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Manchester United fans have needed to get used to cagey press conferences from Ruben Amorim over his unsuccessful tenure so far.

Although United are somewhat in a fight for European football, they have underwhelmed once again this term under the Portuguese manager.

Well, once more, he made some interesting statements in his most recent pre-match press conference, which has led to a lack of clarity surrounding future transfers. When asked about the size of the budget heading into the January transfer window and beyond, Amorim said “I don’t want to talk about that,” avoiding the issue altogether.

His comments after the 1-1 draw at Leeds were perhaps even more perplexing.

Whatever the case, the Red Devils are linked with new midfielders who could improve Amoirm’s squad and his chances of succeeding at the club.

Man United target Premier League midfielder

There has been no shortage of links for United looking to sign a new midfielder. Two of the names that continuously crop up are England duo Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton. They could each cost upwards of £100m to sign.

Instead, United may look at an alternative option from within the Premier League.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, the ‘dream target’ for the Red Devils is still Brighton and Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba, who is said to be ‘open to a switch’ to Old Trafford.

However, United are not alone in the hunt for Baleba’s signature. The Cameroon international has also drawn keen interest from Liverpool, with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City also ‘admirers.’ As for a fee, the 22-year-old could reportedly cost as much as £87m, slightly cheaper than United’s other options.

What Baleba could bring to United's midfield

It has certainly been a bit of an up-and-down campaign for Baleba. He has, at times, not looked at his best, but his recent form at AFCON with Cameroon and his performances last season highlight why United are willing to pay such a huge fee.

This term, the former Lille star has played 16 times in the Premier League, only notching up 903 minutes. That leaves him with an average of ten full 90-minute games. He has certainly not been at his best, perhaps reflected in fewer minutes than you may expect.

However, that should not be too much of a concern for the Red Devils. At his very best, of which he has shown glimmers this season, Baleba is a “monster” according to football scout Antonio Mango. He also offers a threat going forward and is prone to a spectacular goal, like this one against West Ham United.

United certainly need a profile like Baleba in midfield; that is to say, a defensively dominant midfielder who offers progression going forward. In that sense, this deal could be the Red Devils’ own version of when Chelsea signed Moises Caicedo back in 2023 from the Seagulls.

The Ecuadorian star has been brilliant for Chelsea, described as “one of the best in the world” in his position by teammate Robert Sanchez.

Subscribe to the newsletter for sharp transfer insight Get in-depth transfer analysis and player profiles by subscribing to the newsletter. Stats-led breakdowns like Baleba vs Caicedo comparisons, plus clear, expert transfer coverage to help you evaluate United’s midfield targets.

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There are obvious similarities between the pair, not least because of their Brighton connection. Caicedo is also known to score a spectacular goal from range, too.

However, the likeness goes further than that. According to FBref’s similar players tool, they were noted as two of the most similar players to each other in the Premier League last season, with their underlying numbers comparable. For example, Baleba averaged 4.2 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes compared to Caicedo’s 4.38.

Baleba & Caicedo key stats 24/25 PL

Stat (per 90)

Baleba

Caicedo

Key passes

0.71

0.81

Progressive passes

3.99

5.78

Progressive carries

1.45

1.16

Ball recoveries

6.66

6.16

Tackles and interceptions

4.2

4.38

Stats from FBref

This is a profile of midifelder that would quickly enhance United’s side. To have someone who is so efficient off the ball, as the numbers show, yet also offering a progressive outlet at the base of the midfield, would be key for Amorim.

Of course, £87m is a huge investment, but for United to bring their own Caicedo to the club would be a huge addition and go a long way to improving their fortunes.

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall

Arsenal have now made contact to sign an “exceptional” midfielder, and they are prepared to make a £35m offer to secure his signature in 2026.

Gunners looking to strengthen in midfield

Mikel Arteta has now hinted there could be some new arrivals in the January transfer window, given the scale of the injury crisis he has been forced to endure, with the return dates of Cristhian Mosquera, Jurrien Timber and Riccardo Calafiori still unknown.

The manager said: “We’re going to be really aware of the situation and the timescale of certain players. We have to be actively looking, and then can we do it or not?

“That’s a different story, but our job is to be always very prepared because something can happen.”

While Arteta has been left short on options in defence, meaning Declan Rice had to fill in at right-back last time out, the likes of Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi have been reliable options in recent weeks, and Martin Odegaard scored in the 2-1 victory against Brighton.

However, the north Londoners are also keen to bring in a new central midfielder in 2026, with reports from Italy (via Sport Witness) revealing they have now made initial contact over a deal for Club Brugge’s Aleksandar Stankovic.

Inter Milan are expected to exercise their buy-back clause to purchase Stankovic for €23m (£20m) next summer, before selling him to a new club, and Arsenal are waiting in the wings, alongside bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

Both Premier League sides are prepared to make a €40m (£35m) offer next summer, but Inter may be in a position to demand even more, given just how impressive the 20-year-old has been for Club Brugge…

Related Arsenal now make phone call to sign £88m star they're constantly monitoring

The Gunners are racing Liverpool for the signature of a forward

Posts ByDominic Lund "Exceptional" Stankovic proving his worth in Belgium

The Club Brugge star, who specialises in defensive midfield, has emerged as a key player for the Belgian club this season, having already made 30 appearances in all competitions, contributing three goals and two assists.

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Despite often featuring in a deeper role, the Serbian youngster has displayed a keen eye for goal over the past year, while he has also been dominant in the air, when compared to other midfielders.

Aleksandar Stankovic’s key statistics

Average per 90 (past year)

Non-penalty goals

0.12 (81st percentile)

Touches (Att pen)

1.85 (84th percentile)

Clearances

3.63 (98th percentile)

Aerials won

2.16 (94th percentile)

Not only that, but the starlet also received high praise from scout Jacek Kulig earlier this season, who has been particularly impressed by his leadership skills.

Although Arsenal have plenty of top-quality options in midfield, such as Rice and Zubimendi, Stankovic could be an exciting long-term addition to the squad.

Craig Kieswetter, Somerset’s wicketkeeper-bataman has pledged his future to England despite appearing for his native South Africa Under-19 at the World Cup last year. Kieswetter, whose mother is Scottish, holds a British passport and will qualify for England through living there for four years.The talented player, who made his senior debut this summer, is on part of the National Academy skills set, which he will attend this winter.Kieswetter started the 2007 season playing for Somerset 2nd XI, but after some impressive early form, soon forced his way into the senior side and helped them to promotion to the Championship top flight.”I want to make it in first class cricket and eventually go on and play for England,” he told the . “I have to say that I was a bit surprised to get invited [to the Academy] after just one season in the game over here.”I am very grateful to have been given this opportunity and thrilled to think I have been noticed.”

Justin Langer says he is in some of the best form of his career © Getty Images

Justin Langer has scoffed at suggestions the Australia team is too old to pose a threat to England during the Ashes. Ian Botham and Dennis Lillee have both argued that the home side’s starting 11 for the first Test, which should include at least six players aged 35 or over, could be Australia’s undoing.Langer, who turns 36 next week and is the oldest of Australia’s batsmen, was one of the players lampooned by England’s newspaper as part of an Australian “Dad’s Army” photo. He said such criticisms worried him less now than in the past. “I’m better at handling it now than I was six or seven years ago,” Langer told .”I understand how it all works with the media so I don’t get too caught up in it. I say to people who reckon I’m past my best, in my last few first-class matches I’ve made my highest first-class score [342 for Somerset] and made 188 not out [against Victoria].”Langer, who topped Australia’s batting averages in the 2005 Ashes series, was struck on the helmet by Makhaya Ntini in the South Africa series earlier this year and then missed Australia’s tour of Bangladesh. “Last year was the toughest year I had for four or five years because of injuries, which I’ve never had before,” Langer said.Despite debate about the age of Australia’s team for the opening Ashes Test on November 23, Ricky Ponting said it was unlikely the in-form Phil Jaques, who is 27, would play. “I wouldn’t have thought so, no,” Ponting told the . “[Phil’s] doing everything he can, but Justin’s the incumbent and he’s been doing such a great job for Australia over such a long time, I think that would be unrealistic.” The Australia team for the first Test will be announced on Thursday.

Brad Hogg tore cartilage in his left knee at training © Getty Images

Australia suffered a double injury blow today with Shaun Tait and Brad Hogg ruled out of the Super Series. Tait is expected to miss at least three months with a right-shoulder problem while Hogg suffered torn left-knee cartilage at training yesterday.Stuart Clark, the New South Wales bowler who was twice on standby during the Ashes series, will step in for Tait during the one-day series and Cameron White, the Victoria legspinner, replaces Hogg. Tait experienced pain while bowling for his Adelaide club side Sturt on Saturday and again during training this morning.A Cricket Australia spokesman said diagnostic scans and a review by the specialist Greg Hoy showed Tait had torn cartilage and he was expected to undergo surgery later in the week. “Cricket Australia’s medical staff anticipate that he will be sidelined for a minimum of three months,” the spokesman said.The injury is a severe blow for Tait after he performed solidly in two Tests during the Ashes series and was in line for a limited-overs debut at the Telstra Dome in Melbourne this week. He will have to recover ahead of schedule to play a Test this summer and will probably look to the South Africa tour in March for an international recall.Hogg, who is expected to miss between three and six weeks, was also disappointed to pull out of the three ODIs and will have surgery tomorrow. “I will get back to Perth tonight and get straight on the operating table tomorrow lunch-time,” Hogg told at the official tournament launch today. “It’s disappointing, but that’s the way it goes. I may never have an opportunity like this again, to be a part of such a prestigious event.”Errol Alcott, the Australia physiotherapist, said Hogg was in pain after a training session on Sunday. “MRI scans taken earlier today have revealed the cartilage tear,” he said, “but we are confident that with the correct surgery he will make a full recovery.”Ricky Ponting said White was likely to come into the team for the first of the three matches on Wednesday. “There’s a good opportunity for an up-and-coming legspinner to get a chance to play some cricket for Australia,” he said. “With a negative there always comes a positive, so that’s the positive side to it.”White, 22, knows the Australian set-up after touring India in 2004, and he picked up the wickets of Shahid Afridi and Chris Gayle in the World XI’s warm-up against Victoria on Sunday. He has played 39 first-class games for Victoria, who he has captained since 2003-04, and 38 domestic limited-overs matches.

Bob Merriman: his role in the review under fire© Getty Images

One of Kenya’s most influential organisations, the Coast Cricket Association (CCA), has called on the International Cricket Council to intervene to halt the constitutional review currently being undertaken by the Kenyan Cricket Association.The review was announced by the KCA in October, and was backed by the ICC, who appointed Bob Merriman, the chairman of Cricket Australia, to oversee the process. But opponents of the board – and there are many – argued from the start that it was little more than a cosmetic exercise aimed at maintaining the current management’s control.In a letter to the ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed, Samir Inamdar, the CCA’s influential chairman, wrote: “Having regard that over 90% of cricket is played in Nairobi and Mombasa, it is difficult to resist the conclusion that the KCA national executive have, by using the name of the ICC, embarked on an exercise in subterfuge by hand-picking its own appointees simply to serve their own narrow personal interest without regard to the views and wishes of any of the other stakeholders in Kenya cricket, and such an exercise is clearly doomed to fail.” He concluded that the review would deepen hostility between the board and the bulk of stakeholders.And Inamdar was unhappy that the KCA set up the review and appointed members without any reference to stakeholders. “The composition of this committee appears also to have changed,” he told Wisden Cricinfo, “again without any notification.”He continued: “No account appears to have been taken either by the ICC or KCA of the fact that the existing KCA constitution is under scrutiny by the courts, and that at the heart of the dispute between the KCA and its provinces is the question of democracy, transparency and accountability … all of which are underlying problems which need to be addressed first before launching into a review of this kind.”Inamdar said that a properly constituted review was needed, but not one designed simply to authenticate the KCA’s existing structure. The KCA, he added, had recently told him that it would be holding meetings in Mombasa without asking for the input of the CCA, which runs the region. Nor had the views of the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association, Kenya’s largest single stakeholder, been sought.The KCA is embroiled in an ongoing court case with the CCA over its constitution. Sources explained that the announcement of the review was made without any reference to them, and that the general consensus was that it had been instigated for two reasons: one was to bypass the legal process, and the other was to appease the ICC, which had privately been understood to have grown weary with the constant in-fighting.The main thrust of the opponents’ objections stemmed from one simple fact. Given that the constitution being used by the KCA was subject to legal review and is, it is argued, illegal, the board had no right to take such a major review until that fundamental point had been resolved.They were also deeply unhappy that Merriman’s involvement was likely to give the process authenticity. Apart from a brief visit to Nairobi, where he was landed by the KCA with a press conference he was not expecting, Merriman’s role was more of an overseer than a hands-on representative.Inamdar said that Merriman scored an own goal when, in that conference, he “welcomed the formation of this ‘independent’ body and asked everyone to take careful heed of what happened in Zimbabwe”. Said Inamdar: “Many of us here fail to see the connection between our constitutional review and the findings of the ICC’s commission of inquiry into the allegations of racism in Zimbabwe cricket. Having made these observations to the local press, Merriman flew out of Nairobi less than 24 hours after his arrival. This committee includes his name as a member. Presumably he will not participate in any active sense, which makes a nonsense of the ICC’s stated role in overseeing this review for the betterment of Kenyan cricket.”Speed is understood to have replied to the letter, and has promised to investigate the claims.

Stumps Day Three
Scorecard

Steve Waugh: the first man to score 150 against all Test opposition

All three Australian batsmen who took guard at Cairns’ Bundaberg Rum Stadium today walked off with milestones that became millstones around Bangladesh’s neck as the tourists chased 261 to merely avoid an innings defeat.That chase started well enough, and Bangladesh at one stage were 87 for 1. But then one of the collapses that have so marred their time in Test cricket occurred, and Bangladesh lost three wickets for three runs. Hannan Sarkar scored another half-century to go with his 76 in the first innings, while Habibul Bashar made 25, those two knocks just about summing up all that was positive in the Bangladesh innings.It was, not surprisingly given their expected dominance of the series, the Australians who hammered their way into the record books. Steve Waugh, Darren Lehmann and Martin Love – Australia’s latest Test centurion – enjoyed their share of the action, as well as the spoils. Waugh, despite his longevity in the game, still finds records to challenge, and today he became the first batsman to register a score of 150 or more against all Test nations.Waugh’s unbeaten 156 – his 14th 150 – places him closer to the 18 scored by Don Bradman. Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar are behind him on 12, and while Gary Sobers and Brian Lara have 11, Javed Miandad, Len Hutton and Walter Hammond have 10. Waugh also moved closer to the highest run-scorer in Tests, Allan Border, and is now only 653 runs behind him.Lehmann came out in attacking vein from the outset and soon surpassed his previous highest score of 160, made against the West Indies earlier this year. He took four successive fours off Anwar Hossain Monir early in the day but, on 177, he spooned an easy catch in the direction of Alok Kapali and was on his way after he and Waugh had added 250 for the fourth wicket.Love then joined Waugh and got off the dreaded nought, building a fine innings as he and Waugh took full toll of a tiring Bangladesh attack. Given his first-ball duck in the first Test in Darwin, there was plenty of incentive for Love to do well, and he thrived on the opportunity. Australia went to lunch at 455 for 4, with Waugh having scored his 32nd Test century and his second in two innings in this series. Love was into his stride in the second session, advancing from his lunch score of 36 to get his second Test 50 off 96 balls and carrying on to his maiden Test century in 152 balls.Waugh was unbeaten on 156 and, as soon as Love reached three figures, he declared the innings closed. Bangladesh’s bowlers faced a tough time of it in the field, with Sanwar Hossain bearing most of the brunt of the Australian assault, taking 2 for 128 from his 30 overs.Bangladesh lost Javed Omar, trapped lbw by Jason Gillespie, for eight when 12 runs were on the board. But Sarkar and Bashar then applied some pressure of their own, scoring at a good clip to add 75. Sarkar, however, attempted to blast a ball from Stuart MacGill over square leg and only found that Matthew Hayden was able to run back and take the catch, sparking off a collapse Bangladesh could ill afford.Four balls later, Mohammad Ashraful became the second Bangladeshi player to secure a pair in the series at MacGill’s hand as he was hit leg-before. Then Brett Lee snapped up Bashar, an intended pull easily pouched at square leg, for 25.It was a miserable end to a demanding day for the tourists, who must now sleep on the fact that yet another loss looms when the Australian attack closes in for the kill tomorrow.Click here for the Day Two bulletin

Wellington and Hutt Valley women’s teams are to compete in a district competition with Central Districts sides Taranaki, Wairarapa, Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay in a bid to lift their hopes in the State Insurance Cup later in the summer.The competition will be held this month and next, and will be continued in February after the national competition has ended.Two teams have been named by Cricket Wellington for a trial match on Sunday, November 11, at Anderson Park, starting at 11am.The teams are:Team One: Anna O’Leary (captain), Katrina Arnold, Amanda Cooper, Susan Evason, Amanda Green, Faele O’Connor, Jenifer Patterson, Asmita Rama, Sian Ruck, Megan Tuapawa, Pam Yates.Team Two: Anna Corbin (captain), Sarah Bradbury, Olivia Bupha-Intr, Laura Burns, Belinda Clifton, Emma McDonald, Philly Gordon, Jane Hunter-Siu, Claire Hutton, Frances King, Megan Wakefield.

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Despite the end of the Premier League season, some players are still yet to jet off on their holidays with the Nations League and Copa America taking centre stage.

The European U21 championship however has slightly gone under the radar, but the tournament is set to get under way on Sunday with England one of the early favourites to win it all.

With the side set to face France on Tuesday night, Leicester star Demarai Gray took to Instagram to share a video and message of them being ready for the beginning of the tournament.

The post led to Wilfred Ndidi sending a reply to wish his Foxes teammate well, with Gray enjoying a fine record at U21 level with seven goals in 23 games.

Despite featuring heavily last season under both Claude Puel and Brendan Rodgers, Gray managed just four goals and the one assist in 34 Premier League games and even acknowledged that he needed to step up his contributions to the team.

With the Euros representing his final major tournament outing with the U21s, the former Birmingham City star admitted that he was desperate to end his time with the youth side on a positive note. He said (via the official FA website): “This is the biggest tournament outside of senior level this summer, it’s my last Euros, and I want to win it to end my U21s career on a high.”

ScorecardSteven Finn may well have bowled himself into the England team for the first Test against South Africa after an impressive display on the first day of the tour match at Pietermaritzburg.On a sluggish pitch and against strong opposition with genuine international aspirations of their own, Finn bowled with pace, control and rhythm to claim four wickets to help England enjoy an almost perfect day. A post lunch spell of three wickets in nine balls was especially impressive and knocked the stuffing of the South Africa A middle order.While Chris Woakes, who has impressed in white ball cricket and in training, was probably pencilled in to play in the first Test before the start of this game, Finn has taken the chance offered with a style that will surely prove hard to ignore. With just two days between the first and second Tests, it bodes well for England to have a group of seamers in decent form.

Finn sees value in injury break

As if his bowling had not made the point eloquently enough, Steven Finn said he felt he was ready for a return to international cricket ahead of the Durban Test on Boxing Day.
Finn, who was drafted into the tour party only a week ago having proved his recovery from injury on the Lions tour to the UAE, bowled with pace and control in taking 4 for 34 against a strong-looking South Africa A side and afterwards suggested he was disappointed not to be included in the original squad.
“I was disappointed to be left out of the squad in the first place because I know my body and thought I had very good chance to be fit for the Boxing Day Test,” he said. “But the selectors obviously didn’t think that, I had to accept it and it made me work doubly hard.
“I’d like to think I’m ready for a Test match, but it depends how I pull up over the next day or so because I haven’t spent this long on my feet for the last three months. But I had two weeks with the Lions in Dubai building up to this point and there has been no bad reaction in my foot.
“I was on crutches for two and a half weeks. And I had the surgical boot on for a little longer so it was a steady amount of time to be off my feet and parked on the sofa. I did a lot of upper body and trunk strength work before building up my rehab with Watford FC, which I’m very grateful for, and at the moment everything is falling into place.
“Sometimes these things happen for a reason and to have seven or eight weeks of not using certain parts of my body that I use for bowling was a break I’ve not had for five or six years.”

Stephen Cook offered South Africa A’s only consolation as they succumbed for 136 in 56 overs. By carrying his bat for an unbeaten 53 in four-and-a-quarter hours, the uncapped 33-year-old demonstrated the patience, discipline and hunger required to prosper at Test level.Finn, who was forced to pull out of England’s Test series in the UAE in October after suffering a bone-stress injury in his left foot, was drafted into the squad as a late addition last week after impressing for England Lions in two Twenty20 comeback appearances against Pakistan A in Dubai.Despite having played just three Tests in the last couple of years, Finn made a strong case to be considered a first-choice selection during his comeback game at Edgbaston during the Ashes. Bowling with the familiar pace of old, but also with an ability to swing the ball which he had developed during his spell out of the Test side, he claimed 6 for 47 in the first innings and looked to have recovered the form and confidence that rendered him such an exciting prospect at the start of his career.It took him only three deliveries to strike here and, if his first wicket owed something to batsman error – Quinton de Kock edged a lavish drive outside off stump – his next three were the result of well-directed fast bowling that exposed the batsmen’s frailties around off stump. Omphile Ramala sliced a drive to point, Khaya Zondo fenced to slip and Dane Vilas appeared to be beaten for pace when he missed a straight one.It is still slightly premature to state for certain that Finn will play in the first Test. The England support staff will monitor how he recovers from his exertion in the morning. But, presuming that nothing untoward occurs, it would be a surprise if he does not play in Durban now.The selection of third seamer was the only dilemma left for England, but this was a pleasing day in other respects. Despite the heat and humidity, England clung on to some fine catches, with James Taylor’s effort at point – diving forward to snatch the ball up just off the turf – a highlight. Joe Root also held a couple of good chances, leaping above his head to hold on to an edge offered by Chris Morris, while Alex Hales, the new man in the cordon at third slip, also held a sharp chance.The only real blemish came when Ben Stokes, at slip to Moeen Ali’s off-spin, put down a sharp chance offered when Cook edged an arm-ball on 41. It is likely that James Anderson will return to fielding at slip off Moeen in the Test series, however, so Stokes’ blemish need not provoke any lasting concern.To complete England’s day, Alex Hales batted with much greater assurance and unveiled some typically elegant strokes in helping his captain reach stumps without loss. Hales took one blow to the left hand courtesy of the distinctly hostile Marchant de Lange, but generally emerged with some credit from a tough examination. Barring injury, he is certain to open in Durban.There is nothing untoward in Anderson’s omission from the XI for this game. He is at the stage of his career where he knows what he needs in terms of preparation and also knows that, whatever cricket he has left, is best played on the pitch and not in the nets. He only bowled 12 overs ahead of the Pakistan series in the UAE.Stuart Broad looks fine, too. Experienced enough to know this was not the game to try to rediscover those Ashes-winning spells, he bowled tidily and generated some decent bounce upon occasions. Stokes, too, was controlled and proved too good for the tailenders.Steven Finn appeals unsuccessfully for lbw•Getty Images

Mark Footitt, while not quite as consistent as his colleagues, also bowled pretty well. But while he produced a fine delivery to account for Reeza Hendricks – on off stump and demanding a stroke – he also went off the pitch one over into his second spell before lunch suffering from cramp. England are unlikely to take a chance on him in the immediate future.Cook was the one batsman to play with the application required on a slightly two-paced surface offering some seam assistance. While he looked fortunate to survive two big leg before appeals against Finn, both times when he had scored 27, and has a tendency to play across straight balls, it is far from impossible he may win his chance at Test level before the end of the series.The struggles of his teammates suggested that, whatever the strength of their Test XI – and the No. 1 Test ranking tells its own story – there is some doubt about the depth in quality of the game in South Africa.