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Newcastle United have turned their transfer window around, having for so much time across the past several months looked to have fallen by the wayside after a terrific 2024/25 campaign.

But, despite all the drama, Howe must be delighted with how PIF have pulled through with a series of exciting signings, the latest of which comes in the form of Nick Woltemade, who has joined from Stuttgart for a club-record £69m fee.

Woltemade, 23, scored 17 goals for the German side last season, and is considered to carry a deceptive depth of skill, belying his 6 foot 6 frame.

A thrilling addition, one of the most talented young nines out there, but Woltemade’s signing does come with the caveat that he is viewed as Alexander Isak’s replacement at the front of Howe’s system.

Isak remains a Newcastle player with t-minus 24 hours remaining of the market, but his incendiary comments earlier this month and fierce desire to leave St. James’ Park and sign for Liverpool have scoured all but the slimmest hopes of a harmonious and continuing relationship between the player and club.

Newcastle have only claimed two points from their opening three fixtures of the campaign, but the quality coursing through Howe’s squad remains intact, and the wins are sure to be around the corner.

However, it wouldn’t hurt to add another player to the ranks before the market slams shut on Monday evening, and there’s a feeling from some circles that PIF are gearing up to strike a deal for one of the world’s finest midfielders.

Newcastle lining up midfielder deal

Newcastle added Jacob Ramsey to their ranks in a package rising to £40m this month, but he was withdrawn with an issue against Leeds United, and injuries to Sandro Tonali and Joelinton against Liverpool have heightened the need for a deeper-lying midfielder.

And according to Spanish reports, an ambitious move for Eduardo Camavinga has beenprepared, though it will be difficult to land the Real Madrid star, with the La Liga giants issuing a firm not-for-sale response to intrigue.

Reports from earlier this week outline the Magpies’ interest in the France international, who has been valued at €70m (equating to around £61m) at this late stage of the window.

Camavinga, 22, would be a marquee addition for the Toon, and though Los Blancos are outwardly denying any chance of him leaving, there is a feeling that a bid entering the aforementioned ballpark would be considered.

What Eduardo Camavinga would bring to Newcastle

Camavinga joined Real Madrid from Rennes in his homeland in 2021, and he has won La Liga-Champions League doubles in 2022 and 2024, featuring 180 times for the Spaniards all told.

A deep-sitting midfielder, Camavinga blends grit and gusto from number six, specialising in combative defensive work and progressive passing play.

Thanks to FBref’s data, it can be observed that the Frenchman ranks among the top 9% of midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for pass completion, the top 19% for progressive carries, the top 16% for successful take-ons, the top 7% for ball recoveries and the top 1% for tackles won per 90.

Tonali’s injury heightens the need for such a player, but Camavinga could even prove to be an upgrade on the Italian maestro, statistically comparable to Premier League heavyweights like Ryan Gravenberch and Moises Caicedo.

Having bounced back from a lengthy suspension last term, 25-year-old Tonali became a mainstay in the middle of the park for the Magpies, instrumental in building top form throughout the winter and winning silverware thereafter.

But Camavinga might add even more to the St. James’ Park centre.

Injuries had a prohibitive effect on Camavinga’s form and fluency in La Liga last season, but from the matches he did play, he stood out. Indeed, his dynamism and range suggest he might even prove an upgrade on Newcastle’s star.

Matches (starts)

19 (11)

36 (28)

Goals

1

4

Assists

2

2

Touches*

53.5

53.4

Pass completion

89%

86%

Key passes*

0.6

0.8

Dribbles*

0.8

0.6

Ball recoveries*

4.7

4.9

Tackles + interceptions*

3.1

2.3

Duels (won)*

5.7 (60%)

3.7 (54%)

Similar players, Camavinga would ease the workload on Tonali while ensuring that Howe is able to rotate as Newcastle challenge both domestically and in the Champions League without working to the detriment of the squad’s performance levels.

Hailed for his “world-class” quality by journalist Thom Harris, Camavinga would cost a pretty penny to bring over to Tyneside, but there’s just cause for such a mammoth bid.

Of course, reservations stemming from the rangy player’s injury record are understandable, but while Camavinga, in his finest form, has a higher ceiling and more about him than the impressive Tonali, he wouldn’t displace the Italian, but rather, jockey for a position, perhaps leading Howe to eke out the best from both players.

A strong ball-carrying presence with physicality and athleticism to take him far in the Premier League, Camavinga could hit the jackpot by stepping away from Real Madrid and rehousing in Newcastle’s midfield, where he could showcase his skills as a talismanic part of Howe’s project, raising the level of those around him too.

Having enjoyed a trophy-laden start to his career, Camavinga could bring that mentality to the Premier League and take Newcastle to the next level, with the English club having enjoyed a taste of true success at the highest level and now hungering for more.

Imagine him & Bruno: Newcastle lodge bid for "one of the world's best DMs"

Newcastle are looking to sign one of the best midfielders on the planet to partner Bruno Guimaraes

ByWill Miller Aug 31, 2025

USMNT icons Tim Howard and Landon Donovan have both praised New York City FC's decision to sign goalkeeper Matt Freese to a contract extension through 2030. The 27-year-old shot-stopper, who has established himself as a key player for both club and the U.S. over the past year, reportedly becomes the third-highest paid goalkeeper in MLS with this new deal.

Getty Images Sport'Glad he got paid'

Howard specifically highlighted the goalkeeper's national team trajectory, stating that Freese has as good a chance as any to be the starting goalkeeper at next year's World Cup.

“Congratulations, get paid, get paid bro," Howard said on podcast. "That’s a nice long contract, and oh, by the way, he saved another penalty kick this weekend as well. Because, as he says, from his own mouth, 'it’s what he does,' which is incredible. So I’m starting to believe it’s what he does.

“Look, I’m glad he got paid, it’s actually the right time. I think he’s earned it, I think there’s a good chance, or as good a chance as any that he’ll be No. 1 at the World Cup. Smart by them [NYCFC] because if he then gets sold on or has a good World Cup or whatever the situation is, they’ll be compensated on the back end for that."

AdvertisementStrategic benefits for both player and club

Howard pointed to the multiple advantages the contract extension creates for both Freese and NYCFC. The former USMNT goalkeeper noted how the long-term agreement provides Freese with stability moving forward in his career while simultaneously protecting the club's interests.

“For Matt, this’ll give him really good stability I’m guessing,” Howard explained. “I haven’t seen the exact numbers yet but it’ll give him good financial stability moving forward. And then again, protects the club because he’s on the rise, right? There’s not a ton of good goalkeepers out there in the world, and if he’s on the world stage playing and does well, people are going to be interested.”

Donovan celebrates MLS evolution

Donovan also framed Freese's contract as evidence of MLS's positive development. The former Galaxy star expressed enthusiasm about how the league has transformed from its earlier iterations to now properly rewarding players who perform at a high level.

“I love this in MLS now…If a guy does well, you reward him and listen, it’s smart business by NYCFC," he said. “If he blows up, if he has a Tim Howard tournament or game like you did in 2014 against Belgium, like the world’s his oyster, and they can sell him for a lot of money. So it’s great for him…I’m just happy that a guy is getting rewarded in the right way, and kudos to NYCFC for taking care of a player who has been good to them.”

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Getty Images SportRoad ahead

Freese and NYCFC will face Inter Miami on Wednesday night,  followed by a derby against New York Red Bulls on Sept. 27.

Captain says the league will help players fine-tune their game and improve their fitness in the free window after the tournament

Vishal Dikshit05-Feb-2025India captain Harmanpreet Kaur believes the upcoming WPL will “play a very big role” in the lead up to the home ODI World Cup later this year, as the T20 league will help the India players fine-tune their game and “raise” their fitness levels in the free window after the tournament. This year’s World Cup will be the first time Harmanpreet will lead India in the 50-over tournament.The five-team WPL will run from February 14 to March 15 across four cities in India for 20 league matches and two knockout games. The India players will then have a gap of over three months before they head to England for five T20Is and three ODIs. They will then have another gap for nearly two months. As per the FTP, their next assignment will be of three homes ODIs against world champions Australia in late September and then the 50-over World Cup at home in October.Related

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Some of the India players are nursing injuries and could also use the WPL to regain and prove their match fitness.”I think this WPL is going to play a very big role because this year we have ODI World Cup,” Harmanpreet said at a press conference in Mumbai. “After the WPL, we have a very good window where we can work on our fitness and raise our fitness level. I think that gap will really help us to work really hard on ourselves.”India had failed to make the semi-finals in the last ODI World Cup, in early 2022 in New Zealand, under the captaincy of Mithali Raj.Harmanpreet was asked about India’s busy schedule at the turn of the year when they played back-to-back series against Australia (away), West Indies (home), and Ireland (home) and if that might have played a role in players having to manage their workload.Harmanpreet herself sat out of two of the three T20Is against West Indies followed by the three ODIs against Ireland. India also played all those series, after the T20 World Cup, without the injured Pooja Vastrakar whose fitness is being monitored by Mumbai Indians for her participation in the WPL. Some other players such as Yastika Bhatia, Shreyanka Patil and Priya Punia had also missed the West Indies games in December because of injuries, and have not played since then. Like Harmanpreet, India had also rested their lead fast bowler Renuka Singh for the Ireland ODIs last month.”See, as a cricketer, we really want our schedule to be packed and injuries are something which is part of the game and sometimes these are not under your control,” Harmanpreet said. “But as a cricketer, we don’t want to miss any tournament. But really happy [with] the way we are getting our schedule really packed and playing back-to-back cricket and that is something as a player, as a captain I’m enjoying. And good to see the last series went really well.”A few young players got opportunity and they did really well, played very impressive cricket. This season and this year is going to be very exciting because [of the] home World Cup and then we have really exciting cricket in front of us after the WPL. Hopefully we gel well as a team and do what a team requires and play some good cricket.”

Can you hear it, the din from the summer transfer window? Newcastle United’s tumultuous market has been placed in the background, now, and Eddie Howe must be delighted that he can crack on and write another chapter into this wonderful story.

But there’s no denying the events of recent months have taken a toll on the Tyneside outfit, who have started their Premier League campaign with just two points from three games, losing that ridiculous clash against Liverpool and blanking in stalemates against Aston Villa and Leeds United.

Still, United are organised and efficient, and having signed forwards such as Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa among a host of other signings, there is hope that the disappointing departure of Alexander Isak can be offset and that targets might still be hit.

But it hasn’t all been sunshines and rainbows. Isak is bound to carry his prolific nature over to Anfield, but perhaps more frustrating is the recent success of Elliot Anderson, who was sold to Nottingham Forest over a year ago to ease the strain of PSR regulations.

Why Newcastle sold Elliot Anderson

The way Isak forced his way out of Howe’s Newcastle will sting for many years. Never again will the Sweden striker receive the ball at St. James’ Park without being the recipient of a venomous chorus of boos.

But Anderson was one of the club’s own, homegrown and sold for pure profit to avoid financial ramifications. His success with Nottingham Forest over the past two years has been quite a thing, and his recent performances for the Three Lions have underscored his value.

Newcastle sold the centre-midfielder to the Tricky Trees for around £35m in 2024, but he has since become something more, hailed by analyst Ben Mattinson as a “do-it-all midfield warrior” and regarded in the Premier League as one of the driving forces of Nuno Espirito Santo’s success last season.

The 22-year-old could have been something special for Newcastle, and now serves as a reminder to keep onto those top talents who show such promise but perhaps aren’t yet equipped to maintain the consistency of their more experienced peers.

Take, for example, Anderson’s countryman Lewis Hall, who has lulled of late but remains one of the most exciting up-and-comers within the Premier League scene.

Newcastle have struck gold on Lewis Hall

Hall has spent more time than he would have liked in 2025 in the infirmary, with the full-back’s fitness problems taking away from him the building noise after an emphatic start to life at Newcastle.

It was not that long ago that Toon reporter Dominic Scurr declared Hall to be “the best left-back in the country, bar none.”

Likewise, talent scout Jacek Kulig called the 21-year-old “one of the best left-backs in the Premier League” in December 2024, with Hall firing on all cylinders and instrumental in building the form that would lead United back toward the gates of the Champions League and the Carabao Cup title.

But injury struck in the days before that Wembley meeting with Liverpool, and Hall would be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.

Matches (starts)

18 (8)

27 (24)

Goals

1

0

Assists

0

4

Touches*

39.2

70.6

Pass completion

83%

85%

Key passes*

0.2

1.3

Dribble success

55%

61%

Ball recoveries*

3.1

4.4

Tackles*

1.6

2.1

Interceptions*

0.7

0.7

Clearances*

0.9

1.9

Duels (won)*

2.9 (53%)

4.4 (54%)

Hall has also featured twice in the Premier League this season, but both times as a substitute and for a total of 43 minutes as he gets back up to speed. He will hope to reclaim his starting berth in the weeks to come, and on the basis of the evidence, his improvements last season suggest Howe will soon deploy him from the opening again.

Data-led platform FBref reveal Hall to rank among the top 12% of positional peers in the Premier League last year for passes attempted, the top 15% for assists and the top 20% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes per 90, so it’s clear that his technical quality is crucial to erecting the build-up patterns that define Howe’s transitional approach.

It’s also clear that this ball-playing skill aligns with the methods of some of England’s finest. Indeed, Caught Offside revealed in the months preceding the summer transfer window that Liverpool and Manchester City had both registered their interest in the young England international, who Newcastle valued at a floor of £60m.

Of course, this puts Hall above a former Toon talent such as Anderson, who left for £35m and has since seen a market growth toward the ballpark of £45m, as per Football Transfers.

The aforementioned Premier League giants both signed left-backs this summer, which perhaps signals the strength of Newcastle’s response when Hall’s name was discussed in negotiations.

Hall is a defender who can do it all. After all, he played most regularly as a robust central midfielder during his younger days, since refashioned into a wide defender. Perhaps there is a future for him in the middle of the park, where he might rival players such as Anderson for a prominent role in England’s national squad.

Newcastle might have entered something of a transitional campaign, but Howe will remain steadfast in his belief that last year’s success can be used to prop up the riches still to come at St. James’ Park.

In any case, with such exciting talents as Hall set to star for years to come, there’s every reason for excitement.

New Isak: Newcastle have "one of the best teenage prospects in the world"

Newcastle will need to replace Alexander Isak’s goals with a range of different attacking talents.

1 ByAngus Sinclair Sep 3, 2025

Bumrah is understood to be close to taking the final round of fitness tests at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru

Nagraj Gollapudi04-Apr-2025Jasprit Bumrah will not only miss Friday’s IPL 2025 game for Mumbai Indians (MI) against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) but is also doubtful for MI’s next game, at home against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 7.However, ESPNcricinfo has learned that Bumrah, who has been in rehab since January following a stress-related discomfort in his lower back, is getting closer to returning to action. He has been building his bowling workload in recent weeks at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and is understood to be close to taking the final round of fitness tests. Only after he gets the all-clear from the BCCI medical team can Bumrah link up with MI and play in the IPL.Bumrah, it is understood, has been cautious himself and wants to ensure he is totally fit before returning to action. This is keeping in mind India’s five-Test series in England, starting on June 28.Related

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MI have so far played three games in IPL 2025, winning one and losing two, and have handed debuts to the likes of Satyanarayana Raju, Vignesh Puthur and Ashwani Kumar in Bumrah’s absence, with Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar leading the attack and Hardik Pandya the other seam-bowling option in the line-up.The last update on Bumrah had come on March 19, when MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene had spoken about the “challenge” of being without Bumrah at the start of the season. At the time, it was understood that Bumrah would miss MI’s matches in March but join the squad in April. That has been delayed.Bumrah has played all his IPL cricket for MI, starting in 2013 and picking up 165 wickets in 133 matches over the years. The only IPL season he missed since he started playing was in 2023, when he had a back injury.Ashwani Kumar is among the bowlers who have been handed IPL debuts in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence•AFP/Getty ImagesHe suffered the latest injury on the second day of the final Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Sydney on January 4. Bumrah was subsequently ruled out of the Champions Trophy, which India won last month. This is the first time Bumrah has gone down with a back injury since his surgery in March 2023.While announcing the Champions Trophy squad in January, Ajit Agarkar, India’s chief selector, had said that Bumrah had been asked by the BCCI medical team to offload for at least five weeks (from the SCG Test). Since the Champions Trophy only started on February 19, Bumrah had been included in India’s provisional squad. He travelled to Bengaluru for fresh scans in early February, but continued to feel discomfort and was not named in the final squad.

Liverpool’s stuttering form has drawn sharp criticism from Daniel Sturridge, who believes the Reds are paying the price for selling Luis Diaz this summer. The former striker claimed Arne Slot’s side are missing the Colombian’s intensity and balance in attack, while suggesting the new boss made a mistake by not starting Florian Wirtz in the defeat to Chelsea.

GettyLiverpool struggling offensively despite big-spending summer

Liverpool slipped to a third straight defeat in all competitions after conceding a 95th-minute winner against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The 2-1 loss saw Slot’s side surrender top spot in the Premier League, just a week after a similar stoppage-time heartbreak at Crystal Palace. Despite a £450m summer overhaul, the Reds’ attack has struggled to click, and Sturridge believes Diaz’s departure to Bayern Munich has caused it.

AdvertisementAFPReds told that selling Diaz was a mistake

“Luis Diaz is a massive miss for me,” Sturridge told Sky Sports. “When you look at Liverpool last year and how they used to press, I think arguably he was the one who would set the press in the front three. For me, Luis Diaz, how tenacious he is on the ball and how hungry he is to get it back for his team — he brought something to Liverpool that they are now missing. I think Ekitike and Isak and Wirtz work hard, but they’re attack-minded players. With Diaz, he would sacrifice himself defensively. That’s what they’ve got to figure out now — who in that attack is going to give themselves up a little bit. In a front three there always has to be one guy who goes, ‘I’m not stats hungry.’ Right now, I’m not sure the manager knows what he’s going to do.”

Getty ImagesSturridge questions Slot's decision to bench Wirtz

Sturridge also questioned Slot’s tactical choices in the Chelsea defeat, arguing that Wirtz should have been in the starting XI. The former England international believes the German playmaker’s creativity could have helped Liverpool regain control in key moments. “I think today’s the type of game you need a Wirtz,” he said. “Someone who can create something, get the ball in his feet, move it, advance it, maybe win a free-kick. Szoboszlai gives you that running and pressing power, but these are the games they signed Wirtz for; the quality on the ball he brings is exceptional.”

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Liverpool face bitter rivals Man Utd next

Liverpool now enter the international break on the back of three consecutive losses and mounting scrutiny over Slot’s system. The Dutchman will need to reassess his attacking setup and identify the right blend of pressing and productivity. Liverpool return to action against Manchester United at Anfield on October 19th.

Manchester United are reportedly considering keeping hold of veteran Brazilian midfielder Casemiro as Ruben Amorim plans to revamp his team in the summer transfer window. The Portuguese manager is planning a major overhaul in the middle of the park, with one big-name signing on the radar and the Brazilian’s lucrative contract now under the microscope.

Casemiro must take hefty pay cut to continue at Man Utd

Casemiro could be set to continue at Manchester United past the end of the season. The 33-year-old Brazilian, one of the Premier League’s top earners, has two years left on his deal, and has been linked with an exit but United are now seriously weighing up their options. The midfielder’s contract runs until June 2026, with an option to extend for a further year. However, that clause would mean keeping him on his current eye-watering wages, something the club are reluctant to do as they continue their post-glory-era cost-cutting drive. United have been aggressively slashing their wage bill since the exits of David De Gea, Raphael Varane and Marcus Rashford, and Casemiro could be the next high-profile casualty. According to , if the Brazilian wants to stay in Manchester, he’ll need to accept a hefty pay cut. But Amorim, who sees Casemiro as a vital figure in his evolving setup, may yet have something to say about that.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportAmorim wants a midfield revolution

Behind the scenes, Amorim is plotting what insiders are calling a complete midfield reboot. United are expected to make at least one marquee signing next summer as part of the rebuild. Kobbie Mainoo’s uncertain future and Manuel Ugarte’s inability to nail down a starting spot have left the manager frustrated. Amorim had been desperate to add fresh legs in the middle during the summer, but the window slammed shut with no new arrivals, a failure that has already been felt on the pitch.

Last summer, United pushed hard for Brighton’s Carles Baleba, with Amorim identifying the young Cameroonian as his ideal long-term midfield anchor. But Brighton stood firm, refusing to sell at any price. Enter Adam Wharton, Crystal Palace’s 21-year-old midfield sensation. Since joining from Blackburn in 2024, Wharton has taken the Premier League by storm, dazzling fans with his effortless control, crisp passing, and ability to glide through opposition lines. He’s already become one of the league’s standout ball progressors, and Amorim is a huge admirer. The Portuguese coach believes Wharton’s composure and versatility could be the missing piece in United’s midfield puzzle. Wharton’s reputation soared even higher when he helped Palace win their first-ever major trophy, lifting the FA Cup last season before adding the Community Shield by beating Liverpool on penalties.

Reports claim United are lining up a £60m ($80m) bid to tempt Palace into negotiations, though insiders believe Oliver Glasner’s side will demand a significantly higher sum. Palace’s hierarchy view Wharton as irreplaceable, but every player has a price, and United are keen to act fast before Liverpool, Manchester City, or Real Madrid make their moves.

Midfield mayhem as old guard comes under fire

United’s struggles this season have been painfully familiar: a lack of control, disjointed pressing, and a midfield that too often looks one step behind. Fans have grown increasingly vocal about the partnership of Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro, which hasn’t clicked under Amorim’s system. With Casemiro’s deal winding down and Mainoo reportedly angling for a move to boost his England chances ahead of the 2026 World Cup, the middle of the park could see major upheaval in the coming months. Napoli are understood to be preparing an offer for Mainoo, with Antonio Conte personally keen on reuniting a core of ex-United players who’ve thrived in Serie A. Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund have already found redemption under Conte’s leadership, and he is ready to make a gamble with Mainoo. 

Meanwhile, clubs in Brazil and Saudi Arabia are circling for Casemiro, ready to swoop should United give the green light. From January, he’ll be free to negotiate a pre-contract with overseas clubs, a moment that could define the next chapter of his career. Despite speculation, those close to the player insist he’s settled in Manchester with his family and still fully committed to the cause. Amorim, too, reportedly values the experience and leadership Casemiro brings to a squad still searching for its identity under his tenure.

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Getty ImagesThe road ahead: Tough choices, big dreams

Amorim faces his sternest test yet. Balancing the need for fresh faces with loyalty to experienced veterans like Casemiro will define his United tenure. A decision on Casemiro’s contract is expected before the end of the year, with United bracing for offers as early as January. Whether the Brazilian accepts a pay cut or seeks one final payday elsewhere could shape the next era of Amorim’s midfield rebuild. For now, United’s focus turns to the upcoming Premier League clash with Liverpool, a fixture that could either reignite their season or deepen the crisis.

Playing his first match since October 2024, the highest speed he worked up against MI was 142.7kph

Sidharth Monga27-Apr-20251:30

Mayank Yadav’s variations impress Anil Kumble

Playing his first competitive match in six months, tearaway quick Mayank Yadav came back a much slower bowler. He returned figures of 4-0-40-2, bowled the first over of a T20 match for only the second time in his career, and took his first T20 wicket off a slower ball in matches that have a ball-by-ball record. The slower balls were the standout feature of his comeback; he has never bowled more in a single T20 match than the eight he sent down at the Wankhede Stadium against Mumbai Indians on Sunday.Eyes train on the speed gun whenever Mayank runs in to bowl. It was his high pace – a high of 156.7kph – and accuracy that excited the selectors, who gave him a special fast bowler’s central contract. But the high pace came at a cost: frequent injuries that hardly let him play longer formats. Eighteen of his 36 representative matches are T20s, and only one first-class.Mayank was primarily recovering from a back injury, and missed the entire 2024-25 domestic season. He was recovering at the BCCI’s Centre Of Excellence (CoE, formerly NCA) in Bengaluru. His return to action had been pushed back by “a week or two” when he stubbed his toe against his bed, and subsequently picked up an infection, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) head coach Justin Langer had said in early April.It was apparent immediately that Mayank was going to ease himself back in after his latest injury cost him six months. The quickest ball he bowled against MI was 142.7kph, which often used to be his slowest pace. He added the smarts, though: after getting pulled for two sixes in the third over by Rohit Sharma, he slipped in a wide slower ball that gave him Rohit’s wicket.Despite that, Mayank remained costly, going for 13 runs in his second over, and 15 in his third over. However, he made a stellar comeback in the 16th, getting Hardik Pandya out bowled top of leg stump with a reversing delivery, and then tying up Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir with slower balls. His final over conceded no boundary.”It’s going to take a while,” Anil Kumble said of Mayank’s journey to be the bowler he once was, “But very impressed. For a first game, after a long time, especially against a really good batting line-up, Mumbai Indians, a good surface, Wankhede, you know as a bowler, irrespective of when you are playing at the Wankhede, you don’t have too many margins of error. So knowing all of that and coming back from injury, he was very impressive.”He picked up two important wickets, Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya. I thought the lengths that he bowled and the variations that he provided, was really good.”If Mayank has found himself a more sustainable bowling action, he can work on his strength to add a few clicks to his early 140ks on his comeback. However, there is a big difference between the early 150s and mid-140s, which will call for much more accuracy, control and movement to be effective at the top level.

West Ham United have made another disastrous start to the season, with under-fire manager Graham Potter at the centre of reports that he could be sacked after just nine months in charge of the east London club.

Graham Potter's terrible West Ham start in numbers

Numbers never lie, and the statistics from Potter’s tenure at West Ham so far make for pretty grim reading.

Potter’s men have shipped 11 goals already this term, and out of every West Ham side in Premier League history, only Avram Grant’s Hammers from 2010/2011 have conceded more at this stage of the season — they were relegated.

Potter has also recorded the second-worst Premier League win percentage of any West Ham manager since the competition’s inception, behind only Grant, and even the maligned Julen Lopetegui fared better last season.

9. Sam Allardyce

30.7%

10. Julen Lopetegui

30%

11. Gianfranco Zola

27.8%

12, Graham Potter

27.3%

13. Avram Grant

18.9%

via StatMuse

West Ham’s losses so far have all come by a three-goal margin too, and it’s the joint-earliest a Premier League team has lost this many games by such a score since Bournemouth in 2022/2023 — who eventually avoided a drop to the Championship by the skin of their teeth.

To make matters even less flattering for Potter, he also boasts the worst overall record of every single present Premier League club since his appointment in January.

Taking all of this into consideration, alongside the lack of a real playing identity under the 50-year-old, it is hardly surprising that West Ham are backing Potter for now but have a number of managers on their shortlist in case they decide to part company.

According to reliable media sources, like GiveMeSport’s Ben Jacobs, West Ham have internally discussed hiring Sean Dyche, Nuno Espírito Santo and former boss Slaven Bilic.

The latter, who was a fan favourite and managed the Irons from 2015 to 2017, took charge of 109 games before David Sullivan and the board replaced him with David Moyes on an interim basis.

Now, Bilic is emerging as a favourite for the potential West Ham job, as Sullivan apparently favours re-hiring the Croatian over alternative candidates (Ben Jacobs).

The 57-year-old’s stance on a return to east London has now emerged too, courtesy of Jack Rosser in The Sun.

Slaven Bilic would love to re-join West Ham amid Graham Potter uncertainty

According to Rosser, Bilic would be open to a West Ham comeback as senior figures present him as an option, but there is an err of caution as it is also believed that the tactician has offers from elsewhere.

In his opening season, Bilic guided the club to one of their highest ever league finishes, seventh, which also earned them a place in the early Europa League qualifying rounds.

West Ham finished 11th in his second campaign before Bilic was shown the door early in his third season, having left with the club sitting in the relegation zone, but Rosser also reports that Bilic would come in on an initial caretaker basis.

Matches

109

Wins

42

Draws

30

Losses

37

Goals scored

160

Goals conceded

167

Points

156

Average points per game

1.43

via Transfermarkt

Amid the fierce backlash from West Ham supporters, who are planning protests this Saturday before their home game against Crystal Palace, the board is under mounting pressure, and it is vital they get their next appointment right if Potter does leave.

Bilic has been out of management for well over a year, departing Saudi side Al-Fateh in 2024, and it is very debatable whether the ex-Hammers defender is really the right man to take them forward, especially with Nuno also readily available.

That being said, Bilic was once a popular figure, with Aaron Cresswell hailing his passion.

Pep Guardiola has named the one player that he'd "love" to have back at Manchester City. City have previously shown a ruthless streak when it comes to cashing on players who no longer wish to play for the club, notably Leroy Sane who left the Premier League side for Bayern Munich in 2020. However, Guardiola has revealed that one "performing unbelievably" he'd welcome back.

Getty Images SportStriker left City last summer

Julian Alvarez left Manchester City for Atletico Madrid last summer having become frustrated at a lack of regular game time for the Premier League powerhouse. The 25-year-old started 31 league games in his final season at the Etihad Stadium, but a bulk of those came as a result of absences to either Erling Haaland or Kevin De Bruyne.

With both fit, Alvarez was often dropped to the bench despite scoring 11 goals and providing nine assists in the 2023/24 campaign. As such, the 2022 World Cup winner pushed to leave with Atletico winning the race to secure his services.

While City were keen to retain the forward, they were willing to sanction his exit and the striker shone in his debut campaign with Atletico. While Aleti finished the league season in third, Alvarez still scored 17 times and laid on a further four assists.

Advertisement'I'd love to have him'

And Alvarez has started the season strongly, scoring six times in his opening eight league outings though Atletico have made a sub-par start to the campaign, winning only three times. However, Alvarez's performances for the Spanish side have not gone unnoticed, with Guardiola admitting he's one he'd "love" to have back at the Etihad.

Ahead of City's game against Everton, Guardiola said: "Julian had to compete with Erling (Haaland), which was something extraordinary for us.

"Julian Alvarez is top. That's why now he's at one of the best clubs in the world, Atleti, playing for a top class manager, players, performing unbelievably. Maybe I'd love to have him… but I understand why he left."

Alvarez wasn't the only player who left City recently as Aymeric Laporte departed for Al-Nassr in 2023, another who was keen on more playing time under Guardiola, who added: "The Treble year, do you remember the players I left on the bench? Aymeric Laporte, an incredible central defender and a regular for the national team, Julian and others who I would love to have now, but they wanted to play more and left."

Getty Images SportDid Man City replace Alvarez?

City were caught short in attack when Alvarez left last summer as the Premier League powerhouse failed to sign a replacement for the Argentina international. The Manchester side only spent on winger Savinho from Girona and re-signed Ilkay Gundogan following his Barcelona release.

However, after a disappointing start to the season, which wasn't helped by the absence of midfielder Rodri, City splashed the cash back in January, signing Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis, Nico Gonzalez and, crucially, Omar Marmoush, the Egyptian joining from Bundesliga outfit Eintracht Frankfurt to replace Alvarez.

Marmoush scored seven league goals following his move to City though has endured an injury-hit start to the Premier League season having made just two league starts, though he made the bench for Saturday's game against Everton.

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Atletico looking to get back on track

Atletico will look to get their season back on track when they face Osasuna on Saturday night. While Diego Simeone's side have lost just one league game this season, they returned to league duties eight points behind league leaders Real Madrid, who they demolished at home 5-2 last month.

Alvarez is expected to lead the charge for Atleti, who are without the suspended Clement Lenglet for this must-win meeting in the capital. And the former City hitman is looking to add to his six league goals of the season when Osasuna make the trip to the capital.

However, Alvarez has scored in just three of his eight appearances in 2025/26 having bagged a hat-trick against Rayo Vallecano and a brace in the Madrid Derby triumph at the end of September.

Alvarez also drew a blank over the international break as he failed to score in Argentina's 1-0 win over Venezuela in Miami. Lionel Messi sat out the narrow victory but played the full 90 as the world champions eased to a 6-0 win over Puerto Rico, a match Alvarez watched from the sidelines while Lautaro Martinez bagged a brace from the bench.