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If Manchester United are to claim silverware for the third season in succession, then once again the Red Devils will largely have Bruno Fernandes to thank for that success, with the club’s talismanic skipper simply dragging his side to the Europa League final.

The 30-year-old has scored seven times in the competition this term – six of which have come in the knockout stages – alongside chalking up five assists, with the Portuguese’s ice-cold penalty notably kickstarting the stunning late comeback at home to Lyon.

Of course, as the captain of a side currently residing in 16th in the Premier League table, the playmaker is not exempt from blame. No player in the current squad is above criticism.

And yet, the murmurings surrounding a potential offer from Saudi Arabia for the former Sporting CP star have only served to reinforce just how vital Fernandes is to this struggling side. As Ruben Amorim put it, he is “one of the top players in the world”.

Perhaps the modern-day equivalent of the great Bryan Robson, a shining figurehead in a far from glorious era for United, Fernandes deserves to be part of a side truly challenging for Premier League and Champions League glory.

Premier League

34

8

10

Europa League

13

7

5

FA Cup

3

2

1

EFL Cup

3

2

2

Community Shield

1

0

1

Total

54

19

19

First, however, major surgery is needed to strengthen the side around him…

Latest on Man Utd's transfer search

After the dismal Erik ten Hag-led transfer policy, which revolved around Eredivisie-based or Dutch imports, it would appear that the INEOS regime are seeking a change in tact this time around, amid reports that the club are ready to raid the Premier League for high-profile talents.

Indeed, the two leading candidates to arrive at Old Trafford this summer appear to be Matheus Cunha and Liam Delap, with the exciting pair – who have scored 27 league goals between them – looking set to depart Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town, respectively.

Aside from that duo, however, Football Insider are also reporting that Amorim and co are now in ‘pole position’ to sign Bournemouth sensation, Antoine Semenyo, amid the Ghanaian’s standout season on the south coast.

Transfer Focus

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

As per the report, the chances of United landing the 25-year-old are ‘likely to be boosted’ if they secure Europa League glory next week, with the club potentially needing to fend off Arsenal and Newcastle United in the battle for his services.

This comes amid recent speculation which suggested that INEOS were willing to fork out £38m to sign the former Bristol City man, albeit with it yet to be seen whether the Cherries would accept anything less than their £60m asking price.

If United can win the race for the forward’s signature, he could represent the perfect addition to help revive Amorim’s limp forward line.

Why Semenyo could thrive at Man Utd

As the defeat to West Ham United showcased, this is a Manchester United side devoid of energy and athleticism. As Amorim himself admitted, there was a real “lack of urgency” from his charges.

A particular problem, something which the 40-year-old has also regularly pointed to, is the club’s struggles with ‘physicality’, a factor that has perhaps explained the difference between their success domestically and on the continent.

Bringing Semenyo into the fold could then go some way toward changing that dynamic, with the 25-year-old a simply explosive and electric presence in attack, having been described as “almost unplayable” at times by journalist Ed Aarons.

As former Bristol boss Nigel Pearson stated in the past, the 6 foot 1 ace is “very difficult to play against” due to his “pace and power”, having scored nine league goals this season while operating as a striker or on the flanks.

A player who can stretch a difference with a searing run in behind, Semenyo could then strike up a devastating partnership with that man Fernandes, with United’s “creative machine” – as hailed by Kevin De Bruyne – simply a master at picking out his teammates with a lofted or threaded pass to unlock a defence.

That was notably evident with regard to the Portuguese’s relationship with Marcus Rashford in the past, having jointly contributed to 26 goals alongside the Englishman, while notably providing six assists for his exiled teammate in the Premier League during the 2022/23 campaign.

Interestingly, Rashford is actually noted as a similar player to Semenyo among those in their position across Europe’s top five leagues, as per FBref, thus further outlining that he has the attributes to potentially thrive in partnership with Fernandes next season.

While the captain’s long-term role in the side is yet to be decided, he is a creative weapon wherever he is deployed, be it as a number six or a number ten, having again topped the division this term for chances created (88).

All he needs now is teammates to properly thrive on those opportunities. Could Semenyo fit the bill?

Man Utd could sign £150k-a-week Aston Villa star if Bruno Fernandes leaves

He has enjoyed an outstanding season for his current team.

2 ByHenry Jackson May 12, 2025

When the draw for the quarter-finals of the Champions League was made, very few people gave Arsenal any hope of defeating Real Madrid.

Alas, here they stand, 90 minutes from a semi-final spot after defeating the great 15-time Champions of Europe, 3-0, in the first leg.

Declan Rice was the hero, crashing home two remarkable free-kicks before Spaniard Mikel Merino added a third to spark chaos inside the Emirates Stadium.

It was Mikel Arteta’s finest night as Arsenal manager and perhaps the club’s finest in Europe. This was a performance that will live long in the memory.

How Declan Rice scored his two free-kicks

Coming into this match, Arsenal’s club-record £105m signing had never scored a direct free-kick in his entire senior career.

Since moving to the Gunners, he has been a regular set-piece taker, racking up numerous assists courtesy of his pinpoint corner kicks. He’s also taken wide-set plays but hasn’t been given the license to shoot from many.

Minutes played

80

Expected Goals

0.47

Goals

2

Expected Assists

0.08

Touches

43

Shots on Target

4

Dribbles (Completed)

1 (1)

Lost Possession

4

Clearances

1

Interceptions

1

That was until Tuesday evening, where the former West Ham man stepped up and had arguably the best two moments of his career to date.

The first free-kick was special, bending and curving the ball around the wall and past Belgian stopped Thibaut Courtois.

If you thought that was a remarkable effort then the second was even better. This time Rice was standing to the left side of the goal and was further out, but that mattered not for the England international.

Up he stepped, thumping the ball viciously beyond the goalkeeper, right into the far corner. It was spellbinding, it was enough to leave most onlookers speechless.

However, speaking in his post-match press conference, taking a shot for the first free-kick was not initially part of the plan.

Why Declan Rice ignored team orders to score his free-kick

Rice is a brutally honest character and in his post-game interview, speaking to the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Wayne Rooney on Amazon Prime, he admitted that the plan wasn’t to take a shot, most notably for his first free-kick.

In fact, he directly ignored instructions from not just skipper Martin Odegaard, but also heralded set-piece coach Nicolas Jover.

“I don’t know if it will ever sink in,” the midfielder began. “I fancied both (free-kicks) and to have the confidence, I am a bit speechless.”

Rice continued: “Martin [Odegaard] was saying to cross, I said it doesn’t make sense to chip it like that. We practice them all the time, (set-piece coach Nicolas) Jover is telling me to cross and it didn’t make sense.”

As a result, a quick comment from Bukayo Saka inspired the 26-year-old to step up and hit it goalbound.

“Bukayo [Saka] said, “If you feel it, go for it”. I looked at the wall and keeper and said I could bend it and that’s what happened.”

Rice also detailed how the second free-kick played out. “We were going to touch and set it, but Mbappe was stood too close. He was in the middle and I just went with it. I practice it a lot. I had the confidence after the first, I had nothing to lose.”

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ByJack Salveson Holmes Apr 8, 2025

The new No. 4 for India evoked memories of the old one with his double-hundred at Edgbaston

Sidharth Monga03-Jul-20251:15

Aaron: ‘Gill is an Indian Rolls Royce’

As a boy, Shubman Gill was a cricket nerd. He knew of the website , which is not a place for the casual fan. Back then, it was not behind the paywall that it is now. Gill would visit it because it is a repository of cricket scorecards that goes beyond international and domestic cricket, right down to junior scorecards and local leagues. Gill wanted to measure himself up against great players when they were his age.Gill’s “player oracle” search featured one player more than others. He wanted to know what Virat Kohli’s scores and achievements were when he was his age. At that age did he get ahead of Kohli. The senior man acknowledged as much when he first saw Gill in the nets in New Zealand in 2019-20, famously saying he didn’t have even 10% of the talent when he was Gill’s age.By then, though, Gill knew what a tall order he had chosen to follow. He might have had the skill, but he would need every bit of bloody-mindedness, competitiveness, fitness and drive he could muster to keep measuring up. Remarkably, he kept measuring up: he had his ODI game sorted before any other format, had a tough initiation into Test cricket, and then was named the Test captain at a similar age with similar numbers as batter and a similar transition to carry out. And with the whole world watching, not just the nerds.Related

• India's quicks cause damage after Gill's epic 269

• Gill makes the highest score by an India batter in England

• Stats – All the records Gill broke during his historic 269

Gill won’t need to subscribe to any websites to tell him he is carrying the parallels too far. A century on captaincy debut. Just like Kohli. In a defeat. Just like Kohli. A century in the second Test as captain. Just like Kohli. The same number of centuries as Kohli in England already. Going past Kohli for the highest score by an India captain already. Then getting out for 269, Kohli’s India cap number.More than just the numbers, it is the same inevitability he has carried as Kohli did at his prime whenever a pitch was less than spiteful. Gill barely ever plays a false shot. Even in a high-risk format such as T20 cricket, Gill scored 650 runs in IPL 2025 at a strike rate of 155.87 with a control rate Test batters would be proud of: a false shot every nine balls, or in control of 88.49% of the balls he faced. No batter did better than one false shot every over. Can you imagine what would happen if you gave Gill a flat track and unlimited time to bat?There is no need to imagine. You saw what happens. At Headingley, he played 21 false shots in 227 balls. That last one stuck with him. That was the kind of shot his dad would taunt him for playing when he was at the junior level.Long before that, when he was still living in his village, Lakhwinder Singh, Gill’s father, used to get his farmhands to throw balls at little Shubman. They would be rewarded with Rs 100 if they got him out. It was a little over a pound back then. Much better paid professional bowlers might as well be asking themselves, “What are we, farmers?”2:11

Jadeja: Captaincy pressure not affecting Gill’s batting

“We threw everything at him,” England’s assistant coach Jeetan Patel said afterwards.The skill and muscle memory developed hitting all those balls from the age of four or five teamed up with the resolve that comes from seeing a relaxed shot result in a Test-losing collapse, and England found themselves at the receiving end. Only 25 false shots came about in his 387 balls at the wicket. And he didn’t have to shelve any of his shots: reverse-sweeps, aerial hits, all were a go.Ravindra Jadeja, who spent the most time with Gill at the wicket, summed it up best. “When he has batted, it hasn’t seemed he is the captain or he has any extra responsibility. Today, unluckily that ball went to hand because it never looked like he would even get out.”Gill famously started this series at a Test average of under 36. He stated that his goal was to be the best batter in the series. His average has risen to 40.64 already. It is tempting to imagine where his average would be if he got a few more such pitches in his first 32 Tests.

On a nervy night at Eden Gardens, both players made crucial contributions to wrest the advantage away from KKR

Sreshth Shah21-May-20232:21

Should Pooran bat higher?

Lucknow Super Giants have invested time and money on Ravi Bishnoi and Nicholas Pooran. It now seems a while ago, but Bishnoi was one of LSG’s out-of-auction signings before their maiden IPL season. In the most recent IPL auction, LSG kept bidding on Pooran till they acquired him for INR 16 crore. They spent 20% of their salary budget on one player.That’s because Bishnoi and Pooran are both quintessential X-Factor players in T20s. A hard-hitting batter and a wily wristspinner are two types of cricketers who can turn white-ball games around within an over. Give them a couple of more overs to settle, and before you know it, they are all over you. It was a lesson that Kolkata Knight Riders got on Saturday night.Related

IPL playoffs: RCB, MI and Royals in race for final spot

Pooran, Bishnoi seal Lucknow Super Giants' playoffs spot with thrilling one-run win

In both innings, KKR held the aces after the first ten overs, only for these two men to snatch the advantage back in LSG’s favour. It started off with Pooran walking in at No. 7 in only the 11th over and LSG’s score reading 73 for 5. He stayed till the penultimate over of the innings and by the time he was dismissed, his five sixes and four fours in a score of 58 gave LSG a defendable total of 178.Then, when KKR seemed to be running away with the chase, blitzing to 78 for 1 in 8.2 overs, the squeeze began with Bishnoi dismissing Nitish Rana and stringing together a series of tidy overs. He frustrated Andre Russell before picking up his wicket in the last over and completed his four-over spell with miserly figures of 2 for 23 that included 10 dots and only two boundary shots. In a must-win game for LSG where the margin of victory was eventually just one run – thanks to Rinku Singh’s continued heroics – without either of these two performances, LSG would’ve been nervously waiting for Sunday’s games to know their playoff fate, a position they’d hated to be in.That LSG had their nerves jangling was visible even as Bishnoi spoke after their win. “To win a game like this, the morale is down. Oh sorry – I mean the morale is high. See, I can’t even talk properly (laughs). We were feeling scared every ball,” he said.”I haven’t seen anyone bat like Rinku Singh for a long time. The way he has batted this season, it is unbelievable. We knew if we bowl a string of dot balls, then it will be tough for them to chase. The goal was wickets or dot balls, the plan was to bowl stump to stump and the challenge was to ensure we do that.”Ravi Bishnoi struck in his first over•Associated PressEven as Bishnoi beamed in the glory of LSG securing a second consecutive playoff appearance, it would never have been possible without Pooran’s innings. Bishnoi was essentially closing what Pooran had initiated.Pooran had walked in at No. 7 – wearing the Mohun Bagan maroon that is reminiscent of his national team colours – with a rescue job at hand. LSG’s top order had essentially failed, and were in real danger of posting a total that would not be competitive in Kolkata. The natural order of things was that Pooran would take a few overs to get his eyes in, having the luxury of entering in the 11th over, but he did the opposite. He smashed 23 in his first 10.This was not the Pooran we know. Even though he has built his game as an imperious hitter, Pooran is not a very quick starter. In his last three years of the IPL, his first-ten-ball strike-rate when coming in before the 14th over had been 116.4. Even when he walked in after the 14th, the corresponding strike-rate was only 135.6. But here he was, playing against the grain.It was such a jolt to the KKR bowling that they looked helpless for a brief moment. Having neutralised Varun Chakravarthy’s danger in his first three deliveries by hitting him for two fours and two sixes within his first ten balls, he pounced on Suyash Sharma and Vaibhav Arora through the late-middle overs. He also ran hard in Ayush Badoni’s company and reached his fifty in 28 balls by hitting the first of two consecutive sixes off Shardul Thakur. Even though Pooran fell, his 42-minute stay had changed the game’s complexion.”I knew I had to go as deep as possible,” Pooran said. “I knew that once the spinners were bowling, they’d give me some bad balls and I was ready to capitalise on this small ground.”I’ve been batting pretty decently through the tournament. And when you’re batting well, you need to take advantage of it, and today was a must-win game for us. Ayush and I had a partnership in Chennai that was similar to this. And I told him we have to go as deep as possible and also pick our moments.”The bottom line is that Pooran’s most recent innings is an extension of his IPL 2023 form. This is his best IPL season – in terms of runs (358), fours and sixes, and strike-rate (173.78). According to Pooran, he finds joy in “repaying the faith” to a team that has “backed him immensely” but LSG head coach Andy Flower has a different theory; Pooran 2.0 was unlocked after his brief captaincy stint with West Indies.Nicholas Pooran hit a 28-ball fifty to lift LSG to a competitive total•Associated Press”One thing that would help his development as a bloke and a team member is his captaincy experience with West Indies recently,” Flower said. “Once you experience the variety of challenges that come your way when you’re captain, it makes you a much better team member.”He made the difference today. It takes a lot of confidence in yourself to hit balls that early in your innings. It has been wonderful to have him remaining in our dugout for that last section of a 20-over innings. He is getting greater clarity on his game, each time I see him. Today was a wonderful mixture of boundary hitting, six hitting, and also alternating the strike so that he elongated his innings.”He’s a beautiful striker of the ball. He’s worked on his bat swing. And he knows that if he gets the ball in a certain area then he’ll clear the boundary. And he’s done that with trial and error with a lot of boundary-hitting practice. He’s put in the hard yards to get to where he is now. And he’s also had a lot of ups and downs in his young career. We think people will have linear developments – heading upwards – but that’s not how life works and how international sport works.”He’s had some bumps along the way, but I do think that captaincy experience has helped. He’s realised how tough it was and now I think he appreciates the game and his team-mates even more. And that’s what brings a really balanced young man to the party.”LSG needed a hat-trick of wins in their last three league-stage games to secure a playoff spot. They now need another hat-trick of wins to take the IPL title. Saturday’s Pooran-Bishnoi show will ensure the side remains in a happy space. And now they have earned the right to put their feet up and enjoy Sunday’s cricket to learn who their opponents at the eliminator will be.

Are India better off with a fast-bowling allrounder, a fast bowler, a wristspinner or a spin-bowling allrounder?

Sidharth Monga22-Feb-2021Test selections are never easy. You have to pick a team not only for the conditions at hand on the first day but what you anticipate to happen over the five full days. You also have to provide for losing the toss. You might, for instance in the second Chennai Test, expect that one fast bowler is plenty for the best part of the Test, but you still have to pick two to provide for losing the toss even if that means you are practically playing 10 players for all but two of the sessions.Related

• Umesh Yadav added to Test squad, Shardul Thakur released

• Graham Thorpe: 'Adapting to the pink ball will be key'

• Anderson doesn't expect reverse swing to play a part in day-night Test

• Rohit: Need to be 'extra focused' at twilight time in day-night Tests

• Ishant Sharma – from unlucky workhorse to master quick

Add to all this the uncertainty a day-night Test brings where the conditions can be a bit of a lottery. There might be dew one night but not another. Captains have a tough task of covering all bases when they hand over their XI to the match referee. It is a sign of India’s strength that they need to debate only one place going into the day-night Test starting Wednesday in Ahmedabad. And that is the place occupied by Kuldeep Yadav in Chennai.The other expected change is Jasprit Bumrah’s return into the XI in Mohammed Siraj’s place. The five batsmen who played in Chennai, Rishabh Pant as wicketkeeper and R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Ishant Sharma and Bumrah are certainties subject to last-minute fitness issues. Here are the options India have for the 11th spot. All of them have a reasonable case for selection.Kuldeep himselfKuldeep bowled just 12.2 overs in the second Test in Chennai, his first in more than two years. In both innings, he was the last man India went to, and he picked two wickets when the match was long over as a contest. With not much contribution expected from his bat, Kuldeep did seem like a luxury in that Test. However, he can only get into a better rhythm over time, and what works in his favour is the constant feedback from domestic cricketers who have played pink-ball cricket in India that wristspinners are difficult to pick in the night.Mohammed SirajAs a second specialist quick, Siraj bowled only eight overs in the Chennai Test for one wicket, but if the conditions – you need to leave extra grass for the pink ball to last – ask for it, India might need three fast bowlers in the side. Siraj, Bumrah and Ishant along with two spinners is the closest India will get to their winning combination in Melbourne. Axar is the closest you can get to Ravindra Jadeja: an accurate fingerspinner who doesn’t give batsmen time to adjust, and someone with promise with the bat. If conditions ask for a third seamer, Siraj is the frontrunner.Umesh Yadav has had an excellent record in home Tests of late, and he is back with the squad, but since he is coming fresh off an injury it remains to be seen if India will feel confident enough to draft him straight into an XI.Hardik PandyaThose present at the Chennai Test say Pandya has been bowling with the pink ball in the nets. If India feel they need their fifth bowler for six-seven overs a day at best and they also need batting depth to cover for pink-ball vagaries, don’t be surprised if Pandya makes his return to Test cricket after an absence of two-and-a-half years.Washington SundarThe other man who spent a lot of time with the pink ball in the nets in Chennai is Washington Sundar. And here are Rohit Sharma’s expectations from the Ahmedabad pitch: “I don’t see anything change [from Chennai]. However it played in the second Test, it’s going to be similar. It’ll turn. We’re preparing accordingly for that, let’s see when the day comes. It’s been a while since international cricket was played here, we’ll see how it goes.”Also, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches in Ahmedabad were spin-dominated. If that continues to be the case, an accurate and quick fingerspinner who can also provide lower-order runs might not be a bad option for a fifth bowler.

Tottenham Hotspur sporting director Fabio Paratici is now planning to spearhead a move for a “world-class” £100m forward, having recently returned to N17 after a FIFA ban.

Spurs looking to strengthen attacking options

Thomas Frank is off to a solid start as Tottenham manager, despite being left a little light on attacking options at times, with Dominic Solanke, James Maddison, Randal Kolo Muani and Dejan Kulusevski all spending time on the sidelines.

In the week, Frank stressed just how important Kulusevski is to his side, and appeared to hint that the Sweden international may be back sooner rather than later, saying: “He’s a key, key player for us. Instead of putting an exact month on [his return]. I just want him back as quick as possible. I know the medical team and Dejan are working very hard on that. It’s not tomorrow, hopefully not too far away.”

The 25-year-old was a shining light in a Spurs side that underperformed in the Premier League last season, while also playing his part in the Europa League triumph, chipping in with four goal contributions during the run to the final.

Competition

Appearances

Goal contributions

Premier League

32

11

Europa League

11

4

FA Cup

2

2

EFL Cup

5

4

As such, the winger’s return will be a welcome boost for Frank, but Tottenham have set their sights on bringing in a new forward, according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states they are among the clubs chasing AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo.

Having enjoyed a fantastic start to the season, Semenyo is being chased by a number of top Premier League clubs, but a deal could be very expensive, with the Cherries planning to hold out for a fee of around £80m – £100m.

Paratici has given the green light to lead the pursuit of the 25-year-old, with the Lilywhites expressing a strong interest in getting a deal done, which pre-dates the Italian’s return to north London.

Tottenham open agent talks to sign £35m Brazilian who's "deadly in the box"

Spurs have entered discussions over a deal for a new forward, who is being targeted by a number of top clubs.

ByDominic Lund Oct 19, 2025 "World-class" Semenyo would be statement signing for Tottenham

In his fourth season as a Premier League player, the Ghanaian appears to be entering his prime, having chipped in with six goals and three assists in eight matches, winning Bournemouth’s Goal of the Month award courtesy of a stunning strike against Liverpool in August.

Journalist Liam Canning was left particularly impressed by the forward’s performance in the Cherries’ 3-1 victory over Fulham earlier this month, singling him out for high praise on X after the match.

Even at £80m, the Bournemouth star would be by far Tottenham’s most expensive signing of all-time, but if the board want to make a real statement of intent in the post-Daniel Levy era, signing Semenyo would show they truly mean business.

Thomas Frank is clearly a clever man. The Tottenham Hotspur manager is a bona fide tactician, and he has credentials in the Premier League after lifting Brentford into the top flight and keeping them there with a flourish.

But the Danish coach’s skills haven’t yet translated to Tottenham, not in the same manner, not with the same snap and grace.

Tottenham are 11th in the league standings, and they have two points from their past five matches. Home ground misery has spilt from last season into the new campaign, and this is forming the crux of a general air of frustration that may threaten Frank’s tenure if he does not find a solution quickly.

Much has been made of the north Londoners’ creative problems this season, but Frank’s resilient and organised defensive structure is also leaving something to be desired, prompting Johan Lange and Fabio Paratici to start searching for reinforcements.

Spurs searching for a defender

Frank’s well-ordered system lends itself to stability in the Premier League. He is not known as an attack-centric coach, but the rises of Bryan Mbeumo, Ivan Toney and Yoane Wissa bear testament to his man-management skills and tactical expertise across the board.

But it’s clear that Tottenham need more high-quality depth at the rear, with questionable recruitment in recent years leading to a lopsided outfit that quite simply doesn’t boast the wider quality to challenge at the very top of the division.

Burnley

28

28.8

West Ham

28

23.1

Nott’m Forest

22

21.3

Leeds

26

19.7

Tottenham

18

19.5

Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are talented centre-halves, but the pool is shallow beneath them, and that’s why Tottenham are gearing up for a winter raid on a Premier League rival.

According to TEAMtalk, Tottenham are preparing an ambitious £40m bid for Brighton & Hove Albion defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who has been among the standouts for Fabian Hurzeler this season.

The Dutchman is physical and technically dynamic, and given that he is contracted to the AMEX until 2027, now represents the perfect time to strike.

What Van Hecke would offer Spurs

Van Hecke, 25 years old, has been at Brighton since signing from NAC Breda in 2022, spending his first two years out on loan and since featuring 107 times across all competitions. He was immense last term, earning praise for his “unbelievable season” from his manager.

You may have seen Van Hecke’s name crop up in recent days. He netted a brace during Brighton’s frantic 4-3 defeat to winning machine Aston Villa, emulating both Romero and Van de Ven in that regard.

Standing at 6 foot 2 and with a limber frame, the Netherlands native is fast becoming one of the most dynamic and athletic centre-backs in the Premier League, ranking among the top 5% of positional peers in the division this season for goals scored, the top 21% for shot-creating actions, the top 3% for progressive passes and the top 1% for progressive carries per 90, as per FBref.

This underscores both his athleticism and proactivity on the ball. In this, he shares traits with Romero, who has scored three times but also assisted two goals across all competitions this year.

But the central point here is that Van Hecke is good enough to start; he would not move to the capital and play under Frank only to languish on the fringes.

Romero is the captain and a real talismanic force for a squad in need of guidance, but given Van Hecke’s enterprising passing and willingness to run, might he threaten countryman Van de Ven’s place in the starting line-up?

Matches (starts)

13 (13)

14 (14)

Goals

3

3

Assists

0

0

Touches*

69.2

86.4

Accurate passes*

53.2 (91%)

62.6 (87%)

Dribbles*

0.3

0.1

Ball recoveries*

3.7

3.1

Tackles + interceptions*

2.3

2.5

Clearances*

3.5

5.1

Duels (won)*

3.4 (51%)

5.6 (60%)

Errors

2

1

Van de Ven simply isn’t winning enough duels this season. He is an elite athletic profile and a force to be reckoned with, but there is gas in the tank he is not burning right now, and a true challenger for his starting spot could jumpstart him into action.

Then again, Van Hecke does have the quality to nail down a berth, with former striker Pierre van Hooijdonk actually describing him as a “positively crazy” defender, something that can work in your favour as a centre-back, if harnessed effectively.

This Romero-esque player could prove a jackpot signing for Tottenham if signed, not only deepening Frank’s options but also enriching the quality of a team that has more to give.

Spurs star is becoming Frank's own version of Kane & he's not even a forward

This Tottenham star is becoming a talismanic force for Frank’s side.

ByAngus Sinclair Dec 5, 2025

Manchester City are now considering a move for a new forward who Pep Guardiola called “extraordinary”, and they have identified him as a priority target.

Man City eyeing new forward amid overreliance on Erling Haaland

Man City are the joint-highest scorers in the Premier League this season, having netted 24 times, but to say they are reliant on Erling Haaland would be an understatement, with the Norwegian scoring 14 of those, finding the back of the net every 74 minutes on average.

No other City player has scored more than once in the league, and Guardiola called on his other attacking players to step up after the 2-0 victory against Everton last month, saying: “He [Haaland] could have scored four or five at the end. He’s our key man,”

“At the same time, we cannot do good things with just Erling. Our wingers, attacking midfielders and the other players have to make a step up.”

However, Maxime Esteve technically still remains the Blues’ second-highest scorer in the league this term, having scored two own goals in Burnley’s 5-1 thrashing at the Etihad Stadium, so it is no surprise a new forward is now being targeted.

According to a report from Spain, Man City are now considering a move for AFC Bournemouth star Antoine Semenyo, amid concerns they are overreliant on Haaland, with the Ghanaian forward set to be available for a fee of £65m during the January transfer window.

Semenyo has now been identified as a priority target by City, given the fantastic start he has made to the Premier League season, although there could be competition for the 25-year-old’s signature from reigning champions Liverpool.

Talks could ‘accelerate soon’, with the Blues clearly keen on signing the versatile attacker, who is capable of playing on the wing, as a target man, or even as a second striker.

Man City preparing £158m+ bid for star who wants to work under Guardiola

The Citizens are keen to make new signings and could now look to acquire one of Europe’s most prominent attackers.

BySean Markus Clifford Nov 24, 2025 "Extraordinary" Semenyo could boost City's title chances

In fairness, Jeremy Doku has stepped up to the plate in recent times, most notably scoring and winning a penalty in the 3-0 victory against Liverpool last month.

However, none of City’s attackers have been anywhere near as consistent as Haaland, so it would make sense to bring in a new forward this January, and Guardiola has made it clear he is a big fan of the Bournemouth star.

The Ghana international made a flying start to the campaign, meaning he is currently the joint-fourth highest goalscorer in the Premier League.

Top scorers in the Premier League

Club

Goals

Erling Haaland

Manchester City

14

Igor Thiago

Brentford

9

Danny Welbeck

Brighton

7

Antoine Semenyo

AFC Bournemouth

6

Jean-Philippe Mateta

Crystal Palace

6

With Haaland clearly in need of additional support in attack, Semenyo could be a fantastic signing for Man City, as they look to hunt down Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table.

The torpedo bat won't be going away anytime soon based on MLB commissioner Rob Manfred's latest comments on the craze.

Baseball's specialized bats which took over the league at the start of the season are perfectly legal per the rulebook but have still stirred up controversy over their unorthodox bowling-pin bat structure.

Manfred spoke in a Q&A with the about the future of torpedo bats and explained why he thought they were "good for baseball."

"They’re absolutely good for baseball," Manfred said. "I believe that issues like the torpedo bat and the debate around it demonstrate the fact that baseball still occupies a unique place in our culture, because people get into a complete frenzy over something that’s really nothing at the end of the day.

"The bats comply with the rules. Players have actually been moving the sweet spot around in bats for years. But it just demonstrates that something about the game is more important than is captured by television ratings or revenue or any of those things, when you have the discussions and debates about it."

Fans are certainly having discussions about it this season after the New York Yankees—who were the first to debut the torpedo bat—unleashed a barrage of homers during opening weekend and went on to make MLB history in their sizzling-hot start.

Baseball bat engineers have even weighed in on the topic and explained the "fallacies" surrounding the literal impact torpedo bats are having on the game.

With every single MLB team interested in getting their hands on the torpedo bat, and with Manfred's latest positive endorsement, the bat seems like it's going to be an intriguing and potentially permanent fixture of the sport moving forward.

West Indies had nothing going for them coming into this second T20I on a balmy evening in Lauderhill. They had won just two of their last 19 completed T20Is, which included the forgettable 5-0 loss to Australia at home. They had put down multiple catches in the first T20I. Rovman Powell joined Brandon King, Evin Lewis and Shimron Hetmyer on the injury list, Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran had recently said their goodbyes, and the three-match series was on the line.If not for a comprehensive team effort, West Indies were looking for something, a semblance of a spark, any individual brilliance to turn things around amid the mounting pressure in the build-up to the T20 World Cup next year. It came, the individual brilliance, and from one of the oldest members in the squad.At the age of 33, a body that has been through the rigours of 12 years of international cricket as a pace-bowling allrounder, participation in nine T20 leagues around the world and a shoulder rehab not too long ago among other injuries, Jason Holder became West Indies’ highest wicket-taker in the format, took stunning figures of 4 for 19, pouched two sharp catches, and hit the winning runs when West Indies had lost all their batting steam and needed three to win off one.Related

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• Holder's 4 for 19 and last-ball heroics keep series alive

What was Holder going to remember the most from this day? “Just getting over the line, to be honest,” he said on being named the Player of the Match. “As I said before, it’s been a tough couple of weeks for us. We just needed a win. We brought it down to the very end, unfortunately. But fortunately, we still got over the line.”The most pressure-cooker situation of those must have been when he got the strike back against Shaheen Shah Afridi in the last over of the chase with six to get from three balls. Holder had Shamar Joseph at the other end, and still, inexplicably, took a single when he couldn’t put away a low full toss. Shamar, for his part, gave the strike back and it all came down to Holder to hit four runs off the last ball to keep the series alive. He shuffled away to off, Afridi bowled the full delivery well wide of him outside off and the wide signal eased Holder’s nerves a little. Next delivery, Holder covered the stumps and this time when Afridi aimed for the stumps, Holder swiped it away behind square for four.The ball had barely left the 30-yard circle and you could hear Holder’s shriek of celebration on the stump mic before the camera turned to him with his arms aloft, accompanied by a roar of celebration. Holder explained what their chasing strategy was when he was batting with Romario Shepherd and they needed 36 from 18.”I told Romario when we were batting, we needed at least four sixes with the scenario that was posed to us. We got three. We fell probably one short, but we still got over the line. That was our target. Just keeping wickets in hand, obviously, but still trying to hit our strong areas and find the boundary.Jason Holder’s last-ball heroics took West Indies over the line•AFP/Getty Images

“We are powerful players and we know we can find the boundary. But credit to the Pakistani bowlers as well. I thought they bowled really well.”Earlier in the day, Holder had also given West Indies an early lift that also pegged him higher in the record books. Sharing the new ball with Akeal Hosein, Holder struck with his sixth ball when he had the in-form Saim Ayub edge behind and it took him level with the T20 legend Dwayne Bravo on the list of most wickets for West Indies in T20Is. On his third ball after what he later called “just a statistic,” Holder had Sahibzada Farhan, the other opener, slicing to deep point for 3. Even when he wasn’t bowling, the ball found it hard to stay away from Holder.When Mohammad Haris went across the line against Hosein in the next over and failed to get the distance for a six, Holder ran back from mid-on, as much as he could, and stretched his long arms with his bucket hands to grab the ball in the nick of time. Pakistan were now three down early and Holder had played a hand in each of those wickets. But Pakistan were not done yet, and hardly did they know that neither was Holder.Captain Salman Agha and their young basher Hasan Nawaz had put together a quick stand of 60 in just over six overs to power Pakistan past 100, when Holder was brought back. Hasan had just pumped three consecutive sixes in the 15th over, but Holder, who had shown his wares in the middle and death overs in the PSL a few months ago, got Hasan in a tangle, completed the return catch and followed it with his fourth wicket in his last over.”I love playing for West Indies, to be honest,” Holder said. “One of my things is to leave West Indies cricket better than they came and found it. I still think there’s a lot of work to be done. We haven’t done justice to our potential over the last couple of weeks, maybe the last couple of years. We’ve had a fair bit of criticism, which at times is warranted, but we know that winning can be a lot better. We’ve just got to put it together more often than not.”I think [lack of] consistency has definitely plagued us, but we’ve seen that over the years that we can do it. For me, it’s just to have that burning desire to make a change, to make a difference. So I keep putting in my best effort when I get a chance with the West Indies.”