Bournemouth are confident of beating Spurs, Newcastle and Chelsea to the services of Liverpool stopper Caoimhin Kelleher this summer.
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Bournemouth ready to move first
Newcastle, Spurs and Chelsea also interested in Irish keeper
Kelleher wants first team football
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The Republic of Ireland international wants to leave Anfield for regular first-team football. Bournemouth are ready to move, as manager Andoni Iraola has made a new keeper a priority, and is believed to have made Kelleher his top target, according to .
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Iraola believes the 26-year-old represents a significant improvement over the Cherries' current options between the sticks. Bournemouth have featured Chelsea loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga and Mark Travers in goal this season. Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle are rumoured to be interested in Kelleher, but have yet to make any commitments to bidding for the Irishman's services.
DID YOU KNOW?
Kelleher has made 17 appearances in all competitions this season. Ireland's number one deputised for Alisson while the Brazilian was nursing a hamstring injury, but has only appeared in cup competitions since December. Liverpool's 2-1 loss in the Carabao Cup final is likely to be Kelleher's last appearance for the club.
WHAT NEXT FOR CAOIMHIN KELLEHER?
Kelleher will feature for his country in the play-off round of the UEFA Nations League over the next few days. Ireland face off against Bulgaria in a two-legged tie to decide who will play in the B level of the competition in 2026/27.
Essex implosion undermines slow approach, as Root prepares to enter on day three
Alan Gardner06-May-2022
Paul Walter reached his century after resuming on 89•Getty Images
There is only one Nobel Prize winner to have played first-class cricket – and it is not hard to see why the game appealed to Samuel Beckett. Waiting is a practically part of the mise-en-scene. And so, while the players of Essex and Yorkshire embraced their roles to the full during an engaging tussle at Chelmsford – and other protagonists commanded the stage in far-flung parts of the county circuit – Joe Root stood in the wings and readied himself for a first bat of the summer.His wait was extended into day three, presumably at his own discretion after the fall of Yorkshire’s second wicket with 6.5 of the scheduled overs remaining. The batter emerging from the marquee serving as the away team dressing room turned out not to be Root 66, but Revis 77, 20-year-old allrounder Matthew promoted up the order as nightwatchman.With England’s new Test captain, Ben Stokes, launching himself into the season with trademark vigour at the expense of Worcestershire’s bowlers, and a number of Root’s international team-mates past and present notching hundreds already in this round of Championship action, the sense was that Yorkshire’s No. 4 would be champing at the bit to do his bit. But there was no requirement to add to the three overs of offspin he bowled on day one, and he largely remained inscrutable behind his shades while trooping from mid-on to fine leg as Essex extended Yorkshire’s stay in the field to five sessions.Perhaps his reticence come the evening was well judged: Root made 0 and 2 on his first visit to Chelmsford in 2012, and a golden duck when Yorkshire were bowled out for 50 on this ground (but still went on to win) four years ago. On this much flatter surface, Essex chiselled out the wickets of Adam Lyth, George Hill and Dimuth Karunaratne – to the last ball of the day – as Root opted against an examination by Sam Cook, Shane Snater and Simon Harmer in the fading light.It may have ranked a few notches below Root’s much-anticipated return to the fray – or Stokes teeing off at New Road, for that matter – but the morning began in Chelmsford with all eyes on Paul Walter, the high-tower Essex batter in search of his maiden first-class hundred. Walter had been 89 not out overnight, having spent the large part of day one putting in place Essex’s foundations alongside Alastair Cook, and there was an atmosphere of expectancy around the County Ground as the members bustled in to take their places.They could afford to take their time, safe in the knowledge that Walter would not be rushing to the landmark. Having been out for 93 against Northamptonshire last week – just shy of his first-class best, the 96 he made against Gloucestershire last season – and after enjoying a couple of reprieves on Thursday, this was an opportunity not to be passed up.To the complete absence of ball-by-ball updates on Sky Sports News and hastily compiled Twitter highlights packages, Walter ticked along in his quest. He started by playing out a maiden from Jordan Thompson, moved into the 90s with a push to mid-off, then crept closer with a sliced drive wide of the slip cordon for four. Thompson came perilously close to locating his outside edge on 98, but after 45 minutes of the morning session – and 28 balls in the 90s – a fine leg glance ran away to the rope and enabled Walter to remove his helmet and raise his bat for the first time in professional cricket.Walter knows a bit about waiting, too, having made his Essex debut in 2016 (batting at No. 10) as a 22-year-old. His hundred came off 263 balls, although despite an increasingly lugubrious reputation in the longer format, he was first brought into the set-up on the back of his long-levered hitting in T20 – one mighty six in a 2nd XI fixture leaving its mark on a window pane in Chelmsford’s famously compact press box.There was an occasional glimpse of higher gears, such as when Walter thumped Dom Bess into the hospitality suites at cow corner, but no sense that Essex were keen to set about Root and Co. with the ball. Such was their dedication to platform-building, that you might have imagined this was in fact Cape Canaveral readying for a space launch (under the aegis of NASA Hussain, of course). At the 110-over cut-off, they were still well shy of 300 and a third batting bonus point, with Walter and the nightwatchman, Sam Cook, batting through most of the morning in compiling a 73-run stand.Yorkshire were complicit, with both Walter and Matt Critchley put down in consecutive overs from Dom Bess. But the drawback of Essex’s stodgy approach became apparent when they promptly lost 5 for 24 in the space of 16.3 overs after lunch. After more than six hours at the crease, Walter could be forgiven a tired swipe at Bess, to be caught at backward point, but Essex’s middle order then departed in a hurry: Adam Rossington missed his first ball from Bess, which hit the top of off, before Feroze Khushi was given out caught behind and Critchley bowled by one which perhaps kept a touch low.From 303 for 3, and seemingly intent on batting their way into an impregnable position, the Essex innings was threatening to subside for less than 350. It took some calculated biffing from Harmer, with five fours and three sixes in his half-century, to lift them above 400 – the last-wicket pair adding 58 at almost exactly a run a ball, and extending Root’s spell patrolling the outfield a little longer.
Manchester Unitedâs transfer strategy in recent years has seen them come under fire, wasting hundreds of millions of pounds on players who simply arenât up to the level required of the Premier League.
Former boss Erik ten Hag is partly to blame for their recruitment, spending over ÂŁ600m on new additions during his tenure in charge at Old Trafford.
In an attempt to combat their recent woes, Dan Ashworth was brought in from Newcastle United a couple of months ago but has already left his post after a fallout with Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
INEOS' Sir Jim Ratcliffe
The 53-year-old was only in the role as Sporting Director for five months, overseeing the last transfer window under Ten Hag that saw another ÂŁ200m splashed before his dismissal.
However, it was one deal before he moved to the North West that may look to be a mistake, especially considering his unforgivable errors in the latest outing.
Andre Onana’s move to Manchester United
The summer of 2023 saw various areas of the pitch undergo an overhaul to try and build on the third-place finish achieved during the season prior.
Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount both arrived to provide added firepower in attacking areas, with the pair costing the hierarchy over ÂŁ120m in the process.
However, the departure of fan-favourite David De Gea left a huge hole between the sticks that desperately needed filling ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
The Spaniard, who made 545 appearances for the Red Devils, was let go at the end of his contract by Ten Hag, who opted to sign Andre Onana for ÂŁ47m – believing that the Cameroonian would be a better fit in terms of playing out from the back.
Whilst thereâs no denying that the 28-year-old has produced some impressive moments, his errors will always be the ones that are remembered, especially when they contribute to a defeat.
His errors against Nottingham Forest last night were unforgivable, leading Ruben Amorim to his first defeat on home soil since his appointment at the end of last month.
Onana was unable to keep out efforts from Morgan Gibbs-White and Chris Wood, leading them to a second consecutive defeat. As a result, Amorim already has a huge task on his hands.
It could have been made easier had the club completed a deal for another goalkeeper, rather than opting for a move to land the Cameroonian. Here is who they could have signed instead…
One that got away
The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast's One That Got Away series.
Man United's Onana alternative
After losing such a key member in De Gea, the job of replacing the Spaniard was always going to be a tricky task, placing huge expectations onto his replacement – which ultimately ended up being Onana.
The move undoubtedly came about after his time playing under Ten Hag at Ajax, reuniting the pair – a common theme with the majority of the additions during his time at the helm.
However, during the same period of the goalkeeping overhaul, there were numerous reports linking Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with a big-money transfer to Old Trafford.
The Belgian, whoâs previously been dubbed as âworld-classâ by journalist Harri Burton, featured in the Premier League for Chelsea, before joining Real Madrid in the summer of 2018.
During his glittering career, the 32-year-old has won six league titles to date, undoubtedly cementing himself as one of the best âkeepers in the world over recent years.
2018/19
35
48
10
2019/20
43
32
21
2020/21
51
44
21
2021/22
52
46
22
2022/23
49
49
17
2023/24
5
0
5
2024/25
16
14
6
Since his transfer to the Bernabeu, Courtois has also helped the Spanish giants to win two Champions League trophies, producing a Man of the Match display against Liverpool in the final back in the 2021/22 season.
Given his massive success as a player, coupled with Onanaâs recent mistakes, the club may have wished they had forked out the added money needed to secure the services of the Belgian.
Belgium'sThibautCourtois
His experience at the top level, coupled with his winning mentality wouldâve added the leadership and quality needed to end their recent run without a Premier League title.
However, he will remain as one who got away, leaving United supporters with a case of what couldâve been had they signed him instead of the current number one.
Amorim must drop 5/10 Man United dud who Ashworth thinks is "really good"
Manchester United suffered a second consecutive defeat under Ruben Amorim last night.
Ruben Amorim will soon get his first taste of action as Manchester United manager, with the Red Devils facing off against Ipswich Town on the road to kickstart the new Portuguese boss’ reign in the Premier League.
This is a potential banana skin, considering the Tractor Boys are just fresh off a shock away win at Tottenham Hotspur, on top of the fact Kieran McKenna’s past Man United loyalties will mean he’s keen to get one over on the brand new face in the Old Trafford hot-seat.
Beyond this opening test in Suffolk, Amorim will also already be thinking about any potential additions he could make to his squad, with the potential for him to be prioritising a new central midfielder to partner Manuel Ugarte.
Ugarte's importance under Amorim
It has been well documented now the past both Amorim and Ugarte have shared together, with the Uruguayan winning himself a big move to Paris St. Germain in the summer of 2023 after starring under the 39-year-old’s watchful eye at Sporting CP.
Of course, the Premier League is a different kettle of fish altogether to Amorim’s native country, but the fresh face in the Theatre of Dreams dug-out will want to get even more out of the 23-year-old who was beginning to shine under the interim reign of Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Ugarte stood out in the Dutchman’s final match as temporary boss, with the United number 25 winning ten duels and only misplacing four of his 51 passes as the Red Devils breezed past Leicester City 3-1 in confident fashion.
He will have to make sure his performance levels are more consistent, so Amorim continues to pick him, having struggled to get going against Chelsea in early November when only two of his 13 duels on the day were successfully won.
That could well happen under the familiar managerial methods of Amorim, with the former Sporting midfielder perhaps joined by a new face in the middle of the park who could go on to become United’s very own Rodri.
The signing who could be Man United's own Rodri
The only issue here would be getting all of United’s central midfield talents into one starting lineup, with Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo also options at his disposal that could fit into his distinctive 3-4-3 set-up.
But, it seems as if another midfielder is on his transfer wish list, with German Leon Goretzka one player taking their fancy. However, according to TEAMTalk, they fill face competition from Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin.
Frustrated by his current situation in Bavaria, having not been a regular starter since Vincent Kompany’s arrival as manager, the Red Devils could swoop in to breathe life back in the 29-year-old’s career.
Said to be the eighth most similar player in Europe’s top five leagues to Rodri when comparing the two midfielders on FBRef, this could be a perfect route to go down if United finally axe Casemiro down the line, with Goretzka a smart addition judging by his eye for a goal and assist too.
Shots in total
1.73
1.63
Shot-creating actions
3.03
4.63
Passes attempted
75.42
113.39
Pass completion %
90.1%
91.5%
Progressive passes
7.52
12.00
Progressive carries
2.53
2.73
Successful take-ons
0.58
2.73
Progressive passes received
2.30
1.77
Although the Ballon d’Or winner is, of course, the better player, the wantaway Bayern star and Rodri are similar in many aspects of their respective games, with Goretzka actually bettering the Spaniard in shots averaged per match across the last year.
Goretzka has bagged 41 strikes for the Bundesliga giants, on top of picking up 46 assists, leading to shouts from football journalist Stefan Bienkowski that the 29-year-old is even “world-class.”
He could well be a great alternative to Fernandes in this regard, therefore, with Goretzka also mirroring his Spanish counterpart when looking at his impressive trophy haul at Bayern.
The 29-year-old has picked up five Bundesliga titles playing in Germany, which isn’t too dissimilar to Rodri’s four Premier League title triumphs in a row, with the addition of the 6 foot 2 star giving United a classy option who could be a statement buy for the new Amorim era.
Whatever does take place on the transfer front moving forward, United supporters will just hope Amorim settles in well initially, with lots of flashy buys already being hyped up.
Amorimâs perfect wing-back: Ten Hag sold Man Utd gem now worth 132% more
The talented youngster should have been a hit for Man Utd.
Details of Cole Palmer's contract at Chelsea have been revealed amid speculation it contains a release clause relating to the Champions League.
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Palmer contracted to Chelsea until 2033
Speculation about UCL exit clause in his deal
Blues currently sixth in Premier League table
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WHAT HAPPENED?
Palmer has cemented his status as Chelsea's talisman after joining the Blues from Manchester City in September 2023. The England star's sensational performances saw them lock him down to a new contract in August 2024 that means he is tied to the club until 2033.
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
There has been speculation that Palmer's contract includes a release clause that means the Blues could be forced to consider offers for him if they fail to qualify for the Champions League. Yet this is wide of the mark, according to reporter , as no Chelsea player has a clause allowing them to leave if the club fail to qualify for Europe's premier club competition. However, Palmer's deal is described as "incentive-driven" and contains incremental wage increases.
TELL ME MORE
Enzo Maresca's side are currently facing a real battle to qualify for next season's Champions League. Chelsea sit down in sixth place in the table but are just a point behind Manchester City in fourth spot. The Chelsea boss insisted at the start of the season that "nobody from the club asked me for the Champions League this year."
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WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA
Chelsea are on a poor run of form currently but will hope to return to winning ways in the Premier League on Saturday against Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Seamer hopes lessons of 2019-20 Lions tour will serve him well in maiden Ashes series
Andrew Miller04-Dec-2021As a 13-year-old in 2006-07, Ollie Robinson bunked off a week of school to spend Christmas out in Australia and watch Andrew Flintoff’s team get crushed in three of the five Tests of that winter’s Ashes whitewash. He’s back 15 years later with rather more uplifting recent memories of life Down Under, after his starring role in England Lions’ victory over Australia A two winters ago, a performance which he hopes can help him continue an impressive start to his Test career.Memories are all that any of England’s players have got to fall back on ahead of the Brisbane Test on Wednesday, after an extraordinary build-up – dominated on the one hand by their quarantine period on the Gold Coast, and by torrential rain on the other, as their intended seven days of intra-squad practice were reduced to two and a bit of glorified nets.And yet, Robinson believes his 12 wicketless overs on the penultimate day of that warm-up period will stand him in good enough stead for the Gabba, and better even than their Australian opponents, who have yet to have any meaningful red-ball cricket since their white-ball players returned from victory in the T20 World Cup last month.Related
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“It’s obviously not ideal preparation but, as a group, we feel we’ve made do with what we’ve been given,” Robinson said. “We feel in a good place, and we feel ahead of the Aussies which is the main thing. They were at the World Cup and in quarantine so they are probably a few weeks behind us. We feel like we have some good work in us since being here and hopefully that will give us the edge in the first Test.”Though he is still a rookie in international terms – and certainly compared to his senior seam partners, James Anderson and Stuart Broad – Robinson nevertheless turned 28 at the start of the month, and believes he’s long enough in the tooth to know his own game in spite of the limited preparation time.”It’s changed as I’ve got older,” he said. “I’ve learnt about my body and that I can get bowling ready in different ways. I’ve done a lot more running here than bowling outdoors just because of the weather, and I feel like I’ve learnt a bit more about how to get ready, really. I’ve taken note from Jimmy and Broady, they have done a lot of Test series and situations like this. I’ve done it differently this time but I feel ready to take it on.”Although England’s original bowling plans for the Ashes have had to be scrapped due to the absence of prospective pace spearheads such as Jofra Archer and Olly Stone, Robinson has long seemed assured of a starting berth at the Gabba – both due to the excellence of his maiden summer in England colours, in which he claimed 28 wickets at 19.60 in five Tests against New Zealand and India, and due to his seven-wicket showing in the unofficial Test win over Australia A at Melbourne in March 2020.
“It’s massive,” he said. “I didn’t think at one stage I was going to be playing for England again. So it’s been quite a rollercoaster over the last six to eight months, and to be here with the team, it’s quite an emotional time for me. To hopefully play the first Test is going to be huge for me and a massive achievement, and something that I’ll never forget.”I don’t feel as though [last summer] took a huge amount out of me,” he added. “It was obviously a tough series but I felt mentally fresh and, physically, it probably took me a week to get back to normal after the series, once the emotions died down. I felt like I could go again quite soon. Hopefully that’s a positive to take from that. Look at Jimmy and Broady: they’ve done it for years and years, and they have to be physically and mentally capable and fit to do that, so it makes me feel like I am in a better place after the summer and what I experienced.”Robinson’s two stints in Australian grade cricket, alongside Josh Hazlewood and Trent Copeland for Sydney and St George, have also helped to hone him as a bowler, while more recently he has been picking the brains of Troy Cooley, the former England and Australia bowling coach, who has been recruited by the ECB as a consultant for this opening portion of the tour.”When I came my second time at St George I really spoke to them [Hazlewood and Copeland] in depth about how they bowled in Australia,” he said. “I was actually a professional cricketer the second time out. So I knew that I was trying to make it at a higher level and any information they could give me would help. Hopefully it helps me with the Test series.”One area, however, where he believes he will need no Australian instruction is in the matter of on-field verbals. “The Aussie chat is pretty horrendous if I’m honest, so not really,” he said. “I don’t think me as a person could keep my head down if I tried. I’m definitely going to be trying to get under their skins and try and unsettle them as it were, batters and bowlers really.”If I can get them off their rhythm then we’re winning, so it’s something you’ll definitely see and hopefully we will come out on top.”
WI vice-captain says his BPL experience will come in handy against Bangladesh
Deivarayan Muthu28-Oct-2021
On a personal note, Pooran’s batting form is on a slump too•BCCI
After West Indies tumbled to 55 all out in their opener against England in Dubai, their head coach Phil Simmons said they just couldn’t wait for the next game to shake it off. West Indies similarly fell in a heap against South Africa despite Evin Lewis’ half-century, and now they are desperate to break out of the funk.They will have to do so without Obed McCoy, who has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament with injury.Bangladesh are in the same boat, having lost both their matches in the Super 12s and Mohammad Saifuddin to injury. Nicholas Pooran, the West Indies vice-captain, reckoned that Friday could be their best opportunity to get their first points.”Yeah, I think Bangladesh after losing two games – they are in the same situation as us as well,” Pooran said. “So, I think it’s going to be a good challenge for us tomorrow. We need to get that victory and playing in Sharjah as well… We know Bangladesh have a lot of spinners as well. It’s definitely going to be a challenge for us as well and it’s how bad we actually want it.”Reflecting on the twin batting collapses, Pooran admitted that West Indies’ batters were “not good enough” in Dubai, but backed them to fare better in Sharjah.”The mood in the camp is still good,” Pooran said. “The guys are gelling really good; I think we’re really hurt at losing those two games and we have only ourselves to blame. But the mood is still good. We know what we have to do and everyone is up for the challenge.”Jason Holder coming into the team…obviously, he’s a quality player as well. We’re happy to have him and we wish him all the best. With the batting order and the batsmen, we just didn’t rise to the occasion to be honest. If you can accept that you weren’t good in the first two games… I think as batsmen and as a team we’ve already accepted that we didn’t come to the party and we’re looking forward to moving forward and hopefully we can do much better.”Pooran had been bumped up to No.3 to offset Lendl Simmons’ go-slow on Tuesday. Keeping Pooran at the top could potentially neutralise Bangladesh’s left-arm spinners – he strikes at nearly 171 against left-arm orthodox in T20 cricket – but he held his cards close to his chest.”For me it’s just about doing what the team wants me to do, to be honest,” he said. “At the moment, the tournament is just for us to put our hands up and perform whatever role the team requires from me.”It doesn’t really matter to be honest. We back our batsmen 100%. Doesn’t matter if it’s a right-hand or left-hand batsman. We back them to do the job for us – whoever is playing in that XI tomorrow, they’ll have specific roles. We have a wonderful captain and he knows what he’s doing as well. So whatever he says goes and we back him to make some really good decisions for us tomorrow to be successful.”Pooran felt his familiarity with the Bangladesh players, having played alongside the likes of Liton Das and Afif Hossain for Sylhet Sixers in the 2018-19 BPL, could come in handy on Friday. During that season, Pooran hit 379 runs in 11 innings at a strike rate of just under 160. Only Rilee Rossouw, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim had scored more runs than Pooran in that BPL.”It helps a lot,” Pooran said of the BPL experience. ‘I’ve spent a bit of time in Bangladesh as well, not only me but a lot of the other guys as well. We have good friendships; we make good friendships with the guys. We get to understand them and learn off them as well, especially in different conditions. So going into the game, [we] actually know what these guys do – being a bit familiar with it and I think that helps us a lot as batsmen and as bowlers as well.”
Following such a disastrous start to the season, INEOS now reportedly want to sell one Manchester United star as early as the January transfer window, according to their former scout.
Man Utd transfer news
A year on from making their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, Erik ten Hag’s side beat their own record after failing to find a way past Aston Villa in frustrating fashion. That 0-0 draw did at least see the Red Devils avoid yet another defeat after their humiliation at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur in the week prior at Old Trafford, with the North London club soaring to a 3-0 victory.
Yet, even after such a poor start, INEOS look set to stick with Ten Hag in what could quickly prove to be a costly decision. Instead, Sir Jim Ratcliffe looks set to make a ruthless decision on the sales front when the January transfer window arrives.
According to former Old Trafford scout Mick Brown, who was close to Sir Alex Ferguson, INEOS now want to sell Casemiro as soon as possible following his own poor start to the campaign, in which he’s lost his place to summer signing Manuel Ugarte.
INEOS plotting Man Utd move for ÂŁ30m gem who's impressed Brighton scouts
Man Utd look set for a transfer battle with Brighton to sign this promising star.
1 ByBrett Worthington Oct 11, 2024
Brown told Football Insider: âIâm told theyâll look to cash in on him as soon as they can,on the 1st January if possible. Heâs one of the biggest wage-earners and heâs not going to feature regularly in the first team.
âHeâs been benched because he hasnât been performing and canât do it any more. Iâm sure they would love to offload him if they could to get him out of the squad and off the wage bill, which would allow them to spend some money.
“Whether itâs a move to Saudi Arabia or elsewhere, youâve got to find someone whoâs willing to pay the money both to United and to him. Theyâre not going to make back anywhere near what they paid for him but theyâll look to bring in some money if they do let him go.â
Man Utd right to show Casemiro the door
It wouldn’t be absurd to suggest that Casemiro should never have found himself on his way to Old Trafford in the first place, given that he was already on his way past the incredibly successful peak that he enjoyed at Real Madrid. His arrival has proved to be quite the error and one that has seen INEOS quickly change the transfer policy that was in place before their arrival.
Earning a reported ÂŁ350,000-a-week, the Red Devils must show the Brazilian the door in the January transfer window. With Ugarte to choose from and Casemiro now an unreliable option even from the bench, the best outcome from all parties is a swift winter exit to end what has become a miserable spell.
One reporter has now provided a big new update regarding Cardiff City and the future of manager Erol Bulut.
Cardiff City’s results so far
It has been a season to forget for the Bluebirds so far in the Championship, who currently find themselves winless after five second-tier games, scoring just once against rivals Swansea City.
Derby County 1-0 Cardiff City
14th September
Cardiff City 0-2 Middlesbrough
31st August
Swansea City 1-1 Cardiff City
25th August
Burnley 5-0 Cardiff City
17th August
Cardiff City 0-2 Sunderland
10th August
As a result, they find themselves bottom of the table on just one point, which has led to plenty of speculation regarding Bulutâs position. The manager didnât even face the media following Cardiffâs 1-0 defeat to Derby County last time out, with rumours in recent days claiming the club could be about to make a change.
Things donât get any easier next up, either, with the Bluebirds hosting Leeds United on Saturday afternoon, and by the looks of things, Bulut is unlikely to be in the dugout for that fixture.
Cardiff City ready to sack Erol Bulut
According to Football Insider reporter Pete OâRourke, Cardiff City are ready and even preparing to sack Bulut this week. It is stated that the 49-year-old has âlost the dressing room at the Cardiff City Stadiumâ and as a result, I expected to become the third Championship manager to depart after Ryan Lowe and Steven Schumacher leaving Preston North End and Stoke City respectively.
Bulut was set to be out of contract back in the summer but after months of talks, signed a new deal back in June. Those fresh terms were until the end of the 2025/26 season, so Cardiff will now seemingly have to pay the former Fenerbahce boss off.
Talking after putting pen to paper on his new deal, Bulut said: âIâm very proud and happy to be extending my time with you all here in the capital city of Wales. It is a privilege to be part of your family.â
However, things have changed extremely quickly and it looks as if the Bluebirds will soon be on the search for a new permanent manager in the coming days. WalesOnline reporter Paul Abbandonato recently called for a change in style to âget the fans excitedâ, saying:
âItâs blindingly obvious Bulut is a naturally cautious manager, but the shackles simply have to come off. No-one is asking for him to suddenly morph into Mario Zalago and Brazil 1970, nor for a return to Warnockball, but is there really any harm in getting the ball forward more quickly and then trying to run beyond defences with skill, pace and vigour in the final third.
âGet the fans excited. Put an end to this boring sideways, backwards, sideways again, ponderous approach which enables opposition defences to re-set and to me seems passing without a purpose at times. When Bulut signed his contract during the summer, amid a plethora of new signings, many were delighted. Yes there were gaps, but with a glut of gifted Academy players heâd fast-tracked through to back up the senior pros, plus the return of three more, Issak Davies, Eli King and Joel Bagan as better players from loan spells away, there were plenty of reasons for optimism.
âI was told there would be a more adventurous approach. It would take some major mismanagement to get this wrong.â
Whether thatâs with or without Bulut remains to be seen, but following the update from OâRourke, his days appear to be numbered.
Waite contributes with bat and ball after fifties to Tattersall, Hill and Ballance set Yorkshire up
ECB Reporters Network03-Aug-2021Matthew Waite smashed 42 unbeaten off 16 balls and claimed two new-ball wickets as Yorkshire secured a high-scoring Royal London Cup win over Warwickshire at York.The Vikings slipped to 0 for 2 after four balls of Clifton Park’s first List A fixture before recovering to 320 for 7 as Waite took the lion’s share of 32 from the final over of the innings.Similarly paced half-centuries from captain Gary Ballance, George Hill and Jonny Tattersall, the latter on his club ground, were equally important.The Bears then recovered from 134 for 5 in the 30th over as youngsters Jacob Bethell and Dan Mousley hit quick-fire scores of 66 and 61 and shared 115 before being bowled out for 281 inside 48 overs – defeated by 39 runs.Yorkshire secured their second Group B win in five matches to keep alive their knockout hopes, while Warwickshire lost for the third time in five.Ballance made 54 off 71 balls on an excellent pitch having lost Yorkshire’s fifth successive toss, Hill 64 off 65 and Tattersall 70 off 67. But their standout innings came from Waite, who crashed four sixes and three fours in front of a 3,000 strong crowd. Three of those fours and three sixes came off Ethan Brookes in the final over, which started with a no ball.The Vikings had been plunged into early trouble as impressive George Garrett had Will Fraine caught behind with the first ball of the match before Will Luxton top-edged a pull to mid-off.Ballance shared 89 for the third wicket with opener Harry Duke, who contributed 42. Hill and Tattersall later advanced from 114 for 4 in the 24th over with a 110-run partnership to set the platform for late fireworks. Tattersall’s was his first Yorkshire fifty of the summer.Warwickshire were hurt by a hamstring injury for Garrett, limiting him to seven overs and 2 for 24.Waite then continued his excellent day by getting openers Rob Yates and Ed Pollock inside 10 overs of Warwickshire’s chase – 49 for 2. Yates miscued a pull to mid-off and Pollock uppercut the final ball of the 10th to third, having just hit successive sixes to leg.Warwickshire’s captain and keeper, Will Rhodes and Michael Burgess, shared a steadying 62 for the third wicket. However, they both fell in a damaging loss of three wickets for 23 as the score slipped to 134 for 5 in the 30th – Rhodes run out for 37 and Burgess bowled by Hill for 33.But Yorkshire’s dominance at that stage was eroded significantly by 17-year-old Bethell and Burgess, 20, as the sixth-wicket pair shared 115 in 12 overs – a Bears record in List A cricket versus the White Rose. Bethell reached his swashbuckling maiden List A fifty off only 27 balls and went on to hit four sixes. And when he miscued Duanne Olivier to cover, the game was back in the balance at 249 for 6 in the 42nd.Despite Mousley passing 50 and remaining unbeaten, Yorkshire were able to squeeze and hold their nerve. Hill finished with a career-best 3 for 47, added to 3 for 30 from miserly Ben Coad.