Marcus Rashford may have enjoyed another encouraging evening but Barcelona were put firmly in their place by Paris Saint-Germain in their eagerly-awaited Champions League clash on Tuesday evening, with the titleholders coming from behind to claim a deserved 2-1 win at Montjuic.
Buoyed by an electrifying opening few minutes from Lamine Yamal on his return to the starting line-up, the Blaugrana broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when Ferran Torres slotted home a first-time pass from Rashford.
However, despite conceding so early, and being shorn of the services of their entire first-choice forward line, PSG gradually took control of the game and drew level seven minutes before the break through their 19-year-old striker Senny Mayulu, who finished emphatically after a terrific run and pass from Nuno Mendes.
Luis Enrique's men then bossed the second half and secured the winner their superiority warranted in the final minute of normal time, as the excellent Achraf Hakimi broke clear for the umpteenth time down the right wing before squaring for substitute Goncalo Ramos to slot home.
Below, GOAL rates all of the Barcelona players on show on a chastening night for the pretenders to PSG's European throne…
AFP
Goalkeeper & Defence
Wojciech Szczesny (6/10):
Did a good job filling in for the injured Joan Garcia, making a couple of decent stops and could do nothing about either PSG goal.
Jules Kounde (5/10):
Kept it nice and simple with his passes but offered nothing offensively, mainly because he was having so much trouble with Bradley Barcola, while the Frenchman was also missing in action when Nuno Mendes surged forward to create PSG's equaliser. On a night like this, it was clear to see that Kounde's just not on the same level as PSG's right-back Achraf Hakimi.
Eric Garcia (5/10):
Got the nod to start alongside Pau Cubarsi ahead of Ronald Araujo and justified his inclusion with a solid night's work.
Pau Cubarsi (5/10):
Still hard to believe he's only 18 because he's so composed on the ball but his inexperience was there for all to see when he over-committed himself by going to ground to try to intercept Nuno Mendes' assist for Mayulu.
Gerard Martin (6/10):
Had the odd hairy moment against Ibrahim Mbaye but he was probably Barca's best defender, winning loads of duels and passing the ball precisely.
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Midfield
Frenkie de Jong (6/10):
Never the most eye-catching of players but typically neat and tidy with his passing and also made a couple of key interceptions.
Pedri (7/10):
A total footballer, Pedri repeatedly won possession back for Barca with his tenacious tackling and intelligent reading of the play, while he also used the ball excellently – as usual. Ran out of steam in the second half, though, as PSG's aggressive approach to shutting him down began to take its toll and was replaced after Vitinha & Co. had taken complete control of the midfield.
Dani Olmo (4/10):
Fortunate that Raphinha wasn't fit to play. Olmo underwhelmed, as he so often does. Had just one shot on target, which he should have buried, and didn't create a single chance – which is awful for the No.10 in this Barca side. No surprise that he was hooked in the 70th minute.
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Attack
Lamine Yamal (5/10):
Started magnificently, beating three PSG players during one thrilling run down the right wing but he didn't actually get that much change out of Nuno Mendes. Yamal would obviously argue that the Portuguese should have been sent off for fouling him twice – but the truth of the matter is that the winger's pathetic pleas to have Mendes dismissed only underlined just how much he was struggling against the man of the match.
Ferran Torres (6/10):
Failed to make the most of one early opportunity but stuck away the second very well indeed. Pressed very well – which is why he got the nod ahead of the ageing Robert Lewandowski – but his influence waned the longer the game wore on.
Marcus Rashford (7/10):
Yet another assist for the on-loan Manchester United attacker, who is really starting to find his groove at Barca. Indeed, it was actually strange to see him come off because he looked a threat every time he picked up the ball and the highlight of his evening was arguably a sublime nutmeg on Warren Zaire-Emery.
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Subs & Manager
Alejandro Balde (5/10):
Brought on with just under 20 minutes remaining and took over from Gerard Martin at left-back. Found life just as difficult against Achraf Hakimi as the man he'd replaced.
Marc Casado (5/10):
Replaced the disappointing Olmo as Flick looked to regain control of the midfield – but didn't help in that regard.
Robert Lewandowski (5/10):
Came on for Rashford as part of Barca's treble-change in the 72nd minute but didn't get a single sight of goal.
Marc Bernal (N/A):
Saw just over 10 minutes of action as a sub for Pedri.
Hansi Flick (5/10):
The decision to start Ferran ahead of Lewandowski was just vindicated but Barca were pretty much second-best thereafter, with Flick failing to come up with any answers to PSG's dominance – despite the fact that the visitors were without so many star players.
Questionado sobre a possibilidade do Inter Miami buscar a contratação do atacante Luis Suárez, o presidente do clube norte-americano, Jorge Mas, descartou a existência de qualquer negociação nesse sentido.
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Em palavras que foram veiculadas pela emissora de TV argentina ‘TyC Sports’, um dos prorpietários da franquia onde David Beckham é um dos sócios, mesmo destacando a relação passada com os recentes reforços também com passagem pelo Barcelona, pregou absoluto respeito ao Grêmio e o vínculo existente com o Pistolero:
– É um jogador histórico e que tem relação com Jordi Alba, Sergio Busquets e Messi. É um jogador do Grêmio e respeito isso. Se falou muito, mas não temos negociações com Grêmio ou com Luis.
>Mostre sua paixão pelo Imortal com produtos a partir de R$69,90!
A entrevista chega ao torcedor gremista em tom mais tranquilizador do que as informações mais recentes que foram difundidas. Além do apontamento de conversas entre Suárez e o Inter Miami, se falou até mesmo na chance de devolução de valores por parte do atacante uruguaio para facilitar a liberação do clube gaúcho.
West Ham United have been here before when losing a star asset in the drama of the summer transfer window.
Indeed, the summer of 2023 saw Declan Rice heartbreakingly leave behind his boyhood Hammers for Arsenal, with the only bonus being that £105m hit the Irons’ bank account to soften the immediate blow.
West Ham's Lucas Paqueta celebrates his goal against Wolves in the Carabao Cup.
At least the Premier League side had sufficient time to adjust to their Rice-less reality, with Lucas Paqueta’s exit from the club, perhaps going right down to the wire of deadline day, instead, amid interest in his services from Aston Villa.
Graham Potter’s men will surely have last-minute replacements up their sleeve in case their much-talked-about midfielder does depart, with the low-morale Hammers entering into a last-ditch race for this £34m gem, as per reports.
West Ham enter late race for £34m star
The latest on Paqueta’s short-term Hammers future seems to change by the minute.
He was reportedly in line to make a £47m move to Unai Emery’s Villans, but now, according to journalist Jacob Steinberg, he should be staying put, unless a drastic exit takes place imminently.
That was seemingly rubberstamped by the Brazilian’s goal celebration during the Hammers’ 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest.
Still, after the pretty bleak start to the season experienced by those at the London Stadium, additions to the midfield ranks could be prioritised.
Indeed, as per Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, the already relegation-threatened Hammers have entered the late race to secure the services of Arsenal reserve midfielder Fabio Vieira.
Plettenberg states that a departure is planned before deadline day for Vieira to exit the Emirates, with the previous £34m buy for the Gunners also attracting interest from Stuttgart.
How Vieira can be Fornals 2.0
Potter and Co. might well view the Portuguese attacking midfielder as a suitable replacement for Paqueta if the Brazilian does up and leave dramatically, with West Ham also winning their next Pablo Fornals potentially by snapping up the versatile 25-year-old.
Before heading back to his native Spain with Real Betis, Fornals was a firm fan favourite plying his trade in East London.
The six-time Spain international would tally up an impressive haul of 23 goals and 19 assists across a mammoth 203 appearances for the club, with pundit Noel Whelan even going as far as to herald the 29-year-old as an “unsung hero” when he was still pulling on claret and blue.
Vieira will hope he can be seen in a similarly glowing light if he leaves North London behind shortly, having shone in flashes for Mikel Arteta’s men, when not consistently stuck on the periphery.
After all, despite making just 49 appearances for Arsenal since his £34m switch from FC Porto, the attacking midfielder has gone on to collect a respectable three goals and ten assists.
With a sublime 15 goals and 24 assists under his belt in Portugal, too, he really could come into his own as an adaptable, Fornals-like presence if Potter and Co. come calling.
Vieira’s career numbers
Position
Games
Goals + Assists
AM
65
9 + 20
CM
42
7 + 7
RW
24
3 + 4
RM
18
2 + 2
SS
9
3 + 3
LW
4
1 + 1
LM
3
0
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Across his up-and-down playing days in Portugal and England, Vieira has at least managed to stand out as a flexible presence, with seven different positions on the pitch being filled by the diminutive 5-foot-7 attacker across 165 clashes above. To add context, Fornals would line up in the same number of different positions for West Ham during his celebrated stay.
While he hasn’t always been front and centre of Arteta’s plans, the 25-year-old playmaker will pray he can get back to his “special” best at the London Stadium, as he was once labelled by writer Hayley McGoldrick, having also been dubbed a “smooth operator” previously by journalist Tom Kundert. That smooth presence could certainly also be applied to Fornals.
If he can star in East London away from the stifling environment of North London, he could also fill a Paqueta-shaped hole down the line, with the Brazilian also being showered with high praise, having been branded “mercurial” for the Hammers by ex-London Stadium coach Mark Warburton.
Even if he does stay, West Ham needs some boosts to lift the dire mood, with Vieira arriving just in the nick of time perhaps having that desired effect.
Dream partner for Magassa: West Ham plotting raid to sign £15m "pitbull"
Following the arrivals of both Soungoutou Magassa and Mateus Fernandes on Friday, could West Ham United now sign a £15m midfield “pitbull” as well?
Noor still heads the Purple Cap table with 11 wickets, but four bowlers are on ten wickets each and are closing the gap quickly
ESPNcricinfo staff10-Apr-20252:36
‘Sai Sudharsan plays the perfect mix of conventional and modern-day cricket’
.Orange Cap leaderboardFour batters have now scored runs in excess of 200 but Nicholas Pooran of Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) is still going strong at the top. His 288 runs from five innings, including three half-centuries, has ensured he remains No. 1.Moving up rapidly after his best score of this IPL is B Sai Sudharsan. His Player-of-the-Match knock of 82 off 53 balls, his third half-century of the season, propelled GT to 217 for 6, which proved too much for RR. He has been having a dream IPL so far, having accumulated 273 in five innings.Not far behind is Pooran’s team-mate at LSG, Mitchell Marsh. His entertaining 81 off 48 balls played a crucial role in LSG registering their third win of this season, this one against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). With four fifties in five innings, Marsh has 265 runs.GT’s Jos Buttler, who hit 36 on Wednesday to take his tally to 203, is the other 200-plus batter at the moment, with Suryakumar Yadav of Mumbai Indians (MI) in fifth spot with 199 runs.R Sai Kishore has ten wickets from five games•BCCI
Purple Cap leaderboardChennai Super Kings (CSK) left-arm wristspinner Noor Ahmad still holds the Purple Cap with 11 wickets from five games. But other bowlers are also putting up strong performances to provide stiff competition.Joining MI captain Hardik Pandya and CSK’s Khaleel Ahmed for joint-second are GT bowlers Mohammed Siraj and R Sai Kishore. While Sai Kishore picked up 2 for 20 in Ahmedabad, Siraj added one wicket on the night. All of them have ten wickets to their names. Out of these bowlers, only Hardik has played four innings, one fewer than the rest, and has retained his position at No. 2 while Sai Kishore with his economy rate of 7.25 goes up to third position. Siraj and Khaleel are fourth and fifth in the list with economy rate of 7.70 and 8.25, respectively.Mitchell Starc, and Shardul Thakur have nine wickets each.
Nottingham Forest have now submitted an offer for a defender who has “great speed”, with negotiations currently ongoing.
Business as usual at Forest despite Nuno uncertainty
Nuno speaking negatively about his relationship with Evangelos Marinakis has caused instability at Forest, and there have been suggestions that Ange Postecoglou could be brought in as a replacement for the 51-year-old.
However, there is said to be an air of business as usual at the City Ground, with Forest focusing on having a strong end to the summer transfer window, having already made major improvements to their squad.
One position in which the Tricky Trees are yet to strengthen, however, is full-back, and Nuno clearly feels more depth is required on both sides ahead of the upcoming Europa League campaign.
Requested by Nuno: Nottingham Forest make offer for £6m "big-game" player
The Tricky Trees have tabled a bid for a new signing, with negotiations currently ongoing.
ByDominic Lund Aug 27, 2025
Earlier this week, it was revealed that talks over a deal for Leicester City left-back Victor Kristiansen are progressing, and now Nuno’s side are looking to strengthen on the opposite flank too.
That is according to a report from Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), which states Nottingham Forest have now submitted a €12m (£10m) offer for Juventus right-back Nicolo Savona, which was knocked back, with the Italian club looking for a total package worth up to €20m (£17m).
The Serie A side are open to a sale, with information from journalist Gianluca di Marzio also being relayed, who reports that negotiations between the two clubs are currently ongoing, and they are likely to meet somewhere in the middle.
Savona is being targeted as an alternative to Sevilla’s José Ángel Carmona, who has made it clear he would prefer to remain at his boyhood club, rather than moving to the Premier League this summer.
Carmona should remain Forest's number one target
The aforementioned report states Carmona could still change his mind about a move to the Premier League, which would be good news for Forest, given that he has vastly outperformed Savona from a defensive point of view over the past year.
Average per 90
Jose Angel Carmona
Nicolo Savona
Tackles
2.42
1.42
Interceptions
1.96
0.58
Blocks
1.22
0.75
Clearances
2.88
2.04
The Spaniard is also far more experienced at senior level, having made 96 appearances across spells with Sevilla, Getafe and Elche CF, while the Juventus defender has just 40 first-team appearances to his name.
Juventus boss Igor Tudor has praised his defender in the past, saying: “He is professional and has great football intelligence. He understands what is happening on the pitch, and he has great speed. So we’re talking about a player with so many skills.”
Nicolo Savona in Champions League action for Juventus.
“He is a humble guy who listens to advice. These are things that may seem obvious, but they are not at all. He has those values that are getting a bit lost, so they are precious now.”
However, Forest should work on changing Carmona’s mind before the transfer deadline, as there is every indication he would be a better signing than the Italian.
CSK picked three spinners for their first home game of the IPL 2025 season against Mumbai
ESPNcricinfo staff23-Mar-20259:50
Rayudu: The MI-CSK rivalry is real
Chennai Super Kings won the toss in Chennai and had no reservations deciding to chase in their IPL 2025 opener against Mumbai Indians. The pitch wore a sheen and looked hard as against the expectations from CSK, who have three quality spinners in their line-up.Suryakumar Yadav, the MI stand-in captain, said he would have batted first anyway because there hasn’t been much dew around due to windy conditions in the night. There were two exciting newcomers for MI. Well they built them up at any rate. S Raju was the fast bowler expected to be their death specialist, and left-arm wristspinner Vignesh Puthur was a possible Impact Player when they start their defence later in the night.On a day that had been excellent for at least one Jharkhand wicketkeeper, MI handed a debut to Robin Minz to make it three Jharkhand wicketkeepers in IPL action on the same day.The third one, MS Dhoni, of course continued to be a leader for CSK without a title. As is the case usually with CSK, they were not handing out any debuts, banking instead on experienced players. R Ashwin came back to the team representing his beloved home town of Chennai. Nathan Ellis edged out Matheesha Pathirana. CSK had a more established left-arm wristspinner of their own in Noor Ahmad.Mumbai Indians 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 3 Will Jacks, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Naman Dhir, 7 Robin Minz, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Trent Boult, 11 S RajuSubstitutes: Vignesh Puthur, Ashwani Kumar, Raj Bawa, Corbin Bosch, Karn SharmaChennai Super Kings 1 Rachin Ravindra, 2 Ruturaj Gaikwad (capt), 3 Deepak Hooda, 4 Shivam Dube, 5 Ravindra Jadeja, 6 Sam Curran, 7 MS Dhoni (wk), 8 R Ashwin, 9 Noor Ahmad, 10 Nathan Ellis, 11 Khaleel AhmedSubstitutes: Rahul Tripathi, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Vijay Shankar, Jamie Overton, Shaik Rasheed
"He has great potential. He's really smart, a guy who's always thinking," Ruben Amorim said after Benjamin Sesko's £74 million ($101m) switch to Manchester United from RB Leipzig at the start of August. "He can play a different type of football. He is going to feel that the Premier League is aggressive. He is going to learn. But Ben can be a striker for United for a lot of years; that's why we paid so much money to have a striker who will have his history in our club."
Unfortunately, that potential has not shone through in his first seven games for the Red Devils. Sesko went six games without scoring, albeit while only starting two, before finally getting off the mark against Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium last weekend – bundling home from close range at the third time of asking.
And while that effort was no doubt a moment of relief for the 22-year-old, it ultimately counted for absolutely nothing. United ended up losing the game 3-1 and slipping to 14th in the Premier League table – just one place higher than where they finished last term.
Despite the presence of Sesko, and fellow summer signings Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, consistency and goals are still elusive for Amorim's team. Indeed, that trio has only scored three between them from 20 combined appearances across all competitions. It's obviously still very early, but that is an awful return considering the club's £208m ($280m) investment in their services.
Sesko's numbers are not the biggest concern, though. Unlike Mbeumo and Cunha, who have shown plenty of industry on the ball, the Slovenia international has largely stood on the periphery struggling to impose himself. The learning curve wasn't supposed to be steep. But much of the blame for that must be laid at Amorim's door. United are not even trying to play to Sesko's strengths, and at the moment, he's facing an impossible task as the lone striker in a deeply flawed system.
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'Positive energy' already gone
Sesko had been on the radar of Europe's elite for some time, and Newcastle also made a strong play for his services in the summer transfer window. The Magpies even outbid United, but the talented frontman still opted for Old Trafford, and reportedly agreed to waive a portion of his salary to force through the move.
That was proof that the Red Devils' pulling power has not completely diminished, despite their misery over the last 12 years or so. The INEOS leadership regime also sold Sesko a compelling story about revolution and a new era of success in recently stablised surroundings, which he bought into.
"The history of Manchester United is obviously very special but what really excites me is the future," Sesko said at his unveiling. "When we discussed the project, it was clear that everything is in place for this team to continue to grow and compete for the biggest trophies again soon.
"From the moment that I arrived, I could feel the positive energy and family environment that the club has created. It is clearly the perfect place to reach my maximum level and fulfil all of my ambitions. I cannot wait to start learning from Ruben and connecting with my team-mates to achieve the success that we all know we are capable of together."
But that "positive energy" has quickly evaporated. There's still nothing exciting about watching United; they don't look even close to competing with the Premier League's elite sides, and Sesko has looked a shadow of the player who terrorised Bundesliga defences week in, week out at Leipzig.
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Unfair criticism
According to , Sesko has averaged only 1.8 shots and 14 touches per game in the Premier League so far. He has also yet to create a big chance, and has a passing accuracy rate of just 69%. It's fair to say the Slovenian has looked like a fish out of water. But when you factor in that United have posted the worst xG difference in the entire top flight (7.26), his struggles are not surprising.
Sesko has just been an easy target after poor results, most notably the stunning second-round Carabao Cup defeat to League Two outfit Grimsby Town. United lost 13-12 in a marathon penalty shootout, having had to battle back from two goals down in normal time.
Sesko was the 10th player from Amorim's ranks to step up from 12 yards, with even centre-backs Harry Maguire and Matthijs de Ligt going ahead of him. The former Leipzig star converted his spot-kick, but was still vilified in the media, with former Aston Villa striker turned pundit Gabby Agbonlahor among those to brand him a "coward" for going so low down in the order.
However, like most of the criticism levelled at Sesko over the last few weeks, that was unfair. Amorim later clarified that he "protected" the £74m man because he was suffering from cramps, which was an entirely valid excuse considering that it was his first appearance in United's starting lineup.
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Biggest strength going to waste
People seem to be forgetting that Sesko has only played 419 minutes for United this season. That is not enough time to build any sort of rhythm. He has now made three successive Premier League starts, but Amorim hauled him off at half-time in the 2-1 win against Chelsea, which was an overly conservative move that surely would have zapped his confidence.
Sesko didn't get much of a pre-season at Leipzig, but is fully fit now and should be one of the first names on the teamsheet given the money spent on him and his scoring record in Germany. He hit 27 goals across his two campaigns in the Bundesliga, and Amorim has to at least give him the platform to try and replicate that output.
That should also include a formation tweak, because Sesko's biggest strength is going to waste. Amorim's preferred 3-4-3 is a winger-less narrow set-up, with the likes of Mbeumo and Cunha playing as inside forwards, and as such, the crosses that Sesko thrived on at Leipzig are in short supply.
He is a 6ft 5in powerhouse who boasts the spring to outjump almost any marker. Indeed, he won 70 headed duels in the Bundesliga last term, more than any United player managed in Premier League competition, and his 14 headed shots beat Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee's combined total of 12.
United haven't had a striker with that kind of aerial threat since Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but Sesko will never be able to make the same impact if Amorim continues to be so rigid, because it's far too easy for opponents to mark him out of the game. A simple switch to a 4-2-3-1 could unlock Sesko's full potential, with Mbeumo and Cunha providing proper width and United's chief creator, Bruno Fernandes, playing further forward.
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'There's nothing created for him!'
Sesko is also putting in a lot of fruitless work off the ball. He plays on the shoulder of the last defender and always looks to make runs in behind, but they too often go unnoticed because of United's predictable passing routines under Amorim.
The Red Devils' towering new No.9 is trying to receive the ball close to the penalty area, but United are terrible at keeping possession in advanced areas and promising attacks usually peter out because a player knocks it backwards or sideways, or runs into traffic, instead of playing straight through to Sesko.
It's a problem that club legend Rio Ferdinand pointed out after watching Sesko toil in vain during United's dismal derby defeat to Manchester City at the Etihad. "The one I'm worried about is Sesko. He ain't getting no chances, man, he ain't getting no opportunities, there's nothing created for him," Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.
"That's the concern. A new striker comes in the football club, gets in the team, you've got to think about creating chances for him. Getting him on the end of things. That's something I think has got to be looked at, and fixed quick. I don't want to think about what it could turn out to be."
Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2024 campaign was marred by hostile receptions to captain Hardik Pandya, with the side finishing rock bottom. A lot has happened since, with Hardik winning two ICC titles with India, including the T20 World Cup in June last year. MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene expects their fans to “see beyond what happened last season” as Hardik prepares to play his first game in the new season. Hardik had missed MI’s season opener against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk last weekend owing to an over-rate offence from last season.”I think it’s just a game of cricket. Fans are fans and the emotions are part of it and I’m sure that everyone has gone beyond that,” Jayawardene said on the eve of MI’s match against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on Saturday. “It’s amazing to see how the loyalty and everything works even in IPL, which is fascinating, and I’ve enjoyed that from the outside. Twelve months on, he has achieved a lot more and I’m sure everyone will see beyond what has happened last year. We can enjoy a good game of cricket and everyone can enjoy a good game of cricket.”MI have never beaten GT in Ahmedabad in three attempts since IPL 2023, but Jayawardene wasn’t too perturbed by it.Related
No T20 experience? No problem for MI's Vignesh Puthur, who stood out on his IPL debut
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“I think we just take the present situation as simple as that,” he said. “I’m trying to recall whether I had been involved. No. So there you go. It’s a start.”MI continue to be without Jasprit Bumrah who is expected to join the squad at some point in April. He is currently undergoing rehab at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.”On a daily basis he’s going through his programme,” Jayawardene said of Bumrah. “So far everything seems ok but there were no timelines given by NCA so we’ll wait on that.”In the absence of both Bumrah and Hardik against CSK, MI handed out IPL debuts to seamer S Raju and left-arm wristspinner Vignesh Puthur. While Raju bowled just over for 13 runs, Puthur was more impressive, returning 3 for 32, despite no T20 or representative cricket experience before that fixture. After MI had plucked him out of the inaugural Kerala T20 league, a stint as a net bowler with MI Cape Town in the 2024-25 SA20 fast-tracked his development. At the SA20, Puthur had the opportunity to work with Rashid Khan. On Saturday, he could come up against Rashid, who will spearhead GT’s attack.”I wasn’t there [at the SA20],” Jayawardene said. “Yes, I was part of the thought process, but I wasn’t there. It was just to get him out and expose him to cricket because we felt that there is talent and because he hasn’t played much cricket prior, give him that exposure working with some players. And that’s about it. VP is being chilled and he’s getting along with it.”
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.
Rasmus Hojlund and Antony celebrate Man Utd goal.
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.
Brighton & Hove Albion's CarlosBalebain action with Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic
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.
Kobbie Mainoo – PL stats (2024/25)
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%
Stats via FBref
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.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard’s scheduled flight to join the Norway national team was cancelled after he suffered a fresh knee injury against West Ham. The midfielder left the Emirates in a brace following another setback, leaving the Gunners concerned over his fitness ahead of crucial domestic and international fixtures.
Odegaard's Norway jet cancelled after injury
Odegaard was forced off in the first half of Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over West Ham after colliding knees with Crysencio Summerville. The 26-year-old attempted to continue twice before signalling he could no longer play, visibly frustrated as he left the pitch. He was later spotted with a brace on his knee, which has prompted Arsenal to cancel his private jet to Norway for international duty, as per .
Advertisement(C)Getty imagesOdegaard suffering from injury crisis this year
Odegaard had only recently returned from a shoulder problem and was eager to regain rhythm ahead of the October international break. Norway are set to face Israel in a vital World Cup qualifier next Saturday, with Odegaard’s availability now in serious doubt. The national team is awaiting updates from Arsenal’s medical staff before deciding whether to call up a replacement.
Getty Images SportArteta admitted that Odegaard injury doesn't look 'positive'
Mikel Arteta admitted after the game that the early signs “don’t look positive” for his skipper. “He’s not feeling great right now, and we’ll need to assess it properly before making any decisions,” the Arsenal boss said. The setback adds to a growing injury list for the Gunners and continues a worrying trend for Odegaard, who has been forced off in three straight Premier League home starts.
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Will Odegaard be able to return after the break?
Arsenal’s medical team will continue to assess the severity of Odegaard’s knee issue in the coming days. The Gunners will be desperate to avoid another lengthy absence for their captain, especially with key fixtures looming after the international break. If scans reveal any significant damage, Odegaard could be sidelined for several weeks.