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To those who have seen the youngster from close quarters – like his sister and his childhood coach – his success at the Gabba was inevitable

Deivarayan Muthu17-Jan-2021Pat Cummins, the No.1-ranked Test bowler in the world, pings Test debutant Washington Sundar on his left shoulder. Washington doesn’t flinch at all. Cool as.Two balls later, Cummins bangs another short ball and pings Washington on his hip. Washington doesn’t flinch again. Cool as.Washington has seen – and overcome – more painful body blows. When he was about seven years old, he was struck flush on the helmet by a wild full-toss at the nets and suffered a deep cut that needed four stitches. Despite doctors and his family insisting on rest and recovery, Washington turned up for an inter-school game a couple of days later and batted lower down the order to score a match-winning thirty-something.Washington was a prodigy in the Tamil Nadu cricketing circles. His dad M Sundar, a former Tamil Nadu prospect, began training him with a tennis ball when he was in kindergarten. Sundar would later train Washington and his elder sister Shailaja at the Chepauk ‘B’ nets, with their cousin Avaikarasan also joining them.Related

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Washington played Under-16 cricket for the state when he was in sixth grade and by the time he was 13, he was playing first-division league cricket in Chennai facing boys twice his age. To put things in perspective: when Washington broke into the robust first-division Chennal league, S Sriram was still an active player there. Sriram is now with the Australia side as their spin-bowling coach.Oh and Washington was primarily an opening batsman back in the day. He wasn’t quite the opening bowler who would pin down batsmen in T20 cricket. He was more known for his organised technique, sound judgement outside off, and ability to handle pace. Washington re-emerged during his fifty on Test debut against arguably the best Test-bowling attack in the world right now.Washington Sundar was in kindergarten when his father began training him to play cricket•Getty Images”Playing against or with (older boys) like Sriram, Venugopal Rao and his brother Gnaneswara Rao in first-division cricket at such a young age was a learning curve for Washi and it shaped his career,” Shailaja tells ESPNcricinfo. “Having also played many fast bowlers at the MRF pace foundation, he has that game-sense to adapt to speed. Not many can adapt to it easily and that too on your debut as a youngster in Australia against a top-class attack. It’s a big thing.”Shailaja, a top-order batter herself, was particularly thrilled to see that “old Washi” on show at the Gabba.”If you ask me or others who have seen Washi grow up, he was an opener,” Shailaja says. “I’m more a fan of his batting than bowling. The Washi I saw today was more the Washi I know. When he was so young, his drives were so clean and graceful. All the others could see his batting talent today.”

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Around the time of his birthday on January 4, Sundar had a strong gut feeling about Washington making his Test debut in Australia. As it turned out, Washington replaced the injured R Ashwin in the series decider, following up his three-wicket haul with 62 off 144 balls.Once the Sundars came to know about Washington’s debut on the eve of the game, there was cause for more celebrations during the Pongal (harvest) festivities.Washington Sundar’s sister Shailaja says he is more batsman than bowler•AFP via Getty Images”My dad had a strong feeling that Washi will debut in Australia,” Shailaja recalls. “We woke up at 3.30am because we wanted to see Washi get his cap. (Very) special! Mom (Prema) did her special puja and to see him get (Steven) Smith was pleasing. Our dad has faced a lot of struggles to get here and whenever we saw Washi growing up, we always thought he will be a Test cricketer. The world is now witnessing it.”

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Washington had no business playing this Test. He was originally picked as a net bowler for the Test leg of the tour to tune up the batsmen against Nathan Lyon. But, here he was pulling off a no-look slog-swept six against Lyon. Cool as.Washington’s job isn’t done yet and M Senthilnathan, who had identified Washington’s talent as a 13-year old at MRF, reckons that he could play a bigger role with the ball with his stump-to-stump lines if the Gabba pitch breaks up on Monday.”If the wicket is a little rough and if it assists the spinners, Washington Sundar will be difficult to bat against,” Senthilnathan says. “He will be somewhat like Jadeja; Jadeja is very difficult to bat against in a turning track. Washington won’t also give you time and will be exactly on the stumps. Imagine if on a turning track you don’t get bad balls or don’t get time to step out, how will you score runs?”

Tarik Skubal becoming an MLB All-Star was a foregone conclusion. The Detroit Tigers ace and one of the best pitchers in baseball has dominated on the hill this season for a team with a 13.5 game lead in their division and the best record in baseball (57–34).

The lefthander officially earned his All-Star bid Sunday when each league's pitchers and reserve position players were announced, joining the starters who were announced earlier this week. Was Skubal happy with his second All-Star appearance? Sure. But he may have been more disappointed for his teammates who didn't hear their names called.

"To be honest, I’m a little disappointed with only the four guys we got," Skubal said Sunday via 's Cody Stavenhagen. "I think there’s a lot more deserving guys on our team. We got the best record in the American League. I would like to think we’d be more represented there."

In addition to Skubal, the Tigers have three All-Stars—Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene and Javier Báez—who all got in as starters. Four is a big number with a finite amount of spots, but Skubal's comments may have been sparked because he was the only Tiger to become an All-Star Sunday when the pitching staffs and reserve position players were announced. Spencer Torkelson and Zach McKinstry both have decent cases to get in as reserves, while Detroit's No. 2 starter Casey Mize has nine wins with his own argument to join Skubal on the AL All-Star staff.

The National League-leading Los Angeles Dodgers got five players in—three position players and two pitchers. The Seattle Mariners (48–42) tied Detroit with four All-Stars. More Tigers could make their way into the Midsummer Classic as replacement players if they are needed and chosen by the league, but their ace thinks that shouldn't need to be the case considering their incredible season so far.

Aston Villa are now prepared to make a £52m offer for a “baller” in the January transfer window, with Unai Emery personally keen.

Villa make major statement in dramatic Arsenal victory

Villa sent out a message to the rest of the Premier League by picking up a dramatic late victory against league leaders Arsenal on Saturday afternoon, with Emiliano Buendia firing home in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 win.

In the wake of the result, which leaves Emery’s side just three points behind the Gunners, Mikel Arteta has admitted the Villans are genuine Premier League title contenders.

When asked whether the Villa Park outfit can challenge, Arteta said: “They are. When you look at where they are, the way they play, they have beaten some big teams, especially at home. Everybody is going to have to play everybody, so at the moment they are where they are and we are there as well.”

That said, it is still early days, given that we aren’t even at the half-way stage of the season just yet, and Emery is eager to bring in some new reinforcements, who could boost his side’s title push, during the January transfer window.

That is according to a report from Spain, which states the Aston Villa manager is now personally keen on signing Athletic Club star Mikel Jauregizar next month, but a deal could be on the expensive side.

Villa are prepared to offer up to €60m (£52m) to secure Jauregizar’s signature, with the Spanish club reluctant to sanction a departure unless they receive an ‘irresistible’ bid.

Emery believes the central midfielder would be an ideal fit in his system, and the Villans are now determined to get a deal done, so much so that they may even be willing to make an even higher bid.

"Baller" Jauregizar impressing in the Champions League

If Villa are going to make a genuine push to win the Premier League title, they may need to bring in some new players with experience at the highest level, and the 22-year-old has been impressing in the Champions League this season, chipping in with two assists in five matches.

Hailed as an “underrated baller” by scout Ben Mattinson, the maestro is also strong at winning back possession, averaging 2.87 tackles per 90 over the past year, placing him in the 89th percentile, when compared to other midfielders.

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Jauregizar is clearly a very well-rounded midfielder, capable of making an impact at both ends of the pitch, and Aston Villa could strengthen their title chances by getting a deal done in January.

Mike Trout literally couldn't wait to get back in the Los Angeles Angels lineup.

Trout, who missed 26 games due to a bone bruise in his left knee, was officially activated off the injured list on Friday before the club's game against the Cleveland Guardians. But it seems that a Friday return was a bit sooner than the Angels had internally forecasted for the three-time American League MVP.

The original plan was for Trout to return on Monday against the Boston Red Sox, Angels manager Ron Washington told Jeff Fletcher of the .

Trout, who hasn't played since April 30, ran the bases on Tuesday and Wednesday and took some swings against live pitching on Wednesday. According to Washington, the Angels were planning to have Trout ramp it up on the bases while also taking some reps in the outfield.

But an "antsy" Trout told Fletcher that he essentially forced the issue.

"I think I came out of it the other day good," Trout said. "Wasn’t too sore or anything. I’m gonna go out there and have some good at-bats. Just itching to get out there—I was getting antsy. I knew I was close."

The compromise?

Trout will serve as the designated hitter for "a little bit", as he told Angels reporter Erica Weston. He plans to "get to some outfield stuff in the coming days."

Plus, Washington wants Trout to exercise caution on the basepaths, per the .

A little bit of caution could go a long way regardless, given Trout's recent injury woes. He last played 100-plus games in 2022.

"Bone bruises are tricky," Trout told the paper. "I know I’m gonna be sore, but I can deal with it."

Trout is batting .179 with nine home runs, 18 RBI and 14 runs scored in 29 games played this season.

Karim Adeyemi has issued a public apology after it was revealed last week that the Borussia Dortmund attacker was found to be possessing illegal weapons. The news surfaced during the international break, which caused Adeyemi to miss the 6-0 thrashing of Slovakia in their final World Cup qualifying game. Taking to social media, Adeyemi expressed regret over his mistake.

• Adeyemi sanctioned with the illegal possession of weapons

  Germany's preparations for their World Cup qualifier against Slovakia were marred by controversy after revealed that Adeyemi had been charged with possession of illegal weapons. Per the report, both the German football federation (DFB) and Borussia Dortmund were caught unawares after learning about the conviction via media leaks, with the former Red Bull Salzburg prodigy preferring to be tight-lipped about the controversy before the disclosure.

  Adeyemi was found to be in possession of two illegal weapons – a knuckleduster and a stun gun – which are strictly forbidden under German law without an official permit. Prosecutors charged the speedy winger with a staggering €450,000 fine. The public prosecutor’s office reported that a penalty order imposing "60 daily fines of €7,500" became legally binding on October 30. The case was adjudicated by the district court in Wetter.

  “BVB always takes criminal allegations seriously and uses them as an opportunity to discuss them with its employees while respecting confidentiality obligations,” Borussia Dortmund stated in their official release following the breaking of the news. 

  Adeyemi, however, was fortunate to come away with a financial penalty. Under German weapons legislation, his actions could have carried a prison sentence of up to three years – or as many as 10 if brass knuckles were involved. In this case, however, the sanction was limited to a fine, calculated on the basis of his income. As a result, he received an entry in the central register but did not incur a formal criminal record.

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• Imago Images / Noah Wedel
  

  Adeyemi issues public apology on social media

  Taking to Instagram stories, the 23-year-old speedster admitted to making a "huge" mistake by possessing weapons without an official permit. 

  "You have probably seen the headlines about me in the last few days. It is not easy for me to talk about this," he said. "At the beginning of 2024, out of carelessness and without really thinking about what I was doing, I ordered a so-called ‘mystery box’ on the internet. It contained items that are not permitted under weapons legislation. Many months later, the package was delivered and ended up unopened at the police station.

  "Nevertheless, it was a huge mistake. One that I am very sorry about, that cost me dearly and that I deeply regret. I know that I am in the public eye and have a role model function. I did not live up to that. That is precisely why it hurts me all the more that I acted so recklessly. I have learned more from this than I can put into words. And I promise you that I will avoid such mistakes in the future. Thank you to everyone who still trusts and supports me."

• Dortmund chief comes to Adeyemi's defence

  Dortmund managing director Lars Ricken addressed the matter and defended Adeyemi. "We naturally took the matter very seriously and have since been able to speak with Karim Adeyemi at length and clearly about his behavior," Ricken told . "He deeply regrets his mistake. However, it must also be taken into account that he had to pay a hefty fine, no one was harmed, and the player continues to be considered to have no criminal record.

  "Karim Adeyemi has firmly promised us that he will not make such a mistake again. We trust him to keep his word."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Adeyemi's national team future will not be affected

  Speaking to , German football federation (DFB) sporting director Rudi Voller acknowledged that Adeyemi committed a mistake, but also admitted that sometimes, some issues are blown out of proportion.

  “Yes, of course we didn't know [about Adeyemi illegally possessing weapons]. The day after the game in Luxembourg, Lars Ricken called me and told me," he revealed. "He didn't know everything either. Then Julian [Nagelsmann] and I grabbed Karim. We wanted to hear his side of the story. He then tried to explain it to us, more or less.

  “We still have the feeling that the lad is developing exceptionally well in the national team. We also live a bit in a time of outrage culture here in Germany… Everyone is always quick to complain, not that I want to sugarcoat it. It's naive or stupid, no matter what you call it.”

  Adeyemi might have missed both the World Cup qualifiers during the recent international break, but he is a player with an X-factor, and Nagelsmann recognises as much. After making his debut in 2021, he didn't feature in a single game for Die Mannschaft in 2022, 2023, or 2024, before returning to the setup earlier this year. 

Rafael Louzan, the head of the Spanish football federation (RFEF), addressed Lamine Yamal's recent call-up to the national team amid the Barcelona superstar's fitness concerns. The RFEF chief swiftly dismissed any rumours of a rift between Spain boss Luis de la Fuente and Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick, asserting that "there was no tension."

Yamal makes Spain squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers

Yamal has played the full 90 minutes in three of Barcelona's last four games despite feeling some "discomfort" after being diagnosed with pubalgia – a chronic groin injury stemming from a tear in the surrounding soft tissue. The 2025 Ballon d'Or runner-up started in the 2-1 loss against rivals Real Madrid last month, followed by another 88 minutes against Elche. In the past week, he lasted the entire game during the midweek Champions League clash against Club Brugge and the 4-2 away win at Celta Vigo at the weekend.

Citing his recent return to the Barcelona lineup as a regular, Spain boss De La Fuente defended his decision to call up Yamal for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey. 

"I think the answer is obvious. I watched his last game, and I believe he’s in perfect condition," De la Fuente stated at a press conference. "His coach said he was ready to play. He's getting back to being the player he always has been, and we celebrate that. He will stay with us as long as we consider it appropriate.

"Watching the game the other day, Lamine is fit to play. We have two very important games and we need to field our best players. We have two hugely important matches to qualify for the World Cup, the stakes are massive and we want the best players with us."

AdvertisementGetty/GOALExplained: The feud between Flick and De la Fuente

During the September international break, Yamal suffered a knock while on duty with the Spanish national team. The injury to the teenage sensation infuriated Barca manager Flick, who didn't mince his words while lashing out at De la Fuente and the RFEF for "failing to take care" of the players.

"Lamine Yamal will not be available. He went with the national team in pain and did not train," Flick said at the time. "They gave him painkillers to play. They had at least a three-goal lead in every match, and he played 73 minutes and 79, and between matches he couldn't train. That is not taking care of the player. I am very sad about this."

De la Fuente engaged in a war of words, with the RFEF also hitting back at Barcelona for reportedly not providing any communication regarding Yamal's fragile condition at the time. "Do you think that today, in my homeland, and enjoying this moment, I'd remember what Hansi Flick said? Well, no, I'm not interested," De La Fuente told reporters in September.

In October, Flick gave this feud another twist as defended his comments by adding: "I want to protect my player, support him, this is what it is. A lot of things happened. This is, for me, done. I have no bad things about this situation. I know it from the other side. It's not easy for me. It's not easy for [De la Fuente]. I must protect my player; this is the reason I made it a little louder than normally I want to do it. I don't regret this. Now, the important thing is managing this together. The players, the clubs and the Spanish Federation [RFEF]. We have to manage it together."

Spanish FA chief clears the air surrounding feud

Speaking to , Louzan, the president of the RFEF, clarified that the federation, along with the national team, is constantly communicating with the respective clubs. 

"We have acted in a coordinated manner and will always do so because the feelings of the club come first, and in the national team, we must take great care of the players," said Louzan. "They can rest assured that there will be no controversy in this regard.

"We do it with Lamine, of course, and with each of the players on the national team. The players, in the end, belong to the clubs and we have to have perfect coordination, as exists between the Spanish Football Federation and each club manager.

"Luis de la Fuente has a very good relationship with everyone. And in that sense, the Barcelona coach wants his players in perfect condition, and all of that was just minor disagreements that wouldn't escalate because, from our point of view, there was no tension."

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Getty Images SportWhen do Spain play?

La Roja will take on Georgia on Saturday in Tbilisi, before hosting Turkey at the Estadio La Cartuja in Seville next Tuesday. De la Fuente's side are currently on top of their World Cup qualifying group and have already sealed their qualification for next year's showpiece event. In four games, they have scored 15 goals and are yet to concede one.

Manchester United’s business in the transfer market in the summer of 2025 will potentially be remembered as one of their best windows in recent history.

Ruben Amorim has spent around £200m on new additions within his front three, with such additions already making an immediate impact at Old Trafford.

Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko were the three signings made by the hierarchy, with the latter being the most expensive at a staggering £74m including add-ons.

The trio have already had a say in nine of their 15 Premier League goals in 2025/26 to date, as Mbeumo sits top of the Red Devils’ goalscoring charts with his total of four goals in nine outings.

Such form has led to serious doubt being cast over the futures of numerous players already within Amorim’s ranks, which could lead to numerous exits during the upcoming January window.

Players who look set to leave Man Utd in January

Over the last couple of days, rumours have been swirling over the future of multiple players, with midfielder Manuel Ugarte just one United player who could be edging closer to the exit door.

The Uruguayan international joined in a £50m transfer from PSG last summer, which led to huge expectations being placed on his shoulders to end their hunt for a new ball-winning option.

However, the 24-year-old has fallen down Amorim’s pecking order, only starting two league outings in 2025/26, leading to rumours over a winter move to join Turkish outfit Galatasaray.

He’s not the only player who appears to be moving closer to the exit door, with forward Joshua Zirkzee another Red Devil who has struggled to nail his starting role down this season.

According to CaughtOffside, the Dutchman is now “increasingly likely” to depart Old Trafford after featuring for just 82 minutes this season – only a year on from his £36m transfer to join the club.

The report states that the 24-year-old will allow the former Bologna talisman to depart in the coming months, but will be looking to recruit the majority of their investment back.

It also confirms that the player himself wants to depart to gain valuable first-team minutes to help improve his standing in the national setup ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

However, such a decision could come with a risk, especially given the examples that have unfolded in front of Amorim’s eyes over the last couple of months.

The United star who could become this season’s Rashford

Before Amorim’s arrival at United, attacker Marcus Rashford was seen as a key member of the first-team squad, arguably being one of the most threatening options within the final third.

The England international has racked up 138 goals for the Red Devils during his nine years in the first-team, but it rapidly became apparent the 40-year-old wasn’t keen on the academy graduate.

Despite starting and scoring in the manager’s first game at Ipswich Town, the 27-year-old was excluded from first-team training – subsequently joining Aston Villa on loan for the second half of 2024/25.

Rashford registered four goals and five assists in his 17 appearances before linking up with Spanish giants Barcelona during the recent window – once again producing the goods away from Old Trafford.

He’s already notched 10 combined goals and assists in his 13 appearances, with such a decision arguably one of Amorim’s worst during his near 12-month tenure with the Red Devils.

However, he could be about to make another huge mistake in sanctioning Zirkzee’s exit, especially if the Dutchman can replicate such form before his move to England.

The 24-year-old scored 12 times and registered six assists in his 37 appearances prior to his switch to Old Trafford – even managing to impress in glimpses last campaign.

Zirkzee scored twice in Amorim’s second game in charge of the club back in December 2024, with his contributions in the clash with Everton just one example of the talent he possesses in the final third.

Other outings against Lyon and Real Sociedad in the Europa League showcased his ability to provide the goods in key moments – subsequently helping the Red Devils reach yet another European final.

Games played

32

Goals & assists

4

Pass accuracy

72%

Shots taken

1.8

Chances created

0.8

Dribble success

38%

Aerials won

29%

Times dispossessed

2.8

Whilst it still remains unclear what the attacker’s best position is, even describing himself as a 9.5, he still managed to rank highly in numerous areas during the club’s dismal 2024/25 season.

Zirkzee ranked in the 82nd percentile for possession regained in the final third, whilst also completing the most passes per 90 of any forward in the first-team ranks.

Such numbers showcase his tireless effort out of possession, before firing the killer pass to a teammate – subsequently allowing him to pick up two assists across all competitions.

There’s no doubt his tally of five goals in 49 appearances was way below the expectations of the supporters, but Zirkzee desperately needs to be cut some slack by the manager.

Such a year was his first in England’s top-flight, but it’s evident that the manager has made up his mind with the forward, as seen by his tally of 82 league minutes in 2025/26.

Allowing him to leave could once again come back to bite them, potentially following the same route as Rashford and thriving in Europe after departing the Red Devils.

Watch out Bruno: Man Utd's "best player this season" is a "future captain"

Manchester United’s “best player this season” could be the future captain of the club over Bruno Fernandes.

ByDan Emery Oct 28, 2025

The hindsight patrol are now in full force with regard to Manchester United, with every departing star now looking like a ‘world-beater’ away from Old Trafford.

Every goal, every assist, every Man of the Match award is held up as a reason to mock the Red Devils, ignoring the fact that almost all of those who were sent packing had been given ample time to impress back at Old Trafford.

Take Rasmus Hojlund, for instance, a player of undoubted potential, yet one who scored just 26 times in 95 games for United in all competitions, a grim record for any striker worth their salt.

His current exploits for both Napoli and Denmark may suggest that Ruben Amorim and co were wrong to show him the exit door this summer, although the 22-year-old had ended 2024/25 with just four Premier League goals to his name.

With Omar Berrada seemingly keen to implement a two-season rule – giving new signings just two campaigns to make an impact – Hojlund was rightly shown the door this summer, with not even his recent hot streak able to change that.

Why Man Utd were right to offload Hojlund

In a dismal decade at Old Trafford, there have been few ‘wow’ moments, but Hojlund’s debut cameo may rank among them.

Somewhat forgettable now, although the sight of the £64m man terrorising the Arsenal backline in September 2023 was something to behold, having run William Saliba and Gabriel ragged in that second half.

Close to earning a penalty for his side, having also played his part in Alejandro Garnacho’s eventually disallowed ‘winner’, the new man was electric.

The sight of Casemiro grabbing him by the jersey – akin to Hojlund grabbing the game by the scruff of the neck – echoed the sentiment.

His subsequent Champions League form was also captivating, namely his brace against Galatasaray, tearing away from inside his own half before dinking the ball over the onrushing ‘keeper for his second of the night. A ‘star’ was born.

Frustratingly for all concerned, such form could not be maintained, with his December to February run in the Premier League – in which he scored in six successive games – the notable high point of his two-year stint in Manchester.

With just ten goals in all competitions last term, despite having been the only senior striking option at one stage, Hojlund had left United with no choice but to seek a centre-forward upgrade.

Having taken until Boxing Day himself to get off the mark in the league in 2023/24, the Dane has since seen Benjamin Sesko score twice in just his first seven Premier League outings, with the Slovenian superstar already beginning to find his feet.

Four goals for Napoli, alongside four goals for his country, have marked a fine start to 2025/26 for Hojlund, yet barring something drastic, the ex-Atalanta won’t be returning to the Theatre of Dreams, with the Scudetto winners holding a £38m obligation to buy as part of their loan swoop.

For all his potential, such a move simply hasn’t worked out, left now looking to be a player whose best work will come in Serie A, or at international level – sound familiar?

Man Utd have already sold another Hojlund

Two years was enough for the die to be cast on young Hojlund, with concerns mounting over the lack of faith his teammates had in him, while his errant hold-up play was also a pertinent issue, considering he won just 25% of his duels last term, as per Sofascore.

Two years was also what was afforded to a figure of the past in Romelu Lukaku, with the Belgian signed from Everton on a £75m deal in 2017, only to depart for Inter for a similar fee just two seasons later.

Of course, unlike his new Napoli teammate, Lukaku had proven himself in the Premier League before signing for United, scoring 104 goals in all competitions for West Brom and the Toffees combined, having initially been on the books at Chelsea.

While on reflection, his United record of 42 goals in 96 games looks favourable, particularly in contrast to Hojlund, Lukaku just never seemed like the right fit at Old Trafford, criticised for his “woeful and costly finishing” in 2018/19 by journalist Samuel Luckhurst.

Like his fellow left-footer, the Belgian at his best appeared to relish the chance to burst in behind a defence, having not exactly been adept at linking the play or acting as a target man.

A preoccupation with trying to improve on those latter traits led to criticism that the striker had bulked up too much, with his professionalism called into question by the likes of Gary Neville.

Swiftly cast aside by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to Serie A, Lukaku’s 2019 exit to San Siro sparked an immediate change of fortunes, having scored 64 goals across the next two seasons in all competitions for the Nerazzurri.

Premier League

62

14

Champions League

6

5

Europa League

15

6

FA Cup

8

1

League Cup

4

0

Community Shield

0

0

Total

95

26

Premier League

66

28

Champions League

17

7

Europa League

n/a

n/a

FA Cup

9

6

League Cup

3

0

UEFA Super Cup

1

1

Total

96

42

A title winner in 2020/21, he was rewarded with a seismic £97.5m return to Chelsea and to Premier League football that summer, albeit with things soon turning sour as he scored just eight league goals in that second spell.

Like Hojlund – who joined United after scoring ten times in his solitary season in Bergamo – Lukaku simply looks much more at home in Italian football, notably scoring 21 goals in just 47 games on loan at Roma, alongside contributing 25 goals and assists in his first 38 games in Naples.

While considered something of a “flat-track bully” on English shores, the 32-year-old is regarded as “one of the best strikers in the world” in Italy, as noted by Luca Toni, emphasising just how he has flourished since leaving United.

Hojlund looks set to follow in his footsteps, almost quite literally, considering he was snapped up by Conte’s side this summer to cover for the injured Lukaku, emphasising how he is viewed as an able deputy to the experienced marksman.

That likeness between the pair can also be seen in the fact that Lukaku is deemed to be the most statistically similar striker to Hojlund in Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref, while the latter man is also beginning to emulate his new club colleague by shining at international level.

Lukaku, remarkably, has scored 89 goals in 124 caps for Belgium, and while Hojlund has a way to go to reach such heights, his four-goal haul across his last three World Cup qualifying games has ensured that his record now sits at 12 in 30 for Denmark.

As he is proving, and likely will continue to go on to prove, Hojlund is an elite striker. That said, much like few of a United persuasion have regretted Lukaku’s exit in recent times, there should be an acceptance that Old Trafford was just not the right environment for him to succeed.

Like Lukaku, he looks like being a machine in Italy and on the international stage – but, despite his early promise, he certainly wasn’t one for United.

Man Utd have homegrown Wharton in 18-year-old who's lighting up Carrington

Manchester United remain heavily linked with a move for Adam Wharton, although they could have a perfect alternative far closer to home…

1 ByRobbie Walls Oct 14, 2025

Manchester United have been known to splash the cash over the last couple of years, spending over £800m on new additions for the side since the summer of 2022.

Erik ten Hag was responsible for the vast majority of such spending, having five windows to make the additions he thought would transform the club’s fortunes.

The likes of Casemiro, Antony and Rasmus Hojlund were all brought in under the Dutchman’s guidance, with the latter two departing the Red Devils in the closing stages of the recent window.

However, current boss Ruben Amorim has also spent in the region of £200m alone this window, securing the signatures of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.

Such funds are way higher than any supporter would’ve expected, but it may have been an even bigger shopping spree had they completed a deal for Carlos Baleba.

Man Utd’s hunt for Baleba this summer

In an attempt to bolster the midfield department, United targeted various options in the Premier League, with Adam Wharton just one name on their shortlist.

However, Brighton star Baleba was undoubtedly the biggest target, with Amorim’s side making an approach for the Cameroonian international’s signature ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

While at one stage the player himself seemed keen on a switch to Old Trafford, a move failed to materialise as the Seagulls were reluctant to offload the 21-year-old talent.

Fabian Hurzeler’s side stated that they wanted a fee in the region of £100m to part ways with Baleba, but such a figure was out of the Red Devils’ budget after their previous dealings in the window.

It remains unclear whether the hierarchy will return for his services in 2026, but it’s clear that the board have been targeting added reinforcements in the middle of the park.

However, despite their attempts in the market, United already have a hugely talented player in their ranks – with his recent rise now seeing his value soar over recent months.

The United talent who’s worth more than Baleba

Over the last couple of years, United have shifted their focus to recruiting younger talent to try and decrease the age of the current first-team squad.

The side for the 2025/26 Premier League campaign currently has an average age of 25.6, with the age range in the side having players placed between 17 and 39.

Casemiro is currently one of the midfield options currently at Amorim’s disposal, but the Brazilian, who is now 33, is entering the final years of his career and desperately needs to be moved on in the near future.

Youngster Kobbie Mainoo is another player who is available to Amorim in that department, but despite his success on the field in recent times, he’s fallen down the manager’s pecking order.

After his dream 2023/24 campaign, which saw an FA Cup final goal and a late strike against rivals Liverpool, many supporters would’ve expected the 20-year-old to be a first-team regular by now.

The 20-year-old, who’s been labelled “generational” by teammate Hojlund, only made 25 league appearances last season, 19 of which were from a starting role, with the likes of Casemiro often being selected ahead of the academy graduate.

His only start in 2025/26 so far came in the Carabao Cup defeat against Grimsby Town – leading to the player himself asking for a loan spell away from his boyhood side.

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

25

Pass accuracy

87%

Tackles won

1.6

Interceptions made

1.1

Blocks made

0.9

Take-on success

46%

Carries into 18-yard box

0.6

Recoveries made

4.8

Tackle success rate

60%

However, such a request was immediately dismissed, resulting in the player needing to fight for a place within the first-team squad – until January at the earliest.

Despite his recent lack of action, Mainoo has seen a swift upturn in his market value, with FootballTransfers now valuing the Englishman at a staggering £57.8m.

Such a figure is now higher than the value of Baleba, who’s now valued at just £49.1m by the same site despite his recent valuation by the club in the summer window.

Given the aforementioned price tags, it’s clear that Mainoo is still a young talent with huge potential, with Amorim desperately needing to hand him consistent minutes in the months ahead.

He’s already showcased he’s capable of thriving at Old Trafford, but he needs the manager’s backing to do so, which could potentially put a permanent end to their hunt for Baleba.

Man Utd may regret selling £73m CF who's scoring more than Sesko & Mbeumo

Manchester United may have made a mistake in offloading one top-level talisman.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 9, 2025

Both teams have five wins each from nine games but they seem to be heading in opposite directions

Hemant Brar26-Apr-20252:08

Is Mumbai’s second-half charge underway?

Big picture: Same, same but differentIt’s not important where you are right now; what matters is the direction you are headed in. This aphorism applies to all walks of life, including IPL 2025. Just past the halfway stage, Mumbai Indians (MI) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) find themselves at the same junction but heading in opposite directions.Both teams are in the middle of the points table with five wins each from nine games. In those five wins, five different players from each team have won the Player-of-the-Match award. For MI, it has been Ashwani Kumar, Karn Sharma, Will Jacks, Rohit Sharma and Trent Boult. For LSG, Shardul Thakur, Digvesh Rathi, Nicholas Pooran, Aiden Markram and Avesh Khan.Let’s talk about the differences now. MI had a typical slow start to their campaign, losing four of their first five games. But with four successive wins since then, things are looking up for them. Rohit has returned to form with two successive 70s, Boult is living up to the expectations at the death, and Jasprit Bumrah, after missing the first four games, is back to his usual business.Related

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No-nonsense Bumrah returns with typically no-nonsense Bumrah spell

A dash of Boult to a slice of Bumrah leads MI's turnaround

Pant goes the other way – what's the rationale?

“I’ve always felt that once everyone starts clicking in this team, it is going to be complete domination,” their captain Hardik Pandya said after the win against Sunrisers Hyderabad. With that confidence, and momentum, they enter Sunday afternoon’s game.LSG, on the other hand, have faced two defeats in their last three games. They did win three in a row after a shaky start but things are not looking good for them at the moment. Rishabh Pant and David Miller are yet to fire, making their middle order one of the weakest in the league. After a blistering start to the season, Pooran has had scores of 8, 11 and 9 in his last three innings, which has exposed their middle order further.What’s in LSG’s favour is their 6-1 head-to-head record against MI. It includes their win from earlier this season, when MI retired out Tilak Varma in their unsuccessful chase of 204. But this time MI will be playing at home, where they have three wins in four outings so far.Form guideMumbai Indians WWWL (last five matches, most recent first)
Lucknow Super Giants LWLWWMayank Yadav is yet to play this season•BCCI

Team news and likely XIIs: Where is Mayank Yadav?It’s unlikely that MI will tinker with their winning combination.Mumbai Indians (probable): 1 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Will Jacks, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Hardik Pandya (capt), 7 Naman Dhir, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Jasprit Bumrah, 12 Vignesh PuthurIn their last two games, LSG brought in Ayush Badoni as Impact Player in the first innings of the match itself, which meant Mayank Yadav stayed on the bench. One also wonders if Mayank’s fitness has something to do with his not being named in the XI in the first place.Lucknow Super Giants (probable): 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Mitchell Marsh, 3 Nicholas Pooran, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 5 Ayush Badoni, 6 David Miller, 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Digvesh Rathi, 11 Avesh Khan, 12 Prince YadavIn the spotlight: Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh PantBefore this IPL started, there were whispers about Suryakumar Yadav’s form. In February, against England, he had managed only 28 runs in five T20Is at a strike rate of 116.66. Since then, he has played nine innings in the IPL and has scored at least 25 in each of them. Overall, he is the leading run-getter for MI with 373 at a strike rate of 166.51. The only thing missing is his trademark, jaw-dropping knock.2:49

Pant coming in at No. 7 was ‘bizarre and horrendous’

This being the last IPL before the 2026 T20 World Cup makes it an audition for the global tournament, and Rishabh Pant seems to have flunked it. He has just 106 runs in eight innings at a strike rate of 96.36. Five times he has been dismissed in singles-figures. His coming in at No. 7 against Delhi Capitals after an animated chat with team mentor Zaheer Khan did not paint a good picture either.The big questionWith Pant struggling and Miller not getting enough balls to face at times, should LSG have Miller at No. 4 and Pant down the order?Key stats: Bumrah vs Pant and Pooran Bumrah has a favourable match-up against Pant in the IPL: 46 balls, 55 runs, seven dismissals. He has also dismissed Pooran twice in 18 balls while conceding only 13 runs. Mitchell Santner is one of the rare left-arm spinners to have some success against Pooran in T20 cricket. He has dismissed him twice in 20 balls while giving away just 25 runs. Hardik has fallen to Avesh three times in 37 balls while scoring only 32 runs in this tournament. Rohit scored 76 not out and 70 in his last two innings. This is the first time since 2016 that he has scored back-to-back fifties in the IPL. Among those who have bowled at least five overs in the death, Rathi (7.66) has the best economy, followed by Bumrah (7.75). Hardik is at the bottom of the list with 16.20.Pitch and conditionsThe Wankhede Stadium has hosted four games so far this season, all night games. MI won the toss every time and opted to field. They won three of them, when they restricted the opposition to a below-par total. Sunday’s match, though, will be played in the hot and humid afternoon and could force a change in strategy.Quotes”It’s an afternoon game, we think bowlers will get some help as well. It’s all batters’ game as you’ve seen. So hope that bowlers also get something in tomorrow’s afternoon game, maybe it will be a little dry or something like that.”