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Manchester United have succeeded more times than not when bringing in Dutch exports to Old Trafford, for every Memphis Depay there are countless players from the Netherlands who have excelled after joining the Red Devils.

Robin Van Persie and Ruud Van Nistelrooy stick out as attacking greats, whilst Jaap Stam and Edwin Van Der Saar are more well-known for their efforts up the other end in keeping the ball out of the net.

Man United will hope they can strike gold from this market again with a prospective signing being lined up, Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders linked with the Red Devils from AC Milan who draws comparisons to former Man United youngster Angel Gomes.

Are Man United interested in Tijjani Rejinders?

According to recent reports from Italy, Man United are scouting the 25-year-old Milan man with a transfer fee in the region of €40m (£35m) expected to be enough to land the Dutchman.

It would see Erik ten Hag swoop for a player from his native Netherlands over poaching another talent from the Eredivisie, the success rate for these buys from the Dutch first division diminishing with one notable misfire in Donny Van De Beek.

Yet, in Rejinders – who has only recently joined AC Milan from AZ Alkmaar – they could have a real talent on their hands with data analyst Ben Mattinson on social media describing the midfielder as both a "silky" player and also a "machine" with how much he progresses the ball for his side.

How good is Tijjani Rejinders?

Developing in his homeland of the Netherlands with the aforementioned AZ, Rejinders stands out as a versatile option in the centre of the park – playing 11 games so far the Rossoneri at defensive midfield, his traditional central role but also further forward as an attacking option also.

The talented youngster would notch up three goals and eight assists in his final Eredivisie season, finishing his career with the two-time Dutch first division Champions collecting 13 goals and 15 assists in total from 128 appearances.

He's impressed the San Siro faithful so far into the infancy of his Milan career after making the transfer switch to Italy, Rejinders already has two assists to his name.

His standout attributes, as per FBRef, include his shot-creating actions and his shots per ninety minutes – registering 4.03 shot-creating actions per 90 over the last year he's played, whilst also attempting 1.86 shots on total per 90 too.

Reijnders would give Man United a different option in midfield away from the more defensively-minded Casemiro and the attack-oriented Bruno Fernandes, which could be why ten Hag is intrigued by bringing the 25-year-old to Manchester to add depth and quality to his faltering group.

He is similar in many ways to a player who fell by the wayside for the Red Devils after coming through the youth system – Angel Gomes, who only made a handful of appearances for Man United before being shipped out to Lille three years ago.

Looking at both players, there's an eerie overlap in their numbers – Gomes also has two assists so far this campaign for Lille in Ligue 1 and this indicates that they can both provide a creative threat to provide opportunities for their teammates from their position.

Moreover, both individuals are calm on the ball with both Gomes and Rejinders very rarely giving away possession for their respective teams at league level this season.

Rejinders has a 90% pass completion percentage for Milan, whilst Gomes is more accurate than his Dutch counterpart with a higher 92.7%.

Man United therefore could look to Rejinders as an exciting new midfield option to freshen up the group, but also, to get over the low of having to wave goodbye to ex-Academy prospect Gomes when they did.

The Milan star could provide a similar level of metronomic play in the middle of the park as the England U21 international has produced for Lille, which could help to dominate and control games for the Red Devils.

England and India are still chasing top-order stability in the last stop of the tour, and Cook’s international career

The Preview by Deivarayan Muthu06-Sep-2018Big PictureWhen the Test series began in England, there were murmurs about this Indian side being well equipped to end their horror overseas run – they had last won a Test series outside Asia and the Caribbean in 2009.After India had lost the first two Tests and then bounced back to stun England at Trent Bridge, there were murmurs of a Bradman-esque comeback: from a 2-0 deficit to a 3-2 series victory. Then, when it mattered the most in a one-innings shootout at Ageas Bowl, India’s premier spinner R Ashwin struggled to loop the ball into the rough on a bone-dry pitch that was more MA Chidambaram Stadium than Ageas Bowl. The killer blow then came when the batting line-up folded against Moeen Ali, again. All-new series. Same-old story for India.The series is dead now, but this is by no means the deadest of dead rubbers. Alastair Cook, who made his Test debut against India in 2006, is set to bow out of international cricket against the same team. Since the retirement of Andrew Strauss, in 2012, the England selectors have been endlessly searching for the other opener. Post-Oval, their problems will be doubled. And what’s with Joe Root’s reluctance to bat at No. 3? Word has it, Moeen Ali will continue at one-down at The Oval.India’s top order is in no healthy shape either. KL Rahul hasn’t produced an innings of note and has looked as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs against the inswinger. He has been dismissed bowled or lbw in six of his eight Test innings here. Shikhar Dhawan has shown greater restraint outside off, and has moved into double figures in each of his six innings, but hasn’t passed 44. So, will 18-year-old Prithvi Shaw, who has been racking up runs and records in domestic cricket and A games, make his international debut at The Oval?The visitors could also be pondering handing a debut to Andhra batsman Hanuma Vihari, who, like Shaw, has been prolific in domestic cricket and has the experience of playing club cricket in England. And if Wednesday’s net session is anything to go by, Ravindra Jadeja could get his first international game on tour, in place of Ashwin.Form guideEngland WLWWW (last five Tests, most recent first)
India LWLLWIn the spotlightSam Curran has played only five innings in this series, but only Virat Kohli and Jos Buttler have made more runs than him. A bulk of Curran’s 251 runs have come when his team has been been in a mess. His blazing 65-ball 63 hauled England from 86 for 6 to 180 in Birmingham and he staged a similar rescue act with the bat in England’s series-clinching victory in Southampton. As for his bowling, he has found sharp swing into India’s right-handers, his awkward angle making things even more difficult for the batsmen. Whatever happens at The Oval, Curran, arguably, will be remembered as the player of the summer for England.Undoubtedly, Virat Kohli has been the player of the summer for India. After managing only 134 runs in 10 innings in 2014, while getting out to James Anderson four times, the India captain has firmly put the boot on the other foot four years later, with 544 runs so far in two innings fewer. And he hasn’t been dismissed by Anderson in this series though every other England bowler has reeled him in. Kohli v Anderson: who will win round five?Getty ImagesTeam newsJonny Bairstow, who had played the Southampton Test as a specialist batsman after fracturing a finger while taking a catch behind the stumps at Trent Bridge, is now fit enough to take back wicketkeeping duties from Jos Buttler. England have named an unchanged XI, which means the recalled pair of Chris Woakes and Ollie Pope will sit out.England: 1 Alastair Cook, 2 Keaton Jennings, 3 Moeen Ali, 4 Joe Root (capt), 5 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Jos Buttler, 8 Sam Curran, 9 Adil Rashid, 10 Stuart Broad, 11 James AndersonKohli named an unchanged team for successive Tests for the first time ever at Ageas Bowl, but it’s time to spin the wheel again. India are likely to beef up their batting with the inclusion of Vihari at the expense of an allrounder in Hardik Pandya, who has played all of India’s Tests in the overseas cycle so far, starting with his debut in Sri Lanka last year. Jadeja, meanwhile, is likely to play his first overseas Test since the SSC game in August 2017.India (probable): 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Cheteshwar Pujara, 4 Virat Kohli (capt), 5 Ajinkya Rahane, 6 Rishabh Pant (wk), 7 Hanuma Vihari/Hardik Pandya, 8 Ravindra Jadeja/R Ashwin, 9 Ishant Sharma, 10 Mohammed Shami, 11 Jasprit BumrahPitch and conditionsThere was some live, green grass on the pitch on the eve of the Test match, but it seemed dry underneath – possibly the reason why England have chosen to stick with two spinners. Expect some of the grass to come off before the toss, leaving the captain winning the toss to make the easy decision of batting first. The weather is likely to be fair on day one, with more overcast conditions expected later in the match.Stats and Trivia Kohli needs 56 runs to make 600 in a series for the fourth time. He needs 88 runs to surpass Mohammad Yousuf’s tally of 631 and own the record for most runs in a Test series in England. Cook needs one run to 1000 Test runs at The Oval. Having made over 1000 Test runs at Lord’s, Cook is in line to become the second England player – after Graham Gooch – to reach 1000 Test runs at two different venues. Ishant Sharma is four wickets away from becoming the top wicket-taker for India in Tests in England. Kapil Dev currently leads the list with 43 wickets in 13 Tests while Ishant has 40 wickets in 11 games. Stuart Broad needs four wickets to become the fourth-highest wicket-taker among seamers in Test cricket. His team-mate Anderson, Glenn McGrath, Kapil Dev and Richard Hadlee are ahead of him currently. England’s lower order (Nos. 7-11) has contributed 697 runs in this series as opposed to India’s lower-order tally of 351. Cook will join Andrew Flintoff, Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers in officially retiring from international cricket at The Oval.

Kieron Pollard exults after bringing up his maiden T20 hundred•Getty Images

July 31, 2016. That was the last time St Lucia’s CPL franchise last won a match. But their two-year streak of futility is no more after Kieron Pollard’s maiden T20 century propelled the Stars to a CPL record total of 226 to help break a 14-match losing streak in a 38-run win over Barbados Tridents.After blowing a golden chance at breaking the CPL’s longest streak of futility 24 hours earlier, Obed McCoy’s brilliant spell of slower balls denied a late charge by the Tridents to help clinch St Lucia’s first win since a 17-run win in Florida when Barack Obama was president of the USA and the franchise was still known as the Zouks.

Five numbers from St Lucia Stars’ win

14 – The losing streak broken by the St Lucia franchise
427 – The number of T20 matches it took for Pollard’s maiden ton
226 – The CPL’s highest total of all time
17 – Second-most number of sixes in a CPL innings
6 – The number of cricketers to score a CPL century

Fiery FletcherThe second-highest scorer in CPL history gave the Stars another terrific start in the Powerplay, and this time one they would not waste. Andre Fletcher tore into Mohammad Irfan in the opening over of the match after Stars were sent in at the toss. Fletcher clattered two sixes over the leg side followed by fours through mid-on and point in a 20-run opening over. David Warner tried to copy Fletcher’s lead in the second but nicked off his second ball against Jason Holder. It was one of the few miscues on the night for the Stars though.Rahkeem Cornwall excelled once again as a pinch-hitter at No. 3, smoking 30 off 11 balls over the next three overs before he was bounced out by Wahab Riaz. Lendl Simmons copped a rough lbw decision from Langton Rusere next ball on a delivery pitching outside leg to put Wahab on a hat-trick. It was the last moment of joy for the Tridents for the next hour as Fletcher and Pollard combined for a 148-run stand.Fletcher brought up his half-century off 34 balls in the 12th and appeared on his way to becoming the sixth player in CPL history to score a century. A rib-high no ball by Floyd Reifer in the 17th was followed by two more off the free hit and last legal ball of the 17th over to take Fletcher to 80 off 50 balls, but he fell three balls into the next over when his attempted scoop over fine leg found the man stationed at 45.The joy of sixesInstead of Fletcher, it became Pollard who brought up triple figures in the final over with his eighth six driven flat over long-on. It was the 17th six of the innings, one short of the CPL record set a night earlier on the same ground when Darren Bravo snuffed out the Stars in an extraordinary chase.The shot that brought up Pollard’s ton also created a new CPL record for the highest ever innings total, the third time it has been broken this season after Trinbago Knight Riders total of 223 chased down later that night at Queen’s Park Oval by Jamaica Tallawahs thanks to Andre Russell striking the CPL’s fastest hundred.On the opposite side, Raymon Reifer was in danger of creating the wrong kind of history. With figures of 0 for 67 off 3.3 overs, three more sixes would have given him the distinction of the worst bowling figures in the history of T20 cricket. But the ignominious distinction of 0 for 81 held by Sarmad Anwar of Sialkot Stallions remained intact after Reifer had Pollard out next ball caught at deep square leg. Darren Sammy pulled Reifer to deep midwicket to put the left-arm seamer on a hat-trick before Qais Ahmad whiffed at the final ball.David Warner, Obed McCoy, Andre Fletcher and Mitchell McClenaghan celebrate a win•Getty Images

Qarate QidIn a format where legspinners have proven to be the most prized wicket-taking commodity, Qais Ahmad was a curious bystander as he didn’t bowl at all on Thursday night during TKR’s stunning chase. Captain Pollard showed more faith on Friday and was rewarded when the Afghan wristspinner returned 2 for 29.Dwayne Smith, the owner of four CPL centuries, was keeping the Tridents in the hunt for another stunning chase with a composed half-century. At the halfway mark, Tridents were 75 for 1, one run and two wickets better than Knight Riders were a night earlier. But Qais struck a key blow six balls after drinks getting Smith to top edge to deep square leg, which was followed by a somersault celebration. Two balls into his next over, Qais had Hashim Amla stumped to trigger a gleeful flying ninja kick through the air.Slow your rollIn spite of the damage done by Qais, Tridents refused to fold as Nicholas Pooran charged ahead with a pair of sixes. But one ball after a one-legged six straight down the ground, McCoy snuck in a back-of-the-hand slower ball, inducing a skier to Warner at long-off in the 14th.McCoy’s last two overs were held back and Tridents continued to threaten as a result as Steven Smith and Shai Hope combined for 46 runs over the 16th and 17th overs. But McCoy’s return in the 18th netted Smith with another clever slower ball sliced to the point sweeper and he capped his spell in the final over getting Holder to drive to long-off. After McCoy’s final ball was guided by Hope to point for an inconsequential single, Pollard dropped to his knees and pointed his folded hands to the starry St Lucia sky, giving thanks to a higher power for bringing The Curse of the Zouks to an end.

Chelsea and transfer chief Todd Boehly by extension may spend "big money" on replacing defender Marc Cucurella and shoring up the left-back position.

Latest Chelsea news

After a regrettable run of going three straight Premier League games without scoring a single goal, having been without one since late August, Mauricio Pochettino's men got back to winning ways with a much-needed 2-1 west London derby win over Fulham on Monday night. A first Chelsea goal for Myhhalo Mudryk and striker's Armando Broja finish a minute later did enough to seal all three points for the Blues.

"We got what we deserved," Pochettino said afterwards.

"The first half we were much better than Fulham. The second half we were in control. I’m so happy because the players needed this victory and so did the fans. We now have two victories in less than one week. We needed to feel the taste of victory, and another clean sheet also. Now we have won two games we need to keep calm and keep building the belief and the confidence. We have had many negative circumstances with so many players not fit, but the most important thing is belief and the team believe in what we are doing."

Chelsea next take on Vincent Kompany's Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday, knowing another three points could steer them further in the right direction just prior to the next international break.

Latest Chelsea transfer news

A lot of Chelsea's problems so far have been in front of goal, and despite the signing of Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal, there is a case to be made that they're lacking a world-class, natural centre-forward. As a result, the likes of Napoli striker Victor Osimhen and Brentford's Ivan Toney are being linked with moves to Stamford Bridge.

Pochettino and Boehly could also opt to strengthen in the left-back area, as Ben Chilwell is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury and Cucurella is the subject of a possible January exit. That is according to journalist Pete O'Rourke, who shared some news on the matter in a column for Football Insider.

"The Blues could explore a deal for a new left-back in January if they can get Marc Cucurella off the books," wrote the reporter.

"Ben Chilwell’s injury problems are the subject of real concern behind the scenes at Chelsea – and the left-back is set for another spell out after picking up a fresh problem against Brighton. The club’s owners are not afraid to spend big money and could do so again to give Pochettino a new left-back option in January."

Cucurella started his first league match of the season against Fulham last night, but he came in at right-back, potentially meaning Pochettino has different plans for the opposite flank. The Spaniard, signed from Brighton in the summer of 2022, has previously been called "very intelligent" by ex-Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel.

It will be interesting to see what the future does hold for Cucurella, or if Pochettino will turn to Ian Maatsen as an option more often.

Liverpool squeezed past Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday afternoon, avoiding a setback to maintain their sizeable lead at the top of the Premier League.

Now, Aston Villa at Villa Park. It won’t be easy, although the Reds have avoided defeat in their last nine top-flight meetings with the upcoming opponents, albeit drawing two of the previous four.

With Manchester City hosting Arne Slot’s table-toppers at the weekend, change may be afoot. Liverpool have run roughshod over the majority of their league opponents this season but must be wary as nerves begin to dig their claws in.

Lifting the title is becoming a very real possibility, but Liverpool need to avoid a setback here and will have to do so without several first-team stars.

Liverpool dealt fitness blows

Cody Gakpo was absent against Wolves after picking up a knock during last week’s draw at Goodison Park and has been ruled out once again for this one.

It’s a blow, to be sure, but Liverpool have depth and a host of players who need to step up to the plate and ease Mohamed Salah’s burden.

Though Gakpo is in contention for a return against Pep Guardiola’s side, Slot has provided a begrudging update on Joe Gomez’s fitness, with the versatile defender set to be sidelined for several more weeks, potentially requiring surgery on a hamstring injury.

Of course, Villa have got a number of issues themselves, chiefly to their depleted defensive ranks. Liverpool can damage Unai Emery’s side, for sure.

However, the Lions did boost their ranks in January, and there’s one man in particular – Marcus Rashford – who will have the spotlight on him this evening.

Slot praised the 27-year-old’s quality and may be tempted to make a big change for the looming contest.

Slot could make a bold call vs Villa

Trent Alexander-Arnold is one of Liverpool’s greatest latter-day players, but he looked somewhat off the boil during the narrow Wolves win, and Slot could replace him with Conor Bradley for this one.

The games are coming thick and fast, and Gomez’s injury update calls for caution, lest Liverpool lose another key part ahead of the business end of the season.

Alexander-Arnold said in 2020 that a clash against Manchester United two years before was “the most difficult” in his fledgling career, owing largely to being pitted against Rashford.

The Three Lions winger has felt more than most the ebb and flow of football, but there’s little question that he’s one of the dangerous forces in the Premier League when on his a-game.

It’s early days yet, but you feel that Rashford is ready to play with a new lease of life at Villa Park, and having scored five goals from ten games against Trent in his career, switching things up might pay off for Slot.

It would be a big – some may even say brazen – call from the Netherlands tactician, but Bradley’s mobile and athletic style of play could be the perfect way to neutralise Villa’s winter recruit.

Marcus Rashford – Past 6 Premier League Seasons

Season

Apps (starts)

Goals

Assists

24/25

16 (12)

3

1

23/24

33 (26)

7

2

22/23

35 (32)

17

5

21/22

25 (13)

4

2

20/21

37 (33)

11

9

19/20

31 (31)

17

7

Stats via Transfermarkt

He’s down but not out. Rashford has proved over separate campaigns his capacity for brilliance, and freshening things up, bringing Alexander-Arnold’s heir apparent to the starting fold, might knock Emery’s pre-game preparations askew.

There’s also the matter of Liverpool’s weekend fixture. Indeed, Manchester City await on Sunday, with Liverpool last winning at the Etihad Stadium in the league way back in November 2015, just two months into Jurgen Klopp’s tenure.

Days after, Liverpool meet Newcastle United at Anfield in the next crunch fixture in a sea of crunch fixtures. They have the following weekend off due to being dumped out of the FA Cup, but the last 16 of the Champions League rolls up the ensuing midweek.

Liverpool vs Arsenal – Upcoming PL Fixtures

Liverpool

Arsenal

Aston Villa (A)

West Ham (H)

Man City (A)

Nott’m Forest (A)

Newcastle (H)

Man United (A)

Southampton (H)

Chelsea (H)

Everton (H)

Fulham (H)

It’s relentless, but Liverpool are up for the task. However, Slot will likely be wary after his side’s uninspiring performances against Everton and Wolves, with Arsenal only too eager to pounce on a Reds setback and bridge the title gap.

Bradley is more than capable of silencing Rashford and helping his team toward a stirring Villa Park victory that would see Liverpool tackle the weekend fixture with renewed vigour and confidence.

As per FBref, the Northern Ireland star ranks among the top 10% of full-backs across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for both passes attempted and the top 5% for progressive carries and tackles per 90.

He’s dynamic and ceaseless. Bradley’s 4.28 touches per 90 in the attacking box also put him in the top bracket of positional peers, showcasing a different type of attacking flair to that of Liverpool’s vice-captain.

Against the likes of Rashford and Morgan Rogers, his defensive game will surely be called into play more than a few times – luckily he’s already proved against the very best that the game has to offer that he has no qualms about getting stuck in with crunching challenges.

Hailed as an “unbelievable talent” by Northern Irish footballer Richard Donnelly, Bradley’s proved time and time again that he’s capable of playing a central role in Slot’s project.

All of a Liverpool persuasion want Trent to stay put, but if he does leave for Real Madrid, Bradley is more than ready to step up.

Chalkboard

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Should he start against Aston Villa, he will prove as much all over again.

Related He left in 2021: Liverpool flop sold for £12m is now outscoring Nunez in PL

He could have played a part for the Anfield side over the past few years.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Feb 17, 2025

Following last season's third-place finish under new boss Erik ten Hag, it is now over a decade since Manchester United last tasted Premier League glory, with the Red Devils having been forced to watch on as their city neighbours have dominated the division in that time.

Despite a net spend of over £1bn since the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson, the Old Trafford outfit have never truly looked like ending that barren run, with a shaky start to the new season indicating that this lengthy wait is set to continue.

Of the current first-team squad, only the returning Jonny Evans – who signed on a short-term deal last month – was part of the last title-winning squad back in 2013, with former teammates Phil Jones and David De Gea having left the club over the summer.

Despite the length of time that has passed since that most recent triumph, it feels like only yesterday that the legendary Ferguson signed off his illustrious managerial career with a final major honour, aided by a side spearheaded by the devastating brilliance of striker, Robin van Persie.

How many goals did Van Persie score for Man United?

The major talking point heading into that 2012/13 season was the controversial capture of the Dutchman from rivals Arsenal, with the experienced marksman having been tasked with guiding United to a 20th league title, following the prior Sergio Aguero heartbreak in the previous campaign.

Robin van Persie (Arsenal)

Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund)

Alexander Buttner (Vitesse)

Nick Powell (Crewe)

Angelo Henriquez (Club Universidad de Chile)

Snapped up from under the nose of Arsene Wenger for what now looks a rather measly £24m, the one-time Feyenoord ace was seemingly the catalyst for the success that was to follow in Ferguson's last bow, taking on the mantle of being the main man in attack.

Having plundered 30 league goals the year prior for the Gunners, the Rotterdam native netted a further 26 top-flight goals in his new surroundings to not only claim a long-awaited league title but also a second successive Golden Boot gong.

That, however, was as good as it got for the now-retired ace as his form somewhat dipped over the next two seasons, ultimately scoring just 22 league goals combined as the club as a whole struggled to adapt to a post-Ferguson world.

Even despite only enjoying what was a relatively brief three-year stay at the Theatre of Dreams, for a long while the 40-year-old arguably remained the most influential signing of the decade at the club, with few having hit the ground running quite so successively since then.

That being said, however, it could be argued that Van Persie's solid legacy has now been eclipsed despite United's continued quest for major honours, with it fair to say that current skipper Bruno Fernandes has proven the major success story of the last ten years or so.

How much did Man United pay for Fernandes?

Much like Van Persie, the Portugal international's impact in Manchester was immediate following his arrival from Sporting CP in January 2020, with the playmaker providing the creative spark that had long been lacking in Manchester.

Signed for an initial £47m – less than what United forked out for Fred (£52m) – Fernandes' smooth transition to life at Old Trafford was made all the more impressive considering, unlike Van Persie, that he had never played in English football prior to that.

A Man of the Match performance on debut at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers set the tone for what has been a standout spell since then for the 5 foot 10 maestro, with it hard to imagine where the club would be had they not acquired the talismanic figure just over three-and-a-half years ago.

How many goals has Bruno Fernandes scored for Man United?

Despite operating in a number ten berth – unlike Van Persie – the Maia-born gem has proven himself to be a real weapon in a goalscoring sense for the Red Devils, while also providing the benefit of his creative flair as a link between midfield and attack.

That dual quality has been evident from the off as the £240k-per-week sensation ended that 2019/20 campaign with eight goals and seven assists in just 14 league games, while also netting three times in just six Europa League outings for his new side.

The midfield "magician" – as recently lauded by Statman Dave – subsequently contributed a staggering haul of 28 goals and 17 assists in 58 games in all competitions in 2020/21, while adding a further 24 goal contributions the following year.

Having continued to impress over the past 12 months or so, the 29-year-old's current tally now stands at 65 goals and 55 assists in just 189 games for the club in total, with Van Persie, meanwhile, scoring 58 goals yet registering just 21 assists in his 105 outings.

How has Bruno Fernandes performed this season?

Now the man with the armband on a permanent basis after teammate Harry Maguire was stripped of the captaincy earlier in the summer, it is fair to say that the 59-cap international is the undisputed leader in Ten Hag's side, showcasing remarkable resilience and consistency to have missed just one game through injury or illness in his United career to date.

While his start to life as the new club captain may have been somewhat rocky – with the Red Devils losing two of their opening four league games – the one-time Udinese man still boasts one goal and one assist in the top flight thus far, converting from the spot to clinch the comeback victory over Nottingham Forest last month.

Previously described as a "dream" for a striker by club legend Roy Keane, Fernandes currently leads the way in the division with regard to 'big chances' created, after also topping the charts in that regard last term.

That quality was also on his show for his country against Luxembourg on Monday night as the former Sampdoria dynamo got himself on the scoresheet and completed a hat-trick of assists, including a delightful, outside of the boot cross for Goncalo Inacio.

To have maintained his levels over an extended period of time is a credit to the playmaker's talents, with United supporters only truly seeing the best of Van Persie for a solitary season, prior to Ferguson's exit.

There will be those who argue that Fernandes – who has just a Carabao Cup to show for his efforts thus far – needs to do more to help drag his side back into contention for major honours, yet if any current player is to lead the charge towards the title in the coming years, it is likely to be the Portuguese genius.

Mohammad Amir has come to an agreement with Pakistan coach Mickey Arthur that is likely to see him play less Test cricket

Umar Farooq26-Mar-2018Mohammad Amir is considering shortening his Test career in a bid to extend his international playing days. The fast bowler has come to an agreement in principle with Pakistan’s head coach, Mickey Arthur, which will see Amir’s workload being managed in the future, and it is likely that it will reduce the number of Tests he appears in.Amir, 25, has played 30 Tests since his debut nearly nine years ago, but he didn’t play any cricket for five of those years when he was serving a ban for his part in the Lord’s spot-fix in 2010. He was 18 at the time, had played 14 Tests and become the youngest bowler to take 50 Test wickets. Had he not taken part in the fix and been banned it is likely he would have played a majority of Pakistan’s 43 Tests in the interim.Since his international return at the start of 2016, he has added 16 Tests and though his record may not stand out – 44 wickets at 37.25 – he has been a regular for Pakistan in all three formats. Added to stints in county cricket and T20 leagues and it is no surprise he is starting to feel the toll. He has bowled the most international overs for any Pakistan bowler since his return (864.3 overs) across all formats, sixth among fast bowlers worldwide – none of the others returned, however, from five years out of top-flight sport.”Cricket is different since 2010 and if you look back I have lost five precious years of my career,” Amir told ESPNcricinfo. “Just imagine had I played in all those years, the count could have been 70-80 Tests.”I can’t roll back that lost time but I can manage my workload to extend my career as much as I can. With every passing day I’m getting older and I know fans want me to play. But if you look rationally I’m human and not an iron man. My passion is still there and I want to be there for fans, serving the country for a long time. I have played 30 Tests so far. I think in the next few years I might miss a few and possibly I might end up with 50 Tests.1:58

Ban to burnout?

“I came to agreement with Mickey and with so much cricket we need to follow a rotation policy so that everyone is fresh and fully fit for the country. His planning ahead of the 2019 World Cup is working very well. I didn’t say I don’t want to play Test cricket but that I want to weave myself in, resting for a few and playing the important games. This is being done by Australia and England, so why not us? We have so many potential bowlers around and all need to be played … it’s not like I will stay forever but whatever time I have I would rather stay with greater impact.”Amir has been fairly fortunate in avoiding major injuries in international cricket, though during his Under-19 days he did suffer a major stress fracture of the back. Since his return he has injured his shin – midway through a Test against Sri Lanka last year – and sustained a side strain during the PSL this season. He was rested by the management during the 2016-17 home series against West Indies and also missed the World XI series in Lahore last year after becoming a father.Rumours had floated last year that Amir was considering giving up Tests altogether, rumours which he denied.”At the end of the day it all comes down to you individually,” he said. “You know your body very well and you know how much your body can sustain.”Sometimes people don’t realise that bowlers need rest and when you go out with injury, if it’s a serious one then you have no future. You fade away and people forget. I have seen many examples in our system, of players who have come and gone.”With so much cricket going on I have be very careful with my body. I have lost enough in my life and this is my profession, I need to be very careful going forward. Fitness is everything and for a fast bowler it’s really tough for me to play everything. A good impactful performance comes with a fitter body and with a fresh state of mind.”

Chelsea have had a summer to remember when it comes to signing players and it looks like fans could be treated to yet more spending, following a key update from journalist Simon Johnson.

Do Chelsea need more signings?

The Blues have made a disappointing start to life under Mauricio Pochettino, with their Premier League campaign flattering to deceive in the opening two matches.

While the 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool on the opening weekend was an adequate result, Sunday's 3-1 defeat away to West Ham was a shock to the system. Chelsea may have dominated chunks of proceedings, but they didn't create enough opportunities and their finishing wasn't good enough when chances did arrive.

The west Londoners may have spent big this summer, most notably signing the likes of Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia and Nicolas Jackson, but they still look short of elite quality currently, especially in attacking areas.

There is now less than two weeks of the summer transfer window remaining and failure to bring in one more wide option in the final third could ultimately prove costly.

Will Chelsea sign another attacker?

According to The Athletic's Johnson, Chelsea are still eyeing up another attacking signing this summer, although a new No.9 is out of the question, despite Christopher Nkunku's long-term injury after arriving from Borussia Dortmund:

"With the transfer window closing on September 1, there is still time for the chequebook to be used again. Chelsea have been looking at signing another attacking player anyway, but not a tried and tested No 9 as such.

"A move for Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise broke down last week, while Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson was put on the wish list last month."

While rival fans may balk at Chelsea's need to bring in another attacker, given the money they have already spent since the end of last season, there is no question that they look short of reliable options in that area of the pitch.

Raheem Sterling was superb in a losing cause against West Ham, arguably producing his best performance yet in a Blues shirt, but he has been a disappointing signing so far, and his very best days could possibly be behind him.

Meanwhile, Mykhailo Mudryk continues to experience a torrid time of things, failing to score in 19 Chelsea appearances and missing a glorious opportunity late in the day at West Ham, while Noni Madueke also hasn't had the desired impact.

Read the latest Chelsea transfer news HERE…

A move for Michael Olise has fallen through after he signed a new deal with Crystal Palace, so signing him is out of the question, but someone of a similar ilk could be ideal, in terms of a young wide talent who can combine pace, trickery and a steady flow of end product.

It looks as though Rennes winger Jeremy Doku is a possible option to come in and ease the Blues' woes, and the Belgium international could be a brilliant addition, having scored 12 goals and chipped in with a further ten assists for the Ligue 1 side to date.

Everton remain desperate for attacking reinforcements as they endeavour to improve their performances in the Premier League this season.

Fortunately, an update has emerged on a late move for a potential transfer target.

What's the latest Everton transfer news?

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Everton are one of the clubs interested in signing PSV Eindhoven winger Johan Bakayoko.

Tavolieri took to social media to reveal:

"It's getting tighter for Johan Bakayoko! An offer from PSG sent to PSV is expected early next week around €25M [£21m]. Everton wants to get into the fight."

How good is Johan Bakayoko?

There is no doubt that Sean Dyche will be pushing to add more quality to his attacking line over the remaining days of the transfer window, with pressure mounting on the manager following a disappointing start to the season.

Read the latest Everton transfer news HERE..

In their opening three Premier League fixtures, the Toffees have failed to pick up a single point and have scored zero goals which has left them rock bottom of the table, something that further demonstrates their desperation for a consistent and reliable man up top to make an impact.

As a result, the signing of Bakayoko could be exactly what Dyche needs to boost the creativity and goal threat in the final third. In fact, he could even be a much better signing than Wilfried Gnonto.

The Leeds United ace has been strongly linked with a move to Goodison Park throughout the transfer window, however, nothing has materialised beyond talks with the west Yorkshire club and rejected bids, although after being isolated from the squad due to a request to leave, Gnonto returned to action in the Championship last weekend.

Over 23 Eredivisie appearances last season, the left-footed Bakayoko – once hailed a "wonderful talent" by scout Jacek Kulig – scored five goals, registered five assists and created six big chances, as well as successfully completing 63% of his dribbles and winning 51% of his duels combined, as per SofaScore.

When comparing the 20-year-old output to Gnonto's last season, the PSV star comfortably outperformed his positional peer in a number of key attributes, notably including goal contributions which the former came out on top on, 13 to 6.

Bakayoko is clearly a more rounded package at this stage of the player's respective careers, registering more shots on target rate (42.6% v 33.3%), shot-creating actions per 90 (4.85 v 3.32), successful take-ons (59.2% v 27.3%), aerial duels (48.1% v 30.8%) and boasting a better pass completion rate (77.6% v 72.3%), as per FBref.

It has also been reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano that despite slow progress, Demarai Gray could still potentially be on the move to the Saudi Pro League over the coming days, so securing the signing of another forward will be absolutely imperative if the winger does exit.

With all considered, if Everton could complete a deal for Bakayoko before Friday's deadline it would be a major coup for the club and could significantly improve their attacking presence as the Toffees fight to retain their top-flight status at the end of the season.

MatériaMais Notícias

O meia Galego pode estar de malas prontas da Portuguesa Santista. O jogador destaque da Briosa na temporada é alvo de interesse de equipes de dentro e fora do país. Com cinco gols em dez partidas no ano, ele é peça fundamental do comando ofensivo do time, que busca voltar à elite do futebol paulista. O empresário do atleta, Marcelo Galático, não nega o interesse dos clubes e tenta mantê-lo focado apenas nas quatro linhas. Entre os possíveis interessados estão o Santos e clubes da Coréia e do Japão.

Jefferson Fernando Isidio, o Galego, tem 23 anos de idade e construiu sua carreira em equipes do futebol paulista. Na Portuguesa Santista desde o começo do ano, ele acumula uma média de um gol a cada duas partidas. Ele, inclusive, foi o autor dos dois gols da Briosa no revés sofrido para o Juventus, no retorno do futebol na Série A2 do Paulistão. Quem cuida da carreira do atleta é o empresário Marcelo Galático. Ele prefere não revelar os clube e trata com calma o interesse.

– Recebi ligações de algumas equipes, mas neste momento não posso confirmar nomes. Estamos analisando o melhor para carreira do jogador. A decisão será a melhor para todos. Tanto para ele, quanto para o clube. É um atleta de enorme potencial. Agora estamos trabalhando para mantê-lo concentrado apenas em jogar futebol – afirmou.

Galego é canhoto e consegue desempenhar a função clássica de armador, mostrando também força para chegar na área adversária e concluir. Utilizado em múltiplas funções em campo na Portuguesa, ele é tido como essencial para a equipe. O treinador do time, Élder Campos, indica que a saída é iminente, mas que torce para a permanência dele, pelo menos até o fim da Série A2.

– O Galego é uma referência no ataque, uma peça importantíssima no nosso esquema de jogo. E a gente espera que ele possa dar a resposta naquilo que ele vinha fazendo na competição antes da pandemia, e nos ajudar no nosso objetivo. Depois, quem sabe, seguir a vida. A gente sabe que ele tem propostas, então o grupo está focado nessa situação de também ele nos ajudar e a gente ajudá-lo nessa situação – revelou o treinador ao programa Tribuna Esporte, da TV Tribuna.

Com a saída próxima de acontecer, Galego volta a campo com a Portuguesa Santista nesta quarta-feira (26) para encarar o Monte Azul, pela 14ª rodada da Série A2 do Paulistão.

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