Manchester United have turned their attentions to a fresh midfield target, and have made an opening offer for his services as Erik ten Hag looks to bolster his engine room ahead of the new season.

Man Utd seeking Casemiro upgrade

After finishing eighth in the Premier League last season, Man Utd have already added two fresh faces to their squad. They have signed highly-rated defender Leny Yoro from Lille in a deal worth £52m to strengthen their backline, while Joshua Zirkzee has also been signed from Bologna in a £34m move.

Though both players are younger and more promising alternatives to those they replaced in Ten Hag's squad (Raphael Varane and Anthony Martial), it is unclear whether either player immediately strengthen the first XI as things stand.

Sky Sports: Man Utd want £21m Ugarte rival who's the "monster" Mainoo needs

He seems set to leave his club this summer

ByJoe Nuttall Jul 28, 2024

The Red Devils are far from done in the market though, and have now turned their attentions to a new right back and a defensive midfielder. They are in advanced talks to sign Bayern Munich defender Noussair Mazraoui to replace Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but their midfield targets have gone cold.

They are also chasing a deal to sign PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte, but those links have since cooled. Nonetheless, a replacement for Casemiro is arguably needed, with the Brazilian linked with a move away having endured a horror end to the 2023-24 season, with one performance leading Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher to urge him to head to Saudi Arabia.

“I think Casemiro should know tonight that he should only have another three games left at the top level. The next two league games and the cup final, then he should be thinking, I need to go to the MLS or Saudi.

"This has to stop because we are watching one of the greats of the modern time. I always remember the saying 'leave the football before the football leaves you'. The football has left him. At this top level, he needs to call it a day at this level and move.

Now, an alternative target to Ugarte to replace the Brazilian may have been found.

Man Utd submit £50m+ offer for midfielder

That comes as reports in Spain claim that Manchester United have tabled a £50.8m (€60m) to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, who helped Spain to Euro 2024 glory at England's expense a fortnight ago.

The diminutive defensive midfielder has long been on the radar of Arsenal and Barcelona but has repeatedly stressed that he is happy with Sociedad.

Now though, that has reportedly changed. According to Catalan outlet El Nacional, United have "put €60m on the table" to sign Zubimendi, and said offer represents "considerable temptation both for the club and the player".

That fee matches the release clause in his Real Sociedad contract, which sees Zubimendi take home £48,000-a-week in Spain and is not due to expire for another three years. But they have been given food for thought with the Red Devils offer.

They add that the 25-year-old will take some time to consider his decision, but that should the offer be rejected by Sociedad the Red Devils will return with an improved one as they look to add the deep lying midfielder to their squad.

Zubimendi is a household name in Spain, and demonstrated his talents when replacing Rodri in the Euro 2024 final, though it had been evident well before that.

Martin Zubimendi vs Casemiro 2023-24 domestic season

Casemiro

Zubimendi

Appearances

25

31

Pass Accuracy

81.8%

85.7%

Progressive passes per 90

5.09

5.15

Tackles and interceptions per 90

4.59

2.92

Arsenal loanee Kieran Tierney, who spent the 2023-24 campaign with Sociedad, had no doubts about his ability.

"You have world-class players like Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, Brais Mendez. It's not that people don't think they're good, it's just that if you're only watching the Premier League every week, it's hard to know. They're world-class", he explained in February.

Now, even Premier League fans may come to appreciate his ability should he become a Manchester United player before the new season kicks off.

Every single Everton supporter will be aware of the awful financial issues currently plaguing the club, preventing boss Sean Dyche from investing and improving his current squad.

The Toffees have been massively restricted as to what they can spend during the transfer windows to avoid any further PSR breach which would put their ever-present Premier League status at risk.

However, they’ve already conducted multiple pieces of shrewd business, with the likes of Iliman Ndiaye, Tim Iroegbunam and Jack Harrison all arriving at Goodison Park ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

Whilst the total outlay of the deals is only in the region of £24m, the club will still need to be cautious of any overspends that could result in another points deduction within the next 12 months.

Dyche’s side can easily prevent such issues by offloading a number of fringe first-team players who have dramatically fallen down the pecking order on Merseyside in recent times.

One player especially needs to be brutally sold, with his huge weekly earnings undeserving given his lack of impact since Dyche’s appointment a couple of years.

Michael Keane’s stats at Everton

After joining the Toffees in £30m move from Burnley back in 2017, defender Michael Keane was tasked with leading the club towards a consistent challenge for European football at Goodison.

Despite joining the club for a hefty fee, it was seen as a good signing, with the former Manchester United youngster starting 30 times throughout his first campaign, helping the Toffees secure an eighth-place finish in the Premier League.

The defender remained a crucial part of the Toffees' backline for the 2018/2019 campaign, with Keane making 33 appearances in the top flight and looking to be worth every penny of his £30m pricetag.

However, over the last two seasons, the emergence of a brilliant partnership between James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite has seen a huge decrease in the amount of games and minutes played for the now 31-year-old.

Michael Keane's PL career at Everton
Season	Games	Goals	Minutes played
2017/18	33	0	2,560'
2018/19	33	1	2,970'
2019/20	31	2	2,556'
2020/21	35	3	2,990'
2021/22	32	3	2,792'
2022/23	12	1	983'
2023/24	9	1	435'
Stats via Transfermarkt

Since the start of the 2022/23 campaign, Keane has only managed a total of 28 appearances but has still managed to find the net on two occasions, including a vital strike against Tottenham Hotspur, which boosted the club’s survival bid.

However, he’s unfortunately nowhere near the level he once was, with Dyche needing to shift him this summer, potentially being the last opportunity to recoup some of the money the club spent on him, with his contract expiring next summer.

How much Michael Keane earns at Everton

Nearly seven years on from his arrival at Goodison, Keane currently earns £80k-per-week, as per Capology, – a ridiculous amount of money for a player given his game time last season.

His current weekly wage is over two times more than youngster Branthwaite, with the 21-year-old earning just £35k-per-week, despite his excellent form that has caught the eye of fellow Premier League side Manchester United.

It’s a shame to see the one-time regular starter rapidly fall out of favour under Dyche in recent seasons, but it’s a signal as to how far the club have progressed under the former Burnley boss.

They’ve outgrown Keane’s current level, with the club needing to be brutal in their transfer dealings if they are to progress to the next level, whilst also staying within the confines of the league’s PSR rules.

The club should look to use the money from any sale and wages offloaded in Keane's potential transfer and put it towards tying Branthwaite down to another long-term deal this summer, to help fend off interest from Erik ten Hag's side or any other potential interested parties.

Everton preparing bid for Branthwaite 2.0 who's worth more than Philogene

He’s been a constant target for Sean Dyche’s side this summer.

By
Ethan Lamb

Jul 10, 2024

One of the highlights of pre-season for those at Tottenham Hotspur has been rising star Mikey Moore.

The 16-year-old talent is proving that age is no barrier. If you're good enough, who cares?

Thought to be the next Harry Kane off the conveyor belt of academy talent in north London he earned his first first-team minutes last season and has been granted plenty of minutes by Ange Postecoglou in recent weeks.

He's even scored twice against Hearts and Vissel Kobe. How's that for talent?

Despite Moore's arrival on the scene, Spurs are still understandably in the market for a new centre forward to fire them to glory.

Tottenham's hunt for a striker

Fabrizio Romano revealed a few days ago that one of the options Spurs are considering this summer is Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke.

Solanke was in fine fettle last season but he's not the only option on their shortlist. Another happens to be Napoli sensation Victor Osimhen.

Reports emerged earlier last week that Spurs could make a shock move for the player and that viewpoint is now held by former Everton chief Keith Wyness too, who was speaking to Football Insider.

Wyness, who now runs a consultancy advising elite clubs, said: "I wouldn’t be surprised if Spurs are looking at and keeping themselves informed on Osimhen’s situation at Napoli. He’s one they need to keep their eyes on.”

How Osimhen compares to Solanke

From a natural goalscoring point of view then there is only one winner here; Osimhen.

The Nigerian powerhouse has been nothing short of a sensation in recent seasons and in the words of Joao Cancelo, has proven himself to be "one of the best strikers in the world."

Why? Well, his record in front of goal speaks for itself. An injury-hit 2023/24 season meant he bagged just 17 goals, a tally that was way off his 2022/23 numbers as Napoli won the Scudetto. During that year, Osimhen was one of Europe's premier goalscorers, finding the net on 31 occasions in 39 matches.

So, how does that compare to Solanke? Well, the former Chelsea man did score 19 times last season, ensuring he ended the campaign as the Premier League's joint-fourth top goalscorer but his record beyond that, certainly at an elite level, isn't much to write home about.

Games

Goals

Games

Goals

2020/21

30

10

45

15

2021/22

32

18

48

30

2022/23

39

31

35

7

2023/24

32

17

42

21

Over the last four seasons, Osimhen has only actually scored three more goals than Solanke. However, those first two seasons for the Cherries attacker were in the second tier of English football.

The concern may well lie in Solanke's 2022/23 tally. It was a very poor year for a striker and although he improved a great deal in 2023/24, Tottenham would surely like to bring in someone with known pedigree, not just based on one season.

We can't just evaluate pure goalscoring, though. Where else does Osimhen better Bournemouth's talisman?

Goals

0.68

0.51

Assists

0.14

0.08

Pass success rate

66.9%

73.5%

Key passes

1.05

1.06

Progressive passes

1.05

1.63

Shot-creating actions

2.45

2.14

Successful take-ons

0.73

1.06

Progressive carries

1.55

1.41

Aerials won

1.68

2.63

Well, it's Solanke who comes out on top in a wide range of metrics, most notably aerial duels and progressive passing. However, it's the Nigeria international who reigns supreme for progressive carrying and assists.

So, while Osimhen doesn't perhaps have the all-round game that Solanke has, Spurs need goals and after Kane's exit, they need a big name. The Napoli frontman should be their number one priority if they can negotiate a sensible price tag.

Ange wants him: Spurs chase £60m ace who'd turn Solanke into a goal machine

Ange Postecoglou would love to sign him…

ByAngus Sinclair Aug 3, 2024

“I told myself all this talent is fine but it’s of no use if I don’t work hard.”

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Mar-2021Prithvi Shaw has amassed 754 runs for Mumbai in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy – including four centuries in seven innings – at an average of 188.50. His runs, which have come at the staggering strike rate of 134.88, include innings of 227*, 185* and 165. On the way, Shaw set a new record for most runs in a Vijay Hazare season, passing Mayank Agarwal’s mark of 723 runs in 2017-18.These highs have followed the bitterest of lows for Shaw, who was dropped from India’s Test XI after making 0 and 4 in the first Test of their tour of Australia, getting dismissed in similar manner in both innings, bowled through the gap between bat and pad.Speaking to the , Shaw recalled his experience in Australia, and his frame of mind after getting dropped, which swung between despair at his own situation and happiness at the success of his team-mates, who went on to pull off a 2-1 series win.”I was in complete tension when I was dropped after the first Test,” Shaw said. “I got a feeling like I was worthless though I was happy that the team was doing well. I said to myself, ‘I need to pull up my socks’. There is a saying, ‘hard work beats talent’. I told myself all this talent is fine but it’s of no use if I don’t work hard.”It was the saddest day of my life (when he was dropped). I went to my room and broke down. I felt like something wrong was happening. I needed answers quickly.”Related

Spotlight on fast-scoring Shaw as he braces for international return

The five days that lifted Prithvi Shaw out of his rut

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Ricky Ponting reveals Prithvi Shaw doesn't bat in the nets when he's not scoring runs

From 'total chaos', Mumbai become Mumbai again

A lot of experts pointed to Shaw’s high, wide backlift as the reason for his problem with the incoming ball, but this backlift had been part of his technique all through his career, even when he was scoring heavily. The problem, he realised when he worked with India coach Ravi Shastri and batting coach Vikram Rathour, lay elsewhere.”Ravi sir and Vikram sir made me realise where I was going wrong,” Shaw said. “I had to find a solution. Just go back to the nets and fix it. There were small mistakes that I was making. Those two innings made me look bad. My backlift was the same but my bat was coming down slightly away from my body. There was an issue with the initial movement. I was in a fixed position. I needed to keep my bat closer to my body, which I wasn’t doing.”Prithvi Shaw has had a record-breaking Vijay Hazare Trophy•ESPNcricinfo LtdWhen he returned to India, Sachin Tendulkar identified the same issue with his game. Shaw reckons that the issue may have crept in because he went straight from the IPL in the UAE to the Test series in Australia.”My mind was messed up,” Shaw said. “My bat was coming down from the gully area, but that’s how I have scored runs all my life,” he said.”I met Sachin sir after I came back. He said don’t make too many changes and to just play as close to the body as I could. I was late on the ball. So during the entire Australia tour, I worked on that part. Maybe it was because I had gone to Australia after playing in Dubai (IPL).”While Shaw worked on his game at the nets, Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma settled in nicely at the top of the order – they have been India’s opening combination for their last six Test matches, including all four Tests of the home series against England.Shaw wasn’t picked for the England series, and he approached the Vijay Hazare Trophy with a single-minded desire for runs. Lots of them.”I wanted to get big-daddy runs,” he said. “The other day I had back pain during the quarterfinals and our physio and team management asked me to return to the dressing room, I said ‘no’. They gave me a medicine and I continued batting. My focus was to remain unbeaten. I’m trying to handle situations better when I am batting.”As reassuring as his current run of form might be, Shaw says he won’t be satisfied until he’s back in India colours.”Even now I feel everything is not fine till I am back in the Indian team,” he said. “Whenever I get a chance, I want to grab it. I knew that I wouldn’t be getting a chance against England and I took it in my stride. It is me who has to be blamed.”

It's been a silent transfer window so far for Fulham on the incomings front, but after losing Joao Palhinha to Bayern Munich, they could finally act to welcome a replacement.

Fulham transfer news

Now under a month until their Premier League campaign kicks off against Manchester United at Old Trafford, Fulham remain without reinforcements and have a gaping hole to fill at the heart of Marco Silva's side following Palhinha's exit. With a reported £42m added to their summer budget following the midfielder's departure, however, those at Craven Cottage may finally look to splash the cash.

Replacing the Portugal international will be no easy task, but it is one that Fulham must complete this summer if they want to enjoy another campaign away from the bottom three and far closer to the Premier League's top half.

Fulham chase "astounding" £11m ex-Man United player to replace Tosin

He is seen as a perfect addition to Marco Silva’s side.

ByBen Browning Jul 12, 2024

In pursuit of completing that very task, the London club have seemingly turned to a player who knows all about Premier League midfields, even after seeing their first bid reportedly worth £17m rejected.

According to Lyall Thomas of Sky Sports, Fulham are now "weighing up" a second bid to sign Scott McTominay from Manchester United in a deal that would instantly hand Silva a replacement for Palhinha. Earning a reported £60k-a-week, McTominay has become an underrated cog in Erik ten Hag's side in the last season or so, often popping up with crucial goals at desperate times. Despite that, he could yet be on the move this summer.

After reportedly rejecting their £17m bid, however, it remains to be seen just how much Manchester United will demand for Fulham to land their academy graduate this summer.

"Great" McTominay can replace Palhinha and more

As much as Palhinha often stood out for his work off the ball in the Premier League, question marks could be asked for his influence when in possession – the same questions that McTominay can answer with aplomb. The Scotland international has become quite the goalscoring threat from the middle of the park, whilst maintaining the traits of a box-to-box midfielder away from the action.

Progressive Passes

64

97

Progressive Carries

29

8

Goals

7

4

Ball Recoveries

91

195

McTominay's ball-carrying ability stands out as a particular trait that Fulham could add to their midfield by signing the Manchester United man, alongside his clear appetite for goals.

Ten Hag may not be too keen to lose McTominay this summer, however, after saying via TNT Sports last season: "Scott, he's great. He can score many goals, he's always coming in positions to score goals. We had some problems, it was too much like a tennis match. Every game we went for goal instead of waiting for the right decisions. With McTominay, he can get in the box and could score goals."

Martino led the Herons to the MLS points-record across the regular season and the Supporters' Shield title in 2024

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Tata Martino reportedly out as Inter Miami managerClub suffered embarrassing playoff defeatArgentine led Herons to regular-season points recordFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

After crashing out of the 2024 MLS Playoffs in stunning fashion, Inter Miami and manager Tata Martino are parting ways, according to GIVEMESPORT, with Martino reportedly stepping aside due to "personal reasons."

Martino led the to the MLS points-record across the regular season and the Supporters' Shield title in 2024, and departs with a year remaining on his contract.

He is expected to address the media in a final news conference on Friday, alongside co-owner Jorge Mas and president of football operations Raúl Sanllehi.

AdvertisementGettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Martino had been with Miami since the summer of 2023 – arriving the same time as Lionel Messi. He found immediate success with the club, lifting the inaugural 2023 Leagues Cup title.

Along with the recruitment of Messi, Martino helped bring in Sergio Busquets, Luis Suarez and Jordi Alba to the club, along with helping the development of rising teenage stars Benjamin Cremaschi, Diego Gomez and David Ruiz.

The Argentine was a nominee for 2024 MLS Coach of the Year with Miami, and one of the most accomplished managers in the game, having previous stints with FC Barcelona in Spain and the Argentina national team.

In 2018, he led fellow MLS side Atlanta United to 2018 MLS Cup.

DID YOU KNOW?

Martino led Miami's attack to an MLS-best 79 goals during the regular season, seeing the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both score at least 20 goals, and helping both to MLS MVP nomination.

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR MIAMI?

The and co-owner David Beckham will now presumably embark on an offseason journey to find their next permanent head coach.

Hafeez’s 27-ball half-century in vain for Lahore Qalandars

Danyal Rasool26-Feb-2021

Mohammad Rizwan extended his rich form, bringing up his fifth fifty-plus score in his last seven T20 innings•PCB/PSL

With the state of a world at the moment, almost everyone craves a return to the way things were a couple of years ago. Watching Lahore Qalandars in the PSL on Friday, you might as well have been transported there for three hours after Multan Sultan walloped them by seven wickets with nearly four overs to spare, ending their perfect start to this season. It was a performance of overwhelming dominance from the increasingly irrepressible Mohammad Rizwan whose 49-ball 76 made light work of a chase of 157.The win was set up by the bowlers right at the start of the match after the Sultans won the toss and – guess what – decided to bowl. With Lahore opener Sohail Akhtar struggling for fluency, Sohail Khan and Shahnawaz Dhani’s plan to cramp Fakhar Zaman for room worked like a charm, stifling him before bringing the wicket. By the time the powerplay was done, the Qalandars had managed just 25, their lowest six-over total in PSL history.It was only Mohammad Hafeez, perhaps the only Pakistan batsman to match Rizwan for form at the moment, who propelled Lahore to a respectable total. He began by clobbering a six back over bowler Shahid Afridi’s head, who had a difficult day today.Hafeez went from strength to strength, bringing up his half-century of 27 balls, but a mix-up with Samit Patel led to his first dismissal of the tournament. There was no one to take over the mantle from him, and the Qalandars’ innings began to splutter from that moment. Joe Denly, Ben Dunk and Patel all failed to get their side to the sort of total that would challenge the Sultans, and while the early wickets of Chris Lynn and James Vince gave the Qalandars hope, it was only flickering.Star of the day
With the Sultans lacking a premium fast-bowling asset, Carlos Brathwaite has proven himself surprisingly useful, particularly in the first half of the innings. He was introduced as early as the fourth over today, and with his exotic mix of pace, angles, and length, kicked things off with a wicket maiden. Even Hafeez struggled to really get a hold of the West Indian, while Joe Denly often took several deliveries simply to get off strike against him. When he came on in the 14th over to bowl his final over, he broke an 89-run third-wicket partnership that looked to have set up the Qalandars for the finish, drawing Denly wide outside off stump to get him nicking off. It wasn’t bowling to set the heart racing, but Brathwaite’s intelligence did at least as much for the Sultans’ chances as Rizwan’s belligerence in the second half.Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez share a joke•PCB/PSL

Miss of the day
The Qalandars weren’t just ordinary with bat and ball today, but also in the field. Zaman’s struggles up top might have caught the headlines for how heavily the side relies on him, but it wasn’t the only department he was found wanting. There were two chances to put an end to the 110-run partnership between Sohaib Maqsood and Rizwan, with each of them allowed a reprieve by Zaman in the deep. When Maqsood sliced one to him, he opted for the safety of collecting it on the bounce, while Rizwan’s chance spooned straight into his hands and back out again a few overs later. It was a day Zaman will want to put out of his mind, and on that point, he’ll find the rest of his side in agreement.Honourable mention
Despite the Qalandars having little to smile about, there was still the obligatory moment of magic that Shaheen Afridi would conjure up, almost like it’s been written into his contract. In his first over, he had the out-of-form Chris Lynn facing up to him, a contest that would end by knockout in two balls. Lynn kept out the first one, an inswinging yorker, before being hopelessly outfoxed by a dream of a follow-up. Landing on middle a foot from the base of the stumps, it seamed ever so slightly towards off and away from the bat Lynn hopelessly brought down to fend it off. It would crash into off stump to create that most elegant spectacle, a cartwheeling off stump after an impact to its base, with a flummoxed batsman frozen just in front of it.Afridi followed it up with another wicket in the 15th over, though the one that removed Rizwan was more of a formality after the game was done. It produced one of the cosier moments of the game, with the 20-year old walking up to the man eight years his senior and giving him a pat on the head to acknowledge his efforts.

The legendary Uruguayan certainly has one more year left, but he would have to make sacrifices to stay in South Beach

The defining image of Inter Miami's 2024 Playoffs won't be Lionel Messi lifting the MLS Cup. It won't be a smile from Tata Martino, or hugs between jubilant players, celebrating in South Beach.

Instead, it is the shot of an angry Luis Suarez, pushing Atlanta United goalkeeper Brad Guzan into the back of the net after Messi's goal in the Herons' game 3 loss, the biggest upset in MLS history. It was, at the time, a somewhat funny scene – albeit one that came with some predictable social media vitriol.

But it was emblematic of the way Suarez's influence for this side waned over the course of the 2024 season.

The Uruguayan was prolific during the regular season, scoring 20 goals and linking up with Messi in so many predictably wonderful ways. Those instinctive connections that had carved La Liga and the Champions League apart were still alive. Sure, the legs were older. Yet the brain worked just as fast, the synapses still snapping away. At times, it was spellbinding.

However, when it all got real, when the games started to matter, Suarez's flaws were exposed. He may still be an excellent goalscorer, instinctive in the box and clever in his movement. But MLS playoffs, in two short weeks, laid bare the issues that were always feared: Suarez is aging, and in this athletic league, his weaknesses can be exploited.

• X/ USMNTVSHATERS
  

  What went wrong for Suarez and Miami

  Look at the numbers, and everything suggests that Suarez had an agreeable round one showing against Atlanta. The forward scored a crucial goal in game one, and was a nuisance in attack throughout. He had more touches inside the Atlanta box than any other Miami player. Only Messi took more shots. In abstract, all of the key pieces were there.

  But watch closely, zoom in, and things weren't so smooth. Suarez drifted in and out of the final two games of the series, at times marked out of the contest by Atlanta. He missed two big chances in the decisive game 3, and was well denied by Guzan on a handful of occasions.

  Off the ball, things were worse. Miami are a confusing side out of possession. They aren't athletic enough to press high, and they're too old to drop deep and hit on the break – those aging legs can't handle it. The result is open, cavernous spaces in the midfield. And Suarez is partially to blame. In the second and third games, in particular, he didn't cut passing lanes like he should. Atlanta threaded the ball right through Miami. The game passed him by.

  And when he went on solo runs to close the ball down, the rest of the Miami team didn't follow him. There were numerous times in which this aging striker – who has admitted that he cannot exist without pain in his knees – sprinted after the ball, and tried to hound an opposing defence, only to find that he was alone in his efforts.

  There is something to be said here for modification, or adaptation. And Suarez is a smart footballer with many years of experience. At his best, in his athletic prime, he was an immensely effective presser and defender. He, alone, is not at fault here. Still, the point remains: asking Suarez to move, consistently, for 90 minutes, is an unrealistic remit for a player of his age.

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• Getty Images
  

  His contract situation

  This is all made an issue by the fact that Suarez is technically out of contract. He signed a one-year minimum deal to play in Miami, forgoing the millions that he might have undoubtedly made playing pretty much anywhere else. His reported $1.5 million per year salary is just more than half of what he made every week at Barcelona. He has expressed, on multiple occasions, that he would be interested in returning to Miami for at least one more year (you'd assume that this is something Messi might also welcome.)

  But on what kind of deal? This is where it all gets a bit complicated. Suarez is too good, too experienced, and too revered to be making what is effectively a minimum intake. However, he probably isn't enough of a game-changing presence to be on designated player money. In other words, Suarez might want to stay, but how much he can be paid, under MLS's strict salary rules, could impact whether he remains in South Beach.

• USA Today Images
  

  The Leo Campana problem

  Perhaps ironically, the decisive actor here isn't Suarez. It isn't Messi, either. Rather, it's backup striker Leo Campana. The Ecuadorian was always going to be bumped to a bench role when Suarez came in. And he did so with grace and aplomb. He provided eight goals in a reserve role, and willingly filled gaps, plugged holes, and sacrificed himself for the team. Miami has him under contract until 2027 – which is something of a contentious issue.

  Campana fills the kind of salary slot that Suarez could slide into, or that Miami could invest elsewhere. He would, presumably, fetch a handy return if Miami were to trade him for another player, or additional financial flexibility. Most MLS teams would probably see him as a solid starter, if not a reliable goalscorer.

  But, up front, Miami need a game-changer. This whole thing needs maximizing, every dollar shrewdly spent. Campana isn't good enough to boot Suarez out of the lineup, but he isn't so bad that he becomes a liability.

  The fact that he is an asset off the bench makes him even more of an issue from a financial perspective. Miami don't rely on him, but they need players like him. Still, he may be a luxury they cannot afford if they want to invest in another striker.

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• Getty Images
  

  Other options

  The Miami inquest has already started.

  Earlier this week, it was reported that Miami are interested in River Plate striker Miguel Borja. He would seem to be an interesting option for the Herons. At 31, he isn't exactly a young prospect. But his 23 goals in the Argentine top flight suggest that there could be a real player here. Borja wouldn't be cheap, and would likely come on designated player money. That would seem to block Suarez from that spot, and force the Uruguayan into another year on a lower salary.

  There is also the Neymar issue. The Brazilian hasn't played consistent football in more than a year, and a hamstring issue has him out until the start of 2025. But he has been constantly linked with a move to MLS when his Saudi Pro League contract ends. The fact that he just bought a house in Miami has only fueled speculation. Could he be added as a designated player, reuniting the famous MSN trio in full, 10 years on?

  But scour the rest of Miami's roster, and there are perhaps more pressing needs than a striker. Right back is a problem, so too is center midfield and even center back. If Miami want to be this well-balanced squad that can win the MLS Cup, then another attacking player to fill valuable cap space wouldn't seem to be the best investment.

  And if logic prevails, will Suarez be willing to sacrifice money for a hard-working sort of utility player? Someone objectively worse at football but more valuable to this team? It's a tricky balance to strike.

One of the Premier League’s most underrated academy systems is that of Aston Villa. The Midlands side, who will return to the Champions League for the first time since its rebrand from the European Cup, have produced some of English football’s best players.

Perhaps the Villans’ most famous academy graduate is Gareth Barry. The former England international played 439 times for Villa, and is actually the Premier League’s highest-ever appearances maker, with 653 outings. He has also played for West Brom, Everton and Manchester City, with whom he won the Premier League in 2011/12 and the FA Cup in 2011.

Gary Cahill is another notable academy graduate from the Villans academy. Although he only played 31 times for the club, he went on to have an illustrious career elsewhere, notably at Chelsea. Among other trophies, the former England defender won the Premier League and Europa League during his time at Stamford Bridge.

In the current first team, Unai Emery has some academy graduates of his own at his disposal. Most notably, they include Jacob Ramsey, Jaden Philogene and Cameron Archer, with the latter two returning to the club this summer from Hull City and Sheffield United, respectively.

However, they might not be the only academy graduates to resign for Villa this season, after they have been linked with a high-profile former payer this week.

Aston Villa target Premier League attacker

The player in question here is Manchester City and England international attacker Jack Grealish. The 28-year-old made a name for himself at boyhood club Villa before earning a major move to the Etihad Stadium and has now been tipped to leave the club this summer.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, the Villans are ‘keeping a close eye on the situation’ of their former skipper, and could be poised to make a move if they get an indication he wants to depart the Cityzens this summer.

The report suggests that Villa are not interested in buying the attacker permanently this year, but instead want to do a deal that would see him sign on loan with an obligation to buy him next summer, instead.

That could be a way around breaching the profit and sustainability rules, given the Villans have already completed deals for eight players this summer, and came close to breaching the rules at the end of last season, too.

How Grealish could be transformed by Emery

Should Villa get a deal for Grealish over the line this summer, he would hope to rediscover his form during his final season at Villa Park, which led to his record-breaking £100m move to the Etihad Stadium.

The England international, who missed out on selection for Euro 2024, was one of the Premier League’s best players in 2020/21 but has not really captured his best form in Manchester. He has played 125 times for City but has scored just 14 times and registered 18 assists.

During his final season at Villa Park, Grealish was a maverick in midfield, given a free-roam role by then-manager Dean Smith. The Englishman scored six times and registered ten assists in 26 top-flight games, compared to just three goals and a single assist in 20 games in 2023/24 under Pep Guardiola.

In fact, Grealish was statistically one of the Premier League’s best creative players in his final season wearing claret and blue, both when looking at his creative stats and ball-carrying stats on FBref.

Grealish stats vs. Premier League players 2020/21

Stat

Number

PL rank

Assists

10

=3rd

Progressive carries

172

2nd

Carries into final third

98

6th

Carries into penalty area

79

2nd

Key passes

81

3rd

Passes into penalty area

69

6th

Stats from FBref

At City, we have not really seen the side of Grealish that is a pure ball carrier, a deadly threat in transition who would use Pausa, quick feet and footballing intelligence to keep hold of the ball and win fouls for his side. Football scout Antonio Mango once called him “unplayable”, and that is what was once the norm in a Villa shirt.

Instead, he has become somewhat of a cog in the system that is Guardiola’s City, a shadow of his former self in many ways. Nowadays, we don’t see the flair and finesse of Grealish as much as we did in his Villa days when he was one of the Premier League’s great entertainers.

How Emery could get the best out of Grealish

Perhaps we could see Emery get the best out of Grealish as one of the number 10s, the false wingers, in his famed 4-2-2-2 system. The 28-year-old would have a better environment in a free-flowing and more transitional system which he could thrive, and remind the Premier League, and the England setup, just how good he can be.

Emery has already turned one Villa attacker into one of English football’s best and most productive players. Ollie Watkins was simply sensational for the Villans last campaign and was a large reason why they managed to finish in fourth place in the league and qualify for the Champions League.

The England international, who scored his country’s winning goal in the Euro 2024 semi-final, was prolific for his side last term. In 37 games in the top flight, Watkins got himself on the scoresheet 19 times and also managed to assist his teammates on 13 occasions.

As per StatMuse, he was one of only three players with more than 30 goals and assists in the Premier League last season, and he was in fine company at that. England teammate Cole Palmer led the way with 33 goal involvements, and Watkins was tied on 32 with deadly striker Erling Haaland, who claimed the Golden Boot.

In fact, his 13 assists last campaign for the Villans was enough to earn him the Premier League’s Playmaker award, given out to the player with the most assists. In terms of combined goals and assists, it was comfortably the 28-year-old’s best season of his career.

Perhaps Emery can have a similar impact on Grealish as he has had on Watkins, having turned the former Brentford man – who scored just 11 times in 2021/22 – into one of Europe’s best centre-forwards. Grealish has all the talent but needs the right environment to flourish, and that is certainly something the Spaniard could provide.

On a loan-to-buy deal, Villa might well try and bring Grealish home at all costs. Whilst his wage could be high, given he is currently on £300k-per-week, as per Capology, he is an academy graduate, their former captain and arguably one of their greatest players.

If Grealish – who has been described as a "magician" by pundit Rio Ferdinand – can get even half as close to his old form, could make them contenders for top four, or better, once again next campaign.

Related Contact made: Aston Villa chase £50k-p/w forward who Thierry Henry loves

He could be the perfect Ollie Watkins alternative for Unai Emery.

Posts ByBen Browning Jul 31, 2024

Stumps Liton Das and Mehidy Hasan starred with the bat for Bangladesh, while Rahkeem Cornwall earned his second Test five-wicket haul as the third day of the Dhaka Test see-sawed right until the close of play. At stumps, West Indies were 41 for 3 in their second innings, leading by 154 runs. While they do hold the advantage, Bangladesh have enjoyed the greater success in the last two sessions of the day.Starting the day on 105 for 4 in their first innings, well behind West Indies’ 409, Bangladesh’s overnight batsmen Mohammad Mithun and Mushfiqur Rahim had to survive a barrage of short balls from Shannon Gabriel first up. But when Gabriel – who overstepped thrice in his first three overs – went fuller, he was put away by the two for fours through the covers. Jomel Warrican, the left-arm spinner, had his opening spell cut short as he drifted too often to the leg, allowing easy runs on the on side.Cornwall then replaced Warrican and created the first chance of the morning when Mithun mistimed a whip off his toes that went just beyond midwicket. But, in his next over, Cornwall got Mithun’s wicket with an unorthodox field placement. Trying to flick off his boots, Mithun – on 15 – was through his shot too early and the ball went in the air. Kraigg Brathwaite – lurking at short midwicket, where he had placed himself for that very shot – dived to his right to take the catch at full length.Related

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Mushfiqur Rahim, meanwhile, reached his 22nd half-century in Cornwall’s first over. He tried not to let the offspinner settle in from the first ball he faced, but was almost caught at short leg soon after his half-century. He then survived a close lbw call off Cornwall after missing a sweep, but soon paid the price of being overly aggressive – on 54, he tried a reverse sweep, only to toe-end a simple catch to cover.At 155 for 6, and still over fifty short of avoiding the follow-on, Das and Mehidy got together for 12 overs before lunch. After the session break – and against the older ball – they displayed exemplary concentration to block, leave and duck. The balls that were wide on either side of the stumps were punished for the occasional boundary.While Cornwall’s turn from the rough outside off kept both batsmen in two minds, Warrican failed to build pressure like his partner. Mehidy often rocked back against Warrican to cut – with the turn – while Das eyed the midwicket boundary. That period of play took the stand past fifty and ensured Bangladesh had avoided following-on, which had seemed like a distinct possibility at the start of the session.When Alzarri Joseph came into the attack, he preferred the shorter lengths. Both Das and Mehidy were happy to duck through that challenge and when Joseph bowled full, they punished him down the V. With Joseph and Gabriel failing to get any purchase with the older ball, Brathwaite went to part-time spin to count the overs down so that the pacers could return fresh with the new ball. But that’s when Das and Mehidy pounced. Nkrumah Bonner’s legspin was struck by Das for consecutive fours to reach his seventh Test fifty. Brathwaite’s offbreak, too, allowed easy singles. And when the new ball was taken, both Das and Mehidy looked to go on the offensive.The first over with the new ball, from Gabriel, was wayward, conceding six including four byes, and brought up the hundred stand. They went for their shots, often successfully, which made Gabriel impatient. The fast bowler showed it too, by saying a few words to the batsmen on his follow through, which forced the umpires to have a chat with him. Mehidy then got his own fifty, to back up the century in Chattogram. Having lost no wickets in the session, the period after lunch belonged completely to Bangladesh. It was the first session – since the first one on the first day – that they could call theirs, as they added 91 for no loss.Liton Das and Mehidy Hasan kept Bangladesh in the game with a century stand•AFP via Getty Images

The post-tea session started with both batsmen looking to attack the tired West Indian bowling attack that had not gone wicketless for over 40 overs. But Cornwall put the brakes on soon after, when he removed Das for 71 for his fourth scalp after the batsman got an edge off a paddle sweep.Trying to play fine, Das went across the stumps to sweep, but Jermaine Blackwood – at first slip – anticipated the shot and ran around behind the wicketkeeper. The ball took an inside edge, hit the back leg and popped in the air for Blackwood to take a simple catch. A few balls later, Cornwall removed No. 9 Nayeem Hasan after the batsman edged a defensive shot to Blackwood at slip, earning him the five-wicket haul.From the other end, Gabriel had the last laugh over Mehidy. The allrounder fell for 57 when his attempt to drive through the off side went straight to cover for a catch. Gabriel earned another wicket to end the Bangladesh innings on 296 when he rapped No. 11 Abu Jayed on the glove, for a simple catch to gully. Bangladesh lost their last four wickets for only 15 runs in under six overs.With 21 overs to go in the day, Bangladesh started with spin and struck thrice before stumps. Brathwaite was first to go, when he tried to flick Nayeem, only for it to go to wicketkeeper Das off the gloves. Mehidy then entered the record books when he became the fastest (and youngest) Bangladesh bowler to 100 Test wickets with Shayne Moseley edging to second slip. Mehidy reached the mark in 24 Tests, beating the previous record of 25, set by Taijul Islam.Islam then removed the other opener, John Campbell, late in the day in an unusual manner. As Campbell played defensively, the ball appeared to spin back after dropping on the pitch and turned back to hit the stumps.The final few minutes saw Bonner and nightwatchman Warrican trying to survive with soft hands. Bangladesh surrounded the batsmen with as many players as they could, but there was no further damage.