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Tottenham are reportedly eyeing a rising star of Argentinian football but face competition from European giants Atletico Madrid. The River Plate ace has enjoyed a rapid rise in recent years after being catapulted into the national setup from relative obscurity. Now, Thomas Frank's side and Atletico are keen to recruit the 22-year-old but his €100 million release clause may prove to be a dealbreaker for any suitors.

River Plate talent enjoys rapid rise

Not all that long ago, Lautaro Rivero was selling South American dessert alfajores, a type of sandwich cookie, on the street to help his family. Two years on from stopping motorists at traffic lights to shift these treats, the defender is impressing for River Plate and earning his first cap for Argentina, where he came off the bench in his country's 6-0 win over Puerto Rico last month. Now, according to Spanish publication, , Tottenham and Atletico are duking it out to sign the 6ft 1in player. Spurs have quality centre-backs in Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven and Kevin Danso but appear to want more options at the back.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAtletico put off by €100m release clause

The report adds that Rivero has a €100m (£88m) release clause but the Spanish giants, who are looking for a new centre-back amid Clement Lenglet's struggles in defence and Jose Maria Gimenez's injury troubles, are not interested in paying that much. In fact, they don't even plan to fork out half of that for the former Central Cordoba loanee. Incidentally, Diego Simeone's team are reportedly 'worried' about Tottenham pursuing the defender, with the Premier League side's pursuit likely to push up his price tag. The report does add that River Plate are aware it will be difficult to retain the youngster's services for long, even though his deal runs until December 2028. However, it is 'highly unlikely' any club will pay such a big fee to secure his signature. 

Rivero overjoyed by early success

Rivero, who initially joined Cordoba on an 18-month loan deal in mid-2024 before River Plate cut that short after a year due to his successful exploits there, is still riding the crest of a wave following his humbling beginnings.

He previously wrote on Instagram: "A year ago. I can't believe all this."

"Not only alfajores, but I also sold flowers. I used to go to the central market or the fair to sell notebooks. When we were given vacations in the lower divisions at River, I used to spend my time selling," Rivero added. "It was a process that marked my life. For me and for my future. Despite everything, I never stopped training and going to River. I knew that at some point I was going to solve my problems, but I also knew that training only in the morning was not going to be enough.

"My first objective is to be able to help my family. We are very humble and hard-working people. The first thing I want is for them to be better and to have everything they deserve. I want to see my mom, my dad and my brothers, and my sisters as well. Thanks to them, I am here, fighting day by day."

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Getty Images SportWhat comes next for Rivero?

Amid all this transfer speculation, Rivero will likely be focusing on starring for River Plate and trying to tie down a spot in Argentina's World Cup squad next year. A move to Europe in January could jeopardise his chances of getting regular game time and heading to the tournament in North America, so it may be for the best to stay put with the Buenos Aires outfit for the foreseeable future. In the short term, Rivero will hope to help his team beat Gimnasia La Plata in the league on Sunday night.

The PBKS captain scored an unbeaten 41-ball 87 to take his team to their second IPL final and first since 2014

Shashank Kishore01-Jun-20251:53

Moody: Shreyas identified key moments to go into the fifth gear

“Relax, rejuvenate, get a massage, and be in a great mindspace.”That is Shreyas Iyer’s agenda ahead of Tuesday’s IPL 2025 final, where he’ll have the chance to win a second straight title as captain, this time with Punjab Kings (PBKS), following his success with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) last year.Iyer played a truly special innings to get there. His unbeaten 41-ball 87 in Qualifier 2 against Mumbai Indians (MI) took PBKS to their second IPL final, their last one coming way back in 2014. Iyer’s knock contained eight sixes, including four in what became the match’s final over as PBKS won with six balls to spare.Related

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Sensational Shreyas Iyer powers PBKS to second IPL final

Iyer was a picture of composure as he struck the winning runs, even as his team-mates rushed onto the field to celebrate.”I don’t know, to be honest,” he said of his demeanour. “I love big occasions. I say to myself and my colleagues, the bigger the occasion, the calmer you are, and you’ll get the best results. Today I was focusing on my breathing rather than sweating it out.”Iyer also spoke of an attitude shift in the PBKS camp since their defeat to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Qualifier 1 three nights ago. He said he had underlined to the team that one bad game wasn’t going to define their season. Having thrown the “hiccup” against RCB “in the bin”, they wanted to show “intent and positivity” going into a knockout clash against MI.”All the players need to be assertive,” he said. “Show intent from ball one. We weren’t able to capitalise on the start, but the intent was stupendous. Even for me, when I went out there, I had to take some time, but the batsman at the other end [Josh Inglis], he was striking pretty well. I know the more time I spend on the field, the better I play and my vision also gets better.”‘Today I was focusing on my breathing rather than sweating it out’•Associated Press

Iyer’s handling of a group of hugely talented uncapped Indian players at PBKS has come in for widespread praise. Among this group is Nehal Wadhera, who made crucial 29-ball 48 during an 84-run stand off just 47 balls with his captain.”I just let them be, don’t ask too much of them,” Iyer said. “I love the fearless nature we bring to the table, the ideas they share. Talk to any of them and they’ll have a fair set of ideas on how to play a situation. Even if they haven’t got that much experience, I feel they have that brave nature, and in such big occasions, it’s important they need to gain more experience.”Asked to jog back to auction day and the prospect of going to a new team, Iyer revealed he wasn’t focused as much on going to a particular team as he was on playing in a “good environment”, which he said he got at PBKS this year.”I am very comfortable around the management and everyone around me and the environment is very positive,” he said. “I am just staying in the moment, cherish the situation. I want to go to the dressing room and celebrate with team-mates about getting into the final. But in my mind the job is only half-done, so I don’t want to think too much about the final.”

Former Brazil goalkeeper and coach Emerson Leao has launched a scathing critique of Carlo Ancelotti's start as Selecao boss, warning the job is "much more difficult" than managing Spanish giants Real Madrid. Leao claims the Brazil national team is getting "worse and worse" and expressed his disappointment with the state of Brazilian coaching as the World Cup approaches.

• Leao warns of 'arduous and difficult' task for Ancelotti

  The Selecao legend also criticised the current generation of Brazilian coaches, stating he is "disappointed and sad" that their shortcomings led to the appointment of a foreigner, with Ancelotti enduring a mixed start to life since accepting the national team job. In their last outing, Brazil surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Japan in a friendly.

  Leao, who was capped by his country and later managed the team, expressed serious reservations about Ancelotti's initial impact and his ability to communicate with the squad. He pointed to inconsistent early results as a sign of the challenges ahead. "One friendly went really well, the other was a disappointment. And he was there on the bench, struggling to communicate," Leao said to .

  The former shot-stopper believes the immense pressure and unique environment of the Brazil national team will require a level of intense focus that may be unfamiliar to a club manager. "His work will be very arduous, very difficult," Leao predicted. "I think he's going to have a lot, not just a little, a lot of difficulty. And everyone who works with him – Brazilians, athletes, managers, coaches, assistants, players – has to cooperate. Because this process is going to get worse and worse."

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• Getty Images
  

  Why the Selecao job is 'much more difficult' than Real Madrid

  While Ancelotti has managed Europe's biggest clubs, Leao was quick to dismiss comparisons between those roles and the task of leading Brazil, arguing the pressure is incomparable. "Ah, Real Madrid is a club. You own it, the club, and you're responsible for it. The national team, you have an entire nation either against you or for you. So, the national team is much more difficult," he said.

  Leao also rejected the idea that Ancelotti being European gives him an advantage in managing players based on the continent. "I don't think it helps much, no," he added. "Because today, with the media, you can watch every game you want every week and get an individual opinion on each athlete." He suggested this focus on Europe comes at a cost, questioning Ancelotti's knowledge of domestic talent: "Why didn't he call up many people playing in Brazil? Because he doesn't know much."

• 'Disappointed and sad' – Leao laments state of Brazilian coaching

  Leao’s criticism was not reserved solely for Ancelotti, as he turned his ire on the state of coaching within Brazil, viewing the Italian’s appointment as a symptom of a deeper problem. He questioned the lack of top-level domestic managers, a situation he finds deeply troubling.

  "Now, all the clubs, at least the biggest ones, are being run by only foreigners. Where are they? Where's Brazil? Where are the Brazilian coaches?" he asked. "I am highly disappointed and sad with this generation of new coaches who allow something like this, not being able to show much more impact, much more directness, much more quality to be part of the Brazilian national team."

  Brazil have not won the World Cup since 2002, marking the nation's longest-ever title drought. The years since have been defined by immense pressure and disappointment, with the Selecao failing to reach another final. Their struggles include four quarter-final exits and the humiliating 7-1 semi-final loss to Germany in 2014.

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• AFP
  

  What next for Ancelotti's Brazil?

  Leao's pointed comments add to the pressure on Ancelotti as he navigates a challenging period for the Selecao. The team are coming off an inconsistent World Cup qualification campaign where they finished a disappointing fifth, securing just eight wins from 18 matches and ending with a run of two losses in their final five games. The weight of a nation's expectation is immense, and legends like Leao publicly questioning the direction of the team will only intensify the scrutiny on the decorated Italian manager. Ancelotti's immediate task will be to silence the doubters and forge a cohesive unit capable of returning Brazil to the summit of international football, a challenge Leao believes is his most difficult yet.

They say all that matters is the win, but last night’s performance was hardly convincing from Chelsea.

Enzo Maresca’s side had what should have been an easy draw against League One outfit Lincoln City in the League Cup, but made a meal of things.

The World Champions ended the first half a goal down and failing to register a single shot on target, only for Tyrique George and Facundo Buonanotte to save them with early goals in the second half.

It was truly a night to forget for Chelsea, and several players need to be dropped for the next match, including one who performed worse than Alejandro Garnacho and Filip Jørgensen.

Chelsea's underperformers vs Lincoln

Unfortunately, there were more than a few starters who only harmed their reputations last night, like Jørgensen.

The Danish goalkeeper was between the sticks in place of the suspended Robert Sanchez, and, if we are being honest, looked more like a League One-level keeper than his opposite number.

The former Villarreal ace was poor in distribution, completing just five of ten long balls, and utterly hopeless when balls were lifted into the area.

On another night, and against better opposition, the Blues could have been down two or three more goals due to his shakiness.

A less stressful but just as disappointing display came from summer signing Garnacho.

It was the former Manchester United ace’s first start for the club, and while he’ll have plenty of opportunities, he didn’t convince any of those who doubted his move to West London.

In his 59 minutes on the pitch, the 21-year-old took just 26 touches, made 16 passes, failed in 100% of his crosses, registered a single shot on target, didn’t even attempt a dribble, lost 100% of his aerial duels and was offside once.

In short, it was an underwhelming showing, and unfortunately for Chelsea, one of their other attackers was just as bad.

The Chelsea ace Maresca has to drop

The bad news for Chelsea is that we really could name several other players who should probably be nowhere near the starting lineup on the weekend, from Enzo Fernandes to Trevoh Chalobah.

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However, in this instance, the starter in question is another summer signing: Jamie Gittens.

It would be fair to say that the former Borussia Dortmund gem has not had the best start to his career with the Blues, as last night’s game was his fifth appearance of the season, and he has yet to score a goal or provide an assist.

However, it wasn’t just his lack of output that was a problem last night – although that early miss was poor – it was his lack of any real impact on the match.

The formerly “explosive” Reading-born winger, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, was practically anonymous for most of the time he was on the pitch, which is a real concern given the level of opposition.

It might sound overly harsh, but this opinion is one shared by Amos Murphy of the Express, who gave the Englishman a 5/10 match rating at full-time, writing that he ‘lacked quality with almost everything he did’ – talk about scathing.

Unsurprisingly, the 21-year-old’s statistics back up such appraisals, as in 70 minutes he took just 36 touches – 21 fewer than Jørgensen – completed just 25 passes, failed to play a key pass, misplaced 100% of his long balls, failed to have a shot on target, missed a big chance, lost the ball four times and only attempted one cross.

Gittens’ game vs Lincoln

Minutes

70′

Goals

0

Assists

0

Touches

36

Passes Completed

25

Key Passes

0

Crosses

1

Long Balls (Accurate)

1 (0)

Shots on Target

0

Big Chances Missed

1

Lost Possession

4

All Stats via Sofascore

Ultimately, Chelsea won the game, and that is what matters most, but Maresca will be concerned about the performances of his team, and if he wants a better one against Brighton, Gittens should be on the bench.

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Manchester United went into the transfer window with a long list of deals that needed to be completed. Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS looked to overhaul United’s squad to one that would better fit Ruben Amorim’s style of play and avoid another catastrophic Premier League season.

In terms of outgoings, they looked to offload their “bomb squad”. They successfully moved on, whether temporarily or permanently, all of its members bar Tyrell Malacia. The club also managed to move on Rasmus Hojlund on a loan with a conditional option to buy to Napoli.

On the recruitment side of things, going into the window, the priority was attacking midfielders and a striker, which United successfully signed. Once those deals were completed, the club looked at signing a goalkeeper and a midfielder, with the former arriving on deadline day with Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens.

However, the crucial midfielder was not signed despite several inquiries to a number of players. It has now been revealed that United approached Chelsea about the signing of one of their defensive midfielders.

Chelsea star Lavia among those Man Utd inquired about in midfield hunt

News has emerged that during their fruitless hunt for a new midfielder, Manchester United approached Chelsea over the signing of Romeo Lavia. The £53 million midfielder joined Chelsea in 2023 from Southampton.

Speaking to United in Focus reporter Graeme Bailey, revealed that United were interested in the Chelsea midfielder and could be keen again come Janaury.

The report also indicated that Lavia was one of the club’s four main midfield targets. Other midfielders included Sporting Lisbon’s Morten Hjulmand, Atlético Madrid’s Connor Gallagher and Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, with the latter being priced at over £100 million following United’s inquiry.

Where Lavia ranks among United's midfield targets

United weren’t expected to have massive amounts available to spend in the transfer window this summer, but they ended up spending £216 million thanks to player sales, sell-on clauses and a new revolving credit facility. It is currently uncertain if they have enough left over to sign a new midfielder in January or if they have to wait until next summer.

If the money is available, then they will likely look at the same options they did this summer, in which case Lavia may not be the best candidate. Options like Baleba and Gallagher have performed to a higher standard in recent seasons and are more likely to be an immediate upgrade to the United squad.

One of the main reasons that these two have performed better than Lavia in recent seasons is that they’ve been available far more often.

While he could turn out to be a fantastic midfielder, his injury record makes signing him a massive gamble. Since joining Chelsea, Lavia has averaged 11.5 appearances a season, and with a club like United, who will hope to be back in Europe next season, that means he may only be available for a quarter of their games.

If Lavia was signed at the end of the summer transfer window after nothing else worked out, then he would be a useful addition to the squad. However, given the other options available, Lavia should be further down United’s transfer wishlist for January.

Sunderland are reportedly among the “best placed” clubs to complete the signing of an “unbelievable” player in the summer transfer window.

It has been a summer to remember for the Black Cats, with as many as 11 permanent signings coming in, bolstering Regis Le Bris’ squad significantly. Now, a new rumour has claimed that Sunderland have submitted an offer for Leicester City attacker Abdu Fatawu, who is viewed as a primary transfer target in the remaining weeks of the summer transfer window.

While the £27m bid has reportedly been rejected, there is still hope that the Black Cats could still complete a move for Fatawu in the coming weeks.

It promises to be a busy period for Sunderland, who will also hope to continue their promising start to the Premier League season, and now another key update has emerged regarding a separate transfer target.

Habib Diarra

Strasbourg

£27.1m

Simon Adingra

Brighton

£21m

Enzo Le Fee

Roma

£19.8m

Chemsdine Talbi

Club Brugge

£17.2m

Noah Sadiki

Union SG

£14.6m

Granit Xhaka

Bayer Leverkusen

£12.9m

Nordi Mukiele

Paris Saint-Germain

£10.3m

Omar Alderete

Getafe

£9.8m

Robin Roefs

NEC Nijmegen

£9m

Reinildo Mandava

Atletico Madrid

free transfer

Arthur Masuaku

Besiktas

free transfer

Sunderland in pole to beat Leeds to Uche signing

According to AS [via Sport Witness], Sunderland are one of the “best placed” clubs to sign Getafe midfielder Christantus Uche this summer. He is available for a cut-price amount of £17.2m, despite having a £21.5m release clause. Leeds United are also in the mix to sign the 22-year-old, while Getafe president Jose Bordalas has offered further encouragement by admitting that certain players may need to be sold.

“We’ll have to release some so we can register all or almost all of them. I wouldn’t like Uche or anyone to leave, but we have to accept the offers we have, and there are several.”

Uche has the potential to be another strong addition for Sunderland before the window closes, as scout Jacek Kulig lauded him as “unbelievable” earlier this year, and if they could pip Premier League rivals Leeds to his signature, it would feel even sweeter.

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The fact that Getafe could be forced to sell the two-cap Nigeria international is an extra bonus for the Black Cats, and he will hopefully like what is going on at the Stadium of Light currently, not least the amount of ambitious transfer business.

Capable of playing as a number 8, 10 or even up front, Uche would add quality and youth to Sunderland’s midfield, with his versatility increasing the depth at the manager’s disposal.

Sam Konstas showned his character with a classy response to being dropped for the first Test against Sri Lanka, said Australia selector on duty Tony Dodemaide.Dodemaide stopped short of guaranteeing Konstas would reclaim his opening spot for the home Ashes next summer but insisted the star teenager remained part of succession plans for an ageing Australian squad.Australia cited Travis Head’s form as an opener on the last subcontinent tour in 2023 for the “difficult” decision to oust Konstas from the top of the order in Galle.Related

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Konstas turned heads with his aggressive approach in his first two Tests to help seal a rare series victory over India, but has not toured the subcontinent before.The 19-year-old was seen congratulating Josh Inglis’ family as the previously uncapped West Australian took his spot in the XI for the first of two Tests in Galle.After being told he would be dropped, Konstas offered to arrive at the ground early for day one on Wednesday to help with preparations.”There’s a lot to like and be impressed about Sam,” Dodemaide said. “One of the things is his ability to take things in his stride. It’s remarkable really, whether it’s playing in front of 90,000 and Jasprit Bumrah at the MCG or getting told that you’re left out of the Test.  He was like, ‘Oh yeah mate, no stress. I get it’.”Konstas memorably slapped the world’s best paceman Bumrah around the ground in Melbourne as he scored a half-century in his first Test dig on Boxing Day. He then partnered with Usman Khawaja to ignite the series-winning run chase at the SCG.But Dodemaide would not guarantee Konstas would be able to reprise his heroics during the next home series, with two Sri Lanka Tests, the World Test Championship final and a West Indies tour to play out before then.”We won’t pre-empt what’s happening there,” Dodemaide said. “But clearly he’s done a lot right hasn’t he?”We’re looking for those successor players to come in, there will be some turnover naturally in the next couple of years or so and he’s very much staked a claim.”Selectors will also not rule out Konstas returning to the XI in the second and final Sri Lanka Test, pending the result in the first.”He’s a hugely talented player, hasn’t played a lot in this part of the world but he’ll learn quickly obviously,” Dodemaide said.”The opportunity to have him here, not to say that Test two is out of the question obviously depending on what happens here, but the opportunity to give Nathan McSweeney, Cooper Connolly and even now Ollie Peake [on the tour as a development player] is an investment in the future.”The call to drop Konstas sparked criticism from Australia’s most prolific Test runscorer Ricky Ponting, who had previously called for him to retain his spot.”There is a real missed opportunity for the Australians here to get to learn a bit more about Sam Konstas,” the former Test captain said on Channel Seven.”If he is the player we all think he is, I would have loved to have seen him work out a way to play spin in tough conditions in Sri Lanka over the next couple of weeks.”Dodemaide said Australia needed to prioritise a first series win in Sri Lanka since 2011 even if the side had already qualified for the WTC final.”A lot of the narrative has been around this tour doesn’t matter. It really does, it’s Test cricket. That’s our priority,” he said.

Nottingham Forest have now submitted a formal £25m+ offer for an “elite” midfielder, who has already struck an agreement on personal terms, according to a report.

Forest stepping up midfielder pursuit after Europa League verdict

The Tricky Trees have controversially been admitted to next season’s Europa League, as a result of issues surrounding multi-club ownership at Crystal Palace, with Eagles chairman Steve Parish putting out a strong statement after the verdict.

Parish said: “The decision by Uefa and followed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport shows that sporting merit is rendered meaningless. It appears that certain clubs, organisations and individuals have a unique privilege and power.”

Parish has previously suggested that Forest are to blame for Palace’s demotion, but Evangelos Marinakis is unlikely to care too much, given that his side are now set to embark on a Europa League campaign next season.

Consequently, Nottingham Forest may now also be better-placed to attract some exciting new players, and a new midfielder is of particular interest, with Manchester City’s James McAtee emerging as a major target.

Not only are Nuno Espirito Santo’s side eager to sign an attacking midfielder, but they are also looking to bring in a player capable of operating in a deeper role, with it recently being revealed they are in active talks over a deal for AC Milan’s Yunus Musah.

There has now been a new update on Forest’s pursuit of Musah, with a report from TEAMtalk revealing they have now tabled an official offer of £25.9m including bonuses, which is close to the Italian club’s asking price.

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Milan are looking to hold out for just over £30m, which means the two clubs aren’t too far apart, and should a fee be agreed, personal terms could be a formality, as an agreement in principle has already been reached on a deal until 2030.

With a move to Napoli now off the cards, the midfielder is open to a move to the Premier League, and the Tricky Trees could even slightly increase their bid to get a deal over the line.

"Elite" Musah could excel at the City Ground

The 47-cap USA star clearly has all the attributes of a top midfielder, having received very high praise from football talent scout Jacek Kulig for his performances at international level.

Still only 22-years-old, the New-York born midfielder already has plenty of experience at the top level, making 80 appearances for AC Milan, while also featuring seven times in the Champions League last season.

With Forest set to embark on a Europa League campaign next season, Nuno could do with bringing in players who have experience in big matches, and Musah certainly fits the bill.

After their dismal Premier League season in 2024/25, it’s no surprise that Manchester United have spent big in the transfer window in an attempt to hand Ruben Amorim the tools for success.

The 40-year-old could only achieve a 15th-placed finish after taking the reins from Erik ten Hag in November, finally having the opportunity to make his own mark on the side this summer.

He’s taken action and cleared out the deadwood within the first team squad, before splashing over £130m on the additions of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha – arriving from Brentford and Wolves, respectively.

Benjamin Sesko could be another player to make the move to Old Trafford, after the 22-year-old agreed personal terms with the Red Devils after making a £74m bid for his services.

However, despite the prospect of the Slovenian making a move to link up with Cunha and Mbeumo, Amorim clearly wants more additions, making key moves in other areas of the pitch as a result.

The latest on United’s hunt for additions this summer

Douglas Luiz is a player who reemerged on United’s shortlist earlier this week, with the Juventus midfielder set to depart his current side before the end of the window.

The Brazilian is also on the radar of Everton and Nottingham Forest this summer, with the Serie A side demanding a permanent transfer rather than a loan move.

However, another midfielder has emerged on their shortlist in recent days, with Brighton and Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba a player in their sights, according to L’Equipe.

They claim that Liverpool and Arsenal are also interested in a move for the 21-year-old before the end of the window – which finishes on the 1st of September.

Despite the interest from elsewhere, the report claims that the Red Devils are currently the side in pole position for his signature, with a £100m transfer fee mooted – a figure that would be a club record.

Why United’s £100m target would be perfect for Bruno

Bruno Fernandes ended the most recent campaign with 38 combined goals and assists for United last season, by far and away the most in the first-team squad.

Such a tally undoubtedly pushed the side away from any relegation battle, whilst helping them reach the Europa League final – in which they fell at the final hurdle against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Portuguese international has been a consistent presence in the side since his arrival back in January 2020, making 290 appearances for the club, often featuring in an attacking midfield role.

However, he may struggle to feature in a deeper role next season, with Cunha and Mbeumo expected to operate in the number ten roles behind the striker.

He will subsequently have to feature as part of the central midfield department, potentially benefiting massively from the potential addition of Baleba in the next few weeks.

The Cameroonian would be the perfect ball-winning option that could allow the 30-year-old to still cause havoc with the ball at his feet within the attacking areas.

Baleba, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, made 2.3 tackles per 90 last season, along with 1.4 interceptions – having the talent to break up the play at the heart of the side.

1. Carlos Baleba

1.6

2. Matthijs de Ligt

0.9

3. Harry Maguire

0.6

= Casemiro

0.6

4. Lisandro Martínez

0.4

= Christian Eriksen

0.4

5. Diogo Dalot

0.3

= Noussair Mazraoui

0.3

However, he also thrived with the ball at his feet, completing 88% of the passes he attempted, with 3.7 of which being into the final third, allowing Bruno to be provided with the opportunity to impress once again in 2025/26.

His talent on the ball is further highlighted by his tally of 58% of take-ons completed, whilst also possessing an excellent long-range strike that saw him find the net on three occasions last time around.

Whilst £100m appears to be a mammoth sum of money for a player with just two years’ experience in England’s top-flight, it’s a signing that would massively bolster the options at Amorim’s disposal.

If he can thrive in and out of possession like he has at the AMEX, it would be the perfect signing for Bruno, who can still thrive despite dropping into a deeper role next campaign.

Amorim can get Sesko firing at Man Utd by signing 'one of the world's best'

Manchester United could yet continue their heavy spending under Ruben Amorim this summer.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 7, 2025

Towards the end of the opening T20I between Australia and Scotland in Edinburgh, talk switched from Travis Head’s pyrotechnics to the ‘long ball’ tactics of left-arm spinner Mark Watt and the grey areas of the Law that his innovation approach challenges.The ball after having Mitchell Marsh taken on the rope, Watt delivered one of his 25-yard deliveries to Josh Inglis who made the very late decision to step away with it taking the leg bail. The umpire called ‘dead ball’, although he did appear to speak to Inglis. It happened again a short while later when Marcus Stoinis stepped away having started to face up, although on this occasion the ball missed the stumps.”It’s just trying to rush [the batters],” Watt has previously explained. “By the time I’ve let it go, the batsman looks up and the ball’s halfway down the wicket.”The wording of the relevant Law, 20.4.2.5, showed the umpire had made the correct call. “Either umpire shall call and signal Dead ball when…the striker is not ready for the delivery of the ball and, if the ball is delivered, makes no attempt to play it. Provided the umpire is satisfied that the striker had adequate reason for not being ready, the ball shall not count as one of the over.”However, the “adequate reason” for the batter to pull away is left for the umpire’s discretion and Watt clearly felt Inglis had been ready to face. Freeze frames of the moment Watt started his run up did appear to suggest that Inglis was still looking down when tapping his bat, although he was looking towards the bowler before the ball was delivered.On commentary, the former Scotland captain Preston Mommsen suggested Inglis had been fortunate. “The unexpected nature of the delivery coming from 23, 24 yards. He’s a very lucky man to still be there,” he said.There wouldn’t have been an impact on the result, but it’s not the first time the debate has been sparked as to whether Watt was denied a wicket. The same situation occurred in the T20 World Cup earlier this year when Oman batter Khalid Kail was ‘bowled’ after stepping away and umpire Chris Brown called dead ball. On that occasion Watt and captain Richie Berrington spoke to the umpire but on Wednesday, apart from a few gesticulations the game went on, although there were boos from the crowd after the second dead-ball call.During the World Cup example, Tom Moody, who was commentating for the game, believed Kail was ready and ball shouldn’t have been dead. “The batter’s looking up. He’s ready. To me, that is a legitimate ball,” Moody had said. “The ball is live. As soon as the batter has placed his bat down and faces up, looks up to the bowler, he’s ready to go.”Australia were on alert for the tactic when they faced Scotland in the T20 World Cup in St Lucia, where Inglis was a member of the squad and Stoinis was in the XI.