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The summer transfer window of 2024 was a quieter affair for Arsenal than it was a year ago.

2023 saw huge wads of cash thrown in the direction of new signings as Declan Rice arrived in a club-record £105m move from West Ham United. There was also Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber who have proven to be successful additions in their own right.

While Rice was the landmark deal, Havertz is finally coming into his own and is now one of the first names on Mikel Arteta’s teamsheet.

It’s quite the turnaround from a year ago when the £65m man opened his account from the penalty spot, notching a consolation goal away at Bournemouth.

Consolation goals are few and far between now for the German who is popping up when it matters most. He netted the opener against PSG in the Champions League a week ago and scored a precious equaliser against Southampton last Saturday.

He’s already on six goals for the current campaign in ten games, but that doesn’t mean that Edu and Co should ignore the need for attacking recruits.

Arsenal looking at Bundesliga forward

Over the summer Arsenal appeared to have one leading target in the forward positions. That man was a certain Benjamin Sesko.

Reports suggested that the Gunners could battle fellow London side Chelsea for his signature but a move ultimately didn’t happen. Instead, Sesko signed a new contract with RB Leipzig.

However, according to new reports, a deal could still materialise next year. That’s according to Charles Watts who was speaking to Caught Offside this week.

He stated that despite the move failing to go through over the summer, like Rice in 2023, ‘a lot of groundwork’ has been done behind the scenes and there is no breakdown in the relationship.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Watts continued that Arsenal may ‘look to add another frontman at the end of the season’ and we shouldn’t ‘rule out Sesko again’.

How Sesko compares to Havertz

In 2024, Havertz has been a total revelation while playing as the central striker in this Arsenal side.

A year ago we didn’t really know what he was. He could play as a false 9 and he could operate as more of a number 10. Still, no one could really quite work out his best position was.

Well, enter Arteta, who is turning the Germany international into one of the most fearsome forwards around. As a striker in Arsenal colours, he is up there with the very best on the planet, registering 20 goal involvements in 20 games (12 goals and 8 assists), averaging a contribution every 83 minutes.

It’s a hell of a record and he’s showing no signs of slowing down, having scored six goals to start the 2024/25 campaign.

How’s Sesko doing in comparison? Remarkably, even better. The Slovenian forward – who could cost around £63m in 2025 – has scored six times but from nine games.

Is he doing it at a strong level too? Of course, he is. Sesko netted twice against Juventus in the Champions League last week, including one scintillating strike that nearly broke the goal.

At 6 foot 5, he’s an inch taller than Havertz but he boasts a few skills that the former Chelsea man doesn’t. Described as a “monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, the rangy Slovenia international has incredible pace – he’s a bull – a bit like Erling Haaland in that regard.

So, what do the stats say? We’ve got the answer here.

Shots on target

0.7

1.5

Conversion rate %

29%

21%

Assists

0.5

0.2

Pass accuracy %

69%

76%

Duels contested

10.4

17.2

Take-on success %

50%

33%

Aerial duels won

2.1

4

Ground duels won

2.7

3

Touches

41.6

42.3

Ball recoveries

2.1

2.8

While Arsenal’s current central striker comes out on top in a host of metrics – including duels won and pass success – it proves he’s not identical to Sesko.

Indeed, the Leipzig sensation is better at taking players on and has a better conversation rate in front of goal. Though, let’s be honest, he’s not far off Havertz in plenty of metrics.

Let’s remember as well that he is just 21 years of age and will get better with time. When Havertz arrived last summer he was by no means the finished article either.

Looking at the data, he’d be perfect to play second fiddle to the German. He’s quicker, more physical and at this moment in time, far deadlier than current backup Gabriel Jesus.

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ByRobbie Walls Oct 8, 2024

He has batted in 191 innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore, scoring 6076 runs at an average of 37.97 and strike rate of 130.41

ESPNcricinfo staff20-Sep-20215:06

Steyn: Maybe Kohli wants to focus more on his batting

Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bangalore batter and current captain, is set to become the first player in IPL history to feature in 200 matches for a single franchise, when his team takes on Kolkata Knight Riders in Abu Dhabi on Monday night.Kohli, who has been with Royal Challengers ever since the inception of the tournament in 2008, has batted in 191 innings, scoring 6076 runs at an average of 37.97 and strike rate of 130.41. He has struck five centuries and 40 fifties during that time, helping Royal Challengers reach the IPL finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016.Kohli is set to reach the 200-match landmark a day after he announced that he would be stepping down as Royal Challengers’ captain at the end of the season, though he pledged to be with the franchise “until my retirement from the game of cricket”.Related

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Kohli is ahead by a decent distance for most matches played at a single franchise; MS Dhoni is second on the list with 182 matches for the Chennai Super Kings, while his team-mate Suresh Raina is third, having played 172 matches. Overall, Kohli, at 199, is fifth on the list of most IPL matches played, behind Dhoni, Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik, and Raina.Kohli first led the side in 2011, during a league match against the Rajasthan Royals, but became the team’s full-time captain only in 2013.His standout season came in 2016, as Kohli ended as the league’s top run-getter, scoring 973 runs from 16 matches, including four tons and seven half-centuries.”Congratulations, Virat . Reaching 200 matches is an outstanding achievement, and shows loyalty and commitment,” Mike Hesson, Royal Challengers’ head coach, said in a message to Kohli posted by the team’s social media on Twitter. “I’m immensely proud. You always play for the team, and are selfless in the way you operate. You are always encouraging and have created a great atmosphere. I love your enthusiasm and willingness to compete and win games for us.”Sanjay Bangar, Royal Challengers’ batting consultant, also praised Kohli for sticking with the franchise throughout the IPL, when he could have easily been tempted to move to another team.”More than the number of games, he has shown various qualities by being with Royal Challengers,” Bangar said. “As he continued to conquer various frontiers across the globe, he might have had opportunities to move to other franchises. But he stuck with us. In today’s fast-food generation, he set out to give a lesson for the youngsters who want to change teams very quickly. I’m so glad that he continues to play with the same zeal and enthusiasm that he had as a youngster, even today. We hope to see him continue playing for Royal Challengers for at least 350-400 games.”

Leeds United could now sign a German free agent instead of Cheikhou Kouyate, according to a new transfer report.

Leeds looking at signing midfield free agent

The Whites and Daniel Farke are preparing for Friday night’s Championship clash with rivals Sheffield United as domestic football returns following the international break.

Leeds were dealt two huge injury blows before the break, with club captain Ethan Ampadu and fellow midfielder Ilia Gruev suffering serious knee injuries that look likely to keep them out until 2025.

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As a result, Farke now has just Ao Tanaka and Joe Rothwell as his senior midfield options, with teenager Charlie Crew, who is yet to make a senior start, also available to Leeds. Therefore, Leeds have been looking at the free-agent market, and Farke shared a transfer update regarding a signing in midfield.

“It won’t last a few more weeks, we won’t bring a player end of November. If we make a decision it will be pretty quickly. We spoke about profile that’s important. Potential candidates already working on their fitness level behind closed doors. We do also our homework, but we’ll just be there when a deal makes sense.

“I spoke about challenges in October and I’m not usually a big fan but the situation is a bit special and unique. Sometimes you need a Plan B and not be so strict. I think we have to be professional and check it. It would definitely be beneficial. We need a player that is convinced of his challenge and fully aware of his role here and good character.

“Good solution in terms of contract, too. We can’t afford to spend a fortune on this deal. There are a few boxes that have to be ticked. We’re not too far away. We want to lead this club in a sustainable way and do things out of panic in a crazy way. If we haven’t brought a player in the next two weeks then we won’t bring one.”

One player who has been heavily linked with a move to Elland Road is Kouyate. Reports over the past seven days have claimed that Leeds agreed a deal to sign Kouyate, although recent rumours have since suggested the Whites have pulled out of a deal.

If it isn’t Kouyate who arrives, it seems the 49ers Enterprises and Farke have a German alternative.

Leeds could sign German free agent instead of Kouyate

According to Football Insider, Leeds are now set to welcome an unnamed German free agent to Thorp Arch this week. The report adds that the player is set for a trial with the Whites, with a move for Kouyate seemingly off the cards. Farke and his coaching staff will take a close look at the unnamed player and could offer him a contract, should he impress.

After Sheffield United, Leeds host Watford, travel to Bristol City and entertain Plymouth Argyle, where Farke and the club will have made a decision on a free agent, going off his recent comments.

USMNT star Weston McKennie is reportedly in line for another new contract at Juventus, with fresh terms set to land him a significant pay rise.

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Current deal runs until summer of 2026New three-year contract being readied American putting versatility to good useFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Having seen serious questions asked of his future in the summer of 2024, McKennie appeared destined to leave Turin at one stage. He was, however, to work his way back into favour, allowing an option to be triggered that extended his deal through to 2026.

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According to , plans are being pieced together for a completely new contract. Juve hope that McKennie can be talked into penning a deal until 2028. If an agreement can be reached, then the 26-year-old will see his value to the collective cause recognised.

DID YOU KNOW?

McKennie is said to be earning €2.8 million-a-year at present, but a hefty pay rise could be on the way. That is because the 26-year-old has earned the trust of head coach Thiago Motta by putting his versatility to good use.

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GettyWHAT NEXT FOR WESTON MCKENNIE?

The United States international has operated in midfield, on the wing, as an emergency striker and in both full-back berths during the 2024-25 campaign. He has also taken the captain’s armband at times, with Juve bosses now planning to meet with his representatives in a bid to thrash out a new long-term agreement.

Nottingham Forest have not been shy about spending big money since they returned to the Premier League three seasons ago. After two campaigns battling against relegation back to the Championship, they have flown out of the traps this term.

Impressively, the Midlands club sit third in the Premier League table, one point ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea, their nearest challengers for a top-four spot. They have been superb defensively, conceding just seven times, the second-fewest in the top flight, behind only Liverpool.

So far, the men in Garibaldi Red have had a superb season. They are no doubt desperate to maintain this form and have been linked with a player who could add great strength to the squad in January.

Nottingham Forest transfer news

The player in question here is Bayern Munich and French under-21 international attacker Mathys Tel. The 19-year-old has struggled for game time at the German giants, and could well depart the club in the 2025 winter transfer window.

According to a report from Florian Plettenberg, the Midlands club are “interested” in signing the French winger, and “have already made contact” with Bayern over a potential deal. They will not be alone in their hunt for his signature, however, with German outfit Werder Bremen also chasing him.

Any potential deal would reportedly just be a loan rather than a permanent move at this stage, There could, however, be a crucial stumbling block to signing Tel this winter, with Plettenberg reporting that he “has no plans to leave” Bavaria on a temporary deal.

Why Tel would be a good signing

It would be a fantastic statement of intent to sign such a hot prospect this winter from the Midlands outfit. Interestingly, he is a player whom Edu reportedly wanted to sign at Arsenal. The Brazilian will join Forest’s owner Evangelos Marinakis in an unspecified boardroom role following a shock resignation from Arsenal. There is certainly a link between Tel and Edu.

It has been a tough start to the season for the young Frenchman. Under new boss Vincent Kompany, his minutes have not really increased, playing 224 minutes across seven games so far, two of which include starts. The dynamic winger has yet to find the back of the net, either.

With that being said, the teenage sensation, described as a “jewel” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, has a good record for the Bavarian side. He has played 76 times so far scoring 16 goals and grabbing six assists in just 2230 minutes, equivalent to 24 full 90 minutes.

Should the Midlands outfit bring in the attacker, who is valued at £33.5m by Transfermarkt, he could be an upgrade on Callum Hudson-Odoi. The Chelsea academy graduate has been an important player for the Midlands side this term, scoring two goals in ten Premier League games, but statistically, Tel edges him in many metrics.

When looking at the pair’s stats from last season, there is a clear difference between each. It is worth considering that one played for a high-possession, attacking side in Bayern, whereas Forest were scrapping against relegation. However, in some metrics, there is still a clear gap.

As per FBref, Bayern’s starlet averaged more passes into the final third, with 1.97 each game, and more passes into the penalty area, with 1.62. In contrast, the English winger played 0.97 passes into the final third and 1.55 passes into the penalty area.

The Frenchman also had more success in take-ons last term than the Forest number 14. He completed 3.16 per game, with a 55.2% completion rate, compared to just 2.09 for Hudson-Odoi, who completed 53.8%.

Stat (per 90)

Tel

Hudson-Odoi

Goals

0.6

0.39

Expected goals

0.32

0.13

Passes into final third

1.97

0.97

Passes into penalty box

1.62

1.55

Take-ons completed

3.16

2.09

Take-on success rate

55.2%

53.8%

Carries into penalty area

2.65

1.89

It would certainly be a statement of intent from Forest – and the incoming Edu – to bring Tel in. Not only could he challenge and potentially upgrade Hudson-Odoi, but they would be adding a highly-rated youngster who can play right across the forward line.

In terms of signing a young, hungry player who would continue to fuel a shock European charge, there are perhaps few better.

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ByCharlie Smith Nov 5, 2024

Khawaja may not bat in the fourth innings as Queensland need just 83 to win after Kuhnemann and Sandhu star with the ball

Alex Malcolm25-Nov-2021South Australia skipper Travis Head has made a major statement in his bid for the final batting spot in Australia’s Test team scoring 101 but Gurinder Sandhu’s career-best six-wicket haul put Queensland on the brink of a dominant victory at Karen Rolton Oval.South Australia were forced to follow-on early on day three after folding in their first-innings to be all out for 102 with Matthew Kuhnemann taking his third five-wicket haul in three matches. Queensland’s lead of 197 left captain Usman Khawaja with no choice but to ask South Australia to bat again. But in an unusual twist of fate, it handed Head the opportunity to make amends for his first innings failure and denied Khawaja himself the same chance with both men fighting for the final middle-order spot in Australia’s team for the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.While national chairman of selectors George Bailey insisted last week that the selection panel was already leaning towards one of the two prior to this match and that they were not involved in a bat-off for a spot in the lead-up to the Test match, Head’s hundred would undoubtedly have made an impression.On a surface that had been extremely difficult for batting, where only Marnus Labuschagne and Bryce Street had scored more than 42, Head withstood Queensland’s relentless pressure making a fluent 101 from 149 balls with 11 boundaries.It was his second Sheffield Shield century of the season, adding to his staggering record at Karen Rolton Oval. In nine Shield innings at the ground, he has made three centuries and two half-centuries and averages 79.25. That doesn’t include his 230 in a Marsh Cup game there earlier this season. His first-class average at Australia’s Test venues is 36.35. But this century came on a pitch far less friendly for batting than some of his previous at the venue.The rest of South Australia’s top order were suffocated by Sandhu whose height and accuracy proved incredibly difficult to handle. He took five of the first six wickets in the second innings to claim just his second five-wicket haul in first-class cricket and his first since his debut way back in 2013.Harry Nielsen fought doggedly alongside Head making 42 while Nathan McAndrew made 37 not out to ensure Queensland would need to bat again. Kuhnemann picked up three more scalps to claim eight for the match before Sandhu returned to take the final wicket and complete his career-best figures to leave the Bulls needing just 88 runs to win.Street and Joe Burns survived seven overs to stumps to leave the Bulls needing just 83 for victory on the final day.

Arsenal superstar Bukayo Saka could be set to miss another couple months of action having had hamstring surgery in mid-December.

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Saka could miss further two monthsUnderwent surgery in DecemberArsenal not keen on forcing returnFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?

Arsenal can't seem to get a break from injuries this season as Mikel Arteta's side's season started with multiple major injuries in defence. However, that injury crisis has now progressed into the attack of the Gunners with Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz having picked up major injuries. Jesus and Havertz have been confirmed to be out for the rest of the season, while Saka is expected to return towards the end of the season.

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Saka underwent hamstring surgery in December and was expected to return in March, however, The Sun has now reported that the England international could miss another couple of months as Arsenal are reluctant to risk having their star player relapse due to returning too quickly.

Getty ImagesDID YOU KNOW?

Saka was able to resume mild training while the team was in Dubai for the midseason. The England international has hastened his preparations in anticipation of his expected return by travelling to Dubai with his teammates for their winter training camp.

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WHAT NEXT FOR SAKA?

Arsenal are yet to confirm when Saka will be able to return, however, the expectations are that April could be the month when the England international finally returns to action for Arteta's side.

Arsenal are reportedly weighing up a January move to sign a new forward as they look to find cover for Bukayo Saka in a season that is threatening to expose some gaps in Mikel Arteta’s squad.

Arsenal drop more points and suffer more injuries

Despite taking the lead twice, Arsenal were forced to settle for a 2-2 draw with Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Goals from Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino, his first for the club, were cancelled out by Virgil van Dijk and a late strike from Mohamed Salah.

The result leaves Arsenal five points off the pace set by Premier League champions and leaders Manchester City, and four points behind Liverpool, though they have still only lost once in their opening nine games.

Worse still, Arsenal seemed to pick up yet more squad problems. Centre-back Gabriel was forced off just before the hour mark with a problem, while the returning Jurrien Timber was also taken off fourteen minutes from time, five minutes before Salah exploited his absence to draw Arne Slot’s side level.

It came amid Saka already facing a race for fitness, which he won, while Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu both lost their battles to feature and captain Martin Odegaard rermains sidelined with an ankle injury, though there is hope that he will return before the international break.

They will be boosted by the return of William Saliba from suspension when they take on Newcastle United at St James’ Park next Saturday lunchtime, but defeat against the Magpies could see them eight points off the early pace, a gap that they may struggle to make up against the winning machine that is Manchester City.

Arsenal tipped for January signing

Now, former Manchester United scout turned transfer insider Mick Brown has claimed that Arsenal are weighing up a move to sign an attacking reinforcement as early as January, in the form of Brentford’s in-form man Bryan Mbeumo.

The Brentford star has stepped seamlessly into the gap left at the G-Tech stadium left by Ivan Toney, and scored twice against Ipswich Town to take his tally for the season to eight, a record only bettered by Erling Haaland in the Premier League.

Speaking 18 months ago, Thomas Frank was full of praise for his “fantastic” striker: “He has grown more and more to be a key player for us. He works so hard, he’s a fantastic pressing player and can score goals and get assists, but maybe lacked enough goals. He works very hard on his finishing.”

Premier League top goalscorers

Erling Haaland

11

Bryan Mbeumo

8

Cole Palmer

7

Chris Wood

7

Mo Salah

6

Nicolas Jackson

6

Danny Welbeck

6

And, as per Brown, that has caught Arsenal’s attention.

“I’ve heard Arsenal have been looking at him,” he told Football Insider. “I can see that move being a possibility. Mbeumo could provide that [Cover for Saka], but they also like the fact that he can play across the front three and provide cover behind the striker too.

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However, he admitted that a January move looks complex, and that the 25-year-old may be one more for the future transfer windows rather than the one immediately ahead.

“I don’t think Brentford would entertain an offer in the middle of the season, but he could be one to watch next summer.”

Any move would likely be pricey in January, with Mbeumo still having 18 months to run on his £45,000 a week deal in Hounslow, though the summer could see a more affordable deal available as Brentford look to avoid losing their newfound talisman for nothing.

And the Gunners would likely face significant competitiion, with Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Liverpool all linked with the Cameroonian forward. Arsenal have also been linked with a move to sign Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo as they seek cover for Saka, but will any signing help them catch City this season?

Taking care of their physical and mental well-being also one of the priorities for new leadership group

Vishal Dikshit16-Nov-20214:58

Rohit Sharma: Need to give players ‘assurance’ of expressing themselves

Instilling “confidence” and “faith” in players and taking care of their’ “physical and mental well-being” in the wake of a packed schedule in relentless bio-bubbles are among the main objectives of India’s new T20I captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid.Rohit takes over captaincy from Virat Kohli after India’s exit in the group stage of the recent T20 World Cup, with the next edition coming up in less than a year’s time. Rohit said he and Dravid will work on defining each and every player’s role and give them the security to play “fearlessly” because T20 demands you to take a lot of risks and not all of them come off.”It’s one of the important aspects of the format where people have assurance of taking chances in the middle,” Rohit said seated next to Dravid for a Zoom press conference ahead of the T20I opener against New Zealand starting on Wednesday in Jaipur. “If it comes off, it comes off, if it doesn’t, then what happens. That’s where both of us will need to play a huge role and part in giving an individual that assurance of going out and expressing himself.”It’s important, especially in this format, that sometimes you just need to go out there and play fearlessly and while doing that, there are chances that you might not always be successful because it’s a short format and you’re always challenged. The pressure is always there. We certainly will keep an eye on that aspect; that’s where the entire set-up will play a big part that wherever that individual bats, and how we want him to bat, goes and does the job for us. If he doesn’t then we instill confidence in him that we have full faith in you, just go and do the role for the team. As long as they’re trying to do the role for the team, we are happy.”Rahul Dravid: For me the players’ physical and mental health is the most important thing•ICC via GettyDravid, on the other hand, will oversee players and teams across formats as India prepare for both the 2023 ODI World Cup at home and the latest cycle of the World Test Championship. Workload management has come into particular focus for the New Zealand side, who finished runners-up in the World Cup on Sunday in Dubai and landed in Jaipur less than 24 hours later for a three-match T20I series to be followed by a two-Test series. Dravid said workload management is now the need of the hour but ruled out playing different teams in different formats.”Workload management has become a crucial part of the game now because so much cricket is played these days,” Dravid said. “Like we see in football also, seasons are so long and some of the top players don’t play all the games. So if we’re playing throughout the year then we have to be careful about players’ workload management. Whether we do it within the team or by giving them a break, that will depend on a case-by-case basis. But like I’ve said before, players’ mental and physical well-being will be most important, we will work in and around that, the team will also take priority. So it’s a balancing act and we need to understand that we need to do this balancing act at a time like this and work towards getting everyone fit and ready for the big tournament.”I don’t think we’re at that point where we’re looking at separate teams [for separate formats]. Of course, there are certain individuals who only play particular formats and there are some who play all formats. Obviously, in times like this we need to be in a conversation with the players, for me the players’ physical and mental health is the most important thing. I will always be in conversation with them and I’d like to work with them to ensure that whenever they’re playing, we have them fully switched on and we need to recognise that these are challenging times for people, for players, and especially for those guys who are expected to play all formats. We might not be able to play every single player in every single game across formats, we need to accept that as reality. Herein lies the opportunity for the other guys to step up and use it show what they have.”India’s plans to rotate players for the T20Is against New Zealand include resting Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami. Later, Rohit, Rishabh Pant, Bumrah and Shami will miss the Test series. Kohli will only skip the opening Test in Kanpur.3:02

Rahul Dravid: Rohit’s growth as leader and person has been ‘phenomenal’

With the next T20 World Cup already on the horizon, Rohit said India are work shopping through several templates to find the one that best fits them. The five-time IPL winning captain also admitted that the team had certain holes to fill and said it could be done by buying into the concept of role clarity.”Template is a very important one and we need to set it right,” Rohit said. “We’ve got some time to do that. India has been brilliant in this format, it’s just that we haven’t won the ICC tournament. We’ve played well and performed well as a team. Of course, there are little holes we need to fill and make sure they’re looked after. That will be the biggest challenge we’ll have as a team.”There are holes in every team but you try and maximise what you have. I’m not going to say that we’re going to follow a certain team’s template. We have to create our own template, see what’s best and right for tour team.”It’s important because when you compare it with Syed Mushtaq Ali or IPL, they’ve played differently in their franchise teams or Syed Mushtaq Ali. And when they come here they play a different role. We strictly want to assign roles that we want them to do because at the end of the day what they do here matters. It can take a while or it can happen in a few games as well. To give them that long rope or confidence is important to perform their role to perfection. We’re starting afresh after the World Cup and we’ve set some ideas and thoughts for this series now. Let’s see how that pans out and we’ll take it from there.”

The youngest debutant in the history of professional football in Portugal is shining at club level after starring at last summer's Under-17 Euros

Five years ago, Manchester United signed Bruno Fernandes from Sporting CP for an initial £47 million ($58m). If recent reports are to be believed, the Red Devils are now plotting a move for another Portuguese attacking midfielder of even greater potential.

Rodrigo Mora has been the revelation of Porto's season so far, the academy product who has become a fan favourite at the Dragao with his precocious performances for the team he grew up supporting.

So, how good is the 17-year-old, who is already representing his country at Under-21 level? And is really destined for a move to one of Europe's richest clubs at some point in the future? GOAL has everything you need to know about Mora below…

Where it all began

Mora was born and raised in Porto, and always dreamed of lining out for his hometown club, whom he joined from Custoias FC when he was still only nine years of age. It was immediately obvious that Mora was prodigiously gifted and he progressed rapidly through the under-age grades at Porto.

Indeed, there was already a lot of talk in the press that Porto had a rare talent on their hands before he made his first appearance for the B team in a Portuguese second-division clash with Tondela in January 2023. Mora was just 15 years, eight months and 10 days old at the time, making him the youngest debutant in the history of the professional game in Portugal.

AdvertisementThe big break

Given he'd already been playing senior football for more than a year, Mora was identified as one of the players to watch at last summer's European U17 Championship in Cyprus, and it's fair to say he lived up to the hype. Mora scored the winner for Portugal in their opening group game against Spain, before then netting twice in the stunning 4-1 rout of an England team featuring Ethan Nwaneri.

He bagged another game-deciding goal against Poland in the quarter-finals, while his 89th-minute equaliser played a pivotal role in Portugal progressing to the final at the expense of Serbia.

Mora failed to add to his tally in the tournament-decider, which Italy won, but he did take home the Golden Boot, which was mightily impressive for an attacking midfielder and only cemented his status as one of the most exciting prospects in world football.

AFPHow it's going

Mora began the current campaign still lining out for Porto's B team, but it wasn't long before new coach Vitor Bruno took notice and he handed the youngster his proper Porto debut by bringing him on in the closing stages of the Europa League loss to Bodo/Glimt on September 25. Four days later, Mora made his Liga Portugal bow, against Arouca. The following month, he scored his first goal for the senior side, away to AVS.

Mora's first start arrived on December 21, and he didn't squander the chance to show exactly what he was capable of, with the 17-year-old scoring one goal and creating another as Porto won 3-0 at Moreirense. He repeated the feat the very next weekend in a 4-0 home win over Boavista. Mora was officially the new darling of the Dragao.

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Biggest strengths

Mora reads the game wonderfully well and his decision-making is excellent – which is rare in one so young. With his lower centre of gravity and quick feet, he is wonderfully elusive and can get himself out of the tightest of spaces.

As Vitor Bruno's successor Martin Anselmi recently said, "Rodrigo is a player that excels at playing between the lines, making the final pass and dribbling past players in the final third. He is a bold young man, who doesn't feel the burden of playing at such a high level. He always works hard, too, and accepts the responsibility to defend when we don't have the ball."