Um bar deSete Lagoas, Região Central de Minas Gerais foi palco de mais uma confusão entre torcidas organizadas deAtlético-MG e Cruzeiro. O fato ocorreu durante a noite do último domingo, 19 de março, quando membros de uma organizada atleticana agrediram uniformizados cruzeirenses sem nenhum motivo anterior.
Imagens de câmeras de segurança flagraram a pancadaria. inicialmente, dois atleticanos golpeiam um cruzeirense, que cai no chão e segue sendo agredido. Na sequência, enquanto torcedores do Cruzeiro tentam se defender, atleticanos investem em mais agressões. Há, inclusive, o lançamento de uma cadeira na direção de uma das vítimas.
RelacionadasCruzeiroCruzeiro tem estatísticas de ‘zona de rebaixamento’ no início de temporadaCruzeiro21/03/2023América MineiroDiretor do América-MG elogia categorias de base e exalta Arthur: ‘Case de sucesso’América Mineiro21/03/2023Atlético MineiroElenco do Atlético-MG ganha folga antes de mês decisivo; confira o calendário de abrilAtlético Mineiro21/03/2023
+ Novidade no ar! Acompanhe as últimas negociações de Atlético-MG e Cruzeiro no mercado da bola
Após a repercussão do caso, a Galoucura, principal torcida organizada do Atlético-MG, emitiu uma nota dizendo querepudia “qualquer ato ou atitude que venha prejudicar o andamento de nossa entidade”. Dois torcedores foram identificados e punidos ou suspensos:Andrey Filipe Gomes do Carmo eRodrigo Miranda de Castro.
A Polícia Civil de Minas Gerais, por sua vez, informa por nota que instaurou inquérito para investigar o caso. Confira:
-Sobre uma briga que envolveu torcedores do Atlético-MG e do Cruzeiro, ocorrida no domingo (19), a Polícia Civil de Minas Gerais (PCMG) informa que instaurou inquérito policial para apuração dos fatos. A investigação, que ficará a cargo da Delegacia Regional de Sete Lagoas, visa identificar os suspeitos para a devida responsabilização criminal. Por ser supostamente crime previsto no Código Penal (art. 137 – participar de rixa, salvo para separar os contendores), a ação penal pública é incondicionada, ou seja, não precisa de manifestação de qualquer pessoa para ser iniciada. Além disso, há conexão com o Estatuto do Torcedor – publicou.
Healy, McGrath fifties go in vain as Mumbai continue winning run with fourth win in four games
Zenia D'cunha12-Mar-20235:58
What was the ‘double review’ all about?
Who can stop Mumbai Indians in the WPL?At the halfway point of the league stage, the answer is: No one. Yet, at any rate.UP Warriorz were the only team not to have played, and therefore not to have lost, to Mumbai and the set was completed on Sunday at a packed Brabourne Stadium.Mumbai have now played four and won four with the following margins: 143 runs (Gujarat Giants), nine wickets (Royal Challengers Bangalore), eight wickets (Delhi Capitals), and eight wickets (Warriorz). Comprehensive, each of them.But don’t let this latest lopsided-looking result fool you. The win over Warriorz was not as straightforward as it might seem. Harmanpreet Kaur (53 off 33 balls) stood tall and produced a remarkable knock that made a tricky chase look easy, but it could well have been tougher. That it wasn’t, when Mumbai were finally tested, was down to their captain and their other trump card, the purple-cap holder Saika Ishaque.The match, and Mumbai’s prowess, might perhaps be best summed up with the tale of two overs. One bowled by Ishaque, one faced by Harmanpreet.Two overs. Two players who are on the opposite sides of the spectrum of Indian cricket. Two (more) reasons why Mumbai have been unstoppable.Saika Ishaque starred with three wickets•BCCI
Saika Ishaque takes out Alyssa Healy and Tahlia McGrathIn the first innings, Warriorz were cruising at 138 for 2 after 16 overs, and looking good for a big total, with Alyssa Healy past fifty and Tahlia McGrath almost there. Ishaque then came in for her last over, having been at the receiving end of Healy’s aggression a fair bit earlier.”Bowler , wicket (I am a bowler, I am here to take wickets),” she had famously said when she got the purple cap for the first time this season. It’s exactly what she did. On the third ball, she dismissed Healy lbw for 58. Two balls later, she got McGrath stumped for 50. Cool as you please.She finished her spell with figures of 3 for 33, ensuring the purple cap remains firmly with her. Warriorz could only manage 159 in the end, a gettable target.Harmanpreet Kaur upped her scoring rate after a cautious start•BCCI
Harmanpreet Kaur amps it upThen Mumbai were in a spot of bother at 72 for 2, after an uncharacteristically slow 17-ball 12 from Hayley Mathews and Yastika Bhatia falling after a good start (42 off 27). Warriorz’s spin, which had set up their previous win, was working well on a pitch that had started aiding turn, Harmanpreet and Nat Sciver-Brunt were yet to get off the mark, and the asking rate was climbing.It was still on Mumbai’s side at 88 needed from 60 balls, but Harmanpreet had taken six balls to get off the mark. She then got a stroke of luck when she was on seven. Anjali Sarvani bowled a slower one on leg stump, which seemed to graze the stumps, the bail lit up, but stayed put.Harmanpreet rode this luck to play a knock to remember.It was the 16th over, McGrath’s first. After the first ball, Sciver-Brunt was checked for concussion. One has to wonder what was discussed in the brief break because when Harmanpreet took strike again, she completely changed the game in just four balls with a four, six, four, four sequence, the six over cover such an effortlessly clean hit that it will go down as a shot-of-the-tournament contender.She took six balls to get off the mark, but got to her fifty is 31 balls. She scored 36 runs in the last 12 balls she faced. Sciver-Brunt (45 off 31) and Harmanpreet ensured that Mumbai had yet another big win in the bag, and one foot straight in the final.Just Harmanpreet things. Just Mumbai Indians things.
Stirling will return to Edgbaston for a short stint as cover for Glenn Maxwell
Matt Roller28-Feb-2023
Paul Stirling hit 119 off 51 on Bears debut last summer•PA Images via Getty Images
Warwickshire have signed Paul Stirling on a short-term deal as cover for Glenn Maxwell during the final stages of the IPL season. The move appears to confirm he will not be involved in Ireland’s Test against England at Lord’s from June 1-4.Maxwell recently signed a contract that will cover the majority of the Blast season, which runs from May 20 until July 15, but he will miss the start of the campaign while playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore in India.Stirling will play a handful of games for Warwickshire – under their T20 guise as Birmingham Bears – at the start of the season, with the exact number dependent on RCB’s progress. Hasan Ali, the Pakistan seamer, is their other overseas player.Stirling was available for the majority of the competition last year and hit 119 off 51 on his debut against Northamptonshire, an innings which included a 34-run over off the young seamer James Sales. His returns dipped thereafter, and he ended the season averaging 24.07 – albeit with a strike rate of 174.86.Related
Warwickshire hail 'amazing signing' as Maxwell joins for Blast
Hasan Ali signs four-month Warwickshire deal for 2023
Ireland's Tucker to miss Zimbabwe T20Is to play ILT20
Stirling, Little to miss Ireland T20Is for T20 leagues
PJ Moor named in Ireland's Test squads
“We’re very lucky to be able to call on somebody of Paul’s calibre as cover,” Mark Robinson, Warwickshire’s coach said. “It’s a short-term deal to cover what could be as little as one or up to three or four matches after the Blast Off.”Paul made a big impact last season and the one over in which he hit five sixes and one four in an over will live long in the memory of Bears’ fans. But he was also great to have in the Club and around the dressing room. He’s a great lad with huge domestic and international experience.”Stirling set to miss England TestCricket Ireland announced on Tuesday that Stirling has been granted a No-Objection Certificate, which confirms he is highly unlikely to be involved in their Test against England at Lord’s from June 1-4 – four days after the IPL final in Ahmedabad.Earlier this month, Stirling was left out of Ireland’s squads for the upcoming Tests against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, and coach Heinrich Malan suggested at the time that Stirling would focus solely on white-ball cricket before the 2023 World Cup in India.”It was a mutual discussion over more than one coffee,” Malan said at the time. “It’s all about… making sure that we find a balance between him playing for Ireland and then obviously some of his commitments he has around the leagues. This year, with a big white-ball focus in terms of a pinnacle event in the World Cup, we got to that agreement that, up until the World Cup, he will only play white-ball cricket for us.”Ireland will need to beat Bangladesh 3-0 in May and hope other results go their way in order to qualify automatically for that tournament, and are expecting to play in the qualifying tournament in Zimbabwe this summer. They will also play in the European Qualifier for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the United States, which will be staged in Scotland in July.
Back as vice-captain, 35-year-old says “nothing has changed” for him
Shashank Kishore11-Jul-20232:28
Rahane: I’ve worked on my batting and fitness in the last year and a half
Having turned 35 last month, Ajinkya Rahane says he still has a “lot of cricket left” in him, but is firmly focused on living in the moment instead of looking too far into the future as India begin their new WTC cycle with the two-match Test series against West Indies beginning July 12 in Roseau.Call it a quirk of fate, and Rahane has been named vice-captain of the Test team, even though he was making a comeback to the side only last month after more than a year away. In that game against Australia – the WTC final no less – he was India’s best batter, with scores of 89 and 46.”I’m still young and there’s a lot of cricket left in me. In the last one year or so, I’ve worked a lot on my fitness,” Rahane said after rain cut short India’s training session for a second day in a row at Windsor Park. “There were a few points in my batting that I’ve worked on. I’m enjoying my cricket a lot, enjoying my batting. I’m not thinking too much into the future. Every game is important, personally and also from the team point of view. I’m focusing on just that.”Related
Rahane pulls out of Leicestershire stint because of 'hectic schedule'
Rohit: 'Gill will play at No. 3' against West Indies
Ganguly on Rahane as vice-captain: 'I don't understand the thought'
Succession: What next for India in Tests?
Rahane sends team-mate Jaiswal off the field for disciplinary reasons
Since being left out of the Test side in February 2022, Rahane has focused on deriving joy out of the game without setting any expectations. He captained Mumbai across formats in the 2022-23 domestic season, leading them to the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 title, while also throwing in some compelling performances with the bat.In all first-class cricket since September 2022 until February this year, he scored 884 runs in 16 innings with three hundreds and a half-century at 58.93. The numbers, excellent though not world beating, were a sign that he had kept himself in the hunt should a spot open up.As it turned out, India needed experience for the WTC final in Shreyas Iyer’s absence. And when Rahane got the call, he was batting in the manner few expected him to in the IPL, going from an anchor to a full-blown boundary-hitter.The turnaround was remarkable because Rahane wasn’t in Chennai Super Kings’ original plans. His IPL career seemed to have hit a dead end; he hadn’t hit a fifty in the tournament since the 2020 edition. And like at the Indian team, a spot opened up for Super Kings because Ben Stokes was injured and Moeen Ali unwell. He vindicated the backing in his second game, scoring a match-winning 61 off just 27 balls against Mumbai Indians.”Playing under Rohit Sharma is great. We share a great equation” – Ajinkya Rahane•BCCI
“Nothing has changed,” Rahane insisted when asked of this latest turn in his career. “CSK gave me a role, and you try to fulfil that role. Prior to that, my role was of an anchor, [and] I played according to that. CSK told me, ‘You have freedom, go out and play according to that’. I’m actually a stroke-maker, I always look for runs. The role has changed, nothing else has changed. I’ve always said I’ll fulfil the role the team gives me. That’s what I’m focusing on.”The WTC final last month was Rahane’s first match under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy for India, even though they both go back a long way, having grown up playing together for Mumbai through the age-group circuit and then the first-class format.”The role Rohit gives me, I’ll fulfil that. Playing under Rohit is great,” Rahane said. “He gives freedom to the players, and then backs them. They’re signs of a great captain. I’m feeling good. We share a great equation. I’m used to this role [as vice-captain]. I did the job for almost five years, but I’m really happy to be back in the team. Really happy to be back as vice-captain.”Rahane was particularly chuffed for another Mumbai boy – 21-year-old Yashasvi Jaiswal, who Rahane captained in domestic cricket all through 2022-23, where Jaiswal made heads turn with his temperament and stroke-play. In all, Jaiswal has a first-class average of 80.21 in 26 innings, and scores of 213 and 144 in his most recent first-class game, in the Irani Cup in March.Having been a part of the reserves for the WTC final, Jaiswal has now been given an elevation into the main squad. It’s likely he will be handed a cap to slot in either at the top or at one drop in place of Cheteshwar Pujara.”I’m really happy for him. He’s an exciting talent,” Rahane said. “He’s done really well for Mumbai, [and] did well in the IPL. Most important [is] the way he’s batting in red-ball cricket. His record is good, he did well in the Duleep Trophy last year and for Mumbai as well. My message will be to just go out there and express himself the way he’s batting, and not think too much about [the stage of] international cricket. It’s about going in the middle and playing with freedom.”Rahane also didn’t think India fielding a pace attack with just 88 Test wickets between them was a concern. While Mohammed Siraj will be India’s spearhead in the West Indies with 52 wickets so far in Tests, Jaydev Unadkat, who made a return to the format after 12 years against Bangladesh last December, has been India’s most consistent red-ball bowler in domestic cricket for the last four seasons.In two of them, Unadkat led the team to a title and in one season – 2019-20 – picked up a record-breaking 67 wickets, the most by a fast bowler in a single Ranji season. In 2022-23, he featured in just four Ranji games owing to national call-ups. Unadkat led the side in all those fixtures, and took 26 wickets at an average of 13.88. His best performance came against Delhi, in which he took a hat-trick in the first over of the match on his way to career-best figures of 8 for 39.”Siraj is there as a senior bowler, [and] Jaydev has a lot of experience. The other two guys [Shardul Thakur and Navdeep Saini] are pretty much experienced, so it’s an opportunity,” Rahane said. “[Mohammed] Shami is our senior bowler who has really done well for us, but with a long season ahead, need to give him a rest as well.”At the same time, we are not underestimating West Indies. We don’t know what people are saying on the outside, but we are definitely not taking them lightly. Their performance at home in Tests has been good in the last one to two years. We’ve had good preparation in Barbados before coming in, so we’re well covered. It’s all about starting well now.”
Proteas seamer notches seventh five-wicket haul for Notts as home side edge opening day
ECB Reporters Network05-Apr-2024
Dean Elgar battled to 80 from 156 balls in his first innings for Essex•Getty Images
Dean Elgar and Jordan Cox made eye-catching debuts for Essex but it was Elgar’s fellow South African Dane Paterson who stole the show on the opening day of the Vitality County Championship season at Trent Bridge.Opener Elgar, who retired from international cricket earlier this year, looked more than capable of filling the void left by Sir Alastair Cook, defying typical opening-day conditions with a classy 80.He shared a 112-run third-wicket partnership with the brightly talented former Kent batter Cox, who went on to make 84. But Paterson, who flew back from a winter at home only on Wednesday, powered a Nottinghamshire fightback by taking 5 for 49 with his wily medium pace.Paterson bowled Elgar with one of several outstanding deliveries as Essex, runners-up in Division One last season, slipped from 170 for 2 to 176 for 5, before closing on 244 for 9 from 77 overs, time having been lost to a wet outfield at the start and bad light in the evening.Cox impressed his new employers with a mature performance but one which, Elgar apart, lacked any meaningful support.Elgar announced himself with a boundary first ball, dispatching a Brett Hutton half-volley through cover. In testing conditions, the South African was 31 from 62 at lunch, having survived a number of tricky moments without giving a chance.Feroze Kushi, without a Championship appearance since last June but preferred to Nick Browne to open with Elgar, made a brisk 18 that included an audacious six off Nottinghamshire debutant Dillon Pennington, who then had him squared up and edging to first slip.Paterson, Nottinghamshire’s most consistent performer with the ball, took over from Pennington at the pavilion end and soon tempted Tom Westley into a nibble outside off stump, wicketkeeper Joe Clarke taking a good, diving catch to his right.Clarke has the gloves in this match because a Nottinghamshire batting line-up bolstered by the return of England’s Ben Duckett for his first Championship match for 11 months, and by the addition of Jack Haynes, another signing from Worcestershire, could not accommodate regular ‘keeper Tom Moores.As Nottinghamshire searched for a further breakthrough with the Kookaburra ball – in use for the first of four Championship rounds this year – Elgar and Cox dominated much of the afternoon session, the former completing his half-century off 86 balls, Cox reaching that mark from 10 balls fewer soon after lofting leg-spinner Calvin Harrison over the straight boundary for the day’s second six.Elgar was playing with such assurance, drawing on the experience of his two previous county stints with Somerset and Surrey, that a debut century looked there for the taking. But the session ended with Paterson, having switched to the Radcliffe Road end, taking wickets in consecutive overs before tea.Back for his fourth season at Trent Bridge after topping 50 wickets in each of the first three, Paterson produced the ball of the day to bowl his compatriot – angled in from round the wicket and straightening just enough to pass the edge and clip the off bail.Moments later, Paterson was celebrating again as another fine delivery trapped new batter Matt Critchley in front, leaving Essex 174 for 4 at tea, which quickly became 176 for five on the resumption as Paterson continued his excellent spell by dismissing Paul Walter, tamely caught behind, to claim a third wicket in the space of 16 balls.His fifth wicket in all soon followed, Adam Rossington deceived by another superb ball that took out his off stump, giving the bowler figures of four for 24 from an eight-over second spell, and a seventh five-wicket haul in Championship cricket.Cox’s hopes of a debut hundred were also thwarted, having overtaken Elgar with his 11th four only to perish next ball when Harrison turned one past his defensive bat to bowl him. All-rounder Lyndon James, meanwhile, dismissed Simon Harmer and Shane Snater to give Nottinghamshire three bowling points, with Essex still looking for a first batting point.
Arsenal are ready to make a “bold” attempt to sign a “dominant” Real Madrid player following approval from Mikel Arteta, which interestingly comes amid the Gunners’ exceptional 3-0 win over Carlo Ancelotti’s men in the Champions League.
Arsenal hammer Real Madrid in statement Champions League win
Tuesday evening was one of Arsenal’s proudest ever nights in Europe, with Declan Rice in particular taking centre stage.
The seven words Saka said to Rice before Arsenal's first goal vs Madrid
Declan Rice defied instructions to score Arsenal’s first goal against Real Madrid.
ByMatt Dawson Apr 9, 2025
The England international scored two sensational free-kicks from long-range, curling it beyond the Los Blancos wall on both occasions and past a helpless Thibaut Courtois, who could feel hard done by considering the former Chelsea goalkeeper made save after save in what was a commendable display from him.
Arsenal’s next five Premier League games
Date
Brentford (home)
April 12th
Ipswich Town (away)
April 20th
Crystal Palace (home)
April 23rd
Bournemouth (home)
May 3rd
Liverpool (away)
May 11th
Arsenal could’ve won by even more if it wasn’t for the Real shot-stopper’s heroics, but Courtois couldn’t do anything about Rice’s exceptional strikes into the top corner, or Mikel Merino’s finish to round off a superb 3-0 win for the home side.
“I was very convinced because I could sense in the preparation that we were really at it, that we had that belief and that trust that we could create Madrid a lot of problems,” said Arteta after Arsenal’s historic Champions League victory over Real.
“But then it was the theme of the game, make it happen, then you have to make it happen. But you have that mindset and that belief that things can happen and we delivered today. It was a hard time, but we are very happy.
“My feeling was that the team was super convinced, and we had the trust that we could do it because we’ve done it for big periods against the best opposition that you can face in football for two years. And if you can do that, you can do it on the day, and especially with our crowds. At that level, I think it elevates the level of the team, and we have managed to beat them.”
Off the field, it is believed new sporting director Andrea Berta could rival Real for Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz, and a new report has now claimed that Arteta’s side may even look to raid the Bernabeu this summer.
Arsenal preparing offer for Real Madrid forward Arda Güler
According to a Spanish media source, Berta and co apparently have their eyes on Turkey international starlet Arda Güler.
The attacking midfielder, who can also slot in on the right wing, has been used sparingly by Ancelotti this season. Guler’s chipped in with three goals and seven assists over 33 appearances in all competitions, but he’s predominantly utilised as an impact player off the bench.
Now, it is believed that Arsenal are preparing a “bold” move to sign Guler, and plan to offer around £26 million to tempt Real into selling him. Arteta personally “doesn’t want to pass up” any opportunity to sign the 20-year-old, as Arsenal’s manager believes that Guler is an ideal fit.
Arteta also thinks that Guler could play a similar role to club captain Martin Odegaard, so this could be an intriguing story to keep tabs on amid the Turk’s struggle for game time in La Liga.
“His IQ is at a high level,” said Montenegro manager Robert Prosinecki.
“He is a very dominant player with the ball. He always thinks about attacking.”
Manchester City could make a £51m bid for an “insane” midfielder this summer, with Pep Guardiola personally identifying him as a target, according to a report.
City stepping up midfielder pursuit
Given the drop-off in performance levels this season, Guardiola was already due to oversee a major rebuild this summer, and the need to bring in a new midfielder has now been exacerbated by the fact Kevin De Bruyne has announced his decision to leave at the end of the campaign.
Following the news, Man City have stepped up their pursuit of a replacement for the 33-year-old, with Lyon’s Rayan Cherki recently emerging as a potential target, alongside FC Barcelona’s Dani Olmo, who Guardiola is believed to be a big fan of.
Not only does Guardiola need to bring in an attacking midfielder, but the manager may also be tasked with bringing in a new option in a slightly deeper role, given that Ilkay Gundogan is arguably in the twilight years of his career at 34-years-old.
De Bruyne 2.0: Man City chasing £50m star who's "similar to Bellingham"
Man City will need to find a replacement for their outgoing legend
ByJoe Nuttall Apr 8, 2025
According to a report from Calcio Mercato, the Manchester City boss has now set his sights on AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders, as he sets out to revamp his midfield this summer.
The Sky Blues could make a huge offer of around €50m – €60m (£43m – £51m) for Reijnders, despite the fact he has recently renewed his contract with the Italian side until the summer of 2030.
Real Madrid have also expressed an interest in the midfielder, having been impressed by his performances this season, but Guardiola’s side remain the most interested party, although they are yet to make a formal approach.
"Insane" Reijnders could be fantastic signing for City
The Dutchman has been one of AC Milan’s most consistent performers in the Serie A this season, averaging a 7.04 WhoScoered match rating, the second-highest figure in the squad, having particularly impressed from an attacking point of view.
The Milan star has nine goals and four assists to his name in 30 Serie A outings, and he places in the top 3% for non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, while also ranking highly across some other key metrics, when compared to other midfielders in the major 5 leagues.
Statistic
Average per 90
Non-penalty goals
0.29 (97th percentile)
Shot-creating actions
3.52 (86th percentile)
Progressive carries
3.32 (98th percentile)
Successful take-ons
1.11 (88th percentile)
Football scout Ben Mattinson is also particularly fond of the Netherlands international, having lauded him for his “insane” performances earlier in the campaign, and at 26-years-old, the central midfielder could be entering his prime years.
Gundogan has been a fantastic servant to City, while Mateo Kovacic was an important player during last season’s Premier League title triumph, but Guardiola clearly feels he needs to refresh his options in midfield, and Reijnders could be a fantastic signing.
Manchester United have now agreed personal terms with a striker following talks with his entourage, but they must shell out €75m (£64m) to get a deal done, according to a report.
Man Utd's striker pursuit heating up
Following the late heroics against Lyon to progress to the Europa League semi-finals, Ruben Amorim would’ve been hoping to ride the momentum into the game against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend, but his side came up short in a 1-0 defeat.
It was a drab affair at Old Trafford, with Rasmus Hojlund once again failing to find the back of the net in the Premier League, having scored just one goal in his last 18 games, which highlights the need for a replacement to be brought in this summer.
The Red Devils and INEOS are now stepping up their pursuit of a new striker, and they are believed to be on the verge of signing Wolves star Matheus Cunha, having held positive talks over a deal for the Brazilian.
Better than Cunha: Man Utd to step up move for 'one of PL's best players'
Man Utd appear to be closing in on a move for Matheus Cunha – but is he the best target?
ByRobbie Walls Apr 22, 2025
Cunha is not the only option, however, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Ipswich Town’s Liam Delap also on the list of targets ahead of the summer transfer window.
According to a report from Italy (via Sport Witness), there has now been a promising update in Manchester United’s pursuit of Victor Osimhen, as they are believed to have reached an agreement in principle on personal terms.
Galatasaray's VictorOsimhencelebrates scoring a goal that was later disallowed
United have held talks with Osimhen’s entourage, and negotiations appear to be going well, with the striker seemingly keen on a move to Old Trafford this summer, and Amorim’s side are now becoming more determined to get a deal done.
A deal will not be cheap, however, as the Red Devils will have to fork out the forward’s €75m (£64m) release clause, which only applies to clubs outside of Italy.
"World-class" Osimhen could be huge upgrade on Hojlund
Lauded as “world-class” by members of the media, the Nigerian is enjoying a fantastic season on loan at Galatasaray, amassing an incredible 30 goals in 35 matches across all competitions, while also providing seven assists.
Albeit playing in a much weaker league, the 26-year-old is vastly outscoring Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee, and he has proven himself in one of Europe’s top leagues in the past, scoring 26 Serie A goals en-route to Napoli’s title triumph in the 2022-23 season.
Competition
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Turkish Süper Lig
25
21
4
Europa League
7
6
2
Turkish Cup
3
3
1
Osimhen could be a fantastic signing for Man United this summer, at which point signing a new striker should be one of their main priorities, given that Hojlund and Zirkzee cannot be relied upon as a regular source of goals.
As Manchester United romped to a brutal first-leg victory over Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League on Thursday evening, the performance of a certain Rasmus Hojlund quietly went under the radar in that semi-final clash.
With all the talk centred around the experienced trio of Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Harry Maguire, the lively display of United’s number nine was easy to overlook, with the towering Dane notably winning the penalty that proved a key turning point in the tie.
Rasmus Hojlund
Speaking after that bright performance, manager Ruben Amorim suggested that it was the 22-year-old’s “best game” since he took charge at Old Trafford, with the struggling number nine perhaps beginning to find his groove after netting at the death against Bournemouth last week.
That recent revival could prove vital if United are to claim European glory come the end of May, although in the long term, the fact remains that the former Atalanta man has scored just four Premier League goals all season – a simply dismal return for a striker.
Whether the £64m signing stays or goes this summer, a real upgrade is needed at the top end of the pitch ahead of next term – the Red Devils simply can’t afford a Hojlund repeat.
Man Utd's search for a striker
Amorim has gone from witnessing the heroics of Viktor Gyokeres – who scored 66 goals under his watch in just 68 games – back at Sporting CP, to now having to witness his goal-shy group toil in Manchester.
It is then no surprise that United have been heavily linked with a move to reunite the 40-year-old coach with his former talisman, while recent reports have also suggested that Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrik Schick could represent a wildcard option this summer.
With Victor Osimhen also reportedly in the frame, as the Nigerian gets set to enter the final year of his Napoli contract, there are proven targets out there for United to consider, as they seek a new centre-forward for the third summer in succession.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Frustratingly, however, it would seem that the man that INEOS have actually identified as the leading candidate is Ipswich Town starlet, Liam Delap, with TEAMtalk reporting that the Old Trafford outfit are making a ‘huge effort’ to bring the 22-year-old to the club.
As per the report, Everton have now joined the race to sign the £30m-rated ace, alongside Chelsea, albeit with there said to be ‘hope’ at United that they will emerge victorious in their pursuit.
Ipswich Town'sLiamDelapreacts
A player known well to technical director Jason Wilcox, amid his previous stint at rivals Manchester City, the England U21 international would be an exciting addition – but is he really what Amorim needs?
Why Man Utd could be set to sign another Hojlund
There appears to have become a growing obsession in the modern game with adopting a youth-centric approach in the transfer market. Take Chelsea, for example, whose oldest outfield player this season has been Tosin Adarabioyo, who is still only 27.
Erik ten Hag
Even at United under the INEOS regime, every signing made since last summer has been aged 25 or under, excluding Noussair Mazraoui. Ironically, it would not be difficult to argue that the now 27-year-old has proven to be the best of the bunch.
Equally, Thursday’s triumph away in the Basque Country indicated the benefits of the older heads, with Fernandes and Casemiro proving to be “the difference again”, in the words of journalist Samuel Luckhurst.
Casemiro
United have no doubt been stung in the past by short-term, high profile signings – with transfer fees for those players also likely to prove more costly – although in the case of centre-forward, in particular, the club can’t afford to skimp this summer.
Cast your mind back to 2023, for instance, when Erik ten Hag set his sights on Tottenham Hotspur’s 280-goal hero, Harry Kane, only for the club to instead fork out for a 20-year-old Hojlund, who had scored just ten goals in all competitions for his former employers.
Last summer, meanwhile, another ‘cheap’ option was pursued in the form of Joshua Zirkzee, with the Dutchman available due to a £36.5m release clause in his Bologna contract. After netting just 12 goals last term in Italy, only a further seven have followed in Manchester.
To then consider moving for another young, inexperienced, but affordable forward in Delap could represent a real mistake, with the Englishman not exactly setting the world alight this season. 12 top-flight goals for a now-relegated side is nothing to turn your nose up at, although it’s hardly spectacular.
The Man City academy graduate, as he has shown in 2024/25, is an undoubted talent, with his bulldozing displays for the Tractor Boys seeing him lauded as a “wrecking ball” by Sky Sports’ Lewis Jones.
And yet, it was only last season that the in-demand marksman had scored just eight league goals while on loan at Hull City in the Championship, with the question there to be asked over whether he is indeed ready to make such a seismic, pressurised step up.
Delap vs Hojlund – 24/25 PL stats
Stat (per 90)
Delap
Hojlund
Non-penalty goals
0.37
0.21
Assists
0.07
0.00
Total shots
2.30
1.55
Shot-creating actions
2.23
2.17
Pass completion
61%
76.7%
Progressive passes
1.11
0.83
Progressive carries
2.19
1.34
Touches in opposition box
1.41
2.99
Aerial duels won
1.93
1.19
Stats via FBref
What will also be of concern is that Delap is actually noted as a statistically similar player to Hojlund among those in their position in the Premier League, as per FBref, with it looking as if Amorim could be handed almost a carbon copy of what he already has at his disposal.
Yes, Delap is of far greater status right now, but it wasn’t too long ago that the speedy Hojlund was also earning rave reviews of his own. Who can forget his debut cameo against Arsenal, when the Denmark international ran William Saliba and Gabriel ragged.
As perhaps to be expected of a young striker, the pressure and expectation of leading the line for Manchester United has weighed heavy on Hojlund, culminating in his current woes.
Amorim is then in need of a Gyokeres, an Osimhen, who will shoulder that burden with ease, having repeatedly proven themselves over a number of seasons. Can the same really be said of Delap?
Approaching yet another pivotal summer window at Old Trafford, the club can’t afford any further mistakes. Of course, the tight budget must be considered, although the desire for affordability should not come at the expense of the need for ready-made quality.
Imagine him & Bruno: Man Utd make £68m bid for "one of the best" talents
Manchester United could be about to land a star who would be perfect alongside Bruno Fernandes.
Glasgow Rangers are still on the hunt for a permanent first-team manager. With each day passing, the Ibrox faithful will become more anxious about who it might be.
Pre-season will likely start in late June, which doesn’t give the board much time to find the right candidate for the job.
The takeover by the 49ers Enterprises is showing plenty of progress, but will it be completed by the time preparation begins for the 2025/26 campaign?
That much remains to be seen. There have already been a few names linked with a move to Rangers. José Mourinho was reportedly keen on a move to Glasgow, according to TEAMtalk last month, but his massive wages, plus the fact that a compensation fee would have to be paid to Fenerbahçe, surely rule him out.
Elsewhere, former RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund manager Marco Rose is another potential candidate, especially due to his connections with the Red Bull football group.
Again, his wage demands might prove to be out of reach, although things may change once the 49ers complete their takeover deal. One man who may or may not be returning to the club is Steven Gerrard.
Nathan Patterson, Steven Gerrard
Latest on Steven Gerrard's potential return to Rangers
The Englishman, who led the Light Blues to their last Premiership title in 2021, has been one of the favourites to become the next permanent manager.
On the surface, the move makes perfect sense. He is out of a job, knows what makes Rangers tick and most importantly, knows how to get the better of Celtic domestically.
There are differing claims over whether Gerrard is in the running to make an incredible return to Ibrox, however, with Chris Jack of the Rangers Review outlining: “It is understood that the appointment will be a manager with no previous involvement with Rangers. The new era will be a new beginning.”
That said, journalist Mike McGrath has suggested that Gerrard’s name is among the lengthy list of candidates being considered. In any case, with Athletic Club being knocked out of the Europa League at the semi-final stage, the Gers will now enter the Champions League at the second qualifying stage.
Steven Gerrard’s stats in charge of Rangers
Season
Games
Wins
Points per game
2021/22
22
12
1.86
2020/21
56
44
2.52
2019/20
54
36
2.17
2018/19
60
32
1.9
Via Transfermarkt
Those ties begin towards the end of July, indicating how urgent it is to bring a new manager in as soon as possible.
Could Danny Rohl be an ideal fit for the role?
Rangers could turn to Danny Rohl as their new manager
German manager Rohl could be the man that the 49ers are targeting as the new head coach, if recent whispers are to be believed.
It was reported by talkSPORT that the manager has left Sheffield Wednesday just days after the end of the 2024/25 Championship season.
Sheffield Wednesday manager DannyRohl
It was believed that he had a release clause of £5m in his contract with the Owls – a figure which surely would have ruled out a move by Rangers – but now it appears as though he is without a club.
Regarding his future, Rohl has always seen himself aiming higher than the English Championship, saying: “I’ve always said that I’m very grateful to Sheffield for the opportunity I’ve been given there. And I’m someone who always wants to develop the club further.
“And to do that, you have to weigh up how far that’s still possible or whether the maximum has perhaps already been reached under the current conditions.”
If Rohl is indeed a free agent ready to be snapped up, then the 49ers could do no worse than take a look at the 35-year-old.
Why Danny Rohl could be more exciting than Steven Gerrard
Gerrard’s spell at Ibrox will live long in the memory of the supporters, especially after ending a barren decade-long wait for a league title. There were difficult times, too, however. The first couple of seasons saw the Gers struggle, especially after Christmas.
After winning the Premiership crown, Gerrard wasn’t backed sufficiently and thus failed to kick on from that moment, allowing Celtic to return to the summit of Scottish football.
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows under the former Liverpool captain, and his exit still rankles with a few of the fans, that’s for sure.
Sheffield Wednesday managerDannyRohllooks dejected after the match
In Rohl, what exactly would the Ibrox side be getting? He doesn’t have much experience managing at the highest level. Indeed, his only senior role was the Sheffield Wednesday job, where he took charge for 89 matches across all competitions, winning 34 games.
He tends to utilise a 4-2-3-1 formation, which would work out well with the players he could inherit at Rangers, no doubt about that.
Although his lack of managerial experience will be held against him, Rohl has won plenty as an assistant. Between August 2019 and June 2021, he was second in command to Hansi Flick at Bayern Munich.
Of course, the Bavarian side won the treble during the 2019/20 campaign and Rohl played a key role in this success as arguably the brains behind the trophy-laden season.
He followed Flick to the German national team, spending time as an assistant between August 2021 and September 2023. Germany failed to get out of the group stages at the 2022 World Cup, however.
Dubbed as “unbelievable” and the “best head coach” he played under by Josh Windass, it is clear Rohl has plenty to offer as a manager.
Under difficult circumstances at the Owls, he avoided relegation in 2023/24 and led them to 12th in the most recent season, missing out on a playoff spot by just ten points.
He might not be perfect, but the fact that he offers something fresh could be exactly what the 49ers group are after, instead of going over old ground with regard to Gerrard.
Manager Focus
Who are the greatest coaches in the land? Football FanCast’s Manager Focus series aims to reveal all.
By moving in a different direction, the Light Blues will look towards entering a new era this summer as they look to finally end years of hurt by challenging Celtic for the domestic title.
Will Rohl be in the dugout come July? Only time will tell.
Earns more than Diomande: Rangers flop should never play at Ibrox again
The 49ers must ensure that this Rangers flop who earns more than Mohamed Diomande never plays at Ibrox again.