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Manchester United have been known over recent years to invest heavily in youngsters who can make an immediate and long-term impact at Old Trafford.

Part of their £800m spending spree in the last four years has seen numerous big-money talents arrive at the club – with Leny Yoro making the move to join the Red Devils last summer.

Despite being just 18, the hierarchy forked out a reported £52m for the teenager’s signature, even fending off competition from Real Madrid for his services.

He’s since become a key component of Ruben Amorim’s first-team squad, already racking up 42 appearances in the last 12 months or so since his big-money transfer.

However, whilst he still has bags of time to reach world-class status, the Frenchman would do very well to hit the heights of one player during his own stint at the Theatre of Dreams.

Man Utd’s best ever young first-team addition

Back in the summer of 2004, eyebrows were raised across England after United paid a staggering £27m for the signature of teenage sensation Wayne Rooney from Everton.

Such a fee was a mammoth investment for an 18-year-old, but over two decades on, it’s clear the transfer is one of the Red Devils’ best in their 146-year history.

He would spend 13 successful years as a star player at Old Trafford, winning countless individual awards along with team success under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson.

The now 40-year-old won England’s Player of the Year award on five separate occasions, even winning the PFA Player of the Year award back in 2009/10 after scoring 34 times in all competitions.

Under the management of Sir Alex, he won five Premier League titles and a Champions League – subsequently making himself one of the most decorated English players of all time.

Individually, he was just as impressive, scoring 253 times for the Red Devils, a tally that ranks him top of the club’s all-time goalscorer charts – sitting ahead of Sir Bobby Charlton.

His talents were also there for all to see at international level, scoring 53 times, a record that saw him top the list for the Three Lions until Harry Kane came along.

Alongside his tangible contributions, Rooney made a name for himself as a warrior on the pitch, with one current player currently possessing a very similar playstyle.

The United player who is becoming the new Rooney

After scoring just 44 times across the 2024/25 campaign, Amorim made it abundantly clear to the United hierarchy that he wanted reinforcements within the final third.

Bryan Mbeumo was just one of the signings made during the off-season, arriving in a staggering £71m transfer from fellow top-flight outfit Brentford.

The Cameroonian international has already made a stellar start to life in Manchester, scoring five times and registering one assist in his first ten outings for the club.

His latest appearance against Brighton and Hove Albion was arguably his best to date, subsequently scoring twice and helping secure the manager’s third Premier League win in a row.

He was also joined at the Red Devils by Matheus Cunha, with the Brazilian also costing a pretty penny at £62.5m including add-ons from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Brazilian international has occupied the number ten role with Mbeumo at Old Trafford and has undoubtedly played a key role in the recent revival under Amorim.

Unlike the Cameroonian, he’s had to wait to make the desired impact, only registering his first goal for the Red Devils in this weekend’s convincing win over Brighton.

However, he’s still received key praise from former first-team member Patrice Evra, who claimed Cunha “has the same raw chaos as Rooney” – certainly high praise indeed.

His underlying stats at Old Trafford showcase the reasoning behind Evra’s comments, with the Brazilian currently creating 1.2 chances per 90 in the Premier League.

Matheus Cunha – PL stats (25/26)
Statistics (per 90)	Tally
Games played	8
Goals & assists	1
Chances created	1.2
Shots on target	1.6
Dribbles completed	1.9
Possession won in final third	0.7
Fouls won	2.4
Ball recoveries	4.3
Stats via FotMob

Other figures, such as 1.6 shots on target per 90 and 1.9 dribbles per 90, showcase his ability within the final third, which has already seen the forward become a fan-favourite.

However, his chaos without the ball is reflected in his tally of 0.7 ball regains per 90 in the final third – a tally which ranks him in the top 25% of all attackers in the division.

It’s certainly early days in his career at Old Trafford, but the signs are all positive for Cunha to become an influential figure in any success endured in the years ahead.

Should he continue on his current path, there’s no reason why he can’t have a similar impact to Rooney during his own period at the Theatre of Dreams.

Forget Cunha & Mbuemo: Man Utd star was the shining light against Brighton

Manchester United secured their third win in a row against Brighton & Hove Albion last night.

By
Ethan Lamb

Oct 26, 2025

MatériaMais Notícias

Apesar de ter goleado do Santos ter goleado o Guarani por 4 a 1, na Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro, um lance gerou muita polêmica na partida. Na ocasião, o gol anulado de Gil, quando o placar ainda estava 2 a 0.

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasSantosLance! Final: Santos goleia o Guarani e se mantém na liderança da Série BSantos06/05/2024Onde AssistirSantos x Guarani: onde assistir ao vivo, escalações e horário do jogo pela Série BOnde Assistir06/05/2024SantosEscalação do Santos: reforços são dúvidas, e Carille deve manter time contra o GuaraniSantos06/05/2024

➡️ Tudo sobre o Peixe agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Santos

Na opinião do filho do presidente do Santos, Marcelo Teixeira Filho, o dirigente desceu a arquibancada para perto do gramado e protestou contra a arbitragem. Confira no player acima.

O cara do Guarani tocou a bola. Você está cego? Que vergonha, cara. Que vergonha. Vergonha. É uma vergonha isso

---

criticou o dirgente do Santos

O gol de Gil não fez falta ao Santos, que garantiu a vitória com tranquilidade na Vila Belmiro. Com o resultado, o Peixe se manteve na liderança na Série B do Campeonato Brasileiro.

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SantosSérie B

While England, Australia and South Africa have already qualified for the knockouts, India, NZ, SL and Pakistan are fighting to join them there

Sampath Bandarupalli20-Oct-2025India – Matches 5, Wins 2, Points 4, NRR 0.526If India beat New Zealand on Thursday, they will make the semi-finals. If they lose to New Zealand, India have to hope New Zealand lose to England before they beat Bangladesh on Sunday.A washout against New Zealand can also be a good result for India, even if they lose to Bangladesh (and New Zealand lose to England), unless one of Sri Lanka and Pakistan don’t end up with six points.If both of India’s games in Navi Mumbai get washed out, they will qualify for the semi-finals, but only if England beat New Zealand (or if that game also gets washed out). If one of Sri Lanka and Pakistan are tied on six points with India in the aforementioned scenario, India will progress with a better net run-rate.New Zealand – Matches 5, Wins 1, Points 4, NRR -0.245New Zealand’s next match against India will be an all-or-nothing game for them, and a loss will end their World Cup campaign. If New Zealand win their next two games, they will make the semi-finals.If New Zealand beat India but lose to England, they will have to hope Bangladesh beat India. Sri Lanka can also finish with six points if they beat Pakistan, while Pakistan can finish on six if they beat South Africa and Sri Lanka. But New Zealand have a better net run-rate right now.New Zealand will make the semi-finals irrespective of other results if they beat India and their match against England gets washed out. A washout against India will be good for New Zealand only if they defeat England, and India don’t bag two points against Bangladesh. New Zealand can progress to the semi-finals if both their remaining games are washed out, but only if none of India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan get to six points.Chamari Athapaththu’s Sri Lanka are alive in the World Cup but only just•AFP/Getty ImagesSri Lanka – Matches 6, Wins 1, Points 4, NRR -1.035To reach the semi-finals, Sri Lanka have to beat Pakistan and hope India lose both their remaining games. They will also need England to beat New Zealand on the last day of the league stage.Sri Lanka will be tied on six points with New Zealand in the above scenario, but will be behind on net run-rate if they don’t win big against Pakistan.Pakistan – Matches 5, Wins 0, Points 2, NRR -1.887Despite having no wins so far, Pakistan are still in the race for the semi-finals. They will have to win their last two games, against South Africa and Sri Lanka, by margins that will take their net run-rate ahead of New Zealand’s, and hope India lose both their remaining games. Pakistan will also need England to beat New Zealand.

After beating Barcelona and drawing with Arsenal, Chelsea’s good week of results came grinding to a halt away to Leeds United.

Enzo Maresca’s side were defeated 3-1 at Elland Road, with two strikes in the first half and a late goal enough to sink them.

They did, of course, get on the scoresheet themselves. Pedro Neto was the man who found the back of the net, converting a Jamie Gittens cross at the back post just after half-time.

However, it proved to be too little, with Chelsea putting in a lacklustre performance overall.

It was a night to forget for the West Londoners, and in particular, Tosin Adarabioyo.

Tosin’s struggles vs. Leeds

At 2-1 down with 15 minutes or so to go, Chelsea were still in the game. However, it was an error from Tosin which gifted the home side the chance to score their third and seal an impressive victory.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin was the man who tapped home from two yards out. It came after Tosin played a risky backpass to Robert Sanchez, putting the Spaniard under immediate pressure in his six-yard box.

Leeds pounced, won the ball back, and it was a simple tap-in for their number nine.

The former Manchester City academy player has been a bit-part player under Maresca this term. Tosin has only played 13 games across all competitions, amassing 872 minutes. That is the equivalent of just nine full 90-minute games.

It will be interesting to see what his role is going forward after an error like that. Former Blues midfielder John Obi Mikel said in the summer that Tosin is “not a Chelsea standard defender.”

Well, after an error like that, it is easy to see why Mikel is of that opinion.

There is a defender waiting in the wings who Maresca could unleash to effectively end Tosin’s time at Stamford Bridge.

The Chelsea star ready to overtake Tosin

Chelsea’s depth at centre-back took a hit in August when Levi Colwill suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The full extent of Maresca’s squad at centre-back has been tested this season, including Tosin.

One man who has impressed and could leapfrog the 28-year-old in the pecking order is academy graduate Josh Acheampong. At 19 years of age, he has been described as the “future of Chelsea” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig.

Acheampong has certainly had his minutes managed by the Italian. He’s played nine times, but has impressed on each of those occasions, playing more than an hour four times in the Premier League.

He even got his first senior goal away to Nottingham Forest in the 3-0 win at the City Ground in October.

One of the standout attributes in Acheampong’s game is his ability on the ball. Kulig noted that he has “excellent technical capacity and range of passing,” which would serve him well in a Chelsea side that likes to dominate the ball.

In the Premier League this season, they average 58.7% possession, the third highest in the top flight.

In The Pipeline

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

Indeed, his underlying numbers reinforce the fact that Acheampong is such a good ball-playing defender.

The England under-21 star ranks in the top 9% of centre-backs in Europe for average passes completed per game, with 67.34.

Acheampong vs European centre-backs
Stat (per 90)	Record	Percentile
Passes completed	67.34	91st
Pass accuracy	90.8%	80th
Carries	61.91	99th
Tackles won	1.09	76th
Interceptions	1.24	71st
Stats from FBref

Chelsea’s whole club philosophy at the moment is about investing in youth and looking towards the future.

Being a Cobham graduate, Acheampong certainly puts a big tick in that box and has already shown his quality at first-team level.

Tosin’s bad form could well be enough for Maresca to ditch him from the starting lineup. With injuries being an issue and such a need to rotate the squad, it might provide Acheampong with the perfect opportunity to stake his claim and lock down a permanent starting spot.

As bad as Tosin: Maresca's 4/10 flop must never start for Chelsea again

Chelsea’s title hopes seemingly went up in smoke away at Leeds United.

By
Robbie Walls

Dec 4, 2025

The story of Anderson’s defiance and despair or Laxman and Harbhajan’s Chennai thriller? We identify The Greatest Test of the 21st century

Ashish Pant10-May-2025Update: This poll has ended. The IND-AUS 2001 Chennai Test moves to the round of 16.The defiance and the despair – Leeds, 2014A dejected James Anderson on his haunches with the Sri Lanka players all around him delirious became the parting image of the Test and the two-match series. The scorecard of the Leeds Test will say Sri Lanka won by 100 runs, but it was hardly as straightforward. England came into the final day on 57 for 5 with the 350-target a fair distance away. Sri Lanka had the Test and series in sight, but the last five England batters clung on… for all but two balls of the day.It began with Joe Root and Moeen Ali putting up a defiant 67-run stand off 186 balls for the sixth wicket. The rain also made its presence felt to add to the drama before Root fell to bring Sri Lanka respite. Moeen, however, continued to keep Sri Lanka at bay with crucial partnerships, first with Matt Prior and then Chris Jordan.But, when Stuart Broad’s 24-ball naught ended with Herath trapping him in front, the end seemed nigh. That’s when Anderson stepped up. A blockathon followed and along with Mooen, he frustrated the Sri Lanka bowlers, adding 21 off 121 deliveries for the final wicket. Just when it seemed England had done enough for a draw, with two balls left in the day, Shaminda Eranga produced a vicious short-of-a-length ball that Anderson could only fend to backward square leg. Sri Lanka took the Test and series and England were only left with the what-ifs.Singh is King – Chennai, 2001It was fitting that a series which had kept the players and spectators on the edge of their seats throughout ended with a last-day thriller. After Matthew Hayden’s epic 203 had taken Australia to 391, India responded by racking up 501, with the top-order stepping up.Like he had in the first innings and the series on the whole, Harbhajan Singh ripped through the Australia middle order in the second innings. The visitors ended day four on 241 for 7, and a lead of 131. On the fifth morning, Harbhajan wasted little time and picked up the last three Australia wickets, bundling them out for 264. He returned second-innings figures of 8 for 84 and match figures of 15 for 127, finishing with 32 wickets for the series. His job was far from done.Chasing 155 on a fifth-day Chennai surface was never going to be easy. India lost opener Shiv Sunder Das early, but Sadagoppan Ramesh and VVS Laxman added a 58-run stand to give the hosts the advantage. But a middle-order collapse brought Australia right back. India, 101 for 2 at one stage, lost five wickets for 34 runs, which included Laxman falling for a defiant 66.But wicketkeeper-batter Sameer Dighe, on Test debut, held his cool as he took India closer. India lost Zaheer Khan just four runs shy of a win, but Harbhajan sliced a Glenn McGrath delivery past point to give India a famous Test and series win.

Crystal Palace midfield star Adam Wharton dismissively downplayed Manchester United transfer links as the Eagles prepare to offer a new contract to the England international. United have been closely linked with a move for Wharton, alongside five other midfield options from across Europe, as Ruben Amorim is looking to further bolster his squad in the January transfer window.

• Amorim wants to strengthen his midfield

  United spent heavily in the summer transfer window to rebuild their squad after a disastrous 2024-25 campaign, which saw the Red Devils go trophyless and finish 15th in the Premier League. They brought in big names like Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, but the summer squad overhaul was primarily aimed at bolstering the team's attack. 

  Amorim wanted to sign Brighton midfield sensation Carlos Baleba towards the end of the window, but a move eventually did not materialise. Since then, multiple reports have linked United with a move for Palace's Wharton, with Amorim reportedly an admirer of the Englishman. The Portuguese coach is now determined to strengthen his midfield in the January transfer window and has prepared a six-man midfield shortlist, which includes Wharton's name. 

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  Wharton downplays Man Utd transfer links

  Despite being strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford, Wharton has now dismissively downplayed his transfer links to the Premier League giants as he recently told The Athletic: "I don't really look into it or think too much about it. There are always rumours floating about on social media. Is it true? Is it not? You tell me. My friends, my family, my brothers, everyone will message me and be like, 'Is it true this club's interested?' I'm like, 'Thanks for telling me because I didn't know.' I don't know who's spreading it or who at United is looking at it. 

  "I see it and I'm like, 'OK', and then I carry on with my day. United, the big teams, they're all linked to 10, 20 different players. If I'm one of 20, then it's nothing special, so it doesn't really mean too much. I speak with my agent about planning ahead and possibilities. But at the end of the day, it is who's interested and who's willing to try and get you and if that becomes the case? You can speak about it, but you've got to represent that on the pitch and prove that you deserve it."

• Palace preparing new deal for Wharton

  Amid Wharton being linked with a move away from the club, the officials at Selhurst Park are reportedly planning a new contract offer for their star performer, according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, who told : "They want to extend this contract. So Palace are on it. They've spoken already to his representative several times about this intention they have to give him a new contract. At the same time, let's see what's going to happen there, because the boy has been super professional already last summer, when he already had some kind of opportunity if he wanted to go. But for Palace, he was untouchable. 

  "Also, in recent months, we had many rumours, and the boy, again, is behaving in a fantastic way. So Palace are super happy with Adam, and Adam is quite happy with Palace. He understands that he's probably at the best club to develop at this moment for him. But then in the summer, you never know, in case there is a big opportunity, a big financial proposal, we have to see what happens. So at the moment, there is this intention from Palace to give him a new contract, but we are not yet at the stage where we say, okay, it's guaranteed, because it's still early stages of the conversation."

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  Wharton's team-mate's comments fuelled Madrid rumours

  Real Madrid's interest in Wharton emerged during the summer transfer window, having not directly replaced either Toni Kroos, who retired in 2024, or Luka Modric at the centre of the pitch. While Los Blancos did not make a formal approach for the England international, Wharton's Palace team-mate Yeremy Pino's recent comments further fuelled the rumours of his move to the Spanish capital. Speaking to The Athletic, the Spaniard said: "Adam can do everything. Defensively, he is a fighter. He goes in very strong, wins a lot of balls. Technically, you just have to watch him and enjoy him. He has the quality to play in the Spain national team, no doubt."

There are a few contenders for the other opener’s spot going into the Ashes

Greg Chappell13-Oct-2025In the grand theatre of Ashes cricket, as ever, a good start still tells the oldest story: lay the foundations and the fortress will stand.Cricket’s oldest and most storied rivalry remains a cauldron of pressure, expectation and tactical nuance, evolving since 1877 into a cultural event steeped in national pride and sporting legacy. While the public spotlight often tends to be on dominant bowlers, middle-order centuries, or dramatic collapses, an enduring truth confirmed by historical data is that victory in Ashes Test matches is often founded on a strong start – particularly resilient and productive opening batting partnerships. Over the past 35 years, data for Australian and English Test sides indicates that a solid foundation at the top of the order is not just advantageous but decisive.In a series where the margin for error is often razor-thin, a strong opening partnership transcends mere statistics; it sets the psychological tone. Such a partnership absorbs the pressure of the new ball, effectively drains the early aggression from opposition bowlers, and provides a crucial platform for the middle order, whether for stability or acceleration. In the Ashes, given the heightened intensity, this pattern is magnified more than in many other bilateral contests. Multiple analyses and match data over recent decades affirm the correlation between robust opening stands and positive match outcomes.Related

• 'I hide' – Renshaw blocks out Ashes speculation

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• Australia's Ashes 'bat-off' begins: Who could open against England?

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• Marsh's irresistible form raises provocative Ashes question

Australia’s sustained Ashes dominance during the period between 1990 and now was largely anchored by three exceptional opening pairs. These batters were revered not just for statistical consistency but for their critical contributions in pivotal Ashes campaigns.The partnership of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer (1999-2007) stands out. They were arguably Australia’s most celebrated opening pair in the modern era, forming the bedrock of a dominant Test side. They opened together in 113 innings, accumulating 5655 runs at an imposing average of 51.88. Crucially, they registered 14 century and 24 half-century partnerships. Their performances in the Ashes were formidable, particularly in the comprehensive home victories in the 2002-03 and 2006-07 series. They consistently blunted the England attack, often negating the new-ball threat within the opening hour. Their ability to score at a measured rate while preserving wickets perfectly complemented Australia’s aggressive middle order, demonstrating a durable, muscular method.Following them, David Warner and Chris Rogers (2013-2015) offered a blend of dynamism and discipline. Despite being a relatively short partnership of just 41 innings, they amassed 2053 runs at an average of 51.32. Rogers’ stoic technique was the ideal balance to Warner’s explosiveness. Their adaptability was pivotal in helping Australia regain the Ashes during the 2013-14 home series, laying down crucial early platforms. This pair recorded nine century and seven half-century stands in their Tests together.Sam Konstas has not been in the best form, but he’s well worth giving a longer rope to•Associated PressPreceding these modern pairs were Mark Taylor and Michael Slater (1993-1999). Opening in 78 innings, they accumulated 3887 runs at an average of 51.14, with ten century and 16 fifty stands. While Slater usually attacked from the outset, Taylor’s calm and balancing presence ensured Australia rarely found themselves under undue pressure in the first session. Their synergy and balance were instrumental in Australia’s sustained dominance during the mid-1990s.The success of these pairs is borne out by statistics. The win percentage of teams when there is a 50-run opening stand is about 39%, which rises to 44% when the opening partnership scores 100 or more. Opening stands of under 50 runs are accompanied by a win rate of about 31%. You can imagine this trend holds particularly true in Ashes Tests, where early wickets can trigger pressure-induced collapses due to the consistently high quality of seam bowling on both sides.A 2013 statistical study published in the , titled “An Investigation of Synergy Between Batsmen in Opening Partnerships” explores this aspect. It affirmed that in Ashes Tests, opening partnerships significantly affected match outcomes, especially when the batters displayed effective synergy – complementing each other’s strengths and mitigating weaknesses. It was found that “opening partnerships with synergy – even with moderate averages – had a statistically significant positive influence on the probability of team victory in Ashes Tests”. The study concluded that the ability of pairs to function as cohesive units was a stronger predictor of winning outcomes than standalone brilliance or individual averages.In matches where the Australian pairs posted partnerships of 50-plus runs, Hayden and Langer’s sides achieved victories 65.7% of the time, those of Warner and Rogers 56.3%, and Taylor and Slater’s, 65.3%.England’s current opening pair, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, embody a stark tactical departure from the Australian pairs. Their approach is aligned with the “Bazball” philosophy, which prioritises tempo and aggression. Between 2022 and 2025, they have opened in 73 innings, scoring 2281 runs at a moderate average of 32.12. Their strike rate of 72.38 is nearly double that of traditional openers like Taylor and Langer. They have three century and 14 half-century stands.While England’s modern approach is exhilarating to watch, their win rate in matches with stands of 50-plus runs is just 47.3%, significantly lower than all three noted Australian pairs above. This contrast underscores a vital nuance: while the English pair might have the edge in being incendiary, scoring quickly does not always correlate with consistent match-winning outcomes. History shows that durable, synergistic and consistent big opening partnerships are most likely to decide the outcome in close and hard-fought contests.As Australia look ahead, the selectors face a crucial decision at the top of the order, one heavily influenced by the historical mandate. Ideally, they will want to show faith in the promising youth of Sam Konstas for the first Test. His treatment by the selectors since his debut has been quixotic. Considering that it takes an individual ten Tests, at least, to work out if he fits at this level, and how to succeed, Konstas not being picked in Sri Lanka was unfathomable. So much so that he is now on the outside looking in when he could have been lining up for his first Ashes Test and perhaps a long and distinguished career.The fact that Queensland’s Matt Renshaw has begun the domestic season in imperious form means that the selectors might be swayed towards the safe hands of the two Queenslanders – Usman Khawaja being the other.Renshaw is a specialist opener with a connection to Khawaja. The two are domestic opening partners, and the established synergy between them is of the sort that has historically been a hallmark of the best Ashes opening pairs. This weighs heavily in Renshaw’s favour. Despite the potential imbalance of having two left-handers, they complement each other well: Khawaja prefers to play off the back foot, while Renshaw can hurt the opposition down the ground if bowlers fail to adjust their length from one player to the other.Mitchell Marsh might be a left-field choice to open, but it wouldn’t be the worst call if he did•AFP via Getty ImagesThe selectors are unlikely to want to experiment with their opening combination, as they have with Steven Smith and Travis Head recently, in such an important series, and Marnus Labuschagne’s rich form may entice them to bat him in his normal spot at No. 3 and slide the bowling-fit Cameron Green to the more suitable No. 6 spot and use him as the allrounder. That means Beau Webster will be the unlucky one to miss out on the final XI which already looks more definitive than it did as little as two weeks ago.A left-field choice that might tempt the panel, if they want to fight fire with fire, would be to consider Mitchell Marsh, the current T20 captain. Marsh is in good form and possesses the ability to counterattack with the best of them. He is regarded as one of the best players of pace in the country and comes from a long line of openers, his father and older brother having opened. However, the move would be a risk the selectors might not be prepared to take unless Marsh has changed his mind about taking on the family business.Renshaw’s timing has been impeccable – he has made runs at the right time; and in batting, as is well known, timing is everything. The fact that he has been included in the ODI squad for the series against India suggests that he is in mind as Khawaja’s partner for Perth. As a former selector, I would support that decision.Opening partnerships matter profoundly in Ashes Test cricket. While attacking starts, such as those offered by the Duckett and Crawley partnership, are exhilarating, durable and synergistic partnerships provide the strategic control and psychological upper hand necessary in the longest and most intense format. From Hayden and Langer’s muscular method to Taylor and Slater’s balance, Australia’s most successful openers over the past 35 years have served reliably as both shield and spear. England’s current pair offer a compelling modern model, but one that must still prove it can consistently deliver wins at the elite Ashes level.Ultimately, the selection of Khawaja’s partner must prioritise that crucial foundation, ensuring that the necessary shield is built before the fireworks can truly begin, thereby guaranteeing that the fortress will stand.

Former Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy played a major role in stopping one ex-Spurs star from sealing what was a dream switch to Chelsea, with the player making a candid admission.

Tottenham post-Daniel Levy as problems remain at N17

It’s been three months since the Lewis family decided to force Levy into resigning as Lilywhites chairman, following a topsy-turvy 25-year stint in the role.

Levy was barely ever away from the headlines and attracted plenty of criticism, particularly towards the end of his tenure, when fans turned out in droves to protest both his and ENIC’s stewardship of the club.

His exit marked the end of the longest chairmanship in Premier League history, a tenure defined by extraordinary infrastructure development yet marred by agonising near-misses.

His business acumen transformed Tottenham into a financial powerhouse, culminating in the £1.2 billion Tottenham Hotspur Stadium which opened in 2019 and revolutionised the club’s commercial capabilities.

Real Madrid

£1.2 billion

Man City

£727 million

PSG

£700 million

Man United

£668 million

Bayern Munich

£664 million

FC Barcelona

£659.5 million

Arsenal

£621.5 million

Liverpool

£620 million

Tottenham Hotspur

£533 million

Chelsea

£474 million

via Deloitte Money League

Under his stewardship, Spurs competed in Europe over in 18 of the past 20 seasons, establishing themselves among England’s elite despite chronic underinvestment in recruitment compared to their rivals.

The club’s net spend during Mauricio Pochettino’s first four years totalled just £29 million, while Tottenham infamously became the first Premier League side to complete an entire summer window without a single signing in 2018.

That cautious transfer approach became Levy’s defining characteristic, and it drew fierce criticism, alongside their barren trophy haul.

Tottenham reached the Champions League final under Pochettino in 2019, only to dismiss the Argentine four months later despite Spurs’ constant transfer budget restrictions.

Levy’s final season proved very turbulent, with Ange Postecoglou sacked shortly after delivering Europa League glory. Fans had grown tired of the constant managerial churn without meaningful silverware, despite Levy’s long list of appointments including serial winners José Mourinho and Antonio Conte.

Tottenham could prove 'irresistible' to manager who Levy was urged to hire before Frank

He’s on the verge of leaving his current club.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Dec 2, 2025

Levy’s departure triggered a major restructuring, with former Arsenal CEO Vinai Venkatesham arriving and Thomas Frank replacing Postecoglou.

Peter Charrington assumed the newly-created non-executive chairman role to jump into Levy’s stead, though in a far less involved capacity, with co-sporting directors Fabio Paratici and Johan Lange making up the new leadership team.

Levy, despite his unpopularity among much of the fanbase, undoubtedly left a mark on Spurs which will be remembered for decades to come.

Now, ex-Tottenham favourite Luka Modrić has revealed how the former chairman stopped him from joining London rivals Chelsea.

Luka Modrić reveals Daniel Levy blocked Tottenham transfer to Chelsea

Speaking on the Neuspjeh prvaka show, via ESPN, the now-AC Milan midfielder says that he was eager to join the west Londoners, but Levy told him there was ‘no chance’ that Modric would be allowed to go.

The Croatia legend, who went to enjoy a fantastic season at Tottenham right afterwards, then admitted that it eventually worked out for the best.

Modric is now the most decorated player in his country’s history after a glittering career at Real, with Levy eventually green-lighting his exit to the Bernabeu for £30 million in 2012.

The 40-year-old, who is incredibly still playing at an elite level, made over 150 appearances for Spurs, scoring 17 goals, and comes as one of the best signings of Levy’s tenure for just £16.5 million from Dinamo Zagreb.

Things are quickly going from bad to worse for Chelsea at the moment.

It was just a couple of weeks ago that Enzo Maresca’s side demolished Barcelona and drew with Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Yet, their defeat at the hands of Atalanta in the Champions League on Tuesday night was their second loss in three games and the third match in a row they were expected to win.

It really was a night to forget for Chelsea, and one that should see the manager make more than a few changes ahead of the weekend.

Chelsea's poor performers

Unfortunately for Maresca, there were plenty of Chelsea players who looked way off the pace in Bergamo on Tuesday night, with Enzo Fernández being particularly poor.

The Argentine international was tasked with playing in the ten again, and while he has had more than a few games in which he’s looked a threat there this season, this was not one of them.

On the ball, the former Benfica star was consistently making the wrong decisions, and off of it, he looked so lethargic that one analyst asked if “someone put weights in Enzo’s boots?”

Minutes

67′

Expected Goals

0.01

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.42

Assists

0

Key Passes

1

Crosses (Accurate)

1 (0)

Passes (Accurate)

24/33 (73%)

Lost Possession

15

Dribbles

0

Duels (Won)

10 (3)

By the time he was taken off in the 67th minute, he had completed just 24 of his 33 attempted passes, which is nowhere near good enough for someone in his position.

Moving a little deeper, it was also an uncharacteristically poor performance from the club’s record signing, Moises Caicedo.

Due to his three-match ban only applying to the Premier League, the manager decided to bring the Ecuadorian international back into the team, but he looked way off the pace.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion gem didn’t make a game-costing mistake, but he also felt like more of a passenger, failing to play a single key pass, losing the ball eight times, not taking a shot, committing two fouls and losing four ground duels.

Finally, Wesley Fofana and Robert Sanchez were also disappointing on the night.

The former seemed to completely lose Gianluca Scamacca for the hosts’ equalising goal, and then the former should have done better for Charles De Ketelaere’s winning strike.

Now, all these players were poor, but there is an argument for them keeping their places in the team for the game on the weekend, which cannot be said for the next player.

The Chelsea dud who should be dropped

Jamie Gittens was supposed to be a technically impressive, dynamic attacker who’d come in and make a real impact out wide for Chelsea, but so far, he’s been anything but.

Chalkboard

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

Now, there is still time for him to come good in West London, but Tuesday night was another disappointing display from the former Borussia Dortmund star.

Maresca gave the Englishman plenty of game time, but he just couldn’t make an impact on the game, with or without the ball.

In fact, his one notable moment in the match was a shot in the second half that was comfortably saved. Other than that, he was utterly anonymous.

That might sound harsh, but it’s an opinion shared by football.london’s Bobby Vincent, who gave the 21-year-old a 5/10 match rating at full-time and wrote that he ‘drifted out of the game.’

Minutes

94′

Expected Goals

0.03

Goals

0

Expected Assists

0.23

Assists

0

Key Passes

1

Crosses (Accurate)

1 (0)

Passes (Accurate)

16/18 (89%)

Lost Possession

9

Dribbles (Successful)

4 (2)

Duels (Won)

10 (3)

Unsurprisingly, the winger’s statistics more than back up such an appraisal.

For example, in his 94 minutes of action, the Reading-born ace registered a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.26, played a single key pass, took 33 touches – 21 fewer than Sanchez -, lost the ball nine times, lost seven of his ten duels and failed in 50% of his dribbles.

If this were a one-off, just a bad day at the office for the Englishman, then there would be an argument to keep him in the team to get back on his feet at the weekend.

However, the summer signing has had more poor performances than good so far this season, and therefore, Maresca should drop him from the lineup ahead of the Everton game.

Watch out Delap: Chelsea set sights on "one of Europe's most in-form CFs"

The free-scoring forward could spell the end of Liam Delap at Chelsea.

ByJack Salveson Holmes 3 days ago

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has confirmed that Issa Kabore suffered a serious hamstring injury while on international duty with Burkina Faso. Kabore will now spend time with parent club Manchester City to have treatment, and Wrexham have been informed of how long they can realistically expect him to be out.

• Injury blow for Championship new boys

  The injury came during Burkina Faso’s friendly with Benin, which the Les Etalons won 3-0 and the update on Kabore represents a massive blow for Parkinson, who has selected the wing-back in each of Wrexham's last ten matches. Kabore has played a key role in Wrexham's impressive start to their first season in the Championship since 1982. Parkinson will be cursing his luck after Burkina Faso arranged two friendlies after failing to qualify for the World Cup in controversial circumstances. 

  The West African nation's hopes of playing in the USA, Canada and Mexico ended following Eritrea's withdrawal, which meant points and goals from games against the bottom-placed team in each qualifying group were voided to ensure fairness. But this cost Burkina Faso six points from their wins over Djibouti, while Nigeria only forfeited two from their draws with Zimbabwe. Nigeria ultimately advanced to the playoffs on a better goal difference after both teams finished with 15 points.

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  Parkinson: 'We'll get him back'

  Parkinson said: "It is really unfortunate for Issa. He's obviously playing well and it looks like it is going to be at least a six-week injury. When I got the call over the break that Issa was injured, obviously it wasn't the best call to take from (physio) Kevin Mulholland. But it's always that risk when players are travelling long distances and playing, they can get an injury, and I'm sure there are other teams who will have lost players through this international break."

  The Wrexham boss added: "Issa's been a great character to have with us and we'll get him back. It will be a combination of treatment from Manchester City, because he lives close to the training ground, and with us as well. Obviously, the Africa Cup of Nations is coming up as well. I've watched a couple of games and Issa seems to be one of the important players, but obviously he's got to be fit and that's going to be touch and go."

• Premier League ambitions for Red Dragons

  While there is still a long way to go this season, another 31 matches over the next six months, Wrexham's senior management team remain clear in their number one target: securing Premier League football. And this week CEO Michael Williamson explained why co-owners and Hollywood superstars Ryan Reynolds, Rob Mac and the rest of the club's board are already planning for life in the top flight.

  Williamson said: "I felt if we were in that kind of position in the table, that if we gave ourselves a chance to make a run for a play-off spot and then ultimately if we were in the play-offs, with the momentum we have and the mentality that this group has and the mentality that our supporters have, I know we haven't done historically well in play-offs but I felt that this was one of those situations where I wouldn't put anything by us. 

  "The objective was to be competitive and to show that we could go toe-to-toe with any club in the Championship and so far this season, that's what you've seen. In fact, I'd argue that you could see us with several more points if you look at some of the matches where we've had leads that we've given it up for a draw or even starting from the very first one at Southampton where we gave up a goal in the 89th and the 95th minute to lose three points or even one point there. 

  "I think we could definitely be higher in the table than we are today but the important part is that we've shown that it doesn't matter which club we're playing against in this league, we can go to toe-to-toe with anyone and come out ahead of it. From my perspective now, how do we build on and off the pitch to prepare ourselves for when that time comes that we do arrive to the Premier League? It's ultimately our objective, I think everyone is clear of that by now."

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• Growing club with a big "heart"

  Reynolds has recently praised his club’s "heart" following the impressive 1-0 win over Charlton Athletic. Josh Windass’ penalty extended the Red Dragons' unbeaten run to five matches and lifted them to 13th in the Championship, with 21 points from 15 matches, just four points off the play-off spots.