Aston Villa are yet to really make a splash in the summer transfer window.

Of course, at the start of the window, a dark PSR-related cloud did hang over Villa Park, which limited the Villans’ spending power, meaning a whole host of high-profile names were being tipped to ditch Unai Emery’s men for luxurious new pastures.

Thankfully, no such exits have taken place, yet, although rumours do continue to persist that Ollie Watkins might soon be off, alongside recurring bits of news that Morgan Rogers is being eyed up by Chelsea.

Villa could have to make peace very shortly with the prospect of waving goodbye to one of their superstar performers, especially if they want to snap up his exciting new attacker before September’s approaching deadline.

Aston Villa continue to admire Bundesliga goal machine

Losing Watkins would be a major knock for Emery and Co. to address, considering the England international fired home a weighty 16 Premier League strikes last campaign from just 31 starts.

Villa do appear to be in the market assessing their available options, however, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin reportedly being looked at on a free agent basis, alongside ex-Arsenal forward Mika Biereth also allegedly being on the Villa shopping list.

Away from those named, though, the most jaw-dropping option seems to have now come in the form of RB Leipzig marksman Lois Openda, with journalist Sacha Tavolieri taking to X to confirm Villa’s interest in the Belgian attacker.

This interest has been long-standing, with contact having occurred between the two parties for several months now. Villa would have to offload Watkins to make such a deal a reality, though.

Villa already knows too well what the explosive 25-year-old is capable of, having been on the receiving end of Openda scoring against Emery’s outfit in the Champions League last season, with this deemed a risk worth taking even more if he can become the Spaniard’s very own Alexander Isak up top.

How Openda can become Emery's own Isak

All the talk surrounding Watkins’ future in the West Midlands has been nothing compared to the Isak fiasco at Newcastle United.

It does look as if the potent Swede will get the move away he desires now, as Liverpool attempt to secure another statement purchase this summer, with Openda hopeful he can become a Premier League superstar much like the former Real Sociedad attacker if he takes to leap to England shortly.

After all, much like his blistering Magpies counterpart, the “terrifying” Belgian – as he was once dubbed by journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor – has been a whirlwind success in front of goal wherever he’s been all across Europe.

In total, Openda has registered a breathtaking 105 strikes from 283 club appearances, lining up for Club Brugge, RC Lens, Leipzig, and Vitesse. 44 of those have come about with Leipzig, as the 25-year-old now itches for a more testing next step in the Premier League.

Isak is on a deadly 144 goals himself from a weightier 324 clashes, when plying his trade in Germany, Spain, and lastly on Tyneside, with 54 of those coming in the English top-flight for Newcastle as the Toon’s main man.

Openda must be yearning for that same level of status, and that could soon come his way, leading the line for Villa, especially if there’s a gaping Watkins-sized hole to soon fill.

Openda’s numbers vs Isak’s numbers (over the last year)

Stat – per 90 mins

Openda

Isak

Shots

2.76

3.10

Shot-creating actions

2.33

3.00

Progressive passes

1.61

2.87

Progressive carries

1.98

2.71

Successful take-ons

0.78

1.37

Touches in attacking penalty area

5.14

6.17

Stats by FBref

Looking at similar aspects of their games using FBref further brings into focus how alike the attacking duo are, with Openda not a million miles off Isak’s insanely high levels when glancing at the table above, despite regularly falling just behind.

Of course, Isak wasn’t the most well-known striker when he first arrived on the scene from Sociedad, before he then cemented himself as a goal machine in the Premier League.

Openda will hope he undergoes the same immediate transformation, with his lethal career numbers leading up to this point indicating that he should be a rip-roaring success story.

Related Emery’s next Rogers: Aston Villa prepare bid for “unpredictable" £27m star

Aston Villa could now sign this unpredictable attacker who has the potential to be Unai Emery’s next Morgan Rogers.

Posts ByKelan Sarson Jul 30, 2025

Manchester United and Lionesses star Ella Toone penned an emotional message after marking her dad's death anniversary with a goal in her club's thumping win over Leicester in their Women's Super League opener on Sunday. Toone's father Nick passed away on September 7, 2024, just three days before his 60th birthday, which left the England international devastated.

• Tooned sent an emotional message on social media
• Marked dad's death anniversary with a goal
• Man Utd thrashed Leicester 4-0

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Toone opened the scoring for United in the 13th minute before Elisabeth Terland doubled the team's lead. Melvine Malard then scored a brace in the second half to complete the demolition of Leicester City in their WSL opener. After scoring on her dad's death anniversary, Toone penned an emotional note on social media. 

Advertisement

• WHAT TOONE SAID

  On Instagram, Toone wrote: "1 year without you, Dad, it’s been the toughest year of my life, but I had comfort in knowing you were always with me. I miss you more than anything, and the feeling of entering another year without you kills me, but I keep going to make you proud. Thank you to everyone who has got me through it all, my family, friends and my teammates. You would have loved that today, & as always, it was all for you. Here’s to another 365 days of thinking, talking and laughing about you and all the memories we made. Cheers, Dad, I love you."

• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Toone was extremely close to her day and had spoken previously of how she used to watch Manchester United as a child with her dad and the special story he used to tell about how she decided she wanted to play football. Following Nick's passing away, the Red Devils star had shared photographs from her childhood and had penned an emotional farewell note. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED?

  Marc Skinner's side will be back in action this Thursday as they take on Brann in the first leg of their Women's Champions League qualifying round.

Former cricket and rugby league pro to join squads for tour of South Africa and Women’s Ashes

Valkerie Baynes14-Nov-2024Courtney Winfield-Hill will join the England Women’s set-up as an assistant coach for the upcoming tour of South Africa and the Women’s Ashes.Winfield-Hill, a 37-year-old former cricket and rugby league professional who was part of England’s backroom staff on the tour of Ireland in September, will be reunited with the squad in South Africa once she has finished her second-year stint as an assistant coach with WBBL side Brisbane Heat.Winfield-Hill worked with Trent Rockets in the most recent edition of the Women’s Hundred and previously held a regional academy coach role with Northern Diamonds as well as assistant coaching roles at Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Women’s Premier League and England Women’s A and U19 squads.”I am really proud to be a part of the set-up,” Winfield-Hill said. “Since working with England teams, I have been made to feel nothing but welcomed and feel the ECB have invested in developing me as a coach.”The development of the domestic game over the last five years has been brilliant to watch and I have taken a lot from recent involvements with the England A, development games and the Ireland tour. South Africa and the Ashes are two exciting series and I am really looking forward to linking up and working with the group.”As a player, Australia-born pace bowler Winfield-Hill – who is the wife of former England and current Brisbane Heat batter Lauren Winfield-Hill – represented Queensland Fire and Brisbane Heat.After moving to England in 2018, she led Leeds Rhinos to a Grand Final and Challenge Cup double in 2019. She represented England at the Rugby League World Cup in 2022 having qualified on residency and now works for the sport’s governing body as Senior Women and Girls’ Partner.Courtney Winfield-Hill switched countries and sports to star for England at the Women’s Rugby League World Cup•Getty ImagesJonathan Finch, Director of England Women’s Cricket, said Winfield-Hill’s dual background in professional sport offered a fresh outlook to the current coaching set-up, led by head coach Jon Lewis.”Courtney has played such an important role in developing the up-and-coming players on our international pathway and adds tremendous value in any environment she is part of,” Finch said. “She will bring a different outlook on the game into the coaching team which will ensure the support we provide to players continually moves forward in what will be an exciting period for the senior team.”

In need of a big performance, the U.S. turned in the team's best shift of the Pochettino era, even against a rotated Japan side

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Mauricio Pochettino made it abundantly clear on Monday: he's sticking with the plan. Ahead of the U.S. men's national team's match against Japan – and in the wake of a 2-0 loss to South Korea – he would not deviate.

In fact, he would double down.

Well, if that was the plan, and this is the path forward for the USMNT, then Pochettino might actually be on the right track. Against Japan on Tuesday night, the USMNT turned into a hell of a lot better performance than last weekend against South Korea, offering everyone a glimpse at the step forward that Pochettino says he's seen in recent days.

Backed by goals from Alejandro Zendejas and Folarin Balogun in the first and second halves, respectively, the USMNT got a much-needed 2-0 win over Japan. It's a win that will quiet some doubters. The pessimists will point out that it did come against a heavily-rotated Japan team, and they'd be right to do so – Japan swapped out the entire starting XI from the squad that settled for a 0-0 draw with Mexico over the weekend.

“It is important to win, because we are going to host the World Cup, and the perception is always we’re not winning, we are not finding the way to play,” Pochettino told TNT. “But I think we need to be calm and relaxed. The critics I always appreciate, because it is always important. But the circumstances are the circumstances. We can’t change the circumstances. We are working with this. I think for sure in the future, the basics and our foundation are going to be there.”

The optimists, though, would point to everything that went into it as a sign of progress for a team that had shown few in recent months. Pochettino triggered that with a tactical switch, going with a three centerback system seemingly tailor-made for this group.

“The thing now is to see a different approach in the game from a tactical perspective,” Pochettino told TNT. “We don’t have many chances to put these things into practice. And that’s important.”

From the opening whistle, the USMNT played aesthetically pleasing soccer. They played winning soccer, too, putting 11 of 19 shots on goal. Making his eighth straight start, goalkeeper Matt Freese got the clean sheet.

"When we're courageous, when we're at our best, we're a difficult team to play against," Freese said after the game.

Christian Pulisic, it should be noted, was clearly the best player on the pitch as he, too, quieted some doubters. This was a big performance for both a number of players, such as Pulisic, and for this team as whole. It won't silence all the  outside noise, but it might turn the volume down.

The plan continues on, then, with the September set now over. There are still rough edges to smooth over but, for the first time in what has been – in moments – a difficult year, it was clear to see what Pochettino is cooking up as the road to the World Cup continues.

GOAL rates the USMNT players from Lower.com Field.

Getty ImagesGoalkeeper & Defense

Matt Freese (8/10):

Made some absolutely fantastic saves that might go under the radar, given everything else. A true No. 1 goalkeeper performance from a player specifically fighting for that role.

Max Arfsten (8/10):

So dynamic running down that left-hand side. The assist on the opening goal was picture-perfect to give him an obvious highlight to headline a standout night.

Chris Richards (6/10):

Actually, a little bit shakier than usual, but that's still better than most defenders. That can also happen, sometimes, when you're on the ball as much as Richards was.

Tim Ream (7/10):

Got to show off his ability to dribble a few times, which got the crowd off its feet. Defensively, so steady, allowing Arfsten the freedom to bomb forward.

Tristan Blackmon (6/10):

Had a nervy moment or two in the first half, but settled into the game. Credit to him for shaking off a rough debut on Saturday to put in a better shift here. That's harder than most will give him credit for.

Alex Freeman (6/10):

Could have been a little bit cleaner or a little bit more patient when he did break towards the final third, but you can see how his speed and attacking ability can cause teams headaches.

AdvertisementGetty ImagesMidfield

Tyler Adams (7/10):

What do you expect? Won the ball a bunch, halted a few Japan attacks and was generally calm with his passing. Very typical.

Cristian Roldan (6/10):

Nothing earth-shattering, but provided some stability to a midfield that was always going to need it. Steady and reliable which, given the circumstances, is what this team needed in that spot.

Getty ImagesAttack

Alejandro Zendejas  (8/10):

Incredible finish, one that will be on his personal highlight reel going forward. Also drew multiple fouls from Japan, who really struggled to cope with him.

Christian Pulisic  (9/10):

Didn't get a goal, but did get an assist on Balogun's goal in the end. Deserved much more, in truth, as he was far and away the best player on the field. Put Japan's defense in a blender all night.

Folarin Balogun (8/10):

So dangerous as he really made Japan's central defenders work from the opening whistle. Was rewarded with Pulisic's pass for the goal, which was about as well-taken as you'd expect from a striker of his caliber.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty ImagesSubs & Manager

Sergino Dest (7/10):

Some good minutes for him, although it has to be noted that he didn't see much of the ball. Did get a good chance, though, and forced a good save.

Jack McGlynn (8/10):

So unlucky not to get a goal. Saw one saved away and then nearly broke the crossbar with a smashed shot. A good cameo, nonetheless.

Luca de la Torre (7/10):

An obvious substitution for Adams, one allowing the USMNT to maintain some semblance of control. Tidy on the ball, as always.

Diego Luna (7/10):

Lots of energy, which was good given where the game was when he arrived. Had a good one-two with Damion Downs to create a chance.

Damion Downs (8/10):

Had one pretty good sequence that nearly got away from him, but resulted in a good shot on goal that was saved.

Nathan Harriel (N/A):

Came on for a late cameo for his first appearance post-Gold Cup. Will feel like a good reward after patiently waiting for another appearance.

Mauricio Pochettino (8/10):

Spot on in a moment in which he had to be. Got the tactics right, got the subs right and, ultimately, got the result. A strong answer to the noise and criticism over the last week.

Northamptonshire have appointed former Australia coach Darren Lehmann to take charge at Wantage Road on a two-year contract.Lehmann, 54, succeeds John Sadler, who left his position as head coach in September after Northants were beaten in their Vitality Blast quarter-final. Northants were winless in the County Championship at the time, although rallied to finish fourth in Division Two.Lehmann, who had previously stepped back from some of his coaching work after suffering a heart attack in 2020, will join the club in February after working in a commentary role for ABC during the Australian summer.”Northamptonshire has a great history in our game and I am looking forward to meeting the players and learning about the club and its past and create our own history over the coming months and years,” Lehmann said.”The selling point for me is a group that wants to get better and follow their and the club’s dreams, create memories and play at the highest level possible. I will encourage this on and off the field, as well as open door policy. I’m sure we will have success and fun along the way.”Pre-season will search for the high skill levels that the group possess, and the assistant coaches will drive this until I can get there after our summer. We have excellent coaches who want nothing more than for the players to succeed on and off the field.”Lehmann played more than 100 times for Australia, later coaching them to success in the 2013-14 Ashes. He won the Big Bash League with Brisbane Heat in 2012-13, before returning to the team after his time with Australia, fulfilling the role as assistant coach for their 2023-24 title.He has a wealth of experience in England, having had a long and successful playing career with Yorkshire, later coaching the Headingley-based Northern Superchargers in the first season of the Hundred.Northamptonshire’s CEO, Ray Payne, said: “I am delighted we have been able to secure a new head coach with the history, reputation, skills and knowledge that Darren possesses. It is a real marker in the ground and demonstrates once again, the clubs desire to achieve to its highest level on the field.”From our first conversation with Darren it was clear to see his passion and excitement for the opportunity and his coaching philosophy is something that aligns well with the goals of the club.”With this appointment and David Ripley as head coach of Steelbacks Women, we believe we have strong leadership for both the men’s and women’s Northamptonshire teams and that will be the envy of others and well set for success.”I wish Darren all the best in the role and know he will have the support of the whole club and all of the supporters as we strive for promotion back to Division One of the County Championship and success in both white-ball competitions.”

After the appointment of Thomas Frank earlier this summer, it’s become apparent that Tottenham Hotspur are desperately trying to improve one area of the pitch this window.

Mohammed Kudus has already completed his £55m transfer from West Ham United to join the Lilywhites this summer, but their business appears far from done within the final third.

The Ghanaian will add key goals and assists to the side throughout 2025/26, that’s if his Premier League tally from last year is anything to go by, after he notched eight combined goals and assists for the Hammers.

However, despite Spurs’ tally of 64 league goals last year, it’s evident that further improvement is desired by the hierarchy during the off-season in an attempt to rise up the table.

Numerous names have been mentioned with moves, highlighting the ambition shown by Daniel Levy to avoid a repeat of their dismal league finish in 2024/25.

The latest on Spurs’ hunt for new attackers this summer

Yoane Wissa is a player who has been firmly on their radar this window, potentially following Frank in joining Spurs from Brentford during the off-season.

The DR Congo international has stated his desire to leave the Bees this summer, opening the door to a move across the capital, but they could face competition from Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest for his signature.

However, he’s not the only forward currently in their sights, with Roma star Mathias Soule also on their radar, according to Italian outlet Radio Radio via Tutto Juve.

They claim that the Lilywhites are preparing a £28m bid for the Argentinian winger, but they’re not alone, with Aston Villa also lurking for the 22-year-old’s signature.

The report also states that the Serie A side may have to raise funds this window, opening the door to a potential move to North London, but fails to mention whether the player would want the move.

Why Spurs’ latest target would be their answer to Rodrygo

Rodrygo has emerged as one of Europe’s leading talents over the last couple of years, starring on countless occasions for European giants Real Madrid.

The Brazilian has registered 270 appearances for the LaLiga outfit, managing to score 68 times, including an infamous double against Manchester City in the Champions League.

However, he looks set to depart this window, seemingly not part of Xabi Alonso’s plans after the Spaniard took the reins from Carlo Ancelotti ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Spurs have been named as one of the interested parties in the 24-year-old’s signature this summer, but it appears he’s rejected any move to join the Lilywhites in favour of a bigger move.

Such a decision appears to be a big disappointment given his stature in the professional game, but the supporters shouldn’t be worried if they miss out on his signature.

Fellow target Soule, who’s been dubbed “Messi-esque” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has also been labelled a similar player to the Brazilian by FBref, subsequently showing the talent he possesses.

When delving into their respective stats from the recent campaign, the Roma star managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, offering Frank’s side a cheaper alternative this window.

Games played

27

30

Goals & assists

10

11

Goal per shot on target

0.4

0.3

Key passes made

2.6

2.2

Passes into opposition box

1.7

1.2

Crosses completed

4.4

3.8

Fouls won

1.8

1.7

Aerials won

37%

30%

The Argentine may have registered fewer combined goals and assists, but posted a higher goal per shot on target rate, showcasing the added threat he carries in front of goal.

He also managed to complete more key passes and more passes into the opposition’s box per 90, highlighting the creativity he possesses over the Real Madrid star.

Soule’s dominance is further reflected in his higher tally of crosses completed and aerials won, having the tools to provide Frank’s side with a more all-rounded talent within the final third during his quest for success.

£28m for a player of his talents could prove to be a huge bargain, especially given the chance he has to develop further in North London, given his tender age.

If he can continue on his current trajectory, he could surpass the levels achieved by Rodrygo, allowing them to forget about a move for his signature and be the club’s own version of the superstar.

A better deal than Gibbs-White: Spurs open talks to sign £87m superstar

Tottenham still need to make a few more signings in the summer transfer market.

ByAngus Sinclair Jul 29, 2025

وجه جيوفاني ليوني قلب دفاع ليفربول الجديد، القادم خلال سوق الانتقالات الصيفية الماضية، رسالة لجماهير فريقه بعد خروجه مصابًا ضد ساوثهامبتون مساء الثلاثاء في كأس رابطة المحترفين الإنجليزية.

ووجه ليوني قلب الدفاع الإيطالي الشاب رسالة شكر لجماهير ليفربول على دعمهم له، بعد فوز الريدز ضد ساوثهامبتون بهدفين لهدف واحد على ملعب أنفيلد في كأس الرابطة.

وسقط ليوني على أرض الملعب بشكل غريب بعد تدخل على خط التماس في وقت متأخر من اللقاء، وقد احتاج لمساعدة الطاقم الطبي لمغادرة الملعب.

اقرأ أيضاً.. نتائج قرعة دور الـ16 من كأس كاراباو..مواجهة متوازنة لـ ليفربول وسهلة لـ مانشستر سيتي

وقد أفاد آرني سلوت بعد انتهاء المباراة بوقت قصير أن اللاعب الإيطالي سيحتاج للخضوع لفحوصات في الأيام التالية لتوضيح مدى خطورة الإصابة.

وكتب ليوني مخاطباً جماهير ليفربول عبر مواقع التواصل الاجتماعي في رسالة نشرها الموقع الرسمي للنادي: “أود أن أشكر بصدق كل من دعمني في هذه اللحظة الصعبة”.

وأضاف اللاعب الذي تعرض لتمزق في الرباط الصليبي وسيغيب لعدة أشهر: “لم تكن هذه أول مشاركة لي كما حلمت بها، لكني سأبذل قصارى جهدي للعودة لهذا الملعب الساحر في أقرب وقت ممكن، شكراً جزيلاً لكم”.

It’s exactly a month now until Sunderland’s exciting, yet daunting, Premier League season finally kicks into gear with West Ham United travelling to the Stadium of Light on the opening day.

There will be no Jobe Bellingham for Regis Le Bris to select, but that saddening exit has been more than softened by the number of incoming faces that have arrived on Wearside, with the ambitious Black Cats now up to six summer purchases after finalising a standout deal for Simon Adingra to enter the ranks for £18m.

Poaching the Ivorian from Brighton and Hove Albion will help boost Sunderland’s top-flight experience ahead of the challenging season to come, with more signings tipped to join the building who have recently called the elite division home.

Sunderland monitoring £30m midfielder

Indeed, whilst it is exhilarating to splash the cash on some foreign talents in the hope they come good, Le Bris will be aware that the Premier League is an unforgiving beast. Therefore, he will need players who have been in and around the division before to try and stave off relegation.

That’s where reported target Granit Xhaka might well come to the rescue in the middle of the park, with the ex-Arsenal star boasting a whopping 225 outings in the Premier League to date.

This is also where Bilal El Khannouss could join the ever-growing Black Cats camp and cause a stir, considering the Moroccan playmaker stood out last season for Leicester City near the bottom of the top-flight pile with his creativity and eye for goal.

According to Sky Sports journalist Rob Dorsett via X, Sunderland are monitoring developments involving the in-demand 21-year-old, with Mikel Arteta’s high-flying Arsenal also once noted as being an admirer of the £30m-rated ace, alongside what is described as ‘long-term’ interest from Le Bris and Co.

If all goes to plan and Sunderland are successful in this race, the Black Cats might well be about to pick up their next Jobe Bellingham, as the promising attacking midfielder attempts to reach the same levels as the now Borussia Dortmund superstar under Le Bris’ tutelage.

How El Khannouss could be Le Bris' next Jobe

Of course, Sunderland have already added several thrilling attacking signings to try and fill the void left behind by the 19-year-old’s high-profile departure, with the likes of £30m purchase Habib Diarra comfortably slotting in at the number ten spot if needed.

Yet, away from the much-loved Chris Rigg, there isn’t an instantly recognisable out-and-out number ten, which will be a concern, considering how impactful Bellingham was from this position during Sunderland’s promotion heroics.

In total, before packing his bags for a new Black and Yellow adventure, Bellingham would chip in with four goals and three assists in league action, with the strike above showing off his cool ability to fire home a sweet effort from distance, much like El Khannouss managed last season versus Tottenham Hotspur.

Whilst those numbers are not that mind-blowing in the grand scheme of things, even as he helped Sunderland return to the top-flight, Dortmund clearly saw a lot of promise in the teenage sensation as they attempt to try and mould him now into a potential world-class performer in Germany, with Sunderland thinking the exact same with their fresh target.

Games played

32

Goals scored

2

Assists

3

Touches*

42.5

Accurate passes*

24.0 (80%)

Big chances created

8

Analysing the numbers, El Khannouss managed to stand out as a bright spark last campaign, even as Leicester’s hopes of staying up fell to the wayside, with the 21-year-old going on to create an impressive eight chances in total, despite the Foxes only scoring a weak 33 strikes from 38 clashes.

In the right environment, El Khannouss’ game might be taken to that next level to the point where he’s in conversations to join the likes of Dortmund, with the Athletic’s Alexander Barker already labelling him as a “top talent” for the future.

Sunderland will just hope that if he does explode into life even more on Wearside, that he doesn’t desert the camp as quickly as Bellingham did, with El Khannouss perhaps one for the long-term if Le Bris’ men can consolidate their status as a top-flight side swiftly.

Bigger talent than Cresswell: Sunderland ready bid for "ice-cold" £24m star

Sunderland could add a star to their growing camp very soon, who is an even bigger talent than Charlie Cresswell.

ByKelan Sarson Jul 16, 2025

“We want to keep the game going forward and get the results in whatever situation we are in”

Ashish Pant14-Oct-2024

Test cricket isn’t what it used to be, and India have kept pace with the times – think of the Kanpur Test against Bangladesh just recently. But while run rates have soared and batters are looking for more boundary-scoring opportunities, India head coach Gautam Gambhir believes adaptability is still the most crucial element.”We want to be that team which can score 400 in a day bat for two days to salvage a draw,” Gambhir said ahead of India’s first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru. “And you call that growth, you call that adaptability, you call that Test cricket. If you play only one way, then there is no growth.”I can’t talk about world cricket. Every team has their ideologies, their methods to play Test cricket. I can only talk about my team. If we are ever in such a situation where we have to bat for two days to draw a Test, we have players in the dressing room who can bat for two days. Ultimately, our first motive is to win a match and then if there is a situation where the team has to play for a draw, we have to keep those options open as well. That is the kind of Test cricket that we want to play.”Related

Rain washes out first day in Bengaluru

Rohit: We have found a great player in Jaiswal

Rohit wants to expand India's fast-bowling bench strength

India start as favourites, but Bengaluru weather could level the playing field

Rohit: Shami had a 'recent setback', don't want him 'undercooked' in Australia

As for the “high-risk, high-reward” approach, Gambhir was on board, and even doesn’t mind India getting bundled for 100 in the process as long as the batters play their natural games and take the game head-on – even in Test cricket.”Yeah, we want people to be aggressive, we want people to go out there and play their natural game. If they can play the natural game, if they can get 400-500 runs in a day, why not? We will play it that way – high-risk, high-reward; high-risk, high-failure,” Gambhir said. “There will be days when we’ll get bundled up for 100 but we’ll continue to back our players.”That’s how we want to play and that’s how we want to entertain the people of this country and, even in Test cricket, we want to keep the game going forward and get the results in whatever situation we are in.”India head into the three-match series against New Zealand high on confidence. They are on a six-game winning streak at home that dates back to February this year and are perched at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) table.New Zealand, on the other hand, haven’t had the best of starts to their subcontinent trip. Their (non-WTC) Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida was washed out before they were mowed down 2-0 in Sri Lanka. Add to that, New Zealand don’t have the greatest of records against spin in recent times and are currently placed sixth on the WTC table.”I think New Zealand is a completely different challenge,” Gambhir said. “We know that they’re a very, very good team. They’ve got some really high-quality players. They’ve got players who can hurt us. They’ve got players who can do the job for them as well. They keep fighting and we expect them to fight as well. So we respect them, but we don’t fear anyone.1:46

Can India prep for Australia tour in home Tests against New Zealand?

“I’ve said it many times that we will always respect every opposition. We want to be selfless. We want to try and play the game as hard as possible on the cricket field. Once the game is done, we want to be as humble as possible.”With 74.24% points, India are well placed for a third consecutive WTC final appearance, and while a series win here will not guarantee them a spot in the final, it will make things easier for them especially considering that they next take on Australia in a five-match series in Australia.”See, the first thing is that the World Test Championship is in June [2025]. And the second thing is that the Test match in Australia is on November 22. Right now, only New Zealand is on our mind and nothing else,” Gambhir said. “When you play international cricket, you don’t think about how to prepare for the five Test matches in the Australia series or how to prepare for the World Test Championship final. Right now, the most important thing is how to be ready on October 16 at 9.30am. That is more important because you don’t see ahead that far.”Whatever match you play for your country, you try to win it irrespective of who is the opposition and where that series will take place. Whether it is New Zealand or Australia, we will try to win our country in every match.”

Despite the lowly Premier League finish of 15th last season, there is a sense of optimism building at Manchester United, given the work done behind the scenes this summer.

The Red Devils have been active within the transfer market, already backing Ruben Amorim with over £130m worth of new additions in his quest for success at Old Trafford.

He only managed to achieve a 40% win rate after taking the reins back in November, but had to work with the players already at the club upon his arrival.

The summer window has given him the chance to land key targets, leading to Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo making the move to the Theatre of Dreams ahead of the new campaign.

However, despite the mammoth funds already splashed this window, multiple other players could yet join Amorim’s side, with one deal edging ever closer in recent days.

What Benjamin Sesko will bring to United in 2025/26

A new striker has been desperately needed at United during the off-season, unsurprisingly so given the lack of goals from current options Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee last season.

Whilst the pair cost upwards of £100m, they only managed to net seven league goals between them in 2024/25, leading to the club’s hunt to land Benjamin Sesko.

The Red Devils made a £74m offer for the RB Leipzig forward earlier this week, with the player himself accepting the proposal and wanting a move to Old Trafford over a switch to join Newcastle United.

It may be another hefty fee forked out by the board, but it’s one that would hand Amorim the tools he needs to succeed, especially considering the 22-year-old netted 13 league goals in the Bundesliga last season.

Such a tally is nearly two times higher than United’s current number nine options combined, evidently providing an upgrade on Zirkzee and Hojlund – fulfilling the club’s ambitions for the current window.

However, if he is to carry on his tremendous form from his time in Germany, Sesko will need added reinforcements behind him to help provide him the goods he desires in front of goal.

The player who could get Sesko firing at United

The additions of Cunha and Mbeumo to the number ten roles at United will have already injected needed quality into the front line, with the pair notching 13 combined assists in the Premier League last season.

However, other areas of the pitch could well also be bolstered in an attempt for immediate success, with more depth needed in the wing-back areas to suit Amorim’s system.

Such a need could see the hierarchy return to a deal for Inter Milan star Denzel Dumfries, after previously registering interest in his signature earlier in the window.

The Dutchman may be a full-back, but he has all the tools needed to thrive going forward, which could ultimately allow Sesko to have those key chances he craves at Old Trafford.

Dumfries achieved a total of five assists across all competitions in 2024/25, with three of which coming in the Champions League – highlighting his ability to star at the top level of European football.

However, his underlying stats from his recent year in Milan are arguably more impressive, further reinforcing the quality he possesses with the ball at his feet in forward areas.

The 29-year-old, who’s previously been labelled “one of the best right-backs in the world” by Jeremie Frimpong, registered 2.3 progressive carries per 90 last season – highlighting his talent at getting the ball forward into dangerous areas.

Games played

29

Goals & assists

9

Pass accuracy

73%

Progressive carries

2.5

Key passes

1.3

Crosses completed

3.6

Shot-creating actions

2.5

Touches in final third

21.1

Carries into final third

1.3

He also completed 1.3 key passes per 90 and 3.6 crosses per 90, having the creative nature to pick out the Slovenian and enabling him to unlock his aerial ability, which saw him score three headers in the Bundesliga last season.

Dumfries’ ability to thrive in the attacking third is further highlighted by his tally of 2.5 shot-creating actions, whilst registering 44% of his touches last season in such an area – subsequently being able to help the potential new signings with countless opportunities.

It’s unclear if the Red Devils will reenter the race for the Inter star, but it’s clear the Dutchman would add serious quality to the wing-back department at Old Trafford.

The pair linking up together in the Premier League is certainly a scary prospect, potentially topping off what has been a sensational window for United and Amorim.

Perfect for Mbeumo & Cunha: Man Utd in talks for another deal after Sesko

Manchester United could be about to make another huge move before the end of the window.

ByEthan Lamb Aug 6, 2025