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Looking to add to their South American contingent, Nottingham Forest have reportedly sent representatives to watch a big-money midfielder at the Club World Cup this summer.

Nottingham Forest's first 5 Premier League fixtures

Preparation for the 2025/26 Premier League season is officially underway. The fixtures have been released, the nerves are already building up and potential points calculated. For Nottingham Forest, the forthcoming campaign represents the chance for them to become an established top-half side and pick up where they left off in an excellent season last time out – starting at home against Brentford.

As far as starts go, the Tricky Trees could have been handed far tougher. Their trip to Crystal Palace may yet have an extra bit of tension if Evangelos Marinakis is successful in his attempt to take their Europa League spot should the Eagles be kicked out of Europe this summer.

Meanwhile, Forest’s early trip to Arsenal should give Nuno Espirito Santo the chance to gauge where his side are at in the battle for European football and whether they’ll find themselves causing the same shocks as last season.

With the fixtures now in place, the task for those at the City Ground will be to build a squad ready to enjoy the best possible start. On that front, it already looks as though Botafogo trio Igor Jesus, Jair Cunha and Cuiabano will arrive in the coming weeks, whilst rumours continue to arise over a potential move for Brentford’s Yoane Wissa.

Adding to their South American contingent seems to be the priority, however, after club chiefs were sent to watch an £85m midfielder at the Club World Cup this summer.

Nottingham Forest join Richard Rios race

According to GiveMeSport, Nottingham Forest have now joined the race to sign Richard Rios from Palmeiras this summer. The Midlands club reportedly sent representatives to watch the Colombian midfielder in action at the Club World Cup as he starred to help his side to an opening game 0-0 draw against Porto.

A deal to sign the talented South American won’t come cheap, though, amid reports that Rios has a release clause worth as much as £85m in his current contract at Palmeiras. Whether Forest are willing to or are even able to pay such a price is the big question and competition from the likes of Manchester United certainly won’t help their pursuit.

Praised for his “relentless work-rate” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, Rios will be one to watch this summer at both the Club World Cup and potentially beyond if he completes a move to the Premier League.

Tottenham youngster Mikey Moore is set to head out loan this season, with the 17-year-old likely to link-up with Russell Martin at Rangers after signing a contract extension in north London.

• Moore keen for first-team football
• Several clubs chasing Spurs star
• Set to make Rangers loan move

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Moore is widely regarded as one of Europe's top talents, but Spurs are reluctantly willing to let him leave on loan for the 2025-26 season so he can gain some valuable first-team minutes and return ready to push for a spot in Thomas Frank's starting XI.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Rangers look set to land the 17-year-old for the next 12 months, despite interest from several Championship clubs, as well as German giants Borussia Dortmund. Moore is believed to be keen on a link-up with former Southampton boss Russell Martin.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Before he sets off to Scotland, Moore is reportedly set to sign a contract extension with Tottenham. His current deal runs until 2027, but he is in line for a significant bump when he turns 18 on August 11.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MOORE?

  Moore is set to follow in the footsteps of Man Utd star Amad Diallo, who also spent time on loan at Rangers. The Scottish side will likely have European football on offer for the young Englishman as well, making it the perfect opportunity to develop his talents even further.

Warwickshire strike early but captain’s innings keeps rivals at bay

ECB Reporters Network09-Sep-2024Club captain Brett D’Oliveira struck his fourth successive half-century since returning from injury to inspire another Worcestershire recovery on the opening day of the Vitality County Championship derby with Warwickshire at Visit Worcestershire New Road.D’Oliveira had come to the wicket just over a week ago with Worcestershire 10 for 4 on the opening morning versus Essex at Chelmsford and his 68 helped his side rally to 266 all out on their way to a 43-run success. That followed his 97 during the home win over Kent and for good measure he hit another 51 in the second innings against Essex.Here, his side were struggling at 67 for 4 in testing conditions when he walked out to the middle and was again the cornerstone of a fightback with the top score of 76.D’Oliveira received excellent support from Adam Hose, fit again Matthew Waite and Logan van Beek in partnerships of 49, 76 and 43.He had missed the entire Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign whilst having extensive rehab to a shoulder problem which has troubled him for the past year. But the treatment seems to have paid handsome dividends for the 32-year-old who has been in prime form since the Championship programme recommenced.Waite also made his mark with a fluent half-century on his return to action after nearly two months on the sidelines with a side strain.Oliver Hannon-Dalby, the leading wicket-taker in Division One, added three more scalps to take his tally for the season to 46 and again bowled impressively.Worcestershire gave a Championship debut to young Academy pace bowler Jack Home who last week signed a three-year contract after taking 16 wickets in five games in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup.Warwickshire made one change from the side which had defeated Kent with spinner Danny Briggs replacing Jacob Bethell.Warwickshire skipper Alex Davies put the home side into bat on a wicket where the bounce was variable, particularly when bowling from the New Road End, and Hannon-Dalby made the first breakthrough when Jake Libby pushed forward to a delivery which nipped away and was caught behind.Kashif Ali, who had scored two centuries in the corresponding game at Edgbaston, provided keeper Michael Burgess with another catch off former Worcestershire allrounder Ed BarnardGareth Roderick had his middle stump knocked back by Michael Rae and then Ethan Brookes, promoted to No. 4, was lbw to Hannon-Dalby on his return to the attack with a delivery which swung back in. Hose and D’Oliveira battled through to lunch at 77 for 4 from 30 overs.D’Oliveira pulled Rushworth for four to bring up the 100 in 39.3 overs. The fifth wicket pair extended their partnership to 49 but Hose, having battled for nearly two hours for 33, drove at Barnard and was pouched at second slipWaite was full of positive intent from the start and collected four boundaries at Barnard’s expense in two overs.He was the dominate figure in a half-century partnership with D’Oliveira and completed his own fifty from 71 balls with nine fours.The afternoon session produced 111 runs from 34 overs for the loss of one wicket. But Waite added only one more run before he was lbw to Rae after he switched ends to end a stand of 76.D’Oliveira reached another excellent half century from 115 balls when he late cut Briggs for his seventh boundary. He found another staunch ally in van Beek in adding 43 for the seventh wicket but on 76 was finally caught low down at first slip by Yates off Will Rhodes.The second new ball accounted for van Beek with a third scalp for Hannon-Dalby thanks to Yates again showing a safe pair of hands, this time at second slip.But Home, who hit Barnard for the first six of the game backward of square, and Tom Taylor earned Worcestershire a precious batting point before the close during an unbroken stand of 52.

Rajasthan Royals, meanwhile, reversed their scoring trend of 2018 by taking off after the Powerplay, whereas Rashid Khan got his bunny again

Nagraj Gollapudi and Srinath Sripath29-Mar-20194:41

I’ve grown in confidence but far from being over-confident – Vijay Shankar

From best to worst – Bhuvneshwar’s fall at deathBhuvneshwar Kumar is counted among the best death bowlers in limited-overs cricket. Is that fact in danger of fast turning into a myth?This IPL, Bhuvneshwar has been the most expensive bowler in the final four overs: 17-20. He has leaked 72 runs in two matches at an economy rate of 18, including 13 boundaries. Three of the five most expensive overs of the tournament have been bowled by him.ESPNcricinfo LtdThe contrast between his numbers with the new ball and death is vast: in Powerplays, batsmen have found it hard to dominate Bhuvneshwar: 20 runs in four overs, conceding just three fours.On Friday, Bhuvneshwar had just given 10 runs in his two-over spell in the Powerplay. With Rashid Khan bowled out, Bhuvneshwar was their key bowler at the death. However, Sanju Samson took advantage of the slow speeds, the faltering in execution of the yorkers, to punch inside-out strokes and pick 24 runs in the 18th over. Then Ben Stokes, who struggled to get going early on, found his range in the final over. Bhuvneshwar’s death overs read 2-0-45-0.Since the 2018 IPL, Bhuvneshwar has given away 210 runs from 103 balls at the death, making him the third-most expensive bowler in the tournament. Compare that with an economy rate of 8.95 in the previous two seasons, and you can get a sense of Bhuvneshwar’s steep fall.Sunrisers max out Powerplay again to set up chaseESPNcricinfo LtdDot balls. Gold dust for bowlers. Gold for batsmen if they can keep the dot-ball count minimal. So far this IPL, Sunrisers have played out the least number of dots in the first 10 overs. It was little surprise then that they are the only team to string together consecutive century opening partnerships.On Friday, in the first half of their innings, barring the fourth over from Jofra Archer which went for three runs, David Warner and Jonny Bairstow hit at least one boundary in every over, backing it up with a single or two, to disrupt Rajasthan Royals’ plans. ESPNcricinfo’s Forecaster had Sunrisers’ win probability up at 74%, only going down to 58% at the fall of Bairstow’s wicket.In their opening match against Kolkata Knight Riders, the Warner- Bairstow combine had compiled 92 runs at the halfway stage. There were 20 dots, 23 singles and 12 boundaries. Against Royals on Friday, they were even better: 115 runs, playing out just 14 dots, 21 singles, and racking up 18 boundaries.In the face of a steep target, Warner exploded against every bowler, as Sunrisers blasted 69 runs in the Powerplay, the highest for the season. They also happen to be the only team to not have lost a wicket in the first six overs. Their run rate of 10.25 in the Powerplay against Royals is vastly higher than the rest of the pack, who have all hovered around the 8.5 mark.Royals reverse 2018 trend, switch on after PowerplayESPNcricinfo LtdRajasthan Royals’ first four overs got them just 22 runs, with the loss of Jos Buttler early on to Rashid Khan. That became 45 by the end of the Powerplay, usually the point when their slowdown began last season. Ajinkya Rahane would struggle to get going with the field spread out, and the rest of their middle order would get choked as a result.Those holes were plugged to a large extent by promoting Buttler to the top of the order, a pivotal point in their season’s turnaround. Buttler made half of Royals’ runs since then, and his five fifties were two more than the rest of their batsmen put together. On Friday night, all that changed. Buttler went cheaply, and it was Rahane who stepped on the gas after six overs. He smashed 50 off 29 after the Powerplay, a strike rate of 172 that was his third-best in IPL history in that period.When Rahane perished going for quick runs, Sanju Samson took it to a whole new level against the lacklustre Bhuvneshwar Kumar, carting him for 24 runs in the 18th over, before Ben Stokes found his range in the final over to raze 21 more against the same bowler.A total of 198, 63 of which came in the final four overs. The complete antithesis of Royals 2018.Rashid Khan comes in early, strikes gold
ESPNcricinfo LtdDuring the warm-up before the match, Rashid Khan was spinning the football on his index finger as if it was a needle. Commentator Harsha Bhogle went to check if the finger and the football were glued together. Sunrisers Hyderabad’s most valuable player is used to doing unthinkable things.A short while later, Rashid walked in to bowl the fourth over of the match. It is rare to see him bowl so early in the Powerplay. In fact, only once in IPL history has Rashid bowled before the fourth over of an innings. Before Friday, he had five Powerplay wickets from 96 balls at an economy rate of 6.90.However, the one main reason Rashid came on early was to eliminate the threat of Jos Buttler. Rashid had dismissed the England batsman thrice before in T20s, twice in IPL, while giving away just four runs off eight balls. Add to that the fact that Buttler has faced a fair bit of Sunrisers’ other bowlers, without ever being dismissed against any of them.Buttler was not surprised seeing Rashid though. The first ball was a googly which he read well. The next one, Buttler moved outside the line, attempting a slog sweep, and was bowled around his legs. The ball had pitched on middle and leg, and it held its line to break the stumps. Two balls was what Rashid took to eliminate the most dangerous opposition batsman. Job done, Kane Williamson didn’t bowl Rashid any further in the Powerplay, saving him for tougher overs ahead.

Fulham have now identified a £5 million manager who is destined for “big things” as a candidate to replace Marco Silva should he leave, according to a recent report.

Latest on Marco Silva's future at Fulham

It has been another impressive campaign for the Cottagers in the Premier League, as they have a really good chance of finishing in the top 10 and potentially even sealing a place in a European competition for next season.

Fulham and Silva could sign £30,000-p/w full-back instead of Walker-Peters

Fulham now have their eye on another defender who could be signed instead of Kyle Walker-Peters.

By
Brett Worthington

May 1, 2025

Given how well Fulham have done ever since Silva arrived at Craven Cottage, it may not come as a surprise to supporters to see him linked with a new job. The future of Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou is very much up in the air, as reports have suggested that the Australian could still be sacked even if Spurs win the Europa League. Silva is said to have an £8 million release clause in his Fulham contract that expires in 2026, and is now a frontrunner to replace Postecoglou.

But it is not just Spurs who are chasing Silva; in fact, the reason he could leave Craven Cottage is for a move to Saudi Arabia. It’s been reported that Al Hilal have set their sights on Silva as they look for a new manager before the Club World Cup starts in June, and there are even claims that Silva has agreed to leave Fulham and make the move to the Saudi Pro League.

Fulham eyeing Danny Rohl

The Cottagers are wasting no time in looking at candidates to replace the former Everton manager. According to Sky Sports German reporter Philipp Hinze, Fulham are interested in appointing Danny Rohl as manager should Silva leave Craven Cottage.

Hinze states that it looks likely Rohl will be leaving Sheffield Wednesday after another campaign of the German keeping the Owls in England’s second tier despite financial difficulties.

Rohl does have an exit clause in his contract, and it’s been reported that it is worth £5 million. That figure doesn’t seem to have put off interested parties, as both Fulham and Crystal Palace are keeping an eye on his situation given talk of their managers possibly leaving.

However, they are not the only teams from England interested in the 36-year-old, as Leicester City and Southampton are also admirers of Rohl as they prepare for life back in the Championship. Hinze does also state that there is interest from the Bundesliga in Rohl, but as things stand, interest is ‘hotter’ from England.

Rohl, who has been dubbed as being destined for “big things” as a manager by Rob Staton, has limited experience in management, as Wednesday was his first managerial role. Should Fulham decide he is the man to replace Silva it would be a gamble, given he has never managed in the Premier League.

Despite the talk that came with him being selected over the perpetually in-form Fawad Alam, and with the added pressure of Pakistan being in trouble, Haris Sohail astutely put together the “best day of his career”

Osman Samiuddin in Abu Dhabi01-Oct-2017As unfair as it may appear to start a story about Haris Sohail with Fawad Alam, specifically on the occasion of the former’s debut Test, it is impossible to do otherwise.Everyone knows the tale but it’s useful to sprinkle some details. Since his breakthrough season in 2005-06, Alam has bestrode the Pakistan first-class circuit like it’s the Ranji Trophy and he its new run-making behemoth. In 12 seasons, in order, he has averaged: 53.6, 49.11, 55.27, 97.70, 83.60, 64.00, 62.47, 48.54, 54.83, 71.90, 56.00 and 55.44. Two seasons where he has averaged less than 50 and even then, barely.Whatever your thoughts on the quality of first-class cricket in Pakistan and the value of such figures, keep them aside, because, for consistency alone, they are impossible to ignore. They are staggering. In that time he has played three Tests for Pakistan, in the first of which he played one of the most astonishing innings a Pakistani has ever played. Four innings later, having already been moved one position down from the position he made his debut at – both of which were not positions he regularly played at – he was dropped, never to return.Nobody in the years since – not selectors, not chairmen, not captains, not sources, not team-mates – has properly articulated why they don’t want him in the side. Sometimes it has been said that he doesn’t look right. Some have said he bats too slowly. A senior figure in this side, a few weeks ago, couldn’t explain it other than that he has a “touch” to him – local slang for attitude. Wild conspiracy theories – none publishable – abound. None of it makes sense. It is the great mystery of this age.So when Haris – and Usman Salahuddin – were selected in Pakistan’s squad as the first to try and fill the giant MisYou black hole, the first of many who will no doubt be ultimately sucked into it, naturally a sense of injustice erupted. Both have had good, productive domestic seasons but neither matches the consistency of Alam. And Haris had not played a first-class match since January 2014.It is plainly ridiculous that Alam has not played more Tests and even in Pakistan, where there are more stories of cricketers hard done by than there are cricketers, his could end up looming over all. But today, it’s worth reminding ourselves of Haris’ own story – in a different way as resonant as Alam’s – because, for a man who has only just begun his Test career, Haris has been through a hell all of its own.In February 2013, still uncapped, he had to return from a tour of South Africa with an ankle injury. A few months before that, he had nearly missed an India tour with another ankle injury. He finally did make his Pakistan debut in July that year in the West Indies, and over two years, in a troubled, regressive ODI side, he established himself to the degree that he was the clear future.Then, while on tour to Sri Lanka in July 2015, Haris picked up a knee injury while training, a crack of some kind in his left knee. It was serious though nobody was sure how serious. He rehabbed for four months, before going for surgery in December that year, in the UAE. A few things are unclear about this, namely that nobody can – or will – say unequivocally whether this was done against the advice of the PCB, who wanted him to go elsewhere for surgery, or with their acknowledgment. You’ll recognise the contours of this mess though.Rehab after the surgery didn’t go well and reports emerged that his career might already be over. They weren’t accurate but Haris admitted that he often wondered whether they might actually come true. Nevertheless, he persisted and went to England for some more rehab, this time with Dr Zafar Iqbal, who has worked with several English Premier League clubs. He came back to Pakistan, following his rehab programme and basing himself at the National Cricket Academy (NCA). For a year-and-a-half, he reckons, he did not even hold a bat, let alone have a net.Imagine, at your physical peak, having made it as an elite athlete, to be unable to hold the instrument with which you make a living, to do the one thing you have been doing all your life and the one thing you are better at than probably 99% of the population. Imagine, as he says, spending all that time shuffling between the gym and a room – in his case at the NCA – tiring yourself out enough in one to be able to switch off and rest in the other. What tolls this ascetic life?Well, the end of that story was today and his innings, which was many things. Smartly paced and, in parts, elegant. A range of strokes, off spin and pace alike. Intuitive, in knowing when to farm the strike and when the tail had been out there long enough to be trusted. It was, given how the Test stood when he started and how it stands now, also a game-breaker. From the first ball he faced and redirected to the point boundary, it had a certainty to it that this was what it was supposed to be. There was no sign that he was on debut, or that Pakistan were in trouble. It bore no burns from the hell he had gone through, or any acknowledgement that there’s a guy in Karachi who millions think should’ve been here, doing exactly this right now.Inside, of course, all the signs were there. He said later it was like making a comeback and a debut at once: “The last two years were very difficult. I struggled a lot. It was that kind of injury. Things weren’t right for me. That time, only I know how much I struggled. I heard many things [about my career ending]. But my goal was only one thing – to return.”He’d tried to stay away from the debate over his selection, even though it is all anyone can talk about. A few messages snuck through yesterday and it can’t have been an easy night, knowing he was to face his first ball in Test cricket the next morning. And then the first ball, only nominally from Nuwan Pradeep, but in reality from those 12 seasons and thousands upon thousands of ignored, unselected runs, from a modern day cause celebre, from a groundswell of injustice, and thanks I’ll have four there please and be on my way.He agreed later it was the “best day of his career”, which, with all that he has been through… Sure, it’s valid for your heart to burn for Alam, just make sure it’s big enough to be gladdened by the man who isn’t him.

Bangladesh’s top-order imploded late in the day when beginning their chase of 511

Andrew Fidel Fernando24-Mar-2024Bangladesh 188 and 43 for 5 (Vishwa 3-13) need another 464 runs to beat Sri Lanka 280 and 418 (Kamindu 164, de Silva 108, Miraz 4-74)Bangladesh nosedived in the dying moments of day three in Sylhet, losing five wickets for 43 runs in 13 overs before stumps. The slump though came when Bangladesh were anyway in a dire situation. Earlier in the day, Kamindu Mendis had struck 164 and Dhananjaya de Silva had also completed his second hundred of the match, leaving the hosts with an improbable 511 target to chase.Still, their dramatic collapse has left Sri Lanka needing just five wickets in two scheduled days of play. There is some rain forecast for Monday afternoon, but Sylhet’s weather otherwise looks conducive for cricket. Sri Lanka will feel they are on the brink of a rollicking victory.Sri Lanka’s quicks delivered testing lines on a pitch that still rewarded high-quality seam bowling. Vishwa Fernando got movement through the air, and Lahiru Kumara and Kasun Rajitha gained zip off the surface. Vishwa bowled some especially good balls, particularly to Mahmudul Hasan Joy, whom he trapped in front in the first over with a ball that swung late, straightened, and would have hit leg stump, as well as to Shahadat Hossain, who played and missed his first two balls and edged the third one behind.All up, Vishwa’s take for the day was 3 for 13 from his seven overs. Rajitha and Kumara took a wicket apiece.But there was indiscipline from Bangladesh too. Captain Najmul Hossain Shanto was out fifth ball, throwing his bat at a full delivery that had pitched more than half-a-metre wide of off stump. Then, the last wicket to fall was that of Litton Das, who having kept wicket all day, ran down the track first ball he faced, and played a giant hoick across the line to Kumara. Predictably, he top-edged it, and was caught metres from the pitch by the incoming cover fielder.Before Bangladesh’s batting imploded, however, Sri Lanka’s lower middle order had thrived yet again. De Silva and Kamindu had rescued Sri Lanka from 57 for 5 in the first innings with a 202-run stand. Though the team was better-placed on this occasion – 222 runs ahead with four wickets in hand – their 173-run partnership on Sunday nevertheless transformed the game’s outlook, turning Sri Lanka’s good position into an utterly dominant one.Although Kamindu was somewhat circumspect to begin with, scoring just five off his first 20 balls, both batters progressed smoothly, after coming together in the third over of the day (Khaled Ahmed had removed nightwatcher Vishwa with a sharp bouncer). With the ball almost 40 overs old, Bangladesh’s quicks were not getting much lateral movement. And the spinners were not getting purchase off the wicket.Although the pitch had plenty of pace and bounce still, it had eased to some extent, and both de Silva and Kamindu were quick to spot the length, and played the pull with particular ease. Their scoring areas were mostly square of the wicket with only the occasional boundary coming down the ground.They attacked in bursts too, to really impose themselves on the opposition, In an eight-over period starting with the 47th of the innings, the pair clattered 56 runs. Through that passage, Kamindu collected consecutive boundaries off Nahid Rana, before de Silva flat-batted the same bowler past mid on two balls later. Then, next over, de Silva clobbered Mehidy Hasan’s offspin for two slog-swept sixes. Bangladesh’s attack had been rendered flat, and they never really recovered.The second and third sessions saw Sri Lanka picking their way through milestones. De Silva got to his 12th career century off the 164th ball he faced, though he was out soon after for 108. Kamindu completed his second Test ton off the 171st ball, then later brought up 150 with a slogged six over long on off the bowling of Taijul Islam. He was the last Sri Lanka batter to fall, with de Silva not willing to declare, perhaps because there was so much time left in the game. By the time he holed out, Kamindu had struck six sixes.Bangladesh had had some chances, but these came fairly late in these batters’ innings. De Silva should have been out on 94 when he played at a Mehidy delivery that ended up in the hands of the wicketkeeper Litton. But neither keeper nor bowler spotted that de Silva had gloved the ball, and failed to appeal. Kamindu was also dropped by Litton (a tough chance), off Mehidy, on 133. The easiest chance was shelled by Rana running back from midwicket, when de Silva had top-edged a pull off Shoriful Islam.Of Bangladesh’s bowlers, Rana was by far the most expensive, having struggled for line throughout the day. He leaked 128 off his 20 overs. Mehidy was the most successful, claiming 4 for 74 from his 29 overs.

Germany's Joshua Kimmich lauded Cristiano Ronaldo's career consistency before going head-to-head with 40-year-old superstar this week.

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• Ronaldo praised by upcoming opponent
• Kimmich amazed by superstar's numbers
• Veteran's club career still uncertain

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ahead of playing his 100th game for Germany in this week's UEFA Nations League semi-final against Portugal, Joshua Kimmich was asked at the pre-match press conference about facing Cristiano Ronaldo. The skipper spoke with great respect for an opponent who is still playing at the highest level in his fifth decade on earth and has scored more international goals than any male player in history.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Ronaldo's Portugal tally of 136 goals is a world record in men's international football. His 219 caps is another world record, by some distance, the only male player to represent a senior national side more than 200 times. Ronaldo made his senior club debut back in 2002 and has been a Portugal international for 23 years, more than half his life. There is some debate about tallies recorded by players from older generations, notably Pele – who claimed to have scored over 1,200 goals, but Ronaldo's career goal tally of 936 is also recognised as a world record.

• WHAT JOSHUA KIMMICH SAID

  "I read that he scored [136] goals for the national team," Kimmich told reporters. "Cristiano Ronaldo has crazy numbers, especially when you look at the consistency, he's been playing at a very high level for over 20 years, performing for his country. For me, 100 caps already makes me very proud."

• DID YOU KNOW?

  For all that Ronaldo is undoubtedly an all-time great, his powers are definitely waning. He has struggled to make a telling impact for Portugal at successive major tournaments in 2022 and 2024 and hasn't found the net in a game against what might be considered an elite international opponent since a brace against France at Euro 2020 – four years ago.

Everton have undergone an incredible transformation since David Moyes was placed at the wheel, driving up the Premier League table, away from the danger zone and toward the comfy security of mid-table.

But Moyes isn’t going to stop there. He won the Conference League with West Ham United, remember, led the Hammers through three successive campaigns on the continent.

But Merseyside is his home, Everton his club, and he wants to get them back on their perch, having struggled to impress for so long.

With The Friedkin Group replacing Farhad Moshiri at the head of the table, Moyes has been told he will have money to spend this summer, with Kevin Thelwell also exiting his role as Director of Football at the end of the term, succeeded by Leeds United’s Angus Kinnear.

Thelwell has helped to guide Everton through a turbulent period, and though he had his ups and downs, he can leave with his head held high after a promising final transfer window in 2024.

Everton's recent transfer business

Everton emerged from the 2023/24 campaign bruised but not broken. Financial breaches had allowed PSR to clamp down on Merseyside and extract eight hard-earned points from Sean Dyche’s squad, but this wasn’t enough to send them spinning to the second tier.

Thus, spending was always going to be difficult, but the sales of Amadou Onana, Ben Godfrey and homegrown Lewis Dobbin generated finances in the £70m ballpark, allowing for several deals that needed to hit the mark.

Jake O’Brien has come into his own at right-back since Moyes took to the helm, while Orel Mangala was excellent before cruelly seeing his season ended prematurely in January due to injury. He’s a loanee, but Everton have the option to sign him permanently.

Jesper Lindstrom hasn’t been brilliant on the right flank, yet to score, but at least he’s only on loan – and has provided something of a steady and industrious outlet.

Then there’s Iliman Ndiaye, signed from Marseille for £15m. Pure magic on the alternate wing, notching eight goals from 28 matches across all competitions. He’s played 24 times in the Premier League in the Toffees, but three of his six strikes came in the five appearances under Moyes’ leadership.

Thelwell did his best and fans have been receptive to his efforts, thankful for them. However, that’s not to say he invariably hit the mark when shopping, with Everton still needing to get rid of his worst signing despite the flop last kicking a ball for the Blues in 2023.

Thelwell's worst Everton signing must go

Everton have missed the mark on more than a few occasions in the 12 years since Moyes left for Manchester United, picked as Sir Alex Ferguson’s heir.

While he hasn’t been the most costly blunder, Neal Maupay’s got to be down at the nadir, certainly one of Thelwell’s biggest misfires during his time at the decision table.

After several decent Premier League campaigns in Brighton, Frank Lampard’s Everton moved to sign Maupay for a £15m fee, but his time at the club quickly devolved into a nightmare.

Maupay bagged just the one goal across 32 appearances in all competitions for Everton. Notorious for his reputation as a wind-up merchant, the French striker endured his most pitiful spell by the banks of the River Mersey.

His revival at Brentford further frustrated the Everton fanbase, but not nearly as much as his remarks last year: “Whenever I’m having a bad day, I just check the Everton score and smile.” A brazen thing to say given he’s still on the books.

With four goals and four assists apiece in Ligue 1 this season, starting only 12 matches under Roberto De Zerbi, Maupay is enjoying something of a renaissance – but that doesn’t mean he’s got a future on Merseyside.

Earning around £48k per week, the 28-year-old Everton player is still earning more than Ndiaye (£45k-per-week), emphasising the woe that cannot be shaken from this deal-that-shouldn’t-have-been.

While Marseille are likely to be covering a portion – if not all – of his salary – it still represents a hefty pack packet that was agreed upon when Everton initially welcomed him to the club with high hopes that he would become their abiding talisman.

Marseille have the option to keep Maupay at the Stade Vélodrome for about £3m, which would be decent business if Everton succeed in recouping at least something for one of their most infamous modern players.

Perhaps Thelwell orchestrated one last piece of good business in the Frenchman’s loan package. Without question, though, Maupay’s signing was a “disaster” – a sentiment shared by journalist Paul Brown – and those of an Everton persuasion just want him off the books.

Outscoring Beto: Everton must rue selling star now better than Richarlison

Everton could do with this former “menace” in their ranks this season.

By
Angus Sinclair

Mar 7, 2025

Ruben Amorim told Alejandro Garnacho to "pray" that he can find a new club in a public dressing down in front of the entire Manchester United squad.

Article continues below

Article continues below

Article continues below

• Garnacho being forced out
• Amorim brutally dresses him down
• Garnacho seeking new club

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Per the , United boss Amorim held an open meeting at Carrington on Saturday in which he essentially confirmed that the winger can leave this summer. He was so angry, however, that he said, "You better pray that you can find a club to sign you", in a manner that informed the entire squad his United career is over.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  The Argentine has made 58 appearances in all competitions this season but he was vocal in his displeasure at how he was used in the Europa League final, as he was named as a substitute, and then played just 19 minutes in the 1-0 defeat to Tottenham. Afterwards, he claimed the season was "sh*t".

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Napoli and Chelsea have been touted as possible options for Garnacho and United are said to value him at up to £70 million ($94.5m), but it is unclear if they will be able to extract full value from a player who has now been exiled.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  United have embarked on a post-season tour of Malaysia and Hong Kong. It is unclear if Garnacho will play against ASEAN All-Stars on Wednesday.