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With the season finally coming to a close, Tottenham Hotspur have a monumental summer ahead of them.

For example, alongside potentially replacing Ange Postecoglou, Daniel Levy and Co must go big in the transfer window to ensure the team don’t endure another Premier League campaign like this one.

On top of making sure they keep their own stars like Cristian Romero, the North Londoners need to bring in new ones to help them climb up the table and make a good account of themselves in the Champions League.

Fortunately, reports have recently linked the club to an attacker who could help them do just that, an attacker who’d be a massive upgrade on Son Heung-min.

Tottenham transfer news

Before we get to the star in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other brilliant players who have been linked with a move to Spurs in recent weeks, like Leroy Sané and Xavi Simons.

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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The former’s contract with Bayern Munich expires at the end of this month and would therefore be a free signing, which could end up being an incredible deal, as in just 2377 minutes of football across 45 appearances this season, the German international scored 13 goals and provided six assists.

Simons, on the other hand, would cost the club around £67m, but even then, it would be hard to argue that’s not a fair fee, as the Flying Dutchman managed to score 11 goals and provide eight assists in 33 appearances this season.

Yet, there is another, even more impressive winger being linked with Tottenham: Bradley Barcola.

Yes, according to a recent report from Caught Offside, Spurs are among several Premier League clubs who are incredibly interested in the Paris Saint-Germain phenomenon.

In fact, the story has claimed that the Lilywhites, Arsenal and Manchester City have already sent scouts to watch the French international.

However, it could be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, as while PSG do not want to sell the 22-year-old, they do value him at up to €120m, which is about £101m.

With that said, given Barcola’s immense ability and potential, this may be a deal worth breaking the bank on, especially as he’d be the perfect Son upgrade.

How Barcola compares to Son

While Barcola can and has played in other positions in the past, it’s abundantly clear that his preferred and best role is leftwing.

Therefore, depending on what else happens in the summer transfer window, one of his main competitors for game time at Spurs next season, were he to sign for them, would be Son Heung-min.

With that said, who comes out on top when we compare them? Well, from a raw output perspective, it’s a rather one-sided affair.

For example, the incredible Lyon-born ace, who’s “one of the best LW’s in Europe,” according to analyst Ben Mattinson, has scored 21 goals and provided 19 assists in 58 appearances, totalling 3643 minutes this season, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.45 games, or every 91.07 minutes.

In contrast, the North Londoners captain scored 11 goals and provided 12 assists in 46 appearances, totalling 3189 minutes, which comes out to a goal involvement every other game, or one every 138.65 minutes.

Okay, what about their underlying numbers from this season? Which attacker comes out on top when we take a look under the hood?

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s the “devastating” star, as he was described by U23 scout Antonio Mango, who once again emerges victorious here, and by quite some margin at that.

Barcola vs Son

Statistics per 90

Barcola

Son

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.97

0.59

Non-Penalty Goals + Assists

0.99

0.64

Progressive Passes

3.97

4.74

Progressive Carries

5.66

4.10

Shots

3.05

2.35

Shots on Target

1.57

1.02

Passing Accuracy

81.7%

78.9%

Key Passes

2.07

2.14

Shot-Creating Actions

4.17

4.99

Goal-Creating Actions

0.83

0.64

Successful Take-Ons

1.40

1.24

All Stats via FBref for the 24/25 League Season

For example, while there are a few metrics in which the South Korean superstar is able to hold his own and actually come out ahead, it’s the UCL winner who does far better in the vast majority of relevant areas.

Ultimately, while Son has been an incredible player for Spurs for so long, Barcola is simply the better winger in practically every way, and therefore, Levy and Co should be doing all they can to sign him this summer.

Related Signed by Conte: Spurs' big-money flop has become the club's new Soldado

The talented Spurs star hasn’t been able to make it work in London.

Posts 1 ByJack Salveson Holmes May 30, 2025

Two old pros putting on a show in Kolkata or one young gun taking on all comers in Chattogram? Which was better?

ESPNcricinfo staff12-May-2025Update: This poll has ended. The IND-AUS 2001 Kolkata Test moves to the round of 16.The Dravid-Laxman El Clasico – Kolkata, 2001If someone came up with a script for this kind of a match before it unfolded in reality, it would have probably been rejected for being too unrealistic and its factors too exaggerated.A Test hat-trick against the world’s top side at the age of 20. A follow-on enforced. A historic partnership to turn the tables. A record individual score by an Indian. And a thrilling end in front of a near packed stadium to level the series and end Australia’s long-standing winning streak of 16 games.But all of it did transpire. After Harbhajan Singh dented Australia with a hat-trick on the first day, Steve Waugh scored his maiden Test century on Indian soil to lead his team to a strong 445. In reply, India were bundled out for 171 and asked to follow-on.They were then 232 for 4 – still 42 behind – when VVS Laxman was joined by Rahul Dravid and the two of them played out the entire fourth day with strips of towel around their neck to beat the heat, humidity, dehydration and discomfort with regular treatment from the physio in all session breaks. They saw off nine bowlers with two chanceless knocks that were instantly stamped into the game’s history. Laxman’s 281 lasted ten-and-a half-hours, Dravid’s 180, nearly seven and a half. They helped India set Australia a target of 384. The visitors succumbed under pressure on the last day against India’s spinners as Harbhajan finished with a tally of 13 for 196.Mayers turns tables on Test debut – Chattogram, 2021Trailing by 171 runs in the first innings, batting last in Asia against four Bangladesh spinners, chasing nearly 400 when anything over 200 was preposterous, and doing it all with three debutants in the side. An inexperienced West indies batting line-up defied the odds, with debutant Kyle Mayers’ bringing up a double-century, to bat for the last four sessions of the game in a successful pursuit of 395 runs with three wickets still in hand. Mayers unbeaten on 210.The match in Chattogram started and ended well for West Indies but there were many twists and turns in between. Four wickets from Jomel Warrican had reduced Bangladesh to 248 for 6 before Mehidy Hasan Miraz took the hosts to 430 with his maiden Test hundred. Mehidy continued to shine, claiming 4 for 58 to help restrict West Indies to 259 before Mominul Haque led them to 223 for 8 declared not long before tea on the fourth dayBangladesh were the hot favourites having set West Indies a target of 395, more so when the visitors lost their top three – to Mehidy – for 59 runs, including captain Kraigg Brathwaite. Nkrumah Bonner and Mayers came together with the ball turning and bouncing nicely, and Mayers even got a life on 28 before it was stumps. The last day was nothing less than a miracle.Bonner and Mayers hung on for two wicketless sessions in a fourth-wicket partnership of 216. But the match turned again as Bonner and Jermaine Blackwood fell in quick succession. West Indies responded with a counterattack. Mayers was at his striking best in the last hour, scoring 49 of the remaining 61 runs in just 40 balls, and 80 in a century stand with Joshua Da Silva. He struck 20 fours, seven sixes and the winning runs with 15 balls left in the game to become the sixth batter to bring up a double-century on Test debut and pull off the fifth-highest successful chase in Tests.

Plus, the BCCI – who have no opposition

Alan Gardner15-May-2023Some bowlers, when they get into the latter stage of their careers, pare down their repertoire and focus simply on executing their best skill again and again. Others keep looking to develop new tricks, real or imagined, and push themselves to engage with the opposition in innovative – perhaps even puerile – ways.Which brings us, as you’ve no doubt already guessed, to Stuart Broad’s reinvention as a teenage internet troll, a 36-year-old headband-wearing provocateur, shitposting his way through the summer. The England team’s Outside-Edgelord, if you will.Broad was always a prime candidate for this sort of thing, given the way he lapped up all the “smug Pommie cheat” banter that came his way during the 2013-14 Ashes. His very presence as a blond, pouting, celebrappealing member of the English establishment is enough to wind up some people, and that’s before you begin to factor in the 500-plus Test wickets.Now, at the start of another Ashes summer, he has decided to put down the controller and get fired up for the time-honoured phoney war that precedes any England-Australia skirmish. The first salvo came a few weeks ago during an outing for Nottinghamshire, when he revealed that he had been working on – wait for it, wait for it – an outswinger. “It’s designed, to be honest, for Marnus and Smith,” he said with a committed poker face.Related

• Broad: Australia's 2021-22 win doesn't count as real Ashes

• Kohli-Gambhir altercation takes away sheen from RCB win over LSG

• BCCI projected to earn US$ 230 million per year in ICC's new finance model

That’s Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith, the ICC’s No. 1 and No. 3-ranked Test batters. Who you suspect might have faced a bit of RFM away swing in their time. Perhaps for his next move, Broad will reveal that he has been working with Darren Stevens and plans to bowl 65mph with the keeper stood up to the stumps this summer. (Although given Labuschagne’s experiences on the “Stevo’s gonna get ya” circuit, that might not actually be such a bad idea.)Anyway, Broad then added in a newspaper interview that he considered the previous Ashes in Australia, which took place under pandemic restrictions in 2021-22, “a void series” – a calculated dangling of bait that was swallowed by more than a few down under. “The definition of Ashes cricket is elite sport with lots of passion and players at the top of their game,” Broad said, by which measure England didn’t actually contest the urn at all in the 1990s.By now, with the comment threads fizzing and empty bottles of Prime all over his bedroom floor, Broad was ready for a full-on flame war against anyone and everyone. Despite his semi-mythical status as the Bazball Nighthawk, he came out to bat against Lancashire – facing up to his old England mucker James Anderson – and flicked the Vs at the new orthodoxy, blocking his way to 3 off 50 balls to nick a draw for Notts. One famous mischief-maker who would surely look on approvingly is the late Shane Warne, a man for whom teenage rebellion was a way of life. This will be the first Ashes without any involvement from the Australian in over 30 years but the Light Roller likes to think that, while Broad stirs the pot in the physical realm, Warnie is up there in the windowless basement in the sky, teaching Loki and Beelzebub exactly how to grip the Zooter.

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Over in the IPL, meanwhile, another of the game’s great competitors was going back to basics. “If you can give it, you got to take it,” growled Virat Kohli after a typically feisty display in Royal Challengers Bangalore’s win over Lucknow Super Giants earlier this month. “Otherwise don’t give it.” Valuable lessons there in the immutable laws of playground pointing-and-shoving, following some beef between Kohli and his former India team-mate, now Lucknow mentor, Gautam Gambhir. Or was it with Kyle Mayers, whom Gambhir had gone to rescue? Maybe Naveen-ul-Haq, who had words with Kohli during the Lucknow innings? Whatever, whoever, Kohli is always up for a bit of give and take. Anyone who says otherwise can meet him round the back of the bike sheds in ten.

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While administrators in England and Australia can still afford themselves some hearty backslapping when they eye up space for another Ashes series on the FTP, the rest of the calendar for bilateral cricket isn’t in quite such fine fettle. But don’t worry, the BCCI has come up with a solution. Essentially, because most of the great piles of sweaty media rights cashola heading for the ICC coffers comes from the Indian market, they reckon most of it should come straight back to them, too. Who cares if cricket is still being played in Papua New Guinea/ Afghanistan/England, so long as India gets its (increasingly large) slice of pie? Call it equality, “Big One” style.

Also: who played the most Test matches without ever ending up on the losing side?

Steven Lynch30-Nov-2020Steven Smith scored two centuries in three days against India, both of them coming in 62 balls – has anyone made a faster hundred for Australia in ODIs? asked Brent Franklin from Australia

Those near-identical centuries by Steven Smith against India on Friday and on Sunday come in joint third on Australia’s list of the fastest hundreds in men’s one-day internationals. Their quickest took just 51 balls, by Glenn Maxwell against Sri Lanka in Sydney during the 2015 World Cup, while James Faulkner belted one from 57 balls against India in Bengaluru in 2013-14.Who played the most Test matches without ever ending up on the losing side? asked Sanket Amdalli from the UAE

This unusual record is held by the Indian offspinner Rajesh Chauhan, who appeared in 21 Tests in the 1990s, of which 12 were won and nine drawn. He’s well ahead of the next man, the Australian legspinner Colin McCool, who was never on the losing side in his 14 Tests, ten of which were won. The Antiguan allrounder Eldine Baptiste played ten Tests for West Indies between 1983-84 and 1989-90 and won the lot, another record.The equivalent record for one-day internationals is currently held by another Indian, wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha, whose nine ODIs have brought eight wins and a no-result. The new South African fast bowler Anrich Nortje has played in seven ODIs as I write, and finished on the winning side each time (on the flip side, Nortje has lost five of his six Tests).Is it true that Garry Sobers was supposed to play in the first World Cup? asked Michael Johnstone from England

Garry Sobers – or Sir Garfield, as he’d been since the New Year Honours were announced earlier in 1975 – was indeed in the original West Indies squad for the inaugural World Cup in England. However, he withdrew after suffering a groin strain while playing for Littleborough in the Central Lancashire League. “I would have loved to play,” he wrote. “But I had pulled a muscle and, though it might have healed in the intervening two weeks, I did not believe it was worth taking the risk. Countries had to declare their 14 players in advance, and if someone dropped out there was no provision to call up a replacement.”Rohan Kanhai took Sobers’ place and, aged 39 and greying at the temples, scored a vital 55 in the final against Australia at Lord’s, at one point going scoreless for 13 overs while Clive Lloyd made merry.It meant that Sobers played only one official one-day international, against England at Headingley in 1973, when he was out for a duck (although he did take 1 for 31).Rohan Kanhai replaced an injured Garry Sobers at the 1975 World Cup and made 55 in the final•PA PhotosSix Indian batsmen scored 1 against West Indies at Ahmedabad in 1983-84. Is this a record for the most 1s in a Test innings? asked Syed Nooruzzaman from Pakistan

The short answer is yes: India’s six 1s against West Indies in Ahmedabad in 1983-84 is comfortably a record. Sunil Gavaskar was the first to go for a single, and he was followed by Sandeep Patil, Ravi Shastri, Kapil Dev, Roger Binny and Balwinder Sandhu. India, who had needed 242 to win, were all out for 103 (looking on the bright side, at least no one was out for 0). Michael Holding inflicted three of the dismissals. There are ten instances of four batsmen scoring 1 in the same Test innings.When Australia were bowled out for 75 by South Africa in Durban in 1949-50, there were six 2s on the scorecard (including the not-out batsman Bill Johnston). There have been five Test innings that included six ducks, plus six more with five ducks and a 0 not out.Zimbabwe hold the corresponding record in one-day internationals: five of their batsmen made 1 against Bangladesh in Dhaka in January 2005, although only four of them were dismissed: Chris Mpofu finished with 1 not out. There are 20 instances of four scores of 1 in an ODI innings.When Bangladesh’s women slid to 54 all out against India in the opening match of the T20 Asia Cup in Bangkok in November 2016, there were seven scores of 1, including the last five in the order (one of whom, Khadija Tul Kubra, was not out).Did Imran Khan, now the prime minister of Pakistan, play in the McDonald’s Cup in Australia in 1985? asked Farwa from Morocco

The McDonald’s Cup was the name given to the Australian states’ one-day competition from 1979-80 to 1987-88, after which the sponsor changed. Imran Khan had a season with New South Wales in Australia, in 1984-85, as he recovered from a leg injury. He did not appear in NSW’s first two games in that season’s McDonald’s Cup, but he was Man of the Match in the semi-final, against Victoria at the MCG, following 1 for 28 from his ten overs with 73 not out in a seven-wicket win. And he was on the winning side again in the final, against South Australia in Sydney, scoring 36 and taking a wicket as NSW eased to an 88-run victory which formed part of a domestic double, as they also won the four-day Sheffield Shield that season.And there’s a clarification for one of last week’s questions, about players who have appeared for multiple IPL teams, after queries from Sooryanarayanan Sesha and Harbinger Ora:

Irfan Pathan played for five IPL teams – the Kings XI Punjab, Delhi Daredevils, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rising Pune Supergiant and Gujarat Lions – but he was also in the Chennai Super Kings squad in 2015, when he did not appear in a match. So he shouldn’t really appear on the list, although he was on the roster of six different squads. Thanks also to those who pointed out that Shaun Marsh was the leading scorer in the inaugural IPL in 2008, with 616 runs for Kings XI Punjab, before he’d played for Australia.Use our
feedback form or the Ask Steven Facebook page to ask your stats and trivia questions

Erling Haaland continued his devastating goal-scoring form with a hat-trick in Norway’s 5-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Israel in Oslo.

Haaland’s night did not get off to the best of starts as he saw his sixth-minute penalty saved by Daniel Peretz, who denied him again after the kick had to be retaken, but he more than made amends to make it 18 goals in his last nine games for club and country.

The Manchester City striker, who scored five times against Moldova on his last international appearance, scored Norway’s second between a pair of own goals from Anan Khalaili and Idan Nachmias.

One of the best strikers in the world, Haaland, winning his 46th cap, scored his 50th goal for his country when he nodded in Antonio Nusa’s cross and the pair combined again as the in-form forward grabbed his third of the night.

Victory for Norway gave them a sixth win from sixth in Group I as they edged closer to qualification for the World Cup, which Haaland spoke about after the game: “I don’t think I’ll say too much about that. I’m just focused on winning the next match. That was my mindset in the last game, and it still is now.”

The striker was then sent home to Manchester by Norway manager Staale Solbakken before they took on New Zealand in a friendly, which ended 1-1.

“Players with particularly tight match schedules are returning home,” a statement from the the Norwegian Football Association read. “Alexander Sorloth, Julian Ryerson, Erling Braut Haaland and Fredrik Bjorkan. Felix Horn Myhre is leaving the squad due to a sore ankle.”

Haaland reacts to Norway 5-0 Israel

Haaland has never shared his opinion on the conflict between Palestine and Israel, but eagle eyed fans on social media believe they have found a cheeky dig at Israel on his Instagram story, on which he posted a selfie after the match against Ran Ben-Shimon’s team.

The 25 year-old posed with the match ball but included the City fans’ chant for him, which is titled “Haaland (Ha Ha Ha)”.

Israel’s participation in international sporting events has caused controversy due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, although it is hoped a recent ceasefire agreement will ease tensions in the region.

كشفت تقارير إعلامية اليوم الخميس، عن آخر التطورات المتعلقة بمستقبل نيمار دا سيلفا، نجم نادي سانتوس، والذي يعتبر مصيره غير معروف مع الفريق البرازيلي.

نيمار سوف ينتهي عقده مع نادي سانتوس بنهاية شهر ديسمبر الجاري، ولم يتم التوصل إلى اتفاق بين الطرفين حتى هذه اللحظة حول توقيع عقد جديد.

وكان نادي سانتوس قد حصل على توقيع نيمار خلال العام الماضي في صفقة انتقال حر، عقب فسخ ابن ال33 عامًا لعقده مع نادي الهلال.

وأفاد سانتي أونا، الصحفي الموثوق بموقع فوت ميركاتو، أن إدارة نادي سانتوس قد بدأت محادثات أولية مع نيمار ومحيطه، وذلك بشأن توقيع عقد جديد.

أقرأ أيضًا .. أنشيلوتي يحذر فينيسيوس بِشأن وضعه مع منتخب البرازيل

وأوضح الصحفي الفرنسي، أن نيمار من جهته يرغب في البقاء مع سانتوس لموسم آخر، حيث بدأت المفاوضات بين اللاعب والنادي ومن المتوقع أن يتم تجديد العقد خلال الفترة المقبلة.

ويسعى نيمار إلى حجز مقعده في قائمة منتخب البرازيل، والتي سوف تشارك في منافسات بطولة كأس العالم العام المقبل في كندا والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية والمكسيك.

وأكد كارلو أنشيلوتي، مدرب منتخب البرازيل، أنه لن يقوم باستدعاء أي لاعب إلا إذا كان جاهزًا من الناحية الفنية والبدنية بنسبة 100%.

وتألق نيمار خلال الساعات الأخيرة وسجل ثلاثة أهداف قاد بها سانتوس إلى الانتصار على حساب يوفيتود 3-0 بالدوري البرازيلي.

وعانى نيمار من كثرة الإصابات خلال الفترة الماضية، قبل أن يعود ليشارك مرة أخرى مع سانتوس.

West Ham and Tottenham have held discussions over signing former Brentford striker Ivan Toney ahead of the looming January transfer window, and he’s now given a response to both sides.

Ivan Toney attracts Premier League interest after Saudi displays

Toney’s excellent since moving to Al-Ahli has reportedly prompted several Premier League clubs to consider bringing him back to English football, with his exceptional goalscoring record defying initial skepticism about his £40 million transfer.

The 29-year-old has silenced doubters emphatically, scoring 42 goals across just 62 appearances in all competitions since arriving in the Gulf state.

His output has spearheaded Al-Ahli to success, including their maiden AFC Champions League triumph and victory in the Saudi Super Cup after a penalty shootout victory over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr.

Toney’s memorable hat-trick against 2024 champions Al-Hilal marked Al-Ahli’s first victory over their rivals in eight league games, with the striker going on to net 12 goals across just seven matches during one extraordinary purple patch.

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle

West Ham 3-2 Burnley

Bournemouth 2-2 West Ham

His performances even briefly earned the Englishman a spot back in Thomas Tuchel’s England setup earlier this year, but Toney has struggled to fire his way back into contention since then.

With the 2026 World Cup looming, reports have suggested that Toney could return to the Premier League in a bid to battle his way into Tuchel’s thinking ahead of the tournament next year.

West Ham now in pole position to sign "monster" striker after already making contact

The Hammers are after a new centre-forward.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 27, 2025

Of all the teams linked with a move for Toney, West Ham and Spurs stand chief among them as the two London clubs allegedly scour for striking options.

Tottenham are said to have held preliminary talks over a deal for Toney already, while West Ham have allegedly sounded out the striker as they look to replace the exit-bound Niclas Füllkrug.

Now, a report by talkSPORT has shed light on the situation, with Nuno Espirito Santo handed a key update.

West Ham and Tottenham get Ivan Toney response after discussions

West Ham and Tottenham have discussed January moves for Toney, but the England striker has made clear his intention to remain in Saudi Arabia, effectively ending hopes of an immediate Premier League return.

Sources close to the situation confirm Toney’s camp has communicated directly to interested Premier League clubs that the striker remains settled, content and unwilling to push for a transfer.

Al-Ahli sporting director Rui Pedro Braz reinforced this stance publicly, insisting speculation surrounding January departures holds no basis in reality and declaring the club counts on Toney moving forward.

Additionally, Toney must remain abroad until April 2026 to maintain his non-UK tax residency status. Returning prematurely would trigger significant tax liabilities estimated at around £14 million.

Al-Ahli would also demand more than the £40 million they paid for a permanent transfer.

The SPL club would only consider sanctioning Toney’s departure if they secured an elite-level replacement, something which could be very difficult to do in January’s limited window.

Right now, the odds are stacked against an exit for the ‘remarkable’ striker, so West Ham and Spurs may need to look elsewhere.

According to other reports, West Ham have already made contact over a deal for USG striker Promise David, who could be available for a generous £17.5 million.

Perhaps to be expected of this modern-day Manchester United team, the recent five-game unbeaten run was merely a false dawn, as Ruben Amorim’s tenure reached another low on Monday evening.

That wet and miserable night at Grimsby is arguably the nadir of the Portuguese’s year in charge, although the latest loss to Everton could well run it close, following what was simply a lifeless performance from the hosts at Old Trafford.

Handed a bizarre advantage following Idrissa Gueye’s slap on ex-United man, Michael Keane, the Red Devils contrived to slip up against their ten-man opponents, with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall firing in a deserved lead on the hour mark.

Despite having ample time and opportunity to get back into the game, the Red Devils barely threatened Jordan Pickford’s goal from then on, albeit with the Englishman making one notable save to deny Joshua Zirkzee’s goalbound header.

The Dutchman, to his credit, came as close as anyone to getting the home side level on the night, but that should not overshadow what was another desperate display from United’s number 11.

The 24-year-old wasn’t the only INEOS signing under the microscope against the Toffees – far from it – but his performance certainly warrants further scrutiny.

Joshua Zirkzee's dismal Everton display in numbers

On a different day, the £36.5m man might have been the hero had his well-taken header evaded the sprawling Pickford, with the striker’s last Premier League goals having actually come against the Merseysiders almost a year earlier.

As it is, Amorim is left to reflect upon a largely limp showing from Zirkzee in attack, with the ex-Bologna man’s woes only heightening the frustration regarding Benjamin Sesko’s absence.

Sesko – with just two goals for United to date – hasn’t been perfect, but even amid his struggles at Spurs, he was still a handful, a physical outlet whom Amorim’s side can look to.

Zirkzee might be a self-described ‘nine and a half’, but at 6 foot 4, he should be doing far better, notably losing the ball on 12 occasions from just 35 touches.

Far too frequently, the struggling forward dallied in possession or produced an errant touch or flick, looking distinctly uncomfortable with his back to goal.

The caveat to that, of course, is that he had featured for just 90 minutes in total this season prior to that, with there likely to be an element of ring rust for a player handed just his first league start of 2025/26.

That being said, on a wider focus, this remains a striker who has scored just three top-flight goals since signing back in the summer of 2024, with United again left looking desperately short at the top end of the pitch.

Problems at the other end also persist, however, with the backline looking particularly erratic.

Amorim must bench Man Utd's "best in the world" star

Much of the blame for Monday’s defeat lies at Amorim’s door, with the 40-year-old’s failure to release the handbrake and shuffle his system having been desperately evident, as his side toiled for an equaliser amid their second-half dominance.

In the ex-Sporting CP man’s defence, however, he must have been scratching his head at the laboured showing of those on the pitch, with Leny Yoro notably putting in a tame effort to try and prevent Dewsbury-Hall from converting.

That weak act – which was followed by another weak stop from the previously impressive Senne Lammens – came amid a largely frustrating display from the young Frenchman, with Harry Maguire’s absence felt again in the back three.

Yoro’s pace and recovery speed is a useful tool, although he has the tendency to be bullied up against a physical forward line, winning just two of his five ground duels, as per Sofascore.

Perhaps more frustrating were his woes in possession, losing the ball on ten occasions, while failing to really drive forward from his right-sided role, even with ample time and space afforded to him.

Games (starts)

12 (8)

Goals

0

Assists

0

Key passes*

0.3

Pass accuracy*

88%

Successful dribbles*

0

Tackles*

1.0

Interceptions*

1.0

Total duels won*

58%

Aerial duels won*

72%

Dribbled past*

0.4

Unlike last term, when the 20-year-old was a central figure in United’s Europa League charge, he appeared hesitant to get forward, rarely attempting to burst into space to support the likes of Amad ahead of him.

There is an argument to suggest he may need to shift to a left centre-back role, having thrived there in the second half of last season, although with Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez and Ayden Heaven already in contention there, Amorim surely can’t make that switch.

Currently ranking in the bottom 2% of European centre-backs for blocks, the bottom 9% for clearances and the bottom 27% for aerial duels won per 90, as per FBref, the ex-Lille starlet certainly isn’t thriving as expected, having previously been described as the “best in the world” for his age by Rio Ferdinand.

Options at right centre-back really are quite limited – particularly in the absence of Maguire – although Amorim may have to consider relocating Noussair Mazraoui, and shifting Yoro back to the bench.

Chalkboard

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

As Ferdinand suggested, the France U21 international is a massive talent, but United and Old Trafford are yet to see the best of him.

Worse than Bruno Fernandes vs Everton: Amorim must bin Man Utd's 3/10 flop

This Man Utd star struggled in the 1-0 home defeat to Everton

1 ByJoe Nuttall Nov 25, 2025

MLB.com has released its annual Top 100 Players Right Now list and it's a huge thrill for all of the baseball players honored. But because it's a list it means there's controversy. Michael Kay, a staple of New York Yankees broadcasts for years, shared his disbelief that Shohei Ohtani was ranked No. 1 over Aaron Judge during his radio show Friday.

“On what planet can you say that Ohtani is better than Judge?" Kay wondered. "I don’t understand it. Are you projecting in 2025 that you think Ohtani is going to go back to being a dominant pitcher?”

Kay came to the table with a thorough study of offensive stats, which tend to favor Judge. But Ohtani did become the first 50-50 club member in baseball history and has the capacity to be one of the game's best pitchers when healthy.

On one hand it could be a situation where MLB.com got to the top of the list and had to make a call between two incredible players. On the other it could be that pesky and very real anti-Yankees bias that exists.

“I just think, and I hate to admit it, that there is an anti-Yankee bias,” Kay said. "And I think everyone in Major League Baseball is absolutely in awe at the skills sets exhibited by Ohtani. And they should be — he’s one of the best baseball players ever. And so is Judge. So when they’re that close, you have to look at the statistics … Judge’s statistics are far superior to Ohtani’s."

This is why these lists are always tough. Top Players Right Now could not be clearer and yet the results could mean that they're forecasting a stellar return ot the mound for Ohtani. Or, believe it or not, that's he's a better player than Judge even without doing double duty.

One thing we can perhaps agree on is that on a ranking of the best players of a sport in the world, there is never tas meaningful of a gulf between No. 1 and No. 2 as people like to think. It's a lesson that could have been learned among the neverending LeBron James-Michael Jordan debates, but here we are again.

Azmatullah Omarzai and Khaled Ahmed helped Rangpur Riders successfully defend a total of 151 – by one run – against Hobart Hurricanes.Rangpur, the defending champions, now sit at the top of the GSL 2025 points table with wins in both their games. Hurricanes are third with a 1-1 win-loss record.Mohammad Nabi top-scored for Hurricanes with a 36-ball 44 and almost completed a stellar recovery but was dismissed by Omarzai off the final over’s fourth ball. Earlier in the over, his six had brought the equation down to six runs off the last five balls. Opener Ben McDermott (34) and No. 7 Odean Smith (20) played useful hands but Hurricanes were plagued by regular wickets through the middle overs, Iftikhar Ahmed picking up two of those for 13 runs.Hurricanes let the chase meander, hitting only one four and two sixes in the last 30 deliveries. When they needed three off the final ball, they could get only one run, with Billy Stanlake run-out looking to tie the game. Khaled collected consecutive four-fors in GSL 2025 by taking 4 for 26 as a follow-up to his 4 for 36 against Guyana Amazon Warriors.Rangpur’s batting performance also had its share of wobbles but No. 3 Kyle Mayers’ unbeaten 42-ball 67 held the innings together. He was involved in a partnership of 34 for the second wicket with Ibrahim Zadran (43), who had done most of the hitting in the powerplay.Usama Mir’s 3 for 15 in four overs, though, had strangled Rangpur’s scoring through the middle overs and it needed the big hits from Mayers in the back end to post a total that eventually turned out to be just enough. His innings comprised eight fours and two sixes, with the majority of those coming in the last five overs where Rangpur added 54 to their total. In comparison, Hurricanes scored only 40 in their final five.