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Manchester United have always had some of the best young talents in English football on their books. Of course, a lot of that has come from their academy, dating back to the Busby Babes and the Class of ‘92, and, more recently, the likes of Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo.

Yet, that does not mean United’s teen talents are always homegrown. Gerard Pique, for example, was a teenager when he first moved to Old Trafford.

However, the most famous examples of highly-rated teen stars at United who weren’t graduates of their esteemed academy are certainly Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

Rooney and Ronaldo’s stats as teenagers at United

Rooney and Ronaldo joined United a year apart, with the former signing after Euro 2004, and the latter joining one summer prior, in August 2003.

They instantly struck up a deadly partnership at Old Trafford.

Those early days, when the pair were still teenagers, were extraordinary. Despite their age and relative lack of experience, both youngsters took to playing for United like a duck to water.

Despite linking up for 27 goals in the 205 they played together, it might come as a surprise to learn that they only combined once when they were both teenagers, as per Transfermarkt.

That particular strike was Rooney’s iconic effort against Liverpool, teed up by Ronaldo, which saw United win the game.

Individually, they racked up strong numbers for United before turning 20. The Red Devils’ all-time leading goalscorer found the back of the net 21 times as a teenager for the club.

As for Ronaldo, the Portuguese legend fired home 11 goals for United before his 20th birthday.

There is certainly a strong case to be made that United have not had a teen talent as exciting as either Rooney or Ronaldo since the pair turned 20.

However, one of their current players could certainly fit the bill.

The United teen as exciting as Rooney and Ronaldo

The former United duo showed in the early 2000s exactly what it takes to shine for United as a teenager. The bravery and intensity with which you must play, and the pressure you must cope with, can make things tough.

Well, one member of the current United squad who seems to manage those demands well is 19-year-old Frenchman Leny Yoro. The centre-back has shone during his time at the club so far, with Statman Dave going as far as calling him a “generational” player.

After recovering from an ankle injury he picked up last preseason, the former Lille youngster has cemented his place in Ruben Amorim’s starting lineup at Old Trafford.

He’s now played 40 games for the club, with his first goal coming last season in the Europa League against Lyon.

The assured defender has tended to operate on the right-hand side of Amorim’s back three. Analyst H, who works for The Overlap, said he is a perfect fit to play that role due to how “athletic” he is, praising his defensive work in the channels.

But, it is not just the 19-year-old’s off-the-ball work that makes him such an exciting talent. His progressive numbers are a huge standout, particularly when carrying the ball.

Over the last year, he ranks in the top 6% of centre-backs in Europe’s big five leagues for progressive carries, averaging 1.74 actions per 90 minutes.

Pass accuracy

91.3%

86th

Progressive passes

3.67

58th

Progressive carries

1.74

94th

Tackles

1.91

80th

Interceptions

1.32

75th

There is no doubting that Yoro is an exciting talent. At just 19 years of age, he’s cemented himself as a key player in United’s starting lineup, showcasing excellent progressive attributes and intelligent and athletic defending.

It is certainly exciting when a club strikes gold on a talented teenager from outside of the academy.

The last two players to really fit into the bracket are surely Rooney and Ronaldo, but in Yoro, it feels as though they have someone else who can be put into that conversation.

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1 ByEthan Lamb Oct 8, 2025

Other Premier League sides did more business, but Chelsea still had a busy end to the summer transfer window.

The club finally got their hands on Alejandro Garnacho, opted against signing Fermin Lopez, and made a surprise move to bring in Facundo Buonanotte on a season-long loan – without an option or obligation to buy.

Additionally, the Blues decided to cancel Marc Guiu’s loan to Sunderland following the recent injury to Liam Delap.

However, that’s a decision they might not have needed to make, as they’ve already got an incredibly talented youngster who could’ve filled in.

Chelsea's striker situation

There is plenty of optimism around Chelsea and what they could achieve this season, and rightly so, but things are currently far from ideal in the striker department.

In the win over Fulham on Saturday, Liam Delap started up top, and while he looked lively in the opening exchanges, he had to come off in just the 14th minute with a hamstring injury, which will keep him out of the action for eight to ten weeks.

The sudden setback for the Englishman caused the club to momentarily stop Nicolas Jackson’s loan move to Bayern Munich, only for the Senegalese striker to make it quite clear he wanted to go.

Now, Maresca does still have a fit Joao Pedro to call on, but until Cole Palmer is fit enough to come back into the side, the Brazilian is likely to continue as the team’s ten or second striker.

So, with there being minimal options on the market, the West Londoners decided that the best route to take was to cancel Guiu’s loan to Sunderland.

After all, the young Spaniard did score six goals in 16 appearances for the side last season, and had already bagged one in three games for the Black Cats.

However, while that might serve Maresca in the short term, it could limit the 19-year-old’s long-term development, and it might not have even been necessary, as there is a youngster in the academy who deserves a chance to fill in.

The Chelsea youngster who should be in the squad

Few, if any, top academies can match Cobham for the sheer number of quality players it produces, and it looks like the next success of the production line could be Shumaira Mheuka.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

It’s almost certain that fans outside of Chelsea have little to no idea who the 17-year-old gem is, but fans of the club would have seen him make several first-team appearances last season.

Maresca trusted the Birmingham-born gem to come off the bench four times in the Conference League and even once in the Premier League, at home to Southampton.

He might not have got onto the scoresheet in any of those cameos, but do not get it twisted, the youngster looks to be a lean, mean goalscoring machine.

For example, in 53 appearances for the West Londoners’ youth sides, the young ace, whom one analyst has dubbed one of the “brightest young strikers in England,” has scored 26 goals and provided six assists.

That comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.65 games, which is a more than encouraging rate of return.

It’s also better than Guiu managed in his youth team days, as in 25 games for Barcelona’s junior sides, he scored eight goals and provided four assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.08 games.

Appearances

53

25

Goals

26

8

Assists

6

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.60

0.56

Now, it would be absurd to expect the youngster to come into the side and make loads of appearances, but he could certainly fulfil the role as a backup and someone who plays in the less important games.

After all, how is he going to take the next step unless he is exposed to more senior football, and with respected talent scout Jacek Kulig dubbing him “the future of Chelsea and English football,” Maresca might want to get him in the squad as soon as possible, in case another team comes along and offers him just that.

Ultimately, while it would have been something of a risk, the Blues should have let Guiu remain out on loan for his own development, and used Mheuka as the backup option – he deserves a shot.

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ByDominic Lund Sep 2, 2025

A worrying update has dropped regarding the future of a “fantastic” Liverpool player, with a huge club confident that they will sign him next year.

Liverpool linked with potential Salah successors

Mohamed Salah continues to be one of the best players in the Premier League, despite the fact that his form has been well short of its best so far this season.

At 33 years of age, however, Liverpool do need to be aware that the Egyptian legend isn’t getting any younger, and that an elite replacement will eventually need to be found, in order to make the transition as seamless as possible when it happens.

Lyon winger Malick Fofana has been linked with a move to Anfield, being touted as a Salah successor, with the Belgian a hugely talented young player who can excel on either flank. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich star Michael Olise is also reportedly considered a leading option to come in and be Liverpool’s next star winger, with the Frenchman already scoring three goals in two Bundesliga appearances this season.

Away from the Salah situation, there is a Reds player whose future needs to be resolved as soon as possible, with a new update dropping.

Club think they will sign Liverpool regular

Speaking in a Q&A for The Athletic, journalist Mario Cortegana claimed that Real Madrid feel Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate wants to move to the Bernabeu.

This comes just days after it was reported that Konate is in “very advanced” talks over a move to Madrid, with the rumours refusing to go away.

He doesn’t appear to be any closer to extending his stay, with the European giants considering him a key target alongside Arsenal’s William Saliba.

At this point, it does certainly feel more than possible that Konate could join Madrid next year, with his current Liverpool deal expiring in 2026 and no sign of an extension being agreed currently.

The £70,000-a-week Frenchman is an important player who the Reds should be looking to tie down, though, with Virgil van Dijk one admirer, heaping praise on him early last season.

“I think we need everyone to be at their best. He is a fantastic player who still can be better. As you saw, he is important with the goal, he is defensively solid, a bit unlucky with the goal we conceded, but obviously the qualities he has are outstanding in my opinion.”

Konate has received criticism for some poor form this season, but that shouldn’t cloud the fact that he is Liverpool’s second-most important defender and he has been a regular under Slot.

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BySean Markus Clifford Sep 10, 2025

While losing him to Madrid wouldn’t necessarily feel like the end of the world, some supporters may only fully appreciate the job he does when he leaves, and how hard it may be to replace him.

Paceman Nathan McAndrew took a remarkable 7 for 11 to lead South Australia to a crushing six-wicket Sheffield Shield win over defending champions Western Australia at the WACA Ground.A whopping 20 wickets fell on the opening day on Saturday, with WA skittled for 120 before SA were dismissed for 124. There was even more carnage on Sunday, with Western Australia slumping to 13 for 5 before being rolled for 66 within the space of a session.Related

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It left South Australia with a meagre victory target of 63, and the visitors eased to the total before tea on day two, with Jason Sangha and opener Conor McInerney leading the way.WA entered the round in fourth spot, and the heavy loss has put a huge dent in their hopes of snaring a fourth consecutive Sheffield Shield crown.Ladder leaders South Australia, with four wins, two draws and a loss from seven matches, are in the box seat to host the Shield final.SA’s first-innings lead of just four runs didn’t seem like much at the time, but WA lost three second-innings wickets before they were able to erase the deficit.WA were 0 for 2 and 0 for 3 as Sam Fanning, Teague Wyllie and Jayden Goodwin all fell in the blink of an eye. Hilton Cartwright was the next to fall when McAndrew pulled off a brilliant, one-handed catch while falling to the ground off his own bowling.And McAndrew had the remarkable figures of 4 for 2 from 3.2 overs when Joel Curtis edged him behind in the seventh over of the innings.WA were 13 for 5 at that point, and in danger of not passing the lowest ever Shield total – the 27 South Australia posted against NSW in Sydney in 1955.Ashton Turner and Keaton Critchell combined for a 39-run stand to at least steer WA away from setting any all-time lows. But it was only a momentary reprieve, with McAndrew and Jordan Buckingham racing through the middle order and tail to ensure WA didn’t even last the session.”Macca’s been one of the best in the country for the last couple of years, and he prides himself on winning us games in positions like that,” SA captain Ben Manenti said. “He’s done it again for us.”WA’s poor Shield display continued a worrying trend this summer. In October, they suffered a collapse of 8 for 1 in a One Day Cup loss to Tasmania that all but ended their hopes of defending their crown in that format.”You go back to lunchtime on day one, at 2 for 72 we thought we’d done a good job to get through that initial period,” WA coach Adam Voges said. “But under the pressure of a South Australian attack, we didn’t have answers. That’s really frustrating from a batting sense. We’re a young batting group, we’re going to have good and bad days. But really disappointing.”

Tottenham Hotspur fell by the wayside last season, but they picked themselves back up when on the road in Europe and managed to win the Europa League.

It was quite a feat, with Ange Postecoglou securing himself some poetic justice after promising silverware right at the start of the season, unaware of the landslide in form that was forthcoming in the Premier League.

Though Tottenham finished 17th in the top flight, they struggled against an incredible amount of injuries that knocked Postecoglou’s vision so far away from course, and that ultimately led to his dismissal as a trophy-winning hero.

With Thomas Frank now at the helm, Spurs are ready to springboard toward new heights, using last season as a foundation for a sustained period of success.

However, despite adding Mohammed Kudus to the wings, joining from West Ham United for £55m, and reinforcing the midfield with the initial loan signing of Bayern Munich’s Joao Palhinha, the Lilywhites want more.

Spurs' outstanding summer transfer plans

James Maddison’s knee injury will see him sidelined for the majority of the imminent campaign. It’s a cruel blow, and it has added emphasis on the need for a creative midfielder, with Dejan Kulusevski still recuperating from an injury too.

However, with Yves Bissouma and Rodrigo Bentancur both anticipated to be leaving the club this summer, it’s not out of the question that Frank adds a deeper-lying midfielder to his ranks, even after signing Palhinha.

Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton has been earmarked as a long-term option for the Tottenham midfield, but the Eagles man will be hard to sign.

However, there’s another Premier League talent who has entered technical director Johan Lange’s radar.

Spurs lining up another midfielder

According to Caught Offside, Tottenham have joined the long list of clubs interested in signing Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba this month.

The 21-year-old has emerged as one of the Premier League’s brightest talents, and the Seagulls have no intention to sell, having priced their midfielder at a jaw-dropping £104m.

Manchester United have already made their intentions known in the last week and have started direct contacts with the player’s camp as they look to pull off a sensational August signing.

However, Tottenham boast the allure of Champions League football, and could offer him a starring role, should their aforementioned midfielders be sold.

Why Spurs should sign Carlos Baleba

Tottenham need to add not just quantity but quality to their ranks this summer. Signings not for the sake of signing but for the graduation from one level to another, restoring a place among the big hitters on the Champions League stage and challenging for more silverware.

Baleba could be that player, having had a profound impact on Brighton’s football over the past two seasons, with analyst Ben Mattinson singling him out as a “one-of-a-kind” midfielder.

Though this is a physical beast of a player with a clear skill for protecting the backline and flying in with crunching challenges, he’s also a progressive and technically sharp midfielder, ranked among the top 12% of positional peers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for successful take-ons per 90, as per FBref.

He also knows his way around a thunderous strike, winning the Premier League Goal of the month for April 2025 after a powerful late winner against West Ham United.

His completeness in the middle of the park and underrated passing range, having completed 88% of his passes in the Premier League last season, could lead Baleba to prove an even better signing for Frank’s side than Wharton, whose deep-lying elegance for Crystal Palace has led journalist Henry Winter to declare him a “passing machine”.

As per Sofascore, Wharton also brought firm defensive roots to the table in the Premier League last year, averaging one interception and 1.7 tackles per game, but he also missed a large chunk of the season due to a groin injury, ultimately starting only 16 times in the top flight.

Given the defensive woes that Tottenham endured under Ange’s wing last season, it’s crucial that the midfield raises its level and eases the pressure on the defenders.

Premier League 24/25 – Most Goals Conceded
#	Club	Final Position	GC
1.	Southampton	20th	86
2.	Ipswich	19th	82
3.	Leicester	18th	80
4.	Wolves	16th	69
5.	Tottenham	17th	65
Data via StatMuse

The tough-tackling Palhinha will help in that regard, to be sure, but then Palhinha is 30 years old, almost a decade Baleba and Wharton’s senior.

Given that the marquee buy would cross the £100m threshold, it’s obvious that Frank and Levy would expect the player to cement themselves as one of the finest in the division across so many years. And given that Baleba has more of an all-encompassing profile about him, bringing it all together, it might just be that he’s the perfect player to replace the likes of Bissouma and Bentancur.

Content creator Ryan Adsett has hailed the Cameroon international as a “powerhouse”, who has also displayed a remarkable degree of intelligence, reading the game like a scholar and positioning himself just so.

His engine and strength would charge Frank’s system for an age, and if Spurs truly are in the running, they must get this one done.

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Maddinson, Zampa, Abbott all out of NSW side while Whiteman returns to captain WA with Turner and Hardie injured and Richardson rested

Alex Malcolm05-Dec-2024

Nic Maddinson has undergone surgery on an injured finger•Mark Evans/Getty Images

Nic Maddinson has undergone surgery on an injured finger and looks in doubt for the BBL while Adam Zampa has not been named in New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield squad to face Western Australia at the SCG following the controversy around his selection for the previous match.Meanwhile, Matt Short is unavailable for Victoria’s clash against Queensland at the MCG due to a family wedding, but Jake Fraser-McGurk is in line for a recall to South Australia’s Shield side after being named in the XII to face Tasmania in Hobart, having not been selected this season despite being available for three of the previous five games. But Spencer Johnson has been ruled out of playing back-to-back Shield games after suffering toe soreness having bowled 45 overs in the day-night game against WA last week, the most he has ever bowled in his professional career.Maddinson, Zampa and Sean Abbott, who is with Australia’s Test squad, will all miss the Blues’ final Shield game before the BBL break with Blake Nikitaras, Tanveer Sangha and Lachlan Shaw all named in the 12 that will be captained by Jack Edwards as Moises Henriques continues to rest before the BBL.Maddinson underwent surgery on Thursday and New South Wales released a statement saying his “return to play timeline will be assessed in due course”. He had signed with Sydney Thunder in the off-season but looks in doubt to play much of a part in the upcoming BBL which starts on December 15.Zampa was not named following the controversy surrounding his selection for the Blues’ previous Shield match against Tasmania. It is understood Zampa was only ever set to play one red-ball game before the BBL in a bid to build his case for the Sri Lanka Test tour.Western Australia welcome back skipper Sam Whiteman from a side strain that has kept him out of the last three Shield matches. Stand-in skipper Ashton Turner has been ruled out with a side strain of his own which could affect his start to the BBL season as Perth Scorchers captain. Aaron Hardie remains unavailable due to a quad issue that he has carried since Australia’s limited overs UK tour in September and is also pushing to be fit for the start of the BBL. Those two concerns for Perth Scorchers come on top of the injuries to Ashton Agar (shoulder) and Cooper Connolly (finger) who are also fighting to be fit for the start of the BBL.Lance Morris has been named for his second straight Shield game but Jhye Richardson has been rested after playing WA’s last match in Adelaide. Brody Couch returns after missing the game against South Australia having taken 13 wickets at 29 in the first four matches of the season, including a hat-trick.Left-arm wristspinner Hamish McKenzie has been added to WA’s 13-man squad and could play alongside Corey Rocchiccioli if WA opt for two spinners at the SCG.Matt Short will miss Victoria’s next match due to a wedding•Getty Images

Short’s absence is a curious one as professional cricketers rarely miss games to attend a wedding. It is a blow for Victoria after he made half-centuries in both innings of their win at the Gabba last week. With Peter Siddle is also unavailable, Victoria recalled Jono Merlo and Mitch Perry in their place. Skipper Will Sutherland remains unavailable as he continues to recover from a significant side strain.Queensland have included Gurinder Sandhu and Tom Straker in their 12-man squad. Sandhu is returning from a calf injury having not played at all this season until Wednesday’s One-Day Cup win over Tasmania in Hobart. Straker had been rested from last week’s loss to Victoria while Michael Neser remains on the sidelines due to his hamstring injury.Elsewhere, South Australia are poised to bring in Fraser-McGurk for his first Shield game of the summer against Tasmania in Hobart. Fraser-McGurk was not selected previously despite being available and instead played second-XI cricket for South Australia before his limited-overs duty with Australia. Jason Sangha is also in the mix to play his first Shield game for his new state since moving from NSW. Nathan McAndrew has also been named after missing the last clash with WA through injury and will replace Johnson. SA are currently investigating the extent of the issue with his toe.Tasmania have recalled Lawrence Neil-Smith for the clash in place of Beau Webster who has been called up to Australia’s Test squad.New South Wales squad: Jackson Bird, Ollie Davies, Jack Edwards (capt), Matt Gilkes, Chris Green, Ryan Hadley, Sam Konstas, Blake Nikitaras, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Lachlan ShawWestern Australia squad: Sam Whiteman (capt), Cameron Bancroft, Hilton Cartwright, Brody Couch, Keaton Critchell, Joel Curtis, Sam Fanning, Cameron Gannon, Jayden Goodwin, Hamish McKenzie, Lance Morris, Joel Paris, Corey RocchiccioliVictoria squad: Peter Handscomb (capt), Ash Chandrasinghe, Xavier Crone, Sam Elliott, Sam Harper, Marcus Harris, Campbell Kellaway, Jon Merlo, Cam McClure, Todd Murphy, Fergus O’Neill, Mitch Perry, Tom RogersQueensland squad: Mitchell Swepson (capt), Xavier Bartlett, Jack Clayton, Lachlan Hearne, Angus Lovell, Ben McDermott, Jimmy Peirson, Matthew Renshaw, Gurinder Sandhu, Mark Steketee, Tom Straker, Bryce Street, Jack WildermuthTasmania squad: Gabe Bell, Jake Doran, Kieran Elliott, Brad Hope, Matt Kuhnemann, Riley Meredith, Lawrence Neil-Smith, Mitch Owen, Nivethan Radhakrishnan, Jordan Silk (capt), Tim Ward, Jake WeatheraldSouth Australia squad: Ben Manenti (capt), Wes Agar, Harry Conway, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Henry Hunt, Jake Lehmann, Nathan McAndrew, Conor McInerney, Harry Nielsen, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott, Henry Thornton

Will West Ham United be busy in the remaining weeks of the transfer window?

Their supporters and Graham Potter alike will certainly hope so.

So far, the Hammers have brought in both Callum Wilson and Kyle Walker-Peters on free transfers, also spending a reported £19m to sign El Hadji Malick Diouf from Slavia Prague.

Nevertheless, a lot more needs to be done if the Irons are going to improve on last season’s 14th place finish, so could they be about to make a splash in the market?

West Ham's need for firepower

The most noteworthy transfer from West Ham’s summer so far, sadly for them, is an outgoing, with Mohammed Kudus controversially sold to fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur for a reported fee of £55m.

Kudus scored 19 goals and registered 13 assists during 80 appearances for the Irons, winning the Europa League goal of the season award for this stunning sole effort against Freiburg in 2023/24, so the Ghanaian leaves a rather large void at the London Stadium.

As they seek to replace him, Daniel Feliciano and Dean Jones of Give Me Sport report that Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey remains West Ham’s ‘top target’, willing to spend £30m to secure the signature of a 24-year-old they label a ‘dynamic midfield player’.

Well, Mark Brus of Caught Offside claims that Ramsey is valued at closer to £43m by the Villans, with Nottingham Forest and Tottenham also interested, the latter in the race after it was confirmed on Thursday that James Maddison had suffered a long-term anterior cruciate ligament rupture during a pre-season friendly in Seoul.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

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Speaking on the Guardian Football Weekly podcast, Dan Bardell notes that Aston Villa will almost certainly need to sell a “big player” to comply with the Premier League’s Profitability & Sustainability rules this summer, thereby suggesting Ramsey could be sacrificed, so could he swap Villa Park for East London?

What Jacob Ramsey would bring to West Ham

Ramsey joined Aston Villa at the age of six, making his senior debut for the club against Midlands rivals West Bromwich Albion in the EFL Championship in February 2019; Villa have come along way since then!

Overall, he’s accumulated 17 goals and 19 assists for the club in 167 appearances, bagging six Premier League goals during both the 2021/22 and 2022/23 campaigns, his progress blighted by various injuries more recently.

Nevertheless, David Astill of Total Football Analysis praises his versatility and ability to create from numerous positions on the pitch, while Joseph Odell of Breaking the Lines is impressed by his ‘brilliant footballing intelligence’ as well as his ball-carrying ability and capacity to ’cause chaos’.

So, let’s compare him to the player he could be replacing at West Ham, Kudus.

Jacob Ramsey vs Mohammed Kudus 2024/25 comparison

Statistics

Ramsey

Kudus

Appearances

45

35

Minutes

2,274

2,721

Goals

4

5

Assists

7

4

All statistics below are on a per-90 basis:

Shots

1.1

1.6

Chances created

1.7

1.1

Big chances created

0.37

0.14

Attempted passes

33.5

26.7

Forward passes

7.2

3.2

Take-on success %

70.4%

48.4%

Touches

48

52.2

Average SofaScore rating

6.93

6.82

Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt, Squawka and SofaScore

As the table outlines, despite playing around 500 fewer minutes across all competitions, Ramsey’s statistics were, pretty much, more impressive than those of Kudus across the board last season.

The Englishman provided more assists and created exponentially more chances and big chances, as well as completing a significantly higher proportion of his take-ons.

What is also made clear is the fact that the duo are, stylistically, quite different, with Kudus liking to operate high and wide, while Ramsey is more of a box-crashing central player.

One player he is similar to is a certain Jude Bellingham, who was born just 18 miles west across the Midlands. That likeness has been noted by journalist Ryan Taylor, who said Ramsey is of “similar ilk” to his Real Madrid-based compatriot. With that in mind, let’s compare this pair.

Jude Bellingham vs Jacob Ramsey: FBref Scouting Report

Statistics (vs attacking mids & wingers)

Bellingham’s percentile

Ramsey’s percentile

Goals

54th

7th

Assists

79th

65th

Progressive carries

23rd

54th

Progressive passes

94th

52nd

Goals-per-shot

70th

23rd

xG per shot

97th

70th

Pass completion %

99th

98th

Tackles

94th

68th

Interceptions

97th

67th

Take-on success %

98th

99th

Ball recoveries

45th

73rd

All statistics courtesy of FBref.com

As the table underlines, while Bellingham’s percentiles are, for the most part, higher than Ramsey’s, they’re both all-action midfielders who contribute all over the pitch.

Ramsey ranks higher for progressive carries, percentage of successful take-ons and ball recoveries, simply needing to increase his attacking output to be on-par with one of the world’s very best midfielders.

With that in mind, he would represent a massive coup for West Ham, if they’re able to convince him to join.

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Posts ByBen Gray Aug 5, 2025

The right word to describe the last couple of weeks for Arsenal would be hectic.

In a fairly unusual fashion, the Gunners have been extraordinarily busy in the transfer window.

Midfield monster Martin Zubimendi was finally announced following his £60m move from Real Sociedad, while Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard have also made their way to the Emirates to bolster the squad.

However, not every rumour has gone down well, with Noni Madueke’s potential move causing backlash online.

Yet, in more good news, the club has once again been linked with a Premier League star who would represent a far better signing, someone other than Eberechi Eze.

Arsenal in the hunt for more Premier League talent

While there were links to Madueke last month, they have intensified this week.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

In fact, Arsenal have reportedly agreed a fee of £50m with Chelsea for the transfer of Madueke, with the winger “set to complete a move” in the words of Fabrizio Romano.

While the Englishman is a talented player, it’s easy to understand why fans would be resistant to welcoming in yet another Chelsea star.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though, as on top of reports claiming the Gunners have already made a bid for Eze, it now looks like another Premier League star wants to join Mikel Arteta’s project.

At least that is according to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, who has revealed that Ollie Watkins is keen on a move to the Emirates.

Bailey has revealed that the Aston Villa star is still on the North Londoners’ shortlist as a potential backup should they fail to sign Viktor Gyokeres.

However, while the Premier League runners-up like the player, they would be unwilling to pay more than £50m for him.

It might not be a transfer Arsenal are desperate to complete, but perhaps they should allocate the funds going towards Madueke to Watkins, as, like Eze, he’d be a way better signing than the Chelsea ace.

Why Watkins would be a way better signing than Madueke

Okay, let’s start with the most straightforward and hard-to-deny reason that Watkins would be the far better signing than Madueke: his output.

Since the start of the 23/24 season, the free-scoring “nightmare,” as dubbed by Conor Coady, has found the back of the net a staggering 44 times and provided 29 assists in 107 appearances in all competitions, totalling 7901 minutes.

That means the Torquay-born monster has averaged a goal involvement every 1.46 games, or one every 108.23 minutes, which really has to be considered world-class.

Watkins vs Madueke since 23/24
23/24	Madueke	Watkins
Appearances	34	53
Minutes	1593′	4323′
Goals	8	27
Assists	4	15
Goal Involvements per Match	0.35	0.79
Minutes per Goal Involvement	132.75′	102.92′
24/25	Madueke	Watkins
Appearances	46	54
Minutes	2647′	3578′
Goals	11	17
Assists	5	14
Goal Involvements per Match	0.34	0.57
Minutes per Goal Involvement	165.43′	115.41′
All Stats via Transfermarkt

In stark contrast, the former PSV Eindhoven gem has scored 19 goals and provided nine assists in 80 appearances, totalling 4240 minutes.

In other words, the 23-year-old has maintained a far less impressive average of a goal involvement every 2.85 games, or every 151.71 minutes across the last two years.

The second reason the “phenomenal” goalscorer, as dubbed by Statman Dave, would be the better signing is that he’d probably get more game time anyway.

After all, the 29-year-old can play up top or off the left, whereas the Pensioners’ dynamo is primarily a right-winger, and that is already an area of the team locked down by Bukayo Saka, and even Ethan Nwaneri to an extent.

Ultimately, Madueke is not a bad player, but if Arsenal plan to spend £50m on him this summer, it makes far more sense to use that money on Watkins, as he is simply the far better attacker.

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Jul 9, 2025

Shreyanka has fractured the fourth finger on her left hand

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jul-2024Shreyanka Patil has been ruled out of the women’s Asia Cup after picking up an injury to her left hand. A press release from the Asian Cricket Council on Saturday said the 21-year old India offspinner “sustained a fracture to the fourth finger of her left hand.”Shreyanka took a full part in the team’s only game of the tournament so far, against Pakistan on Friday, bowling 3.2 overs and picking up 2 for 14. She was not needed to bat with India wrapping up the win in 14.2 overs and with seven wickets to spare. Tanuja Kanwar, the uncapped 26-year-old left-arm spinner who plays for Gujarat Giants in the WPL and Railways in domestic cricket, has been called up as replacement.Shreyanka made her debut for India in December 2023 on the back of impressive performances in the WPL. This year, she went on to become champion with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a season where she took 13 wickets – the most by any bowler – at an average of 12.07 and an economy rate of 7.30. Shreyanka has played 12 T20Is for India and has gone wicketless in only two of those games. She’s also represented her country in three ODIs.Kanwar, born in Himachal Pradesh, also made a big splash in the WPL. She was bought by the Giants in 2023 for INR 50 lakh. A week before that auction she had starred with 3 for 26 for Railways in the One Day Trophy final to finish the tournament with 18 wickets while averaging 11.16 and conceding just 2.43 runs an over. Kanwar finished the 2024 WPL season with 10 wickets from eight matches at an average of 20.70 and an economy rate of 7.13. She is known for a variation where she bowls her left-arm spin from well behind the popping crease.India’s next match at the women’s Asia Cup is on Sunday against the UAE in Dambulla.

Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy is already working to back incoming new manager Thomas Frank, with the Dane closing in on a move to N17 as he replaces Ange Postecoglou.

Tottenham reach Thomas Frank agreement as transfer plans begin

Fabrizio Romano was first to give the ‘here we go’ on Frank’s switch to Spurs from Brentford, and now other reliable media sources are reporting that he’s about to become the Lilywhites’ fifth manager since 2019.

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Talks over backroom staff were apparently stalling preparations to announce Frank as Postecoglou’s immediate heir, specifically Justin Cochrane as the 51-year-old’s assistant, but the club now appear to have struck an accord.

With any doubt surrounding Frank’s move to N17 seemingly quashed, Tottenham can begin work on their summer recruitment drive sooner rather than later, which is vital considering their place in the Champions League.

Levy will not want to leave Frank in a similar position to that of Postecoglou last campaign, as the Australian had to deal with a plague of injuries throughout his squad on a consistent basis during the 2024/2025 season.

Tottenham’s best-performing regulars in the Premier League – 2024/2025

Average match rating

Son Heung-min

7.00

James Maddison

6.98

Pedro Porro

6.95

Dominic Solanke

6.84

Dejan Kulusevski

6.83

via WhoScored

Securing much-needed strength in depth will be imperative if they wish to compete in Europe’s most prestigious competition and significantly improve on their 17th-placed Premier League finish.

Some reports suggest Frank is already making some intriguing transfer decisions behind-the-scenes ahead of his arrival in north London.

According to TEAMtalk, Frank is keen to keep hold of Mathys Tel on a permanent deal, and he’s also recommended Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze to Levy as a potential signing (GiveMeSport).

Tottenham are targeting a new forward as one of their summer priorities (Michael Bridge), with keen interest also shown in Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

Daniel Levy meets with Antoine Semenyo's agents over Tottenham transfer

According to talkSPORT and reporter Alex Crook, their fondness of the Cherries forward stretches far beyond just an admiring glance.

It is believed Levy has personally met with Semenyo’s agents to hold Tottenham talks, but Spurs’ high-ranking chief was told a key transfer condition, namely that Tottenham would have to smash their transfer record to strike a deal for the Ghanaian.

The 25-year-old scored 13 goals and bagged a further seven assists in all competitions last term, with the price for his signature coming in at around £70 million.

There is little doubting Semenyo’s quality, though it remains to be seen just how much Levy is willing to part with to make his signing a reality.

“He’s a lovely footballer to watch”, said Sky pundit Jamie Redknapp on Premier League productions late last year.

“The manager’s taken him to another level. He obviously has that capability because you saw it with Solanke. I’m just seeing him elevate his game right now, we’ll talk about why does that happen, a lot of it is purely on confidence.

“He looks like he’s enjoying his football, his shoulders are back, he’s relaxed, every time he gets it, he plays with a bit of a swagger. He’s actually a joy to watch right now.”