Manchester United have previously been a club associated with being the home to numerous top-level attackers who have helped aid their success in the Premier League.

However, the last few years have been a struggle for the Red Devils, with Ruben Amorim unable to create a frontline capable of achieving success in various competitions.

His side only registered 44 goals in England’s top-flight throughout 2024/25, with no player able to register double figures for goals, with Amad and Bruno Fernandes both only scoring eight times.

Such a record was the fifth worst in the division, with three of the sides registering fewer goals subsequently being relegated – highlighting the club’s lack of success in such an area.

One of the players who struggled at Old Trafford during the aforementioned campaign was offloaded during the recent window, with such a decision potentially being a mistake given his form as of late.

Rasmus Hojlund’s form away from United

Back in the summer of 2023, United forked out a fee in the region of £72m for striker Rasmus Hojlund from Italian side Atalanta, with real hope he could end their goalscoring worries.

The Dane did manage to meet expectations in his first year in England, scoring 16 times across all competitions, with five of his efforts coming in the Champions League.

However, he struggled to impress in 2024/25, only netting five Premier League goals, even going 21 games without a goal at one stage, which further highlights his lack of impact in the final third.

The Red Devils board decided to ship him back to Serie A, with the forward joining Napoli on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy should they finish in a Champions League spot.

Hojlund has already managed to impress in Naples, already scoring four times in his first six outings for the club – including a double in Europa against Sporting CP.

His form has also transferred to international level, as seen by his latest showing against Belarus, where the 22-year-old netted twice and also laid on an assist for former teammate Patrick Dorgu.

Despite his recent success on the pitch, he’s still valued lower than one current United player who’s managed to find some impressive form over the last couple of weeks.

The United player who’s worth more than Hojlund

In an attempt to bolster the club’s attacking department, the United hierarchy splashed over £200m on new attacking talent during the recent summer transfer window.

Matheus Cunha joined in a £62.5m deal from Wolverhampton Wanderers after he scored 15 goals in England’s top-flight during the 2024/25 campaign.

The Brazilian was also joined in attacking areas by Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo, with the Cameroonian international also costing a pretty penny at £71m.

Like Cunha, he also managed to impress last time around, subsequently scoring 20 times and being one of just five players in the division to achieve such a feat.

The aforementioned duo were joined by centre forward Benjamin Sesko, leading to the board forking out £74m for his signature from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig.

At just 22, he’s already impressed in his professional career, as seen by his tally of 21 goals in all competitions last season – 13 of which came in Germany’s top-flight.

He has bags of time to develop into an elite-level forward, but he’s already shown glimpses of his quality during the early games of his career at Old Trafford.

Games played

7

Goals scored

2

Shots on target

1.4

Chances created

1.2

Aerials won

3.7

Touches in opposition box

4.2

Duels won

4.9

Fouls won

1.6

Sesko, who’s been labelled “incredible” by one analyst, has scored in each of his last two outings for the Red Devils, currently sitting as the club’s joint top scorer in the Premier League for the 2025/26 campaign.

His underlying stats also demonstrate his impressive nature, winning 3.7 aerial duels per 90 – a tally which makes him the perfect focal point for Amorim’s side – something which they have lacked in recent times.

As a result of his immediate impact in Manchester, Sesko has seen his market value soar in recent months, with the Slovenian international now valued at £103.6m by CIES Football Observatory.

Such a value is higher than that of the departed Hojlund, with the Dane now only valued at £67.9m by the same site after his recent demise at Old Trafford.

The early signs for the new big-money addition are all positive, but it’s crucial he continues to build on his early success at avoiding suffering the same fate as the Dane.

As for the latter, it’s great to see the youngster regaining his feet after a tricky few years in the North West, but his departure could be one the Red Devils live to regret.

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His unbeaten 106 rescued Freedom from 68 for 4 to an imposing 208 for 5

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Jun-2025Glenn Maxwell smashed an unbeaten 49-ball 106 to set up Washington Freedom’s comfortable 113-run win over Los Angeles Knight Riders. His innings from No. 6 helped Freedom post 208 for 5, after which their bowlers skittled LAKR for only 95.With a second win in three outings, Freedom are third on the MLC 2025 points table. LAKR are fifth with three defeats in three games, with only net run rate keeping them away from last spot.Maxwell walked in at 68 for 4 after Freedom opted to bat and pumped 13 sixes and two fours to score his eighth T20 century. It gave momentum to the Freedom innings with Mark Chapman (17 off 21) and Obus Pienaar (14* off 15) playing second-fiddle to the seventh T20 century in the tournament’s short history. Freedom scored 124 in the final ten on the back of Maxwell’s six-hitting.Freedom opener Mitchell Owen, who scored an 11-ball 32, produced a three-wicket haul in the chase to wreck LAKR’s middle order, which only compounded their woes after they lost their top three of Alex Hales, Sunil Narine and Unmukt Chand all for ducks. It was only the fourth time in franchise T20 history for the openers and the No. 3 to all be out without scoring.Middle-order batter Saif Badar scored 32 and captain Jason Holder scored 23, but they couldn’t bring the margin of defeat to under 100. Jack Edwards – who dismissed Chand, Rovman Powell and Holder – collected a three-for too, while Saurabh Netravalkar took the first and last LAKR wickets to finish the game in the 17th over.

A Spanish manager who once sued Barcelona over his dismissal from the La Liga club is now in the frame to become the next Rangers boss, with the Ibrox hotseat vacant.

McCoist reacts to Martin's sacking at Ibrox

Russell Martin is now a former Gers manager, with the club finding it impossible to justify keeping hold of him any longer, following yet more dropped points in the Scottish Premiership.

Speaking on talkSPORT on Monday [via The National], Rangers legend Ally McCoist gave his thoughts on the decision to sack Martin, actually criticising the players in part, as well as the Englishman.

“It’s easy to blame the manager; that’s where the buck stops, that is where the responsibility is, at the manager’s door. We all know that is what happens. But the players have got to take some responsibility as well. Some of the defending…

“Sometimes when you get on the pitch, you have got to take responsibility, and Rangers just look like wee boys.”Falkirk outran Rangers, they outfought Rangers. And that can happen occasionally but it’s been happening on a regular basis. Not good enough.”

Spanish manager linked with Rangers hotseat

According to AS [via Sport Witness], Quique Setien is now a potential contender to become Rangers’ next manager, having quit his role at Beijing Guoan. Personal reasons are cited as being key to the decision, with the Spaniard finding it difficult being so far away from his family in China and wanting a return to Europe.

Setien would be an intriguing choice by Rangers, with the 67-year-old having a long and distinguished career in management, and taking charge of over 500 matches.In fact, he even managed Barcelona for a short period, and sued Barca back in 2020 after his spell in charge ended with a humiliating loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League, claiming they did not fulfill his contract in regards to a payout.

“In my case, Quique Setien, it is public and well known that on August 17, both the club and the president announced my dismissal with immediate effect. However, it was not until yesterday, September 16 (one month later), when they sent me, for the first time, the written communication of said dismissal (without any settlement).”

Quique Setien’s managerial career	Matches	Points per game
Beijing Guoan	32	2.00
Villarreal	39	1.54
Barcelona	25	2.08
Real Betis	94	1.48
Las Palmas	78	1.23
CD Lugo	258	1.45
CD Logrones	20	1.05
Guinea	1	0.00
Poli Ejido	3	1.33
Racing Santander	36	1.78

Setien has managed 10 clubs in total, including Racing Santander and Villarreal, and if Rangers feel a hugely experienced figure is needed after the younger Martin, he could be a shrewd appointment.

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Reaction to Setien coming in could be mixed, however, with Gers supporters potentially a more proven boss in British football, and a younger choice.

Didier Deschamps has recalled N’Golo Kante to the France squad for the first time in a year, hailing the veteran midfielder as “still at his best.” The 34-year-old Al-Ittihad star has impressed with his consistency in Saudi Arabia and will feature in Les Bleus’ crucial World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Azerbaijan this month.

Kante earns France recall for decisive World Cup qualifiers

Deschamps has named Kante in his latest France squad, marking the veteran midfielder’s first call-up in a year ahead of World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Azerbaijan. Kante’s inclusion comes as a surprise to many, given his move to the Saudi Pro League in 2023 with Al-Ittihad, but Deschamps made it clear that the former Chelsea and Leicester City star remains a key part of his plans.

The 34-year-old last featured for Les Bleus in November 2024, captaining the side in a 0-0 Nations League draw against Israel. Since then, he has quietly rebuilt his rhythm and form in Saudi Arabia, making 12 appearances in all competitions this season.

Les Bleus currently sit top of World Cup qualifying Group D with 10 points, three clear of Ukraine. With two decisive fixtures remaining, hosting Ukraine on November 13 before travelling to Azerbaijan three days later, Deschamps has turned to experience to steady his side. Kante’s recall underscores his remarkable consistency, leadership, and ability to influence games even in a new environment. The midfielder, who has 64 international caps, will join a squad missing several key names through injury, including Ousmane Dembele, Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot.

AdvertisementAFP'He’s still at his best' – Deschamps praises Kante

Deschamps was full of praise when asked about Kante’s return, highlighting the midfielder’s professionalism and enduring quality. "I'm in contact with him. He's at his best in the matches I've seen him play; he plays every three or four days," Deschamps said. "He's still potentially eligible for selection, and the proof is that he's been selected.

"He needs to maintain his position; he has a certain status, experience. When I call him up, it's to give him a role, not just to be part of the team. With what awaits us in this match, which could be decisive, he's always on my mind, in my thinking. The coaching staff and I follow him regularly. It's always a pleasure for him to wear this jersey." 

Kante’s recall is not just a sentimental gesture, Deschamps emphasised that the veteran remains a tactical asset capable of dictating play and providing balance in midfield. The French coach’s comments reflect a broader respect for Kante’s influence on and off the pitch. Even as younger midfielders like Eduardo Camavinga and Warren Zaire-Emery continue to develop, Deschamps clearly believes there’s still room for the 2018 World Cup winner’s unique blend of energy and experience.

A symbol of longevity and leadership

Few players have enjoyed the sustained excellence of Kante. Since bursting onto the scene with Leicester's 2016 Premier League title win, the midfielder has gone on to conquer every major competition – two Premier League titles, a Champions League and a World Cup. His time at Al-Ittihad has been marked by quiet leadership and consistency. While the Saudi Pro League has drawn mixed reviews for its competitiveness, the midfielder has been among the few foreign stars to maintain elite physical standards, clocking impressive work rates across all competitions.

Deschamps and his coaching staff have been monitoring his performances closely and were impressed by his match fitness and influence in recent fixtures. Kante is not the only SPL-based player in the latest France squad, Theo Hernandez, currently with Al-Hilal, also received a call-up, marking a new chapter in Deschamps’ openness to players outside Europe’s traditional leagues.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta keeps his spot after debuting in October, while Rayan Cherki and Randal Kolo Muani return from injury layoffs.

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Getty Images SportKante’s redemption arc continues

After enduring a string of injuries during his final seasons at Chelsea, Kante’s renaissance has been one of football’s quieter success stories. His return for Euro 2024, where Les Blues reached the semi-finals, showcased his enduring engine and big-game reliability. Now, with France edging closer to World Cup qualification, Kante’s presence provides calm and clarity. His understanding of Deschamps’ system, paired with his unmatched ball-winning instincts, makes him an ideal anchor for a squad in transition.

The next two fixtures could determine not only France’s qualification but also the veteran’s international future. For Kante, it’s another chance to prove that class and consistency never fade even after a move that many thought marked the end of his European relevance. 

All eyes will be on the midfield maestro when France host Ukraine in Paris. If Deschamps’ faith proves right, Kante’s quiet return could once again make a decisive noise for the 2018 World Cup winners.

A Champions League-winning striker is “one to watch” for Rangers, as Danny Rohl plans for an exciting January transfer window at Ibrox.

Rohl fumes after woeful Rangers defeat

The Rohl era got off to a disappointing start on Thursday evening, with the Gers losing 3-0 away to Brann in the Europa League, as their appalling start to the season continues.

Speaking after the game, Rangers’ new manager was not amused with what he saw from his players, assessing the defeat and apologising to the fans.

“(At the end) I first apologised (to the fans) for this defeat and the performance. They’ve travelled a lot for the team and they’re always there. This club has a lot of passionate fans and they deserve this. It was very important for me to show that I understand them. I said as well to them I’m working very hard to improve this group of players and get results.

“It was a great welcome before the game. Then you hope you can give them straight away the three points and a good feeling. So this makes me sad that I couldn’t. That was the reason why I walked to them to give them the big respect that they deserve. This is my job. We have to understand our fans are very patient and you cannot expect that they are always happy with us when we have such a performance.”

Thursday’s loss was further proof that lots of added quality is required for Rangers, whether that be in January or next summer, and a high-profile name has been linked with a move to Ibrox, amid reports Andrew Cavenagh is set to back Rohl in January.

Rangers backed to sign Champions League winner

Speaking on Hotline Live [via Ibrox News], Daily Record journalist Daniel Caw talked up the idea of Rangers signing RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner, due in part to his connection with new first team performance manager Sascha Lense.

Werner would be an eye-catching addition for Rangers, with the Leipzig ace winning the Champions League with Chelsea back in 2021, as well as scoring 24 goals in 57 for Germany.

RB Leipzig

214

113

47

VfB Stuttgart

103

14

11

Chelsea

89

23

21

Tottenham

41

3

7

Now 29, his very best days may be behind him, but that’s not to say he couldn’t be a potent weapon, with even the hard-to-please Roy Keane praising him in the past.

“He’s a nuisance to play against, isn’t he, Werner. There’s question marks about his end product and whatever, his final pass. But he does affect games, he is a threat.”

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The Lense factor will hopefully come in handy for Rangers, and if they snapped up Werner in January, it would give Rohl an enormous boost midway through the season. Whether he wants to depart a top club in Leipzig is up for debate, though.

Liverpool slipped to back-to-back defeats in the Premier League for the first time under Arne Slot on Saturday when they lost 2-1 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

A last-gasp finish from Willian Estevao secured all three points for the home side in a game that they deserved to win with their front-foot approach.

More and more questions will be asked of the club’s recruitment work during the summer transfer window, as Florian Wirtz came on at half-time and failed to turn the game in Liverpool’s failure.

The Germany international arrived at Anfield from Bayer Leverkusen in a £115m deal in the summer, but he is still searching for his first goal contribution in the Premier League.

Wirtz lost six of his eight duels and created one chance in 45 minutes against Chelsea, per Sofascore, which shows that he struggled off the ball and did not add much to the team in possession.

Given that he came in from the Bundesliga for a gigantic transfer fee, there may be some comparisons drawn to the signing of Naby Keita from RB Leipzig, but that may not be fair.

Why Florian Wirtz is not the next Naby Keita

The Reds paid £52.75m to sign the central midfielder, who officially joined the club in 2018, from Leipzig, and he failed to live up to his price tag.

In five seasons at Anfield, Keita produced just 11 goals and seven assists in 129 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt, which shows that he did not provide consistent quality at the top end of the pitch.

He had scored 17 goals and provided 15 assists in 71 matches for Leipzig in Germany, which means that he was unable to translate his form from his previous club over to his time with Liverpool.

Whilst Wirtz has not had the goals and assists that he would have wanted by this point, the German star’s underlying numbers suggest that he is not on course to be the next Bundesliga flop, like Keita was.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder is doing the right things at the top end of the pitch, but needs something to go his way to start racking up goals and assists on a regular basis.

Goals

0

Bottom 3%

xG on target

0.83

Top 27%

Assists

0

Bottom 3%

xA

0.87

Top 18%

Chances created

11

Top 10%

Successful crosses

5

Top 16%

Touches in the opposition’s box

26

Top 14%

As you can see in the table above, Wirtz ranks highly among his positional peers for input, with chances created, xA, and xG on target, but the output, goals and assists, is not quite there yet.

If he continues to take high-quality shots and create chances for his teammates on a regular basis, the goals and assists will follow and he will not be deemed to be the next Keita at Anfield.

This is why Wirtz, who assisted Hugo Ekitike on his debut in the Community Shield, is not going to be the next Keita, because he is on the right path to becoming a success at Anfield.

However, there is another summer signing for Liverpool from the Bundesliga who may be in danger of becoming the next version of the Guinea international after a rough start to life on Merseyside.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Liverpool splashed out £29.5m to sign Netherlands international Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer in an attempt to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, who departed on a free transfer to sign for Real Madrid.

Unfortunately, the former Manchester City and Celtic full-back has had a difficult time of things since his return to English football, and is now in danger of becoming the new Keita.

Why Jeremie Frimpong may be the next Naby Keita

As aforementioned, the former Leipzig midfielder was a flop from the Bundesliga at Anfield as he failed to translate his attacking form in Germany over to the Premier League with the Reds.

Frimpong delivered 30 goals and 44 assists in 190 appearances in all competitions for Leverkusen during his time with the Bundesliga side, playing as a wing-back more often than not.

His output in the final third led the official Bundesliga YouTube channel to question whether or not the Dutch dynamo was the best attacking full-back in the world earlier this year.

Slot, however, does not play with traditional wing-backs, and Frimpong has found the transition back to playing as a regular right-back, which is the role he played for Celtic earlier in his career, a difficult one.

The 24-year-old star has found himself third in the pecking order at right-back at this moment in time, as he was an unused substitute in the defeat to Chelsea that saw Connor Bradley start the match and Dominik Szoboszlai end the game at right-back.

Frimpong, who was described as a “breathtaking” talent by U23 scout Antonio Mango, has only started one match in the Premier League so far this season, and has been an unused substitute on two occasions.

Appearances

3

Starts

1

Goals

0

Big chances created

0

Key passes

0

Assists

0

Ground duel success rate

44%

Aerial duel success rate

0%

As you can see in the table above, the Dutchman has struggled on and off the ball in the top-flight so far this season, losing the majority of his physical duels whilst also failing to create a single chance for his teammates in three appearances.

The former Man City academy graduate was given an opportunity to start on the right wing against Galatasaray in the Champions League, but he ended the game with no goals, no assists, and seven out of nine duels lost, per Sofascore.

These statistics, in the Champions League and the Premier League, show that Frimpong has struggled with a new role and the increased physicality of English football, which is why he is in danger of becoming the next Keita.

Liverpool star slammed after fewest touches and "dire" display vs Chelsea

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ByHenry Jackson Oct 5, 2025

Unless he is able to turn his form, in and out of possession, around in the weeks and months to come, the Dutchman may end up being the next Bundesliga flop at Anfield.

Being a left-back has changed over time, and now, being one of the best on the left-hand side of defence requires world-class attacking and defensive attributes.

In today’s game, Paris Saint-Germain’s Nuno Mendes and FC Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde are seen as some of the best left-backs in the world.

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But who is the greatest left-back in history? Here is a look at 20 of the best left-backs, considering their longevity, consistency at the highest level, while also highlighting personal accolades and team honours.

20 Greatest Left-Backs of All Time

Rank

Name

Country

1

Paolo Maldini

Italy

2

Roberto Carlos

Brazil

3

Paul Breitner

Germany

4

Ruud Krol

Netherlands

5

​Giacinto Facchetti

Italy

6

​Nilton Santos

Brazil

7

Antonio Cabrini

Italy

8

Karl-Heinz Schnellinger

Germany

9

Marcelo

Brazil

10

Ashley Cole

England

11

Andreas Brehme

Germany

12

Bixente Lizarazu

France

13

Denis Irwin

Ireland

14

​​​Jordi Alba

Spain

15

David Alaba

Austria

16

​Hans-Peter Briegel

Germany

17

Andy Robertson

Scotland

18

Leo Junior

Brazil

19

​Jose Antonio Camacho

Spain

20

Patrice Evra

France

20 Patrice Evra

Starting the countdown is Patrice Evra, who is one of Man Utd’s best money buys in their history. Costing just £5.5m from Monaco in 2006, Sir Alex Ferguson helped turn Evra into one of the world’s best.

The Frenchman spent eight years at Old Trafford, captaining club and country, winning five Premier League titles and the Champions League.

He possessed blistering pace, could defend one on one with ease and contributed to goals with his pinpoint crossing ability.

19 ​Jose Antonio Camacho

In the 1970s and 1980s, Spain and Real Madrid could rely on ​tough-tackling Jose Antonio Camacho at left-back, and he’d spend his entire club career at the Bernabeu.

Making more than 500 appearances for Madrid, Camacho’s passion and grit was combined with athleticism and skill, which saw him win 19 honours for Los Blancos.

18 Leo Junior

A favourite of Pele’s, Leo Junior was a regular for Brazil between 1979-1992 and after retiring, would go on to represent his country on the beach, winning six Beach Soccer World Championships.

On the grass, Junior began and ended his career with Flamengo and was nicknamed “Capacete” because of his afro hairstyle. An attacking full-back who played further forward when needed, Junior was comfortable with either foot and his knowledge of the game resulted in him going into coaching with Flamingo and Corinthians.

17 Andy Robertson

Not many would have predicted Andy Robertson to turn into one of the best left-backs the Premier League has ever seen when he joined Liverpool in 2017, but that is what’s happened.

The Scot has even arguably gone under the radar at Anfield and his attacking ability is just as good as his defensive attributes. A left-back who never tires, Robertson has been key in Premier League and Champions League triumphs at Anfield.

16 ​Hans-Peter Briegel

German left-back ​Hans-Peter Briegel was so athletic that he could have been a long jumper. However, he chose football, which turned out to be the correct call.

Named the German Footballer of the Year in 1985, Briegel won the 1980 European Championship with West Germany and, at club level, starred for 1. FC Kaiserslautern in Germany before heading to Italy with Hellas Verona and Sampdoria.

15 David Alaba

David Alaba began his career as a left-back and in his prime, was one of the best we’ve seen in the modern era, spending 11 years with German giants Bayern Munich.

As time has gone on, Alaba has also been used centrally after his move to Real Madrid. He has won more than 100 caps for Austria, 10 Bundesliga titles, four Champions Leagues and was named as his country’s Footballer of the Year on 10 occasions.

14 Jordi Alba

One of Barcelona and Spain’s best ever left-backs, Jordi Alba retired in 2025 following a glittering 19-year career.

The attack-minded full-back won 17 honours at the Nou Camp, including the Champions League, while also being a 2012 Euros winner.

A left-back loved by Lionel Messi, Alba provided an assist for the Argentine in his final league game, whereas Messi returned the favour.

13 Denis Irwin

An extremely reliable and underrated Man Utd star in the 1990s, Denis Irwin was worth every penny of the £650,000 transfer fee.

He was so good at Old Trafford that Ferguson said Irwin, who won seven Premier League titles, would be the only certainty in his all-time Man Utd XI.

The Irishman was also a free-kick specialist and was arguably ahead of the times, paving the way for how full-backs play today.

12 Bixente Lizarazu

French left-back Bixente Lizarazu starred for Bordeaux after coming through their academy which earned him an eventual move to Bayern Munich where he would end his career.

A 1998 World Cup and 2000 Euros winner, Lizarazu was part of one of the most iconic France teams in history. At club level, Lizarazu won five Bundesliga titles in six seasons with Bayern and the Champions League.

11 Andreas Brehme

Not only could German left-back Andreas Brehme defend, he could also score and nearly hit 100 career goals for club and country.

A set-piece specialist, Brehme was known for his unbelievable delivery and is rightly regarded as one of Germany’s best ever full-backs, starring for 1. FC Kaiserslautern, Bayern Munich and Inter Milan.

There’s one burning question emerging within Manchester United at present and all are directed at Ruben Amorim – what’s happening with Kobbie Mainoo?

The Englishman was seen as one of the Premier League’s most exciting before the manager’s arrival, but he’s been unable to showcase such talents over the last few months.

He’s mainly been utilised as an impact player, as seen by his tally of six appearances in the league in 2025/25, all of which have come off the substitutes bench, totalling 118 minutes.

Mainoo has gone from an England international mainstay to a player now behind the likes of Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte in the pecking order at Old Trafford – a truly unthinkable thought 12 months ago.

His lack of action will no doubt have had an effect on his progress with the Red Devils, which could see him fail to match the expectations of the fanbase who have previously compared him to a former player.

The reasons behind Paul Pogba’s downfall at Man Utd

As a result of his impressive start to life in the United first-team, Mainoo was tipped to emulate the levels produced by midfielder Paul Pogba during his own time at the club.

The Frenchman cost a staggering £89m in the summer of 2016, a deal that still remains a club-record, leading to huge expectations being placed on him to impress at Old Trafford.

He often matched them in the early stages, as he became known for the odd world-class goal, something which he perfectly demonstrated against Young Boys in 2020.

However, his second stint with the Red Devils was far from plain sailing, with the players often coming into question for various aspects of his game during his six years in Manchester.

Pogba often struggled with his fitness at United, even being forced to train away from the first-team squad during Michael Carrick’s temporary spell in charge back in 2020.

The French international was also quizzed over his best position in the side, with his attributes often not fitting the demands of various managers at the club.

It was largely unclear if he was more suited to a deeper role at the heart of the side or a box-to-box role – but ultimately it contributed to his downfall and subsequent exit.

He would leave the Red Devils for a second time in the summer of 2022, rejoining Juventus on a free transfer for the second time in his professional career.

However, a little over three years on from his exit, current boss Amorim may have stumbled across his next version of the fan-favourite in a somewhat unlikely source.

The Man Utd player who’s Amorim’s own Pogba

Despite Mainoo’s availability over the last few months, the United hierarchy have been on the hunt to land a new midfielder to help bolster Amorim’s squad.

Such an area of the pitch has been brought into question over the last couple of months, with claims that the side have often been overrun in that department – subsequently leading to their dismal league standing last season.

However, it appears as though the 40-year-old has somewhat put an immediate fix to the issue, as his side have claimed four wins in their last six outings across all competitions.

Amorim has even claimed back-to-back wins for the first time in his tenure over recent weeks, highlighting that he’s finally starting to realise what his best starting eleven is.

Despite fixing the midfield issue, he already has his next Pogba in the form of forward Joshua Zirkzee – a statement that may come as a surprise to many supporters.

Whilst the pair operate in hugely different positions during their respective periods with the Red Devils, they both possess serious similarities in numerous key areas.

Upon his arrival at Old Trafford in the summer of 2024, many questioned the Dutchman’s fitness levels – even citing that he looked overweight despite scoring the winner against Fulham on his debut.

Despite being labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, he’s struggled to nail his place down after Amorim’s arrival, with uncertainty around his best position undoubtedly at the forefront of the manager’s mind.

The 24-year-old even stated that he sees himself as a 9.5, often liking to drop deeper and affect the player, rather than operating as a poacher like Benjamin Sesko.

Games played

32

Goals & assists

4

Pass accuracy

72%

Shots taken

1.8

Chances created

0.8

Dribble success

38%

Aerials won

29%

Times dispossessed

2.8

Such a playstyle likely contributed to the Red Devils’ measly tally of just 44 league goals last season, with Zirkzee suffering with a lack of action after the club’s £200m spending spree.

He’s so far only featured for 74 minutes during 2025/26 to date, leading to huge rumours about a potential exit away from the Theatre of Dreams in January.

It’s a real shame to see his move to England fail to hit the heights many anticipated, but it’s further evidence of his similarities to Pogba, given his own demise in the Premier League.

Both are evidently more suited to the Italian top-flight rather than the Premier League, with the recruitment team desperately needing to learn from such examples going forward.

Man Utd's "homegrown Osimhen" at Carrington looks like their new Rashford

Manchester United already have a star who could reach phenomenal levels in the near future.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 23, 2025

أدلى آندي روبرتسون لاعب فريق ليفربول الإنجليزي، بتصريحات حول مستقبله وما إذا كان النادي سيُقدّم له عقدًا جديدًا أم أنه في موسمه الأخير مع الريدز.

روبرتسون يقضي عامه الأخير في عقده الحالي مع ليفربول، وكان الدولي الاسكتلندي قد جذب اهتمام أتلتيكو مدريد الإسباني الذي سعى للتعاقد معه في الصيف الماضي، قبل أن يقرر البقاء في الفريق الإنجليزي.

ويمر ليفربول بموسم متذبذب، حيث يتراجع حامل اللقب إلى المركز الثامن في الدوري الإنجليزي الممتاز بعد هزيمته في الجولة الماضية أمام مانشستر سيتي بثلاثية دون مقابل، على ملعب “الاتحاد”.

وفي تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “إندبندنت” البريطانية، قال روبرتسون: “مهما حدث، فسيحدث خلف الأبواب المغلقة، وأنا مرتاح حيال الوضع برمته”.

مضيفًا: “إذا كان هذا آخر عام لي، فسيكون آخر عام لي، وإن لم يكن كذلك، فليكن، لكنني أعتقد أنني مررت بصيفٍ مُرهقٍ بعض الشيء فيما يتعلق باتخاذ القرارات وما شابه ذلك”.

وواصل: “وقلتُ لنفسي حاول الاستمتاع بالأشهر القليلة القادمة، ومن الواضح أنها ستبدأ بالسيطرة على حياتي، لا أشك في ذلك، هذا ما يحدث عندما تدخل الأشهر الستة الأخيرة في عقدك، أحاول التركيز على كرة القدم الآن”.

وأكد روبرتسون: “سعيد بالعودة إلى الملعب، وسعيد بالعودة للعب المباريات القليلة الأخيرة، هذا مهم، ولنرى ما سيحدث، لكنني مرتاح حيال الأمر برمته، والنادي كان رائعًا معي”.

اقرأ أيضًا | ألدريدج: ليفربول قادر على الفوز بدوري أبطال أوروبا.. وغياب محمد صلاح فرصة لـ سلوت

وعلّق روبرتسون عما حدث في الموسم الماضي مع الثلاثي محمد صلاح، فيرجيل فان دايك، وترينت ألكسندر أرنولد، حيث كان الحديث عن مستقبلهم محور اهتمام الإعلام، وقد دخل كل منهم الأشهر القليلة الماضية دون حسم مستقبله.

ونجح ليفربول في تجديد عقد محمد صلاح وفان دايك، فيما رحل ترينت ألكسندر أرنولد إلى ريال مدريد الإسباني، ويحرص روبرتسون على تجنب الجدل بشأن مستقبله كما حدث مع زملائه الثلاثة.

وأتم: “أعتقد أن الجميع سئموا من الحديث عن هؤلاء الثلاثة في الموسم الماضي، لكن بالنسبة لي، كانت علاقتي بالنادي رائعة، لقد فعلوا كل شيء من أجلي أنا وعائلتي، أعتقد أنني لم أكن سيئًا للغاية معهم فيما يتعلق بالتوقيع من هال سيتي مقابل 8 ملايين جنيه إسترليني وما فعلته”.