Though Ajinkya Rahane scored a century, his slow start and slow finish meant Rishabh Pant’s rapid fifty was more valuable
ESPNcricinfo Stats team22-Apr-2019Individual hundreds don’t necessarily win you the matches in T20s. They must come fast. The average balls taken by batsmen to score a hundred in the first innings in the IPL is 54. Out of the 19 hundreds that have come in 54 or more balls, only ten have come in winning causes. However, out of the 23 that have come in 53 or fewer balls, as many as 20 have been in winning causes.Ajinkya Rahane’s hundred came off 58 deliveries and as the stat above seemed to predict, he did end up on the losing side. ESPNcricinfo’s Smart Stats corroborates the stats and chips in with its own assessment of who scored the more valuable runs in the match. Rishabh Pant, the top scorer from the winnings side, ended with 78 runs in the match, 27 short of what Rahane got, but his runs came at a Smart Strike-rate of 286. In contrast, Rahane’s Smart Strike-rate in the match was much lower at 183.5.A century in vain•ESPNcricinfo LtdSmart Stats evaluates the scoring rate of batsmen at every ball in their innings and awards or penalises them accordingly depending on match conditions captured through scoring rates. Rahane was superb in the middle part of his innings – he scored 85 off 43 balls at a strike-rate of 197. His Smart Strike rate was 247 in this part of his innings. Those 85 runs were worth 21 runs more. However, he started and ended his innings at a much lower gear. In the first ten balls he faced in his innings, he scored just nine runs. Similarly, off his last ten balls, Rahane managed just nine runs. His Smart Strike-rate in his last ten balls was just 60. Smart Stats algorithm penalises batsmen for slowing down during death overs when on evidence, a higher strike-rate is possible to achieve.Pant on the other hand made use of the start he got and did not slow down at any stage in his innings. That is the reason why his 78 runs were worth 103 Smart Runs, while Rahane’s 63-ball 105 was worth 115 Smart Runs. In other words, Pant’s 36-ball effort was worth 25 more runs in the context of the game, while Rahane’s 63 balls earned him, and his team, just ten additional runs.
He became the fifth India opener to amass 500-plus runs in a Test series
Bharath Seervi20-Oct-2019529 – Total runs scored by Rohit Sharma in the ongoing series against South Africa, which is the most by an India opener in a Test series since Virender Sehwag’s 544 against Pakistan in 2005. Rohit is the fifth India opener to amass 500-plus runs in a series. Sunil Gavaskar (five times), Vinoo Mankad and Budhi Kunderan are the other India openers to do so.
0 – Number of India batsmen to score more runs in a series than Rohit’s 529, having batted four or fewer innings in the series. The previous most is 491 by Sehwag against Sri Lanka in 2009-10. Rohit’s tally is now the fourth-highest by an India batsman in a three-match Test series.3 – Double-centurions for India in this series: Mayank Agarwal in Visakhapatnam, Virat Kohli in Pune and Rohit in Ranchi. This is the first time India have had more than two double-centurions in a Test series. There have been only four instances of three double-centurions in a series. The last instance was for England when India visited them in 2011 when Alastair Cook, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen had scored double-hundreds.19 – Sixes for Rohit in this series, the most by a batsman in a Test series. The previous record was 15 by Shimron Hetmyer against Bangladesh last year. Before Rohit, the record by an India batsman was 14 by Harbhajan Singh against New Zealand in 2010-11. Rohit has also completed 50 sixes in his Test career. Of the 19 sixes, Rohit hit 11 off offspinner Dane Piedt, which also makes it the most by a batsman against a bowler in a series.
99.84 – Rohit’s average in home Tests after his 212-run knock. He has scored 1298 runs in 18 innings with six centuries and five fifties. These are his last nine scores in Tests in India: 82*, 51*, 102*, 65, 50*, 176, 127, 14 and 212. He has the best average at home among all batsmen with 10-plus innings, just ahead of Don Bradman’s 98.22.ESPNcricinfo Ltd1978 – The last time an India opener scored three or more centuries in a Test series – Gavaskar against West Indies. Rohit Sharma became the second India opener to score more than two hundreds in a series. Gavaskar had done it three times in the 1970s.
As Vernon Philander’s Test career draws to a quiet close, we list a few other underwhelming exits
Andrew Miller27-Jan-2020Age was barely even a number where Graham Gooch was concerned. His Test career began in earnest after the age of 36 – from 1990 onwards, he averaged 51.55 in 45 Tests , compared to 36.90 in his first 73. And having pumped New Zealand for a double-century at Trent Bridge in June 1994, a month shy of his 42nd birthday, there seemed no reason to assume the end was nigh. But Australia tours have a habit of exposing the gently decrepit, and despite sporting a particularly perky moustache – probably the most upbeat iteration of an otherwise hangdog career – his inability to push on past a top-score of 56 in the first four Tests persuaded him that the end was nigh. So he called time on the eve of the series finale at the WACA, and was soon made to look a man out of time. His final innings was particularly painful – a 12-ball turkey shoot in which he might have been out three times, before finally drilling a return catch into Craig McDermott’s shoulder, and then the bowler’s hands as he tumbled in pain to the turf.As a legspinner who spent most of his career in Shane Warne’s shadow, Stuart MacGill held his own better than most of Australia’s opponents – in fact, in the 16 matches they played as a spin pairing, he outdid the senior man by 82 wickets at 22.10 to 74 at 29.56. But by the time the stage was all his own, following Warne’s retirement at the end of the 2006-07 Ashes, MacGill was himself 36, and starting to feel it too. On the second morning of the Antigua Test in May 2008, he arrived at the ground after the start of play, having been out for dinner the night before. “I was sleeping, missed the bus and was late for work,” he said. “It would be cooler if I had a better story.” A subsequent slip in the outfield, and the creak in his joints as he got back to his feet, persuaded MacGill that he “didn’t want to embarrass himself anymore” and he announced his retirement with immediate effect, and with final Test figures of 1 for 182. The sympathy vote wasn’t enough to prevent the tour management from fining him for his tardiness.Don Bradman, The Oval 1948The daddy of all disappointing send-offs – although, on the up side, that legendary final Test average, 99.94, is far more evocative than a dull and rounded 100.00. And besides, Don Bradman’s final moment of fallibility at The Oval has meant that future generations have had something to aim for, for 72 years and counting. Had the Don been a modern media-trained drone, he would doubtless have uttered something banal at the post-match presentations, along the lines of: “Obviously I was gutted on a personal level, but I’d trade those four runs for an innings-and-149-run win over the Poms and a 4-0 series win any day of the week”. Except, given that he had a voracious run-harvesting appetite that makes Jacques Kallis look flighty, we can hazard a guess that his mood might not have been quite so upbeat. John Arlott’s commentary was as flummoxed as Bradman’s off-balance stab at the googly. “He’s bowled! Bradman, bowled Hollies, nought. What do you say under those circumstances?” Something that, in this day and age, would earn you a demerit point, probably.Inzamam-ul-Haq was stumped for 3 from 2 balls in his last international innings•AFPLike trying to ignore the elephant in the room, it was optimistic of the PCB to think that a man of the physical and statistical stature of Inzamam-ul-Haq could be quietly put out to pasture in the wake of Pakistan’s disaster at the 2007 World Cup. Besides the emotional attachment that the country still felt to their gentle giant, there was the small matter of a very impending landmark. With 8,813 runs in 119 Tests, Inzamam was just 20 runs shy of overhauling Javed Miandad as Pakistan’s leading run-scorer, and the clamour for his recall was too great to ignore – especially when an Inzy-less Pakistan lost the first Test against South Africa (or more specifically to Kallis) at Karachi. So back Inzy came for a one-off farewell against South Africa at Lahore – with all the associated hoopla that entailed. The South Africans, understandably, suggested that his recall would be a distraction … but no one seemed more distracted than the man himself. After ticking off 13 runs in the first innings, he arrived second-time around with time running out in a nigh-on-impossible run-chase, but decided to have a dart all the same. A first-ball clip for three brought the record within range, but a second-ball swipe at Paul Harris brought the show to an anticlimactic end.Allan Donald, Johannesburg 2002At the age of 35, and with a then-South Africa-record 330 wickets to his name, Allan Donald’s spirit was still willing but his body was increasingly weak. And at the turn of the 2000s, there was no side in the world more likely to expose widening cracks than Steve Waugh’s Australians. Towards the end of the first day of the series at the Wanderers, Donald’s thunderous career came to a sudden and very terminal halt as he pulled up in his 16th over with a hamstring strain. He hardly needed the say-so of physio Craig Smith to confirm that it was all over, but the fact that both men left the pitch in tears spoke volumes. In the absence of their attack leader, South Africa were subjected to a beating the like of which they had never before felt. By the end of Australia’s solitary innings of 652 for 7 declared, Adam Gilchrist was taking pot-shots at a billboard promising 1 million rand for any batsman who hit it. He missed a couple by a whisker, en route to a career-best 204 not out, and victory by a whopping innings and 360 runs. “Gilchrist was playing with them like a cat keeping a half-dead mouse alive for entertainment,” wrote Wisden .
The biggest game of the season so far is on the horizon, ahead of Thursday’s clash with Lyon in the Europa League, yet for those of a Manchester United persuasion, attention is already beginning to turn toward the summer transfer window.
As manager Ruben Amorim has already stated, even winning Europe’s second-tier competition would not be enough to “save” their season, with major surgery needed to the squad once again over the coming months.
Club legend Gary Neville stated after the dour Manchester derby that he feels United need at least “five new players straight away” to help give Amorim a fighting chance, while even the former Sporting CP boss has stated that he is keen to bring in “one or two big players”, ahead of next season.
Work is likely to already be underway in that regard, with rumours currently rife over just who will be on their way to Old Trafford. Might Wolverhampton Wanderers talisman, Matheus Cunha, be among them?
Latest on Man Utd's pursuit of Matheus Cunha
If Cunha had been auditioning for Amorim and co earlier this season, he certainly couldn’t have done much more to impress, with the Brazilian inspiring the hosts to a 2-0 win at Molineux on Boxing Day.
The 25-year-old memorably scored directly from a corner – while teeing up his side’s second goal – in what was an all-action display on the night, with scout Mick Brown stating that he “fits the system perfectly”, in relation to Amorim’s 3-4-3 set-up.
With 13 goals to his name for the Old Gold this season, Cunha has unsurprisingly caught the attention, with reports earlier this week suggesting that United have now joined Arsenal and Nottingham Forest in the race for his signature.
Wolverhampton Wanderers' MatheusCunhaduring the warm up
As per the report, there has already been ‘initial contact’ between the Red Devils and the player’s agent, ahead of a possible summer move, with the option there for United to trigger the forward’s £62.5m release clause.
The player himself has already confirmed that he wants to “take the next step” in his career, with it yet to be seen whether that ‘step’ will lead him toward the Theatre of Dreams.
Regardless of whether or not the one-time RB Leipzig star does move to Manchester, it could be argued that Amorim already has his own version among the current Red Devils ranks.
Man Utd already have their own Matheus Cunha
As the aforementioned Brown has stated, what sets Cunha apart is that he is “not a one-trick pony”, with the respected insider listing a variety of traits which make him such a worthwhile investment:
Those are all attributes which the Old Gold hero seemingly shares with a certain Amad Diallo, with the pair noted as similar players among those in their position in the Premier League this season, as per FBref.
Indeed, not only are both men remarkably versatile – amid their ability to feature centrally, or on the flanks – but they both have that knack for making things happen for their respective sides, with Amad ranking in the top 15% for shot-creating actions per 90, while Cunha ranks in the top 19% in that regard.
The pair are also adept at beating their man when in possession, with the 22-year-old United starlet ranking in the top 21% for successful take-ons per 90, while his Wolves counterpart ranks in the top 19% for that same metric.
Games (starts)
17 (12)
32 (29)
26 (24)
Goals
2
12
13
Scoring frequency
492 mins
204 mins
165 mins
Big chances missed
1
6
2
Assists
0
7
4
Big chances created
1
7
12
Key passes*
0.4
0.9
1.7
Pass accuracy*
76%
82%
78%
Successful dribbles*
1.5
2.0
1.9
Possession lost*
7.0
11.8
16.7
Defensively too, there is also a likeness in their ability to lead the press from the front, with Amad ranking in the top 23% for interceptions made, while Cunha ranks in the top 19%. In essence, neither man gives their opponent a moment’s peace.
While currently sidelined with injury, the Ivorian had dazzled prior to that at Old Trafford, notably chalking up six goals and six assists in 22 league outings, while averaging 1.8 key passes per game. That creative spark is mirrored by the Brazil international who averages 1.7 key passes per game, having registered 17 goals and assists thus far.
There is the prospect of having the two men operating in tandem in United’s forward line next term, although even a deal for Cunha can’t be secured, Amorim can rest safe in the knowledge that he has is own “sensational” talent – as described by journalist Liam Canning – to call upon.
Biggest deal since Bruno: Man Utd make contact to sign "world-class" star
Man Utd are believed to have joined the race for another standout signing
Aston Villa are now looking to a seal a deal for a “devastating” midfielder ahead of their Premier League rivals, and he is keen on the move, according to a report.
Aston Villa pursuing new midfielder
Villa are on course to have another successful season under the helm of Unai Emery, having reached the Champions League quarter-final and the FA Cup sem-final, and their midfield has been particularly impressive.
Youri Tielemans was dubbed “one of the best midfielders in the world” by analyst Raj Chohan earlier in the campaign, while Morgan Rogers has caught the eye in a more advanced role, with the Englishman ranked among the Villans’ most consistent performers.
However, it appears as though Emery is keen to bolster his midfield options even further this summer, with FC Barcelona’s Marc Casado becoming one of the latest players to be shortlisted, and talks over a deal have now been opened.
FC Barcelona's MarcCasadocelebrates scoring their second goal with teammates
Emery has green-lighted a move for Casado, but the Spaniard is not the only target in central midfield, with a report from The Athletic’s David Ornstein revealing Aston Villa are working to close a deal for Rosenborg star Sverre Nypan.
Arsenal and Girona have also been named as potential suitors for Nypan, but the Villans are now looking to move ahead in the race for his signature, and the 18-year-old is believed to be keen on a move to Villa Park.
Personal terms and a transfer fee are still yet to be agreed, so there is still work to be done before a deal is finalised, but there is now optimism that the move will be possible.
Previous reports have detailed a deal could amount to £12.5m, potentially making the youngster a low-cost addition to Emery’s squad.
Aston Villa join Bayer Leverkusen in race to sign £30m ace who will be sold
Aston Villa are among the teams from England and abroad looking to sign a player who will definitely be on the move.
ByBrett Worthington Apr 14, 2025 "Devastating" Nypan is one for the future
Given the talent Emery has at his disposal, it may be difficult for the young Norwegian to make an instant impact at Villa Park, but there are clear signs he could be capable of going on to be an important player.
The teenager has a very impressive goal and assist record in Norway, amassing 25 goal contributions in 62 appearances for Rosenborg, which is an eye-catching tally at such a young age.
The attacking midfielder has also caught the eye of football scout Ben Mattinson, with the starlet standing out due to his ability to pick out his teammates in dangerous areas.
Nypan could be a fantastic signing for Villa, and it would be a real statement of intent if they are able to beat the likes of Arsenal and Manchester City to his signature.
After winger Mohamed Salah’s new contract was announced over the last couple of weeks, Arne Slot can turn his attention to other areas of the Liverpool squad ahead of next season’s Premier League campaign.
The Egyptian penned a new two-year deal at Anfield, extending his stay at the club to over a decade, hoping to add to the success he’s enjoyed during previous years.
However, if the 32-year-old is to achieve yet more glory on Merseyside, the manager will need to strengthen to help the side maintain the levels they’ve reached in the last few months.
Mohamed Salah for Liverpool
With the summer transfer window now just around the corner, the hierarchy will need to identify players who are capable of bolstering the ranks, with a real emphasis needed on quality over quantity.
One department of the pitch could be set for a huge overhaul, with numerous players already touted with moves to and from Merseyside ahead of the upcoming window.
The latest on Liverpool’s pursuit for new attacking stars
With the futures of Diogo Jota and Darwin Núñez up in the air at Liverpool, it would be a surprise to no one if both players were offloaded to raise funds for new attackers this summer.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz is the latest name thrown into the mix over the last couple of days, with the German on the club’s shortlist ahead of the off-season.
However, the Reds are unlikely to be alone in their pursuit of the 21-year-old, with fellow English side Manchester City also firmly in the race for his signature despite his £111m price tag.
Other forwards like Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitiké remain on their list, but Ademola Lookman is the latest player the hierarchy are targeting to bolster the front line ahead of 2025/26.
According to new reports from Italian outlet, Corriere dello Sport via Sport Witness, Slot’s side are keen admirers of the 27-year-old left-winger.
It’s stated that if Atalanta receive an offer of at least £50m from Liverpool or any other party, the winger’s sale in the summer would be ‘inevitable’.
Why Liverpool’s £50m target could be their best LW since Mane
In the summer of 2022, all Liverpool supporters were shocked by the news that winger Sadio Mané would be joining Bayern Munich, ending his six-year stint at Anfield.
Former Liverpool player Sadio Mane
The Senegalese international was a key part of the success they endured under Jürgen Klopp, forming a deadly partnership with Salah and Roberto Firmino at the top of end of the pitch.
The infamous trio catapulted the side to Premier League and Champions League glory during their time together, with Mane undoubtedly one of their best-ever additions.
He cost £34m from Southampton back in the summer of 2016, going on to register 120 goals in his 269 appearances – finishing as the division’s joint-top scorer back in 2018/19.
However, his subsequent departure saw Luis Diaz tasked with the responsibility of filling the void, with the Colombian only notching a total of 11 league goals throughout Slot’s maiden season at the helm.
Liverpool forward Luis Diaz
Such form has led to links to Lookman, with the Nigerian undoubtedly providing an upgrade on Diaz, subsequently making him the club’s best left-winger since Mane departed nearly three years ago.
When comparing their respective stats from the ongoing season, the Nigerian has massively outperformed the 28-year-old in various key areas, showcasing what a sensational signing he would be this summer.
Games played
27
32
Goals & assists
18
16
Progressive carries
5.7
4.2
Carries into final third
2.9
2.1
Shot-on-target accuracy
41%
40%
Crosses completed
4.7
1.2
Shot-creating actions
5.6
4.8
Aerials won
58%
26%
Lookman, who’s been labelled “world-class” by commentator Matteo Bonetti, has managed to register more combined goals and assists than the Colombian this campaign – showcasing the attacking threat he possesses.
He’s also managed to achieve more progressive carries per 90, whilst bettering the current Reds winger’s carries into the final third, highlighting the danger the former Everton ace presents when having the ball at his feet.
Ademola Lookman for Atalanta
His dominance doesn’t stop there, registering more shot-creating actions, along with more crosses completed, and subsequently able to aid other players within the final third.
It may be a brutal decision to drop Diaz in favour of a move for the Atalanta talent, but from the stats produced, it’s evident that he’s a huge talent and one that would inject added quality to the front line.
£50m in today’s market is an excellent price for a player of his quality, potentially allowing the club to sustain the levels of success endured during Slot’s first year in charge.
£111m Szobo upgrade: Liverpool chasing "the best midfielder in the world"
Liverpool will need to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold’s creativity this summer.
Liverpool are close to being crowned Premier League champions and could start the summer with aplomb if they can land one of England’s top offensive talents, per reports.
Liverpool on the verge of sealing Premier League crown
Arne Slot has become a hero among Liverpool supporters and will soon deliver the reality of becoming the first Reds team in the modern day to claim the title in front of their own supporters at Anfield. With the Premier League title race a forgone conclusion, only a point is required at home to Tottenham Hotspur this weekend to ensure fans are sent into scenes of jubilation on Merseyside.
Liverpool Manager ArneSlotcelebrates at the end of the match
Celebrations will be in order after what feels like weeks of Liverpool having to store their champagne in cold storage, but what happens when the novelty wears off and the defending champions turn their attention to next term?
Presumably, an exciting summer window will be in store, and reports suggest the Reds are already eyeing a double swoop for Bournemouth pair Dean Huijsen and Milos Kerkez to kick things off. Looking to pull off some ambitious deals, Bayer Leverkusen full-back Jeremie Frimpong is another Liverpool target as they plan for all scenarios, including a potential move for Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid on a free transfer.
Man City and Liverpool eyeing £165m Chelsea "superstar" with approach made
They are “sniffing around” him
4 ByEmilio Galantini Apr 24, 2025
Title victories can often embolden managers to stick with the options they have to compete for further silverware later down the line. However, football is constantly evolving, so there can be no expense spared in the hunt for greatness.
Keeping that in mind, Liverpool could now sign one of the Premier League’s most renowned attacking threats for a discount, per recent developments.
Liverpool could land Mohammed Kudus for discounted price
According to Football Insider, Liverpool could land West Ham United forward Mohammed Kudus for a discount as they look for upgrades on their current attacking ranks. Despite retaining an £80 million release clause involving domestic clubs, the Ghana international could be allowed to leave the London Stadium for a fee in the region of £70 million, and the report claims the Reds are “definite” he would be an upgrade on their current forward options.
Mohammed Kudus at West Ham since joining
Appearances
75
Goals
17
Assists
12
Labelled “brilliant” by Alan Shearer, Kudus has been a mainstay either on the flank or through the middle this term, registering three goals and three assists in 30 appearances across all competitions. The Hammers have endured a disappointing campaign to say the least, though the 24-year-old has also created 30 chances on league duty as his side stand on the verge of beating the drop.
Darwin Nunez, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz could be cashed in on by Liverpool to create room for Kudus, who has become one of their top targets to fill any void left by sales this summer. Undoubtedly, the former Ajax man is in need of a new challenge and Merseyside could be the best environment possible for him to continue thriving in the English top-flight.
Already thinking about the summer transfer window even as the race for Champions League football goes down to the wire, Aston Villa are now reportedly readying a formal move to sign a La Liga talent at the request of Unai Emery.
Aston Villa's Champions League hope
With three Premier League games to go, no one around Villa Park can complain that Emery’s side aren’t doing their bit in the race to secure Champions League qualification. The Villans have won four of their last five Premier League games in a run that includes a 2-1 victory over rivals Nottingham Forest.
Now, as the season begins to conclude, Aston Villa sit seventh and three points behind a Chelsea side that must slip up if those in the Midlands are to pull off a last-gasp push for top five. Given that the Blues face Newcastle United this weekend and then Manchester United before squaring off against Forest on the final day, however, Emery’s side should still hold plenty of hope that their fate could change.
Whilst Chelsea square off against Newcastle, United and then Forest, Villa have an easier run on paper in comparison. The Midlands club travel to Bournemouth this weekend before playing host to a Tottenham Hotspur side sat in the depths of the bottom half and then Amorim’s United side facing similar problems. Whether nine points from nine is enough to take them into the top five remains to be seen, however.
Aston Villa can forget Asensio by unleashing their very own homegrown Nypan
Aston Villa could decide to move on from both Marco Asensio and Sverre Nypan by unleashing this homegrown gem.
ByKelan Sarson May 8, 2025
That said, whether Villa secure Champions League football or miss out in the next three games, it looks as though sporting director Monchi is already planning for another busy summer transfer window.
Aston Villa readying formal Moleiro move
According to reports in Spain, Monchi is now readying a formal Aston Villa move to sign Alberto Moleiro from Las Palmas following a direct request from Emery. The midfielder has enjoyed another impressive campaign in Spain and could now be on his way to the Midlands.
No matter how much Emery believes that Moleiro is the perfect fit for his side, however, a deal is unlikely to come cheap this summer amid reports that the Spaniard has a release clause worth €60m (£51m) in his current contract.
The big question will be whether Aston Villa can afford that in the coming months and just how big a part missing out on Champions League football would play in pursuit of the midfielder. His ability to step into the Premier League, meanwhile, is something that should not be questioned.
At 21 years old, Moleiro has earned impressive praise from the likes of football talent scout Jacek Kulig, who praised the Las Palmas star for his “silky” touch in 2023.
Fulham have submitted a “very important” bid for a 24-year-old goalkeeper ahead of this summer, according to a claim made by the player’s agent.
Doubts over Marco Silva's future as Fulham prepare for summer window
Marco Silva will know the importance of freshening up his squad in the summer transfer window, in order to take them up another level and look to secure a European finish in 2025/26. It isn’t definite that he will still be in charge of the Cottagers when the new campaign arrives, however, amid rumours of him going to Tottenham or the Middle East.
Tony Khan has spoken glowingly about his manager, perhaps hoping to convince the Portuguese to stay put: “Marco is a huge, huge asset to Fulham Football Club. He is such an amazing person and he is so important to the football club. Marco has a great relationship with my father and myself, and we really love Marco and we want him to stay at Fulham Football Club forever.”
Fulham managerMarcoSilvabefore the match
Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl has been linked with replacing Silva, with the 36-year-old German highly thought of as an exciting young coach, and increasingly likely to leave the Owls in the near future. Southampton also thought to be keen on appointing him, though, following their doomed Premier League campaign.
Fulham make "very important" offer for Paraguayan goalkeeper
Now, a new transfer rumour has emerged, with Fulham tabling a “very important” offer for San Lorenzo goalkeeper Orlando Gill, according to his agent, Mariano Zelaya: “Bologna and Genoa are interested. There’s also a very important offer from the Premier League [Fulham], and there’s also an offer from Brazilian football.”
Gill is a relative unknown to the average football fan, plying his trade in Argentina and still awaiting his first cap for Paraguay at international level. The 24-year-old is a good ‘keeper, though, with Leeds United strongly linked with a move for the 6 foot 5 stopper, as they look to boost their squad ahead of their return to the Premier League.
There is no guarantee that Fulham or the Whites will be able to get their man, however, with Zelaya stressing that he may not leave San Lorenzo this summer:
“What I always tell Orlando is to take it slow. He’s at a big club, which gave him the opportunity and visibility. I want him to stay until the end of the year because he’s fighting to be part of the national team. Where a player builds his career is crucial. You have to be very careful where he plays and with which manager. If a player tells me ‘I want to make history with the national team,’ then the responsibility is huge. Today, Orlando has San Lorenzo and his national team on his mind. We’ll work through our options slowly.”
Fulham make move to sign 28 y/o midfielder who could be available for £0
Fulham are looking to beat Premier League opposition to sign a player on a free transfer.
ByBrett Worthington May 8, 2025
If a move to Craven Cottage does materialise, the Paraguayan could prove to be a strong backup option to Bernd Leno, who has started all 36 league games this season.
If this is to be the end of Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United, it would mark a sorry way to go out.
The architect of the club’s surge to the Europa League final, having scored six goals in the knockout stage alone, the Portuguese playmaker couldn’t repeat those heroics on the big stage, having put in a surprisingly muted display in Bilbao.
A defeated captain in a European showpiece for the second time – having led the team out in the absence of Harry Maguire in 2021 – the 30-year-old was far from at his best, epitomised by his two errant passes in the build-up to Brennan Johnson’s crucial strike on Wednesday night.
Speaking after that dismal 1-0 defeat, the United skipper outlined that he would be forced to accept it if the club did decide to cash in on him this summer, with The Telegraph’s James Ducker relaying that Saudi side Al-Hilal are “eager to sign” the midfielder.
As Fernandes admitted himself earlier this year, he had turned down an “offer” from elsewhere before signing a new extension last summer, with it yet to be seen if he will continue to remain the centrepiece of Ruben Amorim’s side.
Bruno Fernandes
Should a surprise exit occur or not, it is clear that the Red Devils are in desperate need of more players of his ilk, with that search seemingly already underway.
Man Utd's search for a Bruno Fernandes successor
While things may have been different in Bilbao, Fernandes has stood apart as the major success story of the past decade or so, having registered 98 goals and 86 assists in all competitions in just over five years.
The former Sporting CP star is a real creative spark, particularly when operating as a number ten, with the same perhaps true of departing Lyon starlet, Rayan Cherki, a player whom United know all about following their meeting in the Europa League earlier this year.
According to journalist Patrick Berger, there were even talks held with the player’s representatives following that quarter-final clash, with United said to hold a “strong interest” in the Frenchman.
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The suggestion is that the Red Devils are competing with Borussia Dortmund for the 21-year-old’s signature, with it having already been revealed that Cherki will be leaving the Ligue 1 side at the end of the season.
Reportedly available for around £25m, as per prior reports, the in-demand talent – who is not said to be a “priority target” for Liverpool – could represent a real bargain addition for INEOS this summer.
Why Rayan Cherki could be the next Bruno Fernandes
Fernandes may be the captain of a sinking ship in some regard, but that should not take away too greatly from the remarkable impact he has had over the past five years, often carrying the creative and goalscoring burden on his own at times.
Currently leading the way for goals and assists again at Old Trafford this season, the “creative machine” – as hailed by Manchester City counterpart, Kevin De Bruyne – has so often taken centre-stage. He is a man who relishes the limelight.
That is a quality that Cherki appears to share, with the silky sensation notably netting in fine fashion against Amorim’s men at Old Trafford, having rifled the ball home past a helpless Andre Onana – just a week on from scoring at the death in the first leg.
Described as a “future Ballon d’Or winner” by The Athletic’s Alex Barker, the youngster has replicated Fernandes in showcasing his impact both creatively and in getting goals himself, having scored 11 times and contributed 22 assists in 44 games in 202425.
That includes a return of eight goals and 11 assists in the French top-flight, with the United skipper, for instance, recording a similar return of eight goals and nine assists in the Premier League.
Games
30
35
Goals
8
8
Goal frequency
257min
367min
Big chances missed
1
10
Assists
11
9
Big chances created
22
15
Key passes*
2.5
2.5
Pass accuracy*
84%
81%
Successful dribbles*
1.6
0.8
Possession lost*
14.5
18.3
As indicated above, Cherki is also something of a ‘creative machine’ himself, having provided 22 big chances in Ligue 1, alongside averaging 2.5 key passes per game. Fernandes, as shown, averages 2.5 key passes per game in England’s top tier, albeit while creating ‘just’ 15 big chances.
That willingness to make something happen may lead to the odd erratic pass – as their possession lost record illustrates – but the two men both share that ability to unlock a defence with a moment of magic, or turn a game in an instant.
Rayan Cherki
It is for no reason that teammate and ex-Arsenal man Ainsley Maitland-Niles has hailed Cherki as the “best natural talent” he’s ever seen, while going on to describe the forward as a “wizard on the ball”.
Much like Fernandes has done for so long, United are in need of someone else to conjure up some magic in Manchester. The Lyon diamond certainly seems to fit the bill.
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