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Unai Emery and his Aston Villa side have got off to a strong start, winning two and losing one of their opening three Premier League fixtures. Their one loss came at the hands of Arsenal in a tightly contested game.

It was a summer of change with a few big names leaving including Douglas Luis and Moussa Diaby. The Frenchman joined Saudi Arabian side, Al-Ittihad, for a fee of around €60m (£50m) as a package deal, recouping almost all of what they paid for him last summer.

Diaby made 54 appearances for Villa last season in all competitions, scoring ten goals, providing nine assists, and totalling 3,144 minutes played.

However, in the ever-impressive Morgan Rogers, they've found a player capable of replacing the former Bayer Leverkusen winger.

Morgan Rogers' season in numbers

Rogers has started the new campaign in brilliant form, starting all three Premier League games for Villa so far and scoring two goals for the England U21 side in 60 minutes played.

In his hour on the field for England U21 against Austria, Rogers scored two goals, had three shots on target, completed two of his four dribble attempts, completed one key pass, and won three of his eight ground duels.

This great start to the new campaign comes off the back of a settling period last season. Joining the Villans in January from Championship side Middlesbrough, Rogers then went on to make 16 appearances, scoring three goals and providing one assist.

But it was after his brilliant performance against Arsenal this season that Rogers began to get high praise, with pundit Robbie Mustoe labelling Rogers as "underappreciated" and "one to watch".

Morgan Rogers' transfer value in 2024

When Rogers joined Villa from Middlesbrough, the fee was an initial £8m, which could rise to £16m if all add-ons are met. But Fotmob already values the playmaker at around £15m, which is more than the £8m fee he joined the club for.

This fee is only expected to rise over the course of the season, as Rogers fully steps into the boots left by Diaby, showing his full potential at such a young age.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Rogers

Diaby

G+A

0.00

0.56

xG

0.10

0.25

xAG

0.30

0.22

Shots Total

1.67

2.04

Key Passes

1.67

1.76

Shot-Creating Actions

3.67

3.39

Progressive Carries

3.67

3.93

Successful Take-Ons

2.33

1.18

Carries into Final Third

2.33

1.85

It's important to note, Rogers' metrics for the 2024/25 campaign are only based on three games (270 minutes), compared to a full season of 53 games (3,039 minutes) by Diaby.

However, these metrics do show how Rogers is already stepping into a more prominent role, averaging a higher xAG (expected assisted goals) per 90, with 0.30 compared to Diaby's 0.22 per 90, as well as a higher amount of shot-creating actions.

This highlights the creative importance of Rogers already for this Villa side, contributing similar or higher metrics than the Frenchman in these creation-based numbers. He also excels in carrying metrics, bettering the summer departee in both successful take-ons and carries into the final third per 90.

Rogers will still need to add more output with goals and assists, something Diaby did fairly well with 0.56 per 90, but if he continues his brilliant form, and keeps finding himself in dangerous positions, that G/A is bound to come sooner rather than later. Either way, this is a move the club have certainly hit the jackpot with.

Aston Villa sold a "beast" in 2015, now he scores more often than Watkins

He was terrific for the Villans during his time at the club.

1 ByJoe Nuttall Sep 10, 2024

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has lauded a “win-win” situation that has emerged from Old Trafford, following a significant development.

Big off-field development at Man Utd

It feels like a long time since the Red Devils were the club that every other team in England aspired to be, at a time when they were dominating both on and off the pitch under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Since the legendary Scot departed in 2013, however, United have been on a downward spiral, failing to win a Premier League title and seeing rivals such as Manchester City and Liverpool leap ahead of them, both in terms of quality and redeveloping stadiums and training facilities.

Now, it looks as though the Red Devils are set for a major step in the right direction, however, with plans in place for a new Old Trafford that will cost around £2bn and have 100,000 fans inside it. Images have been revealed, whetting the appetite for supporters.

The hope is that it will not only be hugely beneficial to United’s success moving forward, helping take them back to the top of the English game, but also play a part in developing the surrounding areas and creating more jobs.

Neville delighted with "win-win" situation at Man Utd

Speaking to Sky Sports about the plans, Neville described it as a “win-win” situation for Manchester United and beyond, as the Red Devils look to kick on into the future:

“We’re talking about an opportunity that could regenerate the area in Trafford, in Greater Manchester but also correct what would be a struggling transport network in the north of England. So it’s a win-win all around. They can expect one of, if not the best, stadiums in the world.

“But around that, residents can expect better community facilities and many thousands of jobs. We will bring new investors to Greater Manchester to invest in this area because of how attractive it will be to be close to that name, Manchester United. So there’ll be benefits for everybody from this, not just supporters of Manchester United. Everybody will benefit from the scheme.”

This is an extremely exciting development for United supporters, at a time when it is vital that they close the gap on the likes of City, Liverpool and now Arsenal as well.

Old Trafford used to feel like one of Europe’s most impressive modern arenas, but it is now a tired ground that isn’t fit for purpose compared to the Etihad, Anfield and the Emirates. Having a sensational new arena could help United become a massive force again, and give fans what they deserve.

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ByRobbie Walls Sep 24, 2024

As Neville alludes to, it could help the north west in general, much as some rival fans may feel he only has his boyhood club’s interests at heart, so it would be a positive for that area of the country, too.

Glasgow Rangers manager Philippe Clement will be hoping the signings he made during the summer transfer window at Ibrox can allow the club to generate substantial profits in the future.

Indeed, Rangers are looking to establish an effective player trading system which will see young talent signed, developed and then sold on for lavish fees.

This could fund future signings which may take the Glasgow club back to the summit of Scottish football.

While the Ibrox outfit have sold plenty of players over the last few years, only a few have generated significant profit for the club. One of the most notable examples is Glen Kamara.

How much Glen Kamara cost Rangers

During Steven Gerrard’s debut season in charge of Rangers, he knew that a strong midfield would give his side the perfect chance to end Celtic’s dominance.

This led to him agreeing a pre-contract move for Kamara, who was shining for Dundee at the time. Instead of waiting until the summer, however, Gerrard paid just £50k in order for the Finnish midfielder to link up early with the Gers.

It turned into one of the finest pieces of transfer business conducted by the club in recent years. Kamara went on to make nearly 200 appearances for the Light Blues, winning the Premiership and Scottish Cup, while also helping the Glaswegian outfit reach the Europa League final in 2022.

Glen Kamara's Rangers statistics

Season

Games

Goals

Assists

2022/23

35

1

1

2021/22

52

4

5

2020/21

51

2

2

2019/20

39

1

0

2018/19

16

1

3

Via Transfermarkt

Gerrard even hailed him as a “monster” in 2019 upon his arrival, and it was clear the club would make a stunning profit on him in the future.

Last summer, Michael Beale sold the 28-year-old, hitting the jackpot on the player in the process…

Glen Kamara's transfer value in 2024

It soon became clear that the midfielder wasn’t going to be in Beale’s future plans as the summer transfer window rolled around last year.

It took a few months, but eventually, he was sold to Leeds United, who paid a fee in the region of £5m to bring the player down to the English Championship, as the club sought to bolster their squad ahead of a promotion charge.

This meant the Ibrox side had sold Kamara for 9900% more than what they paid for just four and a half years earlier, a truly incredible return on their initial investment.

The 6-foot star played a solitary season for the Yorkshire side, making 42 appearances in all competitions, yet he couldn’t lead them back into the Premier League.

This summer, he was on the move again, joining French side Stade Rennais for a fee believed to be £8.4m, meaning Leeds have even made a profit on the player.

Clement will be hoping that his time in charge of the Light Blues will allow him to sign young talent cheaply, before moving them on for transfer fees in this region.

Celtic have done this expertly in recent years. Hopefully, the Belgian has taken plenty of notice.

Related Rangers wanted to sign amazing star in 2023, now he's a Ballon d'Or nominee

Michael Beale came close to securing a loan deal for a £67m-rated talent

Posts ByRoss Kilvington Sep 10, 2024

Sonia Bompastor revealed the half-time team talk that inspired Chelsea's comeback win over Real Madrid in the Women's Champions League.

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Chelsea beat Real Madrid 2-1Won all six of their Women's Champions League group gamesBompastor revealed team talk that inspired Chelsea's comebackFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Blue staged a remarkable comeback in the second half as they beat Real Madrid 2-1 to maintain their 100 percent win record in the Women's Champions League group stage and qualify for the round of 16 in first place. Caroline Weir broke the deadlock for the hosts in the seventh minute of the game as they carried a one-goal lead into half-time. Catarina Macario then converted two penalties in a span of five minutes after the break to seal a win for her team.

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Despite extending their winning streak in Europe, manager Bompastor claimed that she was not happy with the performance of the team in the first 45 minutes and revealed what pep talk she used to inspire her players to stage the comeback.

WHAT SONIA BOMPASOR SAID

Speaking to reporters, the French coach said: "I was not happy at half-time. I said: 'We need to be on the same page, we only have 45 minutes to achieve our goal and after you will be on your vacation so just give everything you have'."

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Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?

The reigning Women's Super League champions will now enjoy a well-earned holiday over the winter break and will be back in action on January 12 when they face Charlton in a Women's FA Cup fourth-round clash.

Oliver Glasner has a big task on his hands this summer, trying to add firepower to his Crystal Palace side after losing key man, Michael Olise to Bayern Munich. And that task could get even harder, with clubs circling for Eberechi Eze like sharks, and now interest also arising in red-hot striker Jean-Philippe Mateta from Aston Villa.

Olise provided 16 goals and assists for Palace last season, which is already something they will be without, with the potential of losing another 17 goal involvements from Eze, and 24 goals and assists from Mateta, who scored 19 goals in 39 appearances in 2023/24.

The trio contributed 52 goals and assists between them in Palace's 57-goal campaign, showing their importance to the sides' output. Therefore, reinforcements would be needed, one of which has already been made in the shape of Ismaila Sarr from Marseille.

Crystal Palace's search for a striker

Samu Omorodion was linked with a move to Palace earlier this summer and it may not be the worst idea to revisit that interest, should Mateta potentially be on his way out.

However, Omorodion is set to demand a very hefty fee, with Atlético Madrid reluctant to sell the 20-year-old striker, and reports from Ben Jacobs claim it could take around €70m (£59m) to change their minds.

That comes amid interest from Chelsea in the Atlético striker this summer, who made 35 appearances last season on loan with Alaves, scoring nine goals and providing one assist in 2,096 minutes of football.

Omorodion vs Mateta comparison

Omorodion has been labelled "Haaland-esque" by Ben Mattinson, praising his back-to-goal play, ability to hold off his marker and finish under pressure with his weak foot. His 6 foot 4 frame is a good reference point to the Haaland comparison, as both players are a huge physical presence, and require a lot of defensive attention for this reason.

On FBref's "similar players" feature, Omorodion also compares to Haaland, alongside other Premier League strikers such as Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth and Rasmus Hojlund from Manchester United, illustrating the impact he can make in the English game.

Stats (per 90 mins)

Omorodion

Mateta

Non-Penalty Goals

0.41

0.55

Non-Penalty xG

0.52

0.37

Shots Total

3.02

1.74

Shots on Target

1.17

0.99

Goals/Shot

0.13

0.32

Successful Take-Ons

0.99

0.99

Aerials Won

2.75

1.97

The 20-year-old isn't as clinical in front of goal as Mateta, who averages fewer shots per 90, but converts at a better rate, with a 0.32 Goals/Shot metric, compared to Omorodion's 0.13.

However, at such a young age, to have the physical potential he has, winning 2.75 aerials per 90, already scoring 0.41 goals per 90, and managing to produce an xG of 0.52 per 90, is an excellent starting point.

Compared to Haaland earlier, he would require that same attention to stop him in the box, using his strength to bully defenders and win aerial duels when crosses come into the box, making himself a nuisance and a defender's nightmare.

Whilst this would be an expensive purchase for Palace – if that £59m price tag is to be believed – the youngster could provide the threat they need upfront, especially when you consider the amount of firepower Glasner could be losing this summer, with Olise already out the door.

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ByConnor Holden Jul 31, 2024

كشف عمرو فتحي، عضو مجلس إدارة اتحاد اليد، عن آخر تطورات إصابة أحمد هشام دودو، نجم منتخب مصر، التي تعرض لها خلال المباراة الأخيرة أمام كرواتيا في ختام الدور الأول من بطولة العالم.

وأوضح فتحي في تصريحات لبرنامج “لعبة والتانية” على إذاعة “ميجا إف إم”: “أحمد هشام دودو تعرض لكدمة داخلية في الركبة فقط، وستحدد استجابته للعلاج موعد عودته إلى الملعب”.

منتخب مصر يعلن حجم إصابة أحمد هشام دودو وموقفه من المباريات المتبقية في كأس العالم لكرة اليد

وأضاف: “تم التأكد من عدم إصابة دودو في الأربطة، ومن المتوقع أن يغيب من 5 أيام إلى أسبوع. على الأرجح، سيغيب عن مباراة الغد أمام أيسلندا، لكنه سيكون جاهزًا للمشاركة في الدور ربع النهائي”.

وعن المنافس المحتمل لمنتخب مصر في ربع النهائي، قال فتحي: “إذا تصدرنا مجموعتنا، سنواجه على الأرجح منتخب المجر”.

واختتم عضو اتحاد اليد تصريحاته قائلًا: “منتخب المجر لديه مشروع مميز، ونحن نراقب المنتخبات التي تعمل على تطوير نفسها بشكل مستمر، كما شاهدنا منتخب السويد الذي يقدم أداءً متميزًا حاليًا”.

ويبدأ منتخب مصر مشواره في الدور الرئيسي بمواجهة أيسلندا في التاسعة والنصف مساء غد الأربعاء، ثم يواجه سلوفينيا في السابعة مساءً الجمعة، ويختتم مواجهاته بلقاء كاب فيردي في السابعة مساءً الأحد المقبل.

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has sent a “pay attention” warning to Vinicius Junior after pipping the Real Madrid star to Ballon d’Or recognition.

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Man City star walked away with Golden BallBlancos representatives refused to attendSpain international has offered words of adviceFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Prior to the most prestigious of awards being handed, the expectation was that a Golden Ball would end up in the hands of a Brazilian forward. It then emerged that Rodri, with Premier League and Euro 2024 titles under his belt, would be recognised as the best player on the planet.

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Real Madrid refused to send any representatives to the glitzy Ballon d’Or ceremony in disgust, as they reacted angrily to the most dramatic of snubs, but Rodri is revelling in his new standing at the top of the global game and has offered some words of advice to Vinicius when it comes to achieving a similar standing himself.

WHAT RODRI SAID

Spain international Rodri has told : “I think he's an intelligent guy and he'll realise over time that the more he pays attention to the pitch, the better he'll be. Like everyone, he has areas for improvement both on and off the pitch. He's young, I'm sure that people will give him good advice and even more so when he's at Madrid. It's a club with values.”

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GettyDID YOU KNOW?

Quizzed on whether he has received any contact from the Spanish capital on the back of his Golden Ball triumph, Rodri joked: “Did they call me from the club? No, obviously not. A message from Vinicius? Yes, yes, a FaceTime… not at all.”

As rivals grumble over Manchester United's successful signing of centre-back Leny Yoro, INEOS grin as their persistent hounding pays off.

Yoro, 18, has yet to kick a ball for the Red Devils but he's showcased his considerable qualities at LOSC Lille over the past two years, garnering a reputation as a 'generational talent', such is the player's technical command and tactical understanding, exhibited at a precocious level.

Talent scout Jacek Kulig had previously dubbed Yoro as "world-class material", while his efforts in Ligue 1 saw him touted for the Young Player of the Season award, pipped by Paris Saint-Germain prodigy Warren Zaïre-Emery.

Matches played

32

Matches started

30

Goals

2

Clean sheets

13

Pass completion

92%

Touches per game

67.6

Tackles per game

1.1

Interceptions per game

1.1

Clearances per game

3.0

Ball recoveries per game

3.9

Duels won per game

3.3 (63%)

United's £52m outlay, rising to £59m, might seem steep to many, but this is a player with the world at his feet, coveted by Real Madrid and Liverpool, bested by Sir Jim Ratcliffe's blooming project.

Raphael Varane's £350k-per-week contract at the Theatre of Dreams has expired, while Villarreal have signed Willy Kambwala, 19, for £10m. United, hungry for success, want another defender.

Man United lining up another defender

As per Sky Sports' Dharmesh Sheth – speaking to GIVEMESPORT – Man United are still in for Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite, who has already been the subject of two failed bids from Old Trafford this summer.

United's interest was complicated by Everton's proposed £50m sale of Amadou Onana to Aston Villa, easing Everton's need to cash in, but following the Freidkin Group's failed Toffees takeover, Branthwaite's future is cast back into doubt.

Sheth says now that the England international is a 'live option' for Erik ten Hag's side, though they would need to hit the £70m ballpark to ensure they complete their backline with a formidable new star.

Jarrad Branthwaite's 23/24 season in numbers

Branthwaite spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan with PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, returning to Merseyside last summer and since growing into one of the division's mightiest defenders.

The 6 foot 5 titan, aged 22, featured 35 times in the Premier League last season, scored three goals and kept 12 clean sheets. As per Sofascore, he wasn't just a passenger in a drilled and coherent Everton side, winning a whopping 68% of his duels and averaging 1.9 tackles, 4.5 clearances and 5.2 ball recoveries per game.

As per FBref, he ranks among the top 19% of centre-backs across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 20% for tackles, the top 18% for interceptions and the top 18% for aerial duels won per 90.

Considering his frame, it's hardly surprising that he's adept in the air, but the way he controls and manipulates with his shifty movements and steely presence in the duels marks him as one of the soundest on English shores.

Take, for example, Everton's struggles in the previous campaign. James Tarkowski is an experienced centre-half, very good at his craft, but he plied his trade on boggy footing and failed to implement Sean Dyche's iron-enforced philosophy, with Michael Keane and Yerry Mina flattering to deceive alongside him.

Two points above the drop zone and 57 goals shipped across the 38-game campaign was not a position to take pride in, but despite the din on the blue half of Merseyside, Branthwaite and his defensive contingent have raised the ceiling and then some, confidently finishing 14th last term despite an eight-point deduction – and with a pretty impressive clean sheet record besides.

1.

Arsenal

18

2.

Manchester City

13

2.

Everton

13

4.

Liverpool

10

4.

Newcastle United

10

4.

Fulham

10

4.

Crystal Palace

10

It's clear that Branthwaite is one of the finest young defenders in the Premier League, and he would make such a difference to United's improving project.

Why Man Utd must follow Yoro signing with Branthwaite

Take a look above; the answer is in the metrics. Branthwaite is a hulking unit of a defender, with his sinewed frame and imposing presence setting him up for a career of imperious defence in the rearguard.

For now, that's at Goodison Park, but United have registered their interest and could now follow up the stunning capture of one of Europe's biggest talents with one of the Premier League's most exciting rising stars.

Crucially, Branthwaite is left-footed. Yoro is not. This could prove to be an almighty partnership down the line, with Branthwaite the "beast" of a defender – as said by analyst Ben Mattinson – to meld into the assured, intelligent security of his French confrère.

The contrast in styles could pay dividends, with the Goodison Park side scarcely employing a possession-heavy style and thus seeing Branthwaite's pass completion rate languish below the, perhaps, desired level.

However, he will undoubtedly see that 80% completion rate rise at Man United, especially next to Yoro, who already ranks among the top 7% of positional peers across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion (92.1%).

Manchester United haven't been shy to spend over the past decade, but it just hasn't come together for the prestigious Premier League outfit. Now, though, the wind has shifted at the Theatre, and the Red Devils are starting to dream.

Imagine him & Yoro: Man Utd could land £46k-p/w De Ligt upgrade

The Red Devils are looking to overhaul the backline this summer.

ByRobbie Walls Jul 19, 2024

The 2023/24 campaign fizzled out like a disappointing firework at Molineux but Gary O'Neil and his Wolverhampton Wanderers squad have shown enough to suggest the upcoming term will bring promise and thrills.

Many supporters are left waiting for an unconscionable amount of time during the early phase of the summer transfer window but Wolves have already signalled a statement of intent by signing 20-year-old winger Rodrigo Gomes from Braga for a £13m fee.

He's pacy and nimble and willing to put in a shift, and if the £60m-rated Pedro Neto is to be sold this summer, prudent moves have been made to secure his services.

Wolves still hope to sign a centre-forward, however, and if Neto is indeed allowed to leave, O'Neil will have ample funds to bolster his frontline, with one long-term target appearing to be the perfect fit.

Wolves could sign new striker

Only a few weeks ago, it looked nailed-on that Che Adams would join Wolves upon the expiry of his contract with Southampton this month, but interest from a host of other suitors has since cast the deal into doubt.

Still, Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Wolves will indeed sign a striker this summer, and with this in mind, Fosun could now act on interest in Salernitana striker Boulaye Dia.

According to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport earlier this week – via Sport Witness – Wolves' pursuit of Dia has hit a snag, with the Premier League side yet to meet Salernitana's price tag of €20m (£17m).

Why Boulaye Dia would be perfect for Wolves

Dia has suffered a series of disagreements with his Serie A team over the past year and this has inhibited his chances of building on an exemplary 2022/23 campaign.

Boulaye Dia: Serie A stats 22/23 vs 23/24
Stats	2022/23	2023/24
Matches played	33	17
Matches started	27	12
Goals	16	4
Assists	6	0
Big chances missed	5	3
Pass completion	77%	84%
Shots per game	1.5	1.7
Key passes per game	1.1	0.6
Dribbles per game	1.1	0.8
Duels won per game	3.3	2.8
Stats via Sofascore

The 27-year-old has proven himself a high-level goalscorer and in new conditions at Wolves, he may be able to shift the currents that have disrupted his football of late.

Scoring 16 goals (in 2022/23) while only missing five big chances is a remarkably clinical ability; it's no wonder that journalist Jonas Adnan Giæver hailed him as a "beast" and an "absolute monster" back in 2021, a portent of success to come.

The Senegalese's creativity and dynamism are characteristics that make him much more than simply a goalscorer, with his ball-playing ability simply a further instrument to a wide-ranging array of qualities. As per FBref, the £42k-per-week ace actually ranks among the top 1% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for pass completion.

This level of technical ability would only serve to boost the recently-signed Gomes, whose dynamic wide role – on either flank – demands a clinical talisman who also offers connective play through crisp passing movements.

Target Scouting reporter Joe Pearce said that the Portuguese starlet "has rapid acceleration and the stamina to make real lung-bursting runs from deeper positions.

"When he spots space ahead, he attacks it and shows real intensity in wanting to break forward and anticipate second balls, attacking the back post and following up on shots looking for rebounds, and has scored and assisted from this type of situation."

Gomes is a young talent and will indeed need assistance in acclimatising to life in the Premier League, and while Molineux already boasts a top-class striker in Matheus Cunha, Dia could take his place in the team if need be.

With such a versatile approach to his attacking play, Dia could even be a feasible replacement for Cunha, should the Brazilian leave this summer.

Wolves hope to continue their 2023/24 top scorer, but with Manchester United in pursuit and Cunha admitting that he is flattered by the Red Devils' interest, saying "it’s a real honour to have your name linked to Manchester United. One of the biggest clubs in the world."

Cunha might have enjoyed a rich goalscoring season but that is merely one string to a vibrant bow, also ranking among the top 14% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 10% for pass completion, the top 12% for progressive passes, the top 5% for progressive carries, the top 3% for successful take-ons and the top 17% for tackles per 90.

Dubbed "a complete player" by former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui, Cunha is a fantastic, influential player but Dia could certainly imitate his role in O'Neil's team, should push come to shove.

How Wolves' starting XI could look after £83m summer spending spree

The Old Gold might not boast the deep pockets of other teams but some exciting arrivals could be welcomed this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

Jun 9, 2024

Super Over Two mid-table sides separated by just two points. Two misfiring middle orders. Two squads unable to use their reserve overseas players in the best possible way. Two teams that were neck and neck with three wins each against each other since 2018. What happened when they met on Sunday evening? A Super Over, of course.Lockie Ferguson made that one-over face-off a one-sided affair though. Playing his first match in over seven months, Ferguson, in the space of three balls, first removed David Warner’s off stump to hand him a golden duck and then hit the base of Abdul Samad’s middle stump with a full and slower delivery, with only two runs allowed in between. A single from Eoin Morgan and two leg-byes off Dinesh Karthik’s pads with a fumble at short-fine leg gave the Kolkata Knight Riders two points from the third Super Over of the season to keep them on fourth place on the points table.Ferguson had earlier dented the Sunrisers Hyderabad chase of 164 with a spectacular spell of fast bowling that read 4-0-3-15 without conceding a single boundary. Ferguson did the damage against a tweaked Sunrisers line-up that saw Kane Williamson open with Jonny Bairstow, and Warner push himself down to No. 4. He allowed just seven in the 18th over when the Sunrisers needed 37 from 18. With 30 to win from 12, Samad and Warner targeted Shivam Mavi on the off side for two fours before the former fell off the last ball of the over – another dismissal that featured Ferguson. Samad had clubbed a full toss to deep midwicket where Ferguson pouched the ball right inside the rope before carefully lobbing it to Shubman Gill when he lost balance.Warner had struck only two fours in his 28-ball 33 when the last over started with Andre Russell bowling a big wide outside off to Rashid Khan from around the wicket which was later called a no-ball. Once Warner got strike, he first found the cow-corner boundary, then hammered a length delivery past the bowler and then whipped an innocuous-looking leg-stump delivery for the third four in a row. With four to get off two, Warner took a double but couldn’t get bat on the last ball and settled for one leg-bye when Russell nipped the ball into his pads. It was time for a Super Over.Sunrisers’ Williamson experiment
Slow starts, an inexperienced middle order, and Warner not looking at his best made the Sunrisers change their line-up. Williamson, who was carrying a hamstring niggle, took charge at the top with fluent strokeplay, hitting consecutive fours off Mavi, while Bairstow muscled Varun Chakravarthy off the back foot. The duo also attacked Russell and Pat Cummins together to finish the sixth over on 58, of which 46 came in boundaries, and was the Knight Riders’ fourth consecutive powerplay without a wicket.But then came Ferguson in the seventh over. Williamson upper cut his first ball to third man to end an enterprising 19-ball 29 that saw Priyam Garg come in at No. 3. Garg couldn’t last more than seven balls as Ferguson’s slower delivery rammed into his stumps and, four balls later, Bairstow found long-off against Chakravarthy.The Warner you haven’t seen
Warner has been struggling by his standards this IPL and on Sunday he got a life on the first ball he faced from Kuldeep Yadav when Karthik missed a stumping after a loopy delivery deflected off the batman’s pad. With his team three down and half the innings left, an uncharacteristically watchful Warner relied on ones and two. At the other end, Manish Pandey was removed by a 148kmh Ferguson yorker. On one hand was Ferguson’s express pace, and on the other was Yadav taking pace off the ball – the duo combined for 18 dots from their seven overs together, which featured no boundaries. Warner saw them off and saved his boundaries for the end, which eventually tied the scores.Knight Riders slow off the blocks
In what was a start-stop-start innings, the Knight Riders struggled to get going properly because Shubman Gill couldn’t find the gaps and ate up 17 dots in his 37-ball 36. Apart from his three consecutive fours off Basil Thampi in the fifth over that helped the Knight Riders register their best opening stand this IPL, it was mainly Rahul Tripathi’s attacking strokes that relatively drove up the run rate. However, Tripathi’s dismissal on the last ball of the powerplay, for 23 off 16, slowed them down again as Rashid Khan came on in the eighth over.Vijay Shankar bowls four for the first time in IPL
Before Khan, though, the seventh over was given to Vijay Shankar, who dried up the runs further with his clever use of length and pace variations. The fifth bowler has been an issue for the Sunrisers and this time they used him smartly – bowling from the seventh over onwards, they got three out of him by the 11th over, for just 15 runs. But it was neither Khan nor Shankar who pushed the Knight Riders back as much as Garg. Two excellent running catches – one at the long-off boundary to remove Gill in the 12th over and the other running in from deep midwicket inside the circle when Nitish Rana top-edged Shankar three balls later, left them on 88 for 3 with just under eight overs left.DK and Morgan show
Russell’s poor run with the bat continued. With plenty of overs left on a slow pitch, his short stay ended when he holed out to deep midwicket for 8 against T Natarajan. Khan’s quota was done by then but the slow and dipping yorkers and full tosses of Sandeep Sharma and Natarajan were still not letting the batsmen score freely. Karthik – like he did against the Kings XI Punjab with a half-century – gave his team a late push with deft footwork. He used the crease better than anyone: he first walked down to sweep a low Sharma full toss for six, then stayed back for a Natarajan yorker to drill it down the ground for four, and then went back again to dispatch another Natarajan delivery for a six over long-on.After 19 overs, the Knight Riders were 147 for 4 with Morgan on 18 off 17 and Karthik 29 off 14. Morgan faced the entire last over from Thampi who kept missing his yorkers. Morgan hit him down the ground, smashed him over square leg for a six and ran three doubles before handing a catch to long-off to collect 16 off the over. Knight Riders had taken 52 from the last four to post a challenging total. It proved to be enough.