Carlo Ancelotti delivered his verdict on Kylian Mbappe after the forward walked straight off the pitch at the end of Real Madrid's win over Atletico.
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Change is afoot for Premier League strugglers Leicester City. They announced their decision to sack manager Steve Cooper on Sunday afternoon after a poor start to the season, with the club just 12 games into the new top-flight campaign.
They are certainly in danger of being dragged into the relegation zone at this stage of the season. The Midlands club are 16th in the table, having won just two games and lost six thus far. One of the most worrying things is their goal difference, which currently stands at minus eight.
The search is on for a new boss at the King Power Stadium, and they have recently been linked with one manager who is coming off the back of a good interim stint.
Leicester target Dutch manager
The manager in question here is Ruud van Nistelrooy. The former Dutch striker recently enjoyed a stint as interim boss at Manchester United following Erik ten Hag’s dismissal, although he was not kept on as a coach under Ruben Amorim.
Now, according to Football Insider, the former Red Devils centre-forward has emerged as a target at the King Power Stadium. He is viewed as ‘the wildcard candidate’ for the Foxes, but is someone ‘on the managerial shortlist’ of the club.
He is not the only out-of-work boss in consideration for the vacant Leicester role. Former West Ham United and Everton manager David Moyes is one name who has cropped up, as is ex-Brighton and Hove Albion and Chelsea boss Graham Potter.
Why Van Nistelrooy would be a good appointment
Leicester learnt exactly what Van Nistelrooy is capable of as a manager. During his short but sweet time in the hot seat at Old Trafford, the Foxes were on the wrong end of two of his three wins as United’s interim. They suffered a 5-2 drubbing in the Carabao Cup and a 3-0 loss in the league.
He also coached United to a 2-0 win in the Europa League against Greek side PAOK and earned a point in the Premier League at home against Chelsea. The Dutchman certainly made a good impression during his short time as a manager in English football.
However, his pedigree as a manager extends further than those four games. He has previously managed PSV Eindhoven in his native Netherlands and was fantastic during his time at the Philips Stadion.
The 48-year-old oversaw 50 games during his time at PSV and played some entertaining football. He picked up 38 wins and scored an impressive 127 goals. He also coached the club to Dutch Cup success in his only season in charge, beating Ajax 4-3 to lift the trophy.
Comparisons between Van Nistelrooy and former Foxes boss Enzo Maresca can certainly be drawn. The Italian, who is now head coach at Chelsea, helped the former Premier League champions to promotion last season, winning the Championship in emphatic fashion. He won 36 out of 53 matches in all competitions to give Leicester fans a memorable season.
Stat
Van Nistelrooy
Maresca
Games
50
53
Wins
34
36
Draws
8
4
Losses
8
13
Goals for
127
103
Goals against
60
50
Average domestic league points per match
2.22
2.11
Interestingly, the duo both began their non-playing careers as assistant coaches, with Van Nistelrooy working with the Netherlands national team and Maresca at Ascoli, Sevilla and then West Ham. They then coached at youth level, with Van Nistelrooy taking charge of the PSV academy sides and the Chelsea boss coaching at Manchester City.
Both managers were also assistants at one of the Manchester clubs, Van Nistelrooy, of course, on the Red half via PSV and Maresca on the Blue side. The similarities are clear to see and are incredible coincidences.
Bringing in the former United interim, who Ten Hag described as “very driven”, might be worth a shot for the Foxes. Backing an inexperienced manager has worked in the past, and it could be the key to surviving this season.
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It is certainly a risky move, but one that could pay off in the short and long term for Leicester.
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After the disappointment away at Ewood Park a week ago, home comforts provided welcome solace for Leeds United this time around, with the automatic promotion hopefuls running out deserved 2-0 winners against Derby County on Saturday afternoon.
It had been an initially muted start to proceedings at Elland Road, with the home side’s dominance amounting to little in the opening half an hour or so, amid a case of all bark and no bite from Daniel Farke’s men.
That all changed in the space of just five minutes prior to the break, however, with Joe Rodon – who had earlier skewed a header wide – grabbing what was remarkably only the second goal of his senior career thus far, after outmuscling Kane Wilson and glancing his effort home from Joe Rothwell’s corner.
As the old adage goes, one follows two, with another defender getting in on the act after substitute Max Wober tapped home on the stroke of half-time, the Austrian pouncing on Brenden Aaronson’s diverted pull-back to put the hosts firmly in the driving seat.
That lead, in truth, rarely looked troubled after the interval with Illan Meslier something of a bystander to proceedings, with Farke left to reflect on a job well done for his dominant side.
Leeds' best performers vs Derby
Where to begin? Well, a good place to start would be that man Rodon, with the towering Welshman swooping Sky Sports’ Player of the Match award for his all-round efforts, having provided a physical presence in both boxes for the Yorkshire side.
Indeed, not only could the former Tottenham Hotspur man have walked away with a brace, but he also enjoyed a 93% pass accuracy from his defensive berth and won 100% of his aerial duels, as per Sofascore, showcasing that there is silk to go with his usual steel.
Elsewhere, it proved another fine outing for Leeds’ loan star, Rothwell, with the stylish midfielder registering the assist for the opener, while also winning all of his own aerial battles in the centre of the park.
Key stats – Leeds vs Derby
Stat
Highest ranking
Touches
Rodon (111)
Pass accuracy
Solomon (100%)
Key passes
Rothwell & Aaronson (3)
Successful dribbles
Solomon & James (2)
Ground duels won
Aaronson (5)
Aerial duels won
Rodon (4/4)
Possession lost
James & Zetterstrom (20x)
Stats via Sofascore
Ahead of the 29-year-old, there were also positives to take from the attacking display, with Dan James having again been a real outlet down the right flank, notably providing a driving run in the build-up to Wober’s clincher.
Yes, the former Manchester United man still has the penchant to frustrate due to his at times wayward decision-making – as shown by the fact that he lost the ball on 20 occasions – yet boy he is effective in this division. It’s no wonder that BBC pundit Jon Newsome recently claimed he was “too good for the Championship”.
That praise could also be attributed to one of James’ instrumental teammates, with Ao Tanaka also a joy to watch alongside Rothwell at the base of the midfield.
Leeds' star performer vs Derby
Losing Ethan Ampadu to a significant knee injury back in September looked at the time to be a potentially season-defining moment for the Whites, with the absence of the Leeds skipper described as a “devastating blow” by pundit Frank McAvennie.
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Ahead of schedule, the ex-Chelsea star is now thankfully back among the matchday squad, although securing a starting role for himself once again won’t be as easy as first thought, such has been the brilliance of the Rothwell-Tanaka axis.
The latter man, in particular, has proven a real find following his £2.95m switch from Fortuna Dusseldorf, with Sky Sports’ Andy Hinchcliffe notably stating on commentary – around the 55th-minute mark – that he makes the “game look ridiculously easy” in his midfield berth.
That was particularly evident when the Japanese sensation picked out the aforementioned Aaronson with a delightful sliding pass in the first half, with that passage ultimately leading to Rodon’s opener, following the American’s spin and shot.
Tanaka almost got on the scoresheet himself too after testing Jacob Zetterstrom from range after the break, with that driven effort forcing the Derby stopper into a diving save to his right.
With 84 touches and a 91% pass accuracy to boot, Leeds’ summer signing was involved across the park throughout the 90 minutes, popping up all over the place to help dictate proceedings for Farke’s men.
As such, while Rodon may get most of the plaudits for his undoubtedly fine work, it was Tanaka – to whom Leeds Live’s Beren Cross awarded an 8/10 match rating – that proved the real shining light on the day.
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Well, that wasn’t exactly a classic, but Arsenal made it four wins on the bounce last night and four wins in a row against Manchester United to boot.
Mikel Arteta’s side were far from their scintillating best in attack and actually looked quite blunt in the first half, but two set-piece goals in the second 45 secured all three points and kept them in the Premier League title race.
Moreover, while some of the forward players left much to be desired on the night, there were still several brilliant displays elsewhere, notably from William Saliba.
Saliba's performance vs Man Utd
Despite being without centre-back partner Gabriel Magalhaes due to injury, Saliba put in yet another monster performance, proving that he’s one of the very best defenders in the world, let alone England.
The French international was everywhere in defence, putting his body in the way and making it impossible for Rasmus Hojlund to hold up play, and then, to top it all off, he also scored the team’s second goal to all but guarantee that the three points would be staying in North London.
Unsurprisingly, the watching press were just as impressed by the former Saint-Étienne ace as we were, with the Standard’s Simon Collings awarding him an 8/10 match rating at full-time and writing that he was ‘so composed on the ball’ and utterly ‘dominant’ throughout.
While undoubtedly high praise, Collings’ appraisal is more than backed up by the stats.
In his 94 minutes on the pitch, the Bondy-born titan scored a goal, made two clearances, two interceptions and one tackle, won two of three ground duels, took 78 touches, completed 67 of 71 passes, was accurate in 100% of his long balls and took one shot on target.
Minutes
94
Goals
1
Clearances
2
Interceptions
2
Tackles
1
Ground Duels (Won)
3 (2)
Touches
78
Passing Accuracy
67/71 (94%)
Long Balls (Accurate)
2 (2)
Shots on Target
1
Overall, it was a practically perfect display from Saliba, yet one of his teammates was arguably just as good.
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The Arsenal star who was as good as Saliba vs Man Utd
So, there are a number of players who could potentially fit the bill, from centre-back partner Jakub Kiwior to right-back Jurrien Timber, but in reality, it’s the club’s £105m man, Declan Rice.
Yes, the former West Ham United captain has finally started to look back to his incredible best in recent games, and while he was a tad slow in the first half, he was sublime in the second, or as journalist Sam Dean said, a “different beast.”
It was the Englishman’s corner that was so perfectly placed for Timber to open the scoring, and then after that, it felt like he was here, there and everywhere.
One moment, he was snuffing out any counter-attacks threatening to develop, and the next, he was playing brilliant, accurate passes to help the Gunners maintain their stranglehold on the game.
The 25-year-old left Collings suitably impressed, as the journalist also awarded him an 8/10 match rating on the night, writing that he ‘gave Arsenal the injection of energy they needed.’
Like his French teammate, the 6 foot 2 wall’s statistics from the night back up all the praise.
In 94 minutes, he produced an expected assists figure of 0.41, provided an assist, took 56 touches, played three key passes, completed 100% of his long balls, created one big chance, blocked two shots, won five of six duels, and made one clearance, one interception and one tackle.
Minutes
94
Expected Assists
0.41
Assists
1
Touches
56
Key Passes
3
Long Balls (Completed)
2 (2)
Big Chances Created
1
Blocked Shots
2
Duels (Won)
6 (5)
Clearances
1
Interceptions
1
Tackles
1
Ultimately, while Timber and Saliba will understandably grab the headlines for their goalscoring exploits, Rice should receive just as much praise as he was simply sensational for Arsenal.
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Tottenham have now tabled an offer to sign a young star who has drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi as they look to hand Ange Postecoglou more firepower in 2025, it has been reported.
Tottenham looking for attacking midfielders
Dejan Kulusevski has emerged as a key man for Postecoglou in the early stages of the new Premier League season, but James Maddison has blown hot and cold in north London, while there is a lack of alternatives for Postecoglou to turn to.
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The Australian coach has experimented with his midfield, using Pape Sarr as a box-to-box option, but is yet to settle on a true first choice trio.
The club have been linked with the likes of Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White in recent windows, but they have managed to land neither and still look a creative midfielder light for Postecoglou’s attacking style of football, part of the reason that they have been unable to sustain any sort of form in the first quarter of the campaign.
Now, they could be set to try and change that by snapping up a young talent turning heads in the top flight.
Tottenham target teenage talent
That comes as a fresh report from Spain claims that Tottenham have tabled a £20m+ offer to sign impressive teenage talent Facundo Buonanotte from Brighton in 2025. The Argentine broke through at CA Rosario Central under the management of former Man City striker Carlos Tevez, and he revealed that the teenager reminded him of his one-time teammate Messi.
“I watch football and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen someone play who gives me as much pleasure as Buonanotte. When he brakes and accelerates, he reminds me of [Lionel] Messi. He is at a very high level.”
Bought by Brighton, he was sent on loan to Leicester City for the 2024-25 campaign and has already played a starring role for his new side, grabbing four goals and two assists in the first stage of the Premier League season.
Appearances
11
Goals
4
Assists
2
Minutes per goal/assist
133
% of club goals involved in
37.5%
His form has seen him dubbed a “magician” by Rising Stars XI on X, who claimed that the Argentine is “impressing everyone” by shining in a struggling Foxes side.
Still just 19-years-old, his form has turned heads and the report reveals that Tottenham have already made a big step towards trying to secure his signature. The Lilywhites have reportedly “put an offer of 25 million euros [£20.7m] on the table” plus potential add ons, though this is below Brighton’s asking price of 30m euros (£24m).
Any move would not take place until the summer given Buonanotte’s current loan spell in the Midlands, by which time his value could have soared yet further should he manage to reach double figures in either goals or assists for the Foxes, a possibility that doesn’t appear unreasonable given his current form.
As a result, Tottenham may want to get an agreement set sooner rather than later, while Brighton could find themselves better off holding out until the summer.
With both India and Sri Lanka missing many of their first-choice players, it was going to be a battle of bench strengths. Few countries enjoy the depth India have and that was evident during the first T20I in Lucknow. The 62-run win margin, huge in itself, looks even more crushing when you glance at India’s bowling card. Their four frontline bowlers – Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshal Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal – didn’t complete their quotas as India tried Venkatesh Iyer and Deepak Hooda for three overs each.After their early exit at the last T20 World Cup, India have taken a few steps in the right direction, especially with their top three batters showing more intent. With Venkatesh stepping up with both bat and ball and Ravindra Jadeja making a comeback, they seem to have a sixth bowling option covered as well.However, their fielding, especially catching, is one area that still needs work. The three catches dropped on Thursday could have proved costly on another day. If their goal is to be the best fielding side at the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia, as Rohit Sharma said after the match, they will look to improve on those metrics.After their first T20I loss, Sri Lanka were dealt another blow on Friday: Mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana and batter Kusal Mendis have been ruled out of the T20I series with their hamstring injuries.In the absence of Theekshana (and Wanindu Hasaranga), it will once again be down to Jeffrey Vandersay and Praveen Jayawickrama to shoulder the responsibility in the spin department. The pace attack looks relatively experienced and settled but for Sri Lanka to beat India at home, not only their bowlers but also their batters need to come good. Sri Lanka know that, and therefore have added Niroshan Dickwella and Dhananjaya de Silva to the T20I squad with the two injuries.
India WWWWW (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
Sri Lanka LWLLLRelated
Rohit admits managing workload will be key
Kishan, Shreyas fifties muscle India to win
Theekshana, Mendis ruled out of T20s
In the last few years, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has struggled with his form and fitness, but every now and then he shows what peak Bhuvneshwar brings to the table, with his ability to swing the new ball and deliver yorkers and slower ones at the death. Last year, when England posted 188 for 8 in their unsuccessful chase of 225, Bhuvneshwar had figures of 4-0-15-2. Last week, his four-run 19th over against West Indies all but sealed the game for India. On Thursday, he dented Sri Lanka’s chase with 2 for 9 from two overs. India would like to see more of that from him before the World Cup comes around.Bhuvnewshwar Kumar rocked Sri Lanka with two early blows•BCCI
Charith Asalanka was among the top five run scorers at the 2021 T20 World Cup. He had a difficult time in Australia earlier this month, where he managed just 64 runs in five innings (average 12.80, strike rate 114.28), but showed encouraging signs during his unbeaten 53 off 47 balls on Thursday. In fact, he was the only Sri Lanka batter to show any fight.
Ruturaj Gaikwad was ruled out of the first T20I after he complained of pain in his right wrist, which is affecting his batting. If he remains unavailable, India could go in with an unchanged XI.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Shreyas Iyer, 4 Sanju Samson, 5 Deepak Hooda, 6 Venkatesh Iyer, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Harshal Patel, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Yuzvendra ChahalTo infuse some experience into the batting line-up, Sri Lanka could replace Kamil Mishara with Danushka Gunathilaka, while Dinesh Chandimal could make way for Dickwella.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Danushka Gunathilaka, 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Charith Asalanka, 4 Janith Liyanage, 5 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 6 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 7 Chamika Karunaratne, 8 Dushmantha Chameera, 9 Jeffrey Vandersay, 10 Praveen Jayawickrama, 11 Lahiru Kumara
The last time India were to play an international match in scenic Dharamsala, rain didn’t allow even a coin toss. The same thing had happened during their last scheduled T20I here. And rain could play spoilsport on Saturday as well. Given the last T20I in Dharamsala was played back in 2016, it’s difficult to say how the pitch will behave.
“We have been very predictable in the games against big teams, thinking much about keeping our wickets in hand and slogging in the second half of the innings. But right now it’s very simple. All of us are so talented, we have got shots in our pockets and the captain and the coach believe in us. So we have to just go there and play our game. If the ball is there then we need to go for it rather than just taking a single.”
Chelsea have made an approach to sign an “elite” player in 2025, coming after chairman Todd Boehly and co were ready to bid £34 million for him in the summer window.
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The west Londoners, despite already having a plethora of central defensive options, are still believed to be keen on bringing in a new centre-back next year.
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Manager Enzo Maresca has Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi and Tosin Adarabioyo at his disposal, but there are suggestions that Chelsea are looking to the South American market for reinforcements.
Chelsea are very happy with Badiashile as a backup option to Colwill and Fofana, according to GiveMeSport’s Ben Jacobs, so perhaps Disasi could be the one to make way for another body in that area.
“Understand Chelsea are not looking to sell Benoit Badiashile, who remains highly regarded at Stamford Bridge,” wrote Jacobs on X last week.
Leicester City (home)
November 23
Aston Villa (home)
December 1
Southampton (away)
December 4
Tottenham (home)
December 8
Brentford (home)
December 15
“He’s part of the long-term project and seen as having a bright future. The stats show Badiashile’s passing range is among the best for defenders in Europe, and he is progressing well at Cobham. Chelsea believe Badiashile is providing excellent competition in a highly competitive squad. He is also versatile so can be used as a left centre-back, left-back or even partner Levi Colwill as a right centre-back, as he did against Liverpool when he came on for Tosin.”
Of the central defensive options linked with moves to Stamford Bridge, there are a few standout names, like Nottingham Forest star Murillo. The Brazilian, who has been a key man for Nuno Espírito Santo as Forest enjoy an excellent start to 2024/25, is understandably attracting plenty of interest.
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There are even suggestions that Chelsea are prepared to offer Trevoh Chalobah in a swap deal for Murillo, so it will be interesting to see how far they are willing to go for the 22-year-old.
According to reports out of Portugal, another name on Maresca’s wishlist is Benfica star Tomas Araujo. CNN Portugal reported very late in the summer window that Chelsea were ready to bid £34 million for Araujo close to deadline day, and now media sources are saying that their interest is still there heading into next year.
Chelsea have made contact over signing Tomas Araujo
According to Tuesday’s edition of O Jogo (via Sport Witness), Chelsea have made contact over signing Araujo, alongside Newcastle United and Crystal Palace. However, the Magpies are named as lead contenders to strike a deal for the 22-year-old as things stand.
The Portuguese ace has an £83 million release clause in his contract, but there is a belief that Benfica could sell him for less than that next summer. In any case, Araujo is fast developing a reputation as an elite-level defender.
“In terms of my initial observations of Tomás Araújo, I have absolutely zero concerns over his abilities in possession,” said recruitment and performance analyst Jack Fawcett.
“Passing range, comfortability stepping into midfield, calmness under pressure and carrying all elite.”
Paul Scholes has criticised Alejandro Garnacho for 'sulking' after being substituted during Manchester United's 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad.
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Scholes criticises Garnacho for 'sulking' Subbed off for Eriksen against Real SociedadMan Utd draw 1-1 against the Basque sideFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Manchester United's disappointing form has continued to haunt them as Ruben Amorim saw his side draw 1-1 against an out-of-form Real Sociedad at Anoeta Stadium despite taking the lead via Joshua Zirkzee. However, after Mikel Oyarzabal converted his penalty to bring the Basque side level, Garnacho was taken off in place of Christian Eriksen, and the Argentine has been accused of 'sulking' by Red Devils legend Scholes after his substitution.
AdvertisementGetty Images SportWHAT SCHOLES SAID
Speaking on TNT Sports, Scholes said: "He looked like he was sulking a little bit to me. I am not having fatigue. I think they are alright. I don't think there are great legs in this Manchester United team.
"Garnacho's biggest strength is running through. Sometimes he makes the wrong decisions but he had a lack of energy and a little bit of sulkiness. He will need to get better as they don’t really have anything else to call on."
Getty Images SportTHE BIGGER PICTURE
Garnacho was also criticized last week for his 'unacceptable' behavior against Ipswich Town after the Argentine winger refused to return to the bench after he was subbed off for Noussair Mazraoui before half-time after Patrick Dorgu's red card. Amorim had then announced that he would hold conversations with the starlet about his behaviour.
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WHAT NEXT FOR GARNACHO?
Manchester United will take on Arsenal next up in the Premier League when the two sides meet at Old Trafford on Sunday, March 9, Garnacho is likely to be a starter yet again for Amorim.
Manchester United have made a phenomenal start to life under new boss Ruben Amorim, avoiding defeat in all three of the matches he’s taken charge of.
Their latest display saw a huge 4-0 win over Everton in the Premier League, taking them just four points off a Champions League spot despite the dismal start to the season that saw Erik ten Hag lose his job.
The former Ajax boss was given his marching orders after a 2-1 defeat against West Ham United at the end of October, after a run of just three wins in the opening nine league outings.
Ten Hag simply failed to deliver during his time at Old Trafford, despite the FA Cup triumph in 2023/24 and the Carabao Cup the season prior – failing to take the club back to the glory days.
Such a responsibility now falls into the path of Amorim, who will be hoping to make the most of the additions made by the Dutchman during his tenure in the North West.
Man Utd’s transfer window in the summer of 2023
Goalkeeper Andre Onana was brought in from Italian side Inter Milan during the summer of 2023, replacing club legend David de Gea who was released at the end of his contract.
Ten Hag placed a real impetus on the fact he wanted a ‘keeper comfortable with the ball at his feet, turning to the Cameroonian after his previous spell under the Dutchman at Ajax.
Since his transfer, the 28-year-old has kept 20 clean sheets, looking to continue his superb form and become a crucial player under the new boss over the next couple of years.
At the opposite end of the pitch, striker Rasmus Hojlund arrived in a £72m deal from Italian side Atalanta, with real hope of transforming the Red Devils’ fortunes in the final third.
He had his injury issues during his opening year in England, but still notched a total of 16 goals in his 43 appearances – finishing as their joint top scorer in the league.
Amorim’s appointment appears to have benefitted the Dane, scoring twice and registering one assist during his opening three games in charge.
That said, the 39-year-old could have utilised one player during his time at United had Ten Hag not prematurely offloaded the attacker last summer.
The player who’s outperformed Rashford since leaving Man Utd
Winger Anthony Elanga came through the club’s academy system, before making his breakthrough into the first team during the 2020/21 campaign.
The now 22-year-old earned high praise from then-boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær, with the Norwegian claiming the attacker has shades of the legendary Andy Cole, given his turn of pace in the final third.
He would end up making 55 appearances for the Red Devils over a two-season period, scoring just four times, including against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League during 2021/22.
The Sweden international would only start five games during Ten Hag’s opening campaign in England, leading to his eventual departure, joining Nottingham Forest for a fee in the region of £15m.
Such a transfer has allowed the “frightening” star, as dubbed by journalist Laurie Whitwell, to become a key first-team member for the East Midlands outfit, registering five goals and 11 assists since his departure.
Elanga’s subsequent form has seen him outperform current United striker Marcus Rashford so far this campaign in many metrics, even despite the Englishman’s double against Everton at the weekend.
He’s produced fewer combined goal contributions in the Premier League to date, but the Forest ace has completed more carries into the opposition’s penalty areas and more shot-creating actions, all whilst attempting more crosses too – constantly looking a threat for Nuno Espírito Santo’s side.
How Elanga compares to Rashford in the PL (2024/25)
Statistics (per 90)
Elanga
Rashford
Games played
13
13
Goals & assists
2
5
Progressive carries
3
1.9
Progressive passes
1.9
1.9
Crosses attempted
7.6
2.2
Shot-creating actions
3.6
2.3
Carries into opposition box
1.9
1.2
Aerials won
1.3
0.5
Stats via FBref
As a result of his impressive form at the City Ground, the Swede was the subject of a £50m bid from Newcastle United – highlighting the fact the Red Devils undoubtedly offloaded him far too cheaply.
His increased game time has allowed for the youngster to continue his development, with Amorim missing out on utilising a massive talent during his time at Old Trafford after Ten Hag’s decision to part ways with him last summer.
Rashford might be a larger goal threat but from the metrics so far this season, Elanga looks like the better all-round package heading into the future.
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MatériaMais Notícias
O Botafogo tem um alvo definido para reforçar as pontas: Vitinho, do Dínamo de Kiev, é um nome que agrada o clube. O Alvinegro, contudo, ainda não pode colocar uma proposta oficial na mesa do brasileiro, que espera por uma posição da Fifa para resolver o futuro.
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Vitinho ainda não sabe se pode ou não sair do Dínamo mesmo diante dos conflitos que acontecem entre Ucrânia e Rússia e o campeonato local ter sido paralisado. Apesar do contrato ter sido ‘suspenso’ em um curto prazo, ainda falta maior garantia jurídica para que ele troque de clube – e é algo que o Botafogo também quer ter cuidado.
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Mesmo assim, o Glorioso oficializou o interesse. O clube entrou em contato com os representantes do atleta com uma carta, mostrou valores iniciais e o projeto que envolve a nova SAF de John Textor. O Athletico, time que revelou Vitinho, também demonstrou interesse, mas os vencimentos pedidos pelo atacante são maiores que o teto inicial estipulado pelo Furacão.
Em contatos, representantes do estafe de Vitinho acreditam que a liberação da Fifa acontecerá em breve. O Botafogo sabe que outras equipes monitoram a situação e também têm interesse no jogador, mas é um dos poucos que já teve os primeiros contatos formais com os representantes do atleta.
Revelado pelo Athletico, Vitinho foi vendido para o Dínamo no ano passado. Na atual temporada, o atacante tem três gols marcados em 13 partidas.