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The MLB season is officially here and it's time to play ball.

It's been a busy offseason in baseball with lots of player movement, but all will be chasing the defending World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers in 2025, who bolstered their roster by adding the likes of former Cy Young winner Blake Snell and Japanese star pitcher Roki Sasaki. 

Somehow, the Dodgers got better than the team that waltzed through the postseason en route to a World Series, and the betting market is giving no breaks on betting the team at the onset of the season. 

Teams are vying for contention, including the New York Mets, who lost in the NLCS to the Dodgers last season. The Mets made the splashiest move of the offseason, signing Juan Soto away from their cross-town rival New York Yankees, which dramatically improved their World Series odds.

The Yankees, who lost in the World Series to the Dodgers, responded by bolstering their rotation by signing former Braves star pitcher Max Fried. Unfortunately, they lost their other ace, Gerrit Cole, for the season due to Tommy John surgery and their World Series odds took a dip as a result.

There is plenty of competition outside of New York as well, with a pair of NL East teams, the Braves and Phillies, primed to contend this season as well as the upstart Baltimore Orioles, who hope to break through with their young core. 

Other teams lingering on the oddsboard appear to be the always-dangerous Houston Astros as well as the 2023 World Series champs Texas Rangers. 

Get ready for the season by getting acclimated with the odds for each team to win the World Series below! 

2025 World Series Odds

• Los Angeles Dodgers +240
• Atlanta Braves +850
• New York Yankees +900
• Philadelphia Phillies +1000
• New York Mets +1100
• Baltimore Orioles +1600
• Houston Astros +1800
• Boston Red Sox +1800
• Texas Rangers +1900
• Chicago Cubs +3000
• Seattle Mariners +3000
• Minnesota Twins +3000
• Detroit Tigers +3000
• Arizona Diamondbacks +3300
• San Diego Padres +3300
• Cleveland Guardians +3500
• Kansas City Royals +4000
• Tampa Bay Rays +5000
• Milwaukee Brewers +5000
• Toronto Blue Jays +6500
• Cincinnati Reds +7500
• San Francisco Giants +10000
• St. Louis Cardinals +14000
• Los Angeles Angels +15000
• Pittsburgh Pirates +15000
• Athletics +16000
• Washington Nationals +30000
• Miami Marlins +50000
• Colorado Rockies +50000
• Chicago White Sox +50000

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Aston Villa have recently submitted an offer for Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Garcia, and the Spanish club’s stance on sanctioning a departure has now been revealed.

Villa have stepped up their pursuit of a new centre-forward with Ollie Watkins failing to reach his usual lofty standards in the Premier League this season, netting just one goal and receiving criticism from former Arsenal striker Ian Wright back in September.

Wright said: “As a player, I think that he should be doing more for what he’s capable of doing.

“He’s a channel runner, gets in the box, he gets on the end of things. I think he could be a lot sharper with his finishing, and I thought that’s what he’d be working on.”

Fortunately, the Villans have managed to find goals from other sources, which have propelled them up the table in recent weeks, rising to sixth after a dominant 4-0 rout of AFC Bournemouth in their final match before the international break.

That said, Watkins’ poor form is likely to still be a concern for Unai Emery, and the manager has seemingly decided to bring in another striker capable of challenging for the Englishman’s place in the starting XI.

Aston Villa submit offer for Gonzalo Garcia

According to a report from Spain, Aston Villa have offered €20m (£18m) offer for Real Madrid forward Garcia, and they are looking to finalise a deal as quickly as possible, given that the Spaniard’s value could plausibly rise as the season goes on.

Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers have lodged bids of their own, so there will be competition for the 21-year-old’s signature, but a deal could be there to be done, as the Spanish club view cashing-in as an ‘attractive financial opportunity.’

As one of the first clubs to make contact with Madrid, Villa should be well-placed to get a deal done, not least because their main rivals seem to be newly-promoted Sunderland and a Wolves side at serious risk of relegation.

Hopefully, it will only be a matter of time before Watkins starts scoring again, but the 29-year-old having some healthy competition could kick him into gear, and there are signs the Real Madrid starlet could push for a starting spot.

Lauded as a “goal machine” in the media, the youngster performed remarkably well at youth level in the 2024-25 campaign, netting 26 goals in 37 games for RM Castilla, before going on to impress considerably at the Club World Cup, netting four goals for the senior side.

That said, it would be a risk to sign Garcia, given that he is yet to prove himself in the Madrid first team over a sustained period, and 21-year-old FC Porto striker Samu Aghehowa, who scored 19 league goals last season, could be an interesting alternative option.

Aston Villa fighting to sign Samu Aghehowa

Aston Villa fighting to sign Samu Aghehowa amid interest from Tottenham and Arsenal

Recent reports have indicated that Aston Villa would be keen on signing Porto forward Samu Aghehowa.

By
James O'Reilly

Nov 5, 2025

Roberto Mancini has returned to management as Al Sadd’s new head coach, signing a two-and-a-half-year deal after missing out on the Nottingham Forest job. The former Manchester City and Italy boss now follows Xavi in taking charge of Qatar’s biggest club, with his debut set for November 24.

Mancini returns to the dugout in Qatar

Mancini is officially back on the touchline after being unveiled as the new head coach of Al Sadd, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the reigning Qatari champions. The 60-year-old returns to management for the first time since stepping down as Saudi Arabia coach in October 2024. Mancini had held talks with Nottingham Forest about replacing Ange Postecoglou this season, but the Premier League club ultimately chose Sean Dyche, opening the door for Al Sadd to make their move.

The appointment marks a significant coup for the Doha-based club, who previously revived their project through Xavi Hernandez, before the Barca legend made his return to Spain. With Mancini now stepping into the same role once occupied by Xavi, Al Sadd are again banking on a high-profile leader to elevate standards and reassert dominance in Qatar.

AdvertisementAFPWhat Mancini’s arrival means for Al Sadd’s ambitions

Mancini’s arrival signals a clear strategic shift. His resume – from winning City’s first Premier League title, to lifting the Euro 2020 trophy with Italy underlines Al Sadd’s ambition to modernise and compete internationally. This move also comes at a period of transition for the club, who currently sit sixth in the Qatar Stars League and recently dismissed Felix Sanchez. The board are aiming for a reset built on elite coaching experience and star names.

That approach is further highlighted by the permanent signing of Roberto Firmino from Al-Ahli, giving the Italian an immediate marquee player to build his attack around. The Firmino-Mancini partnership is viewed internally as a new foundation for a long-term rebuild.

From City glory to Doha: Mancini’s next chapter

After leaving City in 2013, Mancini has managed across various clubs across Europe like Galatasaray, Inter, Zenit and Italy before taking charge of Saudi Arabia. His return to the Middle East now places him at Qatar’s most successful club, one that has historically attracted high-profile talent both on and off the pitch. The likes of Spain legends Raul and Xavi have played for the Qatari club, and the latter went on to coach them to the Stars League title, among other trophies.

Mancini turns 61 later this month, adding an extra milestone to a comeback that he hopes will restore his managerial momentum. His versatility and experience across top leagues make him a strong fit for a squad seeking tactical clarity and discipline.

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AFPWhat comes next for Al Sadd under Mancini?

The ex-Inter boss will take charge of his first match on November 24, away to Al-Wahda in the AFC Champions League. Until then, interim manager Sergio Alegre continues to oversee training. With Al Sadd pushing to climb the table and recalibrate their identity, all eyes will be on whether Mancini can spark an immediate reaction and emulate the success Xavi once delivered in Doha.

Manchester United claimed their first three points at Anfield in the Premier League since January 2016 when they beat Liverpool 2-1 on Sunday.

The Red Devils have had to wait almost a decade to taste success on the red half of Merseyside, but it came at a great time for Ruben Amorim and his side.

It took around one minute for the away side to take the lead in the match as summer signing Bryan Mbeumo swept the ball into the back of the net.

The Cameroon international has scored three goals in nine matches since his move to Old Trafford in the summer transfer window, and looks to have been a shrewd addition to the squad.

After missing out on European football and losing the Europa League final to Tottenham Hotspur last season, it was clear that the club needed to invest in the quality of the team.

The Red Devils went for quality over quantity in their recruitment during the summer transfer window, as they only made four significant additions to the squad.

Ranking Man Utd's summer outfield signings

Man United signed Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £62.5m, Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig for £66.4m, Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford for £71m, and goalkeeper Senne Lammens for £18.2m.

This means that the Premier League giants made three outfield signings to bolster their squad, but all three of them rank within the club’s nine most expensive signings in their history.

When ranking the three outfield signings, it is hard not to put Cunha at the bottom for now. That is not because he has been a flop or because he has performed poorly, but because he has yet to register a single goal or assist for the club.

Bruno Fernandes

3.62

2

Benjamin Sesko

2.7

2

Bryan Mbeumo

2.62

2

Amad Diallo

1.67

0

Matheus Cunha

1.53

0

As you can see in the table above, Sesko and Mbeumo have both notched two Premier League goals for the Red Devils since their big money moves to Old Trafford, whilst Cunha has yet to score from 1.53 xG.

Of the three attackers, Mbeumo is also the only player who has registered an assist for the club. He teed up Mason Mount for the opener in the 2-0 win over Sunderland before the international break.

Therefore, we are ranking the former Brentford star as the pick of the bunch from the three outfield signings, with Sesko in second place, and Cunha in third, for now. However, there is plenty of time left for that to change as the season progresses and players settle into the team.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Now that we have analysed the outfield signings from the summer window, it is only right that we assess how Senne Lammens has started his United career, as he is already looking like he can be a Bruno Fernandes-type player.

Man United's new Bruno Fernandes-type player

When United spent £56m to sign the Portugal international in January 2020, not many would have expected him to hit the ground running in the way that he did.

Bruno scored 12 goals and provided eight assists in 22 appearances in all competitions during his first six months in England, per Transfermarkt, which was a remarkable start to life at Old Trafford.

The United skipper has since racked up 100 goals and 87 assists in 299 appearances for the club in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, with his latest assist coming for Harry Maguire against Liverpool.

Maguire and Bruno combined to seal the three points for United on Sunday, but it was Lammens who Amorim should be thanking for his performance between the sticks.

The Belgian shot-stopper has made a lightning-fast start to life in goal for United, in the same way that Bruno made a lightning-fast start to life in midfield for the club back in 2020.

A first-choice goalkeeper is a crucial position for a top team. Manchester City have Gianluigi Donnarumma. Liverpool have Alisson, when he is fit. Real Madrid have Thibaut Courtois.

United have been stung by poor goalkeepers in recent seasons, with the likes of Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana, but Lammens looks to be someone they can rely on in net.

The signing from Royal Antwerp has prevented 2.19 goals in his first two matches, conceding one goal, and made several key stops against Liverpool, outperforming Maguire, who did not win a single ground duel, per Sofascore.

United’s central defender may have scored the winner, but his blushes were spared in the first half when Lammens brilliantly denied Alexander Isak, after the Swedish forward got the run on Maguire and Luke Shaw.

Lammens’ brilliant start to life at Old Trafford may also be a sign of things to come from him, if his statistics from the 2024/25 campaign, in which he was hailed as “phenomenal” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, are anything to go by. As it happens, Kulig called him “a new hero” for Old Trafford after his display on Sunday.

Senne Lammens (Pro League)

+15.57

Jordan Pickford (Premier League)

+6.15

Matz Sels (Premier League)

+4.55

Mark Travers (Premier League)

+4.48

Ederson (Premier League)

+4.46

Dean Henderson (Premier League)

+3.14

As you can see in the table above, the Belgian titan prevented a staggering 15.57 goals with his shot-stopping in the Pro League last season, around nine more goals than any Premier League goalkeeper prevented.

After just two appearances in the division, per Sofascore, Lammens ranks as the third-best goalkeeper in the Premier League for goals prevented, behind Dean Henderson and Robin Roefs.

This illustrates the immense impact that the 23-year-old shot-stopper has made since his debut against Sunderland, as he has won his side potentially four extra points with his impressive stops against the Black Cats and Liverpool.

United and Amorim will now be hoping that Lammens can continue to shine and win points for United between the sticks, in the same way that Bruno continued to win points with goals and assists after his excellent start in 2020.

Watch out Mount: Man Utd's "incredible" talent can steal the no.7 shirt

Manchester United have a star on their hands who could take the number seven shirt off Mason Mount.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 17, 2025

Aston Villa are now racing Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United for the signature of an “electric” Premier League star, who has made a very impressive start to the campaign.

Villa join race for new forward amid lack of goals

It would be fair to say Unai Emery’s side fell below their usual lofty standards at the beginning of the Premier League season, with the 3-0 home defeat against Crystal Palace likely to be particularly concerning, but they have since managed to get back on track.

Indeed, the Villans have won their last two matches in all competitions, most recently picking up their first league victory of the campaign courtesy of a fantastic second-half display against Fulham, which culminated in a 3-1 win.

Emery will be relieved his side are finally starting to look better in front of goal, but after failing to score in their opening four league matches of the season, the manager may still be worried about his side’s lack of firepower.

As such, according to a report from The Boot Room, Aston Villa have now joined the race for AFC Bournemouth forward Antoine Semenyo, but there could be fierce competition for the Ghanaian’s signature, and it may take a huge fee to get a deal done.

Tottenham, Man United and Manchester City are also named as potential suitors for Semenyo, who was valued at £70m back in the summer transfer window, amid links with Spurs.

Aston Villa now want to sign £35m Sunderland star after performance against them

A concern for Regis Le Bris…

By
Tom Cunningham

Sep 27, 2025

Transfer expert Graeme Bailey also makes it clear that a winter exit is very unlikely to be on the cards, saying: “As it stands, Bournemouth are intent on making progress this summer and that means no sales.

“They have lost the likes of Huijsen, Kerkez and Zabarnyi in recent months and they are insistent Semenyo won’t be following them through the exit doors in January.”

"Electric" Semenyo has made flying start to the season

It is no surprise that Bournemouth are reluctant to sanction a January departure, given just how well the 25-year-old has performed in the early stages of the new season, being dubbed “electric” by broadcaster Kris Temple.

The Cherries are currently sixth in the Premier League table, and the Ghana international has been paramount to their success, receiving Bournemouth’s Player of the Month and Goal of the Month award for August.

That follows on from a very impressive 2024-25 campaign, during which the winger picked up 11 goals and six assists in the Premier League, helping his side surpass expectations and finish ninth.

There is every indication that Semenyo could be a success at Villa Park, but Aston Villa are well-known to be struggling PSR-wise, which means forking out the potential £70m asking price could be an issue.

Arne Slot has revealed Alexander Isak is fully fit again after his lack of pre-season, with the £125 million ($166.7m) striker now searching for his first Premier League goal for Liverpool. The Swedish striker might have forced his way out of Newcastle United in a messy transfer saga over the summer, but he is yet to shine since swapping St James' Park for Anfield.

• Isak's slow start at Liverpool

  Having refused to join Newcastle’s pre-season camp to push through his dream move, Isak arrived at Liverpool lacking match sharpness. Hence, it was no surprise when his first few weeks on Merseyside were something of a slow burn. His only goal so far came in their 2-1 Carabao Cup victory over Southampton, and as fans grew impatient to get a glimpse of the ruthless finisher who terrorised defences in black and white, pressure kept building on the forward. Slot claimed that the 26-year-old’s stop-start introduction was deliberate, designed to rebuild his conditioning and avoid any early muscle setbacks. But the wait is finally over, and the Dutch manager can't wait to unleash the beast version of Isak that went missing in the first few weeks.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Slot backs Isak to start firing

  Slot acknowledged that supporters and the media have been quick to question the Swede’s lack of goals, especially after he drew blanks in international defeats to Switzerland and Kosovo. But the Dutch coach urged patience, insisting that form will come once fitness meets confidence.

  "Now he has had his five, six weeks of pre-season which is normal for every player, especially if you have been out for three or four months," Slot said at a press conference on Friday.

  "Fitness-wise he is close to the level he should be and we can judge him in a fair way from now on. I know how this industry works, if he plays for Sweden twice and doesn’t score that’s not what you’re hoping for, of course.

  "You are hoping if they go to the national team they score goals like Cody (Gakpo) did, like Virgil (van Dijk) did, like Dominik (Szoboszlai) did, like (Alexis) MacAllister, did but he didn’t. His pre-season has finished now. He has played a few games, 70, 80, 90 minutes, so let’s see where he is in the upcoming weeks."

• Gravenberch & Konate fit again after injury scares

  As Liverpool prepare for Sunday’s mammoth Premier League showdown with Manchester United at Anfield, Slot received a welcome double boost. Both midfielder Ryan Gravenberch and defender Ibrahima Konate have been declared fit and available after minor injury scares. Gravenberch was withdrawn during the Netherlands’ win over Finland due to hamstring tightness, while Konate missed France’s fixtures with a slight quad strain picked up against Chelsea two weeks ago. Slot, though, was upbeat about their recoveries.

  "Ryan is completely fit, although we still have to train twice," Slot added. "We are in a good place with the Dutch national team if Ronald Koeman can make a decision either to play Tijjani Reijnders or Ryan Gravenberch, so he played them both 45 minutes. Ibou has come back to us, started the sessions again and is expected to train with us today."

  While Slot’s optimism is unwavering, not everyone shares his rosy outlook. reporter Lewis Steele, who covers Liverpool closely, warned that Isak’s path to full match sharpness may take longer than the club hopes.

  "The road to full fitness is a little bit longer than expected, and there’s a report from one of the Newcastle guys, saying they expect it to be three months until he’s fully fit," he said. "And that is probably about right. He’s been at Liverpool now for four or five weeks, so maybe we are now probably another three or four weeks away from seeing Isak at his best. There have been glimpses, lovely assist on Saturday and he got his goal against Southampton, to be fair he’s got to score that, but he had to be in the right place at the right time. But, the road to full fitness does seem a bit bumpier than me or Slot predicted."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  A gruelling run awaits the Reds

  Liverpool have an unenviable calendar after the international break. Following the United clash, the Reds face a relentless stretch of fixtures including Eintracht Frankfurt in Europe, followed by Premier League meetings with Brentford, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and then a blockbuster Champions League tie against Real Madrid in early November. Slot knows the coming weeks will define Liverpool’s season, and it's no surprise that the manager wants Isak to be at his sharpest for it.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após a derrota contra o Grêmio por 2 a 1 no último domingo (13), o Fluminense tem a semana livre para treinamentos e acelerar a recuperação de jogadores que estavam ou estão entregues ao Departamento Médico, do clube. É o caso do meio-campista a Alexsander e do lateral-esquerdo Jorge; ambos sofreram graves contusões, mas vivem momentos diferentes no processo de recuperação. Confira a situação do DM do Flu.

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ALEXSANDER
A espera pelo retorno de Alexsander está cada vez mais próxima do fim. A expectativa que o jogador de 19 anos, que sofreu uma lesão no joelho em maio no jogo contra o Cruzeiro no Mineirão, esteja presente no duelo de sábado (19) diante do América-MG no Maracanã. O camisa 5 vive um processo de transição e voltou aos treinamentos com bola no CT Carlos Castilho e a tendência é que esteja à disposição do técnico Fernando Diniz.

+ O que explica jejum do Fluminense fora de casa? Listamos cinco razões

O processo de recuperação do Moleque de Xerém traz ânimo para a torcida tricolor, visto que o desempenho do Fluminense caiu desde a lesão de Alexsander e a volta do jogador é fundamental para o duelo contra o Olimpia, pelas quartas de final da Copa Libertadores.

JORGE
A situação de Jorge, no entanto, é mais complicada. O lateral-esquerdo foi contratado por empréstimo junto ao Palmeiras no fim de 2022 e chegou para ser o titular da função. No entanto, o jogador de 27 anos, que disputou apenas quatro jogos pelo Fluminense, sofreu uma grave lesão no ligamento cruzado anterior do joelho direito e no menisco em fevereiro.

+ Cupom LANCEFUT com 10% OFF para os fanáticos por esporte em compras acima de R$299,90

Duas semanas após a contusão, Jorge foi operado e, desde então, se recupera da cirurgia e realiza fisioterapia para acelerar o processo de volta aos gramados. Contudo, o atleta ficou sem espaço após as chegadas de Marcelo e Diogo Barbosa. O clube não divulgou um prazo estimado para o retorno de Jorge, mas a tendência é que o lateral não jogue mais em 2023.

Manchester United once had a Zinedine Zidane-esque midfielder, who legendary Red Devils midfielder Paul Scholes compared to Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard.

Man Utd looking to sign new midfielder in January

After missing out on a new central midfielder during the 2025 summer transfer window, Man United have set their sights on signing one in January, and a number of potential targets have already been identified.

Target

Current club

Potential cost

Carlos Baleba

Brighton

£115m

Adam Wharton

Crystal Palace

£50m+

Conor Gallagher

Atletico Madrid

£45m

Elliot Anderson

Nottingham Forest

Unknown

There are clear indications that Ruben Amorim needs to bolster his options in the engine room, with Scholes suggesting Bruno Fernandes isn’t cut out to be a central midfielder, while also singling Casemiro out for criticism.

The 50-year-old said: “Fernandes [and Casemiro], they’re the two he’s [Amorim] going with, and Fernandes for me, he’s someone who fills in as a midfielder, he might get away with it for one, two or three games. He’s not got the discipline to be a central midfield player.”

“Bringing two No.10s (Cunha and Mbeumo) was that really necessary? You think you’ve got Mason Mount, Kobbie Mainoo can do that.”

Man Utd now eyeing January move for "unbelievable" £47m Baleba alternative

The Red Devils are looking to sign a central midfielder, who could be perfect for Ruben Amorim.

1 ByDominic Lund Sep 10, 2025

Having arguably gotten their priorities wrong in the summer, United look poised to make a move for a new central midfielder this winter, and they will be hoping the new signing can eclipse Paul Pogba’s achievements, with the Frenchman leaving on a free back in 2022.

Pogba’s career at United didn’t pan out the way anyone was hoping, but he received extremely high praise not long after returning to Old Trafford, with Gianluigi Buffon saying:

Scholes was also a keen admirer of the central midfielder, saying:

Pogba had the talent to be an all-time great

The 32-year-old’s time at Old Trafford was by no means a complete failure, having won two EFL Cups and the 2016-17 Europa League, but there is no doubt that the midfielder didn’t manage to hit the heights expected of him.

Given how highly the 91-time France international was rated by Scholes and Buffon, he had the ability to become an all-time great for Man United, but things didn’t work out that way, arguably due to his attitude, which Graeme Souness regularly criticised.

Souness said: “Paul Pogba plays for himself, it’s all about how cool he looks, showing us how clever he is. I reckon Pogba’s only in the team to maintain his transfer value until United can sell him, because he doesn’t merit his place for any other reason.”

With Pogba’s doping ban over, the former United man arguably has one last chance to get his career back on track, having now signed for AS Monaco on a two-year deal.

Manchester United may have lost their opening Premier League game of the 2025/26 season, but there are certainly reasons to be positive for Ruben Amorim for the remainder of the campaign.

Matheus Cunha made his debut against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, producing an excellent performance which has given the fanbase a taste of what he can produce after his £62.5m transfer.

The Brazilian featured for the entirety of the contest, completing four dribbles – the most of any player on the pitch – just needing to add the clinical edge to build on his impressive start.

However, despite being one of three big-money additions within the final third, the hierarchy could be set to make further reinforcements across other areas of the squad.

The midfield department looks set to be the next area of improvement, but it appears that one of their targets won’t be making the move to Old Trafford before the September 1st deadline.

United’s pursuit of Carlos Baleba this summer

In an attempt to bolster the options for Amorim in the middle of the park, numerous options have appeared on their radar over the last couple of weeks.

The main target as of late has been Brighton and Hove Albion star Carlos Baleba, with the Seagulls star appearing at the top of their shortlist in a quest to bolster the ranks.

Talks had previously been held with Fabian Hurzeler’s side over a move to land the 21-year-old midfielder, who made 34 appearances in the Premier League last season.

However, any deal would’ve been an expensive one, with his current employers demanding a fee in the region of £100m to part ways with the Cameroonian international.

His current boss, Hurzeler, stated last week that he was confident the player would remain at the AMEX beyond the summer, forcing the Red Devils to pursue other options this window.

Man Utd targeting move for Baleba alternative

After leaving a deal to sign Baleba, Crystal Palace’s young star Adam Wharton has once again emerged as a potential summer option for United and Amorim.

However, like a deal for the Cameroonian, it would likely cost a fee in the region of £100m, a valuation that may be out of range given their £200m spending spree to date.

The Englishman isn’t the only player currently in their sights, with journalist Fabrizio Romano stating that Sporting CP star Morten Hjulmand remains a key target before the end of the window.

He states that interest has previously been registered in the Danish international, who spent two years playing his trade under Amorim in the Liga Portugal.

Romano also claims that the player himself would be keen for a reunion with his former boss, with the Portuguese outfit currently demanding a fee in the region of €50m (£43m) for his services.

Why United’s £43m target would be their own Rodri

Rivals Manchester City have often been the side to dominate the Premier League in recent years, with Rodri often being the player who has helped them in their quest for success.

The Spaniard has cemented himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, as seen by his ability to win the Ballon d’Or for 2024 – beating Vinícius Júnior to the prestigious award.

Whilst the 29-year-old has been missing for nearly a year, many Red Devils supporters would be wishing they had their own version of the world-class operator.

However, if they were to land a player of his quality, it would be an expensive addition, but a deal for Hjulmand could prove to be a bargain – especially if he can live up to Rodri’s level.

He’s been labelled as a similar player to the City star by FBref, managing to outperform him in numerous areas for the 2023/24 campaign – the last full-season he operated in before his ACL injury.

Hjulmand, who’s been labelled “complete” by analyst Ben Mattinson, dominated defensively, ranking in the 84th percentile for percentage of tackles won (58%).

Such a tally was higher than that of Rodri, who could only muster a tally of 10% less than the Dane, highlighting his ball-winning ability – something which the Red Devils desperately lack under Amorim.

How Hjulmand & Rodri compared throughout 2023/24

Statistics (per 90)

Hjulmand

Rodri

Games played

30

34

Goals & assists

5

17

Tackles won

1.6

1.3

% of tackles won

58%

48%

Blocks made

1.2

0.9

Interceptions made

0.9

0.8

Take-ons completed

67%

65%

Recoveries made

7.3

7.2

Fouls drawn

1.3

1

Stats via FBref

His top-level ability out of possession is further reflected in his higher tallies of blocks and interceptions made per 90 – having the talent to finally end the club’s hunt for a new presence at the heart of the side.

Whilst Baleba may have been many of the supporters’ first choice for the midfield position, it’s vital the club spend the funds available wisely – especially considering the money already splashed in this window.

Hjulmand could provide an excellent alternative for the Red Devils, having bags of time to build on his impressive start to his career, given his tender age of just 24.

If he can continue on his current trajectory, there’s no reason as to why he can’t reach the levels Rodri’s achieved in his career, potentially being the club’s answer to the Spaniard in the process.

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Posts 1 ByWill Miller Aug 18, 2025

Aston Villa are on the verge of signing their first major signing of the transfer window with OGC Nice’s Evann Guessand. The deal is expected to be worth around £26m, plus more than £4m in add-ons.

Guessand has been with Ligue 1 side Nice since 2014 and rose through their academy to become a first-team player and earn himself a place in the Ivorian national team. Manager Unai Emery will be hoping that the goals and assists Guessand brings to the team will ensure they don’t have an end-of-season drop-off this time around, after the sale of Jhon Duran depleted their depth in the number nine position last term.

It won’t take long from Guessand’s debut for his versatility to be on full display for Villa fans. Last season, under Franck Haise, Guessand was utilised both as a centre forward and a winger. This fluidity in attack is similar to what Emery implemented in the latter half of last season with loan players Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio.

However, with the previously mentioned loanees returning to their respective parent clubs, Villa are still somewhat shorthanded up front. Due to this, Emery has identified a new striker target to help rectify the situation.

Emery "eager" to reunite with Jackson

Caught Offside have reported that Aston Villa have identified Chelsea and Senegal striker Nicolas Jackson as an ideal target. Jackson previously worked with the Villa boss while the pair were at Villarreal.

With the departure of Duran and an exit for Ollie Watkins still on the cards this window, Villa need to strengthen their attack, and Jackson is seen as a possible solution. Caught Offside’s source stated that “Villa are among the clubs most keen on Jackson. Unai Emery is eager to work with him again after their time together at Villarreal”.

Aston Villa don’t have a clear run at Jackson presently, with Newcastle United having held “informal talks” with Jackson’s representatives and Juventus monitoring the situation in the event they sell Dusan Vlahovic.

An even bigger hurdle for Villa will be finances, with owners Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens potentially needing to sell to buy, according to the same report. If Villa can navigate the PSR hurdles and retain Watkins however, they could have a very dangerous attack on their hands.

Emery’s Potential Striker Options
2024/25 Stats	Watkins	Jackson	Guessand
Games Played	38	30	33
Goals	16	10	12
Assists	8	5	8
Xg per 90	0.53	0.5	0.32
Goals Per 90	0.55	0.41	0.42
Stats via: FBREF

All three players are averaging close to a goal every other game. Watkins is the best in this regard, but he is the oldest and most developed player; there is still plenty of time for Jackson and Guessand to match him.

While it may look like Jackson is massively underperforming against his Xg compared to the others, there is an explanation for this. When evaluating Jackson as a Manchester United target, The Athletic’s JJ Bull explained how Jackson’s Xg underperformance has been misinterpreted as him missing a lot of goals he should score, when in reality it’s distorted by him taking a lot of shots he shouldn’t take and often shooting too early.

These three players, alongside the other attacking options they have in the squad, could see Villa push for Champions League football once again and help the club away from its financial issues.