Wongpaka Liengprasert picks up five wickets and then keeps composure with Thailand needing six off the final over to seal a last-ball win
ESPNcricinfo staff09-Jun-2018 ScorecardACCAlready, the 2018 Women’s Asia Cup T20 has thrown up a number of surprises. If Bangladesh, coached by former India wicketkeeper Anju Jain, beating India for the first time was huge, Thailand’s victory over Sri Lanka may herald a new lease of life to women’s cricket in the country. Their four-wicket win off the last ball in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday was their first ever against a Full Member, the result all the more incredible because Thailand don’t even have international status yet and because they were, incidentally, coached by a Sri Lankan, Janak Gamage.Offspinner Wongpaka Liengprasert justified the captain’s call to bowl first by taking 5 for 12 as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 104, of which openers Yasoda Mendis and Anushka Sanjeewani made 54. Eight others recorded single-digit scores in an innings that featured three stumpings and three run-outs. The only other notable contribution came from Oshadi Ranasinghe, who was unbeaten on 20.Liengprasert picked up her first three wickets in successive overs – the 10th, 12th and 14th of the innings. She then removed top scorer Sanjeewani for 32 in the 17th to reduce Sri Lanka to 93 for 7. Sornnarin Tippoch picked up the two other wickets to fall.In three previously completed innings in the tournament, Thailand hadn’t scored more than the 67 for 8 they made in the tournament opener against Pakistan. So to chase down 105 against the four-time runners up was always going to be a tall order.But they started well. The openers put on 43 runs in 7.5 overs, and another 34 were added for the second wicket. When Naruemol Chaiwai fell after updating her top score in the tournament from 20 not out to 43, Thailand were 77 for 2. For most sides, this may have been a cruise, but for an inexperienced outfit not exposed to top-flight cricket, needing 28 off 29 balls, even with eight wickets in hand, wasn’t going to be straightforward.Another wicket fell four deliveries later, in the 16th over, to turn this into a battle of nerves. Nattaya Boochatham, the No. 3, batted till the penultimate over to make 19, before being dismissed.With Thailand needing six off the final over, they lost the wicket of Tippoch, but weren’t going to be denied. Liengprasert, who did all the damage with the ball, kept her composure to make a crucial 13 off 9 balls to clinch a famous win.
He said team officials had failed to mediate a simmering dispute between him and other senior players that boiled during the recent ICC World T20 Sub Regional Americas Qualifier
Peter Della Penna06-Oct-2018Former USA captain Ibrahim Khaleel has laid stinging criticism on the USA team management after being dropped from the squad on Tuesday. He said officials had failed to mediate a simmering dispute between him and other senior players that boiled over while the team was in North Carolina during their recent championship run at the ICC World T20 Sub Regional Americas Qualifier.”I was probably blindsided,” Khaleel told ESPNcricinfo, reacting to his sacking which was communicated to him in a video conference on Monday by USA head coach Pubudu Dassanayake and USA Cricket project officer Wade Edwards. “I told them you should have given me the opportunity to sit with the players when you knew there was something going on. I should at least have that option of talking to players one-on-one, face-to-face.”This is not like a school team or a club team where you just sit in a different room and [I] sit in a different room. There’s always conflict and misunderstanding in teams. It was yours and Wade’s responsibility to call me and talk to me and figure this thing out or call the players also. Whoever has spoken to you about x, y and z things, you should have called them and be a mediator to solve this thing. That’s how a professional team behaves, to me at least. If they think this is professional to them, then I’m okay with it.”According to Khaleel, he was told by Dassanayake and Edwards that the main reason he was dropped – not just from the captaincy but entirely from the squad – was because of “personal issues with players”. It contradicted a USA Cricket press release that stated Khaleel was left out due to performance.When asked if he felt he merited a spot in the team based on his batting, Khaleel said his scoring output was “average” and that it had come up during his video conference with Dassanayake and Edwards, but that it was not the primary factor in his removal.Khaleel claimed he first sensed trouble after the team’s dramatic two-wicket win over Canada on September 25. While the team was celebrating after Steven Taylor hit 22 runs off the final over to clinch victory, Khaleel said the mood around the squad was different by the time everyone got back to the hotel.”Nobody told me anything but I could sense something was wrong,” Khaleel said. “I told coach I think there’s something going on but it’s better if you check and he said we’ll talk about it after the tournament.”Khaleel also said he was informed by officials this week that his decision to under bowl certain players caused him to lose support within the team, though he refused to name anyone when asked who had raised complaints against him.”In Canada vs USA, [Canada spinner] Saad [Bin Zafar] also didn’t get bowling,” Khaleel said. “He only bowled one over the whole match. It doesn’t mean Saad is a bad bowler. I probably feel because of that, things got aggravated.”As a captain, you have to take some hard decisions on the ground. You cannot be biased to anybody. So I did whatever was best for the team in my knowledge and if something wrong was happening on the field then we wouldn’t have been No. 1.”Khaleel was rested from the XI a day later when USA beat Belize to clinch first place, but said he was called to a meeting with Dassanayake, Edwards and team manager Kerk Higgins later at the team hotel, where he was first told of concerns raised by other senior players.”They said, ‘Somebody has to go because we cannot move forward like this,'” according to Khaleel. “‘This thing cannot go on like this if your captaincy is not effective on the ground.'”Just because a few players don’t bind into roles, how will that effect things on the ground? If you think this was happening for a long time, even if there were misunderstandings or conflict, we still got results.”ESPNcricinfo made multiple attempts to speak with Dassanayake, Edwards and chairman of selectors Ricardo Powell regarding Khaleel’s sacking but USA Cricket did not make anyone available for comment.
Newcastle United have been leagues above the previous standard since Eddie Howe's arrival two years ago, having turned consistent relegation battles into a fight for European football and success on the continental scene.
The PIF takeover has, of course, been crucial to the transformation, but the Magpies are not the only team in England to boast affluent wealth, and the way that the club has matched monetary value with diligence and implementation has been commendable.
Having escaped relegation with some tremendous form in the second half of the 2021/22 season, last year Newcastle transcended their past performances with sustained brilliance across the campaign, finishing fourth in the Premier League ahead of teams such as Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, and Chelsea.
And this season, despite a three-match skid in the early phase, the Magpies are currently situated in sixth place and impressing with their performances, four points off Liverpool in fourth.
The new season has seen several exciting additions join the fold, but one former star, Allan Saint-Maximin, now plies his trade elsewhere after being shipped on in July after four years.
Why Newcastle sold Allan Saint-Maximin
Having signed for Newcastle from French side OGC Nice for an initial £16.5m in 2019 with Steve Bruce as the manager, Saint-Maximin established himself as one of the most exciting wingers in the Premier League, praised for his "breathtaking" performances by Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.
After 124 appearances, Howe made the decision this summer to grant his departure, and when Saudi Arabian side Al Ahli came calling, he was sold for around £23m.
The 26-year-old whiz offered a very distinctive dimension to the Tyneside club but he was not the most consistent of attackers, and given that the electric Anthony Gordon was signed from Everton in January it isclear that Howe had prepared for his exit.
Season
Apps
Goals
Assists
22/23
31
1
5
21/22
37
5
5
20/21
26
3
4
19/20
30
4
7
Statistics sourced via Transfermarkt
As is delineated in the table above, for all of his fleet-footed brilliance, Saint-Maximin never quite chanelled the level of prolificness to cement a starting berth in Howe's expansive, dreamy, vision.
Tricks and weaves from speedsters of Saint-Maximin's ability can threaten the calmest, most immovable of defenders, but there will always come a time when igniting the spark in the final and decisive moment calls for incisive action.
The Frenchman did not marry the facets well enough to win Howe over, and he opted to cash in and replace him with Harvey Barnes, who joined from relegated Leicester City in a £38m deal.
Barnes, while quick and skillful, plays a more direct game and relies on his end product to impress, having scored 13 Premier League goals last season and posting a goal and an assist on his Magpies debut in August.
As per FBref, the 25-year-old ranks among the top 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals scored per 90 to illustrate this fact.
federico-chiesa-harvey-barnes-newcastle-opinion
But injury struck and the Englishman has been ruled out indefinitely after sustaining an ankle issue in September, not scheduled to return for some time yet.
That unwelcome scenario is compounded by the recent shoulder injury to Jacob Murphy, whose industriousness has left him "so important" to Howe's side, according to The Athletic's Chris Waugh; while a timeframe has not yet been provided, Howe has expressed worry over the extent of the injury.
Such unfortunate circumstances inevitably lead to poignancy over the sale of Saint-Maximin, who would be an important component for the injury-stricken Toon at present.
Allan Saint-Maximin's statistics this season
The 5 foot 8 forward has impressed in the Saudi Pro League so far, plundering two goals and assists apiece from nine appearances – all starts – but a cruel twist of fate has recently seen the £226k-per-week phenom suffer minor ligament damage and now he too faces a spell on the sidelines.
As per Sofascore, he has complemented his direct return with some pretty impressive metrics thus far, completing 86% of his passes, taking 2.1 shots and making 1.8 key passes per game, and succeeding with 59% of his frequent dribbles.
Once hailed as a “wing wizard” by 90min's Graeme Bailey, Saint-Maximin is certainly bringing the magic and while he would likely not be the most prolific of members of the St. James' Park squad right now, he boasts core attributes that would allow him to fill in and play a big part.
Ranking among the top 7% of positional peers in the Men's Big Five Leagues and European competitions over the past 365 days for assists, the top 14% for shot-creating actions, the top 20% for progressive passes, and the top 1% for both progressive carries and successful take-ons per 90, he clearly offers the skills requisite for success under a manager such as Howe.
His four direct goal contributions actually surpass that of an ever-present member of the Newcastle squad this season, with Miguel Almiron not quite enjoying his richest vein of goalscoring form this season despite maintaining his impressive work rate and intensity.
Miguel Almiron's statistics this season
Last year, Almiron really came into his own after years of ebbing and flowing from form, and he scored 11 times and supplied four assists, with eight strikes coming in a blistering ten-match period in the Premier League, leading journalist Josh Bunting to remark at his “sensational” rise.
This season, the Paraguayan has scored three times from nine appearances across all competitions, and while he has been impressive, the deluge of injuries now demands an upswing in his cutting edge.
Newcastle United winger Miguel Almiron.
The £60k-per-week ace is among the crispest passers of the ball in his position, ranking among the top 11% of positional peers for pass completion per 90, but his clinical touch has been lacking a bit since last season's vibrant purple patch.
Saint-Maximin, of course, hardly trumps the 29-year-old in output but he is outperforming him this season – with one more goal contribution – and combining both his direct threat with a creative flair; Almiron is only creating 0.4 key passes per game in the Premier League this term.
Whether Howe rues the sale of the former star is questionable, after all, he was the one that permitted his departure, but there is no doubt that Saint-Maximin would be a valuable asset amid the current injury crisis.
An opening stand of 189 inflicted Glamorgan’s fifth defeat in five Royal London Cup games this season and put Essex back into contention to move through to the knockout stage
ECB Reporters Network30-May-2018 ScorecardVarun Chopra and Adam Wheater put on a swashbuckling stand of 189 to inflict Glamorgan’s fifth defeat in five Royal London Cup games this season and put Essex back into contention to move through to the knockout stage.Until Wheater was stumped for 88 off 99 balls, it had looked like a race to see who would reach their century first. However, Chopra was left stranded on 98 when Essex passed the target of 201 with 18 and a half overs to spare.Chopra’s 84-ball innings, with nine fours and four sixes, took his season’s tally to 445 runs from five innings.Essex’s victory was set up by some accurate and parsimonious bowling, led by Jamie Porter, and supported by Matt Coles’s 3 for 41 in his first one-day outing since moving from Kent.Porter, who had been rested for the last three games, bowled his 10 overs straight through to record best List A figures of 4 for 27.By reaching their target so quickly, Essex improved their run-rate significantly, which could prove crucial if they win their remaining group matches against Sussex on Sunday and Kent next Wednesday and qualification goes to the wire.For Glamorgan, Chris Cooke marked his 32nd birthday with sixes off successive balls in a 75-ball 59, and shared a 64-run seventh-wicket stand in 12 overs with Andrew Salter that lifted the general lethargy surrounding the Glamorgan innings.Glamorgan, put in on a blameless wicket posted just 34 from the first 10 overs for the loss of their openers. Nick Selman epitomised the delusory pace with 10 from 22 balls before he nicked Porter low to Chopra at first slip. Aneurin Donald had already gone to the first ball he faced, edging a straight one behind in Porter’s second over.Ingram should have followed when he had 4 to another edge off Porter, but Chopra dived to his left, getting both hands to the ball but unable to hang on.However, the first time Porter went around the wicket he ended Ingram’s sequence of five successive one-day centuries against Essex. The left-hander was pinned on his crease as the ball slanted in, and he was out for 13.David Lloyd did not last long, driving Wagner forcefully square to cover point where Simon Harmer took a spectacular catch. Connor Brown, who had managed four fours in a debut 31, departed to a one-handed catch by Adam Wheater in front of first slip to give Porter his fourth wicket.Cooke and Wagg put on 42 for the sixth wicket in 16 overs before Wagg played all around one from Ravi Bopara and was bowled. Andrew Salter helped Cooke increase the rate and lifted Wagner over mid-on to put up Glamorgan’s 150 as late as the 43rd over.Salter hammered a second six over cow corner to dent Coles’s otherwise parsimonious figures, but when he went for another next ball, he was caught on the boundary. He had hit 43 from 47 balls, and shared in a 64-run stand with Cooke in 12 overs.Cooke passed fifty from 72 balls with a six flicked off his legs during the most expensive over of the innings which cost 17 runs. Bopara thought he had Cooke, on 59, caught off a head-high no-ball by Cook, but the South African swung at the next ball and Bopara took the return catch above his head.Coles wrapped up the innings with wickets in successive balls for figures of 3 for 41.Chopra showed the Essex intent. Ruaidhru Smith was twice deposited over the leg-side boundary ropes for six in his first two overs.With Wheater finding the gaps, the opening pair had 50 on the board inside eight overs, 100 up in the 16th. The wicketkeeper was first to his personal fifty from his 55th ball.Chopra’s half-century came from 45 balls and contained five fours and those two sixes.When he was 63, Wheater had a reprieve as a lofted drive flew through van der Gugten’s hands at midwicket. The 150 partnership came up in 26 overs before Chopra clouted Salter for a straight six, and then helped himself to four and another six in successive balls off the spinner.
Aside from the League Cup, Arsenal are currently fighting on all fronts this year, and while they might not be quite as free-flowing and easy on the eye as they were last season, Mikel Arteta's men have looked more defensively astute, mature and intentional in their matches this campaign.
However, a defeat to Aston Villa last time out in the Premier League has slowed them down somewhat following their last-gasp winner against Luton Town last week.
The Gunners didn't deserve to win at Villa Park on Saturday, but they might've claimed at least a point with a clinical finisher in the team, as they had registered an expected goal value of 1.47 to their hosts' 0.66 – but they just couldn't put the ball in the back of the net.
So fans should be delighted with the latest player linked to the Emirates, a striker who could turn Bukayo Saka into an assist machine, and someone who has already expressed his desire to join the club, Ivan Toney.
Arsenal transfer news – Ivan Toney
According to transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Brentford's star striker is keen to move to a top club in 2024 and has expressed his excitement and desire to join Arsenal specifically.
Talking on Kick, the Italian journalist said:“From what I’m hearing, this is one more detail on Ivan Toney, this is a rumour I’m hearing that his preference in terms of a top club move in January or the summer would be to go to Arsenal.
"From what I’m hearing Ivan Toney could be really excited by the possibility of joining Arsenal.”
Ivan Toney competing against Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa.
The former Newcastle United forward has been linked to the club in the past, but this development is a massive boost for the Gunners should they choose to pursue Toney.
However, the most significant barrier to signing the 27-year-old "monster", as described by his manager Thomas Frank, will be the price, as Sky Sports report that it will take at least £100m to secure his signature – although, for a player who scored 20 league goals last season, he might just be worth it.
Ivan Toney could supercharge Bukayo Saka
Now, the addition of Toney into this Arsenal team would instantly make them a far more worrying proposition for opposing teams, as the one-cap Englishman would likely craft his own chances with the sheer level of talent around him.
However, his clinical finishing and poacher sensibilities would help turn his teammates into assist machines, especially someone like Saka.
Arsenal could sign a £53m "special talent" instead of Douglas Luiz
The young Spaniard could be a better fit for Arsenal.
ByJack Salveson Holmes Dec 11, 2023
The Hale End graduate racked up 11 league assists last season – despite Gabriel Jesus missing chunks of the campaign through injury – and he has already registered six in the league this season, so just imagine the numbers he could produce with a number nine solely focused on finding space and finishing chances.
Furthermore, the underlying numbers of the "future icon", as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, all point towards a player calling out for more efficient players around him.
Expected Assists
0.30
Progressive Passes
3.45
Progressive Carries
4.41
Shot-Creating Actions
5.32
Successful Take-Ons
1.66
Crosses
5.93
All Stats via FBref for the 2023/24 Season
Ultimately, if Arsenal want to reach that next level and win the Premier League and Champions League, they will need an out-and-out goalscorer in the team, and Toney would be precisely that.
It also helps that his presence would likely unlock another level to Saka's game and truly set him on the path to becoming one of the best players in the world.
Elliot Lee revealed a key message that have been "ingrained" into the Wrexham player by their Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.
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Wrexham earned promotion after 15 yearsLee proud to play a part in the journeyHailed the Wrexham fans who love the club with their "lives"Getty ImagesWHAT HAPPENED?
The Red Dragonsfinally got over the line and lifted the National League title in exceptional style following a record-breaking campaign in 2022-23 to seal promotion into the Football League for the first time since 2008. The fans invaded the pitch and the celebrations soon spilled over to the streets of Wrexham. McElhenney and Reynolds cried tears of joy as the Hollywood superstars were moved by the emotional scenes following the 3-1 win over Boreham Wood and Lee revealed how the co-owners and manager Phil Parkinson had always demanded to put the community first while on the pitch.
AdvertisementWHAT LEE SAID
Speaking on the Men in Blazers podcast, Lee said: "I get goosebumps because we knew how much it meant to people. Yes, Ryan [Reynolds] and Rob [McElhenney] have been incredible and everyone knows how good they have been but it's also for the community and that is ingrained in us by the gaffer [Phil Parkinson] and Rob and Ryan as well. These people have been here before and they have been through so many bad times with the club and they still all come in their numbers.
"I remember on the bus parade seeing genuine tears of happiness and joy; we got to do that for people. That is a feeling I will take to the grave with me because that's something I am so proud of. It goes deeper than football, it's people's lives. This club is people's lives and I don't ever take that for granted when I go out on the pitch."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Lee revealed that Parkinson enticed him to sign for the club by assuring him that he would be "loved forever" by the passionate Wrexham fans if he helped them realise their dream of getting promoted.
"I remember when the manager called me the summer before I joined he said, 'Whoever takes this club out of the National League, you will be loved forever'," he said.
"I remember I felt that love straight after the final whistle [against Borehamwood], I was like, 'Wow, this is incredible'. We've brought joy to so many people. They pay their hard-earned money to come and watch us. After the ownership and everything that has gone on, just to bring better days back… the feeling at that Borehamwood game was incredible."
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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT?
Wrexham are vying for their second successive promotion and are just one point outside the automatic promotion spots in League Two. They will be back in action against Accrington Stanley on Saturday to avenge their earlier defeat when the two sides met in the reverse fixture.
It has been reported that Arsenal "lead" a quartet of Premier League clubs as they eye one "class" 21-year-old gem from the continent.
Arsenal transfer targets – January
The north London club are well and truly off and running after a brilliant start to the season, most recently making a statement with their 1-0 win over champions Man City at the Emirates Stadium. Gabriel Martinelli's late effort added City to the growing list of teams who've tasted defeat courtesy of Arsenal. Mikel Arteta's side have also sealed vital wins over Nottingham Forest, Crystal Palace, Man United, Everton and Bournemouth – drawing another two games against English capital rivals Fulham and Tottenham.
Arsenal remain unbeaten and next take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after the international break. However, that isn't to say the Gunners have been perfect so far. You could make a case that Arteta's men have been forced to display real grit in a lot of their matches; securing many of the aforementioned wins by narrow one-goal margins. As a result, it is believed that a new striker and wide forward could be in the offing for 2024. This has led to links with Brentford star Ivan Toney and Wolves winger Pedro Neto, with club legend Ray Parlour believing Arsenal simply must sign a centre-forward in particular.
"I always think that you need a bit of back-up," Parlour told JBI Training when asked about Arsenal’s options up front.
"Eddie Nketiah did really well when he came into the team last season, but the Arsenal sides I was part of always had four really good strikers. I know that a lot of teams play with one forward now, but in my teams we had Nwankwo Kanu, Sylvain Wiltord and obviously Thierry (Henry) and Dennis (Bergkamp). I do think we need that extra striker. If Gabriel Jesus gets injured again, is Eddie going to be able to come in and do well enough in the Champions League?
"I know that we could play with a false nine, but I would like that security of having an out-and-out striker."
Arsenal transfer news – Georgiy Sudakov
Adding to the list of 2024 transfer targets, it is now believed that Arsenal have their eye on exciting Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder Georgiy Sudakov. The Ukraine international is attracting plenty of admirers right now, but Arteta and co apparently "lead" a quartet of English sides.
Man City, Brighton and Chelsea are the other clubs taking note of Sudakov's exploits on the continent, but Serie A giants Juventus are said to be considering the Champions League player as a possible heir to Paul Pogba.
This is according to TEAMtalk and journalist Dean Jones, who shared a transfer update on Sudakov just before the weekend. The Athletic reporter Adam Crafton, speaking back in September (via 777 score), has called the player "class" with bags of potential.
“Sudakov is a class act, he has just turned 21," said Crafton.
"Last season, he showed great promise in the group stage of the Champions League and is likely to be the next big sale for Shakhtar.”
The India captain said that the runs and records have been a byproduct of focusing on the team
ESPNcricinfo staff26-Oct-20183:22
Can Kohli beat Tendulkar’s 18K runs?
After smashing Sachin Tendulkar’s record to become the fastest to 10,000 ODI runs, Virat Kohli has said that his method remains the same: work hard for every run and never take things for granted.”Even after playing for 10 years, I don’t feel like I’m entitled for anything here,” Kohli told . “You still have to work hard for every run you score at the international level while playing for your country because they’re many people who want this very badly and when you’re in that position yourself, you should have that same hunger and passion. You should never take things for granted, never take it easy at any stage.”Captaining India is a tough task, especially as the No.1 batsman in the world – as Tendulkar found out – but to have simultaneously scaled unprecedented heights as a batsman is a tribute to Kohli’s mental resolve as well as physical fitness. Additionally, despite the constant glare of the spotlight, Kohli’s focus has rarely deviated, highlighted by the 20 ODI hundreds in successful chases.1:58
Simmons: Kohli has taken over from where Sachin left off
“I’ve been able to push my physical abilities and my mental abilities on just focusing on what the team needs, and in that process more runs have been scored than maybe I would have otherwise if I was thinking about my own batting or anything like that,” he said. “So I’ve just focused on the situation, and I’m glad that I’ve been able to help the team by contributing with the bat. My duty is to score runs and having done that for a long period now, everything has collected together for this moment but the intention always should be every game, every situation to look for what the team needs and just score as many runs as possible.”But above all, his greatest source of joy remains more homespun in nature – to have been able to play the game this long, with a few years left in the tank.”To understand you’ve come so far in your career playing for 10 years is something quite special to me because I love the sport so much and you want to play it more and more, and that for me is the most important thing, so I’m just happy that I’m able to play for this long and hopefully many more years to come,” he said. “I never thought I could achieve this feat or I would get to this stage. I always thought I just want to play for India, I never thought that this day would arrive and it just tells me that if you’re focused on the process and the right things then these things become irrelevant after a while.”
Manchester United have an interesting plan in place regarding the future of a "world-class" current player at Old Trafford, according to a fresh transfer update.
Man Utd players set to leave in 2024
The Red Devils continue to have an unpredictable season, with performances and results fluctuating between impressive and woeful, and Wednesday's 3-3 draw away to Galatasaray in the Champions League perhaps summed them up as a team.
It was another poor night at the office for Andre Onana, who twice allowed free-kicks to beat him too easily, and his struggles sum up the lack of impact from United's summer signings. Mason Mount has found it hugely difficult to make an impression, with the Englishman not helped by injuries, while Rasmus Hojlund is yet to score in the Premier League despite his impressive tally in Europe.
The January transfer window will allow Erik ten Hag the opportunity to bring in new signings, but plenty of United players will be out of contract in the near future and we could see somewhat of an overhaul in 2024. The likes of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof and Antony Martial all see their deals expire in 2024, while Donny van de Beek is thought to be certain to leave in Janary.
Man Utd make Anthony Martial decision
According to a new report from Football Insider, Manchester United could now trigger Martial's one-year extension but with the intent to then sell him for a fee.
"Man United could now activate Anthony Martial’s one-year contract extension clause and then let him go, sources have told Football Insider. The Red Devils could move to prolong the 27-year-old’s deal in order to protect his value and prevent him leaving for free in 2024."
Ratcliffe may well decide to splash out on a new forward next year, claims the report, and that would involve selling Martial either in January or next summer. This is a decision that would make perfect sense for United, ensuring that they don't simply lose Martial for nothing after splashing out so much on his potential back in 2015.
The Frenchman has always been a big talent at Old Trafford, with former Red Devils striker Robin van Persie even describing him as "world-class" on a talent level, but it feels like the right time to move him on, considering his influence has waned as the years have passed.
Fabrizio Romano adresses Man Utd contact for rapid striker target
He could now be available in January.
ByCharlie Smith Dec 1, 2023
This season, Martial's statistics highlight his lack of playing time, with only three starts coming his way in the Premier League in 2023/24, and while he is still only 27 years of age, he has suffered lots of injuries and arguably isn't the player he once was.
United need to move on from the forward now, bringing in fresh faces who represent the future, so it is now a case of triggering his contract and then receiving as much money for him as possible.
Southampton are pushing for promotion from the Championship this season, and they are believed to be eyeing a move for a young defender with plenty of potential, according to a new update.
Southampton results and fixtures
Saints suffered are misery of being relegated from the Premier League last season, eventually finishing bottom of the table after a desperately disappointing run of results. Russell Martin's side went into the new campaign as one of the favourites to go straight back up, however, and a win away to Sheffield Wednesday on the opening night further suggested that that would be the case.
Things haven't quite gone as well since then, with inconsistent results leaving Southampton sitting 10th in the table, but they are still clearly in the mix for at least the playoffs, although new signings may be required to take them up a further gear.
Next up is a trip to Hull City, who are level on points with Martin's side, before a difficult mid-week trip to high-flying Preston.
Having quality and depth in the squad can be priceless in the Championship, considering how relentless the fixtures are the more the season goes on, and Saints are seemingly keen on signing a Premier League player to boost their defensive depth in January.
Ben Johnson West Ham
Southampton transfer update – Ben Johnson
Ben Johnson to Southampton is reportedly a deal that could come to fruition in 2024, according to West Ham insiders Claret and Hugh, who report the player is likely to be sold to one of the interested parties:
"Everton are understood to be interested along with Southampton, whilst Luton Town could show interest in the player given his versatility as a right and left back."
This could be a really strong piece of business by Southampton, with Johnson someone who has racked up plenty of experience, and who could be looking to move away from West Ham at this point in his career.
The 23-year-old has found himself out of favour at the London Stadium in recent times, with Johnson's statistics showing that he hasn't yet played at all in the league this season, instead making just one solitary appearance in the EFL Cup.
He will see his current West Ham deal expire at the end of this season, meaning they could be tempted to cash in come January. The fact that he has the same agent as Kyle Walker-Peters could be aid discussions over a move too, and the positives outweigh the negatives.
Even if Johnson's move to St Mary's Stadium doesn't work out, the cheap element of the signing would make it less of a risk, and his ability to play in several positions kills mutliple birds with one stone.
West Ham appearances
88
Premier League appearances
55
England Under-21 caps
10
The Englishman is a versatile defender who can play on either flank and in a central role, and former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has described him as "brilliant" in the past.
For any Championship club to snap up a Premier League players feels like a coup, and Johnson has the ability to make Southampton a more fearsome proposition at the back for years to come, with West Ham also seemingly happy to see him move on, given the lack of minutes they are affording him at the moment.