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RCB lost their previous game, but have done many things right this season. Warriorz won their last game, but it was their first points of the season. Who will come out on top at the Chinnaswamy?

Srinidhi Ramanujam23-Feb-2025Who’s playingRoyal Challengers Bengaluru vs UP Warriorz
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, 7.30pm ISTWhat to expect A lot of things are working for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). So they would not want to dwell on the loss to Mumbai Indians, and instead get back to winning ways in their second home game of the season. The major talking point from that loss was RCB’s middle order collapsing around Ellyse Perry. Despite posting just 167, the likes of Kim Garth, Georgia Wareham and Ekta Bisht still took the defence to last over. Hence there’s no need to panic yet. With just one defeat from three matches, RCB top the points table.Unlike RCB, UP Warriorz have just got their first points in three games with a thumping win over Delhi Capitals. They would want their openers to start strong and will hope Tahlia McGrath and Grace Harris pick up pace with the bat as they head into crucial phase of the tournament. They haven’t done particularly well in the middle overs, either slowing down or losing wickets in a cluster in this phase. They had Chinelle Henry’s explosive innings down the order in the last game, and then their bowlers got the job done. They would be keen to carry this momentum forward to move up the table.Team news and likely XIsRCB are unlikely to tinker.RCB (likely): 1 Smriti Mandhana (capt), 2 Danni Wyatt-Hodge, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Raghvi Bist, 5 Richa Ghosh (wk), 6 Kanika Ahuja, 7 Georgia Wareham, 8 Ekta Bisht, 9 Kim Garth, 10 VJ Joshitha, 11 Renuka SinghLeft-arm spinner Rajeshwari Gayakwad was replaced by seamer Saima Thakor in Warriorz’s first match in Bengaluru. With the conditions offering assistance to pace bowlers, they might continue to have Thakor in the XI.UP Warriorz (likely): 1 Kiran Navgire, 2 Vrinda Dinesh, 3 Deepti Sharma, 4 Tahlia McGrath, 5 Shweta Sehrawat, 6 Grace Harris, 7 Uma Chetry (wk), 8 Chinelle Henry, 9 Sophie Ecclestone, 10 Saima Thakor, 11 Kranti GoudPlayers to watch: Smriti Mandhana and Kranti GoudSmriti Mandhana likes the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The last time India played three ODIs in Bengaluru, she scored two hundreds and a 90 against South Africa. When RCB played five games at this venue last year, she smashed 219 runs at a strike rate of 154.22. Her last season’s highest score of 80 also came against Warriorz here. In her previous two games, she’s got 26 off 13, and 81 off off 47. Don’t bet against more fireworks from Mandhana.Kranti Goud bowled a dream spell against Capitals on Saturday, claiming a four-wicket haul. She used the movement off the pitch to account for Capitals’ top order and Jess Jonassen. After going wicketless in the first two matches, this performance would have given the youngster a lot of confidence in her debut WPL season.Key stats Warriorz have hit 17 sixes so far, the second most in this WPL The Warriorz pace bowlers have conceded 9.02 runs an over in three matches so far – the highest economy rate for fast bowlers of any team in this WPL. Mandhana has scored 245 runs in Bengaluru in the WPL, the most for a player at this venue.

Jarrod Bowen has become caught up in the storm sparked by Graham Potter's sacking at West Ham, with questions being asked of whether the England international is the right man to lead the Hammers as captain. Another change in the dugout has been made at the London Stadium, with ex-Brighton and Chelsea coach Potter being relieved of his duties after just 25 games at the helm.

Potter dismissed after just 25 games in charge

Potter, who was appointed by the Hammers in January, has been sacked after an eight-month stint in the East End. He won just six games as West Ham manager, suffering 14 defeats, and departs with the club sat inside the Premier League relegation zone. The lid has now been lifted on what went wrong for the 50-year-old tactician in a demanding role that sees success demanded with a swagger.

Potter’s predecessor, Julen Lopetegui, managed just 22 games with the Hammers – the shortest managerial stint in the club’s history – with stability and continuity proving hard to come by. Issues being the scenes are said to have contributed to Lopetegui’s demise, and history has now repeated itself.

reports that there were "further dressing room incidents: during Potter’s tenure. German striker Niclas Fullkrug took issue with a 1-1 draw against already-relegated Southampton in April, claiming that the Hammers lacked motivation and "were sh*t". Potter did not take kindly to those remarks and is also said to have endured a difficult working relationship with French defender Jean-Clair Todibo.

AdvertisementGettyQuestions asked of West Ham skipper Bowen

It is also claimed that Potter "had concerns about the lack of leaders in the team, and appointed James Bell as a sports psychologist to help his squad better manage stressful situations". The West Ham dressing room is said to be surprisingly quiet, with "none of the senior players" being vocal enough during difficult times.

Bowen, as skipper, would be expected to take the lead there. The Athletic claims that he has faced questions of his "inability" to inspire confidence in those around him. It is said that "although he is considered the club’s best player, he is not perhaps naturally suited to the captaincy". Bowen did take in an angry exchange with supporters following a Carabao Cup defeat at Wolves in August.

While Potter is gone, it is suggested that "there is some sympathy among the players that this situation is not all his fault. He tried his best to unite the squad, but his decisions to get rid of some big characters counted against him". The cost of those decisions is now being counted by all concerned.

Potter's statement after West Ham sacking

Potter said in a statement issued through the following his dismissal: "I am incredibly disappointed to be leaving West Ham United Football Club, particularly without being able to achieve what we set out to achieve at the start of our journey in East London. I do however fully acknowledge that the results have just not been good enough up to now.

"Firstly, thank you to the board for offering me the opportunity to manage the team during the past 8 months. It was an honour and a privilege to manage such a historic club, which holds such strong values for footballing traditions and passion for the game. I'd like to thank all the staff at the club who made me feel so welcome, the playing squad and their continued efforts during my time – and lastly the fans, who have been so supportive during what has been a difficult journey at times. I wish the club nothing but the best of luck for the future. Thank you and goodbye for now."

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AFPFirst game at the helm for new Hammers boss Nuno

Within four hours of confirming Potter’s departure, West Ham had announced the arrival of ex-Wolves, Tottenham and Nottingham Forest head coach Nuno Espirito Santo as their new boss. His first game at the helm will see the Hammers – with three points to their name through five fixtures this season – take in a trip to Everton on Monday.

Greg Vanney knows LA Galaxy’s season has been a disappointment, with the reigning MLS champions bottom of the Western Conference and out of the playoffs. But on Wednesday at Dignity Health Sports Park, the Campeones Cup final against Toluca offers a chance to salvage something meaningful, with Vanney viewing a trophy as a vital boost for his players and the club.

Getty Images SportContrasting champions

 Vanney reflected on the team’s performance and the challenge ahead against Toluca.

“The first half of the season was a bit disappointing, but in the second half we’ve been much more solid and consistent,” Vanney said at the Campeones Cup media day. “We performed well in the Leagues Cup, our results and play have been steadier, and this is a great opportunity to finish the season strong.”

AdvertisementGetty Images SportVanney eyes Champions Cup momentum

Vanney stressed that beating Toluca would be a valuable momentum boost. 

“We’ve secured a spot in the next Champions Cup, which is definitely a positive. Now we have the chance to add another trophy to our cabinet – a milestone for the players who have been with us all season," Vanney said. 

Getty Images Sport'You have to respect their efficiency'

Vanney compared Toluca, the defending Liga MX champions, to Cruz Azul, a team they previously drew with in the Leagues Cup but ultimately lost to on penalties. 

“They’re a team with quality across the pitch and presented some interesting challenges when we faced them. Defensively, they can be very aggressive and mark tightly, yet they maintain a solid structure. In attack, they have versatile players who can score with very few chances. You have to respect that efficiency.”

Toluca, for their part, have also stressed winning the Campeones Cup would be vital for their side. 

“We’re motivated to keep competing for every trophy. There’s no clear favorite; it will be a very even match, but we trust in our strengths to reach the goal,” Manager Antonio Mohamed said. “We didn’t lose any game on the field, only on penalties. 

"That was hard to take, but since then, the team has improved in many areas – competitiveness, fitness, and mentality. We’re in a much better moment now."

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Getty Images SportConfidence is high

Galaxy midfielder Edwin Cerrillo, who helped the team lift the 2024 MLS Cup, echoed Vanney's sentiments. 

“This is a big chance to win another title with this club. Thanks to our strong performance last year, we’re in this position. Toluca is a strong team that deserves respect, but we also have confidence in ourselves," he said. 

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•BCCIPurple 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.

When it comes to the best academies in world football, Chelsea’s Cobham ranks right near the very top.

The Blues have developed an army of incredible players over the years, and not just attackers either, as they’ve helped create some top-quality defenders like John Terry, Reece James, Fikayo Tomori and Trevoh Chalobah.

Unfortunately, as the club is prone to selling youngsters, they have also missed out on some of the gems they’ve produced, with Marc Guehi being one of the most notable when it comes to defenders.

Yet, there is another international that Chelsea were was perhaps too happy to move on, someone who looks set to be a future England star alongside Guehi.

Guehi's rise to England international

Guehi spent most of his childhood and teenage years in Chelsea’s academy system, and while he did make two competitive appearances for the club, his first real taste of senior football came when he joined Swansea City on loan in January 2020.

The Abidjan-born ace would rejoin the Swans for the entirety of the 20/21 campaign, and by the time he left South Wales, he had made 59 appearances for the club.

Unfortunately, first-team football was once again an unlikely prospect upon his return to Stamford Bridge, so instead of going out on another loan, the Englishman opted to move south of the river and join Crystal Palace permanently.

As we all know, that was an excellent decision for his own development, as since then he’s made 161 appearances for the Eagles, 135 of which have been in the Premier League, and even captained them to FA Cup glory.

Moreover, his performances at Selhurst Park were enough to catch Gareth Southgate’s eye, and he won his first senior England cap in March 2022.

Since then, the 25-year-old has become a key part of the Three Lions setup, winning another 24 caps and being one of the nation’s most impressive players in Euro 2024.

This international break has been another positive one for the defensive titan as he helped to keep two clean sheets and even scored his first England goal away to Serbia last night while providing the assist for Ezri Konsa’s strike.

Minutes

93′

Goals

1

Assists

1

Clearances

3

Interceptions

1

Tackles

1

Ground Duels (Won)

1 (1)

Lost Possession

1

Touches

83

Accurate Passes

72/74 (97%)

Key Passes

3

Long Balls (Accurate)

3 (2)

Big Chances Created

1

Shots on Target

1

More than that, though, he really showed why he’s one of the best ball-playing centre-backs in the game by completing 72 of 74 passes, taking 83 touches, playing three key passes, losing the ball just twice and creating one big chance.

In all, it would be fair to say Chelsea got it wrong selling Guehi, and unfortunately, it looks like they may have made a similar mistake with another player.

The future England great sold by Chelsea

Given the nature of how Chelsea approach the transfer market, they are always going to let one or two potential stars slip through their fingers, and that might be the case with Lewis Hall.

Where Are They Now

Like Guehi, the Slough-born defender came up through Cobham, playing for the club’s U18s, U21s and UEFA Youth League sides and even making 12 appearances for the first-team.

However, despite having just signed a seven-year contract, the boyhood Newcastle United fan moved to the Magpies on a season-long loan deal with an obligation to buy for £35m in August 2023.

He endured a slow start to life at St James’ Park, but he was finally given a starting berth last season, and before injuring his ankle, he looked elite.

For example, in just 27 league appearances, totalling 2193 minutes, he was able to amass five assists, which might not sound like an outrageous amount, but given his age, it’s an impressive early indication.

Moreover, he put up some seriously impressive underlying numbers.

According to FBref, he ranked in the top 5% of full-backs in the league last season for progressive passing distance and shots blocked, the top 8% for dribblers challenged, the top 10% for long passes completed, the top 12% for crosses and more, all per 90.

In other words, his numbers painted the picture of a progressive full-back who is comfortable in attacking scenarios but is also no slouch when it comes to the defensive side of the game.

It’s likely this brilliant combination that saw him called up to England duty and win his first two senior caps under Lee Carsley last November.

It’s also likely why respected analyst Ben Mattinson predicted that in the long term, it’ll be a “battle” between him and Myles Lewis-Skelly for England’s starting left-back role under Tuchel.

Ultimately, Chelsea have got plenty right in the transfer market, but just as selling Guehi was a mistake, it looks like selling Hall will be considered the same, especially if he continues to play so well “at the highest level,” per Mattinson.

Enzo Maresca dealt another Chelsea injury blow as club release statement

The Blues are set to be without a few key players.

ByEmilio Galantini Sep 10, 2025

It would be an understatement to say that West Ham United have not had the start to the season they’d have been hoping for.

For example, the East Londoners aren’t taking part in the League Cup this week after losing to the equally terrible Wolverhampton Wanderers last month.

It’s somehow been even worse in the Premier League, with the Irons losing to Sunderland, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Crystal Palace in their first five games.

In short, things need to change, and it now looks like the club are going after a manager who’d be a massive upgrade on Graham Potter.

West Ham target Potter upgrade

The last few weeks have seen West Ham be linked with a host of potential Potter replacements, with one of the more prominent ones being Slaven Bilic.

Manager Focus

The former Hammers boss left the club in 2017, and has since managed Al-Ittihad, West Bromwich Albion, Beijing Guoan, Watford and Al-Fateh.

In other words, he’s not done much to suggest he’d bring in a new era at the club.

Al-Fateh

07/23

08/24

Watford

09/22

03/23

Beijing Guoan

01/21

01/22

West Brom

07/19

12/20

Al-Ittihad

10/18

02/19

Likewise, while he’s doing a reasonable enough job with Coventry City, the links to Frank Lampard aren’t going to excite fans.

Fortunately, there is another coach on the club’s radar, someone who’d be a massive upgrade on Potter.

At least that’s according to a recent report from Claret and Hugh, which claims West Ham are very interested in Nuno Espírito Santo.

In fact, the report has revealed that the Portuguese manager is now one of three names on a shortlist for the role.

It remains unclear whether West Ham will be able to secure their man, but they should certainly keep trying, as he’d be a colossal upgrade on Potter.

How Nuno compares to Potter

The good news is that there are several reasons why we think Nuno would be a significant upgrade on Potter.

The most important of all, and the one that encompasses many of the others, is his track record.

More specifically, his track record in English football and the Premier League.

For example, although he had a fairly dire stint in charge of Tottenham Hotspur, the Portuguese coach has more than proven himself capable of managing at the top level with both Wolves and Nottingham Forest.

He took over the former when they were still in the Championship, led them to promotion in his first campaign and then, within a few years, had them playing Europa League football.

Likewise, when he took over at Forest, it was viewed as something of an impossible job, but he led them from relegation candidates to European football in a season and a half.

On the other hand, while Potter did a pretty good job with Brighton & Hove Albion, he proceeded to fail with Chelsea, and it would be hard to find someone who’d claim he isn’t failing at the London Stadium today.

Finally, you only need to compare their records in the top-flight to see who is the better manager.

The “outstanding” Portuguese coach, as dubbed by commentator Adam Summerton, has taken charge of 184 games in the Premier League, of which his teams have won 72, lost 67, drawn 45 and averaged 1.42 points per game.

Games

184

164

Wins

72

47

Draws

45

55

Losses

67

62

Points per Game

1.42

1.20

In contrast, the Englishman has taken charge of 164 games in the competition, of which 47 have been wins, 55 draws, and 62 losses, which comes out to a points per game average of just 1.20.

Ultimately, West Ham need a new manager, and Nuno looks like the best man for the job.

Manager "close to agreeing" West Ham contract after Sullivan and Brady talks

He’s being lined up if Graham Potter is sacked.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Sep 23, 2025

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

Hemant Brar26-Apr-20252:08

Is Mumbai’s second-half charge underway?

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

Pollard: 'We always had that belief that Rohit is going to come good'

Rohit stays true to himself to keep the doubts away

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

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

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

“I’ve always felt that once everyone starts clicking in this team, it is going to be complete domination,” their captain Hardik Pandya said after the win against Sunrisers Hyderabad. With that confidence, and momentum, they enter Sunday afternoon’s game.LSG, on the other hand, have faced two defeats in their last three games. They did win three in a row after a shaky start but things are not looking good for them at the moment. Rishabh Pant and David Miller are yet to fire, making their middle order one of the weakest in the league. After a blistering start to the season, Pooran has had scores of 8, 11 and 9 in his last three innings, which has exposed their middle order further.What’s in LSG’s favour is their 6-1 head-to-head record against MI. It includes their win from earlier this season, when MI retired out Tilak Varma in their unsuccessful chase of 204. But this time MI will be playing at home, where they have three wins in four outings so far.Form guideMumbai Indians WWWL (last five matches, most recent first)
Lucknow Super Giants LWLWWMayank Yadav is yet to play this season•BCCITeam news and likely XIIs: Where is Mayank Yadav?It’s unlikely that MI will tinker with their winning combination.Mumbai Indians (probable): 1 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Will Jacks, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Hardik Pandya (capt), 7 Naman Dhir, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Deepak Chahar, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Jasprit Bumrah, 12 Vignesh PuthurIn their last two games, LSG brought in Ayush Badoni as Impact Player in the first innings of the match itself, which meant Mayank Yadav stayed on the bench. One also wonders if Mayank’s fitness has something to do with his not being named in the XI in the first place.Lucknow Super Giants (probable): 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Mitchell Marsh, 3 Nicholas Pooran, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt & wk), 5 Ayush Badoni, 6 David Miller, 7 Abdul Samad, 8 Shardul Thakur, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Digvesh Rathi, 11 Avesh Khan, 12 Prince YadavIn the spotlight: Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh PantBefore this IPL started, there were whispers about Suryakumar Yadav’s form. In February, against England, he had managed only 28 runs in five T20Is at a strike rate of 116.66. Since then, he has played nine innings in the IPL and has scored at least 25 in each of them. Overall, he is the leading run-getter for MI with 373 at a strike rate of 166.51. The only thing missing is his trademark, jaw-dropping knock.2:49

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

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

Bruno Fernandes continues to see a move to the Saudi Pro League speculated on, but the Manchester United captain reportedly has “no interest” in completing such a switch at this stage of his career. That will be music to the ears of those at Old Trafford, with the Portuguese playmaker a talismanic presence for the Red Devils while continuing to fill their armband.

Fernandes contract: When Man Utd deal expires

Fernandes remains under contract in Manchester through to the summer of 2027, with those terms including the option for a further 12-month extension. He is 31 years of age, but continues to deliver at a high standard for the Red Devils – who have been infuriatingly inconsistent as a collective across several seasons.

Losing their skipper would represent a serious blow to United, with Ruben Amorim looking to build around his fellow countryman. Nobody comes close to matching the mercurial midfielder’s output when looking at end product – with 100 goals being reached for the Red Devils through 297 appearances in all competitions.

Fernandes’ value to any given cause is clear for all to see, which has led to admiring glances being shot in his direction from the Middle East. It is claimed that lucrative offers from Al-Hilal and Al-Ittihad were knocked back over the summer as formal approaches were made.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALFollow Ronaldo? Saudi offers snub as Man Utd stance revealed

There has been talk of more of those being readied, with the experienced Portugal international being given the chance to tread a similar career path to Cristiano Ronaldo – who linked up with Al-Nassr after seeing his second spell on United’s books come to a close.

According to , Fernandes has no intention of heading down that route. They claim that “sources close to the United skipper have completely rejected recent suggestions he is ready to quit Old Trafford after the World Cup next summer and accept a Saudi offer”. Said report goes on to claim that Fernandes is “only interested in playing in major European leagues”.

Fernandes is said to be “fully committed to United”, with there confidence on his part that long-term plans being pieced together by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and club co-owners INEOS will deliver an upturn in fortune. BBC Sport state that “Fernandes is determined to put everything into helping United towards a better future, while also believing it is possible to secure a top-five finish that could earn a place in next season's Champions League”.

Fernandes asking price: Man Utd eager to avoid sale

There have been reports to suggest that United would demand more than £60 million ($80m) from any deal involving Fernandes, with there understandable reluctance on their part to see a prized asset move on. The hope is that such an asking price will deter any potential suitors. Big-spending sides in the Saudi Pro League do, however, boast deep pockets.

Amorim has spoken of his desire to see Fernandes stay put, with there an important role for him to play with United heading forward. The Red Devils’ under-fire coach has said of his captain: “He deserves all the praise. That guy deserves to be in the history of our club, not just for what he does but for what his team conquers.”

United have looked to use Fernandes in a deeper playmaking berth this season, rather than pushing him forward as an archetypal No.10. Amorim believes that he can be more effective in that role as he sees more of the ball and can dictate proceedings from the middle of the pitch.

That could be considered to impact his attacking threat somewhat, with positions being taken up further away from the opposition goal, but United need players of his ilk to be involved as often as possible in an ongoing bid to make Amorim’s favoured 3-4-3 system work.

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GettyFernandes happy: Next up for Man Utd

With Fernandes seemingly happy in his current surroundings for now, United – who have picked up 10 points from seven games this season to sit 10th in the Premier League table – will be back in action after the latest international break when heading to Anfield for a meeting with old adversaries Liverpool on October 19.

Lamine Yamal has broken into the top 10 of the world's highest paid players. Forbes estimates that the teenage Barcelona star will earn enough this year to break the threshold for the first time in his career. High-profile sponsorship deals with the likes of Adidas, Visa and Konami have helped boost Yamal's earnings as a familiar face retains top spot in this rundown.

Getty Images SportYamal enters the top 10

American financial magazine Forbes estimates that Yamal will crack the top 10 for the first time. They predict that the 18-year-old with earn $43m (£32m) this season, with $10m (£7.4m) coming from commercial income.

Yamal is the notable inclusion in the top 10 list with the Spain international enjoying a whirlwind career to date. Having broken onto the scene in the 2023/24 season, Yamal is now considered one of the finest attacking talents in Europe.

The Spaniard recently put pen to paper on a new blockbuster six-year deal with Barcelona, and was handed the iconic number 10 shirt, which is synonymous with Argentina international Lionel Messi.

One of Yamal's biggest commercial contracts is with sports brand adidas, where he is one of the brand's key ambassadors and has his own signature boots. 

AdvertisementRonaldo retains top spot

Yamal's earnings for the season may be impressive for a teenager and he just makes the top 10, which is again headed by Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo, who celebrated his 40th birthday back in February, signed a bumper new contract with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr over the summer.

He's estimated to earn a whopping $280m this season, far and away the most of all footballers in the coming campaign. Messi remains in second place with $130m, though his off-field earnings of $70m trumps that of Ronaldo ($50m).

It's the old guard that dominates the top 10 with Benzema ($104m) rounding off the top three. However, the younger stars are starting to make up ground of those above them on the leaderboard.

Kylian Mbappe ($95m), Erling Haaland ($80m) and Vinicius Junior ($60m) feature fourth, fifth and sixth, and it's surely only a matter of time before they leapfrog the likes of Benzema and Messi above them in the top 10.

Getty Images SportNeymar and De Bruyne drop out

Mohamed Salah ($55m), Sadio Mane ($54m), Jude Bellingham ($44m) and Yamal ($43m) round off the top 10, but their rise up the Forbes rankings has seen experienced stars Neymar and Kevin Bruyne drop down.

Neymar saw a lucrative contract with Saudi side Al-Hilal terminated back in January and re-joined Brazilian side Santos, which impacted his earnings, while De Bruyne left Manchester City for Napoli at the end of the 2024/25 season, thus seeing his earnings drop as a result.

Top 10 in full according to Forbes:

Cristiano Ronaldo – $280mLionel Messi – $130mKarim Benzema – $104mKylian Mbappe – $95mErling Haaland – $80mVinicius Junior – $60mMohamed Salah – $55mSadio Mane – $54mJude Bellingham – $44mLamine Yamal – $43mENJOYED THIS STORY?

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Yamal set for Barcelona return

Yamal is expected to return for Barcelona when they take on Girona in La Liga this weekend. Yamal has only made two appearances since the September international break due to injury, coming off the bench in a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad before playing the full 90 in a 2-1 home loss to European champions PSG.

And having missed the 4-1 loss to Sevilla and Spain's wins over Georgia and Bulgaria earlier this month, Hansi Flick expects the teenage winger to feature for the Blaugrana this weekend. Barcelona's surprise reverse to the Seville side leaves them two points behind league leaders Real Madrid, who make the short trip across the capital to face Getafe on Sunday.

Yamal has been in fine form for club and country this season having scored two goals and provided six assists across seven appearances in La Liga, Champions League and World Cup qualification action. Barcelona fans are hopeful that Yamal's return to fitness can inspire the club to return to winning ways having fallen to back-to-back defeats, losing ground in both league and European competition in the process.

Barcelona have a number of concerns for their welcome of Girona with goalkeepers Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Joan Garcia both absent, meaning Wojciech Szczesny is set to start between the sticks on Saturday. In attack, meanwhile, Dani Olmo, Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski all sit out for the Spanish giants, while midfielder Gavi continues to miss out for the La Liga title contenders.

One Newcastle United player has found the experience of playing in England “bad” and now wants to leave the club, in a significant new update.

Howe demands more quality from Newcastle

The Magpies have suffered some demoralising home defeats already this season, including against Liverpool and Barcelona, and Arsenal inflicted a last-gasp loss on them on Sunday afternoon.

While Eddie Howe could find positives from Newcastle’s performance, he has also made it clear that he needs to see the same level of quality as he does commitment from his players.

“I think harsh words are sometimes needed. Whether that is to the team or to indviduals, I will usually look to do it on an individual basis. What I look for is effort, commitment, desire and organisation.

“There are so many things that go into a performance. I am seeing the effort there, but the quality was lacking. So I have to be very careful. You don’t want to make the morale or the mood worse, I will be very reflective tonight and figure out a way forward tomorrow.”

This is still a strong Newcastle squad that Howe has at his disposal, but it looks increasingly as though one player doesn’t have a long-term future at St James’ Park, following a fresh update.

Newcastle player wants permanent St James' exit

According to a new update from Estadio Deportivo [via Sport Witness], Newcastle goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos wants to leave the club permanently, despite only joining last year.

The 31-year-old is currently out on loan at Sevilla, keeping a clean sheet in their 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano over the weekend, and he wants to stay there permanently, following a “bad experience” living in England. He is valued at £4.3m by Transfermarkt and hopes to be sold for an “affordable price” by Newcastle.

The January transfer window feels like the right time for Newcastle to sell Vlachodimos for good, considering Howe doesn’t appear to have any plans for him at the club moving forward.

This is despite Jurgen Klopp speaking glowingly about him after an impressive performance for Benfica against Liverpool back in 2022.

“We should have scored much more. I think, mainly because of their goalkeeper, credit to him. Their goalkeeper was probably the game’s best player. We played well, but he made a couple of really good saves.”

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Sometimes, a move simply doesn’t work out for various reasons, which appears to be the case for Vlachodimos at Newcastle, and it’s now a case of them trying to get as much money as possible for his signature.