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Duo’s perfect combination of fire and ice puts team on the verge of another final

Shashank Kishore10-Feb-2023Sheldon Jackson is 36. But don’t remind him of it. There’s no reason to either, because he is showing no signs of slowing down.A century in the final following a run-drought helped deliver Saurashtra the Vijay Hazare Trophy title in December. Now, a classic 160, his 20th first-class century, has Saurashtra knocking on the doors of the Ranji Trophy final, three years after they clinched a historic first, with Jackson playing a pivotal part.Then there’s Arpit Vasavada, the stone waller, a Shitanshu Kotak clone, someone who can bore bowlers into submission. For the longest time, Vasavada has been known as Saurashtra’s crisis man, and he hasn’t let that tag weigh him down.If crease occupation is of essence, they look up to Vasavada. This isn’t to say he can’t score runs. He can, and do so quite effectively, like on Friday when he made 112 not out, his third hundred of the season and eleventh overall in first-class cricket. That Saurashtra can dare to dream is because of his 232-run fourth-wicket stand with Jackson to bring them within touching distance of a first-innings lead with two days remaining.Related

Vasavada's 202 puts Saurashtra one step closer to Ranji Trophy final

Jackson 160, Vasavada 112* deflate Karnataka

Mayank's 249 leads Karnataka's recovery

Porel helps Bengal extend advantage

On Friday, it was this perfect combination of fire and ice that propelled Saurashtra. Jackson started in blazing fashion, nonchalantly flicking length balls from middle to the midwicket fence, cutting and pulling ferociously and sweeping the spinners off their lengths. Vasavada was the craftsman, carefully molding his sandcastle with precision, accumulating runs slowly, nudging and tapping deliveries, blunting the bowlers like that was his life mission.Batting of that kind is second nature to him. Growing up at Railways Colony in Rajkot, Arvind, Pujara senior, who was also his first coach, would ingrain virtues of playing ‘correct cricket’ to his wards. Young Vasavada and Cheteshwar would religiously stick to those principles, and proudly accept the treats that were on offer should they achieve set milestones. Over time, Vasavada hasn’t let the vagaries of T20 cricket come in the way of his batting style.This season, Vasavada and Jackson have had different roles.With Jaydev Unadkat away on national duty, Vasavada has also had to shoulder the captaincy responsibilities lately. He’s had to rally the team together after back-to-back losses heading into the quarter-final threatened to derail all the momentum they had built up.In the quarter-final, Vasavada was among a group of players that led a stirring fightback, after Saurashtra were on the mat against Punjab. Having conceded a 128-run lead, Vasavada made a grinding 77 in the second innings to help close in on the deficit, before the lower order helped them surge ahead. On the final day, his bowling chances and field placements were spot on. His calm marshalling of his bowlers even as Mandeep Singh, the Punjab captain, threatened to snatch a draw, was commendable.It’s this calmness and assuredness that Vasavada brought to the fore in the semi-final too, against Karnataka at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. He walked in to bat early on the third day with Saurashtra on 92 for 3. Karnataka’s seamers were accurate and meant business. Vasavada took 24 balls to get off the mark, but showed no signs of being edgy.In this period, he also copped a blow on his helmet when he was late on a pull off Vidwath Kaverappa. Shaken, but not stirred, Vasavada took his time to ease himself back in and focused on strike rotation. It helped that Jackson was alert to the possibilities of pinching singles at the other end, much to Karnataka’s annoyance. Over three overs, they picked up eleven singles to ensure the bowlers had to keep altering their lengths to the right-left pair.As his innings progressed, Vasavada showed excellent smarts in ensuring he was getting well outside the line of the stumps to defend K Gowtham’s offspin, while also quickly pulling back to dispatch Shreyas Gopal’s half-tracks. It’s perhaps why Gopal wasn’t introduced until the 21st over the morning; while his legbreaks can be deceptive, he’s often struggled for consistency, and both batters took full toll.Arpit Vasavada is known as Saurashtra’s crisis man, a stone waller who can bore bowlers into submission•PTI Vasavada’s refreshing clarity against spin and sound judgment of his off stump all contributed to his innings, one of immense concentration and fight on the face of some serious heat from Karnataka. When he brought up his hundred, off a thick edge that flew between the wicketkeeper and slip, Vasavada finally let out his pent-up emotions. But that he fought through to stumps told you a story of grit and not wanting to leave it to the others to get the job done.At the other end, Jackson was doing what he’s done for most of his career: being in a constant dogfight. Against himself, because he comes from small-town Bhavnagar, and not a traditional cricket centre. It meant if someone made 100, he needed a double, perhaps a triple ton, to get noticed.He’s had to ward off stifling competition despite coming from a relatively small state, geographically speaking, like Saurashtra, because he was in a queue for the senior team for four straight seasons before breaking through in 2011-12.When he finally got his chance, he had to make up for lost time. Over the next decade, Jackson has been a towering presence in a Saurashtra line-up that has evolved from being the outliers to Ranji Trophy champions three years ago. Yet, he’s had to contend with the disappointment of not making the next step up despite being a prolific performer. He’s on a mission to prove why those on the wrong side of 30 must not be viewed, in his own words, as “fossil”.When his team needed him to dig deep, Sheldon Jackson stood tall with one of the biggest knocks of his career•PTI In the Ranji season Saurashtra won in 2019-20, he had finished that season with 809 runs in 18 innings at an average of 50.56 and was the third-highest run-getter among batters in the non-Plate category. A season earlier, he amassed Ranji Trophy with 854 runs at an average of 47.44. But no Saurashtra player made the India A cut even though they finished runners-up. A furious Jackson let his feelings know.Compared to those seasons, this one threatened to run dry. He hadn’t made a single hundred. Like at the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he went into the knockout with a prolonged lean patch, Jackson had felt the jitters here too. However, come the big match, with his team needing him to dig deep, Jackson stood tall.He imperiously cover drove Kaverappa for a boundary off the third ball of the morning to lay down a marker. Two balls later, he picked length in a jiffy to wallop a pull behind square. Jackson wasn’t going to just defend. He was going to thrill, especially if the ball was there to be hit.When Gopal was introduced belatedly, he didn’t take time to step out and loft him inside-but over extra cover. In trying to score quickly, the counterpunch seemed to frustrate Karnataka to such an extent that Manish Pandey even began to sledge Jackson. What ensured was some banter for a better part of the next hour. At one point things got so heated that Pandey even claimed a bump catch and celebrated wildly, much to Jackson’s annoyance as he stood his ground.But it was clear he wasn’t going to let such distraction come in the way of his concentration. Jackson’s marathon knock was also another example of how Saurashtra have often given their seniors clarity. X-factor players who bring something to the table have been given a long rope in the hope of there being a big performance along the way. For Jackson, this was as big an effort as he’s come up with in his career so far.He literally had to be dragged off the field after being given out lbw to a grubber on 160, but by then Saurashtra were within touching distance of a lead. Vasavada stood there applauding, as did the very players who were sledging him not long ago.In defying Karnataka’s bowlers the way they did, Vasavada and Jackson had sowed seeds of another dream in the making for Saurashtra.

The Boston Red Sox traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday in a shocking move, and the baseball world is still putting together exactly what happened that led to the unexpected breakup.

While Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said that a formal trade request was never made, Devers's team brought up the idea that it might be time for their paths to split.

“There were times during the course of conversations with Raffy’s camp where they indicated that perhaps a fresh start would be best for both sides,” Breslow told reporters on Monday. “We were committed to trying to work through this, ultimately we weren’t able to achieve that alignment.”

The trade likely stemmed from Devers's frustration when the team asked him to move to designated hitter from third base this offseason after Boston signed Alex Bregman. After eventually agreeing to DH, he was once again miffed when he was asked to play first base due to a season-ending injury sustained by Triston Casas. It seemed to the Red Sox that Devers didn't want to "step up" for the team.

Regardless of how the trade came about, the move still shocked the MLB world, including Devers's teammates like Trevor Story. He specifically was surprised the Red Sox chose to send him away while the team is on a hot streak.

However the trade came about, the result is all that matters now. Devers is set to debut with the Giants this week.

The United Kingdom has formally submitted its bid to host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup, outlining an unprecedented vision centred around 22 stadiums across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. If successful, the tournament would become the largest standalone sporting event ever staged in Britain, eclipsing the 2015 Rugby World Cup and Euro 1996.

A bid designed to transform British sport and cities

The proposal features a sweeping list of host grounds, from established icons such as Wembley, the Emirates and the Principality Stadium to state-of-the-art projects like Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium and Birmingham City’s proposed £2.5 billion Powerhouse Stadium. Most eye-catching, however, is the inclusion of United’s future Old Trafford, a 100,000-seat arena still in its conceptual phase. While the current Old Trafford is also listed as a backup option, the bold attempt to anchor the Women’s World Cup final at a yet-to-be-built venue captures the scale of Britain’s ambition.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFuture stadiums: A gamble worth taking?

United’s new Old Trafford and Birmingham’s Powerhouse Stadium have both been included despite neither project receiving a final green light for construction. Sir Jim Ratcliffe unveiled his redevelopment vision earlier this year, but concrete progress has been slow. Regardless, senior United figures are said to be confident the venue will surpass Wembley in capacity and matchday experience by 2035. Birmingham City, meanwhile, are banking on a massive regeneration effort backed by minority owner Tom Brady. If completed on schedule, the Powerhouse Stadium would open at the start of the 2030-31 season. Some existing grounds did not meet FIFA standards. Stamford Bridge and Wrexham’s historic Stok Cae Ras fell short, forcing the FA to enter a placeholder venue for Chelsea, named "Chelsea Stadium", as part of the submission. Todd Boehly is already exploring relocation options that would allow the London club to pursue a significantly larger home.

A 104-match, 48-team Tournament

The Women’s World Cup will expand to 48 teams from 2031, matching the men’s competition, a change that demands at least 15 FIFA-compliant stadiums. The UK bid goes further, offering 22 potential venues to ease scheduling pressure and accommodate 104 matches over 39 days. With 16 stadiums in England, three in Wales, two in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland, the plan reflects a deliberate effort to distribute matches across all four nations.

A joint statement from the heads of the Irish, English, Welsh and Scottish FAs described the bid as a transformational opportunity: "A Women's World Cup in the UK has the power to turbo charge the women's and girls' game both in the UK and globally. Our bid also demonstrates our commitment to leaving a lasting legacy, in the run up to 2035, and the years afterwards."

Prime Minister Keir Starmer threw his weight behind the bid, praising the Lionesses’ impact on young players and highlighting government investment in school sport and grassroots facilities.

"Our bid to host the 2035 FIFA Women’s World Cup shows the UK’s passion for football," the Labour leader said. 

"The Lionesses’ success has inspired girls across our country, and we’ll build on that momentum by welcoming millions of football fans from around the world to a tournament that will benefit communities and businesses in host cities up and down the UK. With significant investment in school sport and grassroots facilities through our Plan for Change, we’re creating opportunities for girls to play for their national team."

England manager Sarina Wiegman also welcomed the announcement and added: "It's so much more than football, I think. It will boost the women's game but it will boost women in society and, as we have seen, it will bring the country together."

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Full list of Women's World Cup 2035 stadiumsWindsor Park (Belfast)

Powerhouse Stadium (Birmingham)

Villa Park (Birmingham)

American Express Stadium (Brighton)

Ashton Gate (Bristol)

Cardiff City Stadium (Cardiff)

Principality Stadium (Cardiff)

Easter Road (Edinburgh)

Hampden Park (Glasgow)

Elland Road (Leeds)

Hill Dickinson Stadium (Liverpool)

Chelsea Stadium (London)

Emirates Stadium (London)

Selhurst Park (London)

Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London)

 Wembley Stadium (London)

Etihad Stadium (Manchester)

St James' Park (Newcastle)

City Ground (Nottingham)

Stadium of Light (Sunderland)

Old Trafford (Manchester) 

Stok Cae Ras (Wrexham) 

The two wins so far haven’t masked their issues with left-arm spin, top-order inconsistency and bowling options

Vishal Dikshit11-Oct-20251:14

Rana: India’s batting ‘not a major concern’

Are India a bowler short? Why are India losing so many wickets to left-arm spinners? Are India using spin too much in the death overs? How does the team regroup and move on from the loss against South Africa?The way allrounder Sneh Rana was grilled at the press conference ahead of the match against Australia, it would create the impression that India weren’t winning anything at the women’s ODI World Cup . That’s not the case at all.But it’s true that though India have won two of their three games and came close to winning the third, they have been far from convincing. There have been batting collapses in all three outings with low scores from their senior batters Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues. Their fielding hasn’t been up to the mark either, and they have mostly had to complete their 50 overs with five bowlers.Related

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Healy: Batting collapses 'not a worry' but it's 'something we'd like to rectify'

After seeing the ease with which boundaries were being scored in the death overs by both India and South Africa in Visakhapatnam, where India next play Australia on Sunday, the hosts would love the comfort of a sixth bowler, especially some added experience in the pace attack that currently features Kranti Gaud and Amanjot Kaur, who have all of 21 ODIs between them.Their options on the bench could tempt them. Either Renuka Singh, who was at the 2022 ODI World Cup as a squad member, or Arundhati Reddy, who has 49 internationals under her belt, are waiting for a chance. But such is the balance of this team that a bowler would have to come in at the cost of a batter because replacing an allrounder would again cut down a bowling option.”I think that call is for the management to take, and I can’t comment much on it,” Rana said about the make-up of the XI. “But we already have good bowlers, and even Pratika [Rawal] and Harman bowl, so it won’t make a big difference at this stage.”Harmanpreet and Rawal have been rolling their arms over in the nets but how many overs can they send down in batting-friendly conditions, that too against a top side like Australia? Harmanpreet has bowled all of 15 overs in the last three years and last picked up a wicket over three years ago.The other option is to drop a batter, but doing so early in the tournament is also unlikely, even though the dot-ball percentage of Rawal and Harleen Deol has come under scrutiny, and Rodrigues has bagged two ducks in three innings. Leaving out a batter would again make it tricky for a line-up that’s not been up to the mark at this World Cup.Pratika Rawal and Harleen Deol’s dot-ball percentage has come under scrutiny•SLCReplacing one batter with another in the XI later in the tournament – whether for form or a niggle – would also, possibly, not be an option for India because their only batting reserve in the squad of 15 is wicketkeeper-batter Uma Chetry, who hasn’t received her ODI cap yet.”See, I don’t think it’s a major concern because our batters have handled these situations very well in the past,” Rana said. “Ups and downs are part and parcel of the game, they can happen anytime. But we have some of the best batters in the world on our side. It’s just a matter of one good knock, and I’m hopeful they’ll bounce back very soon.”All the batters are working on their strengths, and everyone knows where they need to improve. Each player is taking individual training for that. If we talk about strike rate, whatever has been lacking in the past few months, everyone is aware of it and, as a team, we discuss it, regroup, and work towards improving it.”India will hope for a big batting effort against Australia on Sunday, which they got in the three-ODI series preceding the World Cup. There, India scored 369 chasing 412, won by 102 runs after scoring 292, and went down by eight wickets after scoring 281. The series was lost, but they put up good scores. Here, another loss will push them down towards the middle of the table, with their next game against England, the current table-toppers, and the one after that against New Zealand, who have returned to winning ways recently. Whatever they do, they must do it quick.

Shohei Ohtani is officially coming to the popular video game Fortnite.

The Los Angeles Dodgers star is getting his own custom skin in the game's upcoming update on March 17, making him the first MLB player to be featured in the game.

MLB partnered with Fortnite to release a preview video for Ohtani's skin, which will feature him wearing his Dodgers No. 17 uniform.

Have a look:

In addition to Ohtani's Dodgers skin, he'll also get a skin dressed as a samurai with the No. 17 on it, as well as a custom pickaxe and a "back bling" of his dog, Decoy.

Fortnite and MLB have teased a possible inclusion of Ohtani in the game in recent weeks. Now, he's officially set to join the game as part of Fortnite's Icon Series.

It's not the first time the game has added a skin of a professional athlete, though Ohtani's the first MLB player to be included. Already in the game are skins of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, soccer stars Neymar Jr., Lionel Messi and Harry Kane, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, and NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal. Additionally, many popular music artists also have custom skins in the game.

Legendary former Real Madrid centre-forward Karim Benzema, who spent the dressing room with Los Blancos head coach Xabi Alonso for five seasons between 2009 and 2014, revealed that he likes the "style of play" implemented by the Spanish manager. Alonso succeeded the iconic Carlo Ancelotti in the dugout at the end of last season and has got off to a good start.

'Xabi-ball' in full motion at Real Madrid

It has been an intriguing start to Alonso's life as Real Madrid head coach. Appointed at the end of last season, the former World Cup-winning midfielder's first assignment was participating in the Club World Cup with a half-fit squad. Madrid reached the semi-finals, where they were handed a brutal reality check at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain. 

Then, following a shortened pre-season, Alonso's troops got the 2025-26 season off to a splendid start. They won the first six games of the La Liga season, before being demolished by their neighbouring rivals Atletico Madrid 5-2 at the Metropolitano in September. That defeat would only turn out to be a small blip, as Madrid won the next seven games on the trot, including a brilliant win over Barcelona at the Bernabeu last month. 

While they have failed to win their last two games across all competitions, this Madrid team under Alonso has proved that they have a higher floor then they did in the calamitous 2024-25 season, during which they failed to win major silverware. The likes of Kylian Mbappe and Arda Guler have become pillars of the squad, with the France captain off to a blazing start after scoring 18 goals in 16 games. 

AdvertisementAFPBenzema likes Alonso's Real Madrid

Speaking in an interview with , Benzema was asked if he saw the potential in Alonso to become a coach when they shared the dressing room. In response, Real Madrid's second-highest goal scorer of all time responded: "I remember when we played together, and it's the same now as a coach. Pressure, vertical passing… It's a style of play I like. He's only been there for six months, and he's doing an excellent job. He needs to be given time."

Moreover, he defended Alonso and the club from the recent criticism, following a drop in form. "I like this Real Madrid team," he added. "There's a lot of talk about it now, but it's always like this. If they draw or lose, it's a crisis. They go from being the best team in the world to questioning the coach, this player or that player… It's normal because they're the best team in the world. But I like this team."

Alonso under immense scrutiny

Last week, Ancelotti gave his verdict on Alonso, whom he coached at Bayern Munich. “I can’t give him any advice. I watch all the Madrid matches because I want to see how the Brazilians are doing and I see the team is doing very well," the Italian told . "They have won almost all the matches, but unfortunately in football you can’t always win. Sometimes you have to draw. One thing I learned at Real Madrid is that a draw here is the prelude to a crisis. No jokes. You have to get used to that. We already know that the main evaluation of a coach is the results, and so far the results have been spectacular. Leading the league and among the top eight in the Champions League. What more can we ask of Xabi? I see a solid team, especially in defense, and very effective upfront. Mbappe is doing very well and [Jude] Bellingham is back. I think Xabi can succeed without any problem."

The media have been quick to jump on the “crisis” narrative following the goalless draw away to Rayo Vallecano before the international break – a result that came on the heels of a 1–0 Champions League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield. This scrutiny persists despite a 2–1 El Clasico victory over Barcelona last month, a three-point lead at the top of the La Liga table after 12 rounds, and a strong position to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals. Even so, Alonso has not escaped criticism. The former Bayer Leverkusen coach has seen his tactics and man-management questioned, with reports suggesting that the dressing room does not hold a unanimous view of his methods.

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Getty Images SportDoes Benzema imagine a career in coaching?

In the same interview with , Benzema, who will turn 38 next month, reflected on whether he sees coaching as a real possibility once he retires. "I don't know. I have friends who are already involved in coaching and they're always talking to me about it, but it's difficult," he admitted. "Being a footballer or a coach seems different, but it's the same pressure. It's complicated."

The Frenchman, whose contract with Al-Ittihad expires next summer, has claimed that he sees himself playing for another two years.

Teenage spinner strikes with ball before adding unbeaten fifty on day Surrey surrender their title

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay25-Sep-2025Surrey 147 and 226 for 6 (Albert 61*, Abbott 4-51) lead Hampshire 248 (Washington 56) by 124 runsSurrey lost their grasp on the Rothesay County Championship trophy for the first time in 1100 days, but saw a glimpse into their future as Ralphie Albert took centre stage against Hampshire.Nottinghamshire confirmed themselves as champions midway through the evening to end Surrey’s three-season dynasty as red-ball kings. But Albert, the 17-year-old grandson of snooker icon Jimmy White, celebrated his first two first-class wickets before picking up a maiden fifty to give Surrey a chance of sending Hampshire to Division Two.The England Under 19 allrounder bowled Scott Currie and caught and bowled Kyle Abbott in the morning as Hampshire claimed a 101 first-innings lead. He then struck 61 not out during a 97-run stand with Dan Lawrence in the evening – Surrey ended the day with a 124 lead, with Hampshire needing to at least match Durham’s result to avoid relegation.After 13 wickets had fallen on the first day, on a pitch sympathetic but not overwhelmingly so for the bowlers, the second day began with a similar tone. Toby Albert couldn’t be blamed for edging a Matt Fisher in-ducker to first slip, before fellow overnight batter Ben Brown was plumb lbw three balls later.Fisher had immediately swung the momentum of the match, and gave Hampshire the relegation jitters again. Those weren’t helped when Liam Dawson swished outside his off stump three overs later but Washington Sundar and James Fuller corrected things with patience and runs.The pair put on 62 to flesh out Hampshire’s lead, but it proved the last resistance as spin went through the tail. Indian legspinner Rahul Chahar picked up his first Championship wicket when Fuller slog-swept to deep square, before Albert thudded one into Currie’s off stump.Washington waved his bat on an 89-ball fifty, but Abbott was caught and bowled before the India allrounder picked out deep midwicket off his compatriot, with Hampshire two runs shy of a batting bonus point.That near miss shouldn’t impact Hampshire’s chances of staying in Division One, with Durham also narrowly failing to get to 350, meaning that as long as Hampshire match Durham’s result they will stay up.A victory would be the most straightforward method of securing their status, and Brad Wheal appeared to be fast-forwarding his side there with two quick wickets. Rory Burns’ batting for the season was ended when he edged a good ball to first slip, before Ryan Patel hooked straight to the deep square fielder.Abbott then took over with one of his incredible spells, taking three wickets in four overs. The South African had Dom Sibley and Ben Foakes caught behind before keeping one low to castle Ollie Sykes.But Ralphie Albert and Lawrence ground out runs on the slow pitch and made the most of a ragged Hampshire session, to head towards a position from which they could win the game. Albert largely made use of space behind the wicket, but also drove through the covers beautifully, to take himself to a second professional half-century in 68 balls.Lawrence became Abbott’s fourth notch of the innings when he was bowled, but Surrey remained six down at close, while Hampshire suffered a blow as Washington damaged his hand while fielding a ball off his own bowling.

The central midfield department is arguably one of the most important areas of the pitch, but it’s often been a struggle for Manchester United over the last couple of months.

Bruno Fernandes has often been called upon to drop into a deeper role and fill the void at the heart of the side – a position that has become his own after the £200m additions in the final third.

A partner for the Portuguese international has been on the agenda for Ruben Amorim in recent months, but their hunt has so far been to no avail, with no new midfield additions made since his arrival 12 months ago.

33-year-old Casemiro has often been the man called upon in the Premier League this season, with the Brazilian making a positive impression – as seen by his tally of three goals to date.

However, given his age and current contract situation, he’s likely to depart Old Trafford at the end of the campaign, which could see the issue at the heart of the side rear its head once again.

As a result, INEOS are currently on the hunt for a new deep-lying option to fill the void for years to come, leading to one player being strongly linked with a move in the near future.

Why United are so keen on signing Anderson in the coming months

Over the last couple of weeks, United have ramped up their interest in a January deal to secure the signature of Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson.

It was reported earlier this week that Amorim’s men have already reached out to the Reds over a potential deal, with discussions taking place over the conditions of the transfer.

However, the 23-year-old would be a hugely expensive signing, with Sean Dyche’s men currently setting the asking price at a staggering £100m for the youngster.

Young English prospects always come at a premium in the modern market, but is the asking price at present a fair price for a player of Anderson’s quality?

His underlying stats from the current Premier League campaign certainly make for good reading, with the former Newcastle United academy graduate ranking top of 13 separate metrics at present.

He’s completed 113 passes into the final third, with his tally of 706 passes completed, the most of any player in the division – subsequently offering Amorim’s men a hugely talented orchestrator.

However, the hierarchy are undoubtedly hunting for a more defensive option at present, with any addition needing to be dominant without the ball to allow Bruno to flourish.

Luckily for United, Anderson has also excelled in such an area, currently entering and coming out on top in more defensive duels of any player in the division in 2025/26.

Other numbers, such as 8.8 progressive passes, with 8.6 of which being into the final third, further highlight the all-round quality the 23-year-old possesses despite his tender age.

Anderson has also transferred his talents onto the international stage, now cementing himself as a key member of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad over the last few months.

He featured for 85 minutes against Serbia on Thursday night, making the most tackles and winning the most duels of any player – further backing up his incredible defensive abilities in the Premier League.

It’s safe to say he ticks all the boxes United are looking for a new midfielder, but it remains to be seen if the hierarchy are willing to sanction such a big-money deal this January.

The United star who’s now worth more than Anderson

Despite their failures on the pitch over the last few years, Old Trafford still remains the home to countless top-level talents who are looking to cement their place in club folklore.

From big-money additions to academy prospects, boss Amorim really does have a hugely exciting squad at his disposal in his hunt for Premier League glory.

Adding quality players like Anderson will no doubt bolster their chances of success, but it shouldn’t take away from the levels previously produced by numerous players already on the books.

There’s little debating that Bruno is the most complete central midfielder currently on the books, but he desperately needs support around him to allow the club to reach the next level.

Kobbie Mainoo once appeared as though he was the perfect player to make the midfield spot his own, but it’s safe to say his career has stagnated since Amorim’s arrival last November.

The 20-year-old catapulted himself to stardom back in the 2023/24 campaign after producing countless moments of magic in the first-team after rising through the academy system.

From last-minute winners against Wolverhampton Wanderers to an FA Cup final goal against Manchester City – it truly was a season to remember for the youngster.

His incredible form for the Red Devils even led to a place in the England Euro 2024 squad, subsequently featuring in six of the seven fixtures during the tournament.

His talents were there for everyone to see, but he’s since struggled for senior minutes under Amorim, with Mainoo only registering 12 league starts in the last 12 months.

Most of his minutes have come off the substitutes bench, with the academy graduate yet to start a single Premier League outing in the 2025/26 campaign.

Games played

25

Minutes played

1656

Pass accuracy

87%

Chances created

1.7

Successful dribbles

1.3

Tackles won

63%

Duels won

5.9

Interceptions made

1.2

Recoveries made

4.8

It was reported in the summer that the player himself requested a temporary move away from Old Trafford to gain minutes to aid his development – but such a request was swiftly denied by the board.

However, despite his lack of action, Mainoo has still received huge praise in the last few months, with former Red Devil Paul Scholes labelling him as the “nearest thing” to the legendary Zinedine Zidane.

Such a comparison is no mean feat, with the now-retired Frenchman being one of the best midfielders of his generation – as seen by his tally of seven major trophies, which includes a World Cup triumph back in 1998.

Mainoo may not have featured as much as he would have liked, but he’s seen a sharp incline in his market value, with FootballTransfers now valuing the 20-year-old at £55.4m.

Such a figure is a remarkable one, given his academy status, subsequently joining for nothing as a youngster, which highlights the work done by countless staff behind the scenes.

However, such a figure is also higher than that of Anderson, with the same site valuing the Forest star at just £45.6m despite his current £100m asking price.

There’s little doubt that a move for Anderson would improve the options at Amorim’s disposal, but it’s clear that the boss needs to give Mainoo another chance to thrive.

The youngster has bags of time to reach the next level in his development, but he’s already achieved so much in such a short period – with such talent currently going to waste under the manager.

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Manchester United made a huge mistake in spending big money on one first-team member.

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Celtic have been meticulously assessing options to succeed Martin O’Neill in the dugout and may now have identified a new figure that could become a serious contender to take the Scottish Premiership champions forward.

At 73 years of age, O’Neill deserves plenty of plaudits for taking a step out of his comfortable stable of punditry work for another spell in charge of his old side, even if he may only be around for a brief period of time.

The victories over Falkirk and Rangers brought back some much-needed morale to the Celtic dressing room. However, the Bhoys’ defeat to FC Midtjylland in midweek prompted the former Republic of Ireland boss to make his stance clear on a longer stay in Glasgow.

He told TNT Sports: “I will be here as long as the football board wants me, it’s as simple as that. That could be at the end of the week, it could be after the Kilmarnock game. I just don’t know.”

Later, he added after being asked if he was in constant discussions with the hierarchy, fuelling speculation that he may not be in charge beyond the international break: “No I’m not and I don’t really want to be. I just want to be told when my time is up.”

Kjetil Knutsen continues to be in the Celtic running as his Bodo/Glimt contract comes to an end. Meanwhile, Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna is a Parkhead candidate due to his sterling work at Portman Road.

With speculation bound to continue over the coming days, a new name has entered the picture as a potential successor to interim coach O’Neill.

Celtic place Brian Barry-Murphy on manager shortlist

According to Alan Nixon on his Patreon, Celtic have shortlisted Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy as a managerial candidate to take over permanently at Parkhead.

Middlesbrough are also on the hunt for a new head coach as Rob Edwards completes a controversial move to Wolverhampton Wanderers, though the Scottish champions appear ready to throw a spanner in the works amid their links to the City Football Group.

Brian Barry-Murphy at Cardiff City – 2025/26

Wins

13

Draws

2

Losses

6

62% win ratio from 21 matches this season.

Previously, he was head coach at Rochdale before a spell in charge of Manchester City’s elite development squad, and he has also further coaching experience in a technical role at Leicester City.

Celtic could land an alternative manager with a secret release clause

Cardiff City find themselves fourth on 26 points and could go top of the table should they win their game in hand. Predominantly adopting a 4-2-3-1, the Bluebirds have been an attacking force this campaign, scoring the joint-third most goals in League One.

Nevertheless, managing Celtic is a whole different kettle of fish due to the pressures associated with the role. It remains to be seen who will be trusted to lead their bid to retain the Scottish Premiership title.

Nicolas Jackson’s time at Bayern Munich could be short-lived, as the German side are currently not planning to trigger the €65 million (£54m/$71m) purchase option in his loan deal. The Senegalese forward, who joined the Bundesliga giants from Chelsea on transfer deadline day, has struggled to earn regular minutes in Munich, with Harry Kane thriving up front.

Limited action for Jackson following high-profile loan deal

The 24-year-old joined the Bavarians on deadline day for €16.5m (£14m/$19m) after late drama. Chelsea initially tried to cancel the deal following Liam Delap’s injury, but Jackson reportedly refused to return to London, and the move to Germany eventually went through. 

"It was a tough period. The last days of the transfer window were difficult, but in the end, we made it, and I’m very happy about that," Jackson had said when he first arrived at the German club.

However, the striker has found it difficult to make a lasting impact under Vincent Kompany. He has made 12 appearances across all competitions, scoring three goals and registering one assist, but has started only five matches so far. With Kane locked in and thriving as the first-choice striker and Luis Diaz and Michael Olise also competing for similar roles, opportunities have been limited. And hence, the Bayern management believes the clause to make Jackson's stay permanent is 'too high'.

AdvertisementBayern turn attention to Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic

With Jackson’s future uncertain, Bayern have begun to look elsewhere. Fabrizio Romano revealed that Bayern held talks in October with representatives of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic. The 25-year-old Serbian forward is considered a strong candidate and will likely be a more affordable option, particularly given his contract is set to expire next summer.

Vlahovic has scored eight goals in 18 appearances across all competitions this season and has been performing consistently despite the team's struggles.

While initial reports suggested that extension talks between Vlahovic and the Juventus management were off the table, the situation has changed in recent weeks. According to , the Serie A side are planning to reopen talks for an extension but have not yet met with the Serbian's representatives in person. His chances of staying at the club beyond the summer of 2026 have increased significantly, the report states, but a free transfer remains a possibility.

Meanwhile, Bayern, along with Barcelona and Newcastle United, continue to monitor the situation closely. 

Jackson's struggles amid Bayern's near perfect season

Bayern have enjoyed a near-flawless campaign across all competitions, winning 16 of their 17 matches and drawing just once against Union Berlin last week. While results have been strong, competition for places has made life difficult for Jackson, who remains behind Kane in the pecking order. Jackson arrived at Bayern after a turbulent spell at Chelsea. The Senegalese forward joined the Premier League side from Villarreal in 2023 for £32m ($40m) but struggled for consistency. He scored 17 goals in his debut season, but his form dipped the following year, finding the net only 13 times in 37 appearances in 2024 before making a loan move to Germany.

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Getty ImagesWhat’s next for Jackson and Bayern?

"I was very confident I’d stay here because this is where I want to play and where I want to be," Jackson said in September.

If Bayern decide against triggering his clause, the 24-year-old could return to Chelsea next summer, where his future remains uncertain amid a crowded forward line. For now, he will aim to make the most of his limited chances at the Allianz Arena. But unless things change quickly, Bayern’s focus may soon shift from a loanee searching for consistency to a Serbian striker searching for a new home.

The German champions' next game comes on November 22 when they host Freiburg in the Bundesliga, after which Jackson will return to London with his new team-mates to face Arsenal in the Champions League on November 26.