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Manchester United are in transition, but after a 2024/25 campaign that must be buried and forgotten, Ruben Amorim has succeeded in endowing his squad with more zest and zeal than was previously on display.

Amorim’s United have a perfectly respectable Premier League record so far this season. Seventh in the standings, the five-match unbeaten streak has eased the pressure and placed the side in a promising position, only four points behind second-place Manchester City.

Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have played crucial parts in achieving this. INEOS have revamped the Red Devils’ frontline, and now there is far more togetherness and understanding when on the attack.

But, as United look to wedge their way back into the Champions League and then compete for that silver cup after so many years, Amorim may fancy a higher breed of player, and it would indeed appear that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co are aiming for the stars.

Man Utd eyeing marquee signing

Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in the world, but for too long they have struggled to match that reputation with sustained success on the field.

While the Theatre of Dreams crop have edged back onto the once-trodden path, it seems INEOS are interested in a marquee addition to balance against the shrewd summer signings. Someone like Cristiano Ronaldo, perhaps?

Not an easy task, replicating that one-time signing under Sir Alex Ferguson, which proved to be one of the best in the history of the game, with CR7 of course now recognised as one of the finest and most accomplished footballers in history.

But United should be aiming to sign one of the game’s superstars, a game-changer whose quality differs from everyone else under Amorim’s wing.

Maybe that’s why Man United are interested in striking a deal for Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior, whose future in the Spanish capital has been a hot topic for several years at this stage.

Vinicius Jr, 25, is reported by Spanish sources to be considering a shock departure from Real Madrid, given that he no longer feels like the protagonist next to Kylian Mbappe.

United are on red alert, and are even understood to have prepared a £200m offer to lure him away from the Santiago Bernabeu.

Chelsea are also long-term admirers, and so INEOS and Jason Wilcox would need to act speedily to get this one over the line.

What Vinicius Junior would offer Man Utd

Vinicius Jr is widely recognised as one of the most talented forwards of his generation. Having joined Real Madrid from Flamengo for just south of £39m in 2018, the Brazilian has scored 111 goals and supplied 87 assists across 338 senior outings, notably winning two Champions League and three La Liga titles.

A big-game player and with so many different ways to hurt his opponents, the £353k-per-week talent has been embroiled in something of a tumultuous year at Real Madrid, and it’s starting to look increasingly likely that he will not see out the duration of his prime in the iconic white shirt.

Mercurial, dynamic and always dangerous, Vinicius Jr is blessed with such frightening speed and control when on the ball, such creativity when zipping up and down the left flank.

Hailed as a “legend in the making” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, Vinicius Jr could reach that potential by completing a reversal of Ronaldo’s record-breaking transfer to Spain way back when, taking his world-class reputation and hitting new heights in a different league.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or runner-up’s volatile nature at times is also part of what makes him special. He is a natural-born competitor, and he hates losing. Perhaps Man United need such a player, someone with the aura and determination of Ronaldo.

There have been several flare-ups in Spain this season for the South American star. He has been somewhat at odds with new manager Xabi Alonso, and he has blanked across his past four La Liga matches, albeit still having scored five goals and provided four assists across 12 matches.

But there’s no denying Mbappe has taken on the focal role, and it is for this reason that Vini might want to leave, moving to United and earning greater tactical freedom to play across the frontline and in a role that would see him designated as the club’s superstar.

Left winger

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Ronaldo proved he could do it over several years in the Premier League, but then he transcended expectations when moving to Real Madrid and becoming their main man.

The Portuguese legend scored 145 goals for United across two spells, winning the Ballon d’Or – the first of five – in 2008 and claiming three Premier League titles and the first of many Champions League trophies across that glittering first stint, led by Sir Alex.

Vinicius Jr has enjoyed illustrious success in Spain and is accepted by all as one of the game’s finest. But could it be that he too needs to enjoy the talismanic handle to hit his finest form? In this, he could find that United offer the perfect platform for him to slide into, tackling a project that needs plenty of work but is showing the signs of a corner turned.

Under Amorim’s guidance at Old Trafford, he could achieve this, emulating his Los Blancos idol in leaving Real Madrid after sustained success and forging a new path.

The respective situations are hardly identical, but there are undoubtedly similarities, and Vincius Jr has the power and personality to hit the jackpot in England and lead the Man United resurgence, combining with Mbeumo and Cunha and Benjamin Sesko to restore United to their one-time power as a behemoth of the British and European game.

Forget Bruno and De Ligt: Man Utd "monster" is looking like a new captain

This Manchester United star is now looking like captain material for Ruben Amorim this season.

ByDan Emery Nov 17, 2025

From Cavan Sullivan exceeding expectations to a quietly solid back line, GOAL breaks down five key takeaways on the U.S. U17s ahead of their World Cup clash with Morocco.

The U17 World Cup feels important for the U.S. This is a breeding ground of talent, yes, but also a true barometer of where the country's talent pool stands. And, in theory, the U.S. has a pretty good one. Cavan Sullivan is the headliner, of course, but in Mathis Albert, Chase Adams, and Julian Hall, there are enough good footballers here to suggest that they could make a run. 

The group stage only reinforced that notion. Gonzalo Segares' side hasn't exactly blown anyone away, but they have been remarkably composed. The Americans have conceded just once, and looked mightily resolute at the back. Going forward, they have been carried by individuals, but also created chances in spades. Sullivan is finding form, while Albert has enjoyed some promising moments of his own.

Piece it all together, and this is a side well-equipped to continue to win. It isn't a kind matchup on Friday. Morocco are a good team, who are certainly better than their 1-2 record in the group stage that saw them squeak into the round of 32. GOAL looks at the major takeaways from the tournament so far, and evaluates the Americans ahead of their round of 32 matchup…

GettyCavan is cooking

This felt like a big tournament for Sullivan. The hype around the Philadelphia Union product was immense just a year ago. But since then, his star has faded a little. His MLS minutes were few, and his only start came in the U.S. Open Cup. This future Man City player was largely playing in MLS Next Pro. 

The U17 World Cup, then, felt significant. Sullivan needed to perform here, if only to show that he still has that bit of quality to show that he can still make a difference for club and country. And he has shown up in style. Sullivan came off the bench in the U.S.'s opening game against Burkina Faso, complete with a new haircut and a brash attitude about him. His impact was almost immediate. The U.S. were struggling, and the Union product offered the piece of magic necessary to pick up a result. Sullivan responded with a Panenka penalty to give them a 1-0 win. 

He was even better in the second game, making an impact from the start. He began the game in a deeper role, but was an active presence throughout, scoring one and assisting another as the U.S. beat Tajikistan, 2-1. He had two good efforts at goal against Czechia, in the game after, and was unfortunate not to find the net as the U.S. managed a 1-0 win. Early days, but the signs are good.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesAlbert improving

If Sullivan is the known quantity of the U.S., then Albert is the wildcard. Sure, he has already made some noise at Dortmund, but he remains a raw playmaker, the kind of kid to get excited about – but not place expectations on. Some who have worked with him extensively insist that he, not Sullivan, is the best player in his age group. That may or may not be true, but the reality remains: Albert should perform here. 

And his efforts to do so started pretty poorly. He watched from the bench while Sullivan bagged the winner in the first game. He was much better in the second, scoring off a Sullivan assist. And then, he made the difference in the third, bursting into the box before providing a lovely curved finish around a helpless goalkeeper. It was a moment that showed how good this U.S. side can be, full of athleticism and movement – capped off with a deadly final touch.  

@FIFAWorldCupDefense wins championships

And how about at the other end? Sure, the U.S. has attacking quality in spades, and can match up player-for-player with pretty much anyone outside the absolute elite. Still, their defensive showings have been even better. There is the caveat that they have yet to face an attacking force, but the unit looks pretty good at the moment. The raw numbers are good: one goal conceded, 10 shots on target allowed across three games. 

But there's more to it than that. The U.S. have had the majority of the ball in two of their three games thus far, while captain Christopher Cupps, the six-foot-three center back, who featured for Chicago Fire II last year, has been excellent as a one-on-one defender. Sure, there will be tougher challenges to come, but thus far, the Americans have looked wonderful defensively. That will absolutely have to continue in the knockouts.

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GettyHistory makers

A word, too, for the numbers. The U17 World Cup has, historically, been a tricky stage for the Americans. Their best performance remains fourth place in 1999. They haven't made the last eight since 2017, and were bounced in the last 16 in 2023 (although they ran into an excellent Germany side). 

Still, they have made everything look remarkably easy thus far, and are the second U.S. side in history to win all three group games at the competition. The last time that happened was 1991 – before the real advent of the U.S. as a soccer power.

MatériaMais Notícias

A possível saída de Cássio gerou enorme repercussão dentro do Corinthians, tanto entre a diretoria quanto no elenco alvinegro. Os dirigentes corintianos ainda tentam algumas “cartas na manga” para manter o goleiro, mas sua transferência ao Cruzeiro parece iminente.

➡️ A boa do Lance! Betting: vamos dobrar seu primeiro depósito, até R$200! Basta abrir sua conta e tá na mão!

➡️ Siga o Lance! Corinthians no WhatsApp e acompanhe todas as notícias do Timão

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Internamente, o sentimento é que que perder Cássio para um rival de Série A será mais um golpe na gestão. A diretoria tem sofrido com problemas políticos e bastidores bastante conturbados, principalmente após o rompimento de Augusto Melo com o seu ex-diretor de futebol Rubens Gomes, o Rubão.

Além disso, o goleiro, mesmo em má fase tecnicamente e perdendo a posição de titular para Carlos Miguel, é muito querido pelos jogadores e funcionários, que o veem como uma liderança. Desta forma, o veterano pode ser um aliado para blindar o elenco do Corinthians de problemas externos.

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Enquanto isso, todos no clube do Parque São Jorge estão aguardando a decisão de Cássio, mas não conversam muito profundamente sobre o assunto. Principalmente os atletas, que querem dar espaço para que o goleiro e capitão tome a sua decisão sem ser influenciado por outras pessoas. O desejo do elenco é de que ele permaneça, mas a decisão escolhida tem o respeito geral.

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Cássio Roberto RamosCorinthians

Eight years on from a tournament that changed everything, women’s cricket stands poised for the next big leap

Vishal Dikshit12-Aug-20250:45

Harmanpreet on her 171*: ‘A lot of things changed in women’s cricket’

Unprecedented broadcast coverage. Record-breaking global reach. A ten-fold increase in prize money. First use of the DRS. The Spidercam and drone looming over Lord’s for the first time. And an epic final that separated England and India by just nine runs.That was the 2017 Women’s World Cup. When the 50-day countdown to the 2025 edition began on Monday, the echoes of 2017 still resonated loudly for the players who will take the field from September 30, for those who have walked away in recent years, and even those who watched it on their screens around the world.For many Indian fans, any mention of the 2017 World Cup immediately brings back Harmanpreet Kaur’s jaw-dropping knock in the semi-final against Australia, and the heartbreaking loss of a trophy that came within touching distance. Fans of South Africa remember missing out narrowly on what would have been their maiden final appearance. For followers of England it was a tournament that broke new ground, and one that launched a new leader in Heather Knight. For Sri Lanka supporters it was about Chamari Athapaththu announcing herself to the world via her 178 not out, also against Australia.1:37

Rodrigues’ memories of the 2017 World Cup as a 16-year-old

While eight teams battled it out in what seemed like just another World Cup, they became, perhaps unknowingly, part of a much bigger movement, and a pioneering event. Every individual effort came to mean so much more.”That knock was really special to me and for women’s cricket,” Harmanpreet said on Monday, recalling her 171* against Australia. “After that knock a lot of things changed personally in my life, and especially in women’s cricket also, because at that time I didn’t really know what had happened because that time I was totally off social media. But when we came back to India, and even though we lost the World Cup [final], the amount of people who were waiting for us, cheering for us, I think that was something very special. Still, when I remember that innings I get goosebumps. I think that was a very special innings and I’m very happy that came from me.”The way Harmanpreet took down the world champions, and the manner in which England and India went toe to toe a thrilling finale three days later, crowned a transformative World Cup that broke several records for women’s cricket viewership in India, a country that makes up a big chunk of the overall numbers. For the tournament in all, there was a 500% increase in viewing hours in India, and as many as 126 million viewers from the country watched the final alone. The reception India’s players got back home despite losing the final was another mark of the dizzying growth of their fan following.Eight years on, women’s cricket continues to feel the echoes of Harmanpreet Kaur’s breathtaking 171* against Australia•Getty ImagesJemimah Rodrigues, who will soon feature in her first World Cup, remembers those heady days well.”So when they played the final at Lord’s, I was 16-and-a-half at that time, and I remember Mumbai Cricket Association had told all the members over there – the Under-19 girls – to go and felicitate our girls at the airport and receive them because they were expecting no one to come,” she said on Monday. “They thought the women’s team has done so well it’s our responsibility [to welcome them].”And I remember at 5.30am we were at the Mumbai airport; I was having an India flag ready to welcome our team. And I still remember that all these players were very tired and at the same time disappointed because they were so close, yet it felt like so far and they walked out of the airport thinking that nobody is going to be there. And at 5.30am the whole airport was packed with media and crowd. And people right now would think that’s normal but at that time for women’s sport it wasn’t.The 2017 World Cup: A victory for England, and an even bigger one for women’s cricket•AFP”So I remember this whole bunch of players coming in – we could see through the glass window – and, seeing so much crowd, going back inside because they were not prepared for it. And I think that was for me the turning point in women’s cricket in India.”The women’s game had spread far and wide, and into uncharted territory. Of the 156 million viewers who watched the World Cup from India, 80 million were from rural parts of the country. It undoubtedly contributed to more girls picking up bat and ball, and to the calls for a Women’s IPL growing more persistent. Eight years on, the results are as evident as they could be, with the Women’s Premier League (WPL) three years old and the ICC billing the upcoming World Cup as “the next leap” for women’s cricket.”When I see people around, especially [since] I come from Sangli, which is not the biggest [of] cities in India, but I see a lot of parents getting their daughters and they have a clear plan that ‘I want my girl to play for India or WPL,'” India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana said. “The number of girls playing cricket at this moment is massive and it’s a lot to do with how the last eight years have panned out and the steps which BCCI has taken in recent times, and the WPL. All of those things together, it’s been a massive thing and we’re just fortunate that we’re part of a movement for women’s cricket which we all feel really happy and proud about.”A 16-year-old Jemimah Rodrigues (fourth from right) awaits the return of India’s players from the 2017 World Cup•ESPNcricinfo/Annesha GhoshSoon after the 2017 World Cup ended, it was clear that the tournament had not just been about that Harmanpreet knock or Sarah Taylor’s lightning stumping down the leg side or the Natmeg making its first big appearance or the viral visuals of Mithali Raj reading Rumi before going out to bat. It wasn’t just a change of direction, or a step up. It was a true transformation. A quantum leap.”The 2017 World Cup actually transformed women’s cricket not [just] in India but globally, I would say, because social media was relatively new, the ICC did their part in campaigning and promoting on a larger scale,” Mithali Raj said. “[I remember] I was packing for the World Cup and the [Men’s] Champions Trophy was being played – India vs Pakistan – and I switched on the TV, and I was listening to the commentary while packing. And I heard the commentators go, ‘The next big event is the Women’s one-day World Cup’ and they showed the captains’ hoardings at the stadium.”So quickly did things change in the women’s game that players’ bucket-list fantasies began to get ticked off, one by one. Soon after that World Cup, Mignon du Preez had said, “Imagine turning up at Wanderers or Eden Gardens to watch a women’s game sold out fully?” And within three years her wished turned into reality – perhaps with an upgrade – when an 86,174-strong crowd packed the MCG for the final of the 2020 T20 World Cup: a new attendance record for a women’s cricket event. Athapaththu, meanwhile, called for an Under-19 World Cup; that tournament got underway in 2023. The WPL isn’t just up and running; it’s already the biggest women’s league in the world.1:52

Mithali Raj: India’s confidence a big boost heading into home World Cup

The seeds for all this were also sown in the planning stages of the 2017 World Cup. That tournament saw the use of DRS for the first time in women’s cricket, even if it wasn’t available for all games. It was at the same tournament that the ICC increased the prize money tenfold, to USD 2 million, a big step aimed towards achieving parity with the men’s game. The winners, England, took home USD 660,000, more than three times the entire prize purse (USD 200,000) of the previous edition, 2013. The increased prize money was, in fact, just the icing. The cake had already been handed out to all eight participating teams by their home boards in the form of central contracts in the years leading up to the World Cup, which ensured that all the players turned out as professionals with just one aim: to take the game to the next level.Eight years later, the tournament comes to India, a country that played a major role in boosting those viewership numbers back in 2017, and the country that hosted the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup. That tournament ended with a final that drew a crowd of over 90,000. What kind of numbers will the 2025 Women’s World Cup bring with it?”The upcoming World Cup is the next springboard for the next phase of the journey for women’s cricket,” ICC’s new CEO Sanjog Gupta said on Monday. “In every sense, the growth of women’s cricket in the last eight years particularly has brought us to this moment where it’s time for women’s cricket to take the next leap. And this World Cup is the aperture or springboard for that next leap.”

Rishabh Pant, who hasn’t played any cricket or even trained since the Old Trafford Test match against England where he fractured his right foot, is headed to the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru to resume his training. ESPNcricinfo has learnt that Pant’s foot is not in a cast anymore and he has been walking comfortably.Pant is India’s first-choice wicketkeeper-batter in Test cricket, and India’s next World Test Championship assignment is at home against West Indies in a two-Test series next month (in Ahmedabad, Oct 2-6 and in Delhi, Oct 10-14). The selection for that series is expected in the last week of September.After Pant was injured at Old Trafford, in what was the fourth Test in England, Dhruv Jurel kept wicket both in that game and at The Oval in the final game, and N Jagadeesan was flown in as back-up. In case Pant doesn’t regain full fitness in time for the Tests against West Indies, Jurel and Jagadeesan could be the frontrunners to be the wicketkeepers in the squad.Pant picked up the injury on the first day of that Old Trafford Test when he attempted a typically audacious reverse sweep off quick bowler Chris Woakes, inside-edging the ball on to his foot. He retired hurt, the fracture was confirmed not long after, and came out to bat the next day despite having arrived at the ground in the morning wearing a moonboot. He went on to add valuable runs, ending with 54 (he had retired hurt when on 37).Jurel kept wicket in both England innings in the game, and while Pant was available to bat if needed in India’s second, he wasn’t required to as Shubman Gill, Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar – the last two ordinarily below Pant in the batting order – scored centuries to save the Test, which kept the series 2-1 in England’s favour. India went on to win the final Test without Pant to square the series 2-2.

Former England Lioness Jill Scott has waded into the controversy surrounding Mary Earp’s revelatory autobiography in which she makes a number of accusations about boss Sarina Wiegman and her handling of rival goalkeeper Hannah Hampton. Earps revealed she felt Wiegman was "rewarding bad behaviour" by reinstating Hampton to the squad in 2023.

• Book launch creates controversy

  Hampton had been dropped after Euro 2022 over reports of being "disruptive and unreliable," and Earps said at the time that the decision had strengthened relationships behind the scenes. The situation came to a head in early 2025 when Wiegman named Hampton the new first-choice goalkeeper over Earps, a decision Earps called "bullsh*t" and led to her international retirement just before Euro 2025. 

  Hampton starred for the Lionesses during the successful run in Switzerland, saving two penalties in the final shootout with Spain, and later received the Yashin Trophy for world's best goalkeeper, presented by Earps herself. The decision to reveal details from inside the England camp has since generated backlash for Earps, with Hampton's club manager Sonia Bompastor criticising Earps' "lack of respect". 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Failed attempt at making amends

  After extracts from her book were published in the Guardian and subsequently widely picked up by other media outlets, Earps attempted to backtrack on her claims about Hampton's "bad behaviour" by suggesting she was misrepresented, stressing her vulnerability in the book, and privately messaging Hampton. 

  In her Instagram statement, Earps wrote: "It's gut-wrenching to be portrayed as someone you're not," and argued that "pulling out a paragraph, or a sentence here and there is not a reflection of the contents of the book". In a separate interview, she said, "I have messaged her privately to say: 'Look, no bad blood'". 

• 'It’s gone crazy'

  Scott joined the debate and told this week's Stick to Football podcast: "It’s gone crazy. Obviously, Mary's brought out a book where she's told her side of the story about Hannah Hampton being left out after the Euros, and then Sarina saying she was going to bring her back in, and since then it’s just escalated so much. But I’ve seen a lot of the girls do interviews, and I think their opinions are that if things happen in-house, they should stay in-house.

  "If you asked Hannah, she’d have a version. Sarina would have a version, and Mary would have a version. Hannah’s a fantastic keeper and I think she came in and there was pressure on her to perform when Mary wasn’t there, and there’s all this pressure on Hannah to perform as a young keeper in that Euros; she was absolutely fantastic. Sarina's left her out of a camp and come back in, will people look at that as good management? But the way it’s all going, it's just kind of blew up.

  She added: "When I’m watching Mary’s interview she’s saying, 'Please don’t look at clickbait, read the story,' because she says Hannah’s a fantastic keeper, Sarina look at what’s she’s won – she doesn’t want to question Sarina. So sometimes we can see a headline and a small snippet and think she’s coming at her."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Wright's worries over impact of public row

  Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright also shared his thoughts on the controversy, and is concerned for how the drama will impact both Earps and Hampton's form for their respective clubs. 

  Wright said: "The sad thing with it is, because the book is so close and she (Hannah) is still playing, and they're so close to everything still. You normally get this narrative 10, 15, 20 years after you’ve retired so it doesn’t hit so hard. But what I’d be careful of for both of them, is they’re not used to the kind of attention they’re going to get in respect to how it comes on top. The pile-on is a worry."

As Tom Verducci eloquently put it, there is nothing normal about Blue Jays rookie phenom Trey Yesavage’s incredible rise to World Series stardom. 22-year-old rookies simply aren’t supposed to dominate big league lineups that just so happen to include three former MVPs. Add in the fact that Yesavage, who struck out 12 Dodgers without issuing a walk in Toronto's Game 5 win, did so on the game's biggest stage and it makes it even clearer that he's no ordinary rookie.

What‘s perhaps even more astounding is the fact that Yesavage began the year in Class A ball and didn't pitch in the majors until September. He became just the 10th rookie since 2005 to have gone through Single A, High A, Double A and Triple A in the same season as his MLB debut. So with Yesavage fresh off of one the most impressive rookie performances in World Series history, let's take a look at every team the Blue Jays rookie pitched for in 2025 on the road to the Fall Classic.

Every team Trey Yesavage has pitched for in 2025

Dunedin Blue Jays

After being drafted by the Blue Jays in the first round of the 2024 MLB draft, Yesavage didn't pitch that season, so his assignment in Dunedin was his first test as a professional baseball player. He aced it. The 6’ 4” righthander pitched to a sparkling 2.43 ERA, striking out 55 batters across 33 1/3 innings pitched.

Even at the Single A level, Yesavage‘s uniquely high delivery was giving opposing hitters fits, just as it would prove to do to big league batters later on.

“All his pitches look the same out of the hand,” MLB‘s No. 1 overall prospect and Pirates minor leaguer Konnor Griffin said. “That’s what makes him so tough. The slider looks like it’s going to be down the middle, you go to swing and then it’s in the dirt…”

And immediately, Yesavage caught Dunedin manager Gil Kim‘s attention for, not just his talent level, but also for his intangibles.

“What Trey stands out for, obviously, is his talent, his ability and his stuff,” Kim said. “But with that being said, he’s been just as impressive to watch how he attacks hitters, how he makes adjustments, how resilient he is when maybe things aren’t flowing as smoothly as you would expect.”

And so after just seven starts, Yesavage on May 16 earned a promotion to High A ball. He was Vancouver-bound.

Vancouver Canadians

Yesavage‘s time in Vancouver was even shorter than his stint in Dunedin. The Pottstown, Pa., native who grew up in the Boyerstown area, made just four starts for the Canadians, but took his game to another level. At a more difficult level of professional baseball, Yesavage allowed almost an entire earned run less on average and continued to strike out more than a batter per inning. He tossed 4 1/3 no-hit innings in a May 31 start for Vancouver, leading to another quick promotion for the phenom. On June 9, he was headed to Double A New Hampshire.

New Hampshire Fisher Cats

It was in New Hampshire with the Fisher Cats where Yesavage experienced his first taste of big league adversity. Yesavage walked four in four innings but only yielded one earned run in his Double A debut. New Hampshire pitching coach Austin Bibens-Dirkx told MLB.com that he and his staff made some “minor physical tweaks” during Yesavage’s stint with the club but emphasized one thing.

“The biggest thing is trying not to screw him up, honestly,” he said.

At that task, they certainly succeeded, as Yesavage continued to showcase his elite swing-and-miss stuff with the Fisher Cats, striking out 46 batters over 30 innings pitched, even though his ERA was north of 4.00 in seven starts with New Hampshire.

To this point, Yesavage had largely worked roughly four innings and thrown 70–75 pitches per outing. But the Fisher Cats, in perhaps the first real sign of an organization preparing a youngster for meaningful innings later on, had Yesavage work out of the bullpen in his final appearance with New Hampshire, handling an 89-pitch workload over five innings.

On August 11, Yesavage was called up to Triple A Buffalo.

Buffalo Bisons

Yesavage isn't just tough on opposing hitters. He can be tough on his own catchers, as backstop Brandon Valenzuela quickly discovered during an Aug. 27 outing, in which the Blue Jays righthander's unique delivery literally threw him for a loop.

“It was really, really bright, and I told him, ‘Bro, I don’t see the ball well, and I’m the one catching it,’” Valenzuela said. “We’re just going to keep spamming and spamming splitters because they couldn’t see it either.”

It turns out that not many were seeing the ball well out of Yessavage’s hand during his Bisons tenure, as he recorded 26 more strikeouts in 17 1/3 frames along with a 3.63 ERA. Yesavage was utilized out of the bullpen briefly during his time with Buffalo, but his final Triple-A appearance was as a starter.

On Sept. 14, he got the call: He was heading to the show.

“We expected him to be good,” Blue Jays pitching coordinator Ricky Meinhold told MLB.com in September. “But I’d be lying to you if I told you we expected what he’s done.”

Toronto Blue Jays

Despite pitching 98 innings in the minors—more than he had during his final college season—Yesavage was given no workload limitations by Blue Jays manager John Schneider. It was same old Yesavage in his first big league start against the Rays on Sept. 15. The 22-year-old fanned nine batters, a franchise rookie record for a debut, over five innings, yielding just one earned run in the process.

And even though Yesavage endured a rough outing in his second appearance, the Blue Jays had seen enough through his three total starts at the big league level to make him a part of their American League Division Series roster against the Yankees.

And in each round of the postseason, he has rewarded the Blue Jays for their faith in him, from his 11-strikeout playoff debut against New York, to his gritty Game 6 American League Championship Series victory over Seattle to his 12-strikeout World Series gem vs. the Dodgers in Game 5.

Of his incredible story and ride to the majors, Yesavage said it best.

“Crazy world,” Yesavage said. “Hollywood couldn’t have made it this good.”

There have been some miserable nights in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era at Manchester United, with Monday’s defeat to Everton ranking high on that list, having allowed the ten-man Toffees to secure a first away win at Old Trafford for former boss David Moyes.

Ironically, there were shades of Moyes’ own nadir – the 2-2 draw with Fulham back in 2013/14 – about that 1-0 loss, with Ruben Amorim again in danger of heading the same way as the Scotsman in the United dugout.

Indeed, a year in charge has yielded just 12 Premier League wins for the Portuguese coach, with the positivity of the recent five-game unbeaten run now tempered with the angle of three games without a win in the top-flight.

A key crux of the issue is the use – or rather misuse – of Bruno Fernandes in a deep-lying role, with the Red Devils crying out for a new creative hub ahead of him.

Man Utd's search for a successor to Fernandes

From netting 38 goals and assists in all competitions last term, the United skipper has been forced to almost play with the handbrake on, having even operated as the deepest midfielder following Kobbie Mainoo’s introduction against the Merseyside outfit.

Currently looking ill-suited to this 3-4-2-1 system, the 31-year-old – who came close to joining Al Hilal over the summer – might be at the centre of speculation again heading into next year’s World Cup, with his current deal set to expire in 2027.

He does still lead the way at United for big chances created (3) – alongside Amad and Bryan Mbeumo – although that is half as many as the division’s leader, Jeremy Doku (6), as per FotMob, with Fernandes’ powers perhaps on the wane in his new role.

In need of a new chief creator? Well, enter Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise, with reports in Spain suggesting that the Manchester side are among the clubs to have expressed an interest in the fleet-footed Frenchman.

Reportedly valued at around £123m, the 24-year-old is also attracting attention from both Liverpool and Arsenal, albeit with INEOS viewing him as someone who would bring a ‘significant leap in quality’.

Now in his second season in Munich, following a £50m move from Crystal Palace last year, the London-born star is shining in German football. Could he be just what Amorim is looking for?

Why Olise would be a perfect signing for Man United

After a hefty summer of investment totalling almost £250m, there might be a sense that INEOS have already put together their long-term frontline, in the form of Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko.

Transfer Focus

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As the recent loss indicated, however, a couple of injuries to that latter duo highlighted the lack of real depth, while the pair’s return of just three goals between them is also cause for concern.

Sesko, in particular, is far from the finished article, with Amorim potentially able to fashion a fluid attacking trio of Cunha off the left, Mbeumo through the middle and Olise on the right, with the Bayern gem currently looking so devastating in that role in Munich.

In the Bundesliga alone this season, the one-time Reading winger has chalked up six goals and six assists for Vincent Kompany’s side, while registering seven big chances created in total, as per Sofascore.

A “magician” – according to Bayern teammate Dayot Upamecano – in the mould of Fernandes, the left-footer has also averaged 2.3 key passes per game, while eclipsing that return from his five Champions League outings, with 2.4 key passes per game.

Three goals and assists and three big chances created have also come amid a standout start to this year’s league phase in Europe, with Olise now rightly lauded as “one of the best players in the world” by the likes of teammate Serge Gnabry.

That lofty status is more than warranted, as he currently ranks in the top 1% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues for assists and shot-creating actions per 90, as per FBref, while also ranking in the top 4% for progressive passes per 90.

In essence, everything he does is with an attacking thought in mind, possessing that Fernandes-esque knack for being able to unlock a defence with a moment of genius.

There is also an at-times erratic quality that comes with that approach, like the Portuguese, having lost possession on average 17 times a game in Germany’s top-flight.

He is a risk-taker, however, and as Monday showcased, United could certainly do with more of that.

Having – perhaps rightly – allowed the likes of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho to depart, while clipping Fernandes’ wings, this is a squad in desperate need of a game-changer. Olise might just be that.

Worse than Bruno & Casemiro: Amorim can't start Man Utd duo together again

This change could help turn Man Utd’s season around.

By
Joe Nuttall

Nov 26, 2025

A new claim has emerged regarding who Norwich City’s next manager could be, with Kim Hellberg reportedly the subject of talks with the club recently.

The Canaries are still looking to bring in the right replacement for Liam Manning, who was relieved of his duties earlier this month, with the 40-year-old sending a classy message to the fanbase.

“I look back on being appointed head coach of my hometown club with great pride. Unfortunately, we were unable to achieve the results or fulfil the plans we set out when we took over in June.​ Although my time with the fans was brief, I want to acknowledge their outstanding support during a challenging period. They continued to show up in great numbers – unsurprising given their passion and loyalty – and displayed incredible spirit despite understandable frustrations.”

“I would like to thank the players for their efforts throughout my time at the club and wish them all the best, both personally and professionally. The club welcomed me warmly, and the dedication of everyone across all departments never went unnoticed. I am truly grateful for that and I wish everyone associated with Norwich City the very best for the future.”

A host of individuals have been linked with being Manning’s successor at Norwich, including former Sweden boss Jon Dahl Tomasson, and now a new update has thrown another name into the hat.

The latest on Jon Dahl Tomasson becoming Norwich City's next manager

Is he the right man for the job?

ByHenry Jackson Nov 16, 2025 Norwich have held talks with Kim Hellberg

According to Sky Sports, Norwich briefly spoke to Hammarby manager boss Hellebrg about taking charge at Carrow Road, but that ship appears to have sailed.

That’s because Middlesbrough are believed to have a verbal agreement in place with the 37-year-old, bringing him in to replace Rob Edwards, who has departed for Wolves.

Hellberg would have been a left-field choice by Norwich, given his lack of experience, but it is easy to see why they have looked at him as a potential strong choice.

The Swede has been lauded as the “brightest football mind” by assistant coach David Selini, highlighting his tactical acumen, and by IFK Varnamo sporting director Enes Ahmetovic for the detail he goes into, and he is at an age where he is likely to bring fresh ideas.

It looks as though Norwich will have to look elsewhere, though, whether it be Tomasson, Gary O’Neil or someone else, and the Canaries will hope that Hellberg doesn’t thrive too much at Boro, assuming he does move there.

Norwich City also had talks with manager who has 100% win record vs Manning

Arsenal are stacked in almost all areas of the pitch after a summer of lavish spending, but they could still potentially benefit from another option for the left-wing as they eye AC Milan star Rafael Leao.

Mikel Arteta’s attacking line has looked strong this season, especially with the additions of Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres, but questions remain over the depth and certainty at left-wing.

Gabriel Martinelli, who is currently out injured, has made a real impact from the bench as Arsenal’s super-sub this season, though doubts remain over the Brazilian’s long-term future.

His contract expires in 2027 and there have been no reports of a potential extension, despite Andrea Berta moving to tie down the likes of Gabriel, William Saliba, Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly and actively talking to Bukayo Saka about a new long-term contract.

Leandro Trossard, who’s also contributed towards Arsenal’s brilliant run and scored the winner away to Fulham, presents some uncertainty too.

Like Martinelli, the 30-year-old’s contract runs out in 2027, with Trossard signing a new and improved deal recently which didn’t include an extension.

Eze can play on the left-wing when required, as he has done multiple times already this season in the Premier League, with the England international deployed there in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

This frees up space for teenage sensations Max Dowman – who became Arsenal’s youngest ever starter against the Seagulls – and Ethan Nwaneri to play more centrally.

While there is a case to be made that signing another left-winger could hinder Dowman and Nwaneri’s pathway to regular first team minutes, Berta must also think about shoring up the position with outside talent, as Martinelli and Trossard near the exit door.

Rafael Leao's stance on joining Arsenal as Berta eyes left-wing upgrade

According to TEAMtalk, Arsenal’s sporting director is doing just that, and they’re real fans of Leao.

The Portugal international has scored four goals in six games already this season, despite missing the opening of Milan’s campaign with a calf injury.

The Rossoneri are contenders for this year’s Serie A title after a fine start to 25/26, losing just one league game so far, and Leao will be key to their charge as Milan look to topple Antonio Conte’s Napoli.

The £108,000-per-week forward, who has a £132 million release clause in his deal, will cost a premium for any English side in January, but Arsenal view Leao as the “ideal left-wing upgrade”.

They’re also encouraged by his stance on a potential move to north London, as it is believed that Leao is “very open” to talks if a Premier League side formally approaches.

While Leao loves Milan and is happy in his current surroundings, he’s “ready to listen” to a potential offer from England, as the Premier League holds great appeal to him.

The 26-year-old, who bagged 16 goal contributions for Milan in the top flight alone last year, was also their second-best player by average behind Christian Pulisic in 2024/2025 (WhoScored).

Leao completed more successful take-ons per 90 than any other player in Milan’s squad that campaign (WhoScored), so the appeal to Arsenal is obvious, but the question is just how much Berta would be willing to invest.

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