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Looking to continue their transfer strategy of welcoming future stars, Chelsea are now reportedly preparing an offer worth £17m to sign a young South American full-back ahead of the summer.

Chelsea aiming to spoil Liverpool's title party

Level on points with sixth-place Nottingham Forest, Chelsea are playing host to the Premier League champions at the worst possible time. The Reds will enter Stamford Bridge with the pressure eased, celebrations continuing and fresh from the first of four guard of honours. For Chelsea, meanwhile, this is simply a must-win game.

Manager Enzo Maresca is well aware of the importance of victory this Sunday too, having told reporters in his pre-match press conference: “The mood is good and I’ve said for a few weeks now that it’s a matter of how we manage emotions until the end [of the season].

“When we win games, we are happy and when we don’t win, we’re not happy. But it’ll be a race until the end and we need to manage the emotions. In this moment, the main thing is to watch ourselves and be focused on ourselves. This is the main point. For sure, there are more clubs involved [in the top-five race] but for us, it’s important to stay focused on ourselves.”

Related Approach made: Chelsea now ready to splash out £60m to sign "amazing" star

He almost joined Arsenal in January…

Posts ByTom Cunningham May 3, 2025

With games against Newcastle United, Manchester United and most importantly, Nottingham Forest on the final day awaiting Chelsea, it is set to be a frantic few weeks for the Blues. Maresca has arguably been handed the toughest games of his tenure at the most crucial stage of the campaign.

On the pitch, securing Champions League football would signal quite the sigh of relief. Away from the action, meanwhile, it would allow those at Stamford Bridge to get to work in the summer transfer window.

Chelsea preparing £17m Wesley offer

According to Caught Offside, Chelsea are now preparing an offer worth €20m (£17m) to sign Wesley from Flamengo, with talks over a deal set to intensify at the Club World Cup – a competition both sides will be competing in this summer.

As things stand, those negotiations will need to reach a breakthrough regarding the defender’s price-tag, given that Flamengo are reportedly holding out for €35m (£35m), rather than the £17m offer that Chelsea are seemingly preparing.

It should come as no surprise to see Chelsea interested in signing Wesley, given how often they’ve set their sights on South American talent throughout BlueCo’s ownership.

The Blues have already sealed the talented Estevao Willian and could now sign Wesley to go alongside the midfielder. Described as “pacy” by South American football expert Nathan Joyes, the right-back is certainly one to keep an eye on.

As the summer transfer window approaches, Rangers have reportedly been boosted by the news that one particular attacking target is now open to completing a move to Ibrox.

Rangers receive transfer boost

It looks set to be a hectic summer at Ibrox, starting with new ownership with the 49ers Group reportedly on their way in the coming months. To say that they’ll have an important first act to make would be a major understatement too, with a new manager needed to take over from interim boss Barry Ferguson.

Whilst the interim boss has impressed at times, recent rumours suggest that Rangers are set to turn their attention towards a more experienced option and could even lure the likes of Marco Rose to Scotland. The German was recently sacked by RB Leipzig as they continued to slip away from Champions League qualification in the Bundesliga, but could be handed an instant return to management by the Gers.

Meanwhile, it could also be a busy summer on the incomings front with a permanent move for Vaclav Cerny already mooted in recent weeks. And the loanee may not be the only attacking star on the way to Ibrox in what could turn into a major boost.

According to Rangers News, Dor Turgeman is now open to joining Rangers this summer and the 49ers could yet swoop in to land a deal worth around £5m in the coming months.

That said, the Maccabi Tel Aviv forward hasn’t exactly hidden his end goal, with reports indicating that he’ll only complete a move to the Scottish giants if he can use them as a stepping stone towards the Premier League.

49ers now well placed to agree move to sign £20m+ Adidas player for Leeds

The 49ers seem key to a deal.

ByCharlie Smith Apr 1, 2025

Unfortunately for Rangers, it is something that Koppen may consider even if that is the case as he looks to transform the Gers’ transfer model into one that signs stars for cheap, builds them up and then sells them on for major profit.

"Quick" Turgeman suits Koppen's plan

Just like Turgeman has made his ambitions no secret, Koppen has been fairly open about his own plan at Rangers – telling reporters as relayed by Rangers News: “You have to let the players go, also because that’s how you attract them, they come with an ambition to go. We cannot force them to stay.

“You have to say to them, come here to be successful and win, but this is not your end station. 80% of these players who move to the club should come with the ambition to go. Ultimately, that is only achieved by winning and progressing so that everyone can benefit – the club and the player.”

When thinking about players that would slot straight into that criteria of players, Turgeman instantly comes to mind. The 21-year-old, who has scored 17 goals in all competitions this season, could add instant firepower at Ibrox before earning the Premier League move that he desires.

Dubbed “quick” and “agile” by The Rangers Journal last summer, the 49ers should make signing Turgeman one of their first priorities when they arrive at the club this summer.

Australia’s most successful domestic coach speaks about his methods and philosophy after signing a new two-year deal with WA and Perth Scorchers

Alex Malcolm29-Feb-2024You’ve had incredible success in the last three seasons. The question now is how do you get better as a coach and how do you take your coaching to the next level with the same group?I think you constantly ask yourself how are you getting better and whether it’s some of the leadership programs that I do or the ability to continue to keep learning on the job with what you do. But also the opportunities to keep trying to experience different environments and working with different players I think is all part of that. With our group itself, it’s a phenomenal group, and I feel very grateful to be in the position that I am to work with this group of players and staff that have brought so much success. But equally, I think every team is constantly in transition and we’re no different.The recent Marsh Cup success is probably a testament to that where I think we used 23 players over the eight games and we saw five debutants as well. Hopefully, not only are we able to continue to bring those high standards, but we’re actually starting to give opportunities to that next generation of West Australian cricketers as well. That’s the exciting bit. I think that’s the big part of why I love my job and why I want to continue to be able to do what I’m doing at the moment.You had an opportunity to coach Australia A last year. Is there some flexibility to take more opportunities like that or get involved in some overseas franchise cricket over the next couple of years alongside coaching WA and Scorchers?There is. Exactly what that looks like we’ll continue to work through but the idea of being able to go and experience different environments and continue my learning away from our setup and hopefully bring some different ideas back with me is something we’ll certainly look to explore and work out what suits best.What have you learned over the last few years about first achieving success and then sustaining it?I think what success provides is belief more than anything. Belief that what you’re doing is working. Belief that the playing group are invested in how the program runs and the way they want to play their cricket. Probably the biggest learning is that…validation might not be the right word, but hopefully, it means that the things that you are trying to implement and put into place are putting you on the right track. From that first season where we won those three trophies, every one of them is incredibly satisfying, but they’ve all been very different and provided different challenges. That’s the art of doing what we do, navigating through those challenges and providing guidance and leadership. But ultimately, I think it’s the underlying belief that has really stood out over those last couple of years.Adam Voges: ‘You can’t do everything yourself and that ability to empower and trust other people to do their job is really important’•Getty ImagesWhat about the evolution of your relationships with the players? Being a domestic coach is different now to when you were a player with so many players coming in and out of the squad at various points of the year due to international and franchise cricket. How do you manage that with the players?We’ve got a big squad. I think we’ve got 31 players, including our CA contracted guys at the moment and trying to have touch-in points with all of them at various times is a challenge in itself. But that transition period of guys coming in and out of our program is something that I’ve tried to refine and tried to make sure that each time they go out or each time they come in it feels like they haven’t left.The communication side of that is really important, to just try and stay in touch with those guys as much as possible. But for all players, give them the clarity that they’re seeking, whether it’s in their role, in selection, in where that improvement lies for each one individually. So that’s been an evolution. Getting better at that side of things is something that I’ve had to work on and certainly haven’t nailed but continues to be part of how I continue to evolve and grow.One of the hardest things for a coach is to take your hands off the reins at times and empower your assistant coaches. What have you learned about that?Beau Casson is a head coach in waiting. Tim Macdonald is a really experienced bowling coach and a couple of our development coaches are great and there’s been transition in that space as well over the six years. Getting those guys to come in and buy into what we’re trying to do, but allow them to do their jobs and to work really closely one-on-one with the players, with their specific skill sets and give them the autonomy and empower them to make decisions at times. Just ultimately trust that you’re backing them to do their jobs really well. I’m incredibly lucky with the support staff that I’ve got and that goes into our SSSM [Sport Science Sport Medicine] group as well, not just our coaching group.What are the things you know now about coaching that you wish you knew when you started?There’s plenty that I didn’t know when I started. I think number one, you can’t do everything yourself and that ability to empower and trust other people to do their job is really important. Over-communication is always way better than a lack of communication. I think they’re two of the really big things. Just understanding what the big things are and focusing time and effort on them. Not sweating on things that ultimately are out of your control. They’re probably the key learnings. It can be a stressful life at times. It can be a lonely life at times. But understanding and learning a couple of those key points is certainly what I’ve been able to do over the last five or six years.Western Australia continues to produce a lot of cricketers for the national side•Getty ImagesWhat is the next phase for a domestic coach in Australia given the way global cricket is trending with the amount of franchise leagues that have developed? Do you think the role is going to change at all and how will it differ from coaching at franchise or international level?I think ultimately our role is still to develop Australian cricketers. Working really closely with that young group coming through is vitally important and then for our senior players, it’s continuing to challenge them but also understanding that they’re playing cricket 12 months of the year, and making good decisions around how do you help them with that, to help them have the careers and the success that they want to have.Understanding that this is often home and they like coming home. I think that’s an important part of it. Just managing those transitions in and out but ultimately trying to have a strong program that helps with development, helps to continue to try and get the best out of these guys and help them have the careers that they want to have. So that’s only going to happen more and more with franchise cricket now.I certainly hope that in 10 years time our main goal is still trying to produce West Australian and Australian cricketers. It’s going to be a balance and that’s going to happen more and more I think.You mentioned challenging senior players. How do you handle those situations now compared to when you started?I always thought there was room for that and that’s one of the biggest things I learned from JL [Justin Langer]. I was a senior player when he came into our program. He opened my eyes up to different ways of training, and different ways of going about things. It’s really easy to leave your senior players alone and let them do their thing. But he probably helped get the best out of me late in my career, and it’s certainly a lesson that I took and continue to take in and they’re often just little small things, but just trying to continue to help guys grow and improve and that’s important for anyone regardless of what stage you are at in your career.This new deal takes you through until 2026. Where do you see your career progressing beyond that?Ultimately I’m really grateful for the job that I’ve got at the moment. I’m really lucky to do what I do. I love it. And that’s a huge part of why I’m continuing. Beyond these two years, I don’t actually know ultimately what that looks like. It’s like a player really. You do the best job that you possibly can and you control what you can control and then if opportunities present themselves beyond that, then that’s great.But if you get too far ahead then maybe you take your eye off what you’re doing at the moment. And I say that to the players all the time, so I’ve got to be able to live that as well, to really just invest in this next little period and really enjoy it as well. I think there’s still some success to come with this group, albeit we’re going to continually look to transition with a pretty senior group.

Sunrisers Hyderabad had a chance to dismiss Rovman Powell when he had scored 18 off 14. They let it slip, and he duly made them pay

S Rajesh05-May-20223:05

What has gone wrong for Sunrisers Hyderabad?

Kane Williamson has had a wretched IPL with the bat so far – his strike rate of 96.1 is the lowest among batters who have faced at least 100 balls this season – but tonight his usually reliable catching let him down too, when he dropped a regulation chance from Rovman Powell in the 15th over of Delhi Capitals’ innings.Capitals had scored 135 for 3 after 14 overs, but Powell hadn’t yet fully got into his stride: he had 18 off 14 at that point. After that chance, though, he went into overdrive, slamming 49 off 20 balls. Five of his six sixes, and all three of his fours, came after that let-off.ESPNcricinfo LtdAccording to ESPNcricinfo’s Luck Index, that dropped chance cost Sunrisers Hyderabad 14 runs, which means had the catch been taken, Capitals would have finished on 193, not 207. This calculation is based on a complex algorithm, which assumes that if Powell were dismissed off that delivery, the 20 extra balls he faced would have gone to the batters who didn’t bat in the innings. In those 20 deliveries, according to the algorithm, Capitals would have scored 35 and not 49.In the end, the margin of defeat was more than 14, but it can be argued that Sunrisers might not have been so desperate for the big hits had the target been 14 runs fewer.Capitals dropped a catch too, when Lalit Yadav missed a tough one at long-off from Nicholas Pooran in the 18th over, but in the context of the match that chance didn’t cost them much: Pooran hit a six off the next ball and was then dismissed, caught at long-on.

LOS ANGELES — From a business perspective, there has never been any question that Shohei Ohtani is most valuable to the Dodgers as a two-way star: Designated hitters don’t tend to become national heroes in Japan and earn their teams an estimated $70 million in sponsorship revenue. From the player’s standpoint, there has never been any discussion, either.

“The reason why I’m a two-way player is because that’s who I am, and it’s what I can do,” Ohtani said last week.

But viewed through the lens of baseball, there was reason to be cautious. It wasn’t just the injury concern, although that certainly caught the Dodgers’ attention; Ohtani’s return to pitching this season has come after his second elbow reconstruction. “There is a cost,” acknowledges manager Dave Roberts. He adds, “What [another ailment] would essentially do is lose two players.”

Last of eight deals is concluded as Surrey and Reliance confirm partnership for 2026 onwards

ESPNcricinfo staff03-Dec-2025Oval Invincibles, the most successful franchise in the Hundred, will be rebranded as MI London from 2026 onwards, after Surrey and Reliance Industries Limited concluded their protracted negotiations in the wake of this year’s equity sale.The name change brings the men’s and women’s teams in line with the rest of the Ambani family’s Mumbai Indians stable which, in addition to its flagship team in the IPL, includes MI Cape Town in the SA20, MI Emirates in the ILT20, MI New York in Major League Cricket, and Mumbai Indians women’s team in the WPL.The announcement marks the last of the eight deals that emerged from the ECB’s sale of equity stakes in the Hundred earlier this year, and comes almost five months after the first six of these were tied up. Reliance secured a 49 per cent stake in Oval Invincibles, having valued the franchise at £123 million – the second most expensive behind the Lord’s-based London Spirit, at £295 million.The delay in the announcement reflects a reluctance at Surrey to relinquish a brand identity that had tied the teams to their home ground at the Kia Oval, and which had delivered five titles in as many years of the competition – with the women completing back-to-back titles in 2021 and 2022, before the men sealed their third win in as many years this summer, in their victory over Trent Rockets at Lord’s.However, Surrey chairman Oli Slipper acknowledged the strength of the MI brand in confirming the team’s rebranding, with its haul of 13 titles across competitions in the 17 years, including five IPL titles and at least one in every other competition in which it has competed.Akash Ambani, Mumbai Indians co-owner, chats to Jordan Cox after Oval Invincibles’ victory in the Hundred final•Philip Brown/Getty Images”We’re pleased to have reached an agreement with the Reliance team over our partnership in the Hundred franchise team,” Slipper said. “Reliance bring a significant depth of cricket and business expertise and have had great success with their franchise teams in India and around the world – there’s no doubt that they are here to win. They are passionate cricket people and together we will continue the success of our two teams.”We have worked very closely with Reliance over the name of the new team and believe that MI London will give us the best opportunity to build the fanbase at home and across the world. We also believe that the team brand will help to grow the commercial value of our franchise, in turn boosting investment into the long-term sustainable growth of Surrey and of cricket in our community.”Mrs Nita M. Ambani, co-owner of Mumbai Indians, said: “We are delighted to welcome MI London into the #OneFamily and take the MI legacy to new frontiers. London holds a special place in the heart of cricket, and we are honoured to be part of its rich heritage. Together with Surrey, we look forward to nurturing young talent, engaging diverse communities, and uniting fans through their shared love of the game.”Mr Akash Ambani added: “We are happy to welcome MI London into the #OneFamily, marking a new chapter in our journey of uniting cricket fans, nurturing talent, and growing the game across continents. The Invincibles’ winning record and spirit of excellence perfectly embody the MI ethos of passion, resilience, and teamwork. Building on our shared passion for cricket, we look forward to collaborating with our partners at Surrey CCC and building on the legacy of The Hundred’s most successful team.”The eight partnerships combined represent a valuation for the teams of over £975 million, with over £500 million is now set to be invested into English and Welsh cricket. This includes a £50 million commitment to grassroots cricket, with the remainder set to be distributed to professional counties.Vikram Banerjee, Managing Director, The Hundred, said: “It’s an exciting moment to now have all eight deals complete. The world-leading partners we now have on board will help us take The Hundred to the next level and establish it as the unmissable summer event.”We’re already working closely together as we aim to make the 2026 season of The Hundred the best yet. It’s also an important moment for the whole of the game in England and Wales, unlocking significant investment to support the game at every level.”

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Dono da SAF do Botafogo, John Textor foi oficialmente denunciado pela procuradoria-geral do Supremo Tribunal de Justiça Desportiva (STJD) nesta segunda-feira (25), por não ter apresentado as provas de corrupção no futebol brasileiro que alegou ter. A informação é do jornal “O Globo”.

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➡️ Tudo sobre o Glorioso agora no WhatsApp. Siga o nosso canal Lance! Botafogo

O empresário norte-americano afirmou ter “juízes gravados reclamando de não terem propinas pagas”, após vitória do Botafogo sobre o Bragantino, em 6 de março. Dois dias depois, o STJD abriu inquérito e deu prazo de três dias úteis para que Textor entregasse as provas que dizia ter, porém, a ordem foi ignorada pelo bilionário.

Desta forma, o dono da SAF alvinegra foi denunciado no artigo 223 do Código Brasileiro de Justiça Desportiva (CBJD), por “deixar de cumprir ou retardar o cumprimento de decisão”. A pena prevista em caso de condenação é de 90 a 360 dias de suspensão, além de pagamento de multa.

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➡️ É O BRASA! Coloque R$200 no Brasil contra a Espanha e fature mais de R$640 no Lance! Betting

No dia 14 de março, o pleno do tribunal chegou a votar a possibilidade de suspensão automática de John Textor, mas foi formada maioria contra. Além disso, foi definido também que o STJD tem competência para julgar o caso, ao contrário do que alega a defesa do empresário.

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West Ham are preparing for what could prove to be a season-defining January transfer window, with chairman David Sullivan and manager Nuno Espírito Santo identifying a new striker as one of their top priorities amid Niclas Fullkrug’s imminent departure.

Fullkrug has decided to pursue fresh opportunities when the winter window opens, with his representatives already exploring possibilities in Germany and elsewhere (Fabrizio Romano).

The veteran forward, who’s suffered from a plague of injury issues ever since arriving in East London, aims to revive his international prospects ahead of the 2026 World Cup, viewing a January exit as essential to securing his place in Germany’s squad.

West Ham’s spending power remains limited following their £131 million summer outlay, meaning they may need to balance incoming and outgoing transfers carefully, which adds another layer of complexity as the hierarchy make clear they won’t sanction Fullkrug’s exit until a suitable replacement arrives (Claret & Hugh).

Sunderland 3-0 West Ham

West Ham 1-5 Chelsea

Nottingham Forest 0-3 West Ham

West Ham 0-3 Tottenham

West Ham 1-2 Crystal Palace

Everton 1-1 West Ham

Arsenal 2-0 West Ham

West Ham 0-2 Brentford

Leeds 2-1 West Ham

West Ham 3-1 Newcastle

West Ham 3-2 Burnley

The Irons want a permanent sale rather than a loan for the striker, with German clubs Hamburg and Stuttgart, as well as AC Milan, expressing interest (TEAMtalk).

Meanwhile, midfielder Guido Rodriguez wants to depart as he chases World Cup selection with Argentina, attracting attention from Marcello Gallardo’s River Plate alongside several European clubs. James Ward-Prowse is another player destined for the West Ham exit door, with Lucas Paqueta reportedly considering his options as well.

With Nuno’s side languishing in 18th and staring at a relegation dogfight, January represents their best chance to course-correct, and any funds acquired from these potential sales could be put towards a cut-price move for Fulham winger Adama Traoré.

The Spaniard, who was once on fire under Nuno at Wolves, is attracting serious interest from West Ham, and Fulham could be forced to sell on the cheap with his contract expiring at the end of this season.

Now, an update has come to light on the situation, courtesy of TEAMtalk and reporter Dean Jones.

West Ham given 'approval' to sign Adama Traoré in January

West Ham have been handed encouragement in their pursuit of Traore, with Fulham now willing to entertain offers for the winger and set to ‘approve’ his sale.

The Whites are planning a squad overhaul as manager Marco Silva targets up to three new signings following a disappointing campaign that has left them 15th with only three wins. Traore represents an opportunity for them to raise funds and recoup some value, so a London Stadium switch may be on the cards for him.

The ex-Barcelona loanee flourished under Nuno at Wolves, making 131 appearances and racking up 28 goal contributions during their successful partnership, and sources indicate that West Ham will make contact before the window officially opens to explore whether a deal can be done.

Traore, while mostly impressing at Molineux, has enjoyed his moments in a Fulham shirt too.

The 29-year-old was a mainstay for Silva last season, making 41 appearances in all competitions and registering nine assists, so his best years may not be a thing of the past just yet.

His pace and directness has been a nightmare for Premier League opponents to defend at times, and he’d offer Nuno something very different out wide for a potentially affordable fee.

With 11 gameweeks gone and the final international break of 2025 underway, the Premier League table is starting to form a true representation of where teams stand.

Sunderland’s hot start has turned into sustained success after their draw with title chasing Arsenal, while Liverpool’s downfall is more than just a blip.

Opta have ranked every team in the top flight by game state, or how much time they spend playing from behind in matches, and it’s more bad news for Arne Slot…

Rank

Team

Percentage of mins played losing

1

Crystal Palace, Chelsea

13%

2

Man City

14%

3

Arsenal

17%

4

Newcastle United

18%

5

Sunderland

21%

6

AFC Bournemouth

22%

7

Everton

24%

8

Aston Villa & Man Utd

26%

9

Fulham

30%

10

Brentford, Tottenham, Leeds, Nottingham Forest

32%

11

Brighton

35%

12

Burnley

36%

13

Liverpool

37%

14

West Ham

47%

15

Wolves

58%

1 Chelsea and Crystal Palace

It has been a promising start to the campaign for both Chelsea and Crystal Palace, with Enzo Maresca’s side potentially still in a position to mount a title challenge, given that they are currently just six points behind league leaders Arsenal.

Palace, on the other hand, continued their unbeaten run from last season into the ongoing campaign, which ultimately came to an end after a record 19 matches, with Everton emerging 2-1 winners at the Hill Dickinson Stadium at the start of October.

Both London clubs have just spent 13% of their matches in losing positions, with the Eagles very much on course to mount a push for Europe, having taken 17 points from their opening 11 games.

2 Manchester City

Man City have also emerged as title contenders, with their most recent victory undoubtedly their most impressive to date, dispatching of reigning champions Liverpool 3-0 at the Etihad Stadium.

Having won six of the last eight Premier League titles, City can never be written off, and they have spent just 14% of their matches trailing up to this point, with Erling Haaland in the form of his life, scoring a whopping 14 goals in the Premier League alone.

3 Arsenal

Having finished in second place three years on the spin, Mikel Arteta will be hoping this is finally the Gunners’ year, and the early signs have been very positive, having opened up a four-point gap at the top of the table.

Arsenal have had to show resilience at times, with Gabriel Martinelli scoring a stoppage-time equaliser against Man City back in September to cancel out Haaland’s early opener, which earned them what could prove to be a vital point in the Premier League title race.

Arteta’s side were also behind for the majority of the game against Newcastle United, but late heroics from Mikel Merino and Gabriel secured a 2-1 win.

Some other victories have been much more routine, however, battering Leeds United 5-0 back in August, while also recording a comfortable 2-0 win at Burnley earlier this month, which means the north Londoners have been in a losing position just 17% of the time.

4 Newcastle United

Newcastle, on the other hand, won’t be feeling anywhere near as positive about their start to the campaign, currently sitting in 14th place, seven points behind bitter rivals Sunderland, despite only spending 18% of their games trailing.

That is largely because the Magpies have developed a very bad habit of conceding late goals, with Rio Ngumoha scoring a dramatic late winner for Liverpool in August, while Gabriel’s 96th-minute winner ensured Arsenal secured a 2-1 victory in September.

Should Eddie Howe’s side be able to cut out conceding late on, however, there is still plenty of time to have a successful season, as the European places remain within touching distance.

5 Sunderland

Few would have predicted Sunderland to be flying high near the top of the table, but it has been a fantastic start, having made the Stadium of Light a fortress, most recently holding Arsenal to a draw, courtesy of Brian Brobbey’s late heroics.

Having taken 19 points from their opening 11 matches, the Black Cats are already nearly half-way to the magic 40 point mark, which would almost certainly secure Premier League safety.

There are some tricky fixtures on the horizon, with trips to Liverpool and Man City penciled in for December, but Regis Le Bris will no doubt be delighted with how things are going, with his side spending just 21% of their matches in a losing position.

6 AFC Bournemouth

Having lost some key players in the summer, including Milos Kerkez, Ilya Zabarnyi and Dean Huijsen, Bournemouth may have been expected to struggle, but that certainly hasn’t been the case.

The Cherries are once again looking like they could mount a push for Europe, as one of five teams currently on 18 points, having spent just 22% of their matches trailing.

7 Everton

It has been a solid, if not spectacular, opening 11 games for Everton, taking 15 points, which leaves them firmly in mid-table, exactly where they were probably expecting to be.

The Toffees have been chasing the game just 24% of the time, which is respectable, given that they have had some very tricky fixtures, already travelling to both Anfield and the Etihad Stadium.

8 Aston Villa and Manchester United

Both Aston Villa and Man United were very poor at the beginning of the campaign, with Unai Emery’s side failing to score in any of their opening four games, while the Red Devils suffered a 3-0 defeat in the Manchester derby and a disappointing 4-2 loss at Brentford.

However, since then, the Villans have gone on to win eight of their last ten matches in all competitions, and things are also looking up at United, having taken 11 points from their last five Premier League games.

A European push could be on the cards for both sides, who have been in losing positions 26% of the time.

9 Fulham

Marco Silva has managed to stabilise the Cottagers in the Premier League, but the manager is now under serious pressure, with his side just one point above the relegation zone following the 2-0 defeat at Everton last time out.

It is still too early to panic, but the early signs certainly haven’t been positive for the west Londoners, who have spent 30% of their matches in a losing position.

10 Brentford, Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest

The Thomas Frank era is now well underway, but Tottenham are still yet to put a consistent run together, with victories on the road against the likes of Manchester City and Everton being cancelled out by disappointing home defeats against Aston Villa and Chelsea.

That said, despite being one of four clubs who have spent 32% of their matches behind, Spurs are currently fifth in the standings, two points above Brentford, who have arguably surpassed expectations under the helm of new manager Keith Andrews.

Things aren’t looking quite as rosy for Leeds, who are now just one point above the relegation zone, as a result of losing four of their last five matches, while Nottingham Forest are already on their third manager and currently sit in 19th place.

October was certainly a month to remember for Manchester United, with Ruben Amorim enjoying the best month of his tenure after taking the reins 12 months ago.

His Red Devils side won all three of their Premier League outings, even beating defending champions Liverpool at Anfield for the first time in just under a decade.

As a result, Amorim has been handed the Premier League Manager of the Month award, with the 40-year-old claiming the trophy for the first time at Old Trafford.

Such a record has catapulted the club up England’s top-flight in 2025/26, with the first-team finally heading in the right direction after getting to grips with the 3-4-2-1 system.

The success of the team is certainly credit to the manager and his tactics, but there’s no denying that he has one player to thank for the recent upturn in league form.

Why Mbeumo won October’s Premier League Player of the Month

As part of the £200m summer spending spree, United landed the signature of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford – forking out a staggering £71m for his services.

The Cameroonian arrived with huge expectations after scoring 20 league goals last season, with the attacker already starting to come good after his big-money transfer.

He scored his first top-flight goal in the win against Burnley back in August, but his career at Old Trafford has ignited after his form over the last month.

The 26-year-old played three times in October, scoring three times and registering one assist – subsequently achieving a goal contribution in every game he played – helping him win the division’s Player of the Month award.

He scored within the first two minutes of the victory over Arne Slot’s side on Merseyside, undoubtedly playing a vital role in the triumph and making himself a fan-favourite.

Mbeumo’s goalscoring tally for the month ended with a double against Brighton and Hove Albion, helping Amorim’s side make it three wins in a row for the first time in his tenure.

The United star who should have won Player of the Month

During the last few weeks, numerous United players have managed to catch the eye and are deserving of more credit for their impact in the Premier League.

Senne Lammens made his Red Devils debut in the first triumph over Sunderland at the start of October, with the Belgian since cementing his place as a regular starter between the sticks.

The 23-year-old has already kept a clean sheet in the Premier League, whilst also playing a vital role in the historic victory at Anfield – as he made a total of five saves.

He’s not been alone in impressing, with Amad Diallo also massively thriving despite operating in a somewhat unnatural right-wing-back during the recent run.

However, central midfielder Casemiro has gone somewhat under the radar, especially after his poor form at the start of the campaign, which led to fans questioning his future at the club.

The Brazilian international has since resurrected his career at Old Trafford, with Amorim starting the experienced star in all of the victories during October.

Such a period has allowed the 33-year-old to prove some incredible numbers, many of which should have seen him being named the Player of the Month over Mbeumo.

Casemiro, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by one analyst, has registered two goals and assists in as his three matches – with both of his efforts coming against Brighton.

However, other numbers such as 90 passes completed and 148 touches showcase his ability to dictate the play despite his deep-lying midfield position.

Games played

3

Goals & assists

2

Minutes played

213

Passes completed

90

Touches

148

Defensive contributions

31

Tackles won

9

Recoveries made

13

Duels won

16

Out of possession, he’s been just as impressive, as seen by his tally of 13 recoveries and 16 duels won, with such numbers allowing Bruno Fernandes to operate in a more advanced role.

The revival of Casemiro over recent weeks is nothing short of sensational, with huge credit needing to be directed his way after his recent performances.

Mbeumo has also done superbly well to win the award, but his teammate will no doubt feel aggrieved that he wasn’t able to get his hands on the trophy.

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1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 7, 2025