There was a pause in play while Pakistan sought clarification from the umpires

Andrew Fidel Fernando05-Oct-2025

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana chats with the fourth umpire after Muneeba Ali’s run-out•Associated Press

Confusion over whether opening batter Muneeba Ali was actually deemed run-out caused a brief stoppage in the fourth over of Pakistan’s chase against India in their World Cup match in Colombo, with Pakistan querying the decision on the edge of the boundary while the dismissed batter Muneeba remained on the edge of the field of play.The sequence of events that led to the confusion was unusual. First, Muneeba had not been attempting a run – she had been batting out of her crease (presumably to counter swing) as India appealed for an lbw off the bowling of Kranti Goud. As that appeal went up, Muneeba had promptly grounded her bat behind the crease before the throw from Deepti Sharma came in from the slip cordon. However, she had very briefly raised her bat off the ground again without having grounded any other part of the body behind the line, and it was in the moments her bat was slightly raised that Deepti’s throw hit the stumps and dislodged the bails.ICC Playing Condition 30.1.2 does allow for a batter to lose contact with the ground beyond the crease and not be given out, but that exception is only granted to a batter who is “running or diving towards her ground”. Muneeba was merely stepping back into the crease, and there was no momentum that would have necessitated her bat leaving the crease.The playing condition states: “However, a batter shall not be considered to be out of her ground if, in running or diving towards her ground and beyond, and having grounded some part of her person or bat beyond the popping crease, there is subsequent loss of contact between the ground and any part of her person or bat, or between the bat and person.”Related

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• Sidra Amin reprimanded for breaching ICC code of conduct

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• Goud, Deepti seal another big win against Pakistan

• Bugs halt play between India and Pakistan in Colombo

The confusion was partially caused by conflicting third-umpire decisions being flashed on the big screen. Muneeba was initially given “not out” on the screen and even the India players had returned to their places. But that decision was soon changed to “out”, prompting celebrations from the India players and a puzzled expression from Muneeba, who animatedly sought clarification from the on-field umpires.It is possible third umpire Kerrin Klaaste had first given Muneeba not out before having seen the footage beyond Muneeba’s initial grounding of the bat. It is likely that after seeing the full set of replays – where Muneeba raised her bat again – Klaaste changed her decision.Once the on-field umpires confirmed she was out, Muneeba began to leave the field, but a flurry of activity near the Pakistan dugout gave her pause. She seemed to be getting instructions from her team-mates to remain on the field while they queried the decision again, this time from fourth-umpire Kim Cotton, who was at her station in between the two team dugouts. Muneeba was seen to be in further discussion with her team-mates – captain Fatima Sana in particular – as next batter Sidra Amin stood on the edge of the boundary without entering the playing area.Eventually, Sana appeared to signal to Muneeba that she may leave the field, likely having received further clarification surrounding the dismissal. Amin entered the field and went on to take strike. The incident caused a stoppage that went for several minutes longer than a regular run-out would take.Muneeba would also have been given out lbw off that delivery had India reviewed the on-field umpire’s not out decision. Her dismissal left Pakistan 6 for 1 in four overs in their chase of 248.

أكد بيب جوارديولا، مدرب نادي مانشستر سيتي، أنه من المهم بالنسبة لفريقه أن يثبت على مستواه خلال الفترة المقبلة، وذلك عقب الانتصار على سندرلاند اليوم السبت بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز.

مانشستر سيتي استمر في نتائجه الجيدة وحقق انتصارًا عريضًا على سندرلاند بثلاثة أهداف دون رد، ضمن الجولة 14 من عمر الدوري الإنجليزي.

لكن جوارديولا وفي تصريحات نقلتها شبكة ”Cityxtra” يرى أنه من المهم أن يثبت مانشستر سيتي على مستواه، حيث إن ذلك أهم من النتائج.

وقال جوارديولا: ”من تجربتي، معذرة لا أريد أن أشعر بالغطرسة، لكن لدي خبرة واسعة في الفوز بالدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز والألقاب، إنه الثبات، والثبات يأتي من شيء واحد، وهو طريقة اللعب، ليس من نتيجة في يوم من الأيام أو فوز يجعلنا نتأخر بنقطتين أو نتقدم بأربع نقاط، بل الثبات في أدائنا، ومدى تطورنا خلال العام، وربما كان اليوم أحد أفضل عروض الموسم خلال 94 دقيقة”.

وأضاف: “كان لدي شعور حتى لو أضعنا نقاطًا اليوم، أن أرسنال سيضيع نقاطًا قليلة جدًا هذا الموسم، إذا أردنا أن نكون هناك، فعلينا الفوز بالمباريات، والمباريات تبنى على طريقة أدائك وليس فقط على الحظ”.

اقرأ أيضًا .. ريان شرقي: أريد اللعب مع مرموش.. وتمريرة فودين أمام سندرلاند هدفها إسعاد الجماهير

وعن ريان شرقي، نجم مانشستر سيتي، أوضح جوارديولا: “لاعب استثنائي، هو صغير في السن جدًا ويتمتع بشخصية قوية، أثبت ذلك ضد فولهام في أصعب لحظة، عندما كنا متقدمين بنتيجة 5-4 وفي كل مرة كانت الكرة بحوزته، كان يمرر تمريرات إضافية ويستمر في اللعب، إنه لا يهاب شيئًا ويتمتع بثقة بالنفس، وفي الثلث الأخير من الملعب لديه شيء مميز”.

وأردف عن تمريرة شرقي الرائعة في كرة الهدف الثالث لمانشستر سيتي والذي سجله فيل فودين: ”أكثر ما يعجبني في ريان شرقي ليس مهاراته، لم أر ليونيل ميسي يلعب ويمرر عرضيات مثله، ميسي هو أفضل لاعب في تاريخ كرة القدم ولم أر هذا النوع من العرضيات من قبل”.

وواصل: “التمريرات العرضية جيدة، لا يهم إن كانت بالقدم اليمنى أو اليسرى، جزء من القدم أو الرأس، لا يهم، إذا كانت فعالة، فلا بأس، لكنني أحب البساطة لأنني تعلمت من ميسي أنه لم يخطئ قط، ولم يخطئ قط في الأمور البسيطة”.

واستكمل: “ما أريده من اللاعبين هو أن يتقنوا الأمور البسيطة، يمتلك اللاعبون موهبة خاصة يمنحها لهم آباؤهم وأمهاتهم ويمكنهم فعل ما يشاءون، ولكن إذا لم ينجح الأمر فستكون هذه مشكلة الآن، الآن ستكون في ورطة”.

وعن طرد لاعب سندرلاند، لوك أونين، بعد تدخله العنيف على مدافع مانشستر سيتي، ماتيوس نونيز، اختتم جوارديولا: “إن نونيز بخير، لحسن الحظ لم تكن ساقه على العشب، بصراحة ظننت أنها تشبه لعبة الشوط الأول مع جوسكو جفارديول، لكنني شاهدت التلفزيون وقلت يا إلهي، كنا محظوظين لأن نونيز بحالة جيدة”.

The Dodgers are champions once again.

Behind a dramatic game-tying homer in the ninth inning from Miguel Rojas and a superhuman effort from Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Los Angeles defeated the Blue Jays 5–4 in 11 innings on Friday night to clinch its second straight World Series title.

The Dodgers now have a chance to become the third franchise in MLB history to win at least three straight World Series championships, and the first since the Yankees from 1998 to 2000.

Looking at the Dodgers’ roster, the star core of the team will return in 2026. Tyler Glasnow, Mookie Betts, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Yamamoto are all signed well past the 2026 campaign.

The Dodgers will have six players hit arbitration this offseason, and they have a $10 million team option on slugger Max Muncy and a $3.55 million team option to potentially bring back Alex Vesia. But there are seven players whose contracts will officially expire once the offseason begins. Here they are:

Michael Conforto, OF

The Conforto experiment did … not work out in Los Angeles.

The Dodgers signed Conforto to a one-year contract worth $17 million back in December after he hit 20 homers for the rival Giants in 2024. In 138 games this year, Conforto batted just .199/.305/.333 with 12 homers and a 79 OPS+—the first time he logged a below-average OPS+ since 2016. Conforto was left off the Dodgers’ postseason roster and had to watch as Kiké Hernández and Alex Call took his spot in left field.

Miguel Rojas, IF

The Dodgers’ trusty veteran transformed from a bench player to a World Series hero on Saturday night, hitting the game-tying home run with one out in the ninth inning of Game 7.

Rojas, who will turn 37 in February, will hit the open market this offseason. Back in October, he announced plans to retire after the 2026 season and said he’d like to return to Los Angeles for one last dance. After his Game 7 heroics, how could the Dodgers consider bringing him back for another year?

Clayton Kershaw, SP

Kershaw won’t be back in 2026 because he’s finally hanging up the cleats.

Kershaw, one of the greatest pitchers of his generation, announced in September that he will retire after this season. What a way to go out—an 11–2 record and 3.36 ERA in his final season with a World Series title as the cherry on top. Across 18 seasons, all with the Dodgers, Kershaw registered a 223–96 record with a 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts.

Kiké Hernández, UT

On a roster full of superstars, Hernández has served as a utility player and culture-builder in Los Angeles for nine of his 12 seasons in the big leagues. Hernández batted .203/.255/.366 with 10 homers and 35 RBIs in 92 games last year, and he wasn’t any better in the playoffs, going 5-for-28 (.179) in the World Series.

As he hits free agency this offseason, Hernández might be the odd man out for 2026—especially if the Dodgers bring back Rojas for a utility role alongside Tommy Edman.

Andrew Heaney, RP

Los Angeles claimed Heaney after he was designated for assignment by the Pirates in late August. Heaney made just one appearance in a Dodgers uniform, allowing three earned runs in two innings. He was not a part of the Dodgers’ postseason roster, and at 34 years old, doesn’t seem like he’ll be back with the club next year.

Michael Kopech, RP

The Dodgers acquired Kopech at the 2024 trade deadline in the same move that landed them Edman. He’s been fantastic when healthy—1.54 ERA in 35 innings since the trade—but he hasn’t been healthy often. Kopech had two stints on the 60-day injured list this season alone and wasn’t healthy enough to crack the playoff roster.

Kirby Yates, RP

Yates was one of the top arms available in free agency last offseason, and he signed a one-year deal worth $13 million with the Dodgers in January. He was supposed to be a high-leverage option out of manager Dave Roberts’s bullpen, but instead, Yates was one of Los Angeles’s biggest problems.

In 50 appearances (41 1/3 innings), Yates allowed 24 earned runs on 38 hits and 17 walks—adding up to a 5.23 ERA and 1.331 WHIP. It was his worst full season of work since his third season in the big leagues in 2016. Yates, just like Kopech and Heaney, did not pitch in the Dodgers’ playoff run.

MatériaMais Notícias

O goleiro Cássio se despediu do Corinthians neste sábado (18), no CT Joaquim Grava, recebeu homenagens e, em meio a muitas perguntas, falou sobre o atual titular da meta do Timão: Carlos Miguel, de 25 anos. O arqueiro conquistou a vaga entre os 11 do Timão recentemente, e vem fazendo boas partidas com a camisa do clube paulista. O Timão, inclusive, corre o risco de perder o goleiro.

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➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão

➡️ Acredita que o Timão avançará em primeiro no grupo da Sul-Americana? Se liga nas odds: 1.53

– O Miguel é um cara de muita qualidade, tem jogado bem e tem muito potencial. Agora depende dele, ele é o titular absoluto, agora é sequência, uma situação nova. Temos uma amizade muito boa, nunca tivemos problema, ele tem uma história de vida de superação, é lindo de falar – disse o goleiro.

Cássio disse, inclusive, que nunca imaginou ficar por 12 anos no gol do Corinthians, portanto, é muito difícil falar sobre Carlos Miguel nesse quesito, já que é um jovem goleiro que ainda tem muito pela frente.

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– O Corinthians não precisa ir atrás de goleiro, tem muita gente boa aqui, dois excelentes treinadores de goleiros, eu com certeza construí a minha história por conta desses dois grande profissionais. Desejo muito sucesso a todos ele e o Corinthians está bem servido de goleiro – completou Cássio.

➡️ Veja tabela com datas e horários de todos os jogos do Brasileirão

+ Corinthians oficializa saída de Cássio: veja o que sabemos sobre a rescisão do goleiro

Sobre o fim de seu ciclo com a camisa do Corinthians, Cássio afirmou que já vinha se preparando para este momento, e que deixa o clube em paz e pela porta da frente.

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– Eu creio que eu vinha me preparando, lógico que o Miguel vinha bem, mas se eu ficasse aqui, eu “ia para a porrada” para disputar a posição. Mas acho que o ciclo acabou mesmo, eu olho para trás e vejo um ciclo bem feito, com respeito, com o presidente aqui, com a sala cheia, então saio pela porta da frente, vendo que tudo funciona – completou.

Tudo sobre

CorinthiansFutebol Nacional

The Phillies exited the 2025 MLB postseason in one of the worst ways imaginable on Thursday night and made some history in doing so.

Philadelphia was locked in a tight battle with the Dodgers in Game 4 of the NLDS, with the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the 11th inning. Reliever Orion Kerkering was on the mound with the bases loaded and two outs, facing L.A.'s ninth hitter, Andy Pages.

On an 0-1 pitch, the 24-year-old righty induced a grounder back to him and bobbled it. After recovering, he made the ill-fated decision to attempt to get an out at home plate, rather than the easier play at first base. He immediately regretted that decision. His throw to the plate sailed past catcher J.T. Realmuto, allowing Hyeseong Kim to score the winning run from third base, and sending the Dodgers to the NLCS.

That was just an awful sequence for Kerkering, his teammates, and Phillies fans everywhere. The error also made history.

The Phillies' loss to the Dodgers was the first postseason series in history to end in a walk-off error. That's a fact that adds insult to injury for everyone involved.

Los Angeles now moves on to its fourth NLCS in the last six seasons.

“Speed is my biggest strength, and I want to continue to maintain that strength,” Umran Malik, who is making his comeback from a hip injury, says

Rajan Raj07-Dec-2025

Umran Malik is making his comeback in the domestic circuit•PTI

Umran Malik will not compromise on his speed. It’s his “identity” and his “natural ability”, and though he is on a comeback trail after over a year out with injuries – a hip issue the last – he will keep bowling as fast as he can since it’s a point of difference between him and other quicks in the country.”Every fast bowler in the world knows that injuries are going to be a part of his career. But speed is my natural aspect. How can I compromise with that? Speed is my biggest strength, and I want to continue to maintain that strength,” Malik told ESPNcricinfo on the sidelines of Jammu and Kashmir’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Hyderabad in Kolkata on December 4.”You can’t bowl at 150(kph) straight away. You reach that speed gradually. I don’t want to show my speed to anyone, but I want to show my wickets. But it is also that after ten years [of bowling at a competitive level], I want to bowl at 140 [from 150] and not come down to a speed of 130 from 150.”Before turning out in the latest edition of the Ranji Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournaments, Malik had last played in in March 2024 in the IPL that year, for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) against Mumbai Indians (MI). He was with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in IPL 2025 but could not play a single match.Coming back from a serious injury takes a toll on the body as well as on the mind, and Malik’s focus has changed a bit now.”After spending time at NCA [BCCI’s Centre of Excellence] and talking to many experts, I have started to understand my body better,” he said. “I now know what things need to be managed better if I want to avoid injury.”Though KKR have let go of a number of their players, including some big-ticket stars, Malik has been retained ahead of IPL 2026.”I know that for many Indian fast bowlers, it is not that difficult to be part the IPL. It’s probably easy for me too, but I’m not just thinking of taking part in the tournament,” he said. “Money is not a concern. The first and last thing is that my fitness and form should be such that I play every match for the team and take wickets. If I can’t do this, then what will be my value as a player?”I will work as hard as I have to. I will learn where I make mistakes. I will take care of myself and want to make my comeback memorable.”Those who have watched him bowl this season have found a slightly different Malik, who has maintained his speeds while also appearing to bowl within himself a bit.At present, Malik’s eyes are focused solely on the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, but it is with an eye on the future, starting with the IPL.

Mark Wood has cast doubt on his availability for the third Ashes Test and admitted concerns that, at 35, his body is no longer coping with the rigours of bowling 90mph/145kph.Wood had surgery on his left knee after hobbling out of England’s Champions Trophy campaign in February, and the series opener in Perth was his first Test match in 15 months. He bowled 11 wicketless overs across the match but was sent to a specialist after reporting more pain and has been wearing a knee brace since arriving in Brisbane.Speaking to Channel 7 at the tea break during the second Test at the Gabba, Wood suggested he was unlikely to be in contention for the Adelaide Test, which starts on December 17: “I think there’s a chance there, but more realistically, it’s probably more Melbourne and then [Sydney] after that… I need to get out of this [brace] first to get moving around.”Related

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Wood said that he has had painkilling injections in his knee since the first Test, and suggested that age is catching up with him. “Throughout my career, I’ve tried to show resilience and keep coming back and keep trying to push it where I can bowl faster and faster, but I’m getting older now.”I don’t know if my body’s not coping with it as well [as it used to] but I’ll keep trying. That’s something I pride myself on, to keep running in for the team and be a good team man. I’m hoping I can get this right and can charge in again.”I’m trying to just get through day-to-day at the minute. Later in the series is what I’m aiming for, but I can’t do that much at the minute. I’ve had a couple of injections, resting up, and slowly but surely, running [will] start soon, then back into bowling.”It’s more mentally difficult than physically. You’ve got to try and build it back up and come back again, and that’s probably the more difficult thing.”Ben Stokes, England’s captain, said on the eve of the Brisbane Test that Wood would do “everything” possible to remain in contention for selection in this series: “We’ve got a lot more time to go on this tour, and we’ll just see how things play out with that.”

Manchester City closed the gap on Arsenal at the top of the Premier League to just two points after they beat Sunderland 3-0 at The Etihad on Saturday.

A screamer from Ruben Dias set the Cityzens on their way before Rayan Cherki provided a genius rabona assist for Phil Foden to seal all three points with the third goal.

Despite a run of five wins in their last six matches in the Premier League, there is always room for improvement at Manchester City for Pep Guardiola, which means that they could be active in the upcoming January transfer window.

Man City scouting Bundesliga star

One thing that the Cityzens do not have in abundance is players with real speed who can run off the last line, but they are now looking at a star who could provide that.

Transfer Focus

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

According to CaughtOffside, Manchester City are one of a number of clubs eyeing up a potential swoop to sign RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande in the January transfer window.

The report claims that the Premier League side have sent scouts to watch the Ivorian talent in action in the Bundesliga this season, ahead of a possible move for him next month or next summer.

It adds, though, that Spurs, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool have also been watching the 19-year-old starlet, which suggests that there could be plenty of competition for his signature.

CaughtOffside reveals that insiders believe that his value could rise as high as £87m amid interest from a host of top European clubs, whilst his contract does not expire until 2030.

Why Man City should sign Yan Diomande

The Cityzens should push to win the race for the teenage whiz’s signature because he could be Guardiola’s new Sterling, as a rapid right-footed right winger who can provide a real threat in behind.

In Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, and Rayan Cherki, City have a collection of right-sided attackers who are at their best dropping into play to take the ball with their back to goal or on the half-turn, but they do not have a natural right winger who wants to run in behind.

U23 scout Antonio Mango described Diomande, meanwhile, as a “crazy speedster” who has become a “weapon” in the final third by adding goals and assists to go along with his electric pace.

The Ivorian star scored a hat-trick against Frankfurt in a 6-0 win for Leipzig at the weekend, taking his tally for the season to seven goals in 15 appearances for the German side.

Diomande has scored six goals from 3.03 xG and registered two assists from two ‘big chances’ created, per Sofascore, in the Bundesliga for his club, whilst he has also completed 2.8 dribbles per game, which speaks to how direct and purposeful his play is.

Sergio Aguero (260)

Kevin De Bruyne (177)

Joe Hayes (146)

David Silva (136)

Eric Brook (145)

Raheem Sterling (86)

Erling Haaland (144)

Bernardo Silva (75)

Colin Bell (149)

Phil Foden (65)

Francis Lee (138)

Sergio Aguero (65)

Raheem Sterling (131)

Riyad Mahrez (59)

As you can see in the table above, Sterling was also a player who provided quality in the final third to go along with the pace that he used to run in behind opposition defenders.

The fact that the England international and Sergio Aguero are the only two players who feature in the top seven for both goals and assists speaks to how effective he was for Guardiola on the right wing as both a scorer and a creator.

Diomande is a talented young player who has the potential to follow in Sterling’s footsteps, because he has already shown that he can provide quality on a regular basis in the Bundesliga with Leipzig this term, with eight goal contributions so far.

Like Sterling, the 19-year-old winger is a dynamic forward who can go down the line or run in behind on his right foot, but he can also drop deep and come inside onto his weaker foot, having scored four goals with his left foot and two with his right, per Sofascore.

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This is why City should be pushing to get a deal done for the youngster when the January transfer window opens, because Diomande could provide Guardiola with a right-sided option that he has not had since Sterling left the club.

Fabrizio Romano has shared an update on Thomas Frank amid the mounting pressure surrounding his position as Tottenham boss.

Thomas Frank facing sack calls after underwhelming Spurs start

The north Londoners have failed to impress under Frank lately and are winless across their last five games in all competitions.

Much has been made of their lack of creative spark going forward too, not to mention their dire home form.

Tottenham have lost 10 home games in the Premier League alone this calendar year, their joint-worst record in club history, with Spurs also losing 10 in 1994 and 2003 respectively.

Only bottom-side Wolves, who appear destined for relegation to the Championship, have a worse record on their own patch this season.

16. Burnley

2

1

4

7

-2

17. Nottingham Forest

2

1

4

7

-5

18. West Ham

2

0

5

6

-9

19. Tottenham

1

2

4

5

-1

20. Wolves

0

1

6

1

-11

Granted, their problems at home this year stretch back to Ange Postecoglou’s final half a season in charge, but the Australian notably had fewer options to play with during one of the worst injury crisis’ Spurs had ever seen.

Frank was backed with a £171 million transfer war chest in the summer window, including a deal for highly-rated young playmaker Xavi Simons, yet Tottenham’s head coach has relegated him to the bench in each of their last four outings.

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The Dane needs attacking quality.

ByEmilio Galantini Dec 2, 2025

Frank’s constant tinkering has also drawn criticism, with ex-Lilywhites defender Ramon Vega recently telling talkSPORT that this will be affecting the players’ rhythm.

Vega went on to suggest that Frank doesn’t have the bottle to manage a club like Spurs, while sections of the fanbase also call for his dismissal early doors.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner has already been linked with the Tottenham job, but Romano has now provided his own update on Frank’s future at N17.

Fabrizio Romano shares Thomas Frank update out of Tottenham

Speaking to GiveMeSport, Romano says that Spurs are monitoring Frank closely amid the growing fan unrest, but there are no immediate plans to replace him as yet.

Frank is poised to take on former club Brentford this weekend, and nothing but a win will do at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to convince some supporters that he is indeed the right man for the job.

Spurs have another crucial home game just a few days later when they face off against Slavia Prague in the Champions League, two very winnable games that could seriously help to change the mood.

They also travel to Nottingham Forest on December 14 before their final match pre-Christmas against Liverpool in north London, with Frank hoping for a vital points swing to get them nearer the Champions League places.

January is right around the corner as well, and reports suggest that Tottenham are intent on signing a new attacker to provide that much-needed extra threat going forward.

Manchester United slung themselves back into the win column with a hard-fought, turnaround win at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon.

When Crystal Palace took the lead through Jean-Philippe Mateta’s first-half penalty, there was a sense that Ruben Amorim’s squad would struggle to find the spirit to fight back. But, credit to the manager, his principles and the deepening tactical understanding led to goals from Joshua Zirkzee and Mason Mount after the interval.

United are eighth in the Premier League after 13 matches, yet trail second-place neighbours Manchester City by only four points.

This is an imperfect and imbalanced team, but one whose potential is starting to be realised. However, Amorim needs to add to his squad depth, for sure, if he is to shape his side into proper contenders.

Man United looking to add depth

Man United have a team filled with quality, but it’s not an expansive pool of talent, and it would be remiss to suggest there aren’t any stragglers.

In midfield, something hasn’t felt quite right from the get-go in Amorim’s system, and now Jason Wilcox and co must look to bring in some new quality.

Well, according to the Mirror’s John Cross, Man United are looking to take advantage of Federico Valverde’s contractual stalemate at Real Madrid and bring him to Old Trafford in 2026.

Los Blancos view their versatile midfielder at £100m, whereas United believe his price tag falls into the £70m ballpark.

With the 27-year-old’s future at Xabi Alonso’s outfit in doubt, this could be the perfect opportunity for INEOS to swoop in and seal a coveted signature.

What Fede Valverde would offer Man United

There’s no question that Casemiro has proved Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher wrong after his infamous rant, but the 33-year-old is surely approaching the twilight of his Premier League career.

With Kobbie Mainoo’s future at the Theatre of Dreams uncertain, United could do a lot worse than packaging their engine room with a player like Valverde who has “world-class technical ability”, as said by journalist Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo.

The Uruguay international splits his time between the centre of the pitch and a right-back berth, and he is immense in both roles. As per FBref, he actually ranks among the top 11% of positional peers for pass completion, the top 19% for progressive carries and the top 20% for successful take-ons per 90.

He is not an anchor, but in La Liga this term, he has won 58% of his duels and averaged 1.6 tackles per game (data via Sofascore), and he is unquestionably among the most physical and tenacious profiles in Spanish football.

Central midfield

282

19 + 27

Right-back

56

2 + 8

Right wing

33

11 + 4

Defensive midfield

15

1 + 0

Attacking midfield

14

1 + 0

Left-back

7

0 + 0

Centre-back

1

0 + 0

Valverde might not be an out-and-out defensive midfielder, but his completeness and dynamism in the centre of the park suggest he could be the perfect partner for a more mobile playmaker beside him.

That’s not to say Valverde isn’t an elite distributor, though, and he might come to be an incredible asset to pair up with a tough-tackling and single-minded number six.

Casemiro has been a dutiful and underrated part of Amorim’s project this season, but he is out of contract at the end of the term and lacking his typical combativeness – this season in the Premier League, he has won just 54% of his ground battles.

Valverde has the range and breadth to be a significant upgrade for a Man United side that just need a few on-the-money additions to become real contenders once again.

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ByAngus Sinclair Dec 1, 2025