Tag Futebol

The Under-19 World Cup hasn’t gone to plan for the England spin-bowling allrounder, but it hasn’t stopped him from dreaming big

Sreshth Shah04-Feb-2022During the 2017 Champions Trophy, the ICC had a ticket giveaway – for one lucky person and a family member – to watch the India vs Pakistan game. There were entries from all over the world. The winner was 13-year-old Fateh Singh, whose name had been entered by his father Gurj Landa. Cheering for India was an “unreal experience” for Fateh, and the day was capped with India defeating Pakistan rather convincingly in that group-stage fixture.Fast forward five years, and Fateh is in another ICC tournament. But everything about this one is different. The India blue from 2017 has been replaced by the England blue. He is in the middle, not in the stands. Most importantly, the allrounder has played a key role in his team’s first appearance in the final of an Under-19 World Cup in 24 years.Related

No pressure for Tom Prest

'I'm always ready' – Rehan Ahmed is on the move

It hasn’t been a smooth ride, though. The first challenge was after joining the Nottinghamshire academy as a left-arm seamer who had the potential to become an allrounder. Given his height, or lack thereof, Fateh was told quite early by coach Andrew Jackman that he might be better off trying out left-arm spin instead. The rise has been steep since.”It was tricky, but I adapted to the change,” Fateh tells ESPNcricinfo. “After that I watched videos of Yuvraj Singh, Daniel Vettori and Monty Panesar. When I bowl, my plan is to stay with my stock ball as long as possible. And if I get hit, then I adapt and change my course.”That obstacle, of transitioning from seamer to spinner, however, was just one of many for Fateh.In 2015, Fateh was diagnosed with alopecia universalis, an autoimmune disease that causes loss of body hair. One’s hair is part of one’s identity, more so for a Sikh, the community Fateh belongs to.Two years later, his mother had to move away from the family and shift to an assisted-living facility because of her own health complications, which still continue.

“Moeen is fearless, a natural ball-striker. He’s been through quite a bit in his career, so for him to get to the top and captaining England [in four T20Is] too is quite inspirational”

“It doesn’t affect your health physically, it just affects your hair,” Fateh said of his own condition. “Truth be told, I didn’t know how to deal with it. It was a new thing. As I got older, it got harder, but I started to accept me for who I am. So, regardless of what anyone says, this is me and I am okay with that.”It is something that has attracted attention, though. Fateh has learnt to live with it. “People put cricket and alopecia together and say ‘it is crazy how well you’ve done despite it’. But for me, it’s normal. It doesn’t bother me,” he says. “It is one of the first things people ask me about and I’m more than happy to answer questions regarding it because I know people are curious about it and I could inspire them.”But I just don’t like it that people turn sympathetic towards me. I just dislike when someone feels like they feel sorry for me.”Eventually, though, it’s what you do in the field that matters most. On that front, Fateh’s record is outstanding, from being a nine-year-old in the county’s Under-11 side, or his first Nottinghamshire century at 11, or being the club’s Under-13 captain.He was also a net bowler for England when India toured in 2018 for the Test series, and by the time the 2021 season was over, his 28 wickets for the Under-18s at an average of 11.57 resulted in call-ups to the county second XI and into the England Under-19 squad.”I was a net bowler during India vs England in 2018. And Moeen Ali was so approachable,” Fateh says. “And I was a stranger to Moeen, but he took out time outside training to give me advice, which I really appreciated.”I am a bit like Moeen, to be fair, and by far he is my favourite cricketer. He is fearless, a natural ball-striker. He’s been through quite a bit in his career, so for him to get to the top and captaining England [in four T20Is] too is quite inspirational.”Fateh Singh has played only two matches at the Under-19 World Cup, for just one wicket, and hasn’t batted at all•ICC via GettyThe World Cup, however, has been below-par for him so far. He has been a part of only two starting XIs even as his team has won five games in a row, and he hasn’t had a chance to show off his batting chops. At 3.15, he has been England’s most economical bowler, but the side has preferred Rehan Ahmed, the attacking legspinner, ahead of him. “In my last game, I bowled seven overs for only 12 runs. But did not get a wicket,” Fateh says. “I would have wanted to play more, but it’s a team game.”That, though, hasn’t stopped him from dreaming.”After the World Cup, I want to make the first team, which is a good challenge since Notts have a very strong side,” he says. “I have a two-year contract, so I hope to renew it. I don’t think too far ahead, want to stay in the present. But my white-ball skills are my strong suit right now.”To be the leading Test wicket-taker would be nice, but for me, a nice one would be to play in the IPL and be the leading wicket-taker in a season and take more [wickets] than anyone has done before.”I used to always watch Mumbai Indians. That’s when Sachin Tendulkar used to play. My family is from Punjab, so obviously I love Punjab Kings. But I’d watch any team play, like when Virat [Kohli] and AB [de Villiers] are batting together for RCB. I’d love to give the IPL a crack.”It’s ambitious, but it’s best to not bet against Fateh Singh. Fateh means “conquest”. The young man has done some of that already. And he is keen to live up to his name.

حرص محمد مجدي أفشة لاعب الأهلي ومنتخب مصر الثاني، على توجيه رسالة لجماهير الكرة المصرية، بعد خروج الفراعنة من بطولة كأس العرب.

وفشل منتخب مصر في التأهل من دور المجموعات في بطولة كأس العرب، بعدما حقق تعادلين وخسارة ليحتل المركز الثالث في المجموعة ويودع مبكرًا.

وكتب أفشة عبر حسابه على منصة التواصل الاجتماعي انستجرام: “قبل أي كلام يتقال لازم يكون أوله جملة واحدة بس”.

طالع.. خالد الغندور: ما حدث في كأس العرب “كارثة”.. ودفعنا ثمن خلاف حسام حسن وطولان

وأضاف::آسف جدًا جدًا، مهما حصل ومهما اتقال اسم مصر كبير وكان فيه أفضل من كده أنا عن نفسي بعتذر وحزين جدًا ومش بهرب من أي مسؤولية”.

وأكمل: “اللعب باسم منتخب مصر مينفعش فيه الأداء اللي حصل ومفيش تبرير ولا كلام أكثر من كلمة آسف جدًا كان لازم أفضل من كده، حقكم بصراحة، آسف مرة واحدة مش كفاية آسف مليون مرة”.

England seamer shows she belongs after four-year wait to make her England debut

Valkerie Baynes23-May-2025Em Arlott’s player-of-the-match performance in just her second game for England felt like a long time coming, but the two well-documented false starts to her international career are just part of the story.Arlott took 3 for 14 in a remarkable four-over spell at Hove, including 18 dot-balls that helped reduce West Indies to 81 for 9 in the second T20I. After their nine-wicket victory, however, she revealed that she had been battling anxiety for years. So much so that, had she been handed her cap on either of the two previous occasions she was called into the England squad, she wasn’t sure how she would have handled it.”Everything’s kind of happened at the right time,” Arlott said. “With where I was at before, it’s probably not quite a publicly known thing, but I’ve struggled with anxiety in the past and probably, if I played before, I think I would have been a different person and player on the pitch. Whereas now I feel like I’ve really worked on that away from the game. I am coming into this with a lot more confidence and actually believing that I’m good enough to be here.”Arlott made her international debut aged 27 on Wednesday, taking 1 for 28 in the first T20I in Canterbury.In her latest match, she accounted for West Indies’ strongest batters, Hayley Matthews – who scored 100 of her side’s 146 in that opening game – and former captain Stafanie Taylor, returning from injury to bolster the line-up. At one point in her spell, Arlott had three wickets for seven runs in the space of 14 balls, with the two big names falling either side of Zaida James, well caught by Sophia Dunkley at short midwicket.Arlott also took a catch off spinner Charlie Dean to remove Shemaine Campbelle, who was also returning from injury as West Indies tried to find support for Matthews with the bat.Her debut had come after call-ups to England’s squads to face India in 2021 and South Africa the following year, when she had to leave the camp before the series began because she was suffering the after-effects of Covid. That last near-miss left her fearing that the chance to play for her country might have passed her by.Arlott’s latest call-up came off the back of a strong start to the domestic 50-over competition. Her 14 wickets for Warwickshire has her joint-second on the Metro Bank One Day Cup wicket-takers list, while her pivotal 130 against Essex didn’t go unnoticed by Charlotte Edwards, the new England Women’s head coach who has placed increased emphasis on domestic form as a selection tool. Personally, Arlott said a stint with Western Australia in the WNCL over the winter had also played a key role in getting her to this point, along with a lot of work to manage her anxiety.Related

• Charlotte Edwards banishes 'F-word' in bid to turn England's image around

• The names in the frame as England women's new era begins

• Charlotte Edwards to introduce new fitness standards for England Women

• Dunkley, Knight seal redemptive win as England outdo Matthews' brilliant 100*

• Em Arlott makes up for lost time as England romp to nine-wicket rout

“I had to reflect a lot on what I could control in my life,” she said. “The last time I came into this environment, I don’t think I believed I was good enough so I didn’t really expect anybody else to believe that I was good enough. I’ve always struggled going into newer teams and not knowing people and having to adjust. The teams that I’ve played for at regional level have both been based in Birmingham, so I’ve been quite fortunate that I haven’t really gone anywhere else.”I just challenged myself. In the winter, I went to Perth and I didn’t know anybody and just made myself have to do something uncomfortable. Actually it’s been really nice that a lot of people have come up to me being like, ‘you’re a different person than you were 12 months ago’, I think in terms of confidence and – not necessarily cricket, but just as a person – I think I’m more content with who I am, and not really caring how people take that.”I’m really proud of myself getting to this point. It has been a long old journey to get here and it was never promised that I would even get here. I’ve just tried to control what I can in my life, my career. I felt like if I just kept working hard, then hopefully when I got that break I would take it with both hands, and run with it and not look back.”Arlott paid tribute to her team-mates for their support, as well as Edwards after a slightly awkward phone call to confirm her selection to both the T20I and ODI squads for West Indies’ visit .”I’ve just bought a puppy and he was being a nightmare, and bit me two minutes before she called me, so I was a bit flustered,” she said. “I’m not going to lie, I cried because he bit me really hard. So he was being a nightmare and then she obviously popped up on my phone and I was like, ‘what the hell is this about?’ She said some really nice things about how I’ve been going. I didn’t really respond, I was a bit flustered because of the dog, but I didn’t want to tell her that. It was all just a wild five minutes.”But she’s been great and it was nice that I’ve been rewarded for being consistent. I just kept chipping away at regional level because, for a long time, I felt like it went unnoticed no matter how well I did or didn’t do it. It was really nice that she’s come in and I’ve had a couple of years to almost prove myself and actually be able to sit there and go, that’s enough, which is nice.”Arlott said the focus on domestic form was a marked turnaround under Edwards’ leadership.”It makes people feel like, ‘why can’t it be me?’,” she said. “It’s always been contracted players and you can guess the squad that’s going to get picked and probably one or two extras that are doing well. It just means that people are getting picked that are in form, rather than necessarily contracted, which can only be good for us. Maybe squads look different from series to series, but I think that’s great and it shows how far we’ve come.”The true test of how far England have come since the Ashes defeat that sparked so many changes – including Edwards’ appointment as Jon Lewis’s successor – might have to wait until India arrive later in the season. But the distance Arlott has travelled is now clear to see.

Shohei Ohtani is making his coveted return to the pitcher's mound on Monday, set to serve as an opener for the Los Angeles Dodgers in their home game against the San Diego Padres.

Ohtani hasn't pitched since his days with the Los Angeles Angels in 2023, having undergone Tommy John surgery in September of that year. In his first season with the Dodgers, Ohtani served solely as the team's DH.

Now returning to the mound after more than a year's absence, Ohtani will achieve a rare bit of National League history, becoming the first player since Al Dark of the Brooklyn Giants in 1953 to start a game on the mound and also hit leadoff in the same game. The only other player since 1900 to do that was New York Giants player Jim Jones back in 1901.

The last time Ohtani pitched and hit in the same season, he was extremely effective at both. In 2023, Ohtani launched 44 home runs and 95 RBIs to go with a 1.066 OPS, all while making 23 starts with a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts.

Although Dodgers fans are excited to see him take the mound in their uniform for the first time, he won't be pitching very long on Monday night as he works his way back from the lengthy absence.

First pitch for Monday's game is scheduled for 10:10 p.m. ET from Dodger Stadium.

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.

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  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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  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.