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Manchester United and Bayern Munich have reportedly locked horns in a battle to sign Liga de Quito’s 16-year-old sensation Ederson Castillo. The midfielder has attracted serious interest from the European heavyweights after dazzling displays at youth level, though they face stiff competition from Atlético de Madrid and Anderlecht who are also tracking his progress.

• European giants circle Ecuadorian wonderkid

  According to reports emanating from and , the teenage midfielder has become the primary target for a host of Europe's most prestigious clubs. Castillo, who is currently plying his trade with Liga de Quito (LDU), has seen his stock rise meteorically following a breakthrough campaign with the youth sides.

  Despite being just 16 years of age, he was an instrumental figure in LDU’s recent triumph in the Ecuadorian U-19 tournament. His performances were marked by a maturity that belies his years, prompting the club’s hierarchy to invite him to train with the senior squad on multiple occasions. Reports indicate that both United and Bayern have moved to the front of the queue, registering concrete interest in the player as they look to secure his services before his valuation skyrockets. The battle for his signature is expected to be fierce, with European scouts now a regular presence at LDU's Pomasqui training complex, analysing every touch and pass the youngster makes as they prepare their final reports for club directors back in Manchester and Munich.

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  United and Bayern face stiff competition

  While the financial might of United and Bayern often clears the field, this transfer battle is far from a two-horse race. Atlético de Madrid are reportedly monitoring Castillo closely. The Spanish giants, led by Diego Simeone, have a long history of success with South American players who possess the requisite grit and technical quality. 

  Furthermore, Belgian outfit Anderlecht are firmly in the mix. While they cannot compete financially with the likes of United or Bayern, they offer a compelling sporting project: a proven pathway to first-team football in a development-friendly league. Anderlecht have already successfully recruited from Liga de Quito in the recent past, signing Nilson Angulo, which could give them a unique advantage in negotiations. The Belgian route is often seen as a smarter intermediate step for South American talents before making the jump to the Premier League or Bundesliga, allowing them to adapt to the European game away from the blinding spotlight of the very top tier.

• Ecuador's golden generation spurs interest

  This developing transfer saga is emblematic of a wider shift in the transfer market. Ecuador has rapidly established itself as the new "gold mine" for elite talent in South America. The unprecedented success of players like Moises Caicedo, Piero Hincapie, and Pervis Estupinan in Europe’s top five leagues has convinced top clubs that the region is producing "best-in-class" athletes who can adapt physically and technically to the rigours of European football.

  For United, a move for Castillo would be entirely consistent with the club’s revamped recruitment strategy under their new sporting structure. The Red Devils are keen to move away from paying exorbitant fees for established stars, focusing instead on identifying high-ceiling teenagers. Bayern share this philosophy, with their "Bayern Campus" project designed to integrate top international talents into the first team at a young age. Both clubs are desperate to find the "next Caicedo" at source, rather than paying a British record fee for him years later as Chelsea did.

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  FIFA regulations delay potential move

  Despite the intense speculation, any potential deal for Castillo comes with a significant logistical caveat: FIFA’s regulations on the international transfer of minors. Under current rules, Castillo cannot officially register and play for a European club until he turns 18. This means that any agreement reached in the coming months would likely mirror the structure of Chelsea’s high-profile deal for Kendry Paez, who is now on loan at Strasbourg.

  The fellow Ecuadorian wonderkid agreed to join the Blues at 15 but remained at Independiente del Valle to continue his development until he was old enough to move in June this year. For Castillo, a similar "pre-contract" arrangement is the most likely outcome. He would theoretically sign for a European giant but remain on loan at LDU for the next two years. This period would allow him to gain vital experience in the Ecuadorian Serie A and potentially the Copa Libertadores before crossing the Atlantic, ensuring he arrives in Europe ready to compete for a first-team place immediately. 

Fast bowler Henry picked up a six-for in his most-recent first-class outing for New Zealand A

ESPNcricinfo staff01-Jan-2021A year after he last represented New Zealand, Matt Henry could add to his 12 Test appearances after being called up for the second Test against Pakistan in Christchurch starting January 3. Henry replaces Neil Wagner, who is recovering from “undisplayed fractures in both the fourth and fifth toes of his right foot”.Wagner sustained the injury during New Zealand’s tense opening win in Mount Maunganui, where he bowled 49 overs across two innings and picked up four wickets in the match. His recovery is expected to take six weeks.”Matt has been in good form with the ball having recently taken 6 for 53 for New Zealand A against the Pakistan Shaheens (A side) in December,” said New Zealand head coach Gary Stead.”We’re still a couple of days out from the Test, so need to take a look at the surface while also assessing our options for best-possible team make-up.”Henry has been in good form in general. He’s so far picked up seven wickets in four games for Canterbury in the Ford Trophy. He has picked up four wickets in his lone Plunket Shield outing so far this season.”It’s good to be able to get some overs in the legs,” Henry said. “I’d been playing white-ball cricket with Canterbury, so to get into red-ball mode and have personal success [against Pakistan Shaheens] is great. I think just playing cricket after all that has happened [covid-19 pandemic] is great. [Hagley Oval] is a great venue and I’m lucky enough to call it home.”A series win over Pakistan will make New Zealand the No. 1 Test team for the very first time.Squad for second Test: Kane Williamson (capt), Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling (wk), Will Young

West Ham abruptly sacked Graham Potter on Saturday morning, ending his uninspired nine-month spell in charge, with Nuno Espírito Santo set to replace him.

Nuno Espírito Santo agrees deal to join West Ham

After talks with chairman David Sullivan and Karren Brady earlier this week (ExWHUemployee), and despite some uncertainty surrounding the finances of his contract (Sports Boom), Nuno has now agreed a multi-year deal to join West Ham.

When Potter told his players the news that he’s no longer West Ham boss, it left members of his squad “shocked”, but Nuno is expected to immediately step into the tactician’s shoes by taking charge of training this afternoon.

Potter leaves West Ham after 25 games in charge, having recorded the club’s second-worst win percentage during his time in the hot seat, behind only Avram Grant who relegated the Hammers in 2011.

Worst West Ham managers in the Premier League	Win percentage
9. Sam Allardyce	30.7%
10. Julen Lopetegui	30%
11. Gianfranco Zola	27.8%
12 Graham Potter	26.1%
13. Avram Grant	18.9%
via StatMuse

A formal announcement is expected in the coming hours, with West Ham managing to navigate the finances of a deal for Nuno to deliver the club’s third manager in just 12 months.

West Ham’s managerial shortlist also included the likes of Slaven Bilic, Scott Parker, Marco Silva, Sean Dyche, Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick, but Nuno was always in pole position for the job after his excellent work at Nottingham Forest.

During his time at the City Ground, Nuno steered Forest away from relegation at the end of 2023/2024 to qualification for the Europa League last season, all whilst shoring up their leaky backline, establishing a clear counter-attacking identity and getting the very best out of their squad.

This, combined with his free agent status, understandably appealed to the West Ham hierarchy — but Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson believes that the tactician himself is only taking this job for one worrying reason.

Paul Merson reacts after West Ham appoint Nuno Espírito Santo

Speaking on Sky, in reaction to the news of his appointment, Merson says that Nuno has agreed to replace Potter at West Ham out of “panic”.

The 51-year-old’s eagerness to get straight back into management was reported before his arrival, and Nuno’s priority was always to remain in the Premier League (Sports Boom).

It perhaps speaks volumes about his character and work ethic, which, if anything, is a very good sign for West Ham as the east Londoners seek to end what has been a disastrous 2025 on a high.

While Nuno’s style isn’t exactly the ‘West Ham way’, their defensive fragility and exposure to set pieces is something that Nuno has a proven track record of fixing at previous clubs like Forest and Wolves.

His spell in the Middle East at Al-Ittihad yielded a Saudi Pro League title as well, so he boasts some trophy-winning experience, even if Nuno was sacked just months later.

The ex-FC Porto boss’ appointment is a very intriguing one, but it is clear that, of all the managers readily available, Nuno was perhaps the most obvious choice given his proven Premier League experience.

The MI-LSG deal will be the third trade that Thakur has been involved in over the years

Nagraj Gollapudi13-Nov-202511:57

Is time running out for Mayank Yadav at LSG?

India allrounder Shardul Thakur and West Indies’ Sherfane Rutherford have joined Mumbai Indians (MI) in the trading window ahead of IPL 2026.ESPNcricinfo has learned that MI reached an in-principle agreement with Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) to get Thakur via an all-cash trade deal, for INR 2 crore. MI acquired Rutherford from Gujarat Titans (GT) for INR 2.6 crore, the same amount for which GT bought him in the last auction.Thakur could now become a quiz question as this is the third trade involving him in the IPL; in 2017, Rising Pune Supergiant had bought him from Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), and before the 2023 season Kolkata Knight Riders procured him from Delhi Capitals. Both those trades were also all-cash deals.Thakur, who had gone unsold at the 2025 mega auction and was to join Essex in the County Championship, was picked by LSG as a replacement for Mohsin Khan at his base price of INR 2 crore. It seemed like a good investment on the part of LSG’s mentor at the time, Zaheer Khan, as he took six wickets in his first two matches in IPL 2025. Thakur, however, struggled after that, playing only ten matches and taking 13 wickets with an economy rate of 11.02.The move to MI is a homecoming of sorts for Thakur. He was a support bowler for MI from 2010-12 and was also appointed Mumbai captain in domestic cricket for this season.Rutherford is now headed to his fourth IPL side, after representing Delhi Capitals (2019), RCB (2022) and GT last season. He was also part of the MI squad in 2020 and KKR in 2024, but didn’t get a game in those seasons. He had played 13 games for GT earlier this season, for 291 runs at an average of 32.22 and strike rate of 157.29.MI set to release Arjun Tendulkar to LSGMI and LSG have also agreed on a separate trade deal involving Arjun Tendulkar, who has been playing for MI since IPL 2023. It is learnt the left-arm fast bowler, who was bought by MI for INR 30 lakh last year, has been traded to LSG. It is also learnt that MI have decided to release Tendulkar so he could possibly get more playing opportunities at LSG.Tendulkar was first bought by MI in the 2021 auction for INR 20 lakh and made his debut in the 2023 edition, when he went on to play four matches in the league. Overall, he has featured in five IPL games for three wickets at an economy rate of 9.36. In the domestic circuit he started with his T20 debut for Mumbai in early 2021 before moving to Goa before the 2022-23 season, when he made his first-class and one-day debuts.

A “sensational” £100m midfielder has now emerged as Manchester United’s top midfield target ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, with Ruben Amorim personally keen.

Man Utd keen on new midfielder amid Bruno concerns

Amorim has been forced to find a way to fit talisman Bruno Fernandes into his system, but there are concerns about whether the Portugal international is suited to playing in central midfield, with ex-Chelsea man Craig Burley criticising his positional awareness.

Burley said: “They have got no legs in midfield, we’ve talked about this with Casemiro and Ugarte. Bruno Fernandes is playing there, but it’s not his position.

“He doesn’t understand the defensive aspects and the positional aspects of being a deeper-lying midfielder. And it also negates, which we’ve talked about at length, his ability to influence 30 yards further up the field.”

Man Utd submit offer to sign two "special" English midfielders in double swoop

The Red Devils have tabled a proposal for two midfielders.

ByDominic Lund Oct 15, 2025

Perhaps with that in mind, the Red Devils have set out to bring in a new central midfielder, and summer target, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, has remained on the shortlist, with a report from early September revealing plans to smash their transfer record in 2026.

However, according to a report from The i Paper, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton has now overtaken Baleba as Man United’s top target in midfield, with Amorim personally keen, as the manager is a fan of his directness and willingness to pass forward.

The Brighton midfielder, on the other hand, has made a disappointing start to the season, which has caused United to think twice about pursuing the Cameroonian, with one insider saying: “A calming influence, a midfielder on a different level with the ball at his feet wouldn’t go amiss right now,”

“Baleba can get about the pitch more, but does he possess Wharton’s quality on the ball? The club could do with the latter.”

"Sensational" Wharton would be very different option to Baleba

The Palace star, who reportedly has a price tag of £100m, is a very different type of player to Baleba, posing more of an attacking threat, while, as previously mentioned, expressing a willingness to drive the ball forward, which is why he has caught Amorim’s eye.

Average per 90 (past year)

Adam Wharton

Carlos Baleba

Assists

0.15

0

Shot-creating actions

3.94

1.88

Progressive passes

5.98

3.33

Tackles

1.90

2.47

Interceptions

1.39

1.53

As shown, the Cameroon international excels more from a defensive point of view, which suggests he is more of a like-for-like replacement for Casemiro, although there have recently been widespread reports suggesting the ex-Real Madrid man could sign a new contract.

As such, Baleba may not be a necessary signing, and it is probably a wise idea to focus on signing Wharton, who has received very high praise from Sky Sports’ Nubaid Haroon in the past.

Glasgow Rangers haven’t really produced a standout academy talent in the Ibrox ranks since Alan Hutton, who was sold 16 years ago.

Hutton broke through into the first team during the 2003/04 campaign, going on to play over 100 times for Rangers before Walter Smith accepted a bid of around £9m from south of the border in January 2008, which saw the defender leave.

There is a case for Nathan Patterson to be included in the list of finest academy graduates since Hutton’s departure, but he failed to dislodge James Tavernier from the coveted right-back position in the Gers side.

His potential saw Everton come in with a total bid of £16m, which was obviously far too good for the club to turn down.

Philippe Clement signed just two Scotsmen during the summer – Connor Barron and Liam Kelly – with the bulk of his transfer dealings coming from abroad.

It is no secret that a strong Scottish core not only helps with the European squad quotas but also helps with the club’s identity. Smith’s excellent nine-in-a-row side from the 90s had the likes of Andy Goram, Richard Gough, Ian Durrant, Ian Ferguson and Ally McCoist leaving a lasting impression.

With the January transfer window fast approaching, could Clement perhaps lure one of Scotland’s finest young talents to Ibrox?

Rangers eyeing one of Scotland's best talents

Links to both sides of the Old Firm were natural given Liam Miller’s rise, as he has emerged as arguably the brightest talent Scotland have produced in recent years, certainly in the midfield.

Indeed, according to the Daily Mail, both Rangers and Celtic are showing plenty of interest in Miller, who could cost around £4m as Motherwell hold out for the best possible fee for their prized asset.

It is inevitable that the Steelmen will have to sell sooner rather than later, but who can begrudge them wanting the highest fee possible?

This means Clement will need to open up the coffers to lure the midfielder to Ibrox. Given Celtic’s domestic dominance, allowing them the chance to play in the Champions League, they have the upper hand, that’s for sure.

If the opportunity is there, however, the Gers must go all in for the 18-year-old.

Lennon Miller’s statistics for Motherwell this season

Since making his debut in 2022/23, Miller has already made 55 appearances for the Premiership side, scoring five goals and grabbing six assists.

It has been a remarkable rise for the youngster, who has yet to make his international debut, despite captaining his club and featuring in every single one of their games this term, registering seven goal contributions in the process.

Lennon Miller’s Premiership stats (24/25)
11 games
2 goals
3 assists
5 big chances created
2.1 key passes*
73% pass accuracy*
1.5 tackles*
1.5 interceptions*
6.5 balls recovered*
50% total duels won*
16x possession lost*
Stats via Sofascore (* = per game)

Miller has also created five big chances, averages 2.1 key passes, 0.9 successful dribbles and wins 5.1 total duels per game in the top flight for Motherwell.

He is certainly showing maturity well beyond his tender age and there is no doubt he is going to be a future star for club and country.

If Rangers allow Celtic to snatch someone of Miller’s quality away from their grasp, then it would represent a massive, missed opportunity for Clement, especially as he could generate a profit for the club after a few years, such is his incredible potential.

Players such as Cole McKinnon, Alex Lowry and Leon King have shown glimpses of their vast talents in recent years, but they now need more chances to grow and demonstrate that they can deliver on the senior stage.

Is there a youngster at the club who has a bigger ceiling than the three aforementioned players? Indeed, might he even be an even bigger talent than Miller?

Rangers' very own Liam Miller

The player in question here is Bailey Rice, who ironically joined the Glasgow side from Motherwell in the summer of 2022, rejecting an offer of a professional contract at the club to move to Ibrox.

Journalist Mark Hendry hailed the young midfielder as a “prospect” even before he linked up with the Light Blues, as Manchester City were also displaying a keen interest in bringing Rice south of the border.

Youngest-ever Rangers debutants
Player	Age at time of debut
Derek Ferguson	16 years, 24 days
Bailey Rice	16 years, four months and 14 days
Tom Walsh	16 years, four months and 27 days
Paul Nsio	16 years, five months and 15 days
Zak Lovelace	16 years, seven months and seven days
Via Transfermarkt

Rangers was the next step for the Scot, as he would be given the chance to train alongside better players, while also having a chance to make inroads into securing minutes in the senior squad over the next couple of seasons. It didn’t take long for him to make an impression.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast's In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

The 2022/23 campaign saw Rice make 21 appearances for the B side in the Lowland League and UEFA Youth League, where he scored twice and grabbed an assist too.

Later that season, Michael Beale gave Rice his senior debut against Livingston, coming off the bench in the dying minutes. What makes this even more remarkable is the young midfielder had captained the Scotland U17 side to a 7-0 victory over Switzerland in Spain just 24 hours prior.

He jetted back to Scotland in order to join the first-team squad, thus becoming the youngest player in the post-war era to make his league debut for the club.

Two more league appearances followed last season, as Rice continued his development, slowly easing into more senior training.

The defensive midfielder has a ridiculously high ceiling, although he hasn’t managed to play any minutes in the first team this season, despite being included in the matchday squad five times.

The rise of Miller is due to him being trusted in the Motherwell starting XI, and they are now being rewarded with a player who is capable of special things.

The same could be said for Rice if he could secure some consistent minutes under Clement. There is a fine player ready to be unearthed in the 18-year-old, but unless there is a significant injury crisis, he may have to wait for his next opportunity.

If Tavernier is sold: Rangers already have 3 perfect future Ibrox captains

The Glasgow Rangers captain has been linked with an exit from Ibrox.

By
Dan Emery

Nov 17, 2024

Teenage spinner now has 15 wickets in five One-Day Cup appearances as Lancashire stumble

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay22-Aug-2025Warwickshire 253 for 5 (Shaikh 75, Malik 72, Blatherwick 4-48) beat Lancashire 249 for 9 (Tazeem 3-39) by five wicketsHamza Shaikh made 75 and legspinner Tazeem Ali took 3 for 39 to help Warwickshire beat Lancashire by five wickets at Aigburth and thereby consolidate their bid to reach the knock-out stages of the Metro Bank One Day Cup.Having restricted the home side to 249 for 9 on a pitch that aided spin, Ed Barnard’s side reached their target with 61 balls to spare, Kai Smith finishing on 45 not out having put on 77 with Shaikh.The one consolation for a severely under-strength Lancashire was that Jack Blatherwick took a career-best 4 for 48 but Marcus Harris’s side have now won just one of their seven matches in this competition and their own slim chances of making further progress had vanished with Wednesday’s defeat to Durham.Michael Jones was caught behind without scoring off Ethan Bamber’s second ball of the game but George Bell and Kesh Fonseka then batted positively against the Bears’ seamers to give their side a respectable platform of 69 for 1 after 15 overs.However, 33 of the next 35 overs were bowled by the Warwickshire spinners and scoring runs never looked as straightforward as it had done in the first hour of the game. Lancashire’s second-wicket pair put on 87 before Fonseka was caught at cover by Shaikh for 43 when driving Tazeem and the legspinner took his second wicket in his next over when Bell was leg-before for 46 when attempted to sweep.Harris and Harry Singh then tried to rebuild the innings with a stand of 68 in 13 overs only for Singh to depart for 29 when he pulled Rob Yates straight to Alex Davies at deep midwicket and the left-handed Harris to be bowled for 41 by a lovely offbreak from Yates.File photo: Shaikh led the way in Warwickshire’s run chase•ECB via Getty ImagesTazeem took his third wicket when George Balderson pulled him straight to Zen Malik and the remainder of Lancashire’s innings was dominated by Arav Shetty, who consolidated the good impression he has made during this competition by making 40 off 30 balls.Shetty, though, was one of two wickets to fall to Jake Lintott in the 49th over of the innings and the experienced Warwickshire wristspinner finished with 2 for 62 from his ten overs. Yates finished with 2 for 44 but it was Tazeem’s bowling that had taken the eye – and not for the first time this month.Warwickshire’s reply got off to a thunderous start, eight boundaries being struck and 44 runs scored in the opening four overs. But the visitors’ progress was slowed, first when Ed Barnard was caught by Bell when trying to scoop Blatherwick for 21 and then when Yates tried to slap Blatherwick through mid-on but only found Balderson’s safe hands and departed for 23.Former Lancashire batter Alex Davies was then surprised by the lift Blatherwick extracted from the Aigburth pitch and was caught behind for eight to leave his side on 71 for three in the eleventh over. That, though, was as near the home side got to upsetting the form book.Sheikh put on 97 with Malik, who reached his maiden List A fifty off 39 balls and seemed set for a century when his attempt to hit Blatherwick for six over mid-off only found the safe hands of Jones on the cover boundary and he departed for 72. Seemingly untroubled by this setback, Shaikh reached his own fifty off 74 balls and Warwickshire’s victory was all but certain long before Shaikh was bowled by Luke Hands when his side needed five runs.

West Ham United boss Graham Potter is under mounting pressure after slumping to a dismal 3-0 derby defeat against Tottenham last Saturday, with the east Londoners losing four of their opening five games in all competitions thus far.

Potter has tough games against Crystal Palace, Everton and Premier League title-chasing Arsenal on the horizon, with more unconvincing performances threatening to oust the tactician just 10 months after he took over from Julen Lopetegui.

Only Avram Grant, who led the Hammers to relegation in 2011, boasts a worse West Ham win percentage than Potter since the Premier League’s inception — serving as a clear warning that things desperately need to improve.

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 woeful defence, which has conceded 14 goals in all competitions already, is the top flight’s worst back line right now by far — having also leaked 11 league goals in just four top flight matches.

Their failure to deal with set pieces has been another major thorn in Potter’s side, and one key ingredient West Ham need more than anything else is solidarity if they’re to avoid a relegation dogfight.

David Sullivan and the Irons board may even decide to cut their losses with Potter, especially considering that out-of-work former Nottingham Forest boss Nuno Espírito Santo is readily available for hire.

The Portuguese, who guided Forest back to Europe for the first time since 1995 after a fairytale 2024/2025, was unceremoniously sacked by Evangelos Marinakis after a public fallout — just months after Nuno signed a brand-new contract.

Reports suggest that Nuno will jump at the chance to get back into management and his priority is to remain in the Premier League — making the 51-year-old a potential match made in heaven for West Ham.

Nuno’s pragmatic approach and defensive style could also suit West Ham down to the ground amid their real fragility at the back, with the likes of Kieran McKenna, José Mourinho and Frank Lampard also named as managerial candidates at the London Stadium.

How West Ham's board really feel about Graham Potter after Tottenham defeat

However, before any approach is made to the aforementioned coaches, the club must first make a decision on Potter.

According to Football Insider and journalist Pete O’Rourke, West Ham’s board believe it is “too early” to sack Potter despite their lacklustre start to 2025/2026 — with the ex-Chelsea boss retaining their backing “for the time being”.

The key phrase here is “for the time being”, but should West Ham relieve the tactician sooner?

West Ham must make ruthless Graham Potter decision

The team looks disjointed right now, lacking both defensive organisation and attacking spark, which arguably reflects poorly on Potter’s tactical approach among other key concerns.

For a squad boasting proven talent, fans and pundits alike are in agreement that the side should be performing far better.

Potter’s track record at Chelsea also raises concerns. Despite heavy backing in the transfer market there, he failed to deliver results, and many critics feared West Ham were repeating the same mistake when he was appointed.

Those fears now appear to be realised, and with Nuno available, West Ham should bite the bullet, admit they made a mistake and bring the former Tottenham boss to east London.

Four key Man Utd stars sat out training just days ahead of the crunch derby clash with Liverpool as boss Ruben Amorim continues the struggle to turn his side’s season around. Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha, Amad Diallo and Casemiro were all absent following their involvement in international fixtures in the past fortnight.

• Is it time for United fans to panic?

  The decision to rest the four stars is considered a precaution rather than a response to new injuries. United are already expected to be without Noussair Mazraoui due to an injury that has kept him out of the last two games and prevented him from playing in Morocco's recent World Cup qualifier. Lisandro Martinez also missed training as he continues his rehabilitation from major knee surgery and is unlikely to return to the squad before the November international break. To compensate for the reduced numbers, several academy players, including Shea Lacey, Jim Thwaites, and Jack Fletcher, joined the first-team training session. However, Ayden Heaven, who had been involved with England's Under 20s, was absent from training after being withdrawn at half-time against Switzerland last Friday.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Bragging rights at stake in Anfield clash

  Liverpool, currently second in the league, will look to bounce back from a three-game losing streak that saw them drop from the top of the table, and were replaced by Arsenal. Man Utd sit 10th after winning their last game against Sunderland, but are struggling for consistency under Amorim. While history and rivalry always play a role, Liverpool's home advantage at Anfield is significant. United have not won at Anfield in their last nine Premier League visits. This match also marks the 100th meeting between the two clubs at Anfield. Liverpool will be without Alisson, due to a hamstring injury, but Ibrahima Konate and Ryan Gravenberch are expected to be fit. Manchester United will be without Lisandro Martinez who is still recovering from a long-term injury. Liverpool boss Slot provided an update on Alisson, confirming he’s still injured. Slot said: “"He's not training with us, so he's out. Like I always say, it's so difficult to say (how long he will be out), because the end phase of rehab can always give you positives and negatives. But he will not play this weekend, and also not next week."

• Turning point for under-fire Amorim?

  It’s been another woeful season so far for Manchester United, but the win over Sunderland, before the international break, backed up by beating Liverpool would give fans real cause for positivity. And it would massively ease the fierce pressure on the Portuguese boss. Since his appointment in November last year, United have won only nine of his 33 Premier League matches, losing 17 and drawing seven. This gives him a Premier League win rate of 27.3 per cent, the lowest of any permanent United manager in the Premier League era. His side finished 15th last season and are currently 10th. They were also dumped out of the Carabao Cup in the second round by Grimsby Town. Despite these struggles, Amorim has received public backing from co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  What comes next?

  Amorim will speak ahead of the clash with Liverpool, where he is expected to give an update on the quartet. United will have to be at their absolute best to overcome Liverpool, who have lost their last two games, as their form on the road is poor. Amorim’s side are winless in their last eight Premier League away games since beating Leicester City 3-0 in March. The last time they went longer without a league win on the road is way back in September 1989 under legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson where it was a staggering 11 matches.

After their late victory against Burnley exposed their problems for all to see once again, Manchester United have reportedly submitted an “improved” offer to sign a major upgrade.

Man Utd eyeing late Onana upgrade

When Andre Onana came flying out of position in an attempt to punch clear against Grimsby in midweek, only to hand the League Two side their second goal on a plate, Ruben Amorim could only watch on as a similar story unfolded. Meanwhile, Altay Bayindir hasn’t been a lot more encouraging, given that his mistake handed Arsenal their winning goal on the opening day.

Simply put, whether it’s been Bayindir or Onana, Manchester United’s goalkeeping department has not been good enough for some time. And INEOS are still attempting to find a solution as Monday’s deadline approaches.

With less than 48 hours left until the transfer window slams shut, fresh reports have indicated that Emiliano Martinez has emerged as an option. The Aston Villa goalkeeper has been linked with a move away from the Midlands all summer and could now finally get a departure courtesy of those at Old Trafford.

Minutes

3,194

3,060

Clean Sheets

8

9

Save Percentage

69%

68.9%

Saves P90

2.7

2.59

Whilst Martinez is less mistake-prone than Onana, last season’s numbers suggest that he wouldn’t be the major upgrade that Amorim requires. The similar save percentage between the two makes for particularly concerning reading and the last thing United need is another liability between the sticks.

Moreover, it’s worth noting that Martinez is already 32 years old. If Amorim is to lead a successful project at Old Trafford then he needs a consistent No.1 who will be at the centre of his side for years to come and Martinez cannot guarantee that. Instead, INEOS would be best to turn to a shot-stopper that has been on their radar all summer long.

Man Utd submit "improved" Lammens offer

According to Mike McGrath, Manchester United have now submitted an “improved” offer to sign Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp and a medical could take place on Sunday if the goalkeeper agrees to a move.

Aston Villa have also asked about the shot-stopper and would set off a domino effect resulting in Martinez joining United if they hijacked the Red Devils’ move for Lammens.

Lammens has been the name on United’s list for most of the summer and it’s clear to see why. Praised for a “superb” season by scout Jacek Kulig at the end of the last campaign, the Belgian is still just 23 years old and represents the young, rising star that would suit this stage of Amorim’s project.

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It’s a deal that United simply have to get over the line if they want to see the marked improvement that INEOS will be desperate for this season.