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Manchester United certainly raised eyebrows during the summer transfer window, especially after dropping over £200m on new additions to bolster their first-team ranks.

Such spending may have come as a surprise to many, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe previously stating before the summer that no massive deals would be conducted.

The vast majority of their efforts were directed to the final third, as Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko were all added to Ruben Amorim’s attacking department.

However, the trio have all made an immediate impact at Old Trafford, scoring seven times between them in the first nine Premier League outings of 2025/26.

As a result of their shopping spree, it would be a surprise to no one that other players will need to be offloaded during the January window to try and balance the books.

The United players who could leave the club in January

Over the last couple of days, United forward Joshua Zirkzee has been strongly touted with an exit from Old Trafford – no doubt due to the form of the aforementioned trio.

It was reported earlier this week that the Dutch international is keen on a temporary or permanent move away from the Red Devils in January, with Aston Villa interested in his signature.

Manuel Ugarte is another first-team member who could be shown the exit door in the next few months, with his move to the Premier League failing to deliver at present.

The Uruguayan international cost a staggering £50m from Ligue 1 outfit PSG last summer, but his move has failed to hit the heights – as seen by his lack of game time under Amorim in 2025/26.

He’s only made two starts in England’s top-flight this season, even dropping behind 33-year-old Casemiro in the club’s pecking order during the early stages of the campaign.

One other first-team member in the form of Diogo Dalot could also find himself one step closer to the exit door after failing to impress over the last couple of months.

Despite making six league appearances under Amorim this season, the Portuguese international has fallen way below the standards expected of him – as seen by his tallies compared to the other options at the manager’s disposal.

The 26-year-old has only completed 75% of the passes he’s attempted in the Premier League, the lowest of any defender in the Red Devils squad – showcasing his lack of impact in recent weeks.

The United star now on borrowed time

The Erik ten Hag era at United was a period largely full of disappointment, with the Dutchman unable to take the club back to their former glory during his tenure in charge.

The 55-year-old spent a little over two years in the role at Old Trafford, achieving a 56% win record and also winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup during such a period.

However, the eighth-place finish in 2023/24 was disappointing to many fans, with the start to last season ultimately spelling the end of his time in England.

Ten Hag was responsible for bringing Zirkzee and Ugarte both to the Theatre of Dreams, further highlighting how disappointing his work in the transfer market at the helm.

Despite the failures in the window, the Dutchman deserves huge credit for his work in the development of midfielder Kobbie Mainoo – subsequently handing the youngster the chance to cement his place in the first team.

He would have been an unknown quantity to many supporters, but the 20-year-old amassed a total of 32 appearances in 2023/24, even scoring on five separate occasions.

Many of his efforts were crucial ones, from last-minute winners against Wolverhampton Wanderers and efforts against Manchester City in the FA Cup final – it truly was a season to remember for the academy graduate.

Such performances led to journalist Liam Canning labelling Mainoo as United’s “best player” in March 2024, but it’s safe to say it’s not been plain sailing for the youngster since Amorim’s arrival.

In the Premier League in 2025/26, the Englishman has failed to start a single outing, subsequently being restricted to just seven substitute appearances – totalling just 138 minutes in the process.

Games played

25

Minutes played

1656

Pass accuracy

87%

Chances created

1.7

Successful dribbles

1.3

Tackles won

63%

Duels won

5.9

Interceptions made

1.2

Recoveries made

4.8

Mainoo has previously voiced his displeasure at the lack of action since the 40-year-old’s appointment – even requesting a temporary loan move away this summer to gain valuable game time.

However, such a request was swiftly rejected by the manager and the board, but he still remains behind the likes of Ugarte and Casemiro in the current pecking order.

Given the lack of faith shown in him by the manager, it’s safe to say the youngster will be on borrowed time at Old Trafford, and the club could look to cash in on him – with a £70m price tag previously mooted.

Ten Hag may have struggled in the role, but one of the best things he did in Manchester was show the needed faith in Mainoo to allow him to flourish in the professional game.

Amorim could learn a thing or two from the Dutchman, as the Red Devils potentially risk offloading yet another top talent far too prematurely.

Casemiro replacement: Man Utd to make £42m bid for "one of the best CMs"

Manchester United look set to make a huge move for a new midfielder in January.

ByEthan Lamb Oct 29, 2025

Rio Ferdinand has now claimed Thomas Tuchel “has to” select Danny Welbeck in England’s World Cup squad next summer, having emerged as the second-best striker behind Harry Kane.

Captain Kane will almost certainly be a nailed-on starter at the World Cup, should he remain fit, given that the 32-year-old is the Three Lions’ leading all-time goalscorer, having scored 76 goals in 110 appearances.

The Bayern Munich star has also made an incredible start to the season, amassing 20 goals in 13 matches in all competitions, blowing existing records set by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi out of the water.

England’s back-up options aren’t quite as reliable, however, with Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, who scored the winner against the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final, netting just one goal in nine Premier League appearances this season.

There may also be doubts about the inclusion of Ivan Toney, given that the 29-year-old arguably isn’t testing himself at the highest level week in week out, having signed for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in the summer of 2024.

Ferdinand urges Tuchel to take Welbeck to the World Cup

As such, Ferdinand has now made the bold claim that Welbeck should be re-introduced to the England squad, saying: “He’s second to Harry Kane. If you’re talking form right now and the squad was being picked tomorrow, Danny Welbeck has to go, no?

“I would take him. If he finishes the season in the form he’s in right now, there’s no way you can’t take him because he’s only going there for a month, it ain’t like we’re saying to him he has to play a full season, you’ve got to be ready and that role he can do that, coming in and out, be a support act for someone like Harry Kane.”

“Right this second, right this moment in time, form wise he’s [Welbeck] above all of them [Ollie Watkins, Dominic Solanke and Ivan Toney], and playing in the best league in the world. He’s second, for me.”

The ex-Manchester United defender also added: “He’s a class act on and off the pitch, a great guy.”

In fairness, the Brighton striker is in far better form than Watkins, having scored five goals in his last four Premier League games, most recently finding the back of the net against former club Man United with a remarkable free-kick.

That said, it may be a risk for Tuchel to reintroduce the striker to the squad, given that it has been a long time since he was involved in the England set-up, with the 34-year-old’s last cap coming in a friendly against Switzerland way back in 2018.

There is also still plenty of football to be played before the England boss decides his squad, and Toney should arguably be on the plane as the main back-up for Kane, having proven he can handle big-game pressure by coolly converting a penalty against Switzerland in the 2024 Euros quarter-final.

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Celtic have had a mixed start to the season, with their domestic dominance being undercut by a failure to qualify for the Champions League. Despite looking like favourites going into their qualification tie, the Hoops lost on penalties to Kairat Almaty.

While a number of players arrived over the summer, the Scottish Premiership champions went into the season with something of a sombre mood due to the fans and, seemingly, the manager wanting more new signings.

The main area that looked like it could have done with some more reinforcements was the attack, and after going out to Kairat following two goalless matches, it seems like another attacking signing may have helped them qualify for the Champions League, effectively paying for themselves.

It seems that despite not signing another attacker in the summer, Celtic’s board know that they do need to bring one in and are currently plotting a move for a Champions League winner in January.

Celtic eye Rodgers and Sterling reunion

Celtic’s hunt for a new attacker could come in the form of a reunion, as Brendan Rodgers has been linked with signing Raheem Sterling. Rodgers managed Sterling at Liverpool and selected the former England star on 126 occasions, in which he registered 41 goal involvements.

Football Insider’s transfer correspondent Pete O’Rourke spoke on the Inside Track podcast about the links between Sterling and Celtic, saying Rodgers could be key to any deal.

The report also states that Sterling had a number of suitors in the summer, including offers from Turkey and Saudi Arabia; however, he opted to remain at Chelsea instead, despite it being clear that Enzo Maresca didn’t have a place for him. A move to Glasgow wouldn’t be as dramatic a change to life as a move abroad, and so Sterling may see Celtic as a more appealing prospect.

The biggest downside for Sterling would be Celtic’s budget restriction. Finances were a large part of the reason that they did not bring in another attacker over the summer, and O’Rourke has shared that if the move were to happen, then Sterling may need to take a pay cut to facilitate it.

Sterling could re-find himself in Scotland

Despite an illustrious career that has seen him score 194 senior goals and years of performing at the highest level, Celtic fans may be slightly disappointed with Sterling being their new attacking signing, as the 30-year-old has struggled in the last few seasons.

Chelsea have been trying to offload Sterling in the last two transfer windows, with the England winger eventually joining Arsenal on loan in the summer of 2024. After failing to secure a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer, he has been exiled from the squad with the hopes of a January exit.

Sterling hasn’t managed to score 10 league goals in a season since leaving Manchester City in 2022, and he only managed six goal involvements last season. However, Arsenal were competing at the top of the Premier League and Champions League, meaning Sterling’s minutes were somewhat limited.

Playing in the Scottish Premiership and the Europa League may provide Sterling with the opportunity to rediscover himself, and competing at a slightly lower level may see his goal-scoring numbers rise. Furthermore, Rodgers is a coach who managed to bring about some of Sterling’s best football, so a reunion may provide a further boost.

Liverpool have been warned that they could quickly lose Alexander Isak, as Barcelona might consider a transfer for the Swedish striker once veteran No.9 Robert Lewandowski leaves the club. The forward could be set to go when his contract expires next summer, as the Catalan giants are not expected to offer a new contract to the 37-year-old ahead of the expiry of his current deal.

Isak still settling in Liverpool

It has been only just over a month since Isak joined Liverpool from Newcastle United for a British record £125 million ($169.3m) transfer. The Swede did not have a proper pre-season due to his tussle with the Magpies over his desire to leave, which prompted Eddie Howe to remove him from the first-team squad. As a result, it took some time before Isak could regain his full fitness and match sharpness and he is still adjusting to life in Merseyside.

Isak has appeared in six matches across all competitions thus far, including three in the Premier League, out of which he started in two games. He has one league assist and a goal in the Carabao Cup for Arne Slot's side.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportLiverpool warned Barcelona could come after Isak

Even before he could settle in Liverpool properly, Isak is already being linked with a move away from Anfield as ex-Barcelona and Spain star Gaizka Mendieta has claimed that the Catalan giants could chase the forward as they eye him as a replacement for their ageing star Robert Lewandowski. It was reported last week that Barcelona are leaning towards not offering Lewandowski a new contract when his existing deal expires next summer. The decision means the 37-year-old will be able to walk away as a free agent after four years with the club. The veteran forward has scored 105 goals in 156 appearances for Barca, with four already coming this season, including a brace in a late cameo off the bench to seal a stunning 6-0 win over Valencia in September.

Speaking to OLBG, Mendieta said: "There was talk in Spain of Alexander Isak going to Barcelona before he joined Liverpool who are stronger financially. Of course, there will be links between the best strikers and Real Madrid and Barcelona, at the moment Barca still have Robert Lewandowski, but they'll be looking for his replacement next year and Isak will be looked at. He's a great striker, he's been in La Liga already, he knows the competition. His performances last season for Newcastle were amazing. So far he seems to be settling quickly into Liverpool. Great strikers are never short of offers and opportunities in either Premier League or of course in Spain with the bigger clubs."

Haaland and Alvarez possible options to replace Lewandowski

The other names that Barcelona could consider signing as Lewandowski's replacement are Manchester City star Erling Haaland and Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez. Haaland has reportedly become an "obsession" for Joan Laporta, with Barcelona's president confident that the Norwegian striker can be prised away from Manchester City, despite the striker being tied to a contract in England through to 2034 and is reported to be earning £400,000 ($533,355)-per-week.

World Cup-winning Argentina international Alvarez, who has enjoyed a purple patch ever since he moved to La Liga in 2024, is also under consideration in Catalonia. It is, however, Haaland that remains the dream addition for ambitious Laporta.

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Getty Images SportIsak aiming to deliver for Sweden

Sweden are at risk of losing out on a place at the 2026 World Cup in North America as they have secured just one point from their first three matches and are at the bottom of their qualifying group. During the weekend, Sweden went down 2-0 against Switzerland as both their star strikers, Isak and Viktor Gyokeres, failed miserably. The Reds star will now aim to register a goal and bring his national team back to winning ways against Kosovo on Monday.

Following the international break, Isak will be back in action for the Reds against rivals Manchester United as the two sides lock horns in a crucial Premier League encounter on October 19. 

UAE have replaced USA in the list of 16 women’s teams with ICC ODI status for the 2025-29 cycle, which will come into effect on May 12. The 16 teams include five Associate members: Thailand, Netherlands, Papua New Guinea and Scotland, who have all retained their status, apart from UAE.Thailand and Scotland made sure of their ODI status after getting to the women’s ODI World Cup qualifier, held recently, while PNG and Netherlands retained their status based on their T20I rankings. PNG are at 13th and Netherlands 15th on the T20I rankings. Thailand and Scotland are at 11th and 12th place on the same rankings respectively.At the World Cup qualifiers held in Pakistan earlier this month, Scotland beat West Indies and Thailand to finish fourth out of six teams, with Thailand placed bottom after losing all their five games. Pakistan and Bangladesh made the cut for the World Cup, to be hosted later this year by India, from the tournament, though Pakistan are expected to not travel to India and will play their matches elsewhere.UAE confirmed their ODI status as the next-highest-ranked Associate team – at No. 16 on the T20I table – at the time of the annual rankings update. Teams with ODI status are required to play at least eight ODIs over a three-to-four-year period to achieve or maintain a ranking.Australia maintained their stronghold on the No.1 ranking with 299 rating points and even extended their lead over second-placed England (279) from 18 points to 20 after the update.USA are currently playing a bilateral series against Zimbabwe, where they lost the T20I series 2-1 and won the first ODI by seven wickets on Thursday. The second and final ODI will be played on Saturday. UAE, meanwhile, are currently in Bangkok, taking part in a quadrangular T20I series also involving hosts Thailand, Hong Kong and Kuwait.

For a free-flowing team that confidently strolled to the Championship title last season, Daniel Farke’s Leeds United have unfortunately misplaced their shooting boots in the Premier League so far.

Indeed, the entertaining Whites fired home a devastating 95 strikes in total last campaign, as 100 points were also tallied up.

Now, from their opening three games up a division, they have just a paltry single goal to shout about, with a mixed bag of four points next to their name.

Farke will just be praying it’s early-season nerves holding his wasteful team back, with lots more expected of Dominic Calvert-Lewin as he acclimatises to his new environment at Elland Road, after becoming synonymous with ex-employers Everton.

Calvert-Lewin's early Leeds struggles

After lining up for the Toffees 273 times across nine seasons, Calvert-Lewin walked away from Merseyside this summer for a fresh opportunity in West Yorkshire.

Everton did try to tempt the ex-Sheffield United striker to stay with a new, extended deal, but Farke and Co proved to be a more enticing next step, as the 11-time England international now attempts to recapture his best form in front of goal after an injury-ravaged few campaigns at Goodison Park.

Leeds will hope they can move past these recurring niggles and reawaken a clinical monster, with journalist Patrick Boyland once labelling the attacker as “outstanding” when he was scoring goals for fun at the Toffees.

In total, an impressive 71 goals would come Calvert-Lewin’s way at Everton, with 16 of those coming during just one Premier League season.

Yet, the early signs at the moment suggest that the Sheffield-born forward is bereft of confidence in front of goal, having endured a nightmare day at the office against Sheffield Wednesday recently.

Staring down the barrel of an embarrassing exit in the EFL Cup to Sheffield Wednesday, Farke would throw on Calvert-Lewin for the final 30 minutes of action, hopeful that he could be the difference-maker on his debut run-out.

Instead, he depressingly fluffed his lines whenever the pressure was ramped up, with four big chances spurned, before he also missed a penalty kick to hand the Owls a shock Cup win.

Farke could well feel it’s necessary to keep Calvert-Lewin on his toes now, knowing he’s still a little rusty, with a rising starlet perhaps pushed up for more first-team chances.

In The Pipeline

Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Expand Collapse The Leeds prospect who could compete with Calvert-Lewin

Farke was the manager at the Elland Road helm who brought Archie Gray into the senior spotlight.

Gray would then go on to be a £40m sale to Tottenham Hotspur after seriously impressing throughout Leeds’ promotion-near miss.

Amazingly, the majority of his family members will be hoping for a similar rise for brother Harry Gray, who has already made waves in the first team picture.

With promotion all but wrapped up last season, the former Norwich City boss threw the 16-year-old sensation into the first-team mix, with a memorable eight-minute cameo handed to him against Stoke City in April.

It wasn’t just purely sentiment that gifted Gray a chance to strut his stuff with the likes of Manor Solomon and the other promotion heroes, however, with the teenager already tipped to have an immensely bright future in the game by analyst Ben Mattinson.

Indeed, he boldly stated that he is “one of England’s best prospects in his generation” after briefly lining up against the Potters.

Gray’s numbers at Leeds

Season

Games

Goals

25/26

3

4

24/25

8

3

23/24

11

8

Sourced by Transfermarkt

The table above proves that Mattinson’s words aren’t just hyperbole either, with the 16-year-old already up to seven goals from ten games for the U21s at Premier League 2 level, away from collecting a lethal 15 strikes overall at youth level.

Calvert-Lewin could only dream of being in such a rich vein of goalscoring form himself, with a weak three strikes next to his name in the main Premier League last season.

Of course, just for his experience alone, Leeds will continue to try and get a tune out of their new marksman.

But, in the long run, do not rule out Gray making strides in the senior picture, having also been previously branded an “unbelievable” talent by former Leeds favourite Dominic Matteo.

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There will be a player draft as well as a round of pre-draft signings ahead of the tournament

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Jan-2025

The 13th edition of the men’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will be held from August 14 to September 21 this year, Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the CPL announced on Friday. “Once again there will be no clash with West Indies international matches,” a CPL statement said.”We are pleased to have once again worked with Cricket West Indies to find a window that allows the very best players from across the region to take part in the CPL,” Pete Russell, the CPL chief executive, said. “The 2024 season was our most successful to date and we are looking forward to building on that success in 2025.”As has been the case since 2022, there will be 30 league-stage matches featuring the six teams, followed by four playoffs – the eliminator, two qualifiers, and the final. St Lucia Kings are the defending champions, and the tournament will feature losing 2024 finalists Guyana Amazon Warriors, Barbados Royals, Trinbago Knight Riders, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, who replaced Jamaica Tallawahs before the 2024 edition.Lynford Inverary, acting chief executive and chief operating officer of CWI, said, “While CWI continues to take a leading role in shaping our overall cricket calendar, the CPL remains a key part of our cricketing ecosystem, playing an important role in the development and promotion of the game throughout the Caribbean.”Specifics in terms of venues, fixtures, etc will be announced later. There will be a draft as well as a round of pre-draft signings for the teams to get their squads in place.

NSW veteran Kurtis Patterson has scored an unbeaten 167 to lift his side to 463 for 9, leading by 252 against WA

AAP08-Dec-2024

Sam Konstas has missed out on another century but teammate Kurtis Patterson managed to break a long drought to give New South Wales a chance of pulling off victory in their Sheffield Shield clash with Western Australia at the SCG.The Blues went to stumps on day three at 463 for 9 in their first innings, with a lead of 252 after WA were rolled for 211. Heavy rain washed out most of day two, but NSW made up for that lost time by piling on the runs on Sunday.Konstas (88) resumed on his overnight score of 80, but his hopes of scoring his fourth century of the summer were dashed when he edged Lance Morris to second slip.Patterson picked up where Konstas left off, scoring an unbeaten 167 off 255 balls to lift the home side to a big first-innings lead. It marked a big turnaround for Patterson, who was dropped last season amidst a form slump.He now has 527 runs this season at an astounding average of 105.40, thrusting his name back into the national selection puzzle to add to his two Tests.Patterson yelled out in joy upon reaching his century – his first ton in 769 days. The previous highest first-class total by Patterson was 157 on debut as an 18-year-old, but he surged past that late on day three.The 31-year-old struck 15 fours and three sixes during his glittering knock, while Chris Green (35) and Jack Edwards (30) added some handy runs lower down the order.WA paceman Brody Couch finished with 3 for 66, while Morris (2 for 69) and Cameron Gannon (2 for 99) also chipped in.Spinner Corey Rocchiccioli, who is trying to earn a spot on Australia’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, returned figures of 1 for 87 off 27 overs.For WA, the final day will be all about survival given there’s no hope the defending champions can win the match. NSW sit second last on the table, and desperately need to win in order to revive their finals hopes.WA, winners of the past three titles, entered the match second on the ladder.

Manchester United loanee Andre Onana's Trabzonspor debut got off to the worst possible start after the Cameroonian produced yet another howler to hand Fenerbahce the opening goal. While the goalkeeper was able to impress through the game, his mistake allowed Youssef En-Nesyri's goal to stand as the match winner, handing Trabzonspor their first loss of the season.

• Onana makes his debut for Trabzonspor

  Onana moved to Trabzonspor from Manchester United last week in a straight loan deal with no options to make the transfer permanent next summer. The Cameroonian made his official debut for the Turkish side against Ederson's Fenerbahce on Sunday. While he had a wonderful game, the Red Devils loanee reminded everyone that even when he performs well, he has an error in his back pocket, as he handed Fenerbahce a win on the night.

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• Onana's howler costs Trabzonspor the game

  Trabzonspor had a tough task at their hand when they went down to 10 men after Okay Yokuslu was sent off in the 20th minute of the clash for 'violent conduct'. Onana had managed to keep all Fenerbahce attempts away; however, in the 45th minute, he spilt a rather tame long shot from his former teammate Fred into the path of Sebastian Szymanski. The Cameroon international managed to save the shot from the Pole, but the ball fell to En-Nesyri, who tapped the ball into an open net.

• Onana wins Man of the Match despite his error

  Apart from the mistake, Onana showed everyone exactly why he was so highly rated at Inter Milan. The Manchester United loanee made a total of eight saves in the game, as he prevented 1.76 Expected Goals (xG) in the process. Onana ended up being awarded the Man of the Match award, however, ultimately, it was his mistake that handed Trabzonspor their first loss of the season.

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• AFP
  

  Onana will now look forward to his home debut

  Trabzonspor are set to take on Gaziantep in their next league fixture in what will be Onana's home debut at Akyazi Stadium. The Cameroon international will hope not to be as involved in that clash, but will know that he needs to bring the errors out of his game if he wants to succeed with his side this season.

August is now very much on the horizon for Sunderland as a brand new Premier League campaign grows ever closer.

There will be concerns over the Black Cats’ last friendly contest amid all the excitement, however, as Regis Le Bris’ men were humbled 3-0 by Hearts on their last outing to Tynecastle.

Sunderland are already six signings down across the hectic transfer window.

Still, plenty more new faces will surely arrive through the door soon before West Ham United travel to the Stadium of Light to kick off the hotly anticipated Premier League season.

Sunderland make approach to sign Premier League star

Of course, Sunderland’s main target continues to be ex-Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka.

The ongoing saga involving the Switzerland international had taken a new, unexpected turn when Xhaka featured for Bayer Leverkusen during the German side’s last friendly match, despite past talk centring on the fact that the 32-year-old had reached a verbal agreement over a move to Wearside.

However, that now looks likely to be his final ever appearance for Leverkusen, with a breaking development coming to light on Monday that a fee of £15m has been agreed that will see him move back to England.

On top of that news, as per a report by Mackem News, Sunderland have also approached back-up Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to try and strike up a deal, with the 32-year-old eager to stay put in England if he walks away from the Etihad shortly.

The £7m-rated City star is likely to depart the Etihad Stadium this summer owing to England goalkeeper James Trafford re-signing for the Citizens.

Ortega can immediately usurp Anthony Patterson on his arrival, with his top-flight know-how making him a standout signing for a Sunderland side attempting to instantly stay afloat in the top division.

Why Ortega could be a better signing than Xhaka

Winning the £90k-per-week stopper’s signature could even be a more important signing than Xhaka finally joining Le Bris’ camp, particularly if the two-time Premier League title winner goes on to play a pivotal role in securing safety for his new side.

Whilst Ortega has often been placed on the periphery at the Etihad next to Ederson stealing the limelight, the ex-Arminia Bielefeld man has shone in spurts for City when chucked into the first-team spotlight by Pep Guardiola, as seen in his vital, season-altering save against Tottenham Hotspur towards the back-end of the 23/24 campaign.

In total, the “exceptional” Ortega – as he’s been labelled previously by the City boss – has kept a promising six clean sheets in Premier League action from just 26 appearances in Manchester, with a high 67 saves also amassed in some clutch moments for the top-flight outfit.

Ortega’s PL numbers for City

Stat

Ortega

Games played

25

Games started

5

Goals conceded

26

Pass completion %

796 (80%)

Saves made

67

Clean sheets

6

Stats by the Premier League

Amazingly, those six clean sheets have also come about despite Ortega only making five Premier League starts in total for City, meaning he should come into his own even more if he suddenly becomes one of Le Bris’ main starters at the Stadium of Light.

Patterson has never experienced a Premier League outing, on the contrary, so it would be a major risk to shove Sunderland’s number one shot-stopper from the EFL straight into a top-flight contest and expect him to immediately perform, which is where Ortega could come to the rescue.

Xhaka does also have lots of Premier League experience under his belt – with a mammoth 225 appearances in the tough division with Arsenal. He’s also now a Bundesliga winner after a remarkable 2023/24 campaign.

However, Sunderland have been very busy in the middle of the park this summer, upgrading their options already, with a club-record £30m already splashed on Habib Diarra, away from Noah Sadiki also joining Le Bris’ growing ranks.

Between the midfield duo, a bumper 162 appearances have been tallied up in both Ligue 1 and the Jupiler Pro League, with the Premier League not the most daunting next step subsequently.

Therefore, it might not actually be the most pressing move to finally sign Xhaka.

Rather, Sunderland will no doubt welcome Ortega even more, with the arrival of a Premier League-proven goalkeeper simply a necessity this year. It could be the difference between relegation and staying up.

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