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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will have a host of difficult decisions to make when it comes to the playing squad during the summer transfer window, which opened for business on Sunday.

As well as deciding on players to join the club this summer, with Kieran Tierney already one star who is set to join at the start of next month, the Hoops boss will also have to sanction exits from Parkhead.

It has been reported that winger Luis Palma is working with his agents to seal a permanent or loan exit from Glasgow this summer, after Olympiacos did not take up their option to sign him permanently.

The Honduras international spent the second half of this season on loan with the Greek giants, and is now set to look elsewhere to find a home for the 2025/26 campaign and beyond.

Palma has had his moments in a Celtic shirt, with ten goals and ten assists in 48 matches, but the Hoops are now looking to part ways with him this summer.

One player who has already been ruthlessly ditched by the Scottish Premiership giants this summer, though, is experienced goalkeeper Scott Bain.

How Celtic have reshuffled their goalkeeper ranks

With Kasper Schmeichel and Viljami Sinisalo the clear first and second-choice options for Rodgers between the sticks, Bain was set to be the third choice once again heading into next season.

The Scottish shot-stopper did not play a single minute across any competition for the club this season, and only played three times in all competitions during the 2023/24 campaign.

At the end of last month, the club confirmed that the 33-year-old had left the club, despite having a year left on his contract, as they mutually agreed to part ways.

It has since been confirmed that Bain has agreed a one-year contract to join newly-promoted Falkirk in the Premiership, which could give him a better chance of playing regular football next season.

Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph reported last month that Aberdeen goalkeeper Ross Doohan has agreed to join the club on a free transfer to replace Bain as the third-choice at Parkhead.

Appearances

15

Saves

33

Successful run-outs

20

Penalties saved

1/1

Duel success rate

100%

Clean sheets

2

As you can see in the table above, Doohan played 15 times in the Premiership this season and could be a decent enough option to call upon if Schmeichel and Sinisalo are both unavailable and the third-choice is needed.

The goalkeeping department is not the only area of the squad that should be addressed, though, as Rodgers should also ruthlessly axe Auston Trusty, after just one year in Glasgow, if there is enough interest in him from elsewhere.

Why Celtic should move on from Auston Trusty

At the end of the 2023/24 campaign, Liam Scales was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year for his performances in the left-sided centre-back position for the Hoops in the Premiership.

Despite the Ireland international’s form, and Cameron Carter-Vickers, Stephen Welsh, and Maik Nawrocki being in the squad, Rodgers opted to further bolster his options at the back by signing Trusty.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Celtic reportedly splashed out a fee of £6m to sign the USA international from English Championship side Sheffield United, which shows that they were willing to commit a significant portion of their budget to bring him to Parkhead.

Looking back, it was a slightly strange decision to spend so much money on another option in the left-sided centre-back position when Scales, who is only 26, played in 34 of the club’s 38 Premiership matches last season on his way to being in the Team of the Year.

This did not suggest that there was an imminent need for £6m to be splashed on a new centre-back unless they were a clear and significant upgrade on Scales.

Unfortunately, though, Trusty’s performances in his debut season in Scottish football were not of a high enough standard to prove that he is a better option, and the Irish central defender ended the campaign as the first-choice next to Carter-Vickers once again.

At the start of the year, Rodgers said that Trusty had to do better against Dundee and claimed that he contributed to the team being “a bit soft”, as he was beaten too easily in the air in the clip above to make it 3-3.

Appearances

26

22

Clean sheets

14

10

Tackles + interceptions per game

1.9

2.3

Dribbled past per game

0.2x

0.5x

Error led to shot

1

4

Error led to goal

0

1

Duel success rate

72%

64%

As you can see in the table above, the American flop made far too many errors at the back in the Premiership, making four more errors leading to shots or goals in four fewer appearances than Scales.

The Ireland international was also stronger in his duels and did not allow opposition forwards to get the better of him in dribble attempts, which suggests that he was more reliable for Rodgers.

That could be why Scales ended the season as the first-choice left-sided centre-back, including starting the SFA Cup final, and that is why it has been a dismal first year in Glasgow for the £6m signing.

Nawrocki also caught the eye in his three rare Premiership outings, winning 65% of his duels and being dribbled past just once, as he did not make a single error that led to a shot or goal.

Rodgers must ruthlessly axe Celtic star who was meant to be his own Rodri

Celtic must move on from this star who was compared to Rodri before joining the club.

ByDan Emery Jun 3, 2025

Therefore, Rodgers should instantly and ruthlessly part ways with Trusty after just one year in Glasgow because Scales and Nawrocki appear to be more reliable and quality options ahead of him, which is why Celtic should attempt to recoup as much of the £6m they spent on him as possible this summer.

Leicester City will soon be back in the Championship and have now lined up a potential replacement for Ruud van Nistelrooy who would be open to taking over at the King Power Stadium.

Leicester City boss Ruud van Nistelrooy's uncertain future

Truthfully, Leicester City have struggled to adapt to the Premier League and their relegation against Liverpool earlier this month proved to be something of an inevitable end result.

Ruud van Nistlerooy has been unable to turn the tide since taking over from Steve Cooper, with a return of three victories, two draws and 18 defeats across all competitions certifying that his side will return to the EFL Championship after a year in the top-flight.

The former Netherlands international is under contract until 2027, but there are naturally some doubts over his position at the club following a dismal run of results.

Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl is said to be on the Foxes’ list and has been evaluated internally by their hierarchy. Meanwhile, England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley has also emerged as a potential candidate.

Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior could be targeted by Leicester City following his sterling work at the BlueCo-owned Ligue 1 outfit, though he is also attracting interest at Southampton, who have their own vacancy to fill.

Leicester City now eyeing Europa League striker with 10 goals this season

The Foxes have their eye on a 20-year-old forward who’s been on the scoresheet regularly this season.

By
Dominic Lund

Feb 20, 2025

The bigger picture in the East Midlands can be altered with the right appointment. Sales will happen this summer, but there is still the makings of a talented squad to work with for whoever is chosen to lead the Foxes in the Championship.

In light of this, another progressive candidate has come to the table and may be open to taking the job at the King Power over the next few weeks.

Leicester City set for tussle over top target Russell Martin

According to The Sun, Russell Martin is Leicester City’s first choice to fill their managerial vacancy, and he is now said to be keen on being installed as their new manager should an approach be made for his services.

On the flip side, Rangers have shortlisted the 39-year-old as a candidate to take over from Barry Ferguson, creating a scenario where whoever makes the first move could land the former Southampton and Swansea City boss.

Russell Martin’s managerial record – would he be a good choice for Leicester City?
Games managed	252
Wins	101
Draws	56
Defeats	95

Intriguingly, he has lost every match when in the dugout against Leicester City, but his promotion-winning campaign with Southampton last term may be of interest to the Foxes as they seek a return to the Premier League in 2025/26.

Neither themselves or Rangers are in an immediate rush to make an appointment, so it remains to be seen how things will play out for the former Scotland international, who has previously been praised by Pep Guardiola for his brave tactical framework.

Ultimately, timeframes aren’t important for Leicester City, they will take their time before coming to a conclusion over who is the right man to take them forward.

Manchester United have submitted a £64 million bid to sign a “powerhouse” player ahead of interest from Arsenal and Chelsea this summer, according to a recent report.

Ruben Amorim responds to Gary Neville's criticism

The Red Devils played out a 0-0 draw against rivals Manchester City on Sunday afternoon in what was a dull affair for a Manchester Derby. After the game, former United player and captain Gary Neville stated that United need as many as “five new signings” this summer to help Amorim.

Not just Bruno: Amorim's "key" Man Utd star just showed he’s undroppable

Man Utd played out a 0-0 draw against Man City

ByJoe Nuttall Apr 7, 2025

Neville told Sky Sports: “I do understand why Ruben Amorim’s done that today, with the players he’s got, because he hasn’t got the players to adapt. They need five new players straight away before you even think about the rest of it.

“The three up front are not good enough, and the two wing-backs, they’re not good enough. They need five players. They need to serve him with five players who are good enough in this system to be able to play his system the way he wants.”

Then, speaking in his post-match press conference, Amorim responded by stating that he knows Neville is “critical about everything”: “I understand that Gary Neville is critical about everything. I understand that we are having the worst season in history.

“Manchester City won everything in the past, but this season they are struggling. So, we are not in the best of moments to give the best spectacle to fans. We are not fighting for the big things; it’s different.

“I understand the critical aspect of the players who played in this game in a different way because they were fighting every time for the titles. It’s a different context.”

Man Utd submit £64m bid to sign Viktor Gyokeres despite Arsenal green light

If – as Neville says – United need five new additions, INEOS could be working on one of those potential arrivals already. According to a report from Spain, Man United have made a £64 million bid to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP.

The report states that United have positioned themselves as one of the teams most interested in signing the Sweden international, but they face competition from Chelsea, as they have also tabled an offer for the striker. Both Premier League teams have made an offer worth 75 million euros, while the player himself has given the green light for Arsenal to sign him, although this report does not mention the Gunners making a bid.

The Red Devils will hope to have an edge in this race, as Amorim worked with Gyokeres at Sporting and seemed to get the very best out of him. United want to sign Gyokeres, who has been dubbed a “powerhouse” by analyst Ben Mattinson, as they believe he will be a huge uprgade on struggling stars Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee.

Gyokeres

Hojlund

Apps

26

26

Starts

24

18

Goals

30

3

Goals per 90

1.24

0.17

Total shots

109

21

Shots per 90

4.51

1.22

Shots on target

60

9

Goals per shot

0.17

0.14

The potential arrival of Gyokeres at Old Trafford would surely spell the end for Hojlund, who, despite scoring against Leicester City before the international break, failed to make any significant impact in the Manchester Derby.

It is just three goals in 26 league games this season for Hojlund, who was subbed off on Sunday once again, and Amorim knows that if he has any chance of being a success, he needs to have a striker with a better success rate in front of goal, which Gyokeres has, given he’s got 30 goals in 26 league games.

Thrilling century stand with Seren Smale reels in revised target with five balls to spare

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay10-Sep-2025Lancashire 172 for 5 (Lewis 75, Smale 47) beat Warwickshire 283 for 7 (Freeborn 60, Surenkumar 49, Kalis 43) by five wickets (DLS method)Lancashire Women won an exciting rain-affected Metro Bank One Day Cup match against Warwickshire Women at Sale by five wickets.Warwickshire had posted 283 for 7 from their 50 overs but the Lancashire innings was halted halfway through the sixth over with the score 20 for 1 due to increasingly heavy rain. Set a revised target of 172 to win in 22 overs, a thrilling partnership of 106 off 73 balls between Gaby Lewis and Seren Smale set Lancashire on their way with victory achieved with five balls to spare.That outcome leaves Lancashire, who had already clinched a top-four spot, in third place, one point behind second-placed The Blaze going into the final round of group games on Saturday when they travel to face leaders Hampshire, who they trail by four points. Warwickshire finish their campaign with a trip to Taunton to face Somerset.Emma Lamb and Lewis began the Lancashire reply just as light drizzle began to fall and the pair had made 13 when Lamb drove Phoebe Brett to Issy Wong at mid-on for 4 midway through the fourth over. The rain began to fall more heavily at that point and after twelve further deliveries had been bowled the umpires halted play with Lancashire 20 for 1.Play resumed after a two-hour delay with Lancashire now needing a further 152 off 16.3 overs, and Lewis and Smale put bat to ball in emphatic fashion, reaching their 50 partnership off 45 balls with Lewis reaching her half-century off 42 balls.The century stand arrived just 25 balls later as Warwickshire struggled to contain the pair, Lewis smashing ten fours in making 75 off 53 balls before hitting Amu Surenkumar to Sterre Kalis at point with Lancashire 119 for 2 and five runs ahead on DLS.Fi Morris added a whirlwind 14 off eight balls while Smale was bowled by Georgia Davis for 47 off 39 balls to reduce the hosts to 143 for 4 with 29 needed from 23 balls.Ailsa Lister and Ellie Threlkeld steered Lancashire to within two runs of that target when Lister was caught for 16, but Threlkeld (13 not out) hit the winning runs at the start of the last over to seal victory.Warwickshire had built a strong-looking total of 283 after being put in to bat, built on a series of good partnerships.Abbey Freeborn top-scored with 60 and marshalled the visitors innings beautifully, while Surenkumar and Kalis contributed 49 and 43 respectively before captain Davis thumped a rapid unbeaten 31 over the closing overs.After Kate Cross had Ellis caught at midwicket with her fourth delivery, Meg Austin and Surenkumar fashioned a good recovery with 61 runs in 11 overs until Austin was drawn forward by left-arm spinner Hannah Jones and smartly stumped by Threlkeld for 32.Surenkumar had driven and pulled effectively in hitting eight fours before lbw for 49 after misjudging the length to pull against Fi Morris with Warwickshire 115 for 3 midway through the 20th over.Kalis was quickly into her stride, hitting her fourth ball faced for six off Morris, to up the tempo alongside Freeborn as the pair struck the ball positively in posting their fifty partnership off 65 balls.Kalis was undone by spin and bounce from Emma Lamb’s second ball and bowled for 43 off 52 balls, but Freeborn and Nat Wraith quickly established another good partnership to take the visitors past the 200-mark in the 38th over.The pair had added 52 inside nine overs before Wraith attacked the first ball of Jones’ second spell and was stumped for 29 with Warwickshire 220-5 in the 42nd over.And the visitors lost further wickets in the quest for late runs. Issy Wong made 12 while Freeborn – Warwickshire’s leading run scorer this season in the competition – reached her half century from 74 balls before falling for 60 off 86 balls.But Davis added a final flourish by hitting an unbeaten 31 off 21 balls alongside Hannah Hardwick to set Lancashire a challenging target.

Tottenham Hotspur returned to winning ways on Saturday, defeating Brentford 2-0 courtesy of goals from Xavi Simons and Richarlison.

It was the first time that Thomas Frank’s men have won a game of football since November 4th when they defeated Copenhagen 4-0 in the Champions League.

Since then, the Lilywhites have been on a dire run of form, notably losing the north London derby 4-1. It’s a sequence of results that has thrown doubts over Frank’s future in the dugout.

What won’t help Spurs is that they’ve now received a series of injury blows following the win over Frank’s former side.

Tottenham dealt injury blows against Brentford

Spurs may well have sealed all three points on Saturday afternoon but the game didn’t come without some bad news for the club.

Indeed, they now have injury concerns over Destiny Udogie and Randal Kolo Muani before they face Slavia Prague in Europe on Wednesday night.

.

Udogie missed Saturday’s 2-0 win over Brentford after he sustained a soft tissue injury in the 2-2 draw against Newcastle while PSG loanee Kolo Muani stood out against Brentford but was subbed early and was later seen limping as he left the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Frank was quizzed about those issues after the game, with the Dane asked how long Udogie will be out for.

The manager responded: “Not too long. He got a soft tissue injury, unfortunately, against Newcastle.”

Spurs are already without long-term absentees Dominic Solanke, Dejan Kulusevski and James Maddison while Mathys Tel will be missing after not being registered in the club’s Champions League squad.

The north Londoners will now hope they can string a positive sequence of results together with the win against the Bees somewhat easing the pressure on the manager.

Speaking after sealing their first home win in the Premier League since August 16th, the boss stated: “Yeah, that is the standard.

“Sometimes there’s more tight games, as we know, but I like what I saw from the team and that’s what we need to build on and try to become even better.”

As good as Simons: Spurs sensation was looking like Bale 2.0 vs Brentford

One Tottenham Hotspur player managed to catch the eye during this afternoon’s victory.

ByEthan Lamb 5 days ago

If Father Time is truly undefeated, he was nowhere to be found Thursday night.

During a busy night on the jam-packed October sports calendar, it was a trio of athletes in their 40s who shined the brightest. It felt like 2012 again on when 40-year-old Joe Flacco and 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers battled head-to-head in a tight game between the Steelers and Bengals. Over in the ALCS, the Blue Jays handed the ball to 41-year-old Max Scherzer in a game they needed badly on the road.

The result: One of the most fun nights of prime-time sports in recent memory. Maybe these guys play forever?

Joe Flacco, Bengals quarterback

Age: 40 years, 274 days
Stats: 31/47; 342 YDS, 3 TD, 0 INT, 108.6 RT

Traded to Cincinnati just 10 days ago, Flacco made his first home start at Paycom Stadium in a Bengals uniform on Thursday night. And he made Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin look like a genius for pulling off the move.

Flacco had his best game since Week 5 last season, logging a 108.6 passer rating and connecting with star receiver Ja'Marr Chase 16 times for 161 yards and a score on a whopping 23 targets.

For the first time in five years, Flacco was the younger quarterback on the field opposite Rodgers. And it showed, particularly on one play in the fourth quarter when he scrambled for 12 yards on a hilariously entertaining read option.

RELATED: The 13 Quarterbacks the Bengals Considered Before Trading for Joe Flacco

"The play clock was down, and I said, ‘Ah, screw it.’,'" Flacco said of the read option call. "I was just going to hand it off, but [Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith] came off the edge so damn quick I was like, ‘Alright, I haven’t done this since my first or second year but I’ll do it now.'"

Flacco's still got it. And so does his counterpart from Thursday night.

Aaron Rodgers, Steelers quarterback

Age: 41 years, 319 days
Stats: 23/34; 249 YDS, 4 TD, 2 INT, 103.7 RT

Rodgers threw two interceptions Thursday night that led to 10 Bengals points. But other than that he was fantastic, tossing four touchdowns for the second time this season while targeting nine different receivers in the passing game.

The 41-year-old's most impressive throw of the night was one that fell incomplete. After the Bengals took the lead on Evan McPherson's 36-yard field goal with seven seconds left, Rodgers attempted to add another Hail Mary to his YouTube highlight reel.

RELATED: Aaron Rodgers Was Furious After a Teammate Tackled Him During a TD Celebration

Rodgers rolled to his left to buy some time and launched a pass from his own 36-yard line. The pass traveled 69.8 yards in the air, which Next Gen Stats confirmed was the longest recorded pass attempt since at least 2017.

. Or, uh, This is 41.

Max Scherzer, Blue Jays starting pitcher

Age: 41 years, 82 days
Stats: 5 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 ER, 5 K, 4 BB

Needing a win to even up the ALCS against the Mariners, Toronto handed the ball to Scherzer, its grizzled vet. He didn't want to give that ball back.

Scherzer waltzed through the first four innings, allowing just one run on Josh Naylor's solo homer. When Blue Jays manager John Schneider strolled out to the mound in the fifth inning with a runner on base, Scherzer wanted none of it. He yelled at his skipper to get the heck back into the dugout.

RELATED: Max Scherzer Unleashed Unexpected Weapon to Baffle Mariners, Even ALCS 2–2

At 41 years old with three Cy Young awards on the résumé, Scherzer's got every right to do that.

"I've been waiting for that moment," Schneider said after the game. "It was awesome, I thought he was going to kill me. It was great."

It was Scherzer's first postseason win since leading the Nationals to the 2019 World Series title. By the looks of it, he's not done, either.

The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in style Monday night, courtesy of a walk-off solo home run by Alec Burleson in the bottom of the ninth inning.

While it was a fun victory on a late summer night, a historically low number of fans were inside Busch Stadium to witness it.

The Cardinals are now just 65-67 on the season and it appears that they will miss the postseason for a third straight year. That lack of success might be the reason why only 17,675 fans were in attendance on Monday night. That number, according to the Derrick Goold, is the lowest in the stadium's history and the first time they have had under 20,000 people at a home game since the stadium was opened in 2006.

That's a tough look for a franchise that has won 11 World Series titles. But it's also a sign of the times for a club that has only won one two playoff series since 2014.

Lots of MLB fans roasted the Cardinals and their fans, who have been known to refer to themselves as the best in baseball.

The Cardinals will host the Pirates in the second game of their series Tuesday night at 7:45 p.m. ET.

The good times keep rolling on for Arsenal this season.

Mikel Arteta’s side continued their winning run against Burnley on the weekend and remain seven points clear of Liverpool atop the Premier League.

It was another convincing performance from the North Londoners, and one in which Declan Rice once again proved that he is one of, if not the best, midfielders in the league.

However, the former West Ham United captain was not the only standout performer, as another of Arteta’s men continued the Ballon d’Or-level campaign he’s having this year.

Rice's sensational season

When Arsenal spent a club-record £105m on Rice in the summer of 2023, there was an awful lot of pressure on the Englishman.

Everyone knew that he was a sensational footballer at the time, but it’s a rare thing for someone to justify being worth more than £100m.

Fortunately for Arteta and Co, he has achieved that and more over the last two and a bit years, first shining as an out-and-out six and then transitioning more into a marauding eight.

His first two campaigns in North London were brilliant, with him producing 17 goal involvements in the first and 19 in the second, but this year, he has taken another massive step forward.

With Martin Zubimendi now in the side, Arteta has once again modified the 26-year-old’s role in the team, with him telling the press on international duty that the manager has “adjusted my position at Arsenal a bit this year to give me a bit more freedom to drop deeper but to also get in the box when I can.”

This has seen the “world-class” international, as dubbed by journalist Tom Marshall-Bailey, spend more time in the middle of the park breaking up opposition attacks, but also then bursting forward to help create opportunities for the team.

For example, according to FBref, he ranks in the top 13% of midfielders in the league for touches in the middle third, and also in the top 1% for progressive carries, the top 4% for expected assists, and more per 90.

Progressive Carries

2.80

Top 1%

Inswinging Corner Kicks

2.69

Top 1%

Total Passing Distance

1104.63

Top 4%

xA: Expected Assists

0.22

Top 4%

Dead-ball Passes

7.84

Top 4%

Crosses

5.82

Top 4%

Corner Kicks

4.03

Top 4%

Total Carrying Distance

304.48

Top 4%

Progressive Carrying Distance

143.28

Top 4%

Carries into Final Third

2.57

Top 4%

Shots from Free Kicks

0.22

Top 6%

Passes Completed

61.34

Top 6%

Passes Attempted

72.54

Top 6%

Progressive Passing Distance

281.08

Top 6%

SCA (Dead-ball Pass)

1.23

Top 6%

GCA (Dead-ball Pass)

0.22

Top 6%

Touches

80.93

Top 6%

Touches (Att 3rd)

22.28

Top 6%

% of Aerials Won

68.4%

Top 7%

Passes Completed (Long)

5.93

Top 8%

Live-ball Passes

64.48

Top 8%

Switches

0.67

Top 8%

Carries

48.69

Top 8%

In other words, the Gunners’ monstrous number 41 is, in the words of Ashley Williams, an utterly “complete midfielder.”

Finally, on top of everything he does during open play, Rice has a shout for being the best setpiece specialist in the world, as whether it’s a corner or a free kick, he can and will drop the ball exactly where his teammates want it – just as he did against Burnley.

With all that said, there is another Arsenal star who is performing at a Ballon d’Or level this season.

The Arsenal star at a world-class level

With Arsenal doing so well this season, there are several players who could be described as playing at a Ballon d’Or level.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

For example, Zubimendi has hit the ground running, Jurrien Timber has been sensational in attack and defence, and Riccardo Calafiori is a joy to watch.

However, when it comes to picking Arsenal’s best player so far this year, it’s impossible to look past Gabriel Magalhães.

The Brazilian has almost entirely rid his game of the mistakes that led to some questioning him in the past, and has instead become one of the most reliable defenders in the league.

Whether the ball is in the air or on the ground, the former LOSC Lille ace always seems to know how to deal with it, and perhaps the most complimentary thing you can say about him is that William Saliba looks that little bit less assured without him in the backline.

Moreover, the 6 foot 3 “colossus,” as dubbed by Adam Keys, has made the Gunners a far more physically imposing team, as few, if any, opposition players can cope with his physicality.

So far this season, he has made 15 appearances for the North Londoners, 13 of which have been starts, playing a massive role in the side, conceding just three goals and standing a chance of beating Chelsea’s record of conceding just 15 in a league campaign.

Finally, it’s not just his defensive brilliance that makes the Brazilian a world-class talent, but also his offensive prowess.

For example, his assist for Viktor Gyokeres means no other defender in the Premier League has been involved in more goals than him since his arrival in 2020.

Moreover, just this season alone, the 27-year-old has been able to score twice and provide three assists, which would be a great return for a top-quality ten, let alone a centre-back.

Ultimately, due to his outstanding defending and exceptional attacking qualities, it has become increasingly clear that Gabriel is currently performing at a Ballon d’Or level this season.

Arsenal's "signing of the summer" has turned Rice into the best in the PL

Arsenal have hit the jackpot with one of Mikel Arteta’s latest additions at the Emirates.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 3, 2025

Ruben Amorim’s polarising tactical set-up is reliant on fluent and efficient wing-backs. Establishing a winning formula down the flanks has proved difficult for the Manchester United manager in his year at the Old Trafford helm, though.

Though the right-sided pairing of Bryan Mbeumo is an imperfect combination, there is much to like about this front-footed and dynamic dimension.

The same can’t be said for Patrick Dorgu down the left, who Amorim admitted last week creates an air of “anxiety” when on the ball at the moment.

Harsh words, but not without the ring of truth. The Red Devils are short on effective options on the left, with Diogo Dalot the stand-in. However, he too leaves much to be desired, as was clear as United secured a from-behind Premier League win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Dalot flatters to deceive at Selhurst Park

Dalot has struggled under Amorim’s wing, having found tough work in adapting to the new system. Content creator Liam Canning actually said a month ago that the Portuguese defender is “becoming a worry long term”, given that he “doesn’t look like he suits the wing back role”.

Such words rung true against Palace at the weekend, albeit with the intensity and aggression improving after the break.

While content creator Adam Joseph feels the left side is “completely toothless”, there are signs of life.

Dalot did win eight duels on the afternoon, as per Sofascore, succeeding with his one tackle and making six ball recoveries besides. But he also failed with two attempted crosses and didn’t create a single chance, illustrating the on-the-ball imbalances that Amorim has yet to iron out.

However, given Dorgu has been so unconvincing and the alternative options are few and far between, it’s unlikely we will see any drastic upheaval in the immediate future.

But Amorim may look to chop and change another part of his backline.

Amorim must drop 3/10 Man Utd star

There has been a promising increase in levels at Manchester United this season, but Amorim still has much ground to cover before his tenure can be confirmed as a success.

Going forward, he may need to make a few tough calls, and one of those calls centres on dropping Leny Yoro, who has struggled of late and must be pulled to the bench.

Yoro, 20, is considered one of the most talented centre-backs in the world, and United scored a coup when beating Liverpool and Real Madrid to his signature.

However, he’s been out of form this season, and journalist Nathan Salt believes he “needs a break from the XI to restore some confidence”.

Yoro was at fault for the penalty which Jean-Philippe Mateta dispatched – controversially – to put the hosts 1-0 up before half-time. The Manchester Evening News gave him a 3/10 match rating after an error-strewn performance that saw him hooked before the hour mark.

Leny Yoro’s Performance vs Crystal Palace

Match Stats

#

Minutes played

54′

Goals conceded

1

Touches

33

Accurate passes

22/23 (96%)

Unsuccessful touches

3

Recoveries

3

Tackles won

0/2

Clearances

3

Duels won

3/6

Data via Sofascore

The timing is at least fortuitous. Lisandro Martinez has completed his long-anticipated return from injury, and the Butcher at his best will be sure to nail down a starting berth in Amorim’s team.

Yoro is strong on the ball and a progressive passer, ranking among the top 14% of positional peers in the Premier League this season for shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, but he’s also shorn of confidence.

United fans must retain their excitement over the dynamic, promising defender, who has what it takes to become one of the very best in the business. But, for now, he needs to put the brakes on his campaign.

After the match, content creator Adam Joseph acknowledged that the Frenchman is “going through a tough period in his development”, but that he was “brilliant last season” and will bounce back soon.

This is true, but, for now, Amorim would be wise to take the young centre-half out of the firing line, especially now that Martinez is match fit once again.

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Posts 1 ByJoe Nuttall Nov 30, 2025

يستعد ليفربول لاستعادة أحد لاعبيه السابقين والذي ارتدى قميص النادي فيما مضى، بعد أن حسم مدربه الحالي موقفه من الاعتماد عليه خلال الفترة القادمة.

وأكد آوناي آيمري مدرب أستون فيلا أن النادي قرر عدم التعاقد مع هارفي إليوت بشكل نهائي.

ولعب إليوت خمس مباريات فقط، ولم يشارك كبديل في آخر سبع مباريات في الدوري الإنجليزي، وكانت صفقة إعارته من ليفربول قد تضمنت بند يلزم أستون فيلا بشرائه مقابل 35 مليون جنيه إسترليني بشرط مشاركته في 10 مباريات مع الفريق.

أقرأ أيضاً.. إيفرا: محمد صلاح يذكرني بـ رونالدو.. وكتب نهاية قصته مع ليفربول

وقال إيمري في تصريحات نشرها صحفي “سكاي سبورت” فابريزيو رومانو: “نتحدث معه بشأن وضعه، هو ليس معنا حالياً”.

وأضاف: “نأمل أن نتوصل لأفضل النتائج له ولنا، أقدره وأكن له الاحترام كلاعب وإنسان، إنه يتدرب بشكل جيد ولكن لدينا ظرف خاص به”.

وواصل: “نأمل أن يجد حلاً يمكنه من اللعب بانتظام ومواصلة مسيرته الكروية معنا أو الانتقال لنادي آخر”.

واختتم عن إليوت: “تحدثت معه مرتين أو ثلاث مرات بشأن وضعه الحالي، أولاً بخصوص قراري وثانياً بخصوص الوضع، هو معنا معاراً لكن ليس من المؤكد أنه سينضم لنا بعقد دائم”.