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West Bromwich Albion picked up a hard-fought win away at Norwich City on Wednesday night as Ryan Mason’s side momentarily got their stuttering Championship season back on track in Norfolk.

Only four points off the top of the league now after narrowly securing the three points through a 1-0 victory, Mason will hope his promotion-dreaming team can push on and pick up some more early season wins soon, with games against Millwall and Preston North End up next in the second tier.

It was certainly a night to remember for Josh Maja, with a first start of the season for the usually injury-ravaged centre-forward resulting in his first strike of the campaign also quickly following.

It was a typical poacher-like finish from the ex-Sunderland man, with a tricky run by Samuel Iling-Junior thankfully not going to waste, as the experienced attacker enjoyed a great return to form versus the Canaries.

Maja's standout night

Aune Heggebo would fall to the substitutes bench as the experience of the 26-year-old was preferred over the promise of the new Norwegian recruit.

It was a smart call by Mason in the end, with West Brom having to be potent in front of goal to secure a slim away day win.

Maja’s performance in numbers

Stat

Maja

Minutes played

60

Goals scored

1

Assists

0

Shots

1

Touches

19

Accurate passes

7/8 (88%)

Stats by Sofascore

Amazingly, Maja’s only shot of the night was the one that beat Vladan Kovačević in the Norwich goal, with the injury-prone forward also only needing a mere 19 touches of the ball to leave his mark on the contest.

Sky Sports’ Jobi McAnuff would sum it up nicely when labelling Maja as a player known for “making a difference”, as the clinical striker now aims to be free of the Hawthorns treatment room to try and match, or even, surpass his 12-goal tally from last season.

However, if it wasn’t for a stern defensive performance in Norfolk, West Brom might have well crumbled late on, with Josh Griffiths hailed as having a “coming of age” moment by journalist Lewis Cox when completing four vital saves in between the sticks.

He wasn’t the only very impressive figure at the back, however, with one defensive titan arguably putting in an even better display than the returning Maja.

West Brom star was even better than Maja

Come the end of the tense game, it was clear that the entire team picked by Mason all contributed to a gutsy three points being secured.

In particular, former Liverpool colossus Nathaniel Phillips stood out at Carrow Road, with the 6-foot-3 centre-back keen to make amends on the road after a late own-goal robbed his team of a win against Leicester City last time out on home soil.

Phillips’ performance in numbers

Stat

Phillips

Minutes played

90

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

77

Accurate passes

51/59 (88%)

Clearances

10

Tackles

3

Total duels

7/11

Stats by Sofascore

While Maja showed off his goalscoring prowess with an instinctive finish, before then waiting on scraps to come his way, Phillips shone throughout, winning seven duels and making ten clearances, keeping the likes of Josh Sargent for the hosts quiet.

Away from living up to his tag as a “monster” in the air that was handed to him by Jurgen Klopp at Anfield, the towering 28-year-old would also display a necessary composure on the ball in heated moments, with 51 accurate passes tallied up from his 77 touches of the ball.

Truthfully, minus that own-goal hiccup against the Foxes, Phillips has been very impressive in the demanding Championship so far this season, winning 5.8 duels per game, further reinforcing his no-nonsense approach.

Yet – as was visible at Carrow Road – he has also been unerring with his passes out from the back, as seen in an 89% pass accuracy being averaged as well.

Express and Star journalist Jonny Drury dished out a high 8/10 rating to the Baggies number 3 off the back of another assured showing, with Drury simply stating that the 28-year-old was “so solid” once more.

Mason will know he needs both Maja and Phillips to continue delivering, with West Brom’s chances of clinching promotion glory largely resting on the experienced pairing being able to grind out more results together like this 1-0 success.

Related Mason must now drop Price to unleash "special" West Brom star

West Bromwich Albion could get far more out of Aune Heggebo by starting this special Baggies star.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Oct 1, 2025

أعلن تامر مصطفي، المدير الفني لنادي الاتحاد السكندري، قائمة الفريق لمواجهة النادي الأهلي، التي تقام بينهما غدًا الأربعاء، ضمن منافسات بطولة الدوري المصري الممتاز.

ويلتقي الأهلي مع الاتحاد السكندري، ضمن مواجهات الجولة الحادية عشر، لمنافسات بطولة الدوري المصري، ذلك على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.

طالع | حكم مباراة الأهلي والاتحاد السكندري في الدوري المصري موعد مباراة الأهلي والاتحاد السكندري في الدوري المصري

وتقام مباراة الأهلي والاتحاد السكندري، في تمام الساعة 5 مساءً من يوم الأربعاء 22 أكتوبر الجاري، على ملعب استاد القاهرة الدولي.

ويحتل النادي الأهلي، المركز الرابع في جدول ترتيب الدوري المصري، برصيد 18 نقطة، بعد خوض 9 مباريات، فاز في 5 وتعادل في 3 وخسر في لقاء.

بينما فريق الاتحاد السكندري، يتواجد في المركز السابع عشر بجدول ترتيب الدوري المصر، برصيد 8 نقاط. قائمة الاتحاد السكندري أمام الأهلي في الدوري المصري

حراسة المرمي: محمود جنش، صبحي سليمان وأحمد المنشاوي.

خط الدفاع: أبو بكر إليادي، عبد الرحمن بودي، عبد الغني محمد، مصطفى إبراهيم، محمود شبانة، محمد سامي وكريم الديب.

خط الوسط: عمرو صالح، مؤمن شريف، ناصر ناصر، محمد توني، محمد كناريا، هشام عادل وسيفوري إيزاك.

خط الهجوم: فافيور أكيم، أحمد عيد، عبد الله فوزي، فادي فريد وجون إيبوكا.

Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi has lavished praise on his players after they hammered Ajax 4-0 in the Champions League clash at the Orange Velodrome. Mason Greenwood was on the scoresheet once again and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang provided a couple of assists and bagged a goal himself, but Igor Paixao grabbed the headlines with a quick-fire first-half double to get the ball rolling for the French giants. After the match, former Brighton manager De Zerbi described his team's performance as "perfect".

AFPMarseille magic as Ajax are thumped

Marseille secured a dominant 4-0 victory over Ajax in their Champions League first phase clash, with Paixao the star of the show, scoring his first two goals for the club in the sixth and 12th minutes, with the first coming via an assist from Aubameyang. Greenwood added a third in the 26th minute, also set up by Aubameyang. And Aubameyang completed the scoring in the 52nd minute, netting the fourth from a counter-attack, with an assist from Paixao. The victory handed Marseille their first points of the Champions League campaign after a 2-1 defeat by Real Madrid in the first matchday, while the Dutch side slumped to their second defeat in Europe, having lost 2-0 to Inter Milan in their opening fixture. Ajax were poor on the night, registering only two shots on target throughout the match, and were thoroughly outplayed by De Zerbi's side. 

AdvertisementAFPThe 'perfect' performance from Marseille

Following the match, De Zerbi heaped praise on his side. He said: "We played an incredible match, the team was truly extraordinary. The team was very young, but competent, they can cause problems for any team and we played well in attack. The first half was perfect, almost perfect. Like against PSG in the second half, there was more tiredness, they failed to maintain the same mentality for 90 minutes. We've only conceded one goal in the last three matches."

Steady start for De Zerbi's men in 2025-26

Marseille have had a mixed start to the season, they sit third in Ligue 1 with 12 points after six games. They have won four and lost two of their league matches so far, with the highlight coming in a 1-0 victory over rivals PSG last month. Performances in Ligue 1 have been characterised by strong attacking displays at home, but they have struggled on the road. The impressive win against Ajax suggests potential for a successful European campaign, but their inconsistent domestic form, marked by a struggle for goals in away games, is a key area for De Zerbi to focus on as the season progresses, and maintaining consistency will be key to challenging for the title. There have also been key injuries to Geoffrey Kondogbia (calf strain) and Hamed Traoré (thigh injury), which haven’t helped, but both are expected to return this month. 

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AFPGreenwood leading the charge again

Greenwood has started the season in fine form, building on his impressive debut year with the club. He was the joint top scorer in Ligue 1 last season alongside Ousmane Dembele, notching 21 goals. He is also being tipped to switch international allegiance from England to Jamaica, which follows a period of significant change for the player after criminal charges against him were dropped in February 2023, leading to his departure from Manchester United and subsequent move to France.

Sears felt pain in his left hamstring at New Zealand’s training session in Karachi on Wednesday

ESPNcricinfo staff14-Feb-2025Ben Sears has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy with a hamstring injury. Sears, who was also part of New Zealand’s squad for the tri-series in Pakistan, felt pain in his left hamstring at the team’s training session in Karachi on Wednesday.A subsequent scan revealed a minor tear that would require at least two weeks’ rehabilitation, New Zealand Cricket said in a statement. That meant Sears would have been available only from the team’s final group match onwards, against India in Dubai on March 2, the decision was made to rule him out.Sears played both of New Zealand’s league-stage games in the tri-series, but went wicketless after 16 overs, conceding 104 runs in them.Related

Latham, Mitchell fifties take NZ to tri-series title after bowlers restrict Pakistan

Missing in action: Players injured and unavailable for the Champions Trophy

Williamson hails 'outstanding' Conway after record partnership

Duffy cashes in to deliver 'genuine, match-winning contributions'

Jacob Duffy, who is also part of the tri-series squad, has replaced Sears for the Champions Trophy.”We’re all really feeling for Ben,” New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said. “It’s always tough being ruled out of a major event at such a late stage, and it’s especially tough in Ben’s case given it would have been his first major ICC event.”The timeframes for Ben to be fit to play again meant he would likely miss the majority of the group stage, and given the short nature of the tournament, we felt it was appropriate to bring in a player who is fully fit and ready to go.”Ben is a player with huge potential and given the short rehabilitation timeframe, we’re sure he’ll be fit and raring to go for the home series against Pakistan back in New Zealand.”

“Jacob showed with his performances in the recent home series against Sri Lanka that he is more than capable at international level”Gary Stead

Duffy has played ten ODIs, in which he has picked up 18 wickets. In the home ODI series against Sri Lanka earlier this year, he took four wickets in two games.”Jacob showed with his performances in the recent home series against Sri Lanka that he is more than capable at international level,” Stead said. “He’s been part of the squad for the ODI tri-series so he’s fully acclimatised and he’s got plenty of experience in these conditions and is fit and ready to go.”He’s another player who will be experiencing his first senior ICC event, so it will be an exciting few weeks ahead for him.”New Zealand will face Pakistan in the tri-series final in Karachi on Friday. Their first match of the Champions Trophy is also against Pakistan, at the same venue, on Wednesday.

After losing Mohammed Kudus earlier this summer, West Ham United could now reportedly lose another attacking star amid reports that Jose Mourinho is set to launch his opening move.

West Ham still seeking reinforcements

It’s not exactly been a headline summer at the London Stadium so far, but West Ham have at least managed to splash out on El Hadji Malick Diouf whilst also welcoming young forward Daniel Cummings and free agent Kyle Walker-Peters. The latter recently became the latest to arrive and will be hoping to enjoy a far better season than last time out, when he was relegated with Southampton.

There is, of course, still plenty of work to be done at the London Stadium, however. But with the Premier League season closing in, the Hammers could yet suffer another frustrating exit blow and lose yet another member of Graham Potter’s frontline.

Mourinho set to launch Summerville move

According to reports in Turkey, as relayed by Sport Witness, Mourinho is now set to launch a move to sign Crysencio Summerville for Fenerbahce this summer. The club’s director Devin Özek is reportedly set to travel to England in an attempt to secure a loan move for the winger, whilst the self-proclaimed Special One is also set to make contact.

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He outperformed Wilson last season…

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Whilst Summerville endured a debut campaign to forget at the London Stadium, Kudus’ departure opens the door for the former Leeds United man to finally make his mark. Given that he cost the Hammers as much as £25m, plus add-ons, last summer, all involved at the London Stadium should also be keen to hand him the time to eventually come good.

It wasn’t so long ago that Summerville was dubbed a “coup” for West Ham by former Leeds player Carlton Palmer and the winger will be desperate to prove that’s still the case

Palmer said last summer: “This is a really big coup for West Ham, given the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain were interested in the player.

“Summerville has decided to join West Ham, a fantastic bit of business for West Ham. As I said, he was a standout player in the Championship, still young.”

MatériaMais Notícias

O Palmeiras vive uma maratona de jogos por competições diferentes. Depois de estrear com vitória no Brasileirão, chegou a hora de voltar as atenções novamente para a Libertadores. E quem é um especialista nessa competição é o zagueiro Luan, que disputou sete edições pelo clube, um recorde na história palmeirense. Com essa experiência, ele analisou o início de ano da equipe até aqui.

> Veja tabela e classificação da Libertadores-2023 clicando aqui

Atleta do Verdão com mais edições de Libertadores disputadas na história (sete, ao lado de Dudu, que chegará a oito ao estrear na atual edição), Luan sobre a expectativa para enfrentar o Cerro Porteño, na próxima quinta-feira, no Morumbi. Ele deve ser titular, porque Murilo está suspenso.

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-O Cerro é um bom time, fizeram o resultado em casa no primeiro jogo. Vamos começar a estudá-los a partir de hoje, até porque tivemos um jogo muito difícil no sábado pelo Brasileiro. Acredito que será uma partida bem difícil. Em se tratando de Libertadores, não existe jogo fácil, mas seremos os mandantes e esperamos o apoio da nossa torcida para que a gente possa fazer um grande jogo.

O camisa 13 também falou sobre a qualidade do elenco alviverde e a disputa sadia por posição. Vale lembrar que Luan formou a dupla de zaga titular com Gustavo Gómez antes de Murilo chegar.

-A maneira que a gente se prepara nos credencia a isso, a ter uma vaga no time para o professor às vezes rodar ou por causa de suspensão. É cada um buscando a sua vaga, aqui não existem 11 titulares, e todos nós estamos sempre buscando as nossas oportunidades. Fico feliz por ter as minhas e quero aproveitar da melhor maneira possível porque a gente trabalha muito para isso.

Com todo esse currículo pelo clube, Luan acumula feitos históricos e é um dos 21 jogadores da história do Palmeiras que conseguiram conquistar o Paulista, o Brasileiro, a Copa do Brasil e a Libertadores pelo clube (atuando em ao menos um jogo em cada competição).

-Fico feliz como um todo. Esse escudo nos exige muito, que são os títulos. A partir do momento em que você pertence a esse clube, você tem que cada vez mais dar o seu melhor para conquistar títulos e engrandecê-lo. Começamos o ano com o pé direito, com dois títulos, e espero que a gente siga assim. Vamos trabalhar muito para que a gente possa conquistar mais coisas durante o ano.

>Palmeiras atualiza situação de machucados e se prepara para a Libertadores

Um dos atletas mais longevo do elenco atual, Luan costuma ser aquele que mais se aproxima dos jovens jogadores que são promovidos ao profissional.Ele também falou da função de “mentor” para os diversos jovens da base que estão recebendo oportunidades neste ano.

-Eu apenas sou eu no dia a dia, com o meu jeito de ser. Sou um cara simples, amigo de todos, e espero poder ajudar os mais jovens. São grandes meninos, com grande potencial, e estão aqui para crescer e se desenvolver. A gente sabe como é o mundo do futebol, às vezes as coisas acontecem muito rápido para alguns, então estamos aqui para ajudar, dar suporte e fico feliz demais por vê-los crescer. Ter cada vez mais garotos da base aqui conosco é muito bom e isso valoriza muito o trabalho e o projeto do clube – concluiu o defensor.

O Palmeiras volta a campo nesta quinta-feira, às 21h (de Brasília), para enfrentar o Cerro Porteño-PAR, pela Libertadores, no Morumbi. No primeiro jogo da fase de grupos, o Verdão acabou derrotado pelo Bolívar-BOL, por 3 a 1, na altitude de La Paz. Abel Ferreira utilizou o time reserva.

continua após a publicidade

Captain vows to stick by defeated batting core for next month’s New Zealand tour, including out-of-sorts Ollie Pope

Matt Roller26-Oct-2024England are unlikely to change their batting line-up ahead of their tour to New Zealand next month despite two heavy defeats to Pakistan. They were bowled out for 112 in Rawalpindi on Saturday, but their captain Ben Stokes insisted: “There’s no doubt in my mind that we have got the best top six batsmen in England.”After they racked up 823 for 7 in the first Test in Multan, England scored only 814 runs for the loss of 40 wickets – 39 of them to spin – across the second and third Tests. Ollie Pope had a particularly poor series at No. 3, making 55 runs at 11, while Stokes himself managed 53 in four and Zak Crawley was out four times in a row to Noman Ali’s left-arm spin.England initially planned to announce their squad for their three-match series in New Zealand immediately after the third Test in Rawalpindi, but have opted to let the dust settle and will wait until early next week to do so. But Stokes and Brendon McCullum suggested firmly that there are unlikely to be major changes to their batting line-up.”They’re the best players in England,” Stokes told Sky Sports. “We play all around the world and going to New Zealand in a couple of weeks’ time is going to be completely different [to Pakistan]. But there’s no doubt in my mind, no doubt in Brendon’s mind, that we have got the best top-six players in England.”You can’t shut the door on everything, because then you’re just being very single-minded towards what you want to do. But going back to the point before, there’s no doubt in my mind that we have got the best top-six batsmen in England. Sometimes guys will reap the rewards of performing well out in the middle, and unfortunately, some other guys will miss out.”McCullum gave a clear indication that Pope will be retained at No. 3 despite his lean run. “It is not an easy place to bat at No. 3,” he told the BBC. “I know Popey will be disappointed with the volume of runs he got in this series, but I expect him to bounce back strongly in New Zealand and we will make sure he’s got the required support around him to do so.”Obviously, Popey’s had a bit of a tough tour in terms of his output of runs… [but] we know that when Popey gets in, he makes big scores – and makes defining scores as well…We’ve got a pretty good idea of what the make-up of the squad will be for New Zealand, with the conditions that we’ll be confronted with.”Pope made three single-figure scores – including a duck – in five innings•Getty ImagesEngland will make a forced change at No. 7, with Jamie Smith set to miss at least one Test and increasingly unlikely to be part of the tour at all due to paternity leave, with his partner expecting their first child in mid-December. McCullum has previously indicated that Jordan Cox, the Essex keeper-batter, will deputise for Smith and take the gloves.Stokes also conceded that England’s fingerspinners had been outbowled by Pakistan’s on favourable surfaces, yet claimed they had still done “a fantastic job”. Across the second and third Tests, Sajid Khan and Noman Ali took 39 wickets between them at a combined average of 17.38, while Shoaib Bashir and Jack Leach managed 17 wickets at 35.47.”The difference between [the teams in] these two games was the understanding of how to bowl in these conditions the Pakistan spinners showed, but that’s not taking anything away from how our spinners have played in this series,” Stokes said. “I think they’ve done a fantastic job to take the wickets that they’ve done.”Shoaib in particular, I said to him the other day, ‘You are getting to learn on the job here. You’re getting to learn about yourself as a bowler through the Test match. You’re being able to work out how to bowl in different conditions at different phases of the game, and how exciting, how good is that?’ He’s absolutely loved it.”Stokes himself returned from a torn hamstring in the second Test and did not bowl a ball in the third, but insisted he is fully fit. “I worked very, very hard to get back in for that second Test,” he said. “I just didn’t feel like my bowling was going to be anywhere near as threatening as the [other] options we had… in terms of my fitness with me not bowling, that’s got nothing to do with it.”England’s first of three Tests in New Zealand starts on November 27 in Christchurch, with the squad arriving in time to play a warm-up match in Queenstown on November 23-24. Their white-ball squads leave the UK on Monday ahead of three ODIs and five T20Is against West Indies.

Manchester United have identified a “terrific” Premier League player as a top target this summer, according to a promising new transfer claim.

Man Utd continue to eye attacking stars with Cunha

The Red Devils are expecting an exodus of attacking players before the new season gets underway, with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Alejandro Garnacho all moving on.

While Matheus Cunha has joined from Wolves, and Bryan Mbeumo remains a strong target from Brentford, United know the importance of bringing in a new centre forward, amid Rasmus Hojlund’s struggles. Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic has been linked with a summer move to Old Trafford, and would be an exciting addition who has proven himself at the top level. A swap deal involving the out-of-favour Sancho has also been mooted.

Eintracht Frankfurt ace Hugo Ekitike has been talked about as an option for many top Premier League clubs this summer, including Liverpool, and he could be an alternative option to Vlahovic for the Red Devils.

United are also said to have made contact over the signing of highly-rated Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling, who is arguably seen as one of the brightest young English attacking talents around. Now, another name has been thrown into the mix.

Man Utd make Premier League striker top target

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United are “considering” making a move for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins in the summer window, with the forward also in Arsenal’s thinking ahead of the new campaign, however, ‘United consider him more of a top target’.

The 29-year-old is described as a “key target” for Ruben Amorim, who is no doubt desperate to bolster the attacking options at his disposal and has Watkins, Cunha and Mbeumo at the heart of his vision.

The report itself further goes on to state: “Amorim wants to reshape the squad by focusing on players with Premier League experience. Watkins is at the heart of this vision, along with names like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. Amorim’s target is clear: Ready-made stars who will contribute immediately.”

The £130,000-a-week Watkins has the potential to be an excellent signing for United, having been such a consistent performer for Villa down the years.

He has scored 87 goals in 223 appearances for the Midlands outfit, not to mention netting a memorable winner for England against the Netherlands in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 last summer, and he has also been lauded by Danny Murphy.

“He just looks like a player that is completely comfortable in his own skin and what he is good at. Every aspect of his game has improved under Unai Emery and he is also being pushed for a place by Jhon Duran, so that always helps you raise your game. He is a terrific player.”

The one negative that jumps out with Watkins is that he turns 30 later this year, however, so there is a risk that United could spend big on a player whose peak is about to drift by.

England

18

5

Aston Villa

223

87

Brentford

143

49

Exeter City

78

26

For that reason, Amorim would arguably be wise to look at a younger option to come in and lead the line, even though United signing him likely wouldn’t be a bad thing over the next two or three years.

The Blaze 140 for 2 (K Bryce 57*, S Bryce 54*) beat Sunrisers 137 for 7 (Scrivens 42) by eight wicketsKathryn Bryce continued her prolific Charlotte Edwards Cup form with an unbeaten 57 from 37 balls as The Blaze racked up an eighth straight success, coasting past Sunrisers at Lord’s.Bryce, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, registered her fourth half-century in six games, sharing a third-wicket partnership of exactly 100 with her younger sister Sarah, who struck 54 not out from 35.The Scotland international pair maintained their side’s 100 per cent record in the group stage, steering them to a comfortable victory with 29 deliveries still unused.Earlier, home captain Grace Scrivens top-scored with 42 from 38 as Sunrisers posted 137 for seven, but the result all but mathematically ends their slim hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals.Scrivens was soon up and running after Sunrisers had been put in, cracking two boundaries from Grace Ballinger’s opening over – one wrong-footing the fielder thanks to a deflection off the bat of non-striker Mady Villiers.Having swept Sarah Glenn for four, Villiers was lbw attempting to give the spinner’s next ball the same treatment, but Lissy MacLeod maintained her side’s momentum, hitting over the infield to good effect in a brisk 16 from 11.Once MacLeod was bowled, beaten for flight by Gordon (two for 32), Sunrisers became bogged down during the middle overs – even more so after losing Scrivens to Marie Kelly’s direct hit from mid-off.Jo Gardner (22 from 26) and Jodi Grewcock (22 from 18) did their best to rebuild with a partnership of 35 from 31 before Heather Graham (two for 22) reasserted the visitors’ dominance with two wickets in three deliveries.Despite gleaning eight from Graham’s final over, Sunrisers’ total looked short of par – although their hopes gained a significant boost when Grewcock turned the first ball of The Blaze’s reply to send Tammy Beaumont on her way for a duck.The visitors would have been under more pressure if Gardner, running in from mid-on, had held on to Kelly’s miscued drive off Kate Coppack, but the opener capitalised on that let-off to clear the ropes twice in the next over.Kelly’s good fortune soon ran out when she speared Eva Gray to cover, but Sarah Bryce joined forces with her sibling in a measured partnership that ensured The Blaze were always ahead of the asking rate.The elder Bryce dispatched Nicola Hancock’s first two deliveries to the fence and brought up her half-century from 33 deliveries with another boundary, reverse-sweeping Villiers neatly beyond point.Sarah seized the initiative as The Blaze eased towards their target, hammering Gray for two sixes in as many balls and going on to post her first 50 of the tournament before applying the finishing touch with a square-cut boundary off Amu Surenkumar.

With Rasmus Hojlund continuing to struggle, Manchester United are now reportedly positioning themselves to sign an impressive 17-goal striker who would be an instant upgrade.

Hojlund up for sale this summer

Almost two years on from his £72m move from Atalanta, Hojlund is yet to burst into life in a Manchester United shirt. Even after paying such a price, the Red Devils would have been aware that any young striker would need time. By this stage, however, those around Old Trafford had hoped to see more from the Dane, who has struggled more than ever under Ruben Amorim.

Rasmus Hojlund at Man Utd	Record (via Transfermarkt)
Appearances	94
Goals	26
Assists	4

26 goals in 94 appearances is a poor record for any striker, but for a £72m striker it’s undeniably disastrous. Now, according to recent reports, Amorim is ready to sanction Hojlund’s sale and find an instant replacement this summer.

This comes just days after the Europa League final, in which the 22-year-old was once again kept quiet as Tottenham Hotspur battled to a 1-0 victory. What will far from help his cause is how much more structured Manchester United looked following the introduction of Joshua Zirkzee.

Whilst Hojlund failed in his hold-up play approach, Zirkzee dropped deeper and instantly handed the likes of Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes a connection between midfield and attack. As much as the Dutchman has also struggled in Manchester this season, he has shown glimpses of the traits that Manchester United signed him for last summer.

In desperate need of an upgrade to end their goalscoring woes, the pending arrival of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers may not be the last time that Manchester United go in search of attacking talent this summer. As per recent reports, the Red Devils are also lining up another Premier League star.

Man Utd positioning themselves to sign Mateta

According to L’Equipe, Manchester United are now positioning themselves to sign Jean-Philippe Mateta from Crystal Palace this summer. The Frenchman is reportedly considering joining Amorim’s side in a bid to break into France’s World Cup squad next summer.

The forward has enjoyed another excellent season at Selhurst Park and will forever have his place in the club’s history after playing his part in their FA Cup win and their first-ever major trophy.

Man Utd ready move for one of the most sought after young talents in Italy

He’s a man in demand.

By
Tom Cunningham

May 22, 2025

The question will naturally be asked as to whether Mateta will be willing to ditch such success for a United side in turmoil, but Cunha’s reported move proves that those at Old Trafford still have the ability to attract top talents.

Premier League stats 24/25 (via FBref)	Jean-Philippe Mateta	Rasmus Hojlund	Joshua Zirkzee
Minutes	2,587	1,924	1,402
Goals	14	4	3
Assists	2	0	1
Expected Goals	12.9	5.2	4.8

With 14 goals in the Premier League and 17 in all competitions, Mateta has found the back of the net more times than both Zirkzee and Hojlund combined. Described as “amazing” by Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner earlier this season, the Frenchman is someone that Manchester United should go all out for.