Match referee Andy Pycroft ruled that the surface provided “almost no assistance to any type of bowler”

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Dec-2022

The Rawalpindi pitch has earned a “below average” rating for the second time in 2022. The latest rating follows the first Test between Pakistan and England earlier this month, in which England racked up a record 506 runs on day one to set up an eventual 74-run win.Though the match ended in a decisive result, there was little joy for the bowlers particularly in the first two innings, which produced seven centuries and totals of 657 and 579. England scored at well above a run a ball in both their innings.On day two of the Test match, PCB chairman Ramiz Raja had termed the pitch “embarrassing”, and suggested that the contest it produced was “not a good advert for Test cricket”.Related

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Why does Ramiz Raja think Pakistan have a problem with their pitches?

ICC match referee Andy Pycroft seemed to agree with him while handing out a “below average” rating and a demerit point on Tuesday.”It was a very flat pitch which gave almost no assistance to any type of bowler,” Pycroft said. “That was the main reason why batters scored very fast and both sides posted huge totals.”The pitch hardly deteriorated during the course of the match. Since there was very little in it for the bowlers, I found the pitch to be ‘below average’ as per the ICC guidelines.”In March, when Rawalpindi hosted the first Test of Australia’s tour of Pakistan, bat dominated ball to the extent that 1187 runs were scored for the loss of only 14 wickets over five days. That pitch had earned a “below average” rating too, with match referee Ranjan Madugalle noting that the Test match did not “represent an even contest between bat and ball”.Rawalpindi has now received demerit points in successive Test matches. Demerit points remain active for a five-year rolling period, and a venue stands to be suspended from hosting international cricket for a period of five years if it accumulates five demerit points. A “below average” rating earns a venue one demerit point, while “poor” and “unfit” ratings earn three and five demerit points, respectively.

Stats highlight from the first ODI between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in Dhaka

Shiva Jayaraman07-Nov-2015 145 Runs Bangladesh won by – their third-biggest win while batting first in ODIs and their biggest against Zimbabwe. They had won against Zimbabwe by 124 runs at the same venue last year which was the previous largest margin against them. 0 Number of five-wicket hauls Shakib Al Hasan had taken in ODIs before his 5 for 47 in this match. His previous best was the 4 for 16 he took against West Indies in Chittagong in 2011. Shakib has now taken 68 wickets against Zimbabwe in ODIs at 21.83. His next-highest against any team in ODIs are the 28 wickets he has taken against New Zealand. 3 Centuries by Mushfiqur Rahim in ODIs before the one in this match. Two of these have come against Zimbabwe. Mushfiqur has made 1122 runs at 40.07 against them in ODIs. 4 Man-of-the-match awards won by Mushfiqur in ODIs including the one in this match. This is his second such award in 2015 – he had won it in an ODI against Pakistan in April this year. 75.40 Average stand for the fifth wicket for Bangladesh in ODIs in 2015 – the highest any team has averaged for that wicket. The stand between Mushfiqur and Sabbir Rahman in this match was the third century partnership for Bangladesh’s fifth wicket this year – also the highest for any team. 15-6 Bangladesh’s win-loss record under Mashrafe Mortaza’s captaincy; among those who have led full-member teams to at least 15 wins, Mashrafe win-loss ratio of 2.50 is currently the fourth highest. 1 Number of times Zimbabwe have been dismissed by Bangladesh in ODIs for a lower total. They had been bowled out for just 44 runs in an ODI in 2009, which is their lowest. In a separate instance last year, Zimbabwe were dismissed for 128 – exactly their total in this game. 15 Centuries by wicketkeeper-batsmen in ODIs in 2015 – the most in any calendar year. Last year saw 13 hundreds in ODIs by wicketkeepers which was the previous highest in a year.

A cheat sheet to help the visitor understand the idiosyncrasies of the New Zealand sports fan in his natural environment

Paul Ford15-Dec-2014

The basics

Sobriquets: If you hear that you’re in Aotearoa, Godzone, Land of the Long White Cloud or God’s Own Country, don’t freak out. You’re not lost: these are all nicknames for New Zealand. You should also know that when you hear the word kiwi, it may be referencing the flightless bird, a person from NZ, a furry fruit, or the New Zealand dollar.Flags: Do understand the differences between the New Zealand flag and the Australian flag. Both are blue and have a Union Jack in the top left corner. The NZ edition has four red stars, representing the or Southern Cross constellation. The Aussie version has six white stars.Teams: Heaps of New Zealand sporting teams have a moniker that includes the word black or silver: All Blacks (rugby), Black Caps (cricket), Silver Ferns (netball), Black Sox (softball), Iron Blacks (gridiron), Black Sticks (hockey), Black Ferns (women’s rugby), Black Fins (surf lifesaving), Wheel Blacks (wheelchair rugby), Tall Blacks (basketball) and Blackjacks (bowls). Things famously went off the rails when New Zealand badminton rolled the dice and tried to become the Black Cocks. It didn’t last long.Geography: There are two main islands: the North Island and the South Island, which are separated by a challenging strip of water (and a bloody expensive one to cross by boat or plane) called the Cook Strait. The latter is often referred to as the Mainland as it is larger in size. It is also perceived as tougher and less posh. You will blow locals’ minds if you can name any other islands in our island nation such as Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands, Great Barrier Island, d’Urville Island or Waiheke Island.Don’t say: “You mean those rocks south of Australia are a country?”•UniversalImagesGroupPrime minister: Our PM is a bloke called John Key, recently re-elected for a third three-year term. He once hit Shane Warne for three boundaries in a low-intensity charity cricket match at the Basin Reserve. “Be gentle, son,” he told Warne, and the eccentric Australian tweaker obliged.

Cricket culture

Criticising the Black Caps is a national sport: The team have been whipping boys in the eyes of the sporting public for large periods of their history. Like most NZ sporting teams, they suffer from a sporting milieu dominated by the All Blacks, the national rugby team who have won 75% of their matches over the past 111 years. To get on this bandwagon, say things like: “No consistency…”, “The top order is so brittle…”, “If only we had a guy like Hadlee…”Keep an eye out for the eighties mafia: The decent New Zealand team of the 1980s are still floating around in many cricket circles, making their presence felt and talking about things back in their day (when medallions and moustaches were rife). There are some from the era who are less than keen for the current crop to eclipse their achievements in the heyday of one-day cricket.Chris Cairns: The most controversial man in New Zealand cricket. There is a pro-Cairns camp and an anti-Cairns camp. You probably want to walk the tightrope and stay out of the raging arguments and just describe the match-fixing allegations fiasco as a sad episode and a blight on the game. Especially in Canterbury.The guy in the crowd holding a kiwi: That is Sonny Shaw and he is both an obsessive cricket fan and a peculiar individual. He aims to position himself at each game to get on TV as much as possible, and he’s got a back story with some skeletons. Approach with care.The underarm: Never forgive, never forget. This is the reason so many New Zealand cricket fans still hate Australia. That and the procession of plonkers who followed in the Chappells’ footsteps: Greg Matthews, Dean Jones, Greg Dyer, Brad Haddin…The two types of spectator attire at New Zealand grounds•Getty Images1992 World Cup legacy: It was the perfect tournament in so many ways, and cricket gripped New Zealand on the back of Martin Crowe’s magnificent batting and captaincy, Mark Greatbatch’s red-line tonking, and the strangulation techniques of Gavin Larsen and Dipak Patel with the ball. Swot up what happened in this tournament because New Zealand cricket fans will be discussing this ad nauseum.Eric Tindill: To demonstrate your staggering sporting awareness, ensure you know the story of Snowy Tindill – the only man to have completed a truly extraordinary double double: playing cricket and rugby for New Zealand and also refereeing international rugby and umpiring a cricket Test. Legend.Alternative commentary: There is no doyen commentator in New Zealand. On the TV, portly wicketkeeping legend Ian Smith is the main man, and on radio it is the long-toothed, short-legged and high-pantsed Bryan Waddle. In recent summers, the ACC’s cult cricket commentary has emerged too, appealing to those who like a bit of innuendo and risqué discussion with their ball-by-ball.

Slang: what you’ll hear and what to say

“Bring back Buck” A reference to former All Black captain and notorious hard man Wayne “Buck” Shelford who was dropped from the team despite never losing a match as captain. Signs with this phrase on it pop up at sporting events all over the world.“BYC” That’s backyard cricket, the great Kiwi summer pastime. Halls, lawns, beaches, parks, roads – anywhere really. In high-end BYC the tennis ball is taped on one side for swing.“Cackhanded” Left-handed like Jesse Ryder or James Franklin.“Chilly bin” Compulsory at all cricket matches except stadiums with over-exuberant rules. It’s an esky or insulated plastic box for keeping food and drink chilled.“Choice” This is not about decision-making – it’s an expression that means very good. Example: “Corey Anderson’s $98 haircut is choice.”“Chunder” To vomit. Example: “Jesse doesn’t look well, reckon he might chunder?”“Eh” Pronounced “ay”. It is often used at the end of sentences to turn a statement into a question. Example: “It sucks that the beers here are $11, eh?” It is also used as a substitute for “pardon” or “what”.Be prepared for plenty of ’80s nostalgia•Getty Images“Hard case” A person who is funny. Example: “That Mattress McCullum, he’s a hard case.”“Hissy fit”/”Wobbly”/”Pack a sad” Throw a tantrum. Example: “Look at Mitchell Johnson over there having a hissy fit.”“Jandal” Rubber sandals, default footwear for a day at a cricket ground with an embankment or heading to the beach.“L&P” A unique New Zealand drink that combines lemon flavour with spring water from the North Island town of Paeroa.“Loo” The toilet. The best one in NZ cricket is at the Basin Reserve, where you can keep an eye on the cricket from the urinal at the southern end.“Pakeha” A Maori word referencing a Caucasian/European New Zealander. It’s not offensive.“Piece of piss” Easy. Example: “Beating South Africa in a World Cup knockout match is a piece of piss.”“Scarfie” A university student, probably from Otago Uni in Dunedin.“Sweet as” This simply means something is good. Example: “Daniel Vettori’s running style is sweet as.”“Zed” The way we say the 26th letter of the alphabet.

علق خوسيه ريبيرو المدير الفني لفريق الكرة بـ الأهلي، على جاهزية الأحمر قبل مواجهة باتشوكا الودية والمشاركة ببطولة كأس العالم للأندية المقبلة.

وتقام منافسات بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025، في الفترة من 14 يونيو حتى 13 يوليو بمشاركة 32 فريقًا لأول مرة في التاريخ.

ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الأهلي مع باتشوكا وديًا اليوم الأحد، ضمن استعدادات الفريقين قبل المشاركة بمونديال الأندية.

وقال ريبيرو في تصريحات خلال المؤتمر الصحفي قبل مباراة باتشوكا: “نحن جاهزون لمباراة الغد أمام باتشوكا، وهي مواجهة مهمة جدًا بالنسبة لي رغم كونها ودية، والهدف من المباراة هو أن نكون مستعدين قدر الإمكان لخوض المنافسة القوية التي تبدأ الأسبوع المقبل بثلاث مباريات رسمية”.

وأكمل: “منذ وصولنا إلى أمريكا، نعمل على تدريبات تكميلية لما بدأناه في القاهرة، لنكون على أتم الاستعداد لمباريات الأسبوع المقبل في كأس العالم للأندية، ونسعى لاستغلال الوقت المتاح هنا للتعرف على الفريق بشكل أفضل والدخول في المنافسة بأفضل مستوى ممكن”.

وأردف: “نأمل أن نرى اللاعبين الجدد الذين انضموا إلى الأهلي، فهم لاعبون كبار وقادرون على تقديم أداء مميز معنا، وأعتقد أنهم في حالة مثالية، مما يؤهلهم للمشاركة في المباريات المقبلة”.

طالع.. مران الأهلي في أمريكا | تدريبات خاصة للاعبين.. ومحاضرة فنية لـ ريبيرو

وتابع: “نعلم أن اللاعبين لديهم خبرات كبيرة، وقد انضموا لتعزيز أداء الفريق وإضافة قيمة لتشكيلة الأهلي، ومنذ انضمامنا إلى النادي، ونحن نسعى للوصول إلى أفضل مستوى وأداء للفريق”.

وواصل: “خلال المباريات القادمة إذا تطلب الأمر مشاركة هؤلاء اللاعبين أو أي لاعب آخر في التشكيلة، سنرى إن كان بإمكانه إضافة قيمة للفريق، فسيكون بالتأكيد موجودًا”.

واستطرد: “لم ألتقِ بزيزو بعد، ولم يشارك في التدريب الأول معنا، لكن ما يمكنني قوله هو أنني سعيد جدًا بإسهامات باقي اللاعبين الحاليين، وبالتأكيد سيكون لزيزو دور مهم في الفترة المقبلة”.

تجدر الإشارة إلى أن الأهلي ضم التونسي محمد علي بن رمضان ومحمود حسن تريزيجيه وحمدي فتحي (فترة المونديال فقط) وأحمد رمضان بيكهام وأحمد سيد زيزو والحارس محمد سيحة.

وزاد: “أي فريق يشارك في بطولة بحجم كأس العالم للأندية يسعى لتحقيق أفضل النتائج، والأهلي سوف يصب تركيزه على كل مباراة بشكل مستقل، حتى يمكن أن يصل لتحقيق أهدافه”.

وواصل: “عدد المباريات محدود، والمباراة الأولى مهمة للغاية، والفوز بها يمنح دوافع للاستمرار في المنافسة بشكل أفضل، ولكل مواجهة حسابات مختلفة من أجل تحقيق أفضل النتائج”.

طالع | موعد والقناة الناقلة لمباراة الأهلي وباتشوكا الودية اليوم.. والمعلق

وأشار: “اختيار التشكيل بشكل عام يجري العمل عليه من خلال تحليل أداء اللاعبين، والمجموعة المناسبة لكل مباراة، ومواجهة باتشوكا مهمة لرؤية اللاعبين على أرض الواقع، أنا أعرف لاعبي الأهلي جيدًا بعدما درستهم بشكل جيد عند اللعب ضدهم في وقت سابق”.

وقال: “بعد المباراة الودية سوف يصل الفريق إلى 12 حصة تدريبية، وهو عدد مناسب للوقوف على كل التفاصيل، ومع مرور الوقت ستصبح الأمور أفضل، خاصة أن الأهلي ناد كبير واللاعبين سوف يتطورون بشكل أسرع”.

وأكد: “متأكد أن الفريق بعد عدة أشهر سوف يكون أفضل من الوقت الحالي، وذلك بفضل التدريبات التي نعمل عليها.. نحن هنا لكي ننافس ونقدم أفضل أداء لنا، ومن المستحيل تغيير كل شيء في فترة قصيرة للغاية”.

واختتم: “الفريق سبق له المشاركة في البطولة وقدم مباريات قوية، وكذلك في الدوري ظهر الجميع بصورة مميزة، وسوف نضيف تفاصيل جديدة قبل المونديال للوصول إلى أفضل ما يكون”.

Manchester United are now reportedly making a move to sign a new left-back for Ruben Amorim as the new Old Trafford head coach plots his path to success in Manchester.

Amorim's first games show problems and promise

A draw in his opening Premier League clash with Ipswich Town was followed up by a hard-fought 3-2 win over Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League, with both games showing how Amorim could improve the players at his disposal and how much work still needed to be done ahead of a tough fixture list.

Opponent

Competition

Everton (Home)

Premier League

Arsenal (Away)

Premier League

Nottingham Forest (Home)

Premier League

Viktoria Plzen (Away)

Europa League

Manchester City (Away)

Premier League

The Red Devils scored early in both games before throwing leads away, and in the case of their clash with Bodo, fell behind in shock fashion. However, they resuced all three points against the Norwegian side to move up to nine points from their opening five games in the Europa League, with a strong chance of securing an automatic last-16 slot should their unbeaten campaign continue.

There were positives to take from the game, too; Rasmus Hojlund rediscovered his goalscoring touch with a quickfire brace, with his relentless pressing also contributing to the opening goal that Alejandro Garnacho scored.

Elsewhere, Tyrell Malacia returned to action for the first time in 18 months, and though he was understandably rusty, United fans will have been pleased to have seen him back in action. Equally, Luke Shaw managed another half-hour from the bench as he rebuilds his fitness, while Noussair Mazraoui looked more assured in his new role in central defence.

But new signings and departures are inevitable at Old Trafford, and now the club have been tipped to be advancing in a move to sign a rising star.

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ByHenry Jackson Nov 30, 2024 Manchester United "advance" for teenage defender

According to reports in Argentina, as relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester United and Liverpool have made “advances” to Lanus in a bid to sign promising full-back Julio Soler.

It is claimed that “both of the Premier League sides have made moves for the 19-year-old”, while Argentinian giants River Plate are also thought to be interested in the youngster.

The defender has just 18 months left on his contract with Lanus, but it is added that the club have “high demands” to part ways with him any time soon. For Manchester United, a left-back is a crucial addition.

Though both Shaw and Malacia are both fit now, history suggests that it will not be long before either player is sidelined for a significant period again, with Shaw managing just 12 Premier League games in Erik ten Hag’s final full season in charge.

Soler, who has been called up to the Argentina senior setup (but is yet to be capped), has been described as an “explosive” full-back who is “technically secure” and “one of the best LB prospects in South America” by football analyst Ben Mattinson on X.

Could he be the long-term solution to Manchester United’s left-back issues?

Cricket Australia is contemplating lifting David Warner’s lifetime leadership ban as soon as Friday, with directors looking at rewriting the organisation’s code of ethics.Warner has had a leadership ban hanging over his head since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, with him keen to have the punishment reversed. The 35-year-old has been mentioned as a candidate for Australia’s vacant one-day captaincy, but cannot fulfil the role under his sanctions.Under current rules players who accept a sanction under the code of ethics waive their right to have the matter reviewed.It means CA’s code would need to be rewritten for Warner’s ban to be reviewed, something directors will discuss at Friday’s board meeting in Hobart.Related

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“The view within Cricket Australia is that David is doing particularly well on the field and making a great contribution off the field,” chairman Lachlan Henderson said.  “The first step in terms of David’s leadership ban is to review the code and see if those sanctions are able to be reviewed. And the appropriate revisions to that code that would need to be made.”Henderson said the code would be rewritten if deemed necessary before a call on the one-day captaincy is made.”Our intention is to review the code as quick as is practical. It’s not in anyone’s interest for us to delay that,” Henderson said. “It would be in time for any future leadership conversations in relation to David.”There are however hurdles to clear. CA is wary any change made to the code in consultation with ethics commissioner Simon Longstaff could have implications on matters beyond Warner.At the same time, CEO Nick Hockley stressed players had a right to show they had changed since the point of being handed a lifetime ban.”In very simple terms, we are looking at sanctions to be reviewed for good behaviour and growth after a period of time,” Hockley said. “Pending tomorrow’s discussion, there would then need to be a revision of the code and that would need to be approved by the board.”The pair’s comments came after CA reported a $5.1 million loss for the 2021-22 financial year at Thursday’s AGM.CA largely blamed the loss on challenges presented by the pandemic, as well as a drop in media rights from the UK for last summer’s Ashes.Former women’s quick Clea Smith was also unanimously voted onto the CA board as the sole former player serving as director, after Mel Jones’ decision to exit.Smith has previously held roles at the Australian Cricketers’ Association and was influential in the parental leave policy being introduced in 2019.Former Cricket Victoria chair David Maddocks was also voted in as a replacement for the outgoing Michelle Tredenick.Meanwhile CA remain undecided whether to lift a ban on playing Afghanistan in bilateral matches before a three-match ODI series early next year.Australia refused to host the country while under Taliban rule last summer, but have agreed to face off against them in the men’s T20 World Cup on November 4 as it is an ICC event.

Liverpool are considering a January move for an Ecuadorian prodigy who came through the same academy as former target Moises Caicedo, according to reports.

Liverpool transfer news

With the January transfer window on the horizon, Liverpool are being linked with a number of potential reinforcements, including Juventus prospect Kenan Yildiz and FC Porto right-back Martim Fernandes. According to TEAMTalk, the Reds are also interested in signing Bologna centre-back Sam Beukema.

They report that manager Arne Slot is a long-term admirer of the defender, and views him as a potential purchase for the summer, with Bologna not keen on letting him leave in January.

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Though a number of Europe’s other top clubs are also interested, the Reds could have the edge in negotiations, as Beukema, who Bologna value at £20 million, has already admitted he could one day see himself moving to Anfield.

“I was a fan of West Ham. I once visited Upton Park with my father and I was really impressed, because the atmosphere was similar to that of Feyenoord or Go Ahead Eagles,” he said. “But there are so many fantastic teams in England, so if another great club like Liverpool came along I would be happy to go there one day.”

Reds want Ordonez

Another centre-back who is understood to be interesting Liverpool is Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez. According to Belgian media outlet Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN), both Liverpool and Chelsea have been keeping tabs on the Ecuadorian, with January touted as a potential window for a move.

Ordonez joined Brugge in 2022 after coming through the academy of Independiente del Valle – the same club from where Chelsea midfielder and former Liverpool target Caicedo also emerged. Since the move, the 20-year-old has established himself as a key player for Nicky Hayen’s team, making 52 appearances and helping them the Belgian Pro League title last term.

Like Beukema, Ordonez has also expressed his desire to one day play in the Premier League.

“The Premier League, I would like that,” he recently told HLN. He added, however, that he remains focused on his current club, and suggested that he won’t be leaving the Jan Breydel Stadium anytime soon: “I’m focused on Club [Brugge], with whom I want to win another title.”

Meanwhile, Brugge head coach Hayen said of the interest in the youngster: “That is ultimately what you want as a player. What makes me happy is that Joel always does his job despite the interest. When that transfer will happen, you have no control over that. It could be in the winter season, but it could also be after this season, which we would prefer.”

There have been plenty of disappointing signings completed in the Premier League in 2024, but which players make up the top 10?

Another exciting year of Premier League action is nearly over, with drama taking place at both ends of the table during the past 12 months.

We have seen some exceptional new signings made by various clubs taking their teams to another level, but not every transfer can be a success, meaning some players will have managers regretting their decision in the market.

Here are our picks for the 10 worst signings in the Premier League in 2024.

10 Raheem Sterling Chelsea to Arsenal (loan)

Having been cast aside at Chelsea, with Enzo Maresca making it clear that there was no future for him at Stamford Bridge, Raheem Sterling completed a loan switch to Arsenal in the summer.

On the face of it, it looked like a shrewd piece of business by the Gunners, but now 30, the Englishman is a fading force. He has started just twice in the Premier League, despite the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard struggling for top form.

9 Savinho Troyes to Manchester City

When Savinho made his Manchester City debut against Chelsea on the opening weekend, it looked like the champions had signed the new Riyad Mahrez.

While much focus has been on City’s struggles in defence and midfield this season, the wide players have also been a big issue, including their new signing.

Savinho is yet to score in the Premier League, despite making 13 appearances, and a lack of substance has become increasingly evident as the weeks have passed.

8 Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall Leicester City to Chelsea

When Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall joined Chelsea from Leicester City, there was arguably a nagging feeling that he wasn’t at the level required for the Blues.

Granted, Maresca knew him well from their time together with the Foxes, but he has struggled to make any kind of impression this season, featuring for just 56 minutes in the Premier League in the first 16 matches.

The likes of Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernandez look on a different level to him and his move has so far been a colossal waste of money.

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2 ByStephan Georgiou Aug 23, 2024 7 James Ward-Prowse West Ham to Nottingham Forest (loan)

Not many felt that James Ward-Prowse’s loan move from West Ham United to Nottingham Forest in the summer was bad business, with the midfielder’s experience and set-piece ability having the potential to make him a good signing.

But while Nuno Espirito Santo’s side have shone in 2024/25 to date, the Englishman hasn’t, only managing sporadic outings in the league and looking like a player past his best.

A red card against Chelsea summed up a disappointing campaign thus far for Ward-Prowse.

6 Ben Brereton Diaz Villarreal to Southampton

Southampton knew the importance of signing a top striker after their promotion from the Championship, and Ben Brereton Diaz was brought in as the man to add extra firepower.

The Chile international may have done relatively well at Sheffield United last season, scoring 6 goals in 14 league appearances, but he has flopped badly for Saints, not yet netting in the competition this term.

5 Kalvin Phillips Manchester City to Ipswich Town (loan)

The manner in which Kalvin Phillips’ career has drifted in recent years has been sad to see, having become such an important player for Leeds United and England at the turn of the decade.

Ipswich Town offered the midfielder a chance to end a miserable spell at Manchester City, signing him on loan, but he has continued to be an ineffective figure.

Phillips has managed seven Premier League starts, but his influence has not been what Kieran McKenna hoped for, hence him not being a regular starter.

4 Matthijs de Ligt Bayern Munich to Manchester United

It was clear that Manchester United needed at least one new centre-back signing in the summer, and Matthijs de Ligt came in as a high-profile £42.9m acquisition alongside youngster Leny Yoro.

The fact that Bayern Munich were willing to sell the Netherlands international acted as a potential warning sign to the Red Devils, and the defender has struggled in these opening months of the season.

In truth, De Ligt hasn’t looked like much of an upgrade on Harry Maguire, which is damning in itself, often finding himself at the scene of the crime when goals are conceded, and generally looking a long way from the prodigious talent that emerged at Ajax.

3 Joao Felix Atletico Madrid to Chelsea

A former Golden Boy winner, Joao Felix’s permanent move to Chelsea in the summer felt exciting following his previous loan spell.

While plenty of attacking players at Stamford Bridge have shone from Cole Palmer to Noni Madueke, the Portuguese has been a spectator for much of the campaign.

Felix has started only twice in the league and scored just once in nine games in the competition, and now 25 years of age, he is in danger of not reaching his vast potential.

2 Eddie Nketiah Arsenal to Crystal Palace

Eddie Nketiah’s time at Arsenal reached its natural conclusion at the end of last season, as it became abundantly clear that he was never going to be up to the level required to be a top player at the Emirates.

The English striker’s £30m move to Crystal Palace was always going to be intriguing, and while there was hope that he could flourish in south London, he has endured a horrible season to date.

Nketiah hasn’t scored in his first 13 Premier League appearances and his confidence appears to be extremely low, as summed up by a poor one-on-one finish against Brighton.

1 Joshua Zirkzee Bologna to Manchester United

Manchester United signed Joshua Zirkzee for £36.5m during the summer window, and while far from a vast amount in the modern game, he has still been a huge flop, failing to come close to justifying his price tag.

The Dutchman may have scored the winner on his debut at home to Fulham, but since then, he has netted in just one other game in the Premier League, as well as lacking the pace to be a dangerous threat in the final third.

While Rasmus Hojlund is raw but has clear potential, it’s hard to see Zirkzee being a success under Ruben Amorim, so it wouldn’t be a shock if he lasted no more than one season at Old Trafford.

Manchester United are already working on a £10 million January deal for Ruben Amorim that they are confident will get done, according to a new report.

January presents the first opportunity for INEOS to make changes to their squad under the management of Amorim. The Red Devils are not expected to be busy, but they appear to have their eye on one or two deals.

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Man Utd transfer news

It has already emerged this week that United have made early transfer moves to understand where certain players lie with their future. It started with the Red Devils making an enquiry to Chelsea over the availability of Christopher Nkunku, a player who is unhappy with his situation at Stamford Bridge.

It was then claimed that United have also made an enquiry over the possibility of signing Geovany Quenda from Sporting. The 17-year-old is very highly rated and obviously has a connection to Amorim, but this may be one that waits until the summer, as Amorim made it clear he would not be signing any Sporting players in the New Year.

Now Amorim’s new side is prepared to offer Joshua Zirkzee in exchange for star striker Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede continues to impress this season, and it looks as though a move at the end of the campaign is likely, and United are trying to get ahead of the rest by offering one of their own players as part of the transfer. But it could be a £10 million transfer that is United’s first piece of business in the New Year.

Man Utd chiefs confidently working on £10m youngster deal

According to TBR Football, Manchester United are working on a deal to sign Sverre Nypan from Rosenborg in January. The 17-year-old midfielder is regarded as one of the hottest properties in football and emerged on many clubs’ radars after his performances last season.

Nypan has scored seven goals and recorded seven assists in 26 Eliteserien appearances this season, as well as grabbing three assists in three Europa Conference League qualifiers. This report states that United, who have had an interest in the youngster for some time, are confident of getting a deal over the line, as Rosenborg have told him to begin choosing his next club once their season finishes in December.

Nypan is said to be available for £10 million this January, but the deal could go up to £20 million after add-ons are added. The Red Devils are aware of this and are set to sit down with Nypan and his representatives to discuss their options.

The Premier League side have been tracking Nypan from a young age, and coming up against him during pre-season will have allowed them to take a closer look at his ability. If United are keen to wrap up a deal, they will need to be quick, as teams such as Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Aston Villa are also interested and have made contact with his agents in recent months.

Newcastle United are believed to be happy to sell a “unique” player during the January transfer window, according to a fresh update regarding his future.

Newcastle transfer news

One player who the Magpies have been linked with signing in recent days is Eintracht Frankfurt star Omar Marmoush, who is enjoying a fantastic season for the Bundesliga club. Scouts are said to have been sent to watch the 25-year-old in action, having registered 18 goal contributions (11 goals and seven assists) in just 11 league appearances in 2024/25 to date.

In what would be a shock signing, in many ways, Paul Pogba has also emerged as a rumoured transfer target for Eddie Howe, with the 31-year-old available to play again in 2025 after completing a ban. The free agent has reportedly turned down Neecastle’s advances, though.

Miguel Almiron has been linked with a move away from St James’ Park plenty of times in recent months, with the Magpies targeting upgrades in his right-sided attacking role. One such figure is PSV Eindhoven ace Johan Bakayoko, who is a young winger with so much potential.

In terms of other attacking targets, Bournemouth hero Antoine Semenyo has been backed to join Newcastle, too, having matured into one of his side’s most important players. He is also predominantly right-sided, however, so it is unlikely that both he and Bakayoko would come in.

"Unique" Newcastle player allowed to leave

According to a new report from The Telegraph‘s Luke Edwards, Newcastle and PIF will let Almiron leave in the January window, allowing the £60,000-a-week winger to enjoy a new challenge in his career, possibly in Saudi Arabia.

The Paraguayan is happy to move on to pastures new and find another club, having increasingly struggled to become an important part of Howe’s plans at St James’ Park.

A January exit for Almiron makes complete sense of everyone involved, with the winger clearly no longer an influential figure at Newcastle, and understandably wanting more playing time at the age of 30.

He has always been a popular figure among Magpies supporters, such is his team ethic, but a lack of end product has too often been a problem, with only 30 goals coming his way in 216 appearances in a wide attacking role.

That said, Howe has always been a big fan Almiron, heaping praise on his “unique” style last year, saying: “He’s (Almiron) a unique footballer. I don’t think there’s anyone better at doing what he does – all energy, all action. I’d like to see his physical stats today because I’m sure they’d be through the roof.”

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Given his age, however, and the fact that he is out of contract in the summer of 2026, now feels like the right time to move him on, receiving a fee for his services and using those funds to find a superior replacement in January or next summer, making this one to watch in the coming weeks.