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Nottingham Forest have made a frustrating start to life under Ange Postecoglou, albeit they will feel hard done by after a controversial defeat to Sunderland on Saturday evening.

Nottingham Forest lose out in tight contest with Sunderland

Balancing commitments domestically and in the Europa League, the Tricky Trees found themselves on the end of a narrow loss to Sunderland at the City Ground on Saturday courtesy of Omar Alderete’s first-half winner.

Admittedly, Nottingham Forest were the dominant side against the Black Cats and created far more on the day. However, Postecoglou has been left with plenty to ponder after making it five games without a win since taking charge.

Hovering just above the relegation slots in the Premier League, the Australian boss made it clear that his side are on the right trajectory despite losing out on a frustrating day in the East Midlands.

He told BBC Sport: “It was one of those evenings where we should’ve got the outcome we wanted. We had enough chances to certainly win the game.

“We conceded a really poor goal, albeit from a poor decision from the official, but after that we had enough chances to win the game. We are in a cycle at the moment where we are getting every outcome out of the game except the win – and that is the most important thing.”

While Nottingham Forest are producing encouraging signs, football is ultimately about winning and supporters will feel that points are an infinitely better outcome than performance, albeit the latter may suggest their long-term future under Postecoglou is looking bright.

Even with that in mind, it would be remiss not to delve into some of the refereeing controversies on show at the City Ground, something that individuals within their camp feel contributed to their defeat.

Neco Williams fumes at officials as Sunderland defeat Nottingham Forest

Speaking after the match on Sky Sports, Neco Williams made it clear that he feels Sunderland’s goal should’ve been ruled out for two reasons, claiming the Black Cats were awarded an unjust free-kick and that he was fouled in the build-up to Alderete’s decisive effort.

The £65,000-a-week full-back also made clear that he has ‘never seen’ such a decision made to award a free-kick during his career, indicating how furious he was at the controversial indicent.

He stated, cited via BBC Sport: “It’s a tough one to take. It was a game where we just didn’t finish off our chances. We created many chances but just couldn’t put it to bed.

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“We should have defended the free-kick better but, at the same time, I’ve never seen a referee give one of those free-kicks before in all my time of playing football.

“There was contact, so he got it wrong, and for the goal I was held back. He had two arms around my waist and that played a key factor in their goal. It is two poor decisions, especially by the referee and then the people on VAR.”

In truth, the Welsh international may have a point as he was visibly tugged back in an attempt to stop the ball, albeit supporters will never know if he would’ve covered the ground needed to intercept the situation at hand.

Either way, Nottingham Forest will rue missing a whole host of missed chances, which is something they will hope to use as fuel for their upcoming Europa League encounter against FC Midtjylland on Thursday.

Middlesex allrounder will lead team in four-day match against Zimbabwe at Grace Road

ESPNcricinfo staff13-May-2025Josh De Caires, the Middlesex spin-bowling allrounder, will lead a County Select XI in Leicester this week, with coaching support from England’s recuperating quick Mark Wood, as Zimbabwe warm up for next week’s one-off Test against England at Trent Bridge with a four-day tour game.De Caires, 23 – the son of former England captain Mike Atherton – has been named as captain in a 13-man squad that also features Warwickshire all-rounder Dan Mousley, who made his England white-ball debuts in the Caribbean last year, and Yorkshire legspinner Jafer Chohan, who was picked for the same tour but has yet to earn his first cap.The squad includes two other players with recent international captaincy experience. Essex allrounder Luc Benkenstein and Somerset wicketkeeper-batter Thomas Rew – the younger brother of James, who was last week called into the Test squad – have both previously captained England Men Under-19s.Andrew Flintoff, the England Lions head coach, will oversee the team’s preparations, alongside a coaching team that includes Sarah Taylor, the former England women’s wicketkeeper, and Wood, who is on the comeback trail after a left knee operation.Speaking to Sky Sports last week, Wood flagged his involvement in both this match and the two England Lions games against India that follow, saying that he was looking into options for his post-playing career, “to see if I’m a natural, to see if I’m any good, and if I enjoy it”.Neil Kileen, whose son Mitch is also named in the squad, is another member of the coaching support team, alongside Mike Yardy and Neil McKenzie, the former South Africa batter. The match gets underway on Thursday, May 15.PCC Select XI squad: Josh De Caires (capt), Archie Bailey, Luc Benkenstein, Jafer Chohan, Ben Dawkins, Alex Green, Eddie Jack, Mitch Killeen, Ben Mayes, Seb Morgan, Dan Mousley, Thomas Rew, Jamal Richards.

Ricky Ponting wants to make this one of the “greatest Punjab Kings team of all time.” Ahead of their IPL 2025 opener against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, assistant coach Brad Haddin echoed similar sentiments.”That’s exciting to the players,” Haddin said, when asked if Ponting’s statement put pressure on them. “In this day and age, you want to challenge the player group to touch greatness. That’s what we want to see everyday. We want to see them get better than they were yesterday, better than what they were the previous week.”You have to set high expectations and high goals. The reason is we’re happy with the group we’ve put together. We’ve been ultra impressed with what they’ve done at training camps. Now all they want to do is play cricket. They’ve had enough cricket in camps, they want to get out there and express themselves.”Related

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Kings bought Shreyas Iyer for INR 26.75 crores to captain a new-look side that features the experience of Yuzvendra Chahal and Arshdeep Singh along with young talents like Priyansh Arya and Suryansh Shedge. They also multiple allrounders in Marco Jansen, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.Asked if the Australian flavour to the Kings support staff group was a “good thing” in driving culture towards team success, Haddin heaped praise on Shreyas, who he termed as a “driven captain” who would lead the way in establishing “standards” and “habits.””We’ve got a driven captain who has had a lot of success, not just for India but in the competition and in this form of the game,” Haddin said. “From the captain down, he has brought everyone together, the staff are on the same page as the players. From that point of view, what we’re seeing is a high[-quality] group being led by the standards and habits of the captain.”Haddin was also clear of the Kings’ brand of cricket, without divulging much about their choice of personnel.”If you have a look at the way IPL has developed, especially with impact player, it allows players up top to play with a lot more freedom,” he said. “Last year, we saw an increase in powerplay numbers. This year, it’ll increase again. From our point of view, it’s giving guys an opportunity to express themselves, make sure they play brave and play what’s in front of them, and not worry too much about what’s happening.”This is a new group, we’ve had a brand new auction, we’ve got every player that we want to play different roles. One of those is a couple of guys to play in those six overs, you’ll be quite excited to see when it comes. Whoever we put up there will be exciting, they’ll play a brave brand of cricket, dynamic at the top. That’s what we want them to do.”

West Ham United were planning to sign an “outrageous” player, before he ended up signing for Aston Villa in a deadline-busting move.

West Ham miss out on "outrageous" star to Aston Villa

Ultimately, West Ham did what they needed to do on deadline day, bringing in Igor Julio on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion to provide cover in defence, but there are question marks over whether it was a successful window on the whole.

Former player Dean Ashton has been left unconvinced by the recruitment team’s summer transfer strategy, saying: “The recruitment’s been so shoddy, especially when you change managers and style of football.

“You have to be so aligned at board level to make sure that recruitment is absolutely spot-on for the manager that you’ve got in place.”

Things picked up in the latter stages of the window, bringing in 21-year-old midfielder Soungouto Magassa from AS Monaco, while Mateus Fernandes also arrived from Southampton.

However, there are arguably some doubts over the signing of Fernandes, given that the attacking midfielder is yet to really prove himself at Premier League level, having been part of the Southampton side that picked up just 12 points last season.

Instead, West Ham may have been better off signing a more established Premier League midfielder, and that is exactly what they tried to do, having planned to push for the signing of Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott in August.

However, Elliott ultimately ended up completing a deadline-busting move to Aston Villa, with the 22-year-old joining on a loan deal for the remainder of the season, which includes an obligation to buy for £35m.

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It is perhaps unsurprising the Hammers missed out on the England U21 international, given that the option to join a club competing in the Europa League was on the table, but it is still disappointing they were unable to get a deal done.

The former Fulham man has been lauded as “outrageous” by scout Jacek Kulig in the past, and he is much more established than Fernandes at the top level, most notably scoring a late winner against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last season.

That’s not to say Fernandes isn’t a strong addition to Potter’s squad, however, with the Portuguese youngster impressing after being thrown straight in on the left-wing against Nottingham Forest last time out.

The starlet won six duels, the joint-second highest number of any West Ham player on the pitch, while he has also received high praise for his attitude from former Saints man Jo Tessem in the past, who said: “Every week he plays his heart out, he is by far the best player on the football pitch from a Saints perspective.”

Everton felt the excitement as they waved goodbye to Goodison Park and geared up for a new chapter at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, led once again by David Moyes.

But that excitement has been tempered by a frustrating summer transfer window, with the Premier League season now up and running and Everton still in need of a few more faces.

The Toffees were defeated at Leeds United in their season opener, and while the likes of off-the-bench debutants Jack Grealish and Thierno Barry illustrated the start of a new-look Everton, there’s no question that the performance was flat, and that it’s imperative that something is done before the closure of the transfer window.

Everton hunting more signings

Everton’s one-goal defeat at Elland Road left a lot to be desired, and it’s clear that the club need more sparkle going forward.

Grealish will be billed as one of the principal providers in that regard, but the Blues could do with a few more signings to assist the England international.

Though Everton need right-siders and perhaps another forward too, Moyes is considering a move that would bolster his central ranks, and he’s peering over the edge of the Premier League and into the Championship.

Well, according to Football Insider, Everton are now working on a deal for Middlesbrough midfielder Hayden Hackney, though they face stiff competition from Crystal Palace in the race for the 23-year-old.

A move to Ipswich Town has already fallen through for the English talent, with a £20m fee agreed between the clubs, but personal terms proving insurmountable at the negotiating table.

What Hayden Hackney would bring to Everton

Hackney has completed 116 appearances for Middlesbrough since graduating from the club’s youth academy, establishing himself as one of the maestros of England’s second tier.

An all-action player, Hackney is calm and composed when against the ball and sharp and intelligent when in possession, with his natural-born creativity allowing him to influence from the deeper fathoms of the midfield.

Last season, he started 43 times in the Championship, completing 85% of his passes and averaging 1.5 key passes and 6.5 ball recoveries per game, via Sofascore.

Such vast ground-covering performances would add much to Moyes’ Everton side, and the Boro star might even prove the perfect midfield partner to restore Grealish to his one-time level, having been untouchable during that final year at Aston Villa in 2020/21.

Matches (starts)

26 (24)

Goals

6

Assists

10

Shots (on target)*

1.9 (0.7)

Big chances missed

4

Pass completion

83%

Big chances created

14

Key passes*

3.2

Dribbles*

2.5

Tackles + interceptions*

1.7

Total duels (won)*

8.9 (61%)

It was a truly remarkable year from the Three Lions star, one that saw him earn his record-breaking move to Pep Guardiola’s brood. However, Grealish has lost his sparkle over the past few years in Manchester and could rekindle that flame on Merseyside.

Everton aren’t blessed with the same depth of technical quality as Man City, but the Birmingham-born forward should have greater freedom to roam and make things happen, and with Hackney playing in balls from behind, the chances of a fluent system are only increased.

As per data from FBref, Hackney ranked among the top 5% of midfielders in the Championship last season for passes attempted, the top 1% for progressive passes, the top 8% for shot-creating actions and the top 9% for progressive carries per 90.

There’s no question that he bears the range of passing and the athleticism to add a dimension to Everton’s midfield, thus providing the fleet-footed Grealish with a constant supply line from which he can work his magic in and around the penalty area.

Hailed by former Boro boss Michael Carrick for his “immense” performance against Chelsea in the Carabao Cup during the 2023/24 season, Hackney has spent plenty of time developing his skills in the Championship and is surely now ready to take the leap forward into the Premier League.

His long, calculated passing puts him in a different category from Everton’s current midfield crop, and he would be the perfect kind of deep-lying playmaker to restore Grealish’s X-factor and ensure the Toffees make it a successful and exciting season.

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Despite already welcoming Callum Wilson, West Ham United have now reportedly made contact to sign another striker target who’s keen on a move to the Premier League.

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Following a quiet start, West Ham’s summer is finally beginning to heat up. With around two weeks until deadline day arrives, the Hammers have now welcomed El Hadji Malick Diouf, Wilson, Kyle-Walker Peters, Daniel Cummings and, in their latest deal, Leicester City’s Mads Hermansen. The latter is a particularly impressive arrival and was full of anticipation after putting pen to paper.

Just how many of West Ham’s new arrivals feature in their opening day clash against Sunderland is now the big question. In a game against one of the three newly-promoted sides, the Hammers have the chance to lay down a marker against any potential relegation battle ahead of what needs to be a much improved campaign.

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Meanwhile, away from the pitch, the London club are still reportedly on the hunt for attacking reinforcements.

West Ham make contact to sign En-Nesyri

According to reports in Spain, West Ham have now opened talks to sign Youssef En-Nesyri from Fenerbahce this summer. The Turkish club reportedly value their forward at more than €40m (£35m), with negotiations now underway between themselves and the Hammers.

Of course, it’s not the first time that En-Nesyri has found himself on West Ham’s radar. Before he completed a move to Fenerbahce last season, the 28-year-old was targeted by the London club during his time at Sevilla, who won the Europa League with the Moroccan leading the line.

Now, after just one year in Turkey, En-Nesyri could finally be on his way to the Premier League and the London Stadium. As the numbers highlight too, West Ham’s interest should come as no surprise.

Minutes

2,001

370

Goals

20

0

Assists

4

0

Dubbed “exceptional” by Jose Mourinho, En-Nesyri is at the peak of his powers and would be an instant upgrade on an ageing, injury-prone Wilson.

For around £35m, the Fenerbahce star would prove to be an undeniable striker given how difficult it is to find 20-goal strikers at an affordable price in today’s market.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have now lodged an enquiry over a deal for an “unbelievable” striker, who has a price tag of £15m, according to a report.

Wolves keen to bolster attacking options

Wolves have already made major improvements to their frontline this summer, with centre-forward Jorgen Strand Larsen putting pen to paper on a permanent deal, while wingers Fer Lopez and Jhon Arias have also arrived at Molineux.

Larsen in particular could be a fantastic signing, given that the Norwegian scored 14 goals in 35 Premier League games on loan with the Old Gold last season, but it may be important to get another striker through the door, given the uncertainty surrounding Fabio Silva’s future.

As a result, Wolves have now stepped up their interest in a Championship striker, with a report from TEAMtalk revealing they have submitted an enquiry over a deal for highly-rated Millwall striker Mihailo Ivanovic.

However, Millwall are said to be confident about keeping hold of Ivanovic, and the Championship side have set an asking price of £15m, in an attempt to ward off interest from elsewherd, with a number of foreign clubs scouting the centre-forward last season.

Vitor Pereira is keen to bolster his attacking options, following Matheus Cunha’s departure to Manchester United, and the 20-year-old is very much of interest, off the back of an impressive debut campaign at The Den.

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Despite his age, the Serbian youngster was able to make a real impact at Millwall during his first season with the Lions, scoring 12 goals in 37 Championship games, indicating that he may be ready to test himself in the Premier League.

Manager Alex Neil has also been impressed by what he’s seen from the starlet, saying: “Any 20-year-old that leads the line in the Championship and can get nearly [10 goals], and he’ll get double figures before the end of the season.

“If you do that, that’s an unbelievable season and it won’t be surprising me if people start talking about him. I’ve already seen something the other day talking about the top 10 young talents in Europe – he’s one of them.”

It would be a gamble to shell out £15m on Ivanovic, given that he is yet to prove himself over a sustained period of time in the Championship, but he is clearly a very talented youngster, and Pereira could certainly do with bringing in another striker if Silva departs.

Tottenham Hotspur has often been the home to top-level attacking talents, with Harry Kane undoubtedly one of the best to ever do it for the club in North London.

The Englishman holds the record for the most goals scored in the club’s history, netting 280 goals for the Lilywhites before his subsequent departure back in 2023.

Dominic Solanke has been the man to fill the void in the last 12 months, costing a club-record £65m, but has only registered nine goals in the Premier League and has so far struggled to match his price tag.

Thomas Frank’s arrival will potentially shake things up at the club, potentially wanting to put his own stamp on the squad after taking the reins following Ange Postecoglou’s dismissal.

New additions are to be expected with the hierarchy likely to hand him the funds to make his own impact, with numerous names mentioned already during the off-season.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for a new striker this summer

Yoane Wissa is a player who has starred under Frank at Brentford, scoring 19 times in the league this season, but his £50m price tag may force other targets to be considered this window.

Evann Guessand has emerged as another option for the Lilywhites this window, potentially offering a cheaper alternative, but would still be a superb addition after registering 22 combined goals and assists this campaign.

However, another option from France has emerged as a key target, with Lyon’s Georges Mikautadze firmly on their radar after their pending relegation to Ligue 2, according to Tutto Juve.

Their report claims that Frank’s side are preparing a concrete offer for the 24-year-old who’s registered 17 goals and nine assists throughout the 2024/25 season.

It also states that the Lilywhites are front of the queue for his signature, looking to take advantage of the French side’s financial situation and land a bargain deal for the Georgian international.

Any move could cost around £25m, according to other reports.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be Frank’s answer to Isak

Alexander Isak has been a striker who has tormented countless sides in the Premier League, cementing himself as one of the leading talents in England’s top flight.

The Swede has registered over 20 goals in each of the last two campaigns, scoring six times against the Lilywhites – the joint most of any side in his professional career.

His subsequent form has caught the attention of various sides across the division, but the Magpies’ £150m price tag has prevented any side from making a move for his signature.

Any side across the world must wish they had an attacker as deadly as Isak, but players of his calibre usually cost a small fortune in today’s market.

However, Frank’s side could land their own version of the talisman this window in the form of Mikautadze, with the Lyon star labelled as a similar player to Isak by FBref.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats from this season, the Georgian has managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, highlighting how much of an astute piece of business he would be this window.

Mikautadze, who’s been labelled a “living legend” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has posted a higher shot on target accuracy rate this season, demonstrating his ability to be more clinical with the chances that have fallen his way.

Games played

34

34

Goals & assists

19

27

Shot on target accuracy

44%

43%

Progressive passes

3.4

2.8

Pass accuracy

77%

75%

Passes into final third

1.3

1.1

Aerials won

0.9

0.8

Fouls drawn

1.5

0.4

He’s also completed more of the passes he’s attempted and made more passes into the final third, having the skillset to provide others around him with opportunities alongside his goalscoring ability.

The Lyon star has produced an impressive all-round nature to his game, winning more aerials and drawing a higher tally of fouls per 90, offering a constant nuisance to the opposition.

If he can replicate the levels produced by Isak in England, it would be a phenomenal piece of business by Frank and Co, handing the club a new dimension in the final third.

Whilst it’s unclear how much a deal for the 24-year-old would cost, it would likely be a bargain deal given Lyon’s finances, taking the Lilywhites to the next level if they can pounce this window.

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Diamonds fold with little fight in disappointing dead-rubber display

ECB Reporters Network07-Sep-2024New-ball seamer Alexa Stonehouse returned a career-best four for 27 to help South East Stars clinch a home semi-final in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy as they crushed already confirmed group stage winners Northern Diamonds by 156 runs at Durham.A season’s best run-a-ball 79 from Alice Davidson-Richards anchored the Stars’ imposing 275 for eight in a final round group clash between first and second in the table at the Seat Unique Riverside before left-armer Stonehouse’s opening seven-over burst was key in bowling the Diamonds out for 119 inside 37 overs.The Diamonds disappointed in what was essentially a dead-rubber fixture for them. They failed to match the intensity of the Stars, for whom all-rounder Emma Jones also impressed with a career best 47.Both regions, who finished with nine wins from 14 games, will find out next Saturday’s semi-final opponents later today.Having elected to bowl following a half-hour delay because of morning mist, the Diamonds failed to utilise helpful conditions despite an encouraging start.Left-arm seamer Rachel Slater struck with the new ball when she had Stonehouse caught at mid-on before Abi Glen’s seam accounted for the other opener, Chloe Hill, for 25 as the score fell to 53 for two in the 12th over.The Hill wicket owed much to a sharp midwicket catch by Australian Erin Burns, who also claimed two wickets caught and bowled with her off-spinners.From there, the Stars asserted their authority in overcast conditions.Phoebe Franklin scorched a couple of cover driven boundaries off seam and hoisted Katie Levick for six over long-off in a useful 32 before being bowled by Phoebe Turner, who also trapped captain Kira Chathli lbw – 123 for four in the 24th.A 50-stand between Aylish Cranstone and Davidson-Richards gave the Stars a platform heading into the final 20 overs, and the visitors were helped by a combination of sloppy ground fielding and some loose bowling.Burns caught well, though, and took a skied return catch to remove Cranstone for 28.Davidson-Richards, a former Yorkshire Diamond, hit nicely in the V en-route to a 56-ball fifty and became increasingly adventurous.Towards the end of her 64-stand with sixth-wicket partner Jones, she pulled Beth Langston over deep midwicket for six but skied the same bowler to mid-on next ball – 237 for six in the 44th.Jones drove well before falling just short of a maiden senior fifty, drilling another return catch to Burns in the penultimate over.Then came the game’s defining period as Diamonds slipped to an unrepairable 30 for five inside seven overs of their chase, played out in bright sunshine.That collapse was sparked by Tilly Corteen-Coleman taking the new ball with her left-arm spinners and getting linchpin opener Lauren Winfield-Hill caught at short midwicket for two.Rebecca Duckworth was then lbw to 19-year-old Stonehouse, who had opener Emma Marlow caught at square-leg and Langston lbw. The latter two came in the space of three balls in the 10th over.Franklin’s seam bowled Sterre Kalis in between.Stars could now start planning for a home semi-final, while the Diamonds were contemplating a fourth defeat in 14 games.Stonehouse had Burns caught behind added to two wickets in an over for off-spinner Kalea Moore.Unbeaten Turner resisted for a career best 49 as Stonehouse returned to complete her 10-over allocation. But spinners Dani Gregory and Moore – three for 10 from 6.1 overs – wrapped up the Stars’ victory.

Manchester United’s hunt for new attacking options this summer has been ongoing before the window even opened, with the department in desperate need of investment.

Matheus Cunha may have been the first forward to move to Old Trafford during the off-season, but his £62.5m transfer isn’t expected to be the last ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The club’s tally of 44 goals in their 38 matches highlights the need for added reinforcements in such an area, but any signings would likely cost a pretty penny.

Rasmus Hojlund appears to be allowed to leave this summer with Napoli and Inter Milan circulating, but it’s unclear how much the Dane could command after scoring just four goals in their league last season.

Any funds generated will likely help Ruben Amorim in his quest to land new attacking talent, with numerous players already touted with a summer switch to Old Trafford.

The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer

Roony Bardghji is a player who has emerged on United’s shortlist over recent days, but they appear to have missed out on the Swedish youngster after a deal was agreed between Copenhagen and Spanish giants Barcelona.

Jean-Philippe Mateta is another name mentioned with a switch to Old Trafford this summer, but the Frenchman is seen as a backup option to other targets despite netting 14 Premier League goals this season.

However, the same can’t be said for Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo, with a deal seemingly heading in the right direction, according to talkSPORT’s latest update.

They claim that the Red Devils have made a second offer in the region of £60m for the 25-year-old, who scored 20 league goals for Brentford throughout 2024/25.

It also states that talks have accelerated with the attacker, who’s already agreed personal terms over a move to join Amorim’s side, but it doesn’t mention if the latest offer is expected to be accepted.

Why United’s £60m target would be a better signing than Nkunku

Despite the latest bid to sign Mbeumo this window, United have entered the race to sign Chelsea outcast Christopher Nkunku, looking as one of the main sides in the running for his signature.

It’s been reported that the Red Devils have approached the 27-year-old’s representatives over a move to join the club after starting just nine league games this season.

The player himself is said to be keen on a move away from Stamford Bridge, after failing to nail down a regular starting role following his £52m move to the Blues two years ago.

Nkunku is a versatile option, being able to operate in either the number ten position or as a centre forward, potentially handing Amorim the depth he craves in attacking areas.

However, it’s unclear how much Enzo Maresca’s side would demand for his signature, with Mbeumo a massively better option when comparing their respective figures from 2024/25.

The Brentford star has massively outperformed the French talent in numerous key areas, highlighting why he’d be a better choice for the Red Devils in the coming weeks.

Mbeumo, who’s been labelled “sensational” by Sky Sports’ Mark McAdam, has massively outscored Nkunku and registered a higher goal per shot on target rate, subsequently demonstrating his clinical edge in front of goal.

How Mbeumo compares to Nkunku in the PL (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Mbeumo

Nkunku

Games played

38

27

Goals & assists

27

5

Shot on target accuracy

45%

44%

Goals per shot on target

0.4

0.2

Progressive carries

3.4

1.6

Progressive passes

3.7

2.4

Key passes

1.9

1.3

Take-on success

47%

37%

Carries into final third

1.8

1.5

Stats via FBref

He’s also registered more progressive passes and more key passes per 90, having the creative ability to provide the other talents around him with added opportunities – undoubtedly aiding Amorim’s quest for the added threat he’s been hunting for.

The Cameroonian’s dominance is further reflected in his take-on success and carries into the final third, able to get himself into key areas which has bolstered his respective tallies.

Whilst £60m may appear to be a hefty investment in a player who’s off the back of one impressive season, the chance to play alongside more top-level talents will certainly help him sustain such success.

Nkunku would provide an experienced option within the final third, but if the club have to choose one option between the pair, it’s evident that Mbeumo would be the option to improve the club’s chances of success in the future.

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