Manchester United have been here before. And they are here again. Ruben Amorim was brought in from Sporting Lisbon to replace the floundering Erik ten Hag but his Red Devils side have sunk to a new low since his appointment.

Sunday’s chastening defeat against Manchester City at the Etihad kept United in the bottom half of the Premier League table.

It is, in fairness, just four matches into the new season, but with Chelsea travelling to Old Trafford next weekend and no European football on the cards, it’s crucial that an upswing is made and quickly.

Already dumped from the Carabao Cup by League Two’s Grimsby Town, United haven’t quite collapsed this term but they do need to right the wrongs, especially since Amorim’s win percentage is the lowest of any manager at the club in 80 years.

After finishing 15th last season and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur, the summer transfer window felt crucial, but much has been left to be desired.

Man United's missed summer targets

Man United did address a series of issues in the summer transfer market, welcoming Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, arguably the Premier League’s two standout forwards beneath the Champions League zone last season.

However, INEOS failed to sign a centre-midfielder, and scrambled to replace Rasmus Hojlund at number nine, eventually landing on Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig, signing him for a £74m fee.

Sesko ghosted throughout United’s recent drubbing by Man City, and while the talent is undeniable, it’s clear there’s much work to be done.

Does Amorim have the time on his side to nurture the Slovenian’s skillset over the coming months, years?

The deadline day signing of goalkeeper Senne Lammens adds further cause for optimism, with Andre Onana now gone, but Altay Bayındır stood between the sticks against Pep Guardiola’s side, still trusted despite his wobbles, two years on from his £4m move from Feyenoord in Turkey.

Lammens and Sesko are both 23, and both first-teamers might bloom into superstars at Old Trafford.

However, Amorim needs a fast turnaround, and he may well be frustrated that his side didn’t manage to sign two of their biggest targets instead of the developing talents.

Amorim wanted his own Donnarumma and Haaland at United

Both of those targets, coincidentally, remain at Aston Villa: Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez.

At the end of the 2024/25 campaign, Martinez bid farewell to Villa Park. Teary-eyed, the distinguished shot-stopper appeared to be gearing up for a move away, and Man United were heavily linked.

But it wasn’t to be, with United opting to settle for Bayindir and sign Lammens instead. Thus, the Argentina hero is staying in the Midlands.

No doubt, Amorim has got his hands on an exciting up-and-comer, but Martinez is “genuinely world-class”, as said by Sky Sports’ Dan Bardell, and has 198 Premier League appearances and a World Cup gold medal to his name.

The 32-year-old’s distribution is good, but it’s his shot-stopping and command in the box that draws the plaudits. With Gigi Donnarumma standing in the opposing box at the weekend – another United summer transfer target – it’s perhaps frustrating to some that an established keeper has not been welcomed to Amorim’s project.

Watkins might also have been a top-class addition. The 29-year-old isn’t on the level of the finest striker in the league, the brace-bagging Erling Haaland, but he’s certainly got the skills to lead the line with confidence at Man United, actually described as “one of the best 9s in the world” by Statman Dave.

The England striker was reportedly really keen on joining Man United this summer, but ultimately, that wasn’t the track INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe headed down.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast’s One That Got Away series.

Still, a powerful runner with sharp intelligence and silky link-up play, Watkins could have been an invaluable addition to this United side, certainly bearing the experience and know-how to have made more of himself against City, whereas Sesko let the game pass him by.

Players like Haaland and Donnarumma make up the benchmark for a team like Amorim’s United, chasing something greater than they’ve achieved in recent years.

But it’s easier said than done, and there’s little to suggest that the signings made have what it takes to propel the club back into the ascendancy with the speed that is required.

Man United’s strategy has been tailored toward a new emphasis on Prem-proven players, and though they haven’t clicked into gear yet, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have both shown flashes of brilliance so far this season; they look well-oiled and comfortable within the English game.

Sesko is a raw striker, and that’s why Jason Wilcox and co may be kicking themselves for failing to sign someone like Watkins. Older the Three Lions star may be, but he knows his game inside and out, and he’s a high-level goalscorer.

Watkins’ Premier League Career
Season	Apps	Goals (assists)
24/25	38	16 (8)
23/24	37	19 (13)
22/23	37	15 (6)
21/22	35	11 (2)
20/21	37	14 (5)
Data via Sofascore

Viktor Gyokeres is the same, and did so well under Amorim’s wing at Sporting Lisbon. You can certainly see why the Portuguese tactician wanted to sign him this summer.

Ultimately, United have to cope with the options at their disposal, and while the likes of Lammens and Sesko have plenty of potential yet untapped, there’s no denying that this was not a season that could afford a transitional period.

Instant results are still expected, and Martinez and Watkins, both so accomplished in the Premier League, might have proved the icing on the cake to achieve that.

Man Utd have two players to blame for Sesko's nightmare first start

Benjamin Sesko was an isolated figure during his first start for Manchester United.

By
Matt Dawson

Sep 15, 2025

AC Milan are facing a mounting injury crisis after Adrien Rabiot was ruled out for at least a month with a calf lesion sustained on France duty. Christian Pulisic has also been sidelined with a hamstring tear he sustained in a friendly for the United States, leaving Milan short-handed ahead of a crucial run of Serie A fixtures for Massimiliano Allegri's title hopefuls.

• Rabiot injury blow confirmed after France duty setback

  Rabiot’s return from international duty has brought bad news for Milan, with scans confirming a left calf muscle lesion that will sideline him for at least four weeks, according to . The injury, sustained during France’s recent fixture against Iceland in the World Cup qualifiers, was initially thought to be minor, but further tests revealed the true extent of the problem.

  The ex-Juventus midfielder has quickly become one of Milan’s most dependable midfielders since joining from Marseille on deadline day. His ability to dictate tempo and control transitions has been vital to Max Allegri’s tactical setup, making his absence a major blow. The Frenchman’s condition will be reassessed in 10 days, but an early return appears unlikely.

  The timing of the setback adds to Milan’s woes, with Rabiot’s absence expected to overlap with a critical run of fixtures that includes Fiorentina, Pisa, and Atalanta before the international break.

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• Getty Images
  

  Pulisic joins growing injury list amid fitness worries

  Milan’s troubles don’t end in midfield, Pulisic’s hamstring injury compounds the situation further. The American winger limped off just 30 minutes into his latest international appearance, and subsequent MRI scans confirmed a low-grade tear in his right hamstring. He is expected to miss at least three matches, including Fiorentina, Pisa, and Atalanta, with the club confirming that his condition will also be evaluated again in 10 days.

  The Rossoneri hope to have the current Serie A joint-top scorer back for the match against Roma on November 2 at San Siro. Failing that, they would target the away match against Parma six days later. The club do not expect him to be in danger of missing the Milan derby against Inter on November 23.

  Winger Rafael Leao had also been sent home from Portugal duty earlier in the week due to fitness concerns, while Pervis Estupinan and Alexis Saelemaekers remain doubts. The cluster of injuries is testing the Rossoneri’s depth and forcing Allegri to reconsider his attacking structure ahead of a demanding October schedule.

• Tactical reshuffle looms as Allegri searches for balance

  Allegri now faces a tactical puzzle: how to preserve balance and momentum with key players missing. Early reports indicate Ruben Loftus-Cheek will slot into Rabiot’s role in midfield. His box-to-box style and physicality make him the closest fit, though he lacks the same control in possession.

  Some fans have called for Samuele Ricci, signed from Torino, to get his chance, but he remains lower in the pecking order. Ardon Jashari is another potential candidate once fully recovered from a fibula fracture. The injuries could also prompt subtle shifts in formation, possibly a flatter midfield three or a more defensive setup against top opponents. Milan’s next few games will reveal how flexible Allegri can be when faced with adversity.

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• AFP
  

  Upcoming fixtures and recovery outlook

  The Rossoneri currently sit third in Serie A with 13 points from their opening six matches, and they’ll look to maintain their strong start despite the setbacks. A 2-1 loss in their first Serie A game of the season was followed by a four-game winning run in the top-flight before they played out a 0-0 draw with Juventus before the international break. Up next for Allegri's men is a visit from Fiorentina at San Siro on October 19, followed by clashes with Pisa and Atalanta before the next international break.

  Both Rabiot and Pulisic are scheduled for reassessment within 10 days, with hopes they can return by late November if rehabilitation progresses smoothly. Until then, Allegri will rely on depth, discipline, and resilience to navigate a crucial stretch.

Tottenham transfer chief Johan Lange has his eyes on a “very rare” forward who’s just broken a 52-year record, with the club expected to go for a new attacker and centre-back in the January window.

Tottenham expected to make two January signings to back Thomas Frank

Spurs boss Thomas Frank has made a solid start to his reign overall, despite some concerns from supporters over their displays against lesser sides they’re expected to beat.

Going into their gritty 2-1 win at Elland Road prior to the international break, which ended Leeds United’s year-long unbeaten run at home in the league, the Lilywhites had just escaped Bodo/Glimt with an undeserved share of the spoils after being largely dominated by the Norwegian minnows.

Mohammed Kudus

8.4

Mathys Tel

7.8

Noah Okafor

7.0

Sean Longstaff

7.0

Jayden Bogle

6.8

via WhoScored

They were also forced to come back and rescue draws against struggling Brighton and Wolves in their last two Premier League matches, but these results also taught us that the north Londoners are beginning to display a real resilience to crumbling that almost entirely evaded them last season.

This was evident against Leeds on a very rainy afternoon where the boisterous home crowd piled pressure on Frank’s side, but goals from summer signings Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus sealed a hard-fought three points for Spurs after Noah Okafor’s brief equaliser.

All the signs so far suggest that, while Tottenham are still a work in progress, they could have a bright future under Frank if the Dane is sufficiently backed in the transfer market.

Spurs did just that in the summer, even if they did fail to sign another wide player and centre-back after late summer links with Man City duo Savinho and Manuel Akanji, who’s since joined Inter Milan on loan with a buy option.

Savinho has just penned a new contract as well, ending all hope of Spurs striking a mid-season deal for the Brazilian.

However, it is believed that Lange and the recruitment team are still looking to bolster Frank’s wide area and the centre of Tottenham’s defence (TEAMtalk) — coming after suggestions that ENIC and the Lewis family could pump more money into the club for transfers and wages (Kaveh Solhekol).

Tottenham target Rayan breaks 52-year record as Lange plans bid

One of their reported attacking targets is Vasco de Gama sensation Rayan, who is viewed as one of Brazil’s rising star prospects.

The 19-year-old has scored 14 goals in all competitions across the Brazilian domestic campaign so far, and according to O Gol, his recent brace in a 4-3 win over Vitoria made history.

Rayan has now become the youngest Vasco player to reach 10 goals in the Brazilian top flight since Dinamite in 1973, and if he continues on this current trajectory, it’s surely only a matter of time before the Premier League beckons.

According to other recent reports from South America, Tottenham are expected to make an offer for Rayan, who has a £35 million release clause in his contract, with Spurs also sending scouts to watch over the teenager as he continues to impress.

Vasco manager Fernando Diniz has already made emphatic claims about the versatile attacker’s game-changing ability, sending a message that could perk the ears of supporters.

Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray could be joined by another unstoppable youngster, but the tantalising exit clause in his deal will also have other elite sides taking notice.

West Ham United boss Graham Potter is under mounting pressure after slumping to a dismal 3-0 derby defeat against Tottenham last Saturday, with the east Londoners losing four of their opening five games in all competitions thus far.

Potter has tough games against Crystal Palace, Everton and Premier League title-chasing Arsenal on the horizon, with more unconvincing performances threatening to oust the tactician just 10 months after he took over from Julen Lopetegui.

Only Avram Grant, who led the Hammers to relegation in 2011, boasts a worse West Ham win percentage than Potter since the Premier League’s inception — serving as a clear warning that things desperately need to improve.

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12, Graham Potter

27.3%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

West Ham’s woeful defence, which has conceded 14 goals in all competitions already, is the top flight’s worst back line right now by far — having also leaked 11 league goals in just four top flight matches.

Their failure to deal with set pieces has been another major thorn in Potter’s side, and one key ingredient West Ham need more than anything else is solidarity if they’re to avoid a relegation dogfight.

David Sullivan and the Irons board may even decide to cut their losses with Potter, especially considering that out-of-work former Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espírito Santo is readily available for hire.

The Portuguese, who guided Forest back to Europe for the first time since 1995 after a fairytale 2024/2025, was unceremoniously sacked by Evangelos Marinakis after a public fallout — just months after Nuno signed a brand-new contract.

Reports suggest that Nuno will jump at the chance to get back into management and his priority is to remain in the Premier League — making the 51-year-old a potential match made in heaven for West Ham.

Nuno’s pragmatic approach and defensive style could also suit West Ham down to the ground amid their real fragility at the back, with the likes of Kieran McKenna, José Mourinho and Frank Lampard also named as managerial candidates at the London Stadium.

How West Ham's board really feel about Graham Potter after Tottenham defeat

However, before any approach is made to the aforementioned coaches, the club must first make a decision on Potter.

According to Football Insider and journalist Pete O’Rourke, West Ham’s board believe it is “too early” to sack Potter despite their lacklustre start to 2025/2026 — with the ex-Chelsea boss retaining their backing “for the time being”.

The key phrase here is “for the time being”, but should West Ham relieve the tactician sooner?

West Ham must make ruthless Graham Potter decision

The team looks disjointed right now, lacking both defensive organisation and attacking spark, which arguably reflects poorly on Potter’s tactical approach among other key concerns.

For a squad boasting proven talent, fans and pundits alike are in agreement that the side should be performing far better.

Potter’s track record at Chelsea also raises concerns. Despite heavy backing in the transfer market there, he failed to deliver results, and many critics feared West Ham were repeating the same mistake when he was appointed.

Those fears now appear to be realised, and with Nuno available, West Ham should bite the bullet, admit they made a mistake and bring the former Tottenham boss to east London.

A washout will see KKR eliminated from playoff contention but RCB would remain in contention for a top-two finish

Ashish Pant17-May-2025

File photo: Bengaluru is known for its fast drainage systems•BCCI

The resumption of IPL 2025 could take a hit with heavy rain forecast in Bengaluru when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) here on May 17.According to , thunderstorms, sometimes heavy, are forecast for Saturday afternoon through Saturday evening. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) website also predicted one or two spells of rain or thundershowers in the evening.The weather played a part in the timing of the training sessions for both RCB and KKR on match eve. RCB held their practice session from 2pm to 5pm, a decision which team director Mo Bobat said was taken keeping in mind the patchy weather forecast for the evening. KKR started their training from 5pm but were done by 6.30pm.Related

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Bobat: IPL suspension gave Patidar time to heal from hand injury

Kohli one big hit away from snatching back Orange Cap as IPL 2025 resumes

It has been a pretty damp week in Bengaluru, with almost all parts of the city receiving adequate rainfall. It started raining around 9.30pm on Friday evening, well after the practice sessions for both teams were done, and the rain did not relent for at least the next four hours. That was the case on Thursday night as well.If rain does force an abandonment, it will mean curtains for KKR’s playoffs chances. On 11 points, with two games to go, if points are shared, KKR can only make it to a maximum 14, which will not be enough for a playoffs spot. They’ve already had one game washed out earlier in the season, against Punjab Kings.RCB will still firmly stand a chance to reach the playoffs and a top two finish even with a washed out game. There was already a rain-shortened match in Bengaluru last month when the RCB-Punjab Kings (PBKS) game was reduced to 14 overs a side.Bobat said that while the weather did influence their preparation, there’s not much anyone can do if it rains on match day. It is also worth noting that the M Chinnaswamy Stadium boasts a state-of-the-art drainage system, which allows the match to resume minutes after it stops raining completely.”When you get to game day, you can’t control it,” Bobat said on match eve. “So, actually you want your players to feel as clear and relaxed as possible. You trust them to make decisions in the moment, regardless of what happens.”We don’t overthink any of those things really. If the game’s rain affected, it’s rain affected. It’s not something any of us control. So, we don’t really think too much about that, but it might influence our preparation.”The rescheduling might affect more than just the odd game. Bengaluru has one more game to host, on May 23 (RCB vs Sunrisers Hyderabad), while Mumbai, which has seen unseasonal rainfall already, is scheduled to host the Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Delhi Capitals (DC) game on May 21.The forecast four days out from the game, though, is of clear weather, even though there is rain forecast for the day before. Kolkata, originally named as the host of the qualifier 2 and final, usually sees the monsoons begin in the first week of June, and the June 3 final, if it is held at the city’s Eden Gardens, could be affected.

La Liga will take the Spanish players' union (AFE) to court, claiming player protests against the recently-cancelled Miami match were an 'illegal strike'. Union president David Aganzo denies this, citing a "lack of transparency." The fallout continues as a furious Villarreal CEO blames Florentino Perez and Real Madrid for the project's collapse, calling their opposition hypocritical.

Major issue in La Liga

La Liga is set to launch a formal legal complaint against the AFE after a tense meeting between the two bodies, according to a report from . The dispute centres on the coordinated player protests that preceded the eventual cancellation of the controversial league match between Villarreal and Barcelona, which was scheduled to be played in Miami.

La Liga president Javier Tebas, who did not speak to the media, reportedly informed Aganzo that the league considers the players' on-pitch protests to be an illegal strike. The protests saw players in every top-flight match last weekend stand still for the first 15 seconds of play. Aganzo, however, has firmly rejected this classification, insisting the action was a "gesture" to highlight a "lack of transparency" from the league.

AdvertisementGetty Images EntertainmentAganzo confirms legal threat: 'A court will decide'

Speaking after the meeting, Aganzo confirmed the league's hard line stance and its intention to escalate the matter through the courts, despite the Miami match now being officially cancelled.

"We also discussed how he said we were on strike, and we simply made a gesture that had nothing to do with the strike," Aganzo explained. "According to him, it will be resolved in court. He made it very clear that a court will decide.”

The AFE president stressed that the union's primary issue was the league's failure to consult the players before finalising such a significant project, which would have been the first-ever La Liga match played overseas.

"This meeting should have been held much earlier and not when it was cancelled," Aganzo stated. "We pointed out the lack of transparency… I insist that these projects require conversation with everyone, with maximum transparency and information to make a significant project happen."

Aganzo defended his members, stating "common sense prevailed" and that the union's role was to protect players' rights. "I'm looking out for the players, for their labour rights… We've come to defend our rights."

Villarreal CEO blames Real Madrid for cancellation

The fallout from the cancelled fixture has also created a significant rift between clubs, with Villarreal CEO Fernando Roig Negueroles launching a stinging attack on Real Madrid, blaming them for the project's collapse. Villarreal, who were the designated home team for the Miami fixture and had supported the initiative, are furious at the outcome.

Speaking to , Roig Negueroles did not mince his words, pointing directly at the capital club as the main culprit behind the protests and eventual cancellation.

"LaLiga can make mistakes, but Real Madrid seems to be going against everyone," he said. "The other day I was in Rome at the ECA, and at the European level it's losing more and more influence because no one believes the rhetoric anymore, but at the Spanish level, especially the press, you pay a lot of attention to what Real Madrid says. And they're against everything."

Real Madrid had been vocal in their opposition from the start, filing formal complaints and arguing that playing a league match abroad would "distort the competition". Roig Negueroles expressed incredulity at their position, suggesting they protest indiscriminately.

"I agree with them on many of the things they protest about, but they lose legitimacy because they also protest absolutely everything that's proposed," he insisted. "Even the things that are good, like how they approved this very match four years ago in a delegated committee. Now they've changed their minds… If something was good for Real Madrid, they would also protest."

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'An absolute lack of respect' – Villarreal fury over timing

Villarreal's anger was compounded by the timing of La Liga's official cancellation announcement, which was released during the half-time break of their Champions League match against Manchester City. The club's manager, Marcelino Garcia Toral, openly expressed his disgust in his post-match press conference.

The club, which had invested in the project and was planning compensation packages for its season-ticket holders, released its own harsh statement condemning the league's management of the situation. Roig Negueroles was seen in the stands of La Ceramica on his phone at the moment the news broke, a moment described by as one "they will not soon forget at Villarreal."

Virat Kohli has communicated his desire to retire from Test cricket to the BCCI ahead of the big five-match series in England starting June 20, for which he is expected to be a part of the squad. ESPNcricinfo understands that Kohli has been having these conversations with officials of the BCCI for the past month or so.If Kohli doesn’t change his mind, he will bring the curtain down on a glorious career that has spanned 14 years and included 123 Tests – 68 of them as captain – in which he has 9230 runs at an average of 46.85.But it hasn’t been a particularly fruitful time in the format for Kohli of late. When he scored 100 not out in the Perth Test in November 2024, it was his first century in Tests since July 2023 (against West Indies in Port of Spain), and his average, 55.10 at its peak after he scored his career best of 254 not out vs South Africa in Pune in 2019, has been 32.56 over the last 24 months.Related

• Kohli felt the 'most intense disappointment' after Australia tour

• Kohli: India ready to take on the world for the next eight years

• Rohit Sharma announces retirement from Test cricket

• 'My last day' – Ashwin retires from international cricket

Despite that, it’s understood that the team management and selectors expect his experience to be crucial on the tour, where India will also be playing under a new captain – Shubman Gill is the frontrunner to take over from Rohit Sharma following his retirement from Test cricket earlier this week.Kohli, as well as Rohit, were included in the highest category (A+) in the latest BCCI contracts, which is usually meant for players who play all three international formats. Both Kohli and Rohit had retired from T20Is after India won the World Cup last year and, if Kohli does retire from Tests, they will only be available for ODI cricket going forward.Apart from Rohit, India are without R Ashwin, who retired from international cricket during the 2024-25 series in Australia. With Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane not in the mix at the moment, and Mohammed Shami’s form under scrutiny after his return from a long injury layoff, Kohli is among the only seniors around, along with KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah.Before Rohit replaced Kohli as India’s Test captain, India had won 40 of the 68 games in which Kohli led, losing just 17. The 40 wins makes Kohli India’s most successful Test captain of all time – MS Dhoni with 27 from 60 and Sourav Ganguly with 21 from 49 rank below him – and also places him at No. 4 on the overall list of captains with the most Test wins, behind Graeme Smith (53 from 109), Ricky Ponting (48 from 77) and Steve Waugh (41 from 57).It was in England that Kohli had recorded one of his greatest highs as a Test batter, on the 2018 tour. He was the top run-getter across the two sides in the five Tests, aggregating 583 at an average of 59.30 with two centuries. That it came after he had scored just 134 runs in ten innings on the previous tour, in 2014, made the performance that much more special. That year, 2018, was also his best in terms of aggregate for a year, when he scored 1322 runs.During his golden run, he averaged 75.93 in 2016, 75.64 in 2017, 55.08 in 2018, and 68.00 in 2019. During that period between 2016 and 2018, Kohli scored 3596 runs in 35 Tests at an average of 66.59, with 14 hundreds and eight fifties in 58 innings.

Manchester United is a club currently surrounded by question marks. Almost a year of poor performances in the Premier League under Ruben Amorim has led to speculation about his job security and Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS’s capability to turn the club around.

Amorim is yet to record back-to-back wins in the Premier League, and with fixtures like Liverpool and Tottenham coming up, it seems unlikely that he will win two in a row before the next international break.

While their managerial recruitment is in question, the new minority owners’ on-field recruitment has been a source of praise. In the senior team, players like Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have added a spark to United’s attack that hasn’t been seen in recent years, and youngsters like Sekou Kone and of course the more experienced Amad Diallo give fans hope for the future.

Despite the transfer window not being open for several months, United are looking to continue their impressive recent recruitment and have already agreed a deal to bring in their next young talent.

United agree deal for Orozco

Earlier in the week, it was revealed that Manchester United were putting in early plans to bring in “very technical” 17-year-old Colombian midfielder Cristian Orozco. On Thursday morning, Fabrizio Romano revealed that contracts have been “sealed and signed”, and he concluded his X post with his “here we go” confirmation.

“Manchester United have now sealed and signed deal to bring in 17 year old Colombian talent Cristian Orozco,” the journalist said. “$1m transfer fee from Fortaleza in deal valid from summer 2026. MUFC lawyers approved all the contracts, deal coordinated by lead scout Antonaccio. Here we go.”

The Colombian League runs on a different schedule to the Premier League, played from January to December. This means that Orozco will leave halfway through their 2026 campaign to join United ahead of the Premier League’s 2026/27 season.

The defensive midfielder has impressed in both his club and National Youth setups. His first Colombia under-17 appearance came in January, and he has represented the side on nine occasions since then. This move is still a gamble for United as the youngster still hasn’t made his senior debut for Fortaleza, but their willingness to take the risk with Orozco is down to their faith in a United figure whose recent recruitment has been impressive.

INEOS putting faith in South America scouts

In his post, Romano specifically highlighted United lead scout​​ Giuseppe Antonaccio as a crucial player in the deal. Antonaccio has been at the club since 2016 and focuses on scouting the South American market.

And his importance in recruiting young talent seems to be increasing. Along with the Orozco deal, he was also cited as being an important figure in bringing in United’s newest left back, Diego Leon. Leon has already made an impression at United and was kept with the first team despite initial plans to loan him out.

United have a history of being linked with talented youngsters from South America, but they have missed some major opportunities in recent years. The most notable of these was Moises Caicedo, who they reportedly could have signed for £5 million. Caicedo was eventually signed by Brighton and later moved to Chelsea for a then British transfer record of £115 million.

While it’s unlikely that Orozco, Leon or any other young talent they look to sign will surpass the £100 million mark, they could still provide some major benefits for the club. If they develop well, they could turn into important first-team players, and if we don’t hit the standards that United want, then their cheap price will make it easy for the club to sell them on for a profit at a time when they desperately need cash.

England quick could be ruled out of a potential red-ball return for England Lions against India

ESPNcricinfo staff21-May-2025

Jofra Archer will miss the ODIs against West Indies and could be in doubt for a red-ball return•Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Jofra Archer has been ruled out of England’s Metro Bank ODI series against West Indies next week, and could be in doubt for a proposed return to red-ball action for England Lions next month, after sustaining a right-thumb injury during his IPL stint with Rajasthan Royals.Archer first sustained the injury while fielding during Rajasthan’s one-run defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens on May 4. Although it initially appeared to be a minor issue, further assessments revealed ligament damage, and following the suspension of the tournament earlier this month, he did not return to India for this week’s resumption.He had initially been named in England’s 16-man squad for the ODI series that begins at Edgbaston on May 29, but will now be reassessed by the England medical team over the coming fortnight to determine when he may return to action.Lancashire’s left-arm seamer Luke Wood, who had already been named instead of Archer for the T20I series that follows in June, has been added to the squad in his place. Wood has played two previous ODIs in 2022-23, but has yet to take a wicket in the format.Archer’s omission from the T20I series had pointed to his probable inclusion in the second of England Lions’ two four-day matches against India that serve as warm-up matches next month’s five-Test series.The first, at Canterbury from May 30-June 2, runs concurrently with the ODI series, but the second, at Northampton from June 6-9, had been a realistic target for Archer, and could have constituted a first first-class appearance in more than four years, since a one-off appearance for Sussex versus Kent in May 2021.England’s selectors have subsequently named an initial 15-man squad for the two Lions matches, to be captained by Somerset’s James Rew and with the notable inclusion of Chris Woakes for his first matches of the season. There is scope to add further names to the mix, including Archer and Ben Stokes, who may seek further game-time in his return from hamstring surgery.Since 2021, Archer has been battling with a series of long-term injuries, including an elbow problem that required multiple operations, and a stress fracture of the back. He made his England comeback in May last year, in time for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean, and also featured in the Champions Trophy earlier this year, prior to the IPL.

Mitchell Marsh’s 117 off 64 balls powered Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to a mammoth 235 for 2 against Gujarat Titans (GT) on a black-soil pitch in Ahmedabad. He was well-supported by Nicholas Pooran, who smashed an unbeaten 56 off 27, and Aiden Markram, who contributed 36 off 24.It was a slippery start for GT after they inserted LSG after winning the toss. Arshad Khan slipped twice in his delivery stride in the second over of the innings. Two overs later, the ball seemingly slipped out of Kagiso Rabada’s hands. Markram took evasive action but Hawk-Eye deemed it to be a legal delivery. It would have been 2cm below Markram’s waist at the batting crease.In between, Marsh and Markram had a few mis-hits but also found some boundaries. By the end of the powerplay, LSG had reached 53 for no loss.With two right-handers in the middle, Shubman Gill introduced R Sai Kishore into the attack before Rashid Khan. Marsh hit two sixes off his first eight balls but the spinner did break the stand soon after with Markram’s wicket.Rashid came into the attack in the 12th over. Before this game, Marsh had scored only 31 off 33 balls against him. Tonight, he went 6, 4, 6, 4, 4, 1 in his first over.Gill took the gamble of giving Sai Kishore an over with Pooran in the middle. It did not come off as Pooran farmed the strike and hit one six and one four in four balls off the spinner.After a 91-run stand with Markram, Marsh added 121 off just 52 balls along with Pooran. Marsh brought up his hundred off 56 balls – his first in the IPL and second in all T20 cricket.Marsh fell for 117 but Rishabh Pant gave a glimpse of what-if. He faced just six balls but sent two of them over the boundary line to remain unbeaten on 16.