connection with Manchester United, who remain keen on the 27-year-old despite interest from Tottenham Hotspur, as per Telegraph Sport.
In a time of change at Manchester United, plenty of exciting developments could be set to occur at the Premier League giants over the next weeks and months.
JP Duminy would welcome an ODI league and the addition of two extra Test teams, as proposed by the ICC’s Chief Executives Committee (CEC) at the latest round of board meetings last week
Firdose Moonda06-Feb-2017
South Africa have met Afghanistan twice in World T20 matches•Associated Press
JP Duminy would welcome an ODI league and the addition of two extra Test teams, as proposed by the ICC’s Chief Executives Committee (CEC) at the latest round of board meetings last week. If approved, international cricket could run on a new schedule with a two-year Test league, a three-year, 13-team ODI league, culminating in qualification for the 50-over World Cup, and regional tournaments to determine places for a World T20. That will mean all limited-overs series will carry some weight and that is something Duminy is in favour of.”The best way to answer that is something that Russell [Domingo, South Africa’s coach] harps on quite a lot. Every game that you play for your country is of importance,” Duminy said. “If that [the new system] is in place, that puts a lot more emphasis on that. If we are focusing on that, that means we are giving our best throughout the series and for every game so that’s a big bonus.”The current series between South Africa and Sri Lanka is an example of why an ODI league would be a good idea. South Africa’s dominance in the three matches played so far has meant interest in the series has dwindled, although the prospect of a whitewash and South Africa ascending to No.1 on the rankings has provided some narrative.”The end result is definitely about 5-nil. Tomorrow is the most important game for us but we’ve always had one eye on 5-nil,” Duminy said. “It’s always a nice thing to be ranked No.1 and that will be an added bonus for us but for now it’s about making sure we focus on what’s important for us and that is the preparation leading up to the Champions Trophy.”Asked if he would be keen to play Tests against the likes of Ireland and Afghanistan, Duminy said he was eager for the chance to take on different opposition. “If that’s the situation, we would be up for it,” he said. “No matter who we are playing against, it’s an opportunity to represent your country and we don’t take that for granted. Whatever comes our way, we will be up for it.”And what about touring Afghanistan? “Why not? They’ve got some good players and we’ve played against them in the shorter formats and they’ve definitely given us a run for our money so why not?”South Africa have played two T20s against Afghanistan, at World T20s in 2010 and 2016. They won both matches, by 59 and 37 runs respectively. This summer, South Africa also hosted Ireland for the first time. Ireland played two ODIs in the country, one against South Africa and one against Australia. CSA have also begun the process of putting together working groups with neighbours Zimbabwe to see how they can assist them with everything from corporate governance to on-field cricket activities.
Glasgow Rangers have endured one of their worst seasons in recent memory.
The Ibrox outfit will end the campaign trophyless while they have also sacked a manager and even managed to secure the record for the worst ever Champions League group stage performance, losing all six matches and scoring just twice.
Michael Beale will be aiming to put 2022/2023 firmly in the rearview mirror once their finally match has been played and turn his attention to the summer transfer window, with the squad badly needing to be overhauled.
It could be the Gers busiest transfer window in recent memory, especially with seven first team players out of contract and the Englishman will be eyeing up a fair few arrivals too.
Could the 42-year-old turn to the academy to save the club some money?
With plenty of young talent impressing for both the B team and U18s, next season could have a very different feel to it.
One player that Beale may consider giving more opportunities to is defender Lewis MacKinnon and the Ibrox side could certainly their repeat their Leon King masterclass.
Who is Lewis MacKinnon?
The 20-year-old centre-back plays in the same position as King, and he could follow in his footsteps by making the leap to the first team next term.
King is a stunning prospect, making his debut for the club under Steven Gerrard in 2020 aged just 16, he has since gone on to feature for the Light Blues on 28 occasions, gaining valuable Champions League experience along the way.
MacKinnon may not have made his senior bow yet, but there is no doubt the ability is there and with the club having nothing to play for across the final five matches of the season, there may be an opportunity to impress.
He offers a rare attacking threat from central defence having scored three times this term while the Northern Irishman has even stated that he aims to be “solid” in his own box, also admitting that he has improved while speaking to the media earlier this season, saying:
"The Lowland League has been more of a physical test, but when we play these top European teams you’re coming across a different challenge, it’s probably more technical playing against these teams. Ultimately, it will help us improve as a player, everyone’s enjoying it.
Leon King for Rangers
“If you look at the boys who got a start against Queen of the South, it just shows you that the pathway is there, and you just have to keep striving each day."
King has proven that there is indeed a clear pathway from academy to the senior side, and Beale could well unleash him either in the final few matches of this season, or bring him into the first team squad ahead of 2023/2024.
Chelsea may let Mason Mount leave Stamford Bridge this summer 'if he's not willing to commit' his future to the club and sign a new contract, according to journalist Paul Brown.
What's the latest transfer news involving Mason Mount?
As per Sky Sports, Manchester United are said to be the 'leading contenders' in the race to sign Mount if he is to depart his boyhood club in the summer.
The report states that Liverpool are also keen on his services while talks over a contract extension, with his current £80,000 per week terms set to run out in 2024, have not yielded an agreement from either party.
Mount is said to favour a move to Old Trafford over other potential destinations, as per The Athletic, which also include Arsenal, who are believed to be monitoring his situation.
Prospective new Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino is an admirer of Mount and would like to keep him in SW6; however, he may be powerless to stop the Portsmouth-born star from leaving the Blues if no solution is found to extend his deal.
Speaking to Football FanCast, journalist Brown has suggested that the notion of Mount leaving Chelsea is becoming a likely prospect by the day.
Brown told FFC: "Talks have clearly not gone well between him and the club. Talks have been going on for months and months and not really got anywhere at all and I think the owners would be willing to let him go if he's not willing to commit to the club. I just think it feels like a situation where he is probably going to leave. The new incoming manager might have a say in this. He might be able to sit down with Mason Mount and say, I want you in this team, this is the role you'll play, but it does feel like Mason Mount might be leaving this summer to me."
Should Chelsea keep or sell Mason Mount this summer?
Mount is a talented player and that is reflected in the calibre of sides interested in his services; nevertheless, his contract wrangle at Chelsea has gone on for far too long and they may have no choice but to sell him to avoid losing the England international on a free transfer in 2024.
This term, the 24-year-old has made 35 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea, netting three goals and supplying a further six assists, as per Transfermarkt.
Despite a difficult campaign collectively at Stamford Bridge, Mount has still been able to impose his presence in midfield and has won an average of 1.4 challenges in the Premier League, according to WhoScored.
FBRef also note that Mount has also been an effective provider of chances for his teammates, having successfully carried out 83 shot-creating actions in 2022/23.
Nevertheless, it looks as if someone else may be the beneficiary of his capabilities from next season unless there is a drastic change in progress surrounding his contract situation.
Russell Domingo, South Africa’s coach, has blamed heavy workloads and jaded players for his team’s failure to reach the final of the tri-nation series in the West Indies, but insisted the below-par performance would not push him to resign. Instead, Domingo called on Cricket South Africa to look into managing players’ workloads outside the international schedule to ensure they are hungry enough to perform for their country.”This loss comes on the back of our top players playing too much cricket,” Domingo said on his arrival in South Africa. “It’s a big concern for me. It’s one of the points I need to highlight with my superiors when I get time to sit down and chat to them.
‘De Villiers’ workload is a concern’
On the possibility of resting AB de Villiers for the Tests against New Zealand: “He’s the captain, he’ll be the first name down on the sheet to play Tests against New Zealand. I spoke to him two days ago planning the workload. It is a concern. Some players around the world play all these tournaments but don’t play all the formats. Our players – Hashim, AB, Faf, Quinton, Morne, JP – they play all the formats and then play a lot of outside leagues as well so that is a big problem for us. But if AB is fit, he should be good to go for the Test series.” On Dale Steyn being rested for the tri-series but being allowed to play in the NatWest t20 Blast: “A lot of that thinking was that Dale did need some cricket. We sort of knew that spinners would play a big role in West Indies. Having him sit around, not doing too much was not going to benefit him too much. He would probably have gone to the West Indies and been in a similar position to Morne Morkel. He would probably have only played one game and done a lot of time in the nets. Five games of four overs wouldn’t have hurt him. It would only have benefitted him. I am glad he has gone and played some cricket.” On the upcoming South Africa A matches in Zimbabwe and Australia: “The South Africa A side allows you to broaden your base a bit and give some fringe players game time against quality opposition. There are some players in our Test side that will be playing for them like Dean Elgar, Stephen Cook, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt.”
“Think about our seriously long tour to India, long tour against England, then straight into the World T20. Then players stayed behind, played the IPL and flew straight to Caribbean. Some players arrived two days before our first game in Guyana and now some are staying another four weeks in the Caribbean, some are playing county cricket, then home for two weeks, then a series against New Zealand, then go and play a mini IPL, then straight into a tour against Australia. Those are challenges that the coaching staff and the players are sitting with at the moment. When you are playing that amount of cricket for that period of time, it’s difficult to maintain the standards consistently.”Of South Africa’s 15-man squad for the tri-series, nine (including Dean Elgar, who came in as an injury replacement) are Test regulars, eleven were part of the World T20 squad, ten played at the IPL, six are staying on for the CPL, two are headed for county stints and the rest will play for the A side. That means none of the players who are part of the current national set-up have had any time off since October last year and Domingo believes the fatigue is starting to show.”The desire and the hunger levels when you are playing day in and day out will wane at some stage. There’s no doubt about that. You can’t give 100% to ten different teams for ten months. Something’s got to give,” he said.The something, according to team manager Mohammed Moosajee, could be the no-objection certificates (NOC) CSA issues to players, which allows them to spend what should be time off playing in foreign leagues. “CSA management will need to look at the process going forward, how they release NOCs, taking into account the long international season,” Moosajee said.But the declining Rand has made it difficult to deny NOCs because CSA cannot match the amounts players earn overseas and this has left Domingo and his management team with a problem. “The big challenge for me is making sure that international cricket is still the main priority for our players. There are lot of tournaments, a lot of money to be made, a lot of opportunities for players to get out there and market themselves so I need to be making sure we focus really hard on our No.1 priority and that is representing our country,” he said. “Sometimes, if you have done it for a long time, you can take it for granted maybe. There is a lot happening outside international cricket. Making sure guys are fresh and hungry to perform for their country is of utmost importance for me.”Despite admitting he has not been able to do that in the last six months, and that the “sharpness and effectiveness” of the side is “lacking”, Domingo remained confident he and his management team are the right people to try and turn things around.”I’ve got to sit down with my management team and the board members and the CEO and the guys who make those decisions and plan the way forward. I’ve got 10 months left on my contract and the last six months haven’t gone according to plan. I am not a guy who wants to give up or quit so I need to discuss what their thoughts are,” Domingo said. “I’ve got a few days at home now to just mull over things and see where things are going. I feel that the management team we’ve got in place have ticked a lot of boxes and provided the players with as much support as we can. We’re still very motivated to do well. We feel we can take the team forward. That decision doesn’t always lie with us but that’s the way it is.”Domingo will take heart from the knowledge that he has one of the most important people in the set-up in his corner. AB de Villiers threw his weight behind the coach after the team’s loss in their final round-robin match when he said the players should take responsibility for their own shortcomings. Domingo, however, does not feel the players have let him down.”I wouldn’t say the players have let me down. I’m not a coach who is going to sit here and blame the players for lack of performances. Coaches have to front up and take the brunt of it when performances are not there,” he said. “I don’t feel let down by players, I feel let down by performances. The results haven’t been as good as what we’ve wanted. I feel the players gave it as much as they possible could.”The coach put South Africa’s early exit from the tournament on two moments in particular but stressed this does not mean they don’t have what it takes to perform under pressure. “The one was where we needed 96 runs off 15 overs against Australia we were three down and we lost. The batters let us down. Then, in the last game, we had West Indies 21 for 4 after 5 overs and our next 12 overs were very average. We bowled really poorly and allowed West Indies to get some momentum and establish a partnership. Those two phases probably cost us getting into the final and possibly winning the tournament,” Domingo said. “But I definitely think the team has got big-match temperament. This team has managed to win some must-win games in ODI and T20 cricket over the last two or three years.”He cited examples like their Mumbai win to take the series against India and their three victories in succession against England at home earlier this year, but acknowledged that those count for nothing because South Africa’s cabinet is missing a major trophy.”Until we win a world event, people will always question us,” Domingo said. “There’s another opportunity next year. There’s a Champions Trophy. There’s a lot of work that needs to be done in our one-day side to get us to be contenders for that but, with the players within our ranks, if we can manage them properly and make sure when the time comes they are all fully fit, all swimming in the same direction, we’ll be one of the teams to beat there.”Domingo’s contract expires before that tournament but if South Africa are to replace him, it is likely they will do so fairly soon to allow the new coach time in charge. With that in mind, has he come home feeling the heat? A little.”There’s always pressure. We know that playing for your country is the ultimate. It’s representing the people back home and we want to represent them well. We know how passionate our supporters are and how much time and money and effort gets put into our cricket. Management and players are under pressure to perform at all times.”
Chelsea are now open to offers for Hakim Ziyech and have set their price amid interest in the Premier League, according to reports.
What's the latest on Ziyech's future?
The Blues playmaker’s contract at Stamford Bridge isn’t set to expire until 2025 but his future has recently been uncertain after falling out of favour which has seen him make just six top-flight starts this season. Football.London have reported that Todd Boehly could be set to sanction a mass exodus this summer to try and help with the financial aspect of things and the 30-year-old is one of the names to have been included on the list of players who could potentially be facing the axe.
West Ham United and Fulham are two clubs that have already been credited with an interest in the winger should he be made available for transfer at the end of the season and there now appears to be another rival who has entered the race to secure his signature.
According to Football Insider, Tottenham Hotspur have “registered an interest” in signing Ziyech during the upcoming window. Paris Saint-Germain are also expected to join the running after they saw a loan move collapse in January. The Blues forward “could look to leave” SW6 ahead of the new term after dropping down the pecking order where the Irons and the Cottagers are once again both name-checked alongside Spurs.
It’s believed that Frank Lampard's side would “accept bids” in the region of £20m which is a staggering £18m less than the £38m they initially paid for him when he joined from Ajax. PSG are currently his “preferred option”, but the Lilywhites would be the “most likely” to acquire him should he remain in the Premier League.
Chelsea forward Hakim Ziyech.
Should Chelsea keep or sell Ziyech?
Ziyech has been hailed a “joy to watch” by journalist Josh Bunting and he certainly can be on his day, but Chelsea clearly don’t see him as part of their long-term future so they should cash in whilst there is significant interest.
The Moroccan international has not featured in any of his side’s previous six top-flight outings, the last four he was completely omitted from the matchday squad and the other two he was an unused substitute. Additionally, the Dronten native has made 19 appearances across all competitions this season but has only recorded one assist during that time showing that he’s failed to prove himself when given the opportunity to play.
Finally, Ziyech is pocketing £100k-p/w in the capital which is an awful lot of money for someone who’s nothing more than a bench warmer so Chelsea letting him go would help free up their wage bill and generate funds for potential new signings in the summer.
Journalist Daniel Wales has claimed Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock is good enough to get in the England squad amid Jude Bellingham comparisons.
What's the latest on Joe Willock and Newcastle United?
With the Premier League taking a break while intentional teams play fixtures across the globe, the Magpies regular will get to rest his legs too.
Indeed, aged 23 years old, Willock remains uncapped at senior level for his country – though has played for multiple youth teams, right up to the U21s.
However, it seems as though there are those who think he deserves a reward for his good form at the club, having played in all but one of the club's league games this term as Newcastle push for a Champions League spot.
While speaking on the Everything is Black and White podcast, Wales claimed Willock – who earns £80,000 per week – should be in Gareth Southgate's England squad.
He said: "I saw a stat yesterday, it showed players that are similar to Jude Bellingham and I think it was Gavi and Pedri were the top two.
"And then Joe Willock was third after those, if I remember rightly, showing that he is certainly capable of, perhaps not exactly emulating the ability of Jude Bellingham – we know how good he is for his age as well – but certainly producing performances good enough to get him in the England squad with that sort of ability that Joe Willock is showing week-in, week-out."
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Group B – England v Iran – Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar – November 21, 2022 England’s Jude Bellingham celebrates after the match REUTERS/Lee Smith
Does Joe Willock deserve an England call-up?
The information Wales is referring to comes from an article by The Athletic. In the story, it notes that across Europe from players aged 23 and under who have played 900+ minutes this season, only Barcelona duo Gavi and Pedri are more "stylistically similar" than Bellingham.
With that in mind, if Gareth Southgate was to see Bellingham pick up an injury, Willock is theoretically the best player to come in and replace him.
However, until he gets handed an international call-up, it will be impossible for the Newcastle man to prove his worth. In the meantime, then, he'll have to just keep on impressing with the Magpies.
To be fair to Willock, in the last two games before the break, he delivered impressive 7.8 and 7.7 Sofascore ratings in wins over Wolves and Nottingham Forest respectively, so he may wonder what more he was to do to play for his country.
Aston Villa have set aside funds to sign a marquee striker this summer, according to Football Insider.
The Lowdown: Busy summer…
Villa were relatively quiet in the transfer window last month even though NSWE promised Unai Emery a ‘huge’ transfer budget. Alex Moreno and Jhon Duran were the only additions, and it looks set to be a lot busier in the summer.
Christian Purslow is expecting an extremely busy summer, and it appears as if a new centre-forward is top of the club’s wishlist.
The Latest: Transfer update
FI reporter Pete O’Rourke shared a story in the last 48 hours regarding Aston Villa’s transfer plans.
He said that funds have been set aside to sign a marquee striker after a request from Emery, adding that a wide forward could also be on the agenda.
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The Verdict: Exciting
Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran are the only central attacking options at this moment in time, although Cameron Archer will return from his loan spell at Middlesborough in the summer.
However, bringing in a marquee name in the final third could help take Villa to the next level, especially as Duran and Archer are still young and inexperienced in the Premier League and the club have netted 28 times in 23 league games, the same as 19th placed Leeds United.
Watkins has been a regular and Villa’s third-best performer this season, as per WhoScored, but bringing in fierce competition could actually help the Englishman improve his game, making this an exciting update.
Shoaib Akhtar v Virender Sehwag
The last time the two met in a Test series, there was little doubt who came out on top. With both teams straining to strike the early blow, Sehwag delivered a statement as emphatic as they come, with his triple-century. Of those 309 runs, 62 came off Shoaib, from 77 balls; in the entire series, Sehwag scored 124 runs off Shoaib at an average of 62. As the table below shows, Shoaib failed to make an impression on most of the Indian batsmen. However, now apparently in the form of his life, this could well be the chance for him to settle old scores.In his last seven Tests, Shoaib has nailed 36 wickets at 25.75, suggesting that he has finally learnt to match performance with pre-match bluster. More than just those stats, though, it’s the manner in which he has applied himself that has been so impressive – the 118 overs he bowled against England was the first time he bowled more than 100 overs in a series, while with the bat he was resoluteness personified. Sehwag, meanwhile, is struggling for form, with just one half-century in his last eight Test innings, and two in his last 25 ODIs. This might well be Shoaib’s best opportunity to even accounts.
Irfan Pathan versus Mohammad Yousuf
Mohammad Yousuf’s tendency to waft into his lazy drives outside off was exploited superbly by Irfan Pathan in the previous series in Pakistan: after keeping him quiet with well-directed balls swinging back in, Pathan often delivered the sucker ball, wide of off, and drew an indiscrete stroke. In 119 balls, Pathan conceded just 35 and dismissed Yousuf twice. However, Yousuf learned from his mistakes and handled Pathan much better on the tour to India, scoring 42 off 64 for once out. Yousuf is coming off an excellent series against England, and unlike in 2003-04, he will know what to expect from Pathan. However, in his short career Pathan has shown an inclination to learn new tricks and experiment, and you can be sure he’ll have a few ideas to deal with Yousuf this time around as well.
Pathan v Pakistan batsmen in last two series
Batsman
Runs/ Balls
Dismissals
Average
Yasir Hameed
76/ 113
3
25.33
Mohammad Yousuf
77/ 183
3
25.67
Inzamam-ul-Haq
125/ 232
2
62.50
Younis Khan
93/ 159
0
–
Inzamam-ul-Haq versus Anil Kumble
After the initial opening acts from both teams, this pair could be at the forefront of their teams’ fortunes – Inzamam has been in the form of his life this season, playing with an assurance that has made him an immovable object, while Kumble has shown remarkable improvement – at least in Test cricket – with age, adding more weapons to his armoury.
Inzamam’s tendency to shuffle across his stumps is a flaw Kumble has exploited more than once. In fact, no bowler has nailed Inzamam more than Kumble (seven times), but it has hardly been one-way traffic: in the last two series, Inzamam has fallen to Kumble four times, but has also scored 188 runs off him for a handy average of 47. In fact, Pakistan’s top batsmen have a reasonably good record against Kumble over the last two series.
Rahul Dravid versus Danish Kaneria
One can bat seemingly interminably, the other loves to wheel away at the batsmen, over after over, with relentless accuracy. While Shoaib may be the prime strike bowler for Pakistan, Kaneria, with his ability to bowl wicket-taking deliveries and keep it tight, will play a critical role. He proved just how lethal he could be in that matchwinning effort at Bangalore last year, and the Indians, despite their impressive overall record against him, will do well to be wary.If Kaneria is Pakistan’s Duracell with the ball, then Dravid will be expected to play a similar role with the bat for India. As the table below shows, Dravid has played 411 deliveries from Kaneria in the last two series – how many more he adds to that number could provide an indication of India’s batting fortunes in the series.
Kaneria versus Indian batsmen in last two series
Batsmen
Runs/ Balls
Dismissals
Average
Gautam Gambhir
26/ 53
2
13.00
Sourav Ganguly
37/ 87
2
18.50
VVS Laxman
54/ 167
2
27.00
Yuvraj Singh
55/ 104
1
55.00
Rahul Dravid
230/ 411
3
76.67
Virender Sehwag
144/ 199
1
144.00
Sachin Tendulkar
101/ 193
0
–
While the results of these battles could determine which way the series goes, Pakistan will also want a much better performance from their fast bowlers, especially since they’ve announced that they’re putting their faith in pace. The table below shows just how badly Pakistan were let down by their fast bowlers in their last two series – their spinners gave away nearly 23 fewer runs per wicket, while the relatively less renowned Indian pace attack comfortably outdid them too.
How the fast bowlers/ spinners fared in the last two series
Wickets
Average
Strike rate
Pakistan pace
39
58.15
95.13
India pace
50
40.54
72.56
Pakistan spin
41
35.58
65.34
India spin
48
34.15
68.29
The key culprit for Pakistan was Mohammad Sami, who, apart from the odd testing spell, did precious little, taking 17 wickets at 54.60. His stats against the Indian top order indicates just how ineffective he was. Shoaib may be in top form, but he will still want better support from the rest of the cast.
For a brief moment it looked as if Manchester United had snatched victory at the death away to rivals Arsenal, as teenage starlet Alejandro Garnacho stepped off the bench to produce a simply clinical finish to quieten the home crowd.
Wearing the boots that his idol Cristiano Ronaldo had worn when terrorising the Gunners in that Champions League semi-final triumph in north London back in 2009, the 19-year-old appeared to have emulated his former teammate by stealing the headlines this time around, clinching what would have been a much-needed win for the Red Devils.
Alas, the tightest of offside calls ultimately cut the Argentine's celebrations short as Erik ten Hag and co were left to reflect on what might have been had Casemiro's pass been made a fraction earlier, or had the winger begun his run a split-second later.
Alejandro Garnacho
As it is, that composed finish counted for nothing in the end, albeit while having yet again illustrated to those at Old Trafford just what a talent they have on their hands, with the club having truly hit the jackpot when signing the Madrid native back in the summer of 2020.
How much did Man United pay for Alejandro Garnacho?
The teen superstar was snapped up during Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's time in charge just under three years ago, with the then-Atletico Madrid youngster arriving alongside two other Spanish talents in the form of Real Madrid's Alvaro Fernandez and Barcelona's Marc Jurado.
Among that trio of deals, the latter man is no longer on the books at the Theatre of Dreams after signing for Espanyol this summer on a permanent deal, with elegant left-back, Fernandez has been sent out on loan to Granada, despite the injury crisis involving Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia.
As for Garnacho, the wing wizard – who cost a measly £420k at the time – has already established himself as a prominent figure in Ten Hag's first team ranks, having chalked up 39 senior appearances since making his debut as a stoppage-time substitute at home to Chelsea back in April 2022.
It is fair to say that since making that move under Solskjaer's watch the forward's valuation has soared dramatically, with it hard to underestimate just what a bargain capture he was for the Red Devils.
What is Garnacho's market value?
Not only was 5 foot 11 gem signed alongside Fernandez and Jurado, but he was also part of a summer influx that included the acquisitions of both Amad Diallo and Facundo Pellistri, with the pair joining from Atalanta and Penarol, respectively.
In the case of Amad, the Ivorian gem – who didn't actually arrive in Manchester until January 2021 – has gone on to make just nine appearances for United following his £37m switch, with the 21-year-old currently valued at just €15m (£13m), according to CIES Football Observatory.
As for Pellistri, the diminutive winger was snapped up by Solskjaer and co from his native Uruguay on a £9m deal, although like the man above the 21-year-old's impact has also been rather limited, having been restricted to just 12 first-team outings over the past three years.
Goal vs Real Sociedad (Europa League – 03/11/2022)
Assist vs Aston Villa (Carabao Cup – 10/11/2022)
Assist vs Aston Villa (Carabao Cup – 10/11/2022)
Goal vs Fulham (Premier League – 13/11/2022)
Assist vs Bournemouth (Premier League – 03/01/2023)
Assist vs Everton (FA Cup – 06/01/2023)
Assist vs Manchester City (Premier League – 14/03/2023)
Goal vs Leeds United (Premier League – 12/02/2023)
Goal vs West Ham (FA Cup – 01/03/2023)
Goal vs Wolves (Premier League – 13/05/2023)
Stats via Transfermarkt
That has ensured that the Montevideo-born speedster is now worth as little as €5m (£4m), with those two rather costly deals having paled in comparison to the low-cost addition of the sparkling Garnacho, who is now said to be worth €50m (£43m) – as per CIES.
Such a stellar figure represents an increase of roughly 10,138% since his move from Atleti, with that signing seemingly one of the few astute transfer moves that United have made in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
Why is Garnacho worth that much?
There may even be those of a United persuasion who believed that the £50k-per-week talent is worth even more than that £43m figure, particularly with the fleet-footed dynamo having only recently signed a new contract extension until the summer of 2028.
That bumper new deal had come amid reports that Real Madrid were sniffing around in the hope of prising the in-form ace from Old Trafford, with Los Blancos having previously captured Ronaldo from the club back in 2009.
Such interest in Garnacho's talents has emerged due to his apparent likeness to the Portuguese icon, having been described as being like a "young Cristiano" by treble winner Paul Scholes after being handed his full senior debut against FC Sheriff in the Europa League last season.
That competitive first-team bow had come after the player had shone in academy ranks during the 2021/22 campaign, notably firing the club to a first success in the FA Youth Cup since 2011, after scoring seven times and providing just three assists in just six games in the competition.
The two-cap international was particularly instrumental in the showpiece victory over Nottingham Forest after scoring twice on the day in front of a record-breaking home crowd, having proved just why he is seemingly a man for the big occasion.
How many goals has Garnacho scored for Man United?
Described as a "full-back's nightmare" by MUTV pundit Febian Brandy, Garnacho soon kicked on from that FA Youth Cup success despite enjoying little involvement during last season's pre-season tour, having been punished by Ten Hag for being late to team meetings.
A stunning winner at the death in the EFL Trophy win over Barrow early last season seemingly illustrated that the dynamic menace was destined for a more a prominent role in the first-team, with that chance soon coming against the aforementioned Sheriff.
The teenager truly announced his arrival to the wider world just prior to the World Cup break back in November, however, having clinched victory for Ten Hag's side in added time away to Fulham, latching onto Christian Eriksen's threaded pass before calmly slotting home
That eye-catching burst and finish remains one of just five goals that Garnacho has scored to date, albeit with those efforts notably including a late winner in the FA Cup against West Ham United, as well as away to bitter rivals Leeds United at Elland Road.
The emerging Red Devils poster boy also provided the assist for Marcus Rashford's clincher in the Manchester derby victory back in January and he currently has five assists in total from his 39 outings so far, indicating just what a weapon he can be from the flanks.
Of course, the next step is for Garnacho to establish himself as regular fixture in the starting XI, although it would be no surprise if that promotion was to occur sooner rather than later, thus helping to bolster his already sizeable market value.