Alejandro Garnacho has sent a message to fans after Manchester United's 2-1 win over Rangers as the winger continue to be linked with an exit.
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Garnacho linked with Man Utd exitRed Devils win in stoppage time against RangersWinger sends cryptic message to fansFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Garnacho has been linked with a January exit from Manchester United alongside Marcus Rashford following Ruben Amorim's arrival as manager. Chelsea and Napoli are said to be in talks to sign Garnacho this January as the Blues continue to experiment with their best frontline, while Gli Azzurri want to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia who has joined Paris Saint-Germain.
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Manchester United have all but confirmed their place in the Europa League round of 16 as Bruno Fernandes' stoppage-time winner gave the Red Devils a win over Rangers after the Scottish side looked to have snatched a draw in the 88th minute. Garnacho then sent a message to fans after the game which could perhaps be interpreted as a potential farewell message.
WHAT GARNACHO POSTED
On Instagram, Garnacho posted photos from the win over the Rangers with the caption: "Strong team performance. Thank you, Old Trafford."
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WHAT NEXT FOR GARNACHO?
Fans must wait and see if Garnacho does move on before the January transfer window closes. Amorim refused to rule out an exit after the Rangers win, with the winger believed to prefer to stay in the Premier League if he does depart Old Trafford.
England lost Jason Roy to injury, and ended up falling short by just 10 runs
Valkerie Baynes06-Nov-20213:58
Moody: SA must be feeling robbed
An unbroken century stand between Rassie van der Dussen and Aiden Markram handed England their first defeat of the T20 World Cup but it was not enough to put South Africa through to the semi-finals.Watch cricket live on ESPN+
Sign up for ESPN+ and catch all the action from the Men’s T20 World Cup live in the USA. Match highlights of England vs South Africa is available in English, and in Hindi (USA only).
Van der Dussen provided the brains with his 94 not out from 60 deliveries and Markram the brawn with 52 from 25 to propel their side to 189 for 2. But South Africa needed to restrict England to 131 or fewer in their run chase to leapfrog Australia into the semi-finals on NRR. England topped the group, despite their 10-run defeat, which followed the dramatic loss of Jason Roy to a calf injury in the fifth over of their innings.Moeen Ali came in when Roy retired hurt and top-scored for England with 37 from 27 deliveries. He shared a 51-run partnership with Dawid Malan, who was England’s next-best scorer with 33. But a late flurry of wickets – including a hat-trick to Kagiso Rabada in the final over – meant they fell short of their target. The sight of Roy on crutches at the conclusion of the match provided greater concern for England heading into the knockout stages.Rassie rises to the topMoeen made early inroads for England when Reeza Hendricks, having been stymied at 2 off eight balls, attempted a release shot, the ball beating his attempted slog sweep to clatter into middle and leg stump in the third over of the match. Quinton de Kock, who came in with 35 runs from three innings in the tournament, reached 34 before he was caught by Roy off Adil Rashid.Van der Dussen’s innings was South Africa’s highest individual score in a men’s T20 World Cup. He unleashed a four and a six off consecutive balls from Chris Woakes in the sixth over to bump up his side’s powerplay score to 40 for 1, the best against England in the tournament.He survived two England appeals to the DRS, the first an ambitious attempt to have a not-out decision for caught behind off Rashid overturned when he was on 27. That was followed by a much closer appeal for lbw to Chris Jordan, with ball-tracking showing impact on off stump but the batter was a long way forward and across and he prevailed on umpire’s call. Adding insult for England, van der Dussen struck the next ball for four to bring up his fifty stand with de Kock. In all, van der Dussen struck six sixes and five fours in an excellent knock to lead a resolute South Africa innings.Jason Roy fell to the floor with an apparent leg injury•AFP/Getty ImagesMarkram muscleMarkram, muscled the England bowlers around during the closing stages of South Africa’s innings to complement van der Dussen’s knock. With two overs remaining, he had 35 off 18 balls and he stretched that to 52 from 25 by the end, as he helped himself to nine runs from the penultimate over, bowled by Mark Wood, who conceded 13 off the over and 47 runs for no wicket from his four in his first match of the tournament. Markram’s fourth six of the match came off the final over, an attempted yorker by Jordan which Markram dispatched over long-off to bring up his half-century. Jordan went for 36 off his four overs. Chris Woakes also came in for some van der Dussen – Markram punishment, conceding 21 off his final over, the 16th of the innings, to finish with no wicket for 43 runs.Roy dramaRoy pulled up alarmingly just a couple of steps into a run after being called through by Jos Buttler on the first ball of the fifth over. He hobbled to safety and then lay prone on the pitch for some time, clearly in agony. As he was helped from the field, Roy was unable to put any weight on his left leg and, having made 20 off 15 balls he retired hurt. Roy was to be sent for scans with England medical staff to make an assessment of his condition after that.Moeen came in at No. 3 and struck two sixes en route to his score, his second – a massive swipe off Tabraiz Shamsi over long-on the highlight of England’s innings until Liam Livingstone smashed a 112m effort over deep midwicket for his first of three sixes in a row off Rabada.Rabada hat-trickRabada had come in for some punishment at the hands of the England batters, with 0-45 from his first three overs. But he returned in the final over of the match to all but end England’s hopes of victory with a hat-trick off the first three balls. Needing 14 runs, England lost Woakes for seven, caught by Anrich Nortje running round at deep midwicket, then Eoin Morgan, their captain, who picked out Keshav Maharaj at deep backward square. When Jordan was caught by David Miller at long-off, Rabada had his three from three. England managed just one run off each of the remaining three balls, via Rashid and Wood as Rabada finished with 3 for 48 and South Africa ended with a bittersweet 10-run victory.
Manchester United have produced some exceptional midfielders over the course of the Premier League era. Their esteemed Carrington academy is one of the highest-reputation talent production lines in England. Arguably the best of the bunch is Paul Scholes, who played 718 times for the Red Devils and won 11 Premier League titles and two Champions Leagues.
In more recent times, Paul Pogba came through the United academy to become one of the best midfielders in the world, and Kobbie Mainoo is the current generation academy midfielder in the United side.
However, there was another academy graduate one midfielder who United let go a few years ago, who could have become a key first-team player.
Man Utd's record-breaker
Angel Gomes was widely regarded as one of the most exciting players coming through the United academy this century. He set two records on his Premier League debut for the Red Devils, which was handed to him by Jose Mourinho back in May 2017.
The midfielder, who was born in London, became his boyhood club’s youngest player in the Premier League, at the age of 16 years and 263 days old. He was also the first player born in the 2000s who played in the English top flight.
Despite a recording-breaking start to life in that famous red shirt, the youngster did not manage to lock down a permanent place in the squad. Gomes played just ten games for the Red Devils between 2016/17 and 2019/20.
Angel Gomes
He did, however, manage to maintain exemplary form whilst representing United’s academy sides. Across all competitions for the under-21s, the under-18s and in the Uefa Youth League, Gomes played 66 times, scoring 29 goals and grabbing 17 assists from midfield.
He was so good during his academy days that football statistician Statman Dave described him as an “unbelievably gifted” footballer.
Then-manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who took over midway through the 2018/19 season, did not quite give Gomes the opportunities, and he left the club for French side Lille. Even though his market value at the time was ÂŁ3m, as per Transfermarkt, he left his boyhood club for nothing.
Gomes’ market value in 2024
The 24-year-old has seen an incredible rise since moving to France. He first spent a season on loan in Portugal at Boavista, where he honed his skills and has since excelled for Lille. His superb performances have even earned him an England call-up, and he has now played three times for his country under Lee Carsley.
Angel Gomes
The midfielder’s Lille career has gone from strength to strength since his move from Old Trafford via the Estadio do Bessa. He has played 123 times for the club, scoring nine times and grabbing 19 assists.
His role has certainly shifted. Once an enterprising creative number ten, Gomes is now an incredibly versatile midfielder, who has even played as a number six at times, turning into something of a first-phase specialist.
Position
Games
Goals
Assists
Central midfield
37
1
6
Attacking midfield
36
4
6
Left midfield
12
2
2
Defensive midfield
11
0
2
Right midfield
5
0
0
Second striker
1
0
0
As he has shown for the Three Lions in recent weeks, the Lille number eight is superb at receiving the ball of the centre-backs and carrying the ball forward. He is a wonderful ball carrier, and his slight 5 foot 6 frame helps him to evade defenders with ease.
Given his performances in a Lille shirt since leaving United, the diminutive playmaker has seen his value skyrocket from what is was when he departed Old Trafford more than four years ago. He is now valued at an impressive ÂŁ23.4m, as per Transfermarkt, which is a huge 680% increase from the ÂŁ3m he was valued at when he left his boyhood club.
According to GiveMeSport, United are interested in bringing Gomes back to Old Trafford. Should they manage to do so, he could line up alongside the likes of Mainoo and fulfil the potential he once had in a United shirt all those years ago.
Man Utd's "insane" ÂŁ105k-p/w star could be their answer to Kai Havertz
Man Utd may need to be patient with one current Old Trafford star…
GOAL US looks at the weekend's action for Americans Abroad, with a focus on Christian Pulisic's Milan and FA Cup hope for Fulham
What do we make of the FA Cup in 2025? The competition certainly doesn't carry its old weight. These days, it runs off fumes and vibes, surviving mostly on nostalgia and the vague promise that an upset or two is likely. We are told, every year, that a lower-league club could threaten a top-tier team. It looks less and less likely with every iteration of the competition. Still, there is football to be played, and USMNT regulars to play it. Antonee Robinson will be in the mix for Fulham, who will feel that they have a winnable tie against struggling Wigan. Josh Sargent, too, has a shot for Norwich as they take on Derby. Two Americans in the last 16 certainly wouldn't hurt.
Elsewhere on the continent, Christian Pulisic should be up to his usual antics for Milan. There aren't many good opponents for the these days. Empoli is a rare team that they routinely trounce. No way this can go wrong, right? There is poor news out of Holland, though, with scattered reports that USMNT striker Ricardo Pepi could miss the season after sustaining a knee injury against Liverpool in the Champions League – ending his best campaign yet prematurely.
Either way, there are storylines to follow all over the place, and GOAL US previews all of them ahead of what should be another interesting weekend for Americans on the continent.
AFPPulisic, Milan, look for consistency
Zoom out, and it's been a good week for AC Milan. Yes, the 1-1 draw with Inter was poor given the circumstances – they conceded late having controlled proceedings for the most part. But this was a fringe European contender against the title favorites. Take the point and move on. Wednesday was even better. Something awoke in the oft-maligned Tammy Abraham, it seems. Milan has effectively brought in his replacement in the shape of Santi Gimenez. Abraham woke up to the tune of two goals to carry Milan to a 3-1 win. Pulisic was there throughout, pulling the strings, while Yunus Musah also impressed in moments.
It would seem an opportune time, then, to face a struggling Empoli. They are a favorite opponent of Milan's. The haven't lost to them since 2017, and have won seven of their last eight against the central Italian side. Pulisic grabbed an assist in a 3-0 win last time they met. Another convincing performance — as well as a top showing from the American — would make for a pleasant weekend.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportFulham's pursuit of silverware begins
What would be considered a successful season for Fulham? A top 10 finish? European football feels unlikely at this point, with Newcastle, Bournemouth, Aston Villa, and Chelsea all more likely to snag the last spot. Ninth would be immense for Marco Silva's side, though, who play some truly excellent stuff. they turned in arguably their best performance of the season last weekend, coming from behind to beat Newcastle at St. James Park. it was a performance full of aggression and intent. It might have been easy to fold and get battered. Instead, they turned things around in a confidence-boosting win.
That bounce could be vital ahead of an FA Cup fourth-round tie with Wigan. The FA Cup remains an important thing for clubs such as Fulham. It is — outside of the Carabao Cup — the only competition they could realistically win. For fans of this club, it would mean the world to make a run. And while other Premier League clubs have increasingly treated the competition with disrespect by benching key names, Fulham have put their strongest side out. That will likely mean 90 minutes for Antonee Robinson, who has consistently cropped up among too-early Teams of the Season among the British press. A win here and can dream.
Getty Images SportJosh Sargent to continue his streak
Well, U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino doesn't have a choice anymore. Josh Sargent is his main man — as a result of injuries. It's not the most confidence-inspiring prospect. Folarin Balogun was option No. 1 – and then dislocated his shoulder. Ricardo Pepi – in the middle of an excellent season – was No. 2, but might be out for the season with a knee issue. That leaves a handful of choices that don't exactly inspire confidence. Sargent is a confusing player. He has proved, consistently, that he can be a top goalscorer in the English championship. Any higher, though, and he looks a little out of his depth.
Or, at least, that's the perception. Since his return from injury a couple of weeks ago, Sargent has diligently gone about doing away with that assumption. He has scored three in two starts and has put eight shots on goal across those two games. In other words, he's getting plenty of chances, and converting them. That would seem to set the table for this weekend nicely. The FA Cup is big for Norwich, and Derby – also an EFL Championship side – won't be an easy foe. If Sargent shows up, a fifth round appearance could be on the cards.
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GettyTessmann and the Lyon mess
A word, too, on Tanner Tessmann. The USMNT young player of the year is caught in the mess that is Lyon. His move to the French side is looking less and less prudent by the day, with the club descending deeper into financial crisis. they endured a chaotic January transfer window and were on the verge of selling their star man Rayan Cherki — before pulling out of the deal. Tessmann, for his part, has been diligent and professional amongst it all. He was only handed a brief cameo last time out but will look to see his role increase in the coming months as seventh-placed Lyon look to turn their fortunes around.
Rio Ferdinand was left impressed by one Aston Villa star after their 2-0 win over Bologna in the Champions League on Tuesday night. The Villans continued their excellent start to life back in Europe’s biggest competition, as they made it three wins from three games.
Better than Duran: Aston Villa star just dropped a UCL masterclass
Aston Villa kept their 100% record in the Champions League going versus Bologna.
ByKelan Sarson Oct 23, 2024 Aston Villa unstoppable in the Champions League
Villa came into this third game of the competition having already beaten Young Boys and Bayern Munich, and they continued their impressive start by brushing aside Bologna. Goals from John McGinn and Jhon Duran sent the Midlands side to the top of the Champions League phase, as they are yet to concede a goal in the competition.
After the game, Unai Emery was full of praise for his side, as he believes they are “playing seriously” and his team is now progressing: “We are playing seriously; we are playing focused and responsible, and the team is progressing and mature in everything.
“We tried to break the press, man to man. We conceded some things in the first 15 minutes but then reacted very well. It is always difficult at home in Europe. We have had to try and be consistent in our gameplan for 90 minutes, and I think we did that today.”
Meanwhile, former Premier League defender Matthew Upson says Villa are a team that is “only going forwards,” and it is an “exciting time” for the club: “I just think it’s amazing how Villa have started. They are in a good place.
“Morgan Rogers is another piece of really shrewd recruitment. Where they see a fit for a player, they bring them in, and it doesn’t matter what club they have been at. He is a young player, but there is so much talent around him. It is a squad that can grow, and having experienced players like Tyrone Mings coming back from injury is great. Under Emery, they are only going forwards, so we are all really keen to see where they end up.”
The praise from last night’s performance doesn’t stop there, as TNT Sports pundit Rio Ferdinand was left impressed by one Villa individual who he spoke to after the match.
Ferdinand wowed by Villa's Tielemans after Bologna win
Speaking on TNT Sports, Rio Ferdinand believes Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans has gone “to another level” under Emery’s management. The Belgian, who has been dubbed an “outrageous” talent by scout/writer Jacek Kulig in the past, has been a key player for the Villans so far this season.
Tielemans, who is on a weekly wage of ÂŁ150,000 at Villa Park, has started all eight Premier League games, as well as all three Champions League games, during which he has scored one goal and grabbed four assists combined. The 27-year-old struggled for regular game time last season but is now becoming an important player under Emery, and Ferdinand believes his game has gone to a new level.
Ferdinand told Tielemans in an interview after the match: “You personally seem to have gone to another level now. I think you are playing at a real high standard, your ball retention; when you are pressed, then you are able to resist that and break the lines.”
Minutes played
78
Expected goals
0.05
Expected assists
0.10
Touches
60
Passes
39/47 (83%)
Key passes
1
Dribbles attempted (succ.)
1 (1)
Ground duels (won)
6 (4)
Aerial duels (won)
2 (2)
Tielemans will be keen to continue this fine form he is showing as Villa look to continue their push-up the Premier League table when they host Bournemouth this weekend.
Birmingham City have unveiled plans for a new ÂŁ3 billion ($3.7bn) stadium complex that will include a 62,000-seat venue and unique underground tunnel.
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Blues currently top of League OnePiecing together ambitious future plansNFL legend among club investorsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The Blues, who count NFL legend Tom Brady among their investors, are setting the most ambitious of goals in the West Midlands. They may find themselves in League One at present, but the hope is that they will soon be rubbing shoulders with the Premier League elite.
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Third tier rivals Wrexham – with Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney at the helm – boast a similar dream. The Red Dragons have revealed blueprints for their own redevelopment work at SToK Racecourse, with talk of that ground eventually housing 50,000-plus spectators.
DID YOU KNOW?
Birmingham are going even bigger, with Tom Wagner and Knighthead Capital Management preparing to construct a state-of-the-art “Sports Quarter” on a 60-acre piece of land that will include a 62,000-capacity stadium, office spaces, social hubs, a hotel and fan park.
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Getty/GOALWHAT TOM WAGNER SAID
Said site will be linked to the Birmingham New Street train station by a 1.5-mile tunnel. Wagner has said, as per : “Subways are very expensive and complicated to develop. We thought of an idea to simply tunnel under the existing rail lines and connect New Street station to the sports quarter and use electric buses running underground. It could transport thousands of people an hour. We think it would cost roughly £20 million.”
Lanning’s 82 powers Stars to victory in a rain-hit clash; Renegades post second-highest total in WBBL history to defeat Heat
ESPNcricinfo staff06-Nov-2021Blistering half-centuries from Harmanpreet Kaur, Eve Jones and Jemimah Rodrigues have helped Melbourne Renegades produce a club record score to defeat Brisbane Heat in the WBBL at Karen Rolton Oval in Adelaide.Jones and Rodrigues put on a century opening stand before Harmanpreet smashed 65 from just 32 balls, including six sixes, to help the Renegades post the second-highest score in WBBL history and the highest by the Renegades. Heat had a red-hot crack in the chase but fell 16 runs short with Ellie Falconer claiming 4 for 29. The match total of 399 runs was the highest aggregate in WBBL history.Jones and Rodrigues fell one run short of a Renegades’ partnership record with their 101-run stand in just 9.4 overs. The pair struck 19 boundaries between them with Rodrigues racing to 52 from 31 balls before she was trapped lbw by Jess Jonassen. Jones anchored the innings before falling in the 17th over for 62 from 46 balls.The platform was set for Harmanpreet’s hurricane finish to the innings. The India T20I captain launched six sixes and four fours to lift the Renegades total beyond 200. No Heat bowler was spared with Jonassen the only one to concede less than nine runs per over.Falconer took the key wicket of Georgia Redmayne early in the chase. Georgia Voll made 40 from 28 balls and Laura Kimmince smashed 42 from 21 but was run out, failing to ground her bat when Josie Dooley produced a direct hit from a relay throw. Falconer and Harmanpreet closed the game out, taking key wickets at the death. Harmanpreet’s allround display earned her Player-of-the-Match honours for the third time in seven matches.Meg Lanning made a 45-ball 82•Getty ImagesMeg Lanning made a dazzling 82 to help Melbourne Stars to a comfortable 37-run win over Adelaide Strikers in a rain-affected clash in the WBBL at Karen Rolton Oval.Rain delayed the start with the game reduced to 14-overs-a-side. Lanning stamped her class on the match-thumping 82 from just 45 balls. She struck nine fours and three sixes to push the Stars to a very impressive total of 4 for 126. Lanning got good support from Elyse Villani in a 63-run opening partnership. Dane van Niekerk picked up 2 for 15 for the Strikers.The Strikers were never in the hunt in the chase, losing wickets at regular intervals. Only four Strikers batters reached double figures. Tess Flintoff took the key scalps of Tahlia McGrath and van Niekerk while Linsey Smith removed Laura Wolvaardt to break the back of the Strikers’ top order. Rhys McKenna took two wickets in an over as the Strikers middle order crumbled.Nicola Carey was superb in the closing stages•Getty ImagesNicola Carey held her nerve at the death as Hobart Hurricanes gave themselves a tournament lifeline by securing a two-run win over Perth Scorchers who started the final over needing seven.Carey bowl the 17th and 20th overs for a combined cost of just eight runs and also claimed two wickets as Scorchers botched a chase that was well within their reach, despite the early losses of Beth Mooney and Sophie Devine, at 2 for 71 in the 11th over needing 67 from 54 balls. The key wicket was that Chamari Athapaththu who fell for 33 off 31 deliveries to Belinda Vakarewa who had started the innings with a maiden before being taken 14 in the space of four deliveries by Devine.Just when a batter was threatening to see them home they fell. Heather Graham was lbw to Carey and Marizanne Kapp skied a return catch to Molly Strano.Rachel Priest had dominated Hurricanes innings with a half-century that included three sixes but the rest of the batting struggled after a promising powerplay. From 1 for 90 in the 14th over they could only manage another 47 runs. The spin pair of Lilly Mills and Alana King again combined effectively to take 4 for 47 from their eight overs. Mills removed Richa Ghosh and Mignon du Preez in the space of four balls.
Two Harry Kane penalties helped extend Bayern Munich's lead at the top of the Bundesliga with a comfortable 3-0 win over Werder Bremen on Friday.
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Bayern Munich beat Werder Bremen 3-0Kane scores twice from the spotSubstitute Sane bags late goalFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱TELL ME MORE
After a relatively uneventful first half, where Kane and Jamal Musiala went close for the hosts, the England international was a whisker away from giving Bayern the lead in the 46th minute when his powerful strike from 20 yards rattled the crossbar.
The 31-year-old then put his side ahead 10 minutes later when he converted from the spot after Anthony Jung handled in the box. Kane should have doubled his tally when slipped through by Michael Olise, but he could only find the side netting.
The home team finally put the game to bed when Leroy Sane turned in fellow substitute Konrad Laimer's pinpoint cross eight minutes from time.
With almost the last kick of the game, Musiala was fouled in the area by a clumsy Jung challenge and Kane scored his 12th penalty goal of the season.
Vincent Kompany's men are now nine points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, although they do have a game in hand.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportTHE MVP
Kane looked lively throughout and took his two penalties well. The England captain now has 28 goals in as many games for Bayern in all competitions this season.
Getty Images SportTHE BIG LOSER
Jung conceded two penalties on the night, the second of which was very foolish, and if he had been more disciplined, Bremen would have had a much better chance of getting something from the game.
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AFPWHAT COMES NEXT?
Bayern return to Champions League action on Wednesday when they travel to Celtic in the play-off round of the competition. After that, it's a top-of-the-table clash away to Leverkusen on February 15.
While it hasn’t been disastrous, it has been a challenging start to the campaign for Arsenal this season.
Mikel Arteta’s side have done reasonably well considering the calibre of opposition they have already faced in the Premier League, but injuries are starting to become a serious problem.
The North Londoners were without Riccardo Calafiori and Martin Odegaard against Liverpool, and before the game finished, they also saw Gabriel MagalhĂŁes and Jurrien Timber come off.
The small saving grace was that Bukayo Saka seems to be back to full fitness, but given his age, workload and incredible importance to the team, Edu Gaspar and Co must find another right-winger to come in and provide him with competition, which, based on recent reports, might happen next year.
Arsenal transfer news
According to a recent report from Football Insider, Arsenal are interested in Brentford’s goalscoring dynamo, Bryan Mbeumo.
Brentford'sBryanMbeumocelebrates scoring
Former Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur scout Mick Brown told the outlet that the Gunners “have been looking” at the winger and that there is a real “possibility” that they go in for his signature next year, akin to their move for Leandro Trossard in January 2023.
No price is mentioned in the story, but reports from earlier this year have suggested that the Cameroonian international could be available for a fee in the region of ÂŁ50m, which would make sense due to his contract expiring in under two years.
It wouldn’t be a cheap transfer to get over the line, but given Mbeumo’s impressive form in recent months, it is worth pursuing, especially as it would also help Saka.
Why signing Mbeumo would be great for Saka
So, before looking at Mbeumo’s impressive form in the last couple of seasons, let’s examine the significant reason why his arrival would be excellent news for Saka: rest.
Yes, while fans, and Arteta for that matter, would likely love for the Englishman to play every minute of every game for the next few years, that just isn’t possible, and worse yet, it would almost certainly have a negative impact on his long-term future.
For example, the 23-year-old has already played an incredible 18289 minutes of first-team football, and by the end of his sixth full season, had played more than former wonderkids Michael Owen and Dele Alli played at the same points in their careers, and according to research from the people at OLBG, the Hale Ender could see his career go down a similar path if the manager continues to play him into the ground.
The research in question has concluded, based on the careers of other top stars and when they had to hang up their boots, that there is a chance he has already played around 53% of his projected career minutes, and while it’s obviously not a hard science, it would be foolhardy to believe the 42-capped Englishman would be immune to the eventual burnout that so many other stars have had to contend with.
So, with all of that said, it’s clear that the Gunners need another high-quality right-winger who can not only come in for games in the Englishman’s stead but also consistently push and challenge him throughout future campaigns, which is where the Brentford man comes in.
For example, the “criminally underrated” attacker, as dubbed by U23 scout Antonio Mango, was sensational for the Bees last season, racking up nine goals and six assists in just 27 appearances, equating to a goal involvement once every 1.8 games.
Moreover, if a campaign like that isn’t enough to convince people, then perhaps the fact he’s already scored eight goals in ten matches this season will be.
Appearances
210
Goals
58
Assists
42
Goal Involvements per Match
0.47
Ultimately, if Mbeumo were to join Arsenal next year, he would be doing so knowing that he’d mostly be a backup to Saka.
However, given how well he has played in recent years, there is no reason he couldn’t still play a significant role throughout a full season, and the fact he’d allow the Englishman to play fewer games could be a game-changer for the club in the long run.
ÂŁ25m profit: Arsenal hit gold selling PL star now worth millions less
Arsenal have become much better sellers in recent years.
He expects Fakhar to come out trumps in his potential match-up against in-form Zampa
Deivarayan Muthu10-Nov-2021You don’t have to worry about Fakhar Zaman. So said Pakistan batting coach Matthew Hayden despite Fakhar managing only 54 runs in four innings at an average of 13.50 and strike rate of 90 in this T20 World Cup.Hayden pointed out that Fakhar has contributed in the hotspots in the outfield and that he’s not too far away from hitting form with the bat.”Fakhar is a very interesting personality and character,” Hayden said. “The longer that I spend time with him, the more that I really enjoy his personality and character. The fact that he was in the navy for seven years gives you a pretty strong indication of his ability to be able to fight and fight hard. Not only from a batting perspective, the contribution within a T20 set-up is that you have to be as a general policy a two-dimensional player.”And I think Fakhar has been the standout outfielder for our team as well. He’s saved literally five-ten runs every game and five-ten runs within a T20 concept and batting line-up, include your runs maybe 20s and 30s here and there means overall he’s just been such an important part of the side.”Fakhar was originally just a reserve member in Pakistan’s T20 World Cup squad, but was later promoted to the main squad at the expense of Khushdil Shah. Hayden reckoned Fakhar’s experience and left-handedness at No. 3 could help Pakistan counter Adam Zampa.The Australia legspinner is currently the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the competition, with 11 strikes in five matches at an average of 9.90 and economy rate of 5.73. Fakhar and Zampa, however, have never faced each other in T20 cricket before.”Don’t be surprised if you see something incredibly special from him tomorrow (Thursday) as well because he’s smashing the ball in the nets,” Hayden said of Fakhar. “And in particular, if you look at the potential match-up against Adam Zampa, who has been the leading wicket-taker [for Australia] in the ICC T20 World Cup…I think that is a fantastic target and opportunity for Fakhar to really dominate and position Pakistan in a strong, competitive state.”Already he’s contributed nicely, and yet to start like some of the others. That’s the great benefit of having an in-form batting line-up and bear in mind, unlike Test cricket, T20 cricket is also just about impact.”We’ve seen Asif [Ali] come in and smash 24 runs against New Zealand to win you a game. If you look at the overall stats, you go: ‘Well is he impressive in this tournament or not’? But that’s not T20 cricket. Making [an] impact is significant and Fakhar is certainly one of those that can do that tomorrow.”Australia’s decision to tour Pakistan a ‘wonderful announcement’ Hayden stressed that the T20 World Cup was a particularly significant tournament for Pakistan in the aftermath of multiple aborted tours. In September earlier this year, New Zealand pulled out of their limited-overs series over a security threat. England followed suit, citing player well-being and “increasing concerns about travelling to the region Hayden, however, welcomed Australia’s recent decision to visit the country for the first time in over 24 years.”Yes, it [T20 World Cup] is an extremely important tournament for Pakistan, as it is for every membership nation,” Hayden said. “We face Australia tomorrow, a country that is incredibly proud to set high standards in terms of delivery on trophy for its country in World Cups and this is one where that has never got into that trophy cabinet. So, a lot of high-stake matches ahead of us now.”From a Pakistan cricket point of view, I feel as a nation that loves cricket as much as what it does and focused so heavily on cricket, and also have tournaments, including ones I was a part of, cancelled for numerous reasons. It’s never more important… the awareness has heightened that out of this great nation, we’ve got a squad of players here that are ready to perform and ready to take on not only the semi-finals, but should we get beyond that to the finals… very important for Pakistan cricket.”A wonderful announcement as well in the last few days about Australia touring Pakistan in February, something that hasn’t been done for, I think, 28 [24] years now. I know that from an Australian cricket point of view, that is not only a significant moment for Australian cricket, but also for Pakistan cricket.”