Man Utd: Ten Hag must unleash his really "poor" star in a normal role

The issues continue to mount for Manchester United boss, Erik ten Hag, with the upcoming Premier League clash with Brentford already looking like something of a must-win game, amid the club's wretched run of form of late.

The Red Devils have now lost six of their opening ten games in all competitions this season following the midweek defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League, with the hosts' defensive shortcomings having been laid bare at Old Trafford as they simply wilted in the closing stages.

A particular issue that was exposed in that 3-2 defeat was the use of Sofyan Amrabat as a makeshift left-back in the absence of Sergio Reguilon – with the likes of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia also sidelined – as the 27-year-old summer signing 'did not look a natural' in that role, according to Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst.

Sofyan Amrabat

Having been signed primarily to feature in central midfield, the on-loan Fiorentina man seemingly needs to revert back to his usual role to be afforded the chance to properly impress in his new surroundings, with club captain Bruno Fernandes another who could also benefit from a tactical tweak.

How did Bruno Fernandes perform against Galatasaray?

As Luckhurst stated on Twitter on Tuesday night, the Portugal international was seemingly "at his worst" up against the Turkish outfit, having seemingly been "trying too hard" to make things happen for his side as they slumped to yet another loss.

Also described as "particularly poor" by Luckhurst, the 29-year-old was unable to impact proceedings too greatly after being shifted out onto the right flank in order to accommodate the likes of Mason Mount and Hannibal Mejbri.

Bruno Fernandes

Moved away from his usual number ten berth, the "creative machine" – as described by Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne – was unable to dictate the game as he would have liked, giving away the ball on 27 occasions and making just two key passes.

The former Sporting CP ace also squandered an early chance following fine work from Rasmus Hojlund down the left flank, setting the tone for the abject display that was to follow from the experienced playmaker.

Should Bruno Fernandes play on the right wing?

There's no denying that on occasions the use of the £240k-per-week star in that wide berth can pay off, with Fernandes notably netting a stunning volley in the win over newly-promoted Burnley a few weeks ago.

Even in that 1-0 win, however, the versatile asset 'did little' up until making the breakthrough, as per Luckhurst, with Ten Hag seemingly needing his talisman and skipper to be more involved if United are to stop the rot sooner rather than later.

That strike away at Turf Moor has indicated that Fernandes will do a job at times off the right, yet why should such a vital figure – who created the most big chances in the league last term – be shifted out of position for relatively untested options, like Mejbri and Mount?

With the latter man having previously played on the wing for former club Chelsea – and with Anthony having made his return from his recent absence – there should be no need for Fernandes to be shunted from the centre moving forward.

Having been a standout figure for the club over the last three years or so – recording 122 goal involvements in 194 games – the one-time Udinese maestro deserves to be in his rightful place as the man pulling the strings as the link between the midfield and attack.

Can they afford it?! Chelsea bizarrely terminate sponsorship after less than a year despite fight to meet Financial Fair Play spending rules

Chelsea have bizarrely terminated a sponsorship deal with Oman Air, despite the club struggling to meet Financial Fair Play rules.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

Chelsea terminate sponsorship dealWorth around £2m-per-yearHas been running since JulyWHAT HAPPENED?

Chelsea have terminated a sponsorship deal with Oman Air, per the , in bizarre circumstances. The club announced the partnership, which is worth around £2 million ($2.5m) to the club over the course of a year. The deal was announced in July but the newspaper reports that the deal has now been terminated, despite there being no reason put forward.

AdvertisementTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Chelsea are now without various sponsors for next season; they do not have a front-of-shirt sponsor, nor a sleeve or airline sponsor, with the latter two being increasingly lucrative for various clubs across the Premier League. quotes a source claiming that the issue came from Oman Air's side, rather than Chelsea's, but there has been no announcement from either party.

The deal is not worth a fortune to the Blues but they need to comply with FFP rules after announcing a £90m ($115m) pre-tax loss in the 12-month period up to June 30. Rivals believe they must raise £100m ($128m) through player sales to comply this summer; if they are unable to, they may face a points deduction.

GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Chelsea have been in dire form this season and may struggle to meet FFP regulations if they fail to qualify for Europe. They are currently 11th with 36 points and sit a staggering 19 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, making Champions League football an almost impossible proposition for next season.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

GettyWHAT NEXT?

Chelsea are next in action on Monday evening against Newcastle. They then face Leicester in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, with silverware still available for Mauricio Pochettino and his side.

Spurs: £90k-p/w flop with fewer touches than Vicario must be dropped after Luton

Tottenham Hotspur once again showcased the immense progression already made under Ange Postecoglou, as they overcame great adversity on the road to record a well-earned 1-0 victory against Luton Town.

Having dominated the opening half, forging numerous chances without any reward, the game was turned completely on its head when the referee made the bold, but ultimately correct decision to hand Yves Bissouma his second yellow card.

Having been rightly booked earlier for quelling a counterattack, his second came following a slaloming run in which he weaved past three opposition players. Clearly expecting contact, the Mali midfielder threw himself to the ground on the edge of the box, turning back to the referee in expectation.

However, what came was instead his marching orders, and once again the Lilywhites were left with it all to do.

yves-bissouma-tottenham-hotspur-spurs-postecoglou-luka-modric-real-madrid

Fortunately, there is more than enough character in their squad to overcome seemingly any obstacle at the moment, and the quality shone through despite getting fortunate with a couple of huge misses from the hosts.

They rode their luck, but stars like James Maddison, Cristian Romero, Pape Matar Sarr and Micky van de Ven all stood up and retained their unbeaten start to the Premier League season.

Who played well for Spurs vs Luton?

Whilst the latter will steal the headlines for his winning goal and defensive solidity, it was an all-around effort to quell the muted threat of the Hatters whilst operating with just ten men.

However, unsurprisingly the former Leicester City maestro once again stood out, with Sofascore recognising another impressive contribution by handing him an 8.5 rating, the highest of anyone on the pitch.

A constant creative threat as always, the 26-year-old would record four key passes and created two big chances too. However, winning seven of the 11 duels he competed in also was indicative of someone who rose to the physical challenge posed, given he was fouled on four separate occasions.

Then, it must also be outlined how assured a presence their Argentinian defender offered, with his 106 touches and 90% pass accuracy marking an exemplary afternoon who continues to expel his once-reckless play style with each game.

Despite the praise rightly distributed across the side, it is also worth noting those that very nearly let them down. Obviously, Bissouma's thoughtless first half severely hampered his teammates, and yet it could be argued that Richarlison endured an even more torrid display.

Luton Town (A)

1-0 W

Liverpool (H)

2-1 W

Arsenal (A)

2-2 D

Sheffield United (H)

2-1 W

Burnley (A)

5-2 W

The Brazilian was anonymous, profligate and an utter disappointment yet again, even seeing his time on the pitch cut short to readjust following the sending-off.

How did Richarlison play vs Luton Town?

Starting from the left wing, in a role where he had excelled the week earlier during their controversial win over Liverpool, it was expected that the 26-year-old would maintain his fine form and finally kick on after a year of struggling to establish himself in north London.

However, it arguably marked one of his weakest displays in front of goal, having missed two golden opportunities to put them in front.

The first saw Dejan Kulusevski flash a beautiful left-footed ball across the box, and admittedly Richarlison's anticipation was good. He was goal side of his full-back and looked certain to score. And yet, a complete misjudge saw him strike high and wide from close range, with the scores remaining level.

Spurs would continue to push, with Maddison creating this time, slipping the forward in behind. Although his shot had to be rushed, it marked another opportunity squandered, with his shot saved by the foot of the goalkeeper and cleared.

As if to further emphasise a tough afternoon, even their Italian shot-stopper Guglielmo Vicario would record more touches (59) than the former Everton star (41), with Postecoglou's decision to sacrifice him more than merited.

Richarlison's 6.5 rating perhaps flattered his awful showing, which very nearly proved costly had Van de Ven not bailed him out. Not only was he profligate though, but he would also achieve 0% success with his two attempted dribbles, losing five of the nine ground duels he competed in, and losing possession 12 times, via Sofascore.

After such an abysmal performance, the former Celtic boss will certainly have reservations about starting him again once the international break concludes.

How has Richarlison played this season?

His performance may have been outstandingly poor with regard to his finishing, but this is a notion that has become frustratingly commonplace nowadays for the misfiring dud who was once so lethal on Merseyside.

In the season before the £90k-per-week flop would move to north London, the £60m striker scored ten and assisted five for a woeful Toffees side that narrowly escaped the drop. It was expected that Richarlison would therefore thrive when placed beside a better calibre of player, but that has clearly not been the case.

Last campaign saw the 46-cap finisher score just once across the entire league term, having only managed to match that tally thus far this year too. Such form was always bound to draw ridicule, with pundit Jamie O'Hara telling talkSPORT after yesterday's clash: "Terrible. He was bad. We are better without him. We are actually better with 10 men. We actually played better with 10 men after he came off. He is struggling, he really is."

This is a notion supported by journalist Ade Oladipo, who branded him "useless" for his lack of contribution after last season.

To truly outline just how toothless the 5 foot 10 flop has been, in the league he is averaging 2.3 shots per game, and yet conversely averages just 0.1 goals per game. Postecoglou cannot continue with such profligacy in his attacking areas, and had he not been saved by his centre-back, those missed chances could have proved costly.

Two favourable fixtures are now on the horizon for Spurs following the international break which the Australian will have his sights set on winning, before they once again face a tough run set to threaten that faultless record thus far.

Should their Brazil international retain his spot for these fixtures, it seems that their chances of winning will certainly take a hit.

Man United: Garnacho drops exciting message about Rasmus Hojlund

Manchester United ace Alejandro Garnacho has given a glimpse into the future of what he and striker Rasmus Hojlund can team up to offer at the Red Devils, in a message that will surely excite United fans.

What's the latest news involving Manchester United?

The Red Devils were on the end of a controversial 3-1 defeat to Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium last weekend, with late goals from Declan Rice and Gabriel Jesus sealing three points for the Gunners on home turf, as per BBC Sport.

Manchester United encountered their fair share of controversy during the fixture and saw a goal from Garnacho adjudged to be offside that would've given them a 2-1 lead in the final embers of the game – the video assistant referee chalked off the strike and the Red Devils couldn't take a result from the affair, leaving them 11th in the Premier League table after four games, having taken six points from an available 12.

Lisandro Martinez and Victor Lindelof were both withdrawn during the match and Jonny Evans and Harry Maguire finished the game as Ten Hag's central defensive pairing – the Dutchman has now explained why he had to take off both players, stating to Manchester United's official website: "Victor was ill, so he had to come off. And Licha said he had a problem on his foot. But I'm not sure if it's an injury.

We have to wait, we have to see, we have to make the diagnosis."

TyC Sports journalist Gaston Edul has taken to X to confirm that Martinez has joined up with the Argentina squad for matches against Ecuador and Bolivia in the coming week, stating: "Licha Martinez is fine. The studies gave that he does not have an injury."

What has Garnacho said about Hojlund?

Writing on Instagram, via The Manchester Evening News, Hojlund took to the social media platform to post about his debut in Manchester United colours, stating: "So proud to make my debut. The dream became a reality. Unlucky with the result today… but we will bounce back after the international break."

Argentina international Garnacho replied to Hojlund's post on Instagram and simply said "we will be back, together", also adding both players' numbers as a pairing.

Of course, their debut match as a duo ended in defeat. However, Manchester United fans will be encouraged by what the future may hold with Hojlund and Garnacho being at the forefront of their play in the final third for many years to come.

What next for Manchester United?

New signing Sofyan Amrabat has arrived in the building at Old Trafford and will bear the number four shirt on his back as he gets to work as a Manchester United player.

As per The Guardian, tensions are rising between Manchester United boss Ten Hag and winger Jadon Sancho, who has issued a statement on social media outlet X claiming that he has become a "scapegoat" figure amid comments from his manager criticising his level of performance in training.

Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho.

Manchester United have not commented on the matter publicly and instead, a meeting looks likely to occur between both Ten Hag and Sancho to try and find a way forward for both parties.

The Daily Mail have revealed that Chelsea considered making a move for Sancho in the summer before opting to bring in Cole Palmer from Manchester City in light of concerns over the 23-year-old's mindset.

Leeds: Academy star saw value rise by 655% after leaving Elland Road

Leeds United have a strong core of young players in their current first-team squad and Daniel Farke has already shown a willingness to promote from the academy.

Who are Leeds' most valuable academy graduates?

The Whites have brought through a number of impressive prospects through their youth set-up in recent years and could have another one on the way with Archie Gray, who has been given an opportunity by the German tactician at the age of 17.

Farke will be hoping to help the current crop of youngsters hit the heights of some of those in the table shown below, with Kalvin Phillips a regular within the England set-up.

Player Valuation (via Transfermarkt)

Kalvin Phillips £27.5m Pascal Struijk £15.4m Crysencio Summerville £12.8m Jack Clarke £10.3m Lewis Cook £8.5m

It does not always go to plan with talented young players, though, and one player whom Leeds, and manager at the time Simon Grayson, may regret their actions with is Jonny Howson, who left Elland Road before flourishing in Norfolk with Norwich City.

Which season did Jonny Howson make his Leeds debut?

The central midfielder came through the academy system and made his first-team bow for the Whites during the 2006/07 campaign as he made 11 appearances in all competitions.

He featured in nine Championship matches and scored his first senior goal against Norwich City at that level, whilst the promising ace also played once in the League Cup and the FA Cup.

Former Leeds midfielder Jonny Howson.

Howson then established himself as a regular member of the side throughout the 2007/08 season as he played 29 League One matches and scored five goals from midfield, which included two strikes in three play-off ties as the Whites missed out on promotion to the second tier.

How many goals did Howson score for Leeds?

The English maestro went on to become a key player for Leeds over the course of a number of years and ended his career at Elland Road with 28 goals in 225 appearances in all competitions.

His best season for goals came during the 2010/11 campaign as the central midfielder caught the eye with his exceptional ability to impact the game at the top end of the pitch on a regular basis.

Howson racked up ten goals and ten assists in 46 Championship outings, to go along with one goal and one assist in four cup matches, as he proved himself to be capable of being a reliable attacking outlet from midfield.

That incredible form in front of goal came after the Yorkshire-born gem produced four goals and five assists in 45 League One appearances as Leeds won promotion back to the second tier at the end of the 2009/10 season.

They finished runners-up to Norwich that term and the Canaries ended up with back-to-back promotions as they returned to the Premier League for the 2011/12 campaign.

Howson's fantastic performances throughout the 2010/11 term were rewarded with the captaincy in the summer of 2011 as Grayson confirmed that the academy graduate would be the new skipper as he led by example.

How much was Howson worth at Leeds?

Norwich went up to the top-flight in 2011 and eventually swooped for the central midfielder from Leeds during the 2012 January transfer window, in a move that was valued at €1.1m (£944k) by Football Transfers.

This turned out to be a big blunder from Grayson as the English midfielder's value went on to soar throughout his time at Carrow Road, with Premier League and Championship experience in Norfolk.

It was reported at the time of the move that the club decided to cash in on him as they were unable to convince him to put pen to paper on a new contract at Elland Road and his deal was due to expire in the summer, which would have seen him depart for nothing.

Former Leeds midfielder Jonny Howson.

Grayson may wonder, however, whether or not he did all that he could to persuade Howson that sticking around in Yorkshire was the best option for him.

Retaining his services would have been a coup for Leeds as the central star went on to enjoy a superb career with Norwich and his market value rocketed as a result of that.

How much was Howson worth at Norwich?

At the peak of his time with the Canaries, FootballTransfers rated his Expected Transfer Value (xTV) at €8.3m (£7.1m) in January 2016 which represented a staggering 655% on the €1.1m valuation at the time of his move to Carrow Road.

This means that Leeds missed out on being able to benefit from his huge progression as they cashed before they were able to see the best of his abilities.

Former Norwich midfielder Jonny Howson.

By failing to convince him to extend his stay with his hometown club, Grayson committed a blunder and it may be one that he looks back on with regret as the potential was there for him to become a hugely valuable asset for the club – based on his soaring market value in East Anglia.

Why was Howson worth that much?

The central midfielder was exposed to regular Premier League football with Norwich and was able to showcase his talent on the biggest stage in England.

Howson racked up eight goals and six assists in 108 top-flight appearances in yellow and green to go along with eight goals and six assists in 37 games during their 2014/15 Championship promotion-winning campaign.

The former Leeds midfield general, who was once described as a "Rolls Royce" by BBC Norfolk's Rob Butler, then caught the eye after his side's 2016 relegation with a string of impressive displays in the second tier.

Former Norwich midfielder Jonny Howson.

He averaged a Sofascore rating of 6.94, which was the seventh-best score within the Norwich squad, and contributed with six goals and seven assists in 38 league games during the 2016/17 campaign.

His performances and experience in midfield resulted in his market value rising considerably and it is a great shame that Leeds did not benefit more from his ability as Howson was an exceptional talent from the academy ranks.

Farke is now tasked with ensuring that the club do not allow any more super prospects to slip through their grasp to go onto greater things elsewhere over the years to come, including the likes of Gray, Crysencio Summerville, Wilfried Gnonto, and Charlie Cresswell.

Pant hammers fourth successive 50-plus score

Rishabh Pant’s 33-ball 58 powered Delhi to an eight-wicket win over Tamil Nadu with 5.4 overs to spare in Kolkata. Pant’s sixth T20 half-century, which included seven fours and three sixes, also took him past the 1000-run mark in his 35th innings. This is Pant’s fourth consecutive 50-plus score; he had made 51, 116* and 64 in his last three innings against Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Services.Electing to bowl first, Delhi recovered from Tamil Nadu’s flying start – they were 29 for no loss after 2.4 overs – by picking up three wickets in the Powerplay. Washington Sundar was the first to depart in the third over, caught behind by Pant Pradeep Sangwan. Pant, who was retained by Delhi Daredevils for INR 8 crore, took two more catches off offspinner Lalit Yadav and seamer Kulwant Khejroliya, who removed Ganga Sridhar Raju and Bharath Shankar (24 off 17 balls).Tamil Nadu’s innings, though, came back on track thanks to captain Vijay Shankar, who struck an unbeaten 57 off 48 balls and B Aparajith (45 off 32), who added 92 runs in 11.4 overs. Shankar, who has set a reserve price of INR 40 lakh in the IPL auction, hit four fours and three sixes. Khejroliya then hit back with two wickets off successive deliveries to dismiss Aparajith and N Jagadeesan in the 17th over. Thereafter, Delhi’s bowlers pulled things back as Tamil Nadu managed only 16 runs in their last three overs. Khejroliya, who had a good Ranji Trophy season, ended with figures of 4 for 26.Delhi’s chase began on a good note with Pant and Gautam Gambhir (21 off 21) adding 43 for the first wicket before Sundar removed the latter. After Pant and Dhruv Shorey (28* off 24) put on 64 runs for the second wicket, Sundar struck again to dismiss Pant. Shorey and Nitish Rana (34* off 14, 3×4, 3×6), who enjoyed a good IPL season for Mumbai Indians last year, finished off the chase.Pant suffered a ankle injury after losing his balance while attempting to flick a delivery. Delhi coach KP Bhaskar, however, said the injury was minor in nature, and that Pant would be available for Delhi’s game against Baroda on Monday.

Paine, Marsh, Bancroft in Australia's Ashes squad

Wicketkeeper Tim Paine, and batsmen Cameron Bancroft and Shaun Marsh have replaced Matthew Wade, Matt Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell in Australia’s Test team to face England at the Gabba. The squad for the first Ashes Test has raised plenty of eyebrows but bears the captain Steven Smith’s stamp of approval.Having been dropped himself as a younger player, Smith said he understood why the selectors did not feel they could risk choosing Renshaw in the midst of an early-season slump, while at the same time Bancroft had emerged from the pack by piling up 407 runs for twice out in his four most recent Sheffield Shield innings.

Australia squad for first two Tests

Steven Smith (capt), David Warner (vice-capt), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers.

“I spoke to him last night actually and he was obviously disappointed to not be included in the squad, as you should be, you always want to be playing for Australia,” Smith said of Renshaw. “So for him it’s about going back and scoring as many runs as he can. I think he’s an incredibly talented player and I think he’s got a big future for Australia.”But he unfortunately hasn’t been able to get the runs on the board that the selectors wanted, and the Ashes isn’t a place where you need to be trying to find your form. I think it’s great what the selectors have done, they’ve gone with the guys that are in-form and if the top six are getting big runs for us, I’m confident our bowlers can do the job.”As for Bancroft, Smith said a double of 76 not out (when he carried his bat) and 86 against the Test attack for Western Australia against New South Wales at Hurstville had convinced him the 24-year-old was ready. “He’s been looked at for some time,” Smith said. “He was included on the tour to Bangladesh a couple of years go which didn’t go ahead, and I guess the selectors said at the start of the Sheffield Shield that there’s a bit of pressure on for some spots and guys that can put their hand up are going to be considered.”He’s one who I thought played particularly well against a Test attack, particularly the first innings, there was grass on the wicket and it was doing a bit. He’s got a lot of time as a batsman, he’s composed, probably tightened his technique up a lot since I saw him last and if he goes in with that same mindset in Test cricket then hopefully he can score some big runs for us at the top of the order.”Smith was also eager to resume a long-dormant partnership with Paine, who made his Test debut alongside none other than Smith in a match against Pakistan at Lord’s in 2010. “I’ve known Tim for a very long time,” he said. “He’s a guy with an incredible knowledge of the game, he has a great presence on the field and is a terrific gloveman. His inclusion may have come as a surprise to a lot of people but I’m excited what he brings to the team. I’m sure he’ll do a terrific job for us.”Smith had noted the intense lobbying of the WA coach Justin Langer, who vouched for Marsh being “in the form of his life” despite not averaging over 40 in the Shield over three matches. Marcus Stoinis was also considered in strong contention for the No. 6 position, but the death of his father this week after a long illness has taken the allrounder away from the game for the time being.”He’s been opening the batting, so No. 6 is a spot where you could potentially face the second new ball and he’s been doing that,” Smith said of Marsh. “He scored some good runs against us in Hurstville and he’s hitting the ball really well. I think Justin Langer’s saying for some time he’s been in the form of his life and it looked like he was batting incredibly well, so I’m confident in the six batters we’ve picked that they can do a terrific job.”The panel have also included the South Australian seam and swing bowler Chadd Sayers in a 13-man group, which will now assemble in Brisbane to prepare. Paine’s selection for his first Test match in more than seven years – and after he played as a batsman alongside Wade this week for Tasmania – is the headline move, while the decisions to reinstate Marsh and drop Renshaw will also generate heated debate.”Tim was identified as an international player a long time ago and has always been renowned as a very good gloveman, also performing well for us whenever he has represented Australia in any format,” selection chairman Trevor Hohns said. “His batting form in recent outings for the Cricket Australia XI and Tasmania has been good.”Matt Wade has been left out of the squad following some inconsistent performances with the gloves and lack of form with the bat. Unfortunately, his run of performances did not improve in the early rounds of Sheffield Shield and we have opted to make a change.”We still view Matthew [Renshaw] as a player of immense talent, but he is out of form at the moment and we don’t feel an Ashes Test match is the best place for him to find form. We would like him to go back to first-class cricket and push his name forward with the selection panel through big runs.”Hohns said that Bancroft had demanded his spot through weight of runs in recent weeks. “Cameron has been a player of interest to us for some time now, having been unlucky to miss out on the Test tour to Bangladesh that was cancelled in 2015,” Hohns said. “He is a very talented and tough cricketer who shows a good temperament for Test cricket.”He has thoroughly earned and deserves his call-up following some outstanding performances in the early rounds of the Sheffield Shield competition this season. Shaun is playing very well at the moment, having scored consistently in the One-Day Cup and first three rounds of the Sheffield Shield competition. He is a versatile player who can slot in anywhere in the batting order and will add valuable experience to the batting line-up.”Sayers, meanwhile, looks a likely inclusion for the second Test of the series in Adelaide, where he is a noted exponent of moving the pink ball under lights. “Chadd’s inclusion in the squad is with a view to the Adelaide Test and the conditions that we may see there,” Hohns said. “He swings the ball with good control and knows the conditions well at his home ground. He gives us this bowling option if required.”

Leeds Could Copy Alf Haaland Success With "Electric" £40k-p/w Target

Leeds United need to act quickly if they are to enjoy the summer of transfer revolution that will propel them back into the top flight. Having focused on the defence, they could now turn their attention to the other end of the field…

Is Emmanuel Dennis leaving Nottingham Forest?

Of the various offensive targets that have emerged throughout the window, few stand out like Emmanuel Dennis, who ticks many boxes with regard to quality, availability and price tag, all of which would have piqued manager Daniel Farke's interest.

The Nigerian marksman has been linked on many occasions now, with the latest report emerging just last month. It is noted within that his exit has already been sanctioned by Nottingham Forest, who surely have to cull their bloated squad further after last summer's recruitment drive.

Read the latest Leeds transfer news HERE…

He is valued at €10.7m (£9m) by FootballTransfers, despite still having three years left on his £40k-per-week deal at the City Ground.

How good is Emmanuel Dennis?

By securing such a coup from the Tricky Trees, Farke would be gaining a versatile forward capable of leading the line on his own, playing within a striker partnership, or even operating from out wide.

Wherever he is put though, one thing is certain: he will bring goals.

The 25-year-old titan only moved to England in 2021 and took no time acclimatising to life with Watford despite the troubles that surrounded the club. Even as they fell to the drop, Dennis posted ten goals and a further six assists, with his move to Nottingham expected to continue this trend.

However, for whatever reason, Steve Cooper only afforded the finisher six starts in the league last term.

It is this lack of faith that has handed the Whites an opportunity to prey on his expected frustration, bringing him to Elland Road with the promise that he will surely be their main man.

With experience of starring at the level above the Championship, they will hope he can not only fire them back into the top-flight but help them remain there for longer than their most recent stint.

alf-haaland

After all, journalist Josh Bunting did outline just how prolific Dennis had been during that aforementioned campaign:

"Emmanuel Dennis has been one of the most underrated players outside of Watford fans this season, he’s been a very good addition. 4 goals and 5 assists in 11 Premier League games should be being spoken about much more. Today he was absolutely electric from the start to finish."

In securing a deal from Forest, the west Yorkshire outfit actually could replicate a success of the past, given Alf-Inge Haaland took that same path when he joined in 1997.

The Norwegian would go on to feature 87 times for the club, starring in one of their finest periods in recent history, despite the financial issues that rumbled on in the background. He was a fine utility man for George Graham and David O'Leary, even starring in their historic run to the Champions League semi-final in 2001.

His subsequent sale would also recoup the club a fine £2.5m fee, but it was not enough to save them from their subsequent debilitating drop through the divisions.

Should Dennis help them enjoy a period of success even half as enjoyable as the one which Haaland frequented, then this would be another deal from Forest certainly worth making.

Wrexham Friendly Lasts 4 Hours Due To Extreme Weather

Extreme weather in the American city of Philadelphia has meant it took four hours to finish Wrexham’s final game of their pre-season tour of the USA.

What’s the latest Wrexham news?

The summer has afforded the Welsh club, owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the opportunity to grow even more as fans outside of the United Kingdom have been able to watch them in person up against some of the world’s biggest teams.

Indeed, Wrexham began their US tour with a resounding 4-0 victory win over MLS outfit LA Galaxy, before losing 5-0 to Premier League club Chelsea. A win 3-1 against a weakened Manchester United team would have been a high point, but it was marred by a nasty injury to key striker Paul Mullin who was left with a punctured lung.

To end their tour, the Red Dragons travelled to Philly to take on Philadelphia Union II in a game which ultimately finished 1-1, with Tom O’Connor netting for Wrexham and Jeremy Rafanello scoring for the home team.

However, it wasn’t as simple as that as extreme heat and humidity at kick-off in Philadelphia meant fans were warned to take shelter amid heavy rain, lightning and gusty winds.

Co-owner McElhenney was at the game and took to social media to send a message to fellow Wrexham investor Reynolds to explain what was going on.

Indeed, speaking on his Instagram page, the actor said: “Hey Ryan, still at the match. There was a little bit of a rain delay, by about four hours. For some reason we’re still playing.

“If you’re in the UK you’re probably waking up, can probably still watch the rest of it. There are still some people chanting Wrexham, there’s still lots of people that remain.

“Anyway, Up The Town. Let’s hope we don’t get struck by lightning.”

Ben Foster also shared an update on Twitter from the stadium.

What did Paul Parkinson say about the Paul Mullin injury?

Thankfully the two clubs eventually managed to play the game in the end and this will no doubt be great for Wrexham as they try to prepare for a promotion-chasing campaign in League 2 next term.

The awkward delay, however, is somewhat representative of a few unfortunate moments for the Welsh outfit of late. After all, as mentioned before, star player Mullin is likely to now miss the start of the upcoming season after suffering an injury that left his manager furious.

Indeed, Paul Parkinson said: “It’s a straight red. The reason it’s a straight red, and even if the ref said to me that maybe there’s a covering defender, it’s a dangerous challenge.”

Wrexham owner's RobMcElhenneyandRyanReynolds

Adding to that, there have been some reports that all hasn’t been so rosy behind the scenes. According to reports,

“it’s not all good vibes all the time” at the club, and there are “questions” over owners’ high-interest loans well, as talk of a “rude, arrogant” board member whose behaviour led some staff members to quit.

Unfortunately, though, issues such as these tend to just be part of the package when it comes to running a high-profile football club and so there is no need to suspect anything particularly murky is happening at Wrexham.

So long as the good results keep coming, the good vibes should remain intact.

Broad in doubt for Lord's Test after suffering heel injury

Stuart Broad has emerged as an injury doubt ahead of the Test series against South Africa after requiring a scan on his heel

George Dobell21-Jun-2017

Stuart Broad in action for Nottinghamshire during their Royal London Cup semi-final•Getty Images

Stuart Broad has emerged as an injury doubt ahead of the Test series against South Africa. Broad bowled just one over before leaving the pitch as his Nottinghamshire side defeated Leicestershire by an innings after complaining of pain in his left heel. An England spokesman subsequently confirmed he would have a scan in the next 24 hours to ascertain the extent of the problem.The news is likely to cause concern in the England camp ahead of the Test series, starting at Lord’s on July 6. England are already likely to be without Chris Woakes, who is recovering from a side strain, while Ben Stokes played in the Champions Trophy with a sore knee and James Anderson has just recovered from a thigh injury.Broad will also be keen to play in the Royal London Cup final at Lord’s on July 1, while England would have wanted him to gain some pink-ball experience in the round of day-night Championship matches that is scheduled for next week. It may well be that he is rested from one or other game as a precaution even if the scan shows nothing more than bruising.Broad has managed his heel problem for some time. While specially made boots have alleviated difficulties, it is likely that he rarely bowls pain free these days. While Peter Moores, the Nottinghamshire coach, stressed that Broad left the field purely as a precaution and would not have done if the context of the match had been different – Notts were cruising to victory – the fact that he is undergoing a scan and the proximity to the Test series suggest the issue may be a little more serious than suggested.”Stuart had a bit of pain in his heel,” Moores said. “He’s had it for a while. If the situation had been different he could have pushed on through it but there was no need to so he came off and we’ll monitor it and look after him.”

Game
Register
Service
Bonus