Sunderland fans will still be in disbelief about their beloved side’s opening day heroics in the Premier League.

No nerves were present whatsoever in the Black Cats’ clinical display as Graham Potter’s downtrodden West Ham United were humbled 3-0 by the rampant hosts, gifting Regis Le Bris and Co. a dream start.

Already, the likes of Eliezer Mayenda, Daniel Ballard, and Wilson Isidor have cemented themselves further into fan favourite territory as the promoted trio all got in on the goalscoring act on Saturday.

Yet, despite a fair few of Sunderland’s promoted heroes making the step-up look like a breeze on the opening day, the transfer business through the door is showing no signs of slowing down.

Sunderland in talks with £9m defender

Of course, straight after the dust had settled on the mightily impressive 3-0 triumph, Sunderland were confirming signing number 12 of a bumper summer.

Nordi Mukiele has now officially joined Le Bris’ camp from Paris St. Germain for a fee around the £12m mark, pushing up all of the Black Cats’ summer activity to a total spend of £141.5m.

He will be raring to go in his new red and white strip, even more so after Sunderland stormed out of the blocks in style. However, he isn’t the only defensive addition being eyed up with a bid reportedly submitted for Jhon Lucumi.

Despite that, as per reports by TEAMtalk, Sunderland have also been in talks to sign FC Copenhagen centre-back Gabriel Pereira, but are not alone in their advances.

Indeed, it is further revealed that Burnley are also in discussions over a deal, in addition to interest from further afield in Germany from FC Köln.

It will cost the Black Cats in the region of £9m to land the imposing Brazilian, with the report stating that he is content to stick it out in Denmark, despite all this frenzied interest.

How Pereira could become Le Bris' next Ballard

The draw of the Premier League might well prove to be too tempting for Pereira, who would be hopeful he could become Le Bris’ next version of Ballard if he were to swap Scandinavia for the Stadium of Light.

While Mayenda and Isidor would stylishly go about their business against Potter’s men, it was Ballard who would steal the show with his dominant display all afternoon.

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Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Away from his towering header giving the Black Cats a comfortable two-goal cushion, the former Arsenal youngster would win a commanding ten duels in total, on top of also only misdirecting just four of his 25 passes on the tense occasion.

Pereira has chipped in with a header here and there for Copenhagen, too, with Chelsea well aware of his prowess in the air when he headed home this consolation effort versus the Blues in the Conference League last season.

It’s not just reserved for European nights, either, with the 25-year-old picking up four goals in total across the entirety of last campaign. To add context, Ballard would just come up short in this department by powering home one fewer header than his potential soon-to-be teammate.

Games played

20

26

Goals scored

2

3

Assists

1

1

Touches*

47.0

79.5

Accurate passes*

33.2 (88%)

60.7 (88%)

Ball recoveries*

2.3

3.3

Clearances*

4.0

4.5

Total duels won*

4.6

3.3

Clean sheets

2

6

The similarities don’t just grind to a halt here, though, with the £9m-rated defender also eerily alike to his English counterpart in other areas of their respective games, notably when it comes to looking assured and confident with the ball at their feet, having both averaged the same pass completion percentage at 88% last season in league action.

Yet, much like Ballard, Pereira is also prepared to put his body on the line for the cause, having been lauded for his “strong” ability to win duels and “take charge” of situations by Copenhagen head coach Jacob Neestrup when signing for the Superliga champions just last year.

The hope will be now that Pereira can take to the Premier League in the same warrior-like fashion Ballard managed against West Ham, with the feel-good vibes ramped up even more at the Stadium of Light if signing number 13 is soon to be announced.

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Mohsin Naqvi has announced that the redevelopment is “in its final stages and the last touches are being applied”

Danyal Rasool31-Jan-2025PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi has announced that the redevelopment of the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore is “in its final stages”. At a press conference held within the ground itself, Naqvi praised everyone involved in the construction of the stadium, saying it had been completed in record time.”The Gaddafi Stadium will be inaugurated on 7 February by the Prime Minister [Shehbaz Sharif],” Naqvi said. “It’s in its final stages and the last touches are being applied to it. It will definitely be completed by 7 February. We had begun demolishing this stadium in September, with the construction beginning in October. We promised it would be ready by the end of January, and you can all see how close it is to completion.”Related

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Naqvi said the National Stadium in Karachi, also undergoing significant renovation ahead of the Champions Trophy, was also on track. It is scheduled to be inaugurated in a ceremony on February 11 by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, on the eve of the first game it is scheduled to host – a tri-series match on February 12.Pakistan are also hosting an opening ceremony on February 16 February in Lahore, though it will not include a captains’ call and photoshoot, which the PCB put down to logistical issues. Naqvi said the PCB had invited ICC chairman Jay Shah to the event, as well as the heads of all cricket boards involved in the event.”We are also holding a ceremony on the 16th of February in Lahore. We’ve invited the heads of all cricket boards of teams who are coming, as well as all ICC officials, including the ICC chairman Jay Shah. We are eager to welcome the board officials and anyone else who is attending.”The PCB has faced extreme scrutiny over the last few months concerning the fitness of its stadiums to host the tournament. With renovation and reconstruction work on the venues left to the last few months, there were concerns about whether the PCB would manage to bring its stadiums to a state of readiness in time for the tournament. The PCB had initially set a January 25 deadline for all development of the Gaddafi Stadium to be completed, before pushing it forward to February 2.Naqvi took aim at those who had raised doubts. “Across the border [a reference to India], there are many people who are trying to find the tiniest flaw in our stadiums and arrangements, and they will get no such opportunity. We will welcome all the arriving teams and their security and welcome arrangements. The whole of the PCB is working day and night to provide a seamless tournament.”Naqvi, who has been unapologetic about the rate of spend at the PCB since he assumed the post, also offered a first glimpse of the potential financial toll the work on the stadiums had taken, announcing the PCB had sold the tickets allocated to it by the ICC back to the governing council to go some way towards making up the costs of developing its grounds.The Champions Trophy, which is set to begin on February 19, is the first ICC tournament Pakistan will host since 1996.

MatériaMais Notícias

O São Paulo fechou na manhã deste sábado (13), no CT da Barra Funda, a preparação para o clássico contra o Corinthians, às 16h (de Brasília) deste domingo (14), fora de casa, pelo Campeonato Brasileiro.

O técnico Dorival Júnior define, assim, a escalação da equipe que entrará em campo para tentar dois tópicos importantes. Primeiro, tentar manter a sua invencibilidade pessoal de seis partidas à frente do Tricolor neste retorno. Depois, encerrar de vez o jejum de nunca ter vencido um de seus principais rivais atuando na casa dele desde a inauguração, em 2014. São 16 clássicos no local, com dez vitórias corintianas e seis empates.

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+ São Paulo busca primeira vitória da história em estádio do Corinthians; Relembre os clássicos das equipes

Para o Majestoso, Dorival não poderá contar com o meia Rodrigo Nestor, expulso na última quinta-feira (11), no empate sem gols do clube do Morumbi com o Fortaleza, no Castelão. Com isso, a tendência é que Gabriel Neves seja o seu substituto. O uruguaio voltou a participar das partidas do Tricolor após a demissão de Rogério Ceni. Foi titular em duas partidas e entrou em campo no decorrer de outras três. Luan corre por fora.

Outra alteração deve ocorrer na lateral-direita. Novamente Raí Ramos não fez um bom jogo no Ceará e para o clássico a opção do treinador deverá ser pelo retorno do veterano Rafinha à posição. Poupada ante o Fortaleza, a dupla de zaga Arboleda e Beraldo também deve voltar, assim como Caio na lateral-esquerda.

A partir daí, Dorival pode mexer no time pensando em variações táticas. Se mantiver o 4-3-3 habitual utilizado nos últimos jogos, o ataque deve ser mantido com Marcos Paulo assumindo a função de armador e o trio da frente com Alisson, Calleri e Wellington Rato.

Se a opção for por um 4-4-2 mais conservador, Luciano deve aparecer nos 11 iniciais, com Alisson sendo recuado para completar a meiúca.

O provável São Paulo que encara o Corinthians deve ser escalado com Rafael; Rafinha, Arboleda, Beraldo e Caio; Gabriel Neves (Luan), Pablo Maia e Marcos Paulo; Alisson, Calleri e Wellington Rato (Luciano).

O sábado de trabalhos do São Paulo, que voltou do Ceará apenas na noite de sexta-feira (12), onde trabalhou na parte da manhã, começou com um vídeo, instrumento que vem sendo bastante utilizado pelo técnico Dorival Júnior por conta do pouco tempo para treinar entre os duelos.

Na sequência, já no gramado, os jogadores fizeram um circuito físico como aquecimento e depois realizaram trabalhos técnicos de troca de passes e finalização.

Dorival comandou também dois trabalhos táticos, primeiro utilizando uma área delimitada do gramado, e depois de forma mais posicional, em toda a extensão.

Houve ainda um trabalho de bola parada sob o comando do auxiliar Lucas Silvestre.

Não houve alteração no processo de recuperação dos atletas lesionados.

+ Confira os jogos e classificação resultados da Brasileirão-23 na tabela do LANCE!

Wrexham roared back into Championship form as Josh Windass marked his comeback with a blistering brace in a 3-2 victory over a limp Norwich City. The win eased the heat on Phil Parkinson, whose rocky start to life in the second tier had sparked murmurs of discontent. Norwich, however, remain in meltdown. Four home games, four defeats, the Canaries are spiraling.

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Wrexham get the job done

  Parkinson rang the changes after last weekend’s 3-1 loss to QPR. Out went Conor Coady, James McClean, Matty James and Ryan Hardie. In came debutants Dominic Hyam and Issa Kabore, Ben Sheaf for his first full start, and the returning Windass, thrust back into the XI and given the captain’s armband for good measure. The tactical tweak was obvious. Lewis O’Brien and Windass pushed high, buzzing around Kieffer Moore as Parkinson looked to overwhelm Norwich with energy and width. From the first whistle, Wrexham’s intent was there.

  Norwich were toothless for much of the half, but when their moment came in the 39th minute, they punished Wrexham ruthlessly. David Jurasek slid a neat ball through for Jack Stacey, who darted clear and coolly tucked past Arthur Okonkwo. Against the run of play, the hosts led 1-0.

  Whatever Parkinson said at the interval could have peeled paint off the walls. Wrexham came out after the restart like a team possessed, and Norwich had no answers. Barely two minutes in, Windass was on the scoresheet. A sweeping diagonal ball released Kabore, whose low cross found the skipper lurking. One swing of the boot and it was 1-1. Minutes later, Windass almost turned provider, sliding O’Brien through, only for Vladan Kovacevic to save smartly.

  By the 54th minute, Wrexham had flipped the game on its head. Ben Sheaf worked the ball out wide to Kabore, whose delivery was precise. Ryan Longman pounced, firing into the net to make it 2-1. Norwich were reeling, their defence all over the shop, and Wrexham smelt blood. Just before the hour, the killer blow arrived. Tylor Cleworth’s cross evaded everyone in the middle, but not Windass. The captain shaped, curled, and delivered a beauty into the far corner to make it 3-1. In a devastating 15-minute spell, the Red Dragons had torched the Canaries. Although the hosts pulled one back deep inside stoppage time, it was too little too late to salvage a point at home for Norwich.

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  MVP: Windass' brilliant brace

  Back from injury and wearing the armband, Windass was sensational. His brace, plus a hand in every key attacking moment, made him the undisputed MVP. After frustration on the sidelines, the forward looked reborn, driving Wrexham forward with pace and precision. 

• The big losers: Norwich's dismal backline

  If Windass was the hero, Norwich’s three centre-backs were the villains. Josh Cordoba, Harry Darling and Jakov Medic were statuesque as Windass ghosted through for his opener. The lack of awareness, the failure to track runs, and the absence of bite left them hopelessly exposed. Liam Manning's men looked brittle, nervous, and rudderless every time the ball came into their box.

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• Where next for Wrexham?

  With league pressure eased, attention now shifts to cup duty. Wrexham welcome Reading to the Racecourse Ground on Tuesday night for an EFL Cup third-round tie. Victory there could spark genuine momentum heading into the next Championship fixtures.

Tottenham Hotspur have now directly contacted a “fantastic” defender’s club, in order to assess the possibility of a potential deal, according to a report.

Spurs looking to bolster full-back options despite Spence renewal

Tottenham are relatively well-stocked in the full-back department, given that Thomas Frank has Destiny Udogie at his disposal at left-back and Pedro Porro on the opposite flank, while Djed Spence is capable of playing on either side.

Despite a rocky start to his career at Spurs, Spence has now done enough to earn a new long-term contract, and the full-back has admitted he is delighted to extend his stay in north London.

That said, given that Spence has predominantly featured on the left in recent times, Frank may want to bring in another full-back to provide competition for Porro on the right, and Manchester City’s Rico Lewis was recently identified as a potential option.

Last week, intermediaries made contact with the Lilywhites over a potential deal, and Frank’s side have now stepped up their interest, having made direct contact with Man City.

That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Tottenham have now submitted an enquiry to City about Lewis, but there could be fierce competition for the full-back’s signature, with a number of rival Premier League clubs also keen.

Indeed, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest have all made approaches for the 20-year-old, with the Tricky Trees even submitting an offer worth €30m (£26m), which was knocked back by the Blues.

That said, it remains to be seen whether a deal will be possible, with Pep Guardiola keen to keep hold of the youngster, while also recently saying: “I think he’s going to stay, I think. He told me that. But, I said, maybe tomorrow, after tomorrow, it’ll change.”

"Fantastic" Lewis could challenge for Porro's starting spot

Once lauded as “fantastic” by Guardiola, the English starlet has managed to repay his manager’s faith in him by establishing himself as an important player for City, making 28 appearances in the Premier League in the 2024-25 campaign.

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During that time, the Bury-born defender has also showcased his versatility, featuring at left-back and even in central midfield, although right-back is the five-time England international’s favoured position.

As such, Lewis would most likely be brought in as a direct competitor to Porro, and he could have the potential to usurp the Spaniard on a long-term basis, considering Pep has stated the City ace is “one of the best” players he has trained.

That said, it could be difficult for the full-back to displace the 25-year-old in the Tottenham starting XI, given that Porro has outperformed him in both an attacking and defensive sense over the past year.

Average per 90

Pedro Porro

Rico Lewis

Non-penalty goals

0.09

0.03

Assists

0.21

0.14

Tackles

2.13

1.46

Interceptions

1.23

0.66

“We’re going to have a look at the wicket and finalise it [the XI] tomorrow,” says the coach when asked if India’s out-of-form captain will play

Alagappan Muthu02-Jan-20252:51

Gambhir: ‘Chance to draw the series at SCG a good position to be in’

India coach Gautam Gambhir did not confirm whether out-of-form captain Rohit Sharma would be part of the starting XI for the New Year’s Test in Sydney or not.”The head coach is here. That should be enough,” Gambhir said to a room full of reporters wondering why Rohit was not at the pre-match press conference.Rohit had skipped it before the third Test in Brisbane too – Shubman Gill spoke to the press then – but the explanation then was that he had not come for the optional training session at the Gabba where the press conference was being held. Thursday’s training session at the SCG was optional too, but Rohit was there at the ground, on the eve of a Test India must win to draw the series and retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.So the question was asked: Is Rohit okay? “Everything is fine with Rohit,” Gambhir replied.And when he was asked again whether Rohit was going to play, he said: “We’re going to have a look at the wicket and finalise it [the XI] tomorrow.”That’s where it all kicked off.Related

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Rohit has been struggling for form. He’s averaging 10.93 in his last nine Tests and only 6.2 in this series. He was late to India’s training on Thursday. Technically, it was an optional session, so it might not be right reading too much into it, but everybody was there.Gill, who was left out of the XI for the MCG Test, was among the first set of batters in the SCG nets. Dhruv Jurel, who hasn’t played since the first Test in Perth, was among them too; it was one of the few times he has worked alongside the first-XI players. Jasprit Bumrah came out from the doors leading into the members pavilion and went straight to Gambhir for a little chat.Still there was no sign of Rohit at the nets. He had been in the main ground playing a game of foot-volleyball and then disappeared. It was only after the others had batted for an hour that Rohit made his way out to join them, without his kit, in just his sweatshirt and shorts. He went down to where the team analyst, Hari, was standing. Then Bumrah joined the two. This had happened at the MCG as well. Rohit took his time to get to the outdoor nets and had a fairly long session facing only throwdowns. The only difference was in Melbourne he also attended the press conference.At the SCG, he had a light, 40-minute hit facing the fielding coach T Dilip and throwdown specialist Daya off the sidearm. The other frontline batters were already done with their stints by this time. Rohit was batting alongside Tanush Kotian and Abhimanyu Easwaran. There were moments that he looked good, a pull shot off the front foot for example, moments that he seemed to have fun, an apology for an awkward throwback down the pitch had him smiling from ear to ear, and moments where he batted like someone not in form, he left one that took out his off stump.Rohit Sharma was a late arrival at training and did not practice like the others did at the SCG•Getty Images

At the end of the Brisbane Test, Rohit had admitted that while he wasn’t batting well, he was still ticking all the boxes that he needed to.”As long as my mind, my body, my feet are moving well, I am pretty happy with how things are panning out for me,” Rohit had said two weeks ago. “Sometimes those numbers can tell you that it’s been a while since he has got big runs. But for a person like me, I think it’s all about how I feel in my mind.”In Melbourne, he seemed to find a semblance of form, or at least a lot more faith in his defence, as he withstood a period of bowling that Pat Cummins said was pretty close to perfect from his side. Australia hunted for his outside edge, he denied them for the first hour, but then gave them their first breakthrough when he played a risky flick shot that ended up in the hands of the gully fielder.”As a batter as well, a lot of the things that I am trying to do is not falling in the place that I would want to,” Rohit said after India went 2-1 down in the series. “But mentally, it is disturbing without a doubt.” Reports emerged in the media that Rohit was already thinking of retiring at the end of the Sydney Test, which then begged the question, if he was thinking along those lines, could he not step away now when the series is still alive?India rarely reveal their XI on the eve of a Test match but Gambhir refusing to confirm whether Rohit will be part of it was odd. Doesn’t the captain walk straight in? Isn’t he the one who decides who plays, not the other way around? The new year has begun with plenty of intrigue for India.

Barcelona have been dealt a brutal blow with teenage sensation Lamine Yamal set to miss at least three matches through injury, sparking a war of words between manager Hansi Flick and the Spanish FA. The 18-year-old winger, already one of Europe’s most dazzling prospects, is sidelined by a stubborn groin problem that has been aggravated during international duty.

Flick's fury over Spain's handling

The saga erupted after Spain fielded Yamal in back-to-back fixtures against Bulgaria and Turkey despite him reporting discomfort before linking up with the squad. Flick didn’t mince his words, accusing La Roja’s coaching staff of negligence for risking the teenager’s long-term health.

"Lamine already went to the national team in pain. He took painkillers and played with the national team in pain," Flick stated. "He had problems, and played 79 and 73 minutes. That's not looking after the players. The Spanish national team has the best players in the world, but we should be looking after the professionals. Also the young players."

AdvertisementGOALYamal's recovery timeline

According toYamal will definitely sit out Barca’s Champions League curtain-raiser against Newcastle on Thursday, while La Liga clashes with Getafe and Oviedo are also expected to come too soon. The most optimistic outlook is a cameo against Real Sociedad, but the club’s medical staff insist the true target is Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on October 1, a game where Barcelona need their young talisman fully fit.

Barca not willing to take any shortcut

Medical sources around Camp Nou confirm that Yamal’s issue is centred on his pubic bone, an injury picked up against Levante and worsened in the bruising contest at Rayo Vallecano. The condition requires careful management and patience – push too hard, and relapse is almost guaranteed.

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AFPYamal has taken to physiotherapy

Yamal is currently undergoing daily physiotherapy sessions, tailored strengthening exercises, and specific treatment designed to speed up recovery. But the club are adamant: there will be zero risks. Away from the treatment table, Barcelona officials are now taking steps to smooth relations with the Spanish federation. Sporting director Deco is set to sit down with RFEF technical chief Aitor Karanka to establish clearer lines of communication around player fitness. The idea is to implement joint monitoring protocols and more transparency so clubs aren’t blindsided when players return in worse condition than when they left. With Yamal seen as a generational jewel, the last thing Barca want is another tug-of-war with the national side.

Leeds United are reportedly in talks for a “quick” ex-Real Madrid player who currently picks up £50,000-a-week with his current club.

Leeds looking at more defensive signings after Bijol, Bornauw, Gudmundsson and Perri

The Whites have brought in seven new senior players this summer, with goalkeeper Lucas Perri being the latest Elland Road arrival.

Joining from Lyon, the Brazilian shot-stopper looks set to take over as first choice under Daniel Farke, who dropped Illan Meslier for the Championship title-winning run-in.

Karl Darlow and Alex Cairns are also still on the books at Yorkshire, meaning Meslier could be sold before the September 1 deadline.

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Centre-backs Jaka Bijol and Sebastiaan Bornauw and left-back Gabriel Gudmundsson have also put pen to paper on Leeds deals, signing from Udinese, Wolfsburg and Lille respectively.

Further signings at the back could be on the agenda as well, providing Isaac Schmidt is wanted by Werder Bremen on a season-long loan ahead of the 2026 World Cup where he hopes to represent Switzerland.

Leeds will need to find a full-back replacement for Schmidt, and it looks as if they may have found their man.

Leeds in talks with right-back Vinicius Tobias

According to reports from Fussball Europa and journalist Andre Oechsner, Leeds are looking at a move to sign right-back Vinicius Tobias from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Signed from Brazilian side International in 2022, Tobias had a loan spell with Real Madrid and their Castilla side, making one senior appearance at the Bernabeu.

Now, Leeds are in talks with Tobias over a potential transfer to Elland Road. The Whites are aware that Shakhtar Donetsk want to receive €20m (£17.4m) plus bonuses for the “quick” full-back, who currently picks up €3m (£2.62m) a season.

That works out at £50,000-a-week, so Leeds will need to splash the cash once again if they are to secure Tobias’ signature to rival Jayden Bogle for a starting spot.

However, Leeds and Farke also know they need to strengthen their ranks in the final third, with the manager admitting that his side aren’t ready for the Premier League in attack.

“We know in the offence we are not ready for Premier League level. We’ve proven we can be ready for one game and for that I am not too concerned at the moment as it stands. We are two weeks away from the first game. I can’t guarantee that for the first game everything is really ready and we are fully equipped. We definitely have to make sure that latest after the first international break we have really a competitive squad for the Premier League. We are not anxious but fully aware we need to do something.”

Therefore, a move for Tobias shouldn’t be a priority for Leeds at this moment in time, instead focusing on attacking additions instead.

Amidst increasing pressure surrounding Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim, the Red Devils have been told by a former Premier League star that former England boss Gareth Southgate is the ideal man to take over at Old Trafford and bring a good feeling back to the club. Southgate had previously been linked with the role before Amorim took over, a decision which has not quite gone to plan thus far.

Southgate could be perfect man for United – Joe Cole

According to former Chelsea and England star Joe Cole, Southgate could be the “perfect” man to take over at Old Trafford if Amorim were to lose his job over the coming months. Cole cited building a new culture and understanding the club and its demands as key aspects in which the former England manager may have excelled more than Amorim.

This comes in a context where the Red Devils have yet to win consecutive Premier League games under Amorim, a disappointing defeat to struggling Brentford undoing the good work from a 2-1 win over Chelsea last time out.

Amidst speculation that Amorim may find himself and his job under pressure if things do not improve soon, Southgate has reportedly been added to a three-man shortlist to replace the Portuguese if the United job becomes available once again.

AdvertisementGettyCould Southgate turn Man United's club culture for the better?

Southgate was not short of criticism during his time as England manager, arguably the only job in English football which comes under more scrutiny than that of the Manchester United boss. On one level, therefore, he should have little issue dealing with the pressure.

Southgate was also credited with bringing back a positive culture to the England dressing room, destroying the ‘cliques’ which had been present under previous managers and forming a fearless, young side which was capable not only of going far into tournaments, but of winning high-pressure penalty shoot-outs.

Arguably the biggest issue surrounding United in recent years has been the culture. Bad eggs within the dressing room, public fallouts between managers and players, multiple star names seeing their careers go off the rails and, most recently, Amorim’s infamous ‘bomb squad’. The likes of Cole believe that Southgate could be the right man to turn these problems around. Some United fans disagree, though, and have expressed their thoughts on social media.

Cole believes Southgate could succeed at Old Trafford

Cole said: “He [Amorim] was the bright young spark, people were talking about him like he was the messiah coming into Manchester United and would sort everything out. That’s how high his stock was when he left Lisbon.

“So, he’s clearly a good manager as well, but the mix and the blend of the whole situation, I think it needs a culture change. I thought Gareth Southgate was the perfect man for the job at the state it was in terms of building culture, understanding the club, understanding the league, understanding the players, working with Jim Ratcliffe and people like that, and they went with Amorim, and it doesn’t look like it’s working.”

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AFPPressure on Amorim will increase unless results improve

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the Man United board have clearly put a lot of faith in Amorim, even putting the Portuguese’s judgement first in allowing talented players such as Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho to leave. Kobbie Mainoo could be next.

It would therefore be a major turn of events if Amorim were to lose his job soon. With his continued insistence on using a formation which does not suit his players, though, frustrations within the club could soon reach boiling point.

Should the Red Devils find themselves in the bottom half of the table as we approach the winter period, serious questions will need to be asked. Until then, we may be left continuing to wonder how long Amorim will play Bruno Fernandes in the midfield pivot before he realises the Portuguese is simply not suited to the deeper-lying role.

Southgate and Manchester United may appear an unlikely match but if things continue as they are, the opinion of Cole may become less of a controversial one. It will be intriguing to see which path Amorim’s Red Devils take next.

Liverpool’s Premier League title defence kicked off with three points. Bournemouth were valiant and impressive at Anfield, but the Reds dug in and showcased their quality as they rallied in the final stretch of the curtain-raising game.

While the Reds showcased a remarkable array of attacking talent against the hard-fighting Cherries, they lacked something in defence, with Arne Slot’s side squandering a two-goal lead in the second half.

Antoine Semenyo had a field day against a discordant Reds backline, who must find balance and coherence in the weeks ahead if they wish to rebuff the danger that is bound to spring from title rivals who are expected to improve after last year.

And Ibrahima Konate, in particular, suffered from a rusty performance at the back. It was a display that, perhaps, new recruit Giovanni Leoni and top transfer target Marc Guehi would have taken heed of.

Ibrahima Konate's performance vs Bournemouth

Semenyo’s second-half double proved a blow to Liverpool’s start to their title defence, but the impressive right winger deserved both of his goals and will have felt be got the better of the hosts’ unfluent backline.

Konate was at the epicentre of the struggles, with Jamie Carragher remarking on Sky Sports co-comms that the France international was “all over the place” for Slot’s side, making seven clearances throughout the evening but lacking the control nor composure to ensrue the home side moved toward three points in a smooth fashion to start their campaign.

Completely exposed for Bournemouth’s second and suffering across numerous offensive pushes from the lively south coasters, Konate, 26, will be frustrated with his performance, not least because noise rumbles in the background regarding a potentially forthcoming move for Crystal Palace’s Guehi.

While Konate struggled to produce anything close to his finest form, he wasn’t the only one to have flattered to deceive, with Florian Wirtz leaving plenty to be desired on his Premier League debut.

Florian Wirtz left plenty to be desired

Wirtz joined Liverpool in a club-record £100m move in June, and that may yet rise to a £116m fee with add-ons that would see him eclipse Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo as the record-breaking signing in British history.

But he struggled to produce a befitting performance against a well-oiled Bournemouth side, enjoying some high-level touches and neat layoffs but struggling to lay down his marker as he would have hoped.

Without a doubt, these first two outings have left something to be desired, but they’ve also demonstrated the German international’s first-class quality on the ball, invariably creative and finding openings for his teammates.

After the Bournemouth clash, The Liverpool Echo’s Ian Doyle handed the 22-year-old a 6/10 match rating acknowledging his playmaking ability but struggle to influence proceedings as would have been desired. Indeed, he would depart after losing the ball on average every 3.6 touches, having lost possession 19 times in all.

He will need to muscle up over the coming weeks, adapting to the rigorous nature of the Premier League, but there’s no doubt that Wirtz is a top talent.

However, as with Konate, he left plenty of room for improvement against Andoni Iraola’s side, and his performance will be under greater scrutiny against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park next week.

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By
Angus Sinclair

Aug 15, 2025