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He is at the peak of his powers, and brings to the World Cup a well-rounded squad full of the players he has fought for and trusts. Can he lead them to a legacy-sealing triumph?

Nagraj Gollapudi04-Jun-20191:27

Kohli on Rabada’s jibe: ‘He can discuss with me man-to-man’

World Cups define the legacy of leaders. Some of the greatest have tasted success at the biggest tournament in cricket: Lloyd, Border, Imran, Waugh, Ponting and Dhoni.Like those giants, Virat Kohli is his own man. He has set an example first, and then asked others to follow him. His men swear by him. yet there remains a perception that Kohli’s success as a captain owes a lot to MS Dhoni, who has been the guiding force in terms of tactics and controlling the pace of the game. This World Cup offers Kohli the opportunity to walk out of Dhoni’s shadows.And he’s been working on it.Kohli sowed the seeds of change at The Oval, the day India lost the Champions Trophy final in 2017. The key issues he identified included fitness and fielding, and, significantly, an inability to take wickets in the middle overs.To this end India left out the experience of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, and brought in a pair of wristspinners in Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, who have become integral to India’s success.MS Dhoni has some tactics to discuss with Virat Kohli while Rishabh Pant looks on•Associated PressKohli has always had a vision as captain. While Dhoni might take charge at different points during a live game, Kohli is in control of the team, and has shaped it in his image. This World Cup will be his ultimate challenge. The squad is full of the men he wanted, fought for, and kept his faith in. He got all the resources he wanted and asked for. He even got the latest start of all teams, with India’s first match coming against a team playing its third game in a week. Now it’s for him to put all this to use, smartly.The long format of the tournament, where every match is important, will no doubt test Kohli’s mettle as a leader – not just his man-management skills, but also how flexible he is in his thought processes, how quickly he can conjure up plans in tight situations, which will pile up fast as the tournament moves towards its business end.A day before India’s World Cup opener, Kohli seemed at ease. He addressed a 22-minute-long media briefing without getting restless. Wearing his prescription glasses and white team T-shirt Kohli looked relaxed, and sounded confident and clear.Asked whether tomorrow, his first day as India’s captain in a World Cup, would be any different to all his other days on the cricket field, Kohli said no. “Honestly for me I have this feeling before every game I play. I can’t differentiate,” he said. “Obviously if you just say the word “World Cup” it brings a different kind of feeling to your mind and heart. Apart from that when you step onto the field as a cricketer you really think like you are stepping into a World Cup game.”Eventually you go and play the game of cricket. And that excitement and anticipation and bit of nerves is the right combination I have always had before every game that I play. 2011, 2015, similar kind of butterflies in your stomach. Even when you walk in to play in a Test match and you walk in at 10 for 2 you have the same kind of butterflies in your stomach. So that is a very consistent factor. I am just glad and it is going on.”Kuldeep Yadav and Virat Kohli celebrate a wicket•Associated PressIndia are favourites to win the tournament along with hosts England. Yet Kohli knows India can easily come second. Take the recent home series against Australia where his team led 2-0, and yet were surprised 3-2. Reviewing the series Kohli said the reason Australia won was because they played like one unit, poured more passion and energy in every situation, and showed the belief that they could win in any situation. India did not.Like any upcoming captain Kohli has made his own mistakes. Six months before the World Cup he said, with an air of certainty, that Ambati Rayudu would be his No.4. Against Australia, Rayudu was dropped eventually, and then the selectors left him out of the World Cup 15. Immediately after KL Rahul scored a century in the warm-up game against Bangladesh last week, Kohli said he would be the No. 4.Kohli can get excited. He admitted that leading at the World up is going to be his most challenging assignment. “Looking at the length and format of the tournament, yes, it will be tough for any captain including me, playing nine games. It is a long tournament. You are playing every side once.”And you have to think on your feet, you have to adapt very quickly. It is not a bilateral [series] or you are not playing a team twice where you can play them once and plan again and come back and play again. So you have to be precise, on that day make good decisions, stay ahead of the 8-ball. So from that point of view, yes, it will be a very, very challenging tournament.”To his advantage Kohli has a group of proven matchwinners. In Jasprit Bumrah he has possibly the best bowler in cricket today. In Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, he has two openers who can score big, blazing centuries. In Dhoni, he has the best glovesman in the tournament and a master strategist. In Hardik Pandya, he has an instinctive and ruthless batsman, who can turn the game in matter of a dozen deliveries. Then there are the two “pillars”, Kuldeep and Chahal, who can choke teams in the middle overs.KL Rahul goes for a sweep•IDI via Getty ImagesBut it is on days when these men are struggling that Kohli will need to bring to the fore more than just his intensity. He is only 30, but Kohli has a wealth of experience to fall back upon. “It is very gradual,” Kohli said on his growth as a captain. “The errors you would make when you are not that aware of game situations, they will slowly start to taper off as you play more and more cricket. What happens also is, when you have experienced people in your team, who have also grown with you as cricketers, eventually you all start making good decisions, you have discussions, you think of the right things.”Sometimes instinctively I would want to do something, which I will stick to, sometimes you go and discuss. It is important to find the right balance. It is important to try and make the right decision, but own up to your mistakes and accept the errors as well. Gradually, with time, everyone sort of understands that process well, which is happening to me slowly.”On every occasion he has spoken in the past month, Kohli has acknowledged the pressure every match in a World Cup will bring. The only way India can stay ahead, Kohli has repeatedly stressed, is by working as one and staying composed.In the past week India have managed to blend training with recreation – they have had team-bonding sessions involving paintball. Some might scoff at it, ask what adults are doing playing a child’s game. But sport is best enjoyed while invoking the inner child. Kohli understands this.Remember the unforgettable line Kohli delivered moments after Dhoni sealed the 2011 World Cup with a six? As he and his team-mates lifted Sachin Tendulkar onto their shoulders, Kohli said it was only fitting since Tendulkar had carried the burden of a billion dreams on his shoulders for more than two decades. Today that burden has moved to his shoulders.

Of the last 20 games played in the tournament, 16 have been won by the team batting first and that trend might well continue in the semi-finals and final

S Rajesh08-Jul-2019India’s seven-wicket win against Sri Lanka at Headingley ended a sequence of seven straight games in this World Cup that had been won by the side batting first. It was the second such sequence of the tournament: between June 20 and June 25, teams batting first had also won seven in a row. All of this means that of the last 20 games played in the tournament, 16 have been won by the team batting first. The exceptions during this period are: Pakistan’s six-wicket win against New Zealand; South Africa’s nine-wicket win against Sri Lanka; Pakistan’s three-wicket win against Afghanistan; and India’s win on Saturday.ESPNcricinfo LtdIn the first three weeks of the tournament, when the weather was quite inclement and the pitches fresher, the numbers were very even – 11 wins for the team batting first and 10 for the team chasing in 21 completed matches. But with the pitches wearing and the weather drying out, batting first seems to have given a definite advantage to teams. In fact, in the entire history of World Cup matches, there has only been one other streak of the chasing teams losing more than six in a row in a single edition: in 1983, when the first seven games all went to the team batting first.The stats in England in the four years leading up to the World Cup were quite the opposite. The pitches were generally flat and excellent for batting, and remained so throughout the 100 overs, giving the chasing team the advantage. Between the last two World Cups, chasing teams had a 32-20 win-loss record in ODIs in England. England were dominant either way, but their record in chases – 20 wins, three losses – was much better than when batting first – 14 wins, six losses.In the World Cup though, the pitches have generally been slower and not as good for batting, resulting in the teams batting second struggling to chase down totals. The run rate for teams batting second has dropped from 6.08 in the four-year period before the World Cup, to 5.47 in the World Cup.ESPNcricinfo LtdIn fact, the 2019 World Cup is turning out to be one of the most skewed, in terms of wins for the teams batting first (27-14). Only once in World Cup history have the teams batting first won more often and that was back in 1987, when they had a 19-8 record. The last three World Cups were, in fact, almost even in terms of win-loss records for teams batting first and teams chasing.ESPNcricinfo LtdIn the first half of the current World Cup, the wet weather and fresher pitches meant captains were wary about batting first after winning the toss: out of the first 21 completed games, teams chose to bat only four times after winning the toss. In those games, they had a 2-2 win-loss record. Since then, in the last 20 games, they have batted first 15 times and picked up 12 victories. This year’s overall win-loss record for teams winning the toss and batting is the most skewed among all World Cups.

The three remaining matches of World Cup 2019 will be played at Old Trafford, Edgbaston and Lord’s, venues where teams batting first have dominated. Overall in the tournament, they have a 11-2 record; in the second half of the tournament, it improves to 9-1, with the only loss being New Zealand’s defeat against Pakistan at Edgbaston.ESPNcricinfo LtdFresh pitches at all three venues will probably give the chasing teams a better chance in the final week, but if the weather stays clear, teams winning the toss will surely want to bat first. Going by these numbers, the teams chasing will have more than just scoreboard pressure in a knockout game working against them.

A drawn series took the gloss off, but given where the squad were 12 months ago, retention was a triumph

Daniel Brettig at The Oval15-Sep-2019A pesky Australian hundred, a fourth-innings collapse, an England team celebrating victory at The Oval to round off the summer. On a sunny Sunday afternoon at Kennington, so much of this looked very familiar for Australian cricketers of recent vintage, right down to the raucous noise emanating from the seats as the final set of the touring side’s wickets fell.What was different, though, arrived at the end of a lengthy presentation ceremony, albeit beneath a backdrop emblazoned with the words “series drawn”. If this sounded uncharitable then it was nothing compared to the four Australian fingers and the clenched English fist that had greeted many of the same players in Sydney a little more than 18 months ago.Tim Paine’s Australian team did not end this ceremony as four before them had done, standing to one side as a group of men in three lions caps lifted the Ashes urn. This time it was their champagne, their streamers, and their reason to be most cheerful, not only for retaining the urn, but being part of the best Ashes series since 2005, and arguably the friendliest since then too.England undoubtedly deserved their final victory, but it was one that the Australians could afford to concede so far as the urn was concerned. Through Edgbaston, Lord’s, Headingley and Old Trafford, when the Ashes were alive, they had played more of the better cricket, boasting in Steven Smith the undisputed dominant force in the series, in Marnus Labuschagne a worthy understudy, and in Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon three of the five leading wicket-takers.It had taken a Ben Stokes miracle in Leeds to keep the Ashes alive for one more Test, and after that crushing moment, the way the Australians recovered their composure and put together a determined and sustained display in Manchester spoke volumes for their resilience but also their perspective: something they had gained in spades in the year and a half since the Newlands scandal that had followed the previous Ashes series.Unburdened by the pressure of the Ashes and the expectation that went with it, England played much the better cricket at The Oval, underlined by the numerous holes that Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer punched in the Australian top-order. Ultimately it meant that both the World Cup and the Ashes would be determined by wildly varying count-back systems. The World Cup final’s, for most boundaries when the Super Over ended in a tie, was among cricket’s newest. The tradition that states that the Ashes stays with the winner of the preceding series is among the oldest and far less likely to ever change. Both sides knew the math entering this series, and Australia did just enough, as England did back in July.Reflecting on the achievement, Paine had little hesitation in pointing out that the foundation for the result had been laid in the first Test in Birmingham, where he and the rest of the team had faced the most raucous crowd in England and run away with a comprehensive victory. For that, they owed plenty to Smith, who rescued the tourists from 122 for 8 on day one and then carved out twin centuries, but also to a far superior series preparation than that enjoyed by England.”Certainly Edgbaston, there was so much talk about that being a fortress and how difficult a place that was going to be for us to start the series, probably by design,” Paine said. “So for us to come over and win that first Test quite convincingly gave us the belief we could do it and gave us a taste that how we wanted to play over here could work. To get that confirmation early made it easier for the guys to stick to what we wanted to do. Getting off to a good start is important when you are overseas.”Matthew Wade celebrates with Pat Cummins after bringing up his ton•Getty ImagesSmith, too, saw Birmingham as the key to all that followed for him, namely 774 runs and an undisputed garland as the player of the series. “That gave me a lot of confidence,” Smith said. “That was my favourite innings of the whole series that I played. The first Test match as we know is always incredibly important in an Ashes series and to pull the team out of what was trouble at the time gve me that confidence straight up that I could slot back in and perform.”Nevertheless, the entry of Archer into the series, at the expense of the injured James Anderson, changed the balance of the remaining Tests. Joe Root and England will be happy in the knowledge that, with their new spearhead helping the other members of the attack, plus the significant addition of Jack Leach in place of the listless Moeen Ali, they won two of the remaining four matches and set down a decent marker for the next Ashes encounter in Australia.It is for that reason, plus the way the Australians twice failed to follow up a victory with an equally staunch performance (Paine notably bowled first at both Lord’s and The Oval and paid for it with a draw and a defeat), the touring side will go home without too great a degree of triumphalism.They will also know, the batsmen in particular, that the imminent start of the Sheffield Shield season, four rounds to take place before the home Tests against Pakistan and New Zealand, will see plenty of jockeying for places.”There’s no doubt every team needs to be improving, we’ve spoken about Steve this series, he is the best player in the world and he is still improving,” Paine said. “The moment we stop or think we don’t have to improve, there is something wrong. We are disappointed the way we played this game but, as a whole series, we had some good moments in a country where Australia hasn’t had some success for some time.ALSO READ: Steven Smith v the world: Where does he rank among the greatest?“We can be proud of that but we’ve got a way to go,” he added. “Steve had an unbelievably good series and won us some Tests by himself so we’ve got some parts we need to improve, but if we click them into gear while he’s at the height of his powers and with the pace attack we’ve got, then in the next few years we are going to be a very hard team to beat.”***There was another kind of perspective to be applied to Australia’s fortunes. Little more than a year ago, the ODI team had arrived in this part of the world, with Paine as captain and Langer as coach, saying all the right things about balancing performance, culture and improved behaviour. Promptly they had been atomised 5-0, and there were other humiliations to be endured against Pakistan, South Africa and India at home before things began to improve.A solid upward path since then was aided, of course, by the return of Smith, and if the final presentation had been something of an anti-climax, then the day’s emotional high point had surrounded his exit. Smith’s score of 23 was his lowest of the series by a distance and more or less guaranteed England’s victory. But he was given the most generous standing ovation of his entire time in England, fitting recognition for a commanding but also graceful performance across the summer.”It was a nice reception when I walked off, it would have been nice if I had a few more runs under my belt in this game … I’ve given it my all since I’ve been here the last four and a half months every Test match we have played and I didn’t have much left to give today,” Smith said. “I’m pretty cooked to be honest, mentally and physically, and I am looking forward to a nice couple of weeks’ rest before getting back into the Australian summer.”This, too, provided a reminder of the lessons from 18 months ago. Back then, Smith had been similarly fried but given only a few days of rest before suiting up again for ODIs and then South Africa where it all went wrong. Australia have not won the series here, but the humbler result is also in keeping with the fact that this is a more humble team learning, day by day, to marry better cricket to better conduct. Paine was able to speak freely about how unlikely this had all been for him, let alone the team.”I didn’t think I’d still be doing it to be honest and here we are,” Paine said. “I’m very lucky as I have said a number of times to be in the position I’m in and now to be captain of a team that has come here and retained the Ashes is something I’m sure I’ll never forget. We’re bringing the urn home and that’s what we came here to do, we’re thrilled by that.”We’re a little disappointed by this game, obviously, it’s put a bit of a dampener on it. But overall, had you said we were taking them home, we would have jumped at it and taken it.”Right now it’s still a bit close to a loss to be absolutely thrilled about what happened. But when you put it in perspective of what we have done in the past 12 months, I think as a group, we can be proud of the way we have come over here. We’ve got a lot right a lot to be really proud about.”In 2019, Australia came to England and did not lose the Ashes. Whatever the whys and wherefores of a first 2-2 series result between these sides since 1972, that statement will sit well with every member of the team that made it so.

Four semi-finalists. One men’s cricketer of the decade picked by ESPNcricinfo’s readers. Make your vote(s) count

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Jan-2020And then there were four. The quarter-finals threw up two one-sided contests: AB de Villiers, with 88% of the votes polled, trumped his long-time team-mate Dale Steyn; while India captain Virat Kohli (73%) beat England’s World Cup and Headingley hero Ben Stokes (27%). But the excitement in the round lay elsewhere. Just 12 percentage points separated Kane Williamson and Steven Smith. The epic contest, though, was the subcontinent tussle between MS Dhoni and Shakib Al Hasan. Over 1.65 million votes were clicked, as fans on both sides battled it out to get their icons into the semi-finals. In the end it was neck-and-neck, and perhaps deserved a tie, but the India and Chennai Super Kings superstar prevailed “by the barest of margins”.Now it’s time to you to pick again, with the two winners making it to the final showdown. Will Williamson triumph in another Fab Four battle, will it be a reunion between RCB team-mates, or will it be an all-India contest? The ESPNcricinfo staff pick will be revealed in a few days too.Note: The voting for this round closes at 10am GMT on January 5, 2020.

How our readers have voted so far

ESPNcricinfo LtdMore in the decade in review, 2010-19.

Chelsea, BlueCo and chairman Todd Boehly want to sign three high-profile players for Enzo Maresca this summer, and the trio could end up costing the Stamford Bridge side around £200 million.

Chelsea "ready to spend big again" in the transfer market

According to reliable Blues journalist Simon Phillips this week, Chelsea are “ready to spend big again” in the next transfer market, with Champions League football potentially on the line, not to mention their participation in the Club World Cup.

Chelsea make contact for "elite" player who could go for cut price of £34m

The west Londoners are set for another intriguing summer.

1

By
Emilio Galantini

Apr 8, 2025

The west Londoners will also have from June 1st to June 10th to sign players before the CWC, an opportunity Chelsea could well seize considering Maresca’s side stand a chance of winning £100 million in prize money from the tournament.

Qualification for the Champions League will be crucial in determining who they’ll get over the line this summer (Simon Phillips), with Chelsea looking to reinforce many areas throughout Maresca’s squad before his second full season in charge.

Chelsea are targeting a new striker this summer, and it is rumoured that they have their eyes on Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko. Meanwhile, it is also believed that Maresca has asked Chelsea to sign a new goalkeeper, with concerns surrounding both Filip Jorgensen and Robert Sanchez.

Chelsea are also in the market for a new centre-back, while there is believed to be BlueCo interest in Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado as a potential partner for Moises Caicedo in the midfield.

With Kepa Arrizabalaga, Alfie Gilchrist, Armando Broja, Raheem Sterling, David Datro Fofana, Renato Veiga, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell and Axel Disasi all likely to leave the club this summer as well, once they return from their loan spells, Chelsea appear set for yet another busy summer indeed.

Chelsea want Huijsen, Gyokeres and Rodrygo in £200m triple summer deal

Now, a major claim has surfaced from Europe on the club’s plans to bolster Maresca’s squad – with Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, Real Madrid starlet Rodrygo and Bournemouth defender Dean Huijsen all on the agenda.

According to a report from Spain, Chelsea want to sign Gyokeres, Rodrygo and Huijsen this summer, who could all set the club back around £200 million in total.

They’re apparently planning to trigger Huijsen’s £50 million release clause, while Chelsea have allegedly “already” made an offer of around £65m for Gyokeres.

Chelsea also want to “tempt” Rodrygo to the English capital with a promise of regular football, but he’s said to be valued at around £86m. Maresca’s side are hatching this “ambitious plan” to bring all three of the aforementioned players to Chelsea, a triple signing which would “revolutionise” their project.

Huijsen has stood out as one of the Premier League’s most promising young defenders after his excellent season at Bournemouth, while Gyokeres is enjoying another incredibly prolific campaign in Portugal with 44 goals and 11 assists from 44 appearances in all competitions.

Rodrygo has predominantly showcased his best on the right wing for Real this season, enjoying a real purple patch of form midway through the campaign, and his quality is evident for all to see despite tailing off a bit lately with no goals or assists in La Liga since January.

The decision for Liverpool to extend the contract of star centre-back Virgil van Dijk is one that has delighted supporters, undoubtedly so given his importance to Arne Slot.

He joined the Reds for a mammoth £75m back in January 2018, providing a leading presence at the heart of the defence – allowing the side to enjoy success in the Premier League.

The Dutchman has featured in every minute of their league season to date, allowing the club to be within touching distance of claiming a record-equalling 20th league triumph.

His extension takes him to the summer of 2027, having another two years to try and win even more trophies at Anfield, cementing his place as one of the best defenders to ever play the beautiful game.

However, he could be joined by one player in the backline in 2025/26, with Slot and the hierarchy both working together to complete a deal for an in-demand talent.

The latest on Liverpool’s pursuit to land Dean Huijsen this summer

In recent weeks, reports have emerged linking Liverpool with a move to land Bournemouth centre-back Dean Huijsen during the summer transfer window.

It was stated that the Reds’ hierarchy have already met the Spaniard’s representatives over a potential switch to Anfield, but they aren’t alone in their pursuit of the 20-year-old.

Chelsea, Real Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have all also been credited with an interest in the youngster, who has a £50m release clause in his current deal at the Vitality.

However, despite the ambitions of landing Huijsen, another defensive name has emerged on their shortlist, in the form of Nottingham Forest talent Murillo.

According to CaughtOffside, the Reds hold a firm interest in his signature, but would have to pay a fee in the region of £70m for his services given the Reds’ potential top-five status come the end of the season.

Why Murillo would be a better signing than Huijsen

There’s no denying that Bournemouth star Huijsen will be at the top of many Liverpool fans’ list of targets this summer, offering Slot another dimension at the heart of his defence.

His form on the south coast has seen the Cherries battle for a place in Europe next season, leading to rumours around his future away from the club in the near future.

Given his release clause, it’s highly likely he will depart Andoni Iraola’s outfit this summer, but the Reds need to swerve a deal for his services and prioritise a move for Murillo instead.

Whilst the Brazilian would cost an additional £20m compared to the Spaniard, it’s a cost worth taking, having a much higher ceiling to thrive at the top of European football.

When comparing the pair’s respective stats from the ongoing season, the Forest star has massively outperformed Huijsen in numerous key areas – further highlighting the talent he possesses.

Murillo, who’s been labelled “one of the best defenders in the Premier League” by one analyst, has kept more clean sheets, whilst also winning more of the tackles he’s entered to date.

He’s also posted a higher tally of blocks made per 90, alongside more clearances made and aerials won – showcasing the defensive ability he possesses, subsequently playing a huge role in Forest’s success.

The Brazilian has also starred with the ball at his feet, completing more of the take-ons he’s attempted, often catching the eye with his dazzling efforts.

Whilst £70m may be a huge sum for another defender, it’s a fee that is certainly worth it given the performances produced in 2024/25 – potentially being in the league’s Team of the Year.

It would take a lot of convincing to take him out of Forest’s side, given the success they’ve endured this season, but the prospect of moving to Anfield could be one that may tempt Murillo into a huge switch.

Huge upgrade on Jota: Liverpool set to bid for the "best striker in Europe"

Liverpool appear to be readying a mammoth bid for a new attacking talent this summer.

By
Ethan Lamb

Apr 23, 2025

Manchester City have moved three points closer to Champions League qualification.

On Saturday afternoon, late goals from youngster Nico O’Reilly and then substitute Mateo Kovačić saw the Sky Blues snatch a 2-0 victory over Everton, as they visited Goodison Park for the 100th and final time.

This maintains the Citizens’ place in the Champions League positions, above Nottingham Forest, with a key clash against in-form Aston Villa to come on Tuesday.

Despite the victory, two Man City stalwarts did not impress, suggesting they could both be victims of the impending summer rebuild.

Kevin De Bruyne's final matches for Manchester City

Last week, Kevin De Bruyne confirmed that he will be leaving Manchester City when his contract expires at the end of this season, having made over 400 appearances for the club, winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League, amongst many other honours.

In his first appearance since this announcement, Jamie Jackson of the Guardian reported that everyone inside the Etihad got the opportunity to ‘revel in the sublime talent’ that De Bruyne is, with the Belgian putting in a talisman performance as his team fought back from 2-0 down to beat Crystal Palace 5-2 a week ago.

However, this Saturday, the 33-year-old did not impress quite as much, with Simon Bajkowski of the Manchester Evening News reporting that the Belgian ‘got worse as the game went on’ having failed ‘to make the decisive breakthrough’ before being replaced by Manuel Akanji with two minutes remaining.

However, De Bruyne may not be the only Man City veteran heading for the exit door come the summer, with another multi-Premier League champion in his thirties suggesting he is also not the player he once was.

After De Bruyne: Man City's next star on his way out

In that previously sighted Simon Bajkowski player rating piece for the MEN, he described Bernardo Silva’s 5/10 display at Goodison as ‘too slow’, adding that he ‘couldn’t make anything happen’.

The Portuguese midfielder’s statistics don’t make for good reading either.

As the table outlines, Silva did not impress against Everton, losing possession nine times as well as four of his five ground duels, mustering no shots and attempting just a solitary dribble, which isn’t what Pep Guardiola would want from his winger.

This though, is not a one-off, given that Silva’s powers have certainly started to wane this season, scoring just three goals and registering only four assists across all competitions, having accumulated 11 of both last time round, a big drop-off.

Zak Garner-Purkis of Forbes believes that the 30-year-old ‘has been one of the main malfunctioning components’ as Manchester City have fallen below their own lofty expectations this season, also stating that his ‘aging legs’ have been a key factor behind the team’s ‘sudden decline’.

Meantime, James Holland of TEAMtalk claims that Silva will depart Man City this summer, with Barcelona ‘eyeing’ a move for his services.

Thus, with Manchester City set for a summer rebuild, Kyle Walker and De Bruyne are already on the way out, and Silva could be poised to follow them out the exit door.

Bad news for Rico Lewis: Man City readying offer to sign £41m "engine"

Full-back has been a clear problem for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City this season, but are the Sky Blues preparing to sign an “excellent” youngster?

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By
Ben Gray

Apr 18, 2025

The transfer circus is now in full swing, it would appear, with speculation raging over just who will be added to Ruben Amorim’s ranks at Manchester United this summer.

After acquiring Patrick Dorgu and Ayden Heaven in January, it looks as if the Red Devils are set to continue this squad overhaul with the signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers star, Matheus Cunha.

As has been widely reported, United have held positive contract talks with the Brazilian amid the prospect of striking an early deal, with the 25-year-old available for £62.5m amid the presence of a release clause in his existing deal at Molineux.

While previously linked with a move to Nottingham Forest and Arsenal back in January, it looks as if Amorim and co have now won the race for the former Atletico Madrid man, all being well, with attention turning to the impact that he could make at Old Trafford.

Where Cunha will fit into the Man Utd side

With Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee scoring just six Premier League goals between them this season, the addition of a new centre-forward appears to be a real priority this summer, not least with United scoring just 38 top-flight goals collectively to date.

Despite having played through the middle in the past, it would appear that Cunha is not actually being targeted to be the new number nine, amid parallel interest in Ipswich Town talisman, Liam Delap.

In the case of the current Wolves man then, he would instead be needed to strengthen Amorim’s options in one of the new number ten berths, not least with the exiled trio of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Antony all looking set to depart permanently.

Alejandro Garnacho, meanwhile, is yet to truly convince that he can transition from being an out-and-out winger, while Amad Diallo – who has registered 12 goals and assists in 20 games under Amorim – has notably been hampered by injury over the last two seasons.

With Mason Mount also netting just once in total since his arrival in 2023, and with Bruno Fernandes having dropped into a deep-lying role of late, the options in the number ten role are scarce, hence why Cunha could flourish.

Having registered 14 goals in the league this season while operating in a similar system under Vitor Pereira, the Brazil international would be a ready-made solution ahead of next term.

That statement signing appears to be needed – although it shouldn’t come at the expense of young Kobbie Mainoo.

Man Utd's "generational talent" must not be sold

Be it the lack of options in attack – as noted above – or his own struggles as part of the midfield, the Amorim regime so far has brought with it a change for Mainoo, with the academy graduate largely lining up as one of the two ten’s of late.

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From making his first Premier League start as a defensive-minded option in front of the back four against Everton in November 2023, the 20-year-old has since even been deployed as a makeshift centre-forward against Crystal Palace and – more recently – Lyon, with a definitive role still yet to be found.

That transition has largely come about due to Amorim’s claims that the midfielder was “struggling a lot defensively” as part of the midfield two, albeit with the Portuguese coach also praising the youngster for his ability in the final third.

Indeed, last week’s thrilling triumph in the Europa League saw Mainoo net in almost trademark fashion with a delightful, curling effort inside the area, having previously scored in similar style against both Wolves and Liverpool last term.

That impact off the bench has highlighted just why the England starlet can thrive in a more advanced berth moving forward, albeit with the addition of a figure like Cunha only set to hamper his hopes of a regular role in the starting lineup.

For all his injury-related woes this term, it’s worth remembering that Mainoo had enjoyed a stunning emergence in 2023/24, resulting in his key role in the Three Lions’ surge to the Euro 2024 final, having started every knockout stage game under Gareth Southgate.

Described as a “generational talent” by Hojlund, it would be a crying shame for the FA Cup final match winner to be nudged toward the exit door so swiftly, with speculation having been rife regarding his future, amid an apparent stall in contract talks.

While there may be a desire to cash in on a player who is valued at around £74m, according to CIES Football Observatory – placing him ahead of the £62.5m-rated Cunha – that soaring valuation also indicates just what a diamond he truly is.

Of course, Amorim’s 3-4-3 system may be better suited to Cunha and the like, yet not being able to find a home for Mainoo in the starting lineup would reflect poorly on the manager.

This is the type of talent that United simply can’t afford to lose.

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Man Utd appear to be stepping up their transfer search, alongside the signing of Matheus Cunha

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Robbie Walls

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After signing Omar Marmoush in the January transfer window, Manchester City have now reportedly opened talks with another Bundesliga star in what would be a repeat of their deal for the Egyptian.

Marmoush's instant Man City impact

Having arrived for a reported £59m in a season that Manchester City couldn’t afford to get things wrong in the January transfer window, the pressure was certainly on Marmoush to perform. You wouldn’t know it, however. The Egyptian has enjoyed an excellent start to life at the Etihad, scoring seven goals in 18 games in a run that includes a stunning 14-minute hat-trick in a 4-0 thrashing of Newcastle United.

Pep Guardiola hasn’t shied away from praising the former Eintracht Frankfurt winger, either, telling reporters last month: “The numbers are really good.

“He arrived in the middle of the season and in a moment when we are not good. Sometimes when you come when everything is fluid and everything is fine it’s easy to adapt. But coming when the team is not playing good, that is a big credit.”

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The Spaniard will be hoping to see Marmoush only continue his bright start as Manchester City head into the final four games of their season. Still battling to secure their Champions League place, the Citizens have put together an impressive run of form at the perfect time and have three Premier League games to keep hold of their spot in the top five.

It will then be all eyes on Wembley as City attempt to avoid an upset and defeat Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final. Suddenly, from concerns that they may not even qualify for the Champions League, it’s still possible for the Citizens to finish as high as second and end the campaign with a trophy.

Man City open talks with Hugo Ekitike

Following the success of Marmoush, it looks as though those at the Etihad could return to the Bundesliga once again this summer. According to Bild, as relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City have opened talks with Hugo Ekitike in an attempt to land a Marmoush repeat and a second Frankfurt player in six months.

The deal, like Marmoush’s in January, will not come cheap, however. The German side are reportedly demanding as much as €100m (£81m) to sell their star striker amid interest from Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and others.

Dubbed “superb” by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Ekitike is someone who would stand every chance of thriving in the current Manchester City side, especially given how successful his partnership with Marmoush was at Frankfurt. By taking that into the Premier League, the duo could help take City back to the top of English football alongside Erling Haaland.

Crystal Palace have enjoyed a fantastic campaign under Oliver Glasner and now look set to put some of their new-found appeal to use in the transfer market.

Crystal Palace set to build on wonderful campaign

After defying the odds to record a remarkable FA Cup triumph, Crystal Palace now have the feather in their cap of being Europa League participants next term, which is bound to attract prospective recruits.

Glasner has made quite an impact since walking through the doors of Selhurst Park and has re-affirmed his commitment to the Eagles despite his prowess in the dugout not going unnoticed.

He stated: “I have one more year left, and now we are speaking about next season. Everything that happens after July 1 2026 we don’t talk about this at the moment. It is too far away.

“We are talking about this year, and that is why I am 100 per cent committed. I have a contract and I have no other things on my mind.”

With his future at the club secure, Crystal Palace are expected to be active on the market and have identified Strasbourg forward Emanuel Emegha as an ambitious target to strengthen their forward line ahead of next season.

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Unlikely to be the only arrival in South London, Mainz star Nadiem Amiri is also on the Eagles’ list as they look to the continent for fresh blood to help their European push.

Everyone connected with the club is experiencing an elevated level of excitement about the future. Arguably, Crystal Palace’s appeal has never been greater, and that can help to attract talent from global markets.

That said, Glasner is now reportedly intensifying advances to bring a talented gem to Selhurst Park that could be a star of years to come.

Crystal Palace intensify move for Faveurdi Bongeli

According to Africa Foot, Crystal Palace are stepping up talks to sign Tout-Puissant Mazembe winger Faveurdi Bongeli amid rival interest from Burnley in the 18-year-old.

Capable of playing on either flank, illustrating a degree of versatility, the youngster is also said to be on the radar of Borussia Monchengladbach, Dunkirk, Sint-Truiden and other clubs in England and Germany.

It is unclear whether he would go straight into the senior set-up or spend a period in Crystal Palace’s development squad before making the step-up, should a move occur.

Nevertheless, there is room for another wide player in Glasner’s squad to help complement the likes of Ismaila Sarr moving forward. Depth could be key to staking a claim in the Europa League, and Bongeli appears to be a star in the making with a number of clubs keen.

Now, it remains to be seen if Bongeli can achieve a dream move to England. Crystal Palace are likely to be in the hunt for several additions this summer, so there is plenty to get excited about for supporters.