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Manchester United’s poor form under Ruben Amorim has continued, with the Red Devils currently on a run of just one win in their last five matches.

However, Fabrizio Romano has recently confirmed the higher-ups at Old Trafford will continue backing the Portuguese manager and are not considering a change.

That could mean Amorim is once again backed in the January transfer window, as INEOS look to find players who are better suited to his infamous 3-4-2-1 system.

Indeed, they spent over £200m in the summer to sign a new-look attack and Senne Lammens as their new goalkeeper.

If recent reports are to be believed, United will be dipping back into the market in January.

United’s latest transfer target

There have already been several reports linking United to a new midfielder, a clear focus for them over the next two windows.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Two of those are English duo Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton, although there could be a sizeable price tag for each Three Lions international.

Instead, the Red Devils have been linked with a more budget-friendly option. According to a report from Football Insider, Olympiacos midfielder Christos Mouzakitis is ‘definitely on the radar’ of the 13-time Premier League champions.

However, this is not going to be a straightforward deal for United to do. Mouzakitis is said to be wanted by ‘probably every big club in Europe right now,’ so it’ll be tough competition for Amorim’s side.

Real Madrid, for example, are one of the sides vying for his signature, although United are ready to ‘push’ the LaLiga outfit for his signature.

At a fee of just £30m, it represents great value, especially in January.

Why Mouzakitis would be a good signing

There is no doubt that 18-year-old Mouzakitis, who turns 19 on Christmas Day, is one of the most talented young midfielders in Europe.

That was recognised earlier this week when he won the 2025 Golden Boy fans’ choice award.

Indeed, it is clear to see why the Greek international, who already has seven caps for his country, is so highly rated. Despite being so young, he’s already played 52 times for Olympiacos, bagging two goals and assisting six in that time.

One of the real positives to Mouzakitis’ game is the fact that he is a versatile player. Whilst he has played most of his career as a number eight, the teenager has also operated in a deeper role for Olympiacos.

Como scout Ben Mattinson is someone who has been full of praise for the Athens-born midfielder. He even said Mouzakitis’ profile is “similar to Granit Xhaka,” suggesting he is a true controller in the middle of the park, just like the Swiss veteran.

Indeed, his underlying numbers perfectly highlight just how good he is in possession. For example, the 18-year-old 1.73 passes into the penalty area per 90 minutes.

That number ranks him in the top 6% of midfielders in Europe over the last 365 days.

Key passes

1.42

80th

Passes into penalty box

1.73

94th

Progressive passes

5.99

76th

Shot-creating actions

3.78

90th

Ball recoveries

5.83

86th

Of course, going into the next couple of windows, United would love to bring a player like Wharton to Old Trafford.

Described as “very calm, composed, and a joy to play with” by Eberechi Eze, he is one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe.

However, his price tag could be a sticking point for United. The Eagles are said to want £100m for their prized midfield asset.

That would be a club-record deal for the Red Devils if they were to pay that fee.

Signing Mouzakitis, though, could be the dream alternative. Mattinson has previously said he would “compare him” to Wharton.

Like the Blackburn-born midfielder, he is a true controller in the middle of the park.

Not only are their profiles similar, but he’d also save United £70m, according to their reported price tags. That is a huge saving which could weigh into INEOS’ thinking, in a window where they need to spread their money out to sign a few players.

Signing Mouzakitis represents a deal for the present and future, saves them a fortune and helps them sign a needed profile in midfield. It certainly seems like a great option for United.

Cunha 2.0: INEOS to fast-track Man Utd bid for 'best winger in England'

Manchester United look set to make a huge move for one player in the upcoming January window.

ByEthan Lamb 6 days ago

It’s wall-to-wall Cummins watch in the lead-up to the you know what. But there’s some other stuff here as well

Alan Gardner15-Oct-2025Worries abound down under that talismanic Australia captain Pat Cummins might not be fit for the Ashes. Such is the frenzy of speculation that Cricket Australia’s medical department is working around the clock to provide updates…CA spokesman: “It’s not ideal, but we know Patty’s such a trooper. It might be that he’s a bit underdone compared to how we like it, but that’s better than being overcooked. Probably medium-rare, should be fine with a little sriracha. Still pretty hopeful we’ll get him on the barbie in good time.”CA spokesman: “That’s to be expected. We know the timeline is tight. There are known knowns and known unknowns. The problem comes with unknown unknowns. The next step is to get some more variables into his training – some dog-walking, beach frisbee, maybe a little egg-and-spoon. We’ll give him all the time he needs.”CA spokesman: “This is certainly not the outcome we hoped from getting Patty back out on grass. In all likelihood, he’s unlikely to be in the likely XI, but we’ll have to wait and see. We’re confident he’ll still play a big part in the series. Just having him around the group is going to be a big plus for the boys.”CA spokesman: “Look, it’s in the hands of the medicos. Getting his workloads up is going to be the difficult thing, now that he’s been reduced to a greasy smear on the pavement. But Patty Cummins is a champion. Even if he’s only able to operate in the spirit realm, he’s going to be a real handful for Poms.”

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It is not so long since Cummins and his Australia team were being criticised by the local media for being too woke, and the Light Roller was reminded of this after David Warner popped up with his Ashes prediction – copyright all news organisations – the other day. “I think 4-0. There’s going to be a washout somewhere, generally Sydney… If the captain doesn’t play, they might win one game.” All typically bullish from the Bull, you might think, but hold on. What red-blooded former Aussie player worth his Pommie-baiting inner mongrel predicts anything other than a 5-0 whitewash? And as for England winning a Test if Cummins isn’t available… Eesh. Truly they have gone soft.

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Your move, BCCI. It’s not often that the richest, most powerful board in world cricket is stumped, but Mohsin Naqvi’s vigilante methods at the Asia Cup final have put them in a quandary. Neither India or Pakistan covered themselves in glory through the course of the tournament – but Naqvi raised (or lowered) the bar on pettiness by denying India their actual moment of glory. Or forcing India to deny themselves, as the case may be.Either way, India still haven’t got their hands on the cup, which is presumably minding its own business in a cupboard somewhere at the ACC headquarters in Dubai. Naqvi’s last communication on the subject came via X a few days after the final: “If they truly want it, they are welcome to come to the ACC office and collect it from me.” Straight from the schoolyard playbook, but you can’t knock it for effectiveness. At this point, there isn’t much the BCCI can do beyond putting pictures of the Asia Cup on milk cartons and sitting out the next couple of years until Naqvi is no longer president.

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To the Women’s World Cup, where we must discuss the depraved depths to which the ladies have descended. Of course, with the arrival of professionalism and greater scrutiny on the women’s game, we shouldn’t be surprised to see some unsavoury behaviours creeping in. The men are always effing and jeffing, arging and barging, and so we may to have to accept similar from our sisters – but transgressions can’t go unpunished. Which is why we were pleased to see the ICC cracking down after Nonkululeko Mlaba’s egregious send-off for Harleen Deol. Okay, yes, most people might not have even noticed Mlaba’s smile-and-wave-like-you-spotted-a-friend-in-the-queue-at-the-bakery if it hadn’t resulted in a disciplinary charge. But sometimes you have to make an example. Do we want our girls growing up knowing the genteel standards that cricket holds sacred, or not?

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O Palmeiras está prestes a negociar mais uma joia de sua categoria de base com o futebol europeu, e dessa vez será o jovem Luís Guilherme, de apenas 18 anos, que pode estar de malas prontas para atuar no West Ham, da Inglaterra.

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Uma das principais armas que Abel Ferreira tem no banco de reservas hoje, Luís Guilherme seria a sombra ideal para Raphael Veiga neste período pré-chegada de Felipe Anderson, e para muitos torcedores, a cria merecia até mais oportunidades como titular no lugar do camisa 23, que não vive uma boa fase.

Caso venda Luís Guilherme, Abel perderá uma importante peça que faz tanto a meia, como a ponta direita, e não terá mais uma boa opção pensando na reposição de Raphael Veiga.

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Os únicos jogadores dentro do elenco que podem atuar no lugar de Veiga são Jhon Jhon, que não atua há mais de três meses e Rômulo, que ainda não foi testado atuanto mais centralizado.

Fato é que a diretoria alviverde vai precisar contratar para o segundo semestre independente se a saída de Luís Guilherme for consumada.

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Além de um zagueiro, talvez Abel necessite de mais um meia e também um atacante de referência, para repor a saída de Endrick e a lesão de Bruno Rodrigues.

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NEW YORK — Shane Bieber looked around the other day and realized something shocking: Eight years into his career, with nearly 900 innings pitched and a Cy Young award on his mantle, he is a rookie compared to his fellow Blue Jays starting pitchers.

“He’s 30!” says his 41-year-old rotationmate Max Scherzer with a laugh. “He’s a young buck! We should make him wear a pink backpack.”

Indeed, in an era of flamethrowers who are too young to turn on the stove, Toronto’s rotation looks closer to retirement than to retiring hitters. Scherzer; Bieber; Chris Bassitt, 36; Kevin Gausman, 34; and José Berríos, 31, make up the only contingent in the majors with no one in his 20s. Their average age, 34.4, would outlast nearly five generations of blue jays.

Entering Thursday, the Blue Jays have received 103 starts from pitchers 31 or older, the most in the majors this season and on pace for the most by a division winner since at least 2019. The only current team with a similar number of gray hairs is the Rangers, who employ 37-year-old Jacob deGrom, 36-year-old Patrick Corbin and 36-year-old Merrill Kelly, with 35-year-old Nathan Eovaldi on the shelf with a strained rotator cuff—but 29-year-old Jacob Latz and 25-year-old Jack Leiter help keep them youthful. And yet the Jays’ 31-plus starters have a 4.18 ERA, right in line with league average.

Scherzer famously pitched for the 2019 Nationals, who got 65 starts from 31-plus-year-olds and called themselves . He says he does not look back at that nickname and chuckle at his naivete. “I was old in ’19!” he says. “When you're 36 in the game, that’s when you’re old. That’s when all the GMs start looking at you funny.” (Perhaps that was a senior moment: Scherzer was 34 in 2019.) That club won the World Series on the back of its horses. But most teams these days value young studs who can spin the ball for five and a third innings, then turn it over to a bullpen full of even younger studs who can spin it even harder.

Have the Blue Jays noticed that many of them are more suited for an old-folks’ home than home plate?

“Man, you’re so blunt,” says Gausman with a laugh. “I’ve definitely noticed we’re not young.”

Elly De La Cruz's curiosity got the best of him during a Cincinnati Reds pitching change Monday night.

As Reds manager Terry Francona made the call to the bullpen during the fifth inning against the Washington Nationals, De La Cruz grabbed Francona's glasses to try them on for size. Francona's eye prescription appeared to be so strong that it nearly blinded De La Cruz as he put the specs on his face.

Francona let out a big laugh as De La Cruz winced and immediately handed the frames back.

The first-year Reds manager and star shortstop have managed to have some fun throughout their first season together. In June, Francona said he found a good way to get under the star's skin, telling him he'd make a really good designated hitter. Francona also hilariously mimicked De La Cruz's home-run celebration after a win last month, although he didn't do it exactly right.

There's never a dull moment between the two.

The Reds fell to the Nationals Monday night 10-8. De La Cruz scored three runs after he walked three times. The third-year star is slashing .281/.357/.486 with 18 home runs, 65 RBIs and 25 stolen bases this year.

The New York Yankees placed outfielder Aaron Judge on the 10-day injured list over the weekend with a flexor strain in his right elbow. Though Judge will have to miss some time, he did avoid a more serious injury or any damage to his ulnar collateral ligament, and his elbow will not require surgery.

"I think we in the big picture dodged something pretty good," Yankees manager Aaron Boone told on Tuesday. "Hopefully this little bit of downtime does the trick and also serves as a little bit of a physical reset for him in a long season where you're playing every day."

Boone added that he thinks Judge will begin hitting off the tee on Tuesday or Wednesday, and will resume throwing 10-15 days after the injury. Boone remains unsure of how long it will take Judge to be ready to go in the outfield after he starts throwing again.

Per Bryan Hoch of , Boone said the "hope" is that Judge will play as the designated hitter when he's eligible to return from the IL on Aug. 5.

The Yankees have talked to designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton about playing outfield with Judge out and for depth down the stretch. Though Stanton is "eager" about the opportunity and will do some drills in the outfield this week, Boone is unsure if he will actually use Stanton in that role.

Liverpool are now battling Real Madrid for the signature of FC Bayern defender Dayot Upamecano, amid a new update on his future at the Allianz Arena.

The Reds finally managed to get one over on Madrid on Tuesday night, defeating the Spanish side 1-0 at Anfield in the Champions League, courtesy of Alexis Mac Allister’s second-half header, which was the Argentinian’s first goal of the season.

The result was extra sweet, given that it was the first time Trent Alexander-Arnold has returned to Anfield since controversially leaving in the summer, with Arne Slot bringing in Jeremie Frimpong as a replacement.

However, it would be fair to say Frimpong hasn’t made an immediate impact, having only been used sparingly by Slot even prior to his recent injury, which has ruled the right-back out of the last four matches in all competitions.

The manager was also keen to bring in a new centre-back in the summer, narrowly missing out on Marc Guehi on deadline day, given that Crystal Palace were unable to sign a replacement, but a potential alternative has now been identified.

Liverpool battling Real Madrid for Dayot Upamecano

Having gotten the better of Real Madrid on the pitch, Liverpool are now trying to one-up their European foes in the transfer market, with a report from Spain revealing the two clubs are battling it out for Upamecano, although there could be competition from elsewhere.

Premier League rivals Chelsea and Manchester United are also in the race for the defender, amid uncertainty surrounding his future at Bayern, as he is still yet to put pen to paper on a new contract to extend his stay at the German club beyond the end of the season.

Talks over a new deal have now stalled, which suggests the 27-year-old could be on the move in the summer, but Bayern would be unwilling to sanction a move during the January transfer window.

Slot is personally a fan of the centre-back, with the Dutchman of the belief he could adapt to life in the Premier League swiftly and stabilise his backline, and there are plenty of indications the Liverpool manager could be on the money.

Hailed as “outstanding” by Joshua Kimmich, the Bayern star is vastly experienced at the top level, having made 60 appearances in the Champions League and won 11 trophies, across what has been a very impressive career to date.

Despite the contract uncertainty, the Frenchman also remains a key player for Bayern Munich, most recently starting in the 2-1 victory against Paris Saint-Germain, making six clearances and winning four duels to keep the reigning European champions at bay.

That said, Liverpool haven’t always been successful when recruiting from the Bundesliga, with Florian Wirtz yet to adapt to life in the Premier League, failing to register a goal or an assist.

As such, it would be less risky to simply go back in for Guehi, who has already proven himself in the Premier League.

Upamecano and Guehi have been named among the world's best centre-backs The Best 15 Centre-Backs in World Football Ranked (2025)

Liverpool skipper Virgil van Dijk is one of the best defenders in the world.

ByCharlie Smith Nov 20, 2025

علّق آندي روبرتسون، ظهير فريق ليفربول، على فوزهم الثمين في مباراة الأمس على إنتر ميلان، في بطولة دوري أبطال أوروبا، على ملعب “سان سيرو”.

وحل ليفربول ضيفًا على إنتر ميلان، في الجولة السادسة من دوري أبطال أوروبا، مرحلة الدوري موسم 2025/26، حيث حقق فوزًا بهدف دون رد.

وقال روبرتسون، في تصريحات نشرتها شبكة “بي بي سي” العالمية: “إنها نتيجة رائعة، كنا نعلم أننا سنواجه فريقًا صعبًا يمر بفترة جيدة، كان علينا أن نظهر روحًا قتالية وندافع بشراسة.،كان الحفاظ على نظافة الشباك أمرًا بالغ الأهمية، ثم سجلنا الهدف”.

وأضاف: “بالنسبة لي، أعتقد أن احتساب لمسة اليد (هدف كوناتي الملغي) استغرق سبع أو ثماني دقائق، إذا حدث ذلك فعليك الالتزام بقرار الحكم على أرض الملعب، عليك الالتزام بالقرار، بدت ركلة الجزاء غير قوية (التدخل ضد فلوريان فيرتز)، لكن تُحتسب في أي مكان آخر، من حسن حظنا أننا حصلنا عليها”.

اقرأ أيضًا.. فرص ليفربول في التأهل إلى دور الـ16 من دوري أبطال أوروبا بعد الفوز على إنتر ميلان

وواصل: “كنا جميعًا بحاجة إلى هذا الفوز، نعلم أن النتائج والأداء ليسا على المستوى المطلوب، من المهم الفوز بالنسبة لنا في تلك المرحلة من دوري الأبطال، لقد كانت نتيجة رائعة لنا جميعًا”.

وشدد: “ندرك تمامًا أهمية التواجد ضمن الثمانية الأوائل وتجنب الملحق، لم يحالفنا الحظ الموسم الماضي في القرعة (واجه ليفربول نظيره باريس سان جيرمان في دور الـ16 وخسر بركلات الترجيح)”.

وحول وضع محمد صلاح، قال: “إنه وضع صعب، نحن نتحدث عن أحد أعظم اللاعبين الذين لعبوا لهذا النادي، لقد انضممت للفريق في نفس فترة الانتقالات التي انضم فيها، مهما حدث، فقد حدث، نحن جميعًا معًا داخل النادي”.

وفيما يخص مستقبل محمد صلاح، قال: “هذا الأمر متروك للآخرين، وليس لي، أحب اللعب مع محمد صلاح، وأتمنى الاستمرار في اللعب معه”.

In vintage Max Scherzer fashion, pitcher Max Scherzer refused to come out of the game during a fifth inning mound visit from Blue Jays manager John Schneider in the team's 8–2 win in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series. A fired-up Scherzer yelled in Schneider's face, sending his manager back to the dugout, before he picked up a huge strikeout to snuff a potential Mariners rally and end the fifth inning.

By now, many fans have seen the video of that exchange—the mound visit outburst heard 'round the world. But what fans may not have seen or heard is that the conversation was ongoing in the dugout after the fifth inning. Schneider approached Scherzer in the clubhouse following the mound visit and asked the 41-year-old if he was alright to continue pitching in the sixth inning.

Scherzer responded as you might imagine. Here's the exchange, as told to ESPN's Buster Olney and transcribed for your enjoyment.

Schneider: (asks if Scherzer is alright to continue pitching).

Scherzer: "What, are you f—— crazy?"

Schneider: "Ok, go do it."

Scherzer: "I will—Get the f— out of here."

That sounds exactly like how Scherzer would respond to such a question. And indeed, Scherzer—while speaking to reporters after the game—confirmed that a conversation took place between he and Schneider before the sixth inning.

And while it may have looked like Scherzer was fighting to stay in the game, the veteran pitcher told reporters he believed his manager was playing a "mind game."

"I think he wasn't planning—gathering from the bullpen—that he wasn't actually planning on taking me out," Scherzer said. "He just wanted to check on me. So I don't think I actually fought to stay in. I think it was kind of a mind game to kind of get me going."

Mind game or not, Scherzer—like the bulldog he's been throughout his Hall of Fame career—gritted his teeth and got out of the fifth inning. And while his second conversation with Schneider ultimately didn't lead to him getting out of the inning—Scherzer came out of the game with two outs in the sixth inning—it didn't detract from the outstanding outing he gave Toronto in a near-must-win.

So if Schneider was playing mind games with the expressive Scherzer, it sure seems like it worked.

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Fim de preparação, porque vai começar o Campeonato Brasileiro. O Vasco ficou mais de um mês sem jogar, por ter sido eliminado precocemente do Cameponato Carioca. O Cruz-Maltino fez três jogos-treino durante este período até a estreia na competição e venceu em todos os testes.

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⚽ VASCO 5 X 0 OLARIA
O Vasco goleou o Olaria por 5 a 0 no CT Moacur Barbosa. Os gols foram de David, Clayton (2), JP e um contra. O técnico Ramón Díaz optou por escalar um time completamente alternativo.

Escalação do jogo-treino: Keiller, Puma Rodriguez (Lucas Eduardo), Maicon, Luiz Gustavo (Lyncon) e Victor Luís; De Lucca, Mateus Carvalho e JP; David (Rayan), Serginho e Clayton.

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⚽ VASCO 2 X 0 VOLTA REDONDA
No segundo desafio do hiato sem partidas oficiais. Os gols cruz-maltinos foram marcados por David e Clayton

Sem informações sobre a escalação.

⚽ VASCO 2 X 1 AMÉRICA-MG
O Vasco venceu por 2 a 1 no último desafio desta intertemporada. O América-MG foi a vítima. Clayton e Vegetti balançaram a rede pelo lado Cruz-Maltino, enquanto Fabinho descontou para o Coelho.

Sem informações sobre a escalação.

Agora, o próximo desafio do Vasco na temporada é oficial. O Cruz-Maltino estreia no Campeonato Brasileiro contra o Grêmio, às 16h, em São Januário.

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