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Wolverhampton Wanderers will be desperate to pick up their first Premier League victory of the new season when travelling to AFC Bournemouth this coming weekend.

Vitor Pereira’s Old Gold were torn to shreds 4-0 by Manchester City on the opening day, as Rayan Ait Nouri returned to his old side to deliver a killer blow, while Matheus Cunha’s absence was there for all to see, too, as the weak hosts struggled in the forward areas.

With Jorgen Strand Larsen also now reportedly on Newcastle United’s shortlist of striker targets, the hectic transfer window could soon go from bad to worse for the depleted West Midlands outfit.

Yet, there are a few players also catching the Old Gold’s eye, away from the constant chatter about those departing the building.

Latest on Wolves' midfield search

Wolves have been active in the window with incoming signings.

Fer Lopez joined the Molineux ranks for £19.5m, having previously played alongside Strand Larsen at Celta Vigo, while Jackson Tchatchoua has also just completed a switch to the Premier League side from Hellas Verona to strengthen Pereira’s personnel in the right-back spot.

Up next, Wolves could soon welcome Barcelona number 17, Marc Casado, to their ever-growing camp in the middle of the park, if reports are to be believed.

Indeed, as per reports from Spanish outlet Marca, Casado is attracting interest from both the Old Gold and West Ham United, having been left out of Hansi Flick’s first team plans last time out versus RCD Mallorca as La Liga kicked off. The Premier League pair are said to be ‘closely monitoring’ his current situation.

The report does state that the 21-year-old ace only has eyes for Barca, but a £26m bid could soon come Flick and Co.’s way for the La Masia academy product.

Pereira will hope he can get an ambitious deal over the line for the Spanish youngster, with Casado perhaps capable of offering the same level of class and excellence on the ball that Ruben Neves once gave Wolves in spades during his celebrated stay at Molineux.

Why Casado can be Pereira's own Neves

Neves would arrive at Wolves in the summer of 2017 as an undoubted coup, having arrived at the then-Championship club for just £15m from FC Porto, despite having suitors from the Premier League in both Chelsea and Liverpool.

Wolves certainly got themselves a stunning bargain by landing the Portuguese star when they did, with Neves going on to be an integral part of the Old Gold jigsaw over many a season, culminating in 30 goals and 13 assists coming his way from 253 total appearances.

Casado’s potential arrival onto the scene does have a similar Neves feel, considering the 21-year-old has reportedly had eyes watching him from Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur this summer, on top of the Spaniard being more used to Champions League contests at the Camp Nou assisting Raphinha than any Premier League basement battles.

Still, much like the Al-Hilal midfielder routinely steered Wolves to comfortable mid-table finishes – with Neves’ lowest final position in an Old Gold shirt coming in at 13th – Pereira will hope Casado’s addition to the group means defeats such as the one suffered at the hands of the Citizens don’t crop up all campaign long, as more successful days lay ahead.

La Liga games played

23

League goals scored

1

Assists

3

Champions League games played

10

Champions League goals scored

0

Assists

2

After all, despite limited first-team opportunities, Casado has shown he can cut it at the very top with Barca, with one goal and five assists falling into his lap last season in La Liga and Champions League action.

Therefore, the 5-foot-8 star shouldn’t find the step-up to the Premier League to be too overwhelming, with a hope he can instantly settle in, like Neves managed all those years ago.

Moreover, he even possesses elements of Neves’ game when it comes to stepping up as a leader, with the 28-year-old going on to don the Old Gold armband regularly across his lengthy spell at the club.

Former Barca great Rafael Marquez would herald Casado as a “total leader” when first making waves in the Camp Nou senior set-up, while further being branded as a “machine” by ex-Spain teammate Yeremi Pino.

Transfer Focus

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

All this positive talk points in the direction of this being a worthwhile purchase to pursue, particularly if he goes on to be as effective as Neves.

Offer will be accepted: Wolves now very keen to sign "superb" La Liga star

He’s a wanted man.

1 ByTom Cunningham Aug 19, 2025

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have been assured that “Wrexham won’t struggle” this season, meaning that they can relax a little, but the Red Dragons have been told what they need to do in order to be competitive in the Championship. Phil Parkinson is being backed to steer the Welsh outfit away from any kind of danger during the 2025-26 campaign.

Meteoric rise: History made in promotion run

Having made EFL history with a run of three successive promotions, Wrexham find themselves in the second tier of English football ahead of schedule. Big money is having to be invested in a bid to ensure that no backwards steps are taken.

AdvertisementGetty/GOALSpending spree: Big window for the Red Dragons

Hollywood co-owners Reynolds and McElhenney helped to fund a £33 million ($45m) spending spree in the summer transfer window, with Premier League pedigree being added to the ranks at SToK Racecourse.

Slow start: Questions asked of Parkinson

A slow start to the new season was endured, leading to the odd question being asked of Parkinson’s future, but a return to winning ways was made last time out at Norwich. Wrexham are considered to have more than enough to keep them clear of any relegation dogfights.

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GettyChampionship advice: Pulis talks Wrexham

Experienced Welsh tactician Tony Pulis told : “Wrexham won’t struggle, they've got enough. Phil Parkinson has done a fantastic job there. They certainly have enough to compete, though I'm not sure if they'll be in the top six this season.

“He's made some good signings. If they can get the momentum they've had year after year and bring it into this league again, it's an unbelievable and difficult ground to visit. Phil knows the league, having played in it himself, so he understands what's coming. He'll have it all planned out.

“It's just about momentum. If they can pick up results home and away and gain self-belief and confidence, that's one of the big things after promotion. Players will be wary of whether they're good enough. They'll be going into different, bigger grounds with a different atmosphere. It's about having that self-belief and confidence, and there's nothing better for that than winning games.”

Christian contributed with both bat and ball, but Bryant and Renshaw’s 108-run stand turned the game on its head

Tristan Lavalette06-Jan-2025Dan Christian rewound the clock in his first match since coming out of retirement, but Matt Renshaw and Max Bryant produced a blistering century partnership to lift Brisbane Heat over Sydney Thunder in a pivotal BBL result.Chasing 174 at the Gabba, Heat were in big trouble at 43 for 3 before Bryant and Renshaw combined for a belligerent 108-run partnership to turn the match on its head. Bryant smashed 72 off 35 balls, while Renshaw whacked 48 not out off 33 balls as Heat reached the target with seven balls to spare.It was a vital win for Heat, who reignited their title defence and moved to a 3-3 (one no result) record. After their attack fell apart in the backend of Heat’s innings, with quick Wes Agar suffering the brunt with 1 for 61 from 3.5 overs, the shorthanded Thunder (4-2) missed their chance to claim the top spot on the BBL ladder.Renshaw, Bryant turn match on its headHeat’s top-order struggles reared again and their hopes of victory looked forlorn at 53 for 3 after ten overs. The required run rate ballooned to over 12 an over as Bryant and Renshaw were forced to take the power surge earlier than Heat would have hoped.It worked as a treat with Renshaw setting the tone by whacking Agar -for consecutive boundaries in the 11th over, which yielded 20 runs. Heat plundered 32 runs in the power surge and their momentum continued with Bryant and Renshaw trading massive blows.Renshaw showcased his improved power game against spin with a huge six off Tom Andrews that sailed over deep midwicket. They smashed 72 runs in just five overs, as Bryant raced past Renshaw to reach his half-century off 26 balls.Bryant fell in the 17th over, but Renshaw ensured Heat held their nerve at the death.Dan Christian utilised his wealth of T20 experience to good effect•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesChristian contributes with bat and ballThe 41-year-old Christian had not played a professional cricket match since BBL 12 and had spent the past two seasons as Thunder’s assistant coach. But he had to answer an urgent call for Thunder after injuries to Daniel Sams and Cameron Bancroft following their horror collision in the field against Perth Scorchers.Christian had been keeping fit in local NSW cricket and it showed with a terrific all-round performance. Coming in at 125 for 6 after Thunder were sent in, Christian wisely gave himself a few sighters, scoring just six runs off his first seven balls, before blasting a huge six off quick Xavier Bartlett that sailed 92m over the square-leg boundary. Christian added another six, fortuitously through a top edge, but his cameo proved he had not lost his power hitting.He then came into the attack in the fourth over of Heat’s innings and dismissed Nathan McSweeney, who feathered an attempted lap shot. Christian also bowled tidily at the death to finish with 1 for 25 from four overs as he utilised his wealth of T20 experience to good effect.Neser returns in styleAmid Scott Boland’s burgeoning popularity and strong form of numerous fringe international quicks in the BBL, Michael Neser has become the forgotten paceman of Australian cricket. He had started the domestic season brilliantly and claimed 4 for 27 against India A at the MCG in early November before suffering a significant hamstring injury in that match.After being on the sidelines for almost two months, he was raring to go and opened the bowling along with Bartlett, ahead of left-arm quick Spencer Johnson who was held back until the seventh over. Neser’s new ball prowess came to the fore in the third over when he dismissed Ollie Davies, who could only inside-edge an attempted ramp shot. It was a tame end for Davies, elevated to open in the absence of Bancroft.David Warner continued his good form•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesNeser returned and claimed the vital wicket of Sam Billings in the ninth over. He dug in a short-of-good-length delivery that Billings charged at but could only sky high in the air for Tom Alsop to complete an easy catch with the gloves. Neser finished with 2 for 25 from four overs and later hit the winning run.Warner fires againAfter a slow start to his captaincy reign, David Warner rediscovered his belligerent best with scores of 86 not out and 49 heading into this match. He produced again with 50 off 36 balls to hold together Thunder’s innings.Warner batted in mostly orthodox fashion in the powerplay and was determined to be Thunder’s anchor as they lost consistent wickets. He made his move in the sixth over against legspinner Mitchell Swepson, sweeping him to the boundary on the first delivery before reverse-sweeping the next ball for another four.Warner’s placement was a feature as underlined by drilling a cover boundary off Johnson to bring up his half-century. But he was clean bowled on the next ball after unsuccessfully reverse sweeping a Johnson yorker. Thunder appeared set to fall well short of a strong total until Christian’s late flurry.

They might be missing their first-choice pace attack, but even that might not stop Australia, as England learnt. Both Bavuma and Carey duly exuded confidence going into Tuesday’s game

Firdose Moonda24-Feb-20254:00

Agar: Australia’s bowlers need to control middle overs better

South Africa know better than to underestimate an Australia side at a major tournament, even one that is shorn of its entire World Cup-winning pace attack. They are, after all, a team that has won eight ICC white-ball trophies since South Africa’s last, and only, one in 1998, and who seem to have mastered the formula for tournament success no matter the personnel they have at their disposal.”Any Australian outfit that comes together for an ICC event is one that you don’t take lightly,” Temba Bavuma, South Africa’s ODI captain, said. “Yes, they don’t have their mainstay bowling attack, but I think they still have enough to be successful as a team.”On the evidence of their opening win, against England, you would have to agree with Bavuma. Even though Australia conceded a massive 351, they paced their chase perfectly and won with 15 deliveries to spare.Related

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The way Australia see it is that what they lack in terms of the prestige of a pace attack, they’ll make up for with their spinners and the explosive batting line-up. “It’s an inexperienced bowling attack, there’s no hiding away from that, but around that we’ve got some experience with our legspinner Adam Zampa, Glenn Maxwell who’s really smart when he bowls, and Steve Smith who’s a fantastic captain,” Alex Carey said. “The way that Steve Smith uses the bowlers is a strength of ours. He is a great captain tactically, and he reads the play really well. So I’m still really confident with 50 overs of bowling, however that looks for us.”And though their pace attack of Nathan Ellis, Ben Dwarshuis and Spencer Johnson only have 17 caps between them, Carey also threw his weight behind them to get the job done if they have to defend a score. “If we are to bat first throughout the tournament, I’ll back our boys to defend, hopefully a good score of 300-plus, but if not, Nathan Ellis has got a lot of tricks, he’s got a lot of good slower bowls; Spencer Johnson’s really damaging up the top; so is Ben Dwarshuis. And you’ve got Sean Abbott ready to go as well,” he said. “We’ve come into this tournament really confident that our bowling attack will still do a fantastic job without the big three [Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood], and hopefully as a batting group we can score as many runs and make it easy for our bowlers.”

“South Africa are playing really good one day cricket at the moment and they look like they’ve got a great balance across their 11 players. We know they’re a great team and they’ll be strong throughout the tournament”Alex Carey

All that said, Australia know better than to crow about their achievements to an ambitious South Africa side. South Africa seem to be getting closer and closer to getting their hands on a trophy. It was just nine months ago that South Africa reached their first World Cup final and, having also reached the World Test Championship final, they are starting to believe a cup is around the corner, especially when they have all their best players available.”South Africa are playing really good one-day cricket at the moment and they look like they’ve got a great balance across their 11 players,” Carey said. “We know they’re a great team and they’ll be strong throughout the tournament.”Though both South Africa and Australia’s squads were hit by absentees, South Africa lost fewer than Australia (only Anrich Nortje was included and then had to withdraw, though Gerald Coetzee was being considered before he suffered a niggle and Heinrich Klaasen missed the last match with an elbow concern) and have retained an experienced core. That may be why they are no longer tip-toeing around questions over whether they think they can win. Bavuma, asked directly how he rated his team chances, answered just as frankly. “We’re quite bullish about our chances,” he said. “Our confidence is good, so we’re quite optimistic about our chances and how far we can go in this competition.”3:05

Australia’s batters vs SA’s bowlers – who has the upper hand?

Whether it’s advisable to be so candid playing the two former champions you have been grouped with is debatable, but at least Bavuma isn’t shying away from expectation. Instead, he is leaning into it in a way South Africans seldom do. And you could argue that South Africa’s performances in the last two years across all cricket – they have been to the knockouts of every tournament across men’s, women’s and Under-19 cricket since the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2023 – has earned them some license to dream, something Australia have always had.You won’t be surprised to hear that even without their regular captain Cummins, Mitch Marsh, Hazlewood, Marcus Stoinis and Starc, they still rate the confidence level as “really high”, as Carey put it, and barely flinch by the magnitude of any task. On what is expected to be a run-fest in Rawalpindi, Carey casually threw in that since defending could be difficult, he hoped Australia would be able to score “400 if we bat first” because it’s “always good to play one-day cricket when the scores are high”.And if you need reminding of how both Australia and South Africa thrive in batter-friendly conditions, rewind 19 years to this game, which only had a bilateral series trophy riding on it but brought out the best in sides that love to compete against each other. It’s not the Ashes, or India vs Pakistan, but Australia vs South Africa is a rivalry built on two evenly matched sides that promise to provide something special.

Rasmus Hojlund has opened up on his admiration for Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and the hard work that has driven his career. The Napoli striker, back in Serie A after two seasons at Manchester United, highlighted Erling Haaland and Viktor Gyokeres as the world’s best behind CR7. Hojlund also reflected on his early sporting life, and ambitions at Napoli.

Cristiano Ronaldo as a role model

Despite rocketing to global fame by joining United in a whopping £72 million ($92m) deal in 2023 after an impressive spell in Serie A with Atalanta. However, the Denmark international was unable to live up to the demands of the number nine role at Old Trafford, and soon saw his hopes of leading the attack under Ruben Amorim fade. The 22-year-old had initially resisted pressure to leave the Red Devils in the summer transfer window, but eventually relented by returning to Serie A to join Napoli on an initial loan deal. 

Those struggles will not keep him down, though, as he takes inspiration from his idol Ronaldo to overcome any doubts about his quality. He told "In my career, I've never felt like the most talented player in the group, even though you have to be a top-notch striker to play for United or Napoli. But I've always had to work harder than others, and I'm aware of that. That's why Cristiano is my idol: he always wants to improve and works hard to become better."

AdvertisementGetty Images SportHojlund names Haaland & Gyokeres among his favourites

Alongside Ronaldo, Hojlund highlighted his admiration for Manchester City hero Haaland and Gerd Muller Trophy winner Gyokeres, both of whom he considers among the very best in the world. New Arsenal signing Gyokeres won the coveted award at the Ballon d'Or ceremony on Monday after a strong 54-goal season for Sporting CP and Sweden.

Asked for his favourite players beyond Ronaldo, he said: "In my opinion, the best players in the world are Cristiano Ronaldo, Haaland, [Robert] Lewandowski, and Gyokeres. In Serie A, I'd choose [Romelu] Lukaku, [Dusan] Vlahovic, Lautaro Martinez, and then there's me, Rasmus."

Adaptation to Serie A and immediate impact

Settling quickly at Napoli, Hojlund made an instant impact, scoring on his debut in a 3-1 victory over Fiorentina. Napoli’s strong start to the 2025–26 season, topping Serie A with 12 points after four matches, has highlighted his integration into the squad. The Danish striker emphasised the differences between leagues, saying: "[Serie A] is still the same as I remembered it from my season with Atalanta. The football here is very tactical, with lots of man-on-man duels. In the Premier League, however, the pace is a bit higher: everyone is fast, strong, and physically explosive. If I had to point out one difference between the two leagues, it's precisely that."

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GettyAC Milan test up next for Hojlund and Napoli

While, the next test for him is surely going to be challenging as Napoli line up against an AC Milan team that includes Luka Modric and Adrien Rabiot on September 28. The reigning champions are leading the Serie A table, but the Rossoneri are just three points behind.

Liverpool have started their Premier League campaign with back-to-back wins following a late victory at Newcastle United. Rio Ngumoha’s 100th-minute winner made him the youngest Premier League goalscorer in Liverpool history.

While Arne Slot was happy with the win, post-match, he highlighted an issue that has plagued them all season thus far.

In all of Liverpool’s last three fixtures, they have gone two goals up and then found themselves drawing 2-2. They managed to salvage a victory against Bournemouth and Newcastle, but in the Community Shield, they were taken to penalties by Crystal Palace and were defeated.

A new signing that can improve their defensive capabilities is half of Liverpool’s plan for what could turn out to be an eventful deadline day.

Liverpool plan double deadline day deal

Liverpool are “ready to finalise” two deadline day deals as they look to complete moves for Alexander Isak and Marc Guehi. Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg has reported that “agreements have been reached with both players” and, once their clubs find replacements, the deals will be done.

Liverpool bid £110 million for Isak on August 1st and have held off placing a second bid since then. The Reds have already broken their transfer record once this window with the signing of Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal that could be worth up to £116 million, but the second bid for Isak will break this record again.

Guehi won’t cost Liverpool anywhere near as much as Isak due to the England centre-back’s contract situation. Guehi is in the final year of his contract with Crystal Palace, and because of this, Steve Parish is only looking to get £40 million for him. However, reports indicate that Liverpool will try and negotiate Palace down from that figure.

The hunt for Isak and Guehi's replacements

Plettenberg indicated that the main sticking point in these two deals is the players’ current clubs finding adequate replacements for them before the window ends, as they don’t want to start the season short-handed.

In this regard, Newcastle have already put in numerous bids for potential Isak replacements. The Magpies had a deal worth £40 million rejected for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa, and just this week, they had bids worth £50 million and £55 million rejected for Wolverhampton’s Jorgen Strand Larsen. Crucially however, the Magpies are now closing in on a deal for Nick Woltemade.

Crystal Palace will have plenty of money to spend on a replacement for Guehi, as they have also sold Eberechi Eze to Arsenal this summer. They are currently being linked with a move for Juventus’s Lloyd Kelly as their new centre-back.

For Liverpool, these clubs completing their deals quickly is of the utmost importance. If Newcastle and Crystal Palace can’t bring in replacements for Isak and Guehi before the window closes, they will likely opt to keep them until at least the next window.

The KKR captain also heaped praise on Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana, especially in the powerplay

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Apr-20251:10

Do SRH need to rethink their batting approach?

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane has advocated for his batters to set their performance in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) as an example and carry this template for the rest of IPL 2025.After collapsing for a mere 116 in their previous outing, against Mumbai Indians (MI), KKR bounced back in style putting up 200 for 6 against SRH in Kolkata on Thursday. This despite them losing both openers by the third over. Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi consolidated the innings before Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh went big in the death.”The discussion when we lost two wickets, Quinny [Quinton de Kock] and Sunny [Sunil Narine] was all about consolidate till six overs, play with intent but play cricketing shots and then when we have wickets in hand after 10-11 overs, guys down the order can get as many runs as possible. So that’s what we wanted to do,” Rahane said after KKR thrashed SRH by 80 runs.Related

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Venkatesh and Arora consign SRH to their biggest-ever defeat

“This game was really important for us and winning with a big margin, that was really crucial. I think starting off with batting first, losing the toss, even we wanted to bowl first on this wicket.”Overall, I am really happy with the batting unit. The last two games were not up to the mark for us. But again, we learned a lot from our mistakes and it’s again staying in the moment. This game has happened but this is a great example for us as a batting unit to learn from this game and take it forward.”Another crucial moment in the KKR innings was when the Rahane-Raghuvanshi stand ended on 81 with the score on 97 for 3 in 11 overs. Ten balls later, Raghuvanshi also fell and there were two new batters in the middle. KKR could have capitulated but Iyer and Rinku stood firm. They started slowly, but soon found their stride and smoked 78 runs in the last five overs to give KKR a grandstand finish.”See, the chat when Rinku and Venkatesh were batting it was all about, last 30 balls we can get 50-60 runs on this wicket,” Rahane said. “Those guys can play brilliant shots. We all saw that tonight.”Ramandeep again was sitting in the dugout. Dre [Andre Russell] was sitting in the dugout and Moeen [Ali] was also ready. So, it was all about play normally till 15 overs and then take it on.”Rahane also heaped praise on his bowlers, in particular Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana. Arora, coming in as an impact sub, picked 3 for 29, including the wickets of Travis Head, Ishan Kishan and later Heinrich Klaasen, while Rana picked the key wicket of Abhishek Sharma as SRH were reduced to 9 for 3 in 2.1 overs. It was always tough going thereon.”Credit goes to Vaibhav and Harshit as well. Bowling in that powerplay, difficult overs, especially Vaibhav picking up those two wickets was amazing,” Rahane said.”Initially, we thought 170-180 on this wicket would be a really good total. I mean, we got 20-30 runs extra because of the partnership of Rinku and Venkatesh. We saw how SRH bowled. The slower balls were gripping a bit. We had three quality spinners. Moeen, unfortunately, couldn’t bowl tonight. But Varun [Chakravarthy] and Sunny bowled really well.”

Manchester United fans have been blessed with numerous elite-level strikers over the years, with many capturing the hearts of the supporters during their respective stints at Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney spent 13 years with the Red Devils, joining them as a youngster from Everton and going on to exceed everyone’s expectations upon his arrival.

The Englishman netted 253 goals in his 559 outings – a tally to this day which remains the most in the club’s history after he overtook Sir Bobby Charlton’s record back in 2017.

He often starred alongside the likes of Robin van Persie and Dimitar Berbatov – subsequently playing a huge role in their record-breaking 13 Premier League title triumphs.

However, in the present day, boss Ruben Amorim is hunting for his own talisman to try and end the decade-long wait for another league trophy at the Theatre of Dreams.

What Sesko & Mbeumo will bring to Man Utd

After scoring just 44 league goals in 2024/25, Amorim made it clear that he wanted a new centre-forward in the summer window – with the board backing him with a deal to land Benjamin Sesko.

The deal to land the Slovenian international cost upwards of £70m, with the former RB Leipzig talisman able to be an immediate and long-term solution to their problems, given his tender age of 22.

However, he’s already showcased his quality in the Bundesliga, racking up 27 league goals in the last two years – a tally higher than any player in the Red Devils’ current first-team squad.

He’s going to be aided in his attempts by fellow new addition Bryan Mbeumo, after the Cameroonian international also joined Amorim’s men in a deal worth a total of £71m.

Like Sesko, the 26-year-old has thrived in front of goal over recent times, scoring 20 times in the Premier League throughout the 2024/25 campaign – subsequently leading to his big-money transfer.

However, despite the talents of the aforementioned talents, one former Red Devil star has thrived since leaving the club and once again demonstrated his incredible goalscoring nouse.

The former United star who’s outscoring Sesko & Mbeumo

Securing deals for experienced attackers isn’t unfamiliar to United after securing the signature of legendary forward Zlatan Ibrahimović back in the summer of 2016 after his release from PSG.

The Swede moved to Manchester at the age of 34, but that didn’t stop him from making a huge impact within the club’s first-team during the 2016/17 campaign.

He’s registered a staggering 28 goals in his 46 outings across all competitions – helping the side win the Europa League and Carabao Cup under José Mourinho.

Zlatan wasn’t the only experienced option landed by the hierarchy in recent years, with Edinson Cavani also following a similar pattern after also joining from the French giants.

Such a move occurred four years after his former teammate, also moving at a similar age, given that the Uruguayan was 33 at the time of his free transfer to join the Red Devils.

Cavani would spend two years at Old Trafford, racking up 59 appearances and managing to find the back of the net on 19 separate occasions – including an outrageous long-range against Fulham.

Given he was entering the back end of his career at the top level, he would leave in the summer of 2022 – departing on a free transfer to join Spanish side Valencia.

Fast-forward to the present day, the 38-year-old is still plying his trade for Argentine outfit Boca Juniors, but is still managing to find the back of the net on a consistent basis.

Games played

59

Goals scored

19

Assists

7

Minutes played

3094

Yellow cards

6

Minutes per goal

163

Minutes per assist

442

Cavani, who’s been labelled “world-class” by one analyst, has scored 24 goals since the start of the 2024/25 campaign – a simply remarkable tally given his age.

Such a figure is also higher than new additions, Sesko (21) and Mbeumo (22), subsequently highlighting the attacking threat he still carries to this day.

There’s no denying that the hierarchy made the right choice in allowing him to depart United, but it’s great to see a former fans’ favourite still thriving like he did at Old Trafford.

If the two new additions can make a similar impact to the Uruguayan at the Theatre of Dreams, there’s no reason why the club can’t be competing at the top end of the table once again in the years ahead.

Not just Onana: "Sunday League" level flop now looks finished at Man Utd

Manchester United should be looking to move another talent on after Andre Onana.

ByEthan Lamb Sep 10, 2025

Anthony Gordon has compared Nick Woltemade to England "quarterback" Harry Kane and explained how Newcastle's £69 million ($93m) frontman has positively impacted his game. Woltemade has exploded onto the scene at Newcastle with four goals in his first six appearances, three of which came in the span of just seven days against Arsenal, Union Saint-Gilloise, and Nottingham Forest before the international break.

Instant impact on Tyneside

Woltemade's start to life at St James’ Park has been nothing short of electric. Slotting seamlessly into Eddie Howe’s front three, Woltemade has quickly built devastating chemistry with Gordon and Anthony Elanga, creating a fluid, unpredictable attack that’s giving defences nightmares. The trio’s link-up play was on full display during Newcastle's 4-0 victory over Union Saint-Gilloise in the Champions League, where their interchanging runs and quick combinations left the opposition gasping for breath. For Gordon, it’s not just about the goals; it’s about the footballing intelligence Woltemade brings.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportGordon's high praise for Woltemade

Speaking ahead of England duty, Gordon couldn’t hide his admiration for his new team-mate and dropped a headline-grabbing comparison with Bayern Munich talisman Kane that’s sure to delight Newcastle fans.

"I think they do play a very similar style of football, in terms of they want to almost be the quarterback – they want to come in and create, they don't just want to finish the chances like a typical striker would do," he said. "For me, personally, I think it helps me – I think my style suits playing with that style of striker, because I can run off them. If defenders want to go and engage with them, I can run off the back, so I think it's really positive for me and I really enjoy it."

Blend of brains and brawn

When Newcastle paid £69 million to sign the Germany international, eyebrows were raised, but Woltemade has wasted no time justifying the fee. His early performances have drawn admiration from fans, while his calmness under pressure has impressed Howe. Despite his towering 6ft 6in frame, the former VFB Stuttgart striker isn’t a one-dimensional battering ram. He’s as likely to pick out a clever pass as he is to smash the ball into the top corner, and that blend of brains and brawn is exactly what Newcastle’s attack had been missing after Alexander Isak was sold off to Liverpool. 

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Getty Images SportGordon eyes England glory next

With club form soaring, Gordon is now turning his attention to England’s upcoming fixtures, a friendly against Wales on Friday, followed by a crucial World Cup qualifier versus Latvia three days later. The Newcastle winger is in one of the best spells of his career and knows that strong international performances could cement his place in Thomas Tuchel’s plans ahead of the 2026 World Cup. And if his partnership with Woltemade continues to blossom back at St James’ Park, Gordon’s evolution from a promising winger to a world-class forward may just be getting started.

Jose Mourinho revealed that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez sent a message to him upon his return to Benfica. The Portuguese head coach said that his former boss told him he was happy to see him return "to a club of your calibre", reminding fans once again of the mutual love and admiration shared between the two men.

Mourinho has returned to Benfica after 25 years

After being sacked by Fenerbahce for failing to qualify for the league phase of this season's Champions League, Mourinho marked an immediate return to coaching by signing for Benfica, the club where it all began for 'The Special One' in 2000. Mourinho will remain with Benfica until June 2027, although a surprise 'break clause' has been inserted in the contract which will allow both sides to part ways earlier than the expiry of the contract.

AdvertisementAFPFlorentino's special gesture to Mourinho

Right after he returned to Benfica, Mourinho received messages from Perez, the president of his former club. "I'd like to say that President Florentino sent me a message saying, 'I'm very happy that you've returned to a club of your calibre,' and to hear this from the president of Real Madrid himself," Mourinho revealed.

A reunion with Real Madrid in January

Mourinho arrived at the Bernabeu in 2010 after firing Inter to a historic continental treble. In his three years as Los Blancos' head coach, the Portuguese won three titles, including La Liga in 2011-12 and the Copa del Rey in 2010-11. In 2013, Perez urged Mourinho to prolong his stay at Madrid, but the 62-year-old felt his time was up. Now, Mourinho will face the Merengues for the first time over 12 years after parting ways with them, when Benfica welcome Xabi Alonso's side at the Estadio da Luz in the final league phase matchday of the Champions League in January.

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(C)Getty ImagesMourinho's next managerial assignment

The Setubal-born manager faced his first loss with Benfica on Tuesday as an own goal from Richard Rios was enough for his former side Chelsea to grab a win. This weekend, his troops will be up against Porto, with whom Mourinho won the Champions League in 2004.