This improving Manchester United side was given more than just a fresh lick of paint over the summer, with the signings of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, in particular, breathing new life into Ruben Amorim’s ranks.

That said, for all the delight over Mbeumo, following his return of six goals in his first 12 United games, a key problem still needs to be solved – central midfield.

Casemiro, to his credit, has silenced the doubters amid his recent resurgence, although the Brazilian’s inability to last the full 90, alongside the lack of an adequate replacement for him, is becoming a growing problem.

Of the 20 goals conceded across the Premier League and Carabao Cup, 15 of those have come when the 33-year-old was not on the pitch, with Manuel Ugarte’s diminishing status highlighted by reports that he received a dressing down from his former Sporting CP boss at Carrington late last season.

With the more attack-minded Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo the only other senior central midfielders in the first-team ranks, hopes of the Red Devils kicking on surely rest in that department being addressed in 2026 – be it in January or next summer.

Adam Wharton, rising star at Crystal Palace, remains a leading target to fill that void – but is he the only solution?

Latest on Man Utd's interest in Adam Wharton

The frustration surrounding United’s errant recruitment in recent years is perhaps best pinpointed in the case of Wharton, with respected journalist Andy Mitten having revealed that the Old Trafford side were offered the chance to sign the elegant left-footer from Blackburn Rovers, prior to his move to Selhurst Park.

Unfortunately, the powers that be didn’t appear to see the merit in prising a relatively unproven teenage talent from the Championship, with Wharton going on to join Palace for a fee of around £20m in the 2024 winter window.

That investment has paid off handsomely for the Eagles, with the 21-year-old now a central figure in a side that claimed FA Cup glory last term, resulting in claims that the south London club had placed a £100m plus price tag on his head over the summer.

Amid parallel interest in Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, reports in the recent window did suggest that Amorim and INEOS were keen on potentially reviving their prior interest in the England international, although the £250m outlay on their four actual signings likely put paid to that transfer chase.

Now, with January looming, United could go back again for the in-demand talent, with reports last month indicating that they are keen to steal a march on Real Madrid by making a £60m offer for his services.

Wharton, in an interview with The Athletic’s David Ornstein, has addressed such speculation, wisely suggesting that he pays little attention to the rumours:

Whether he actually wants to join or not, a problem still remains with the price tag that Palace could demand. With that in mind, might an in-house solution be the best bet for United’s sake?

Man Utd's answer to Wharton at Carrington

In the darkest of days in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era, each manager has found a shining light from the academy set-up, be it Adnan Januzaj under David Moyes, to Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo under Erik ten Hag.

Surprisingly, Amorim – who helped to kickstart the career of 17-year-old Geovany Quenda in Lisbon – has thus far refrained from dipping into the youth ranks too readily, with this season yet to see the new boy wonder emerge.

Chido Obi, for what it’s worth, did make eight appearances last term amid United’s centre-forward injury crisis, although the Danish teenager hasn’t been seen since, with promising full-back Harry Amass also allowed to go out on loan after making his senior debut at the back end of 2024/25.

Recent Man Utd Academy Debutants*

Player

Game

Date

Tyler Fredricson

vs Wolves

20/04/25

Harry Amass

vs Leicester

16/03/25

Chido Obi

vs Spurs

16/02/25

Toby Collyer

vs Liverpool

01/09/24

Ethan Wheatley

vs Sheff Utd

24/04/24

Omari Forson

vs Wolves

01/02/2024

*in Premier League only

Stats via Transfermarkt

The lack of European involvement has been a factor in Amorim’s decision to overlook the young crop, with little need to rotate his side right now – not least amid this five-game unbeaten run.

Central midfield is one area the Portuguese coach does need to quickly address, however, hence why turning to a figure like Jim Thwaites could prove to be a masterstroke.

Still only 17, the dynamic midfielder is of slight frame and stature, although he has certainly caught the eye at Carrington of late, with recent comparisons even being made to the likes of Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick.

Like Wharton, he isn’t an imposing physical specimen, yet Thwaites makes up for that with his eye-catching technical prowess, with analyst Ben Mattinson – now a scout for Serie A side Como – suggesting that he looks as if he’s “stepped out [of] La Masia”.

La Masia remains the birthplace of the best and brightest that Barcelona has to offer, from Xavi to Gavi, the Catalan outfit certainly know how to cultivate the next midfield star of the future.

Like those at Camp Nou – as well as Wharton – Thwaites has that ability to collect the ball from a deep-lying role in between the centre-backs, before either producing a progressive carry or pass to spring United into life.

Already this season, the rising star has scored twice and provided one assist from his ten U18 Premier League outings, as per Transfermarkt, a respectable haul considering he has operated as a number six in each of those appearances.

The Bolton-born maestro – who is set to turn 18 next month – is certainly not as far along in his development as Wharton, although amid the prospect of having to fork out over £100m for the latter man, INEOS could well do with starting to develop their own future superstars instead.

At a club renowned for its academy work in the past, United need to get things back on track again. Thwaites, while it’s still early days, might be the best place to start.

Related Not Mainoo: Amorim can replace Casemiro with "Pogba-esque" star at Man Utd

Manchester United could have a wildcard solution to their midfield woes…

Posts ByRobbie Walls Nov 13, 2025

The pair took two wickets apiece to restrict Brave to 115 for 6 in the final at Lord’s

Valkerie Baynes31-Aug-2025Northern Superchargers rode their momentum to a maiden Women’s Hundred title with a convincing seven-wicket victory over Southern Brave.Two wickets apiece to Kate Cross and Annabel Sutherland, followed by an unbroken 60-run partnership between Sutherland and Nicola Carey allowed Superchargers to pass a target of 116 with 12 balls to spare and reverse the result of the 2023 final before a record crowd for the women’s competition of 22,542 at Lord’s.Ten days after her “savage” omission from England’s World Cup squad, seam-bowling stalwart Cross blew the game open with two wickets in as many balls which left Brave reeling at 28 for 2.Sutherland removed Freya Kemp and Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Brave’s highest run-scorers for the match with 26 and 25 respectively, to restrict them to 115 for 6.Carey and Sutherland remained not out 35 and 28 respectively after their fellow Australian Phoebe Litchfield’s 13-ball 26 had set the run-chase alight following the early loss of Davina Perrin, a centurion in the eliminator, and Alice Davidson-Richards.Brave now have just one trophy to show for four final appearances in the Hundred’s five-year history and, despite entering Sunday’s match unbeaten in 2025, they never really got their innings going after being sent in to bat.After a sluggish start in which the first 19 balls yielded just 15 runs, they looked to break the shackles as Maia Bouchier launched Sutherland for six over deep square leg, followed by Wyatt-Hodge’s 86m effort off Cross over long-on. But then Bouchier picked out Hollie Armitage, stationed at extra cover, and Cross bowled Laura Wolvaardt for a first-ball duck.Sophie Devine, whose bowling had earned her four Player-of-the-Match awards through the tournament, never looked settled at the crease and when Sutherland beat Wyatt-Hodge with a length ball that jagged in, Kemp took charge of a 47-run stand with Devine. Were it not for Kemp’s 16-ball knock, Brave’s total could have looked even more sub-par, although they needed more from her.Devine’s laboured stay of 23 off 28 balls ended when Lucy Higham had her caught by Litchfield at deep extra cover and Kemp followed, skying Sutherland high in the air over midwicket so that Carey had plenty of time to run in and await the catch.With the dot balls mounting – Superchargers sent down 42 in all – Brave captain Georgia Adams panicked into a non-existent single off Cross, who had plenty of time to toss the ball to keeper Bess Heath, the bails whipped off with Adams well short of her crease after being sent back by Chloe Tryon.With Tryon struggling to pick gaps in the field, Mady Villiers offered an 11-ball cameo 17 not out but she ran out of time to have a decisive impact.Perrin was unable to reprise her starring role of 24 hours earlier, managing just 17 after her 42-ball century had led Superchargers into the final.Kate Cross wheels away in celebration•Julian Finney/Getty Images

Kemp dropped a straightforward chance at deep midwicket to remove Alice Davidson-Richards on 6 but Devine covered the mistake two balls later when she removed the dangerous Perrin, holing out to Boucher at long-on.Litchfield unleashed with four off the last ball of Devine’s set followed immediately with 4, 4, 6 off Villiers. But Villiers responded with the wicket of Davidson-Richards, who attempted a reverse paddle only to see the ball bounce off wicketkeeper Rhianna Southby’s pad for a stumping.Litchfield had faced just five balls for 19 runs at that point but, after a 15-minute stoppage for an unexpected sun shower, she faced just two more deliveries as Tryon entered the attack and had Litchfield out to a mis-timed sweep collected by Lauren Bell at short backward square.Tryon could have had Carey out lbw next ball but Brave chose not to review, and Bell was luckless when she clipped the top of Sutherland’s pad and the ball struck the bails, which remained in place despite the wicket lighting up. It was the first time Bell had gone wicketless in a match this season.That left Superchargers needing 16 off the last 20 balls and Carey and Sutherland made light work of their task, taking 10 runs off Villiers’ set of five and Sutherland sealed victory with a six off Adams.

Chelsea are now preparing a club-record bid to sign Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, with it being revealed Enzo Fernandez could play a key role in the potential transfer.

The Blues’ interest in signing a new centre-forward comes amid a slow start to life at Stamford Bridge for Liam Delap, with the 22-year-old failing to score in his opening four Premier League games since making the move to west London in the summer.

Joao Pedro has been more promising, picking up four goals and three assists in the league, but the Brazilian was given the nod in a slightly deeper role against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, upon Delap’s return from a hamstring injury.

The 24-year-old excelled in attacking midfield, scoring the second in the 3-0 rout, and Enzo Maresca has suggested he is also better-suited to playing with a partner, saying: “We know that he can play as a number nine or he can play as a number 10,”

“In both positions, I think Joao is very good, but probably when he has another number nine next to him, he is playing better.”

As such, there may be space in the squad to bring in another new centre-forward, and a huge offer is now in the works…

Chelsea preparing club-record bid for Julian Alvarez

According to a report from Spain, Chelsea are now preparing an offer of around €150m (£133m) for Atletico Madrid star Julian Alvarez, which would make him their record signing, should they manage to get a deal over the line.

Fernandez could play a key role in the transfer, as the Blues are hoping the Argentinian’s presence at Stamford Bridge will convince Alvarez to make the move, given that they are international teammates.

BlueCo clearly mean business, but it looks unlikely that a deal will be straightforward, given that FC Barcelona are also in the race, and Atletico Madrid are reluctant to enter negotiations over a sale.

Should the Spanish club soften their stance, the 25-year-old could be a fantastic addition to Maresca’s forward line, having made a flying start to the campaign, chipping in with 13 goal contributions across his opening 15 matches in all competitions.

Lauded as a “monster” by journalist Pablo Gonzalez, the 49-time Argentina international also found the back of the net 17 times in La Liga alone during his debut campaign, while a tally of 11 goals and ten assists in the former Manchester City man’s final campaign at the Etihad Stadium indicates he is very well-rounded.

Signing Alvarez would be a major statement of intent from Chelsea, and if they were able to get a deal done this winter, the World Cup-winning forward could be a real difference-maker in the Premier League title race.

Julian Alvarez has been named as one of the best strikers in the world The Best 15 Strikers in World Football Ranked (2025)

Who is the best number nine right now?

ByCharlie Smith Nov 20, 2025

He widened the terms of the game’s discourse with his insightful, analytical mind, always upending conventional wisdom

Karthik Krishnaswamy23-Dec-2024When India toured England in the summer of 2018, R Ashwin delivered a masterclass like no other.These masterclasses had been running for years, with Ian Ward, a former Test cricketer himself, coaxing the likes of Shane Warne, Muthiah Muralidaran, Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis and Curtly Ambrose to give viewers a peek into their inner workings. Ward is an expert at steering players into talking about their craft in a way that straddles the line between nerdy and accessible to regular folk watching on TV.Now Ward juxtaposed two Ashwin deliveries on his screen: one that slid on with the round-the-wicket angle into the left-hand batter, and one that dipped and ripped past Alastair Cook’s groping bat and flicked the top of off stump. Ashwin dismissed Cook the same way in both innings of that Edgbaston Test.Related

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• Two Ashwin wickets, and what they say about his craft

• R Ashwin: 'I've always been good at assessing batsmen, but now I think I've taken it to another level' (2021)

“For a youngster,” Ward asked Ashwin, “what’s the difference between the wrist position and where it’s coming off the fingers, to do those two deliveries?”Scores of current and former greats have given Ward precisely the kind of TV-friendly answer he’s looking for. Warne, famously, put his variations in neat, beribboned boxes: this is how I bowl the big, sidespinning legbreak; this is the one with a bit more overspin; this is the toppie; the googly; and oh, I flick the flipper out with my thumb, like this.Warne, of course, knew and mastered the infinite gradations between the sidespinner and the overspinner, but he also had an intuitive grasp of what TV audiences wanted.Ashwin didn’t give Ward the neatly packaged insight he was after. Instead of showing how he released the undercutter and the big offbreak, he launched into a demonstration of the various ways he cocks his wrist while loading up different deliveries. He even described how he does this for the arm ball, a variation Ward hadn’t even asked about.Viewers who had followed Ashwin’s career for any length of time may have chuckled at this, because this was typical. Among the many things this great cricketer has excelled at over his long career is denying interviewers the answer they’re looking for, while giving them entire chapters of tangential material. Few players have been as generous with their insight, but as with everything else about Ashwin, the generosity has come on his own terms.It has always been this way. The first time I interviewed Ashwin was during a Tamil Nadu-Railways Ranji Trophy game in 2008, a year and a half before his international debut. I asked the questions of a 21-year-old cub reporter, and he gave the answers of a man only a few months older but already nearing elite status in his profession.

Throughout his career, he has been more invested than most in broadening the boundaries of his sport, and more willing than most to throw open the doors of his laboratory

I asked him about his strengths as an offspinner. He told me that his big, strong fingers allowed him to give the ball a rip, and that this, allied with his height, enabled him to generate bounce on most pitches. And immediately, unprompted, he went on to describe the bounce as a double-edged sword, and explain why he often bowled with long-on back even in red-ball cricket, because the bounce made it easier for batters to hit him over the top. “I don’t want to give them that release shot.”It took me years to grasp the wider implications, but it was a valuable early lesson that cricket is all about trade-offs. If you want to strengthen the slip cordon, you’ll have to leave a gap somewhere else. A middled drive off a good-length ball is no less risky than one that’s edged behind. A fielder at long-on isn’t always a sign of defensive thinking. If you want to describe the sport properly, you must look at events in the context of these trade-offs. Never in isolation, never through the binary of good and bad.How Ashwin railed against binaries. After his most chastening home series, against England in 2012-13, he bridled against the wave of criticism that came his way, but what bothered him wasn’t the tone of the criticism but the fact that so much of it was inaccurate. He was happy to admit that he had struggled to control his length during that series, but couldn’t fathom the narrative that this had happened because he bowled too many carrom balls.For all the misplaced criticism he attracted, Ashwin also gained a growing band of admirers who tried to keep up with what he was doing to his craft. Wittingly and unwittingly, he went on to spend his entire career in the eye of a cyclone of narrative and counter-narrative.He came to occupy that space for many reasons. It was partly because he came along when cricket was being recorded at far higher resolutions and far greater frame rates than before, when holes in conventional wisdom were becoming increasingly evident to the viewer. He came along at a time when a significant number of journalists, analysts, commentators and observers on social media – the lines between these categories were also becoming blurry – were making a concerted effort to see the game for what it was, even if the mainstream was slow to respond.Drift into middle, clip the top of off: Alastair Cook was masterfully bowled twice at Edgbaston in 2018 by R Ashwin•Getty Images & PA ImagesBut it was also because Ashwin was a singularly active challenger of conventional wisdom, not just on the field – as no doubt many others also were – but off it too. He cared deeply not just about his game but game too, and how it was described.He went to great lengths to explain the effects of sidespin and overspin, and the typical behaviour of red-soil and black-soil pitches, but would roll his eyes if you generalised too broadly. “Come on, man,” he seemed to tell you. “It’s not that simple!” He contributed greatly to a widening of the terms of cricketing discourse, winced when those terms were misused, and never stopped trying to tell you how things worked. Sometimes, he’d throw in a stunning revelation when you least expected it.Watch that masterclass now, and it’s clear Ward has no idea what’s about to hit him when he asks Ashwin about his carrom ball, summoning onto his screen what he believes is an example of it.Then Ashwin tells him, and all of us: “The one there, actually it’s not the carrom ball.” He explains that he flicks the carrom ball out of the front of his hand, and this variation – he describes it as a “backflipper” here, but will soon begin calling it the reverse carrom ball – from underneath it, with the seam up. He says batters have begun to pick his carrom ball now, so he occasionally slips in this variant; the right-hander shaping to punch with the turn, through the off side, is suddenly confronted with a monstrous inswinger.All this becomes obvious when you watch it alongside Ashwin’s explanation, but it’s far from clear until he’s talked you through it.Ashwin revealed all this unprompted, in a widely televised interview, and along the way revealed something of who he is. Throughout his career, he has been more invested than most in broadening the boundaries of his sport, and more willing than most to throw open the doors of his laboratory. And he’s been entirely secure in the belief that he’ll remain a step ahead of the rest of us, everyone from his opponents to the casual fan, even if he gives away all his secrets.

Following Dream 11’s exit, the BCCI began its search for a new team sponsor on Tuesday

ESPNcricinfo staff02-Sep-2025

India are likely to play the upcoming Asia Cup without a lead sponsor following Dream 11’s withdrawal from its contract with the BCCI last month.On September 2, the BCCI began the process to secure a new sponsor by releasing an invitation for expression of interest for the lead sponsorship rights of the national team. The last date for interested parties to purchase the expression of interest is September 12 and the deadline to submit a bid is September 16. The Asia Cup begins on September 9 and concludes on September 28.The need for a new team sponsor arose after the Indian government passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming bill last month prohibiting real-money gaming, which was Dream 11’s core business. Following that development Dream 11 communicated to the BCCI that it would have to pull out of its contract, which contained an exit clause to account for such government regulations. Dream XI’s contract was until 2026 and was worth USD 44 million (INR 358 crore approximately).The BCCI has been confronted with the challenge of finding a new lead sponsor after the incumbent pulled out mid-contract previously as well. The most recent instance was in 2019, when mobile company OPPO withdrew three years before its contract was scheduled to end. Educational technology company Byju’s filled the breach before Dream 11 made a successful bid for a three-year deal in 2023.In its invitation for expressions for interest for a new team sponsor, the BCCI specified that alcohol brands, betting or gambling services, cryptocurrency, online money gaming, tobacco brands, or any product or service likely to “offend public morals such as, including but not limited to, pornography” were not eligible to submit a bid.The Indian team is scheduled to leave on September 4 for the United Arab Emirates, where they are grouped with Oman, Pakistan and UAE in Group A of the tournament. They play UAE and Pakistan in Dubai on September 10 and 14, and then play Oman in Abu Dhabi on September 19.Group B comprises Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Sri Lanka. The top two teams from each group qualify for the Super Four stage, and the teams that finish one and two in that round will contest the final on September 28.

FIFA has released its final rankings of 2025, with the U.S. Men’s National Team rising to No. 14 after wins over Paraguay and Uruguay. Mexico dropped to No. 15 following a draw and a defeat, leaving the U.S. as CONCACAF’s highest-ranked side to close the year. Spain remain No. 1, while Brazil returned to the top five.

Getty Images SportUSMNT, the new CONCACAF giant

Mauricio Pochettino’s USMNT closed out the year in impressive form. Back-to-back victories – a 2-1 win over Paraguay and a dominant 5-1 performance against Uruguay – lifted the Americans to 1,681.88 points and into 14th place in the FIFA World Ranking. The climb of two spots also pushed them ahead of their 2026 World Cup co-hosts: Mexico dropped to 15th after a draw and a loss, while Canada settled in at 27th.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportContrasting fortunes with Mexico

For Pochettino, the November window capped a strong semester marked by a five-match unbeaten run, including four wins and just one draw. Mexico, meanwhile, endured the opposite trajectory. Javier Aguirre’s side ended a turbulent stretch with six straight matches without a victory – their last win came in the Gold Cup final against the United States – and the decline cost them the regional lead. The USMNT will finish 2025 as Concacaf’s highest-ranked team.

Getty Images SportSpain stay on top

At the top of the global ranking, Spain remain No. 1, with world champions Argentina and France right behind. Brazil climbed back into the top five, overtaking Portugal and the Netherlands, while Italy slid out of the top 10 after a costly 4-1 home loss to Norway.

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AFPHow rankings translate into success…

National teams that have finished the year ranked No. 1 in the FIFA standings in the 21st century:

7× Spain (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2025)

6× Brazil (2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2022)

5× Belgium (2015, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021)

4× Argentina (2007, 2016, 2023, 2024)

2× Germany (2014, 2017)

1× France (2001)

Arsenal are now open to January offers for one Gunners star, with it being revealed Mikel Arteta will need to offload players and free up space in the squad.

The Gunners are well-stocked in the striker department, with Viktor Gyokeres adapting to life in the Premier League very well since making the move from Sporting CP in the summer transfer window, receiving high praise from Arteta after bagging a brace against Atletico Madrid.

The Spaniard said: “All of us [appreciate Gyokeres] because he makes us a much better team. I think we’ve become much more unpredictable,”

“He’s so physical, opens the spaces for everyone. The way he presses the ball, holds the ball, it’s just phenomenal.”

The 27-year-old, who bagged his fourth Premier League goal of the season against Burnley earlier this month, has certainly started well, while Kai Havertz is now closing in on a return from injury, having not been involved since the 1-0 win against Manchester United back in August.

Consequently, there may be little game time available for Arteta’s other striker, Garbiel Jesus, and there has now been a major update on his future at the Emirates Stadium…

Arsenal now open to January offers for Gabriel Jesus

According to a report from Spain, Arsenal are now open to offers for Jesus in the January transfer window, as they need to offload players and free up space in the squad, and the Brazilian is no longer a part of Arteta’s plans.

Persistent injuries have meant the 28-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium, and a return to Palmeiras could now be on the cards, with the Brazilian club willing to bring him back, potentially on a loan-to-buy deal.

The 64-time Brazil international has received high praise from Arteta in the past, with the manager saying back in September 2023: “He is a tremendous player, a really important player for us. He changed our world last season. You could all see that.”

That said, it is probably the correct decision to offload the centre-forward, given that he has been unable to put his injury problem in the rearview mirror, missing a number of games for club and country over the past few seasons.

Gabriel Jesus’ injury record by season

Games missed

2022-23

17

2023-24

17

2024-25 onwards

56

It has recently emerged that the £13.7m-a-year striker has returned to training after an extended period of time on the sidelines, which could be a boost for Arteta, given that the manager has been left light on options at times this season, with Gyokeres and Havertz suffering setbacks.

With Arsenal looking to compete on all fronts, faring well in the Champions League and through to the EFL Cup quarter-final, Jesus may still have a role to play in the short-term, but it would not be the end of the world if Arsenal sanction a January departure.

Gabriel Jesus makes admission on Arsenal's future Arsenal star makes transfer admission and says club "want" to sign him

He’s responded to the speculation around his future.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 14, 2025

Estevao Willian has been labelled a "football genius" and backed to challenge for the Ballon d'Or after becoming a regular for both Chelsea and Brazil at the age of 18. The youngster formally joined the Blues this summer from Palmeiras and has already established himself as an important player under Enzo Maresca.

• 'Messinho' enjoying fine start at Chelsea

  Estevao, also known as 'Messinho', has appeared in 16 matches across all competitions for Chelsea in his debut season at the club, scoring four goals and providing one assist.

  Last month, Maresca lavished praise on the young winger: "It’s exciting to see him. The good thing about Estevao, sometimes with young players we are worried, because they have one good game and they think they are already [at the] top. Estavao, he’s playing well but he’s polite, he’s humble, he wants to learn. I think his family are also doing a big job there, so we are very happy not only with the way he’s performing. But he’s a nice boy, a good boy. In the Premier League he needs a little bit more time. I think he’s more [of a] winger, but he’s going to finish playing inside the pitch, in the pockets.

  "For me personally, he's fantastic because he's a special player, but at the same time you don't have to be worried. Now he's going to play one game, two games, score, and he's already thinking that he knows how good he is."

Advertisement

• Getty Images
  

  Estevao backed to challenge for Ballon d'Or

  Ahead of Brazil's international friendly against Tunisia on Tuesday night, opposing manager Sami Trabelsi spoke highly of Estevao, telling reporters: "I think he's a new football genius emerging, very young. I think he's doing very well and he's a player who can be expected to be among the greats, among the best in the world, certainly, in the coming years.

  "If he manages to have good performances or win titles, whether with his club or national team, he will be among the players who, in the coming years, could even compete for the Ballon d'Or. He brings many solutions, a lot of technique, a lot of genius. There aren't many players of that level, of that category of genius, on the world stage."

  Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti added: "It's a surprise to see such a young player with this kind of talent. He's very precise and very incisive. Brazil has a guaranteed future with him."

• Chelsea 'lucky to have' Estevao

  After scoring a goal in Brazil's 2-0 friendly win over Senegal last week, Ancelotti claimed that Chelsea are lucky to have a talent like him in their ranks. 

  The former Real Madrid boss said: "Estevao has an incredible amount of talent. It’s a surprise this level at his age. He’s good at finishing, has a lot of magic… and he works very hard. I can say this: with Estevao, Brazil have a guaranteed future. He’s a very talented player. He is able to show every game, in Chelsea too, and he doesn’t need a lot of minutes to show his quality. He can play five minutes and he can show his quality. I think the Brazil national team is really lucky to have him, and also Chelsea."

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• (C)Getty Images
  

  Estevao was reprimanded by Ancelotti in October

  However, recently reported that Ancelotti reprimanded Estevao for not following his instructions during a training session in October. This led to the Selecao coach allegedly shouting at the winger: "I only speak once. Either you do what I'm telling you, or you're out of the team." 

  The tough love had an immediate effect on the Chelsea wonderkid. Estevao responded by scoring twice in the subsequent 5-0 friendly win over South Korea, and since then has continued to impress in the famous yellow shirt of Brazil.

Chelsea have made an approach to sign a former Real Madrid sensation, and it is believed that the west Londoners could even strike a deal in January.

Enzo Maresca’s side, despite some shock defeats at home to Brighton and Sunderland recently, have made a solid start to the season overall — losing just once in their last nine matches and climbing up to third in the Premier League table.

However, even taking into account their form on paper, not to mention Chelsea’s near-£300 million spend in the summer, there are suggestions that Maresca is dissatisfied with his current squad and could look to upgrade key areas in the winter.

Chelsea have lost all of Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwil, Wesley Fofana, Benoit Badiashile and Tosin Adarabioyo to injury at various points already this season, with Maresca reportedly prioritising the addition of a new centre-back in January.

Now that injury-ridden midfielder Romeo Lavia is also set to be out for “at least” a month with a quadriceps injury (Fabrizio Romano), Chelsea are said to be looking at new midfield options ahead of 2026 as well.

Nico Paz now keen to join Chelsea with approach made to Como

Indeed, it is reported by TEAMtalk that Chelsea have identified Como starlet Nico Paz as their most viable January midfield target, with Maresca looking to strengthen his squad in the engine room as well as further forward.

Chelsea have apparently opened discussions with both the Serie A club and Paz’s representatives through direct enquiries, as they look to address squad depth issues that have been exposed by recent injury problems.

The Blues are actively compiling a shortlist of midfield reinforcements, with Lavia’s latest injury lay-off prompting urgent action.

Paz, who came through Real’s academy system and is valued at around £62 million, has emerged as the leading candidate to arrive at Stamford Bridge in January ahead of both Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton and Man United’s Kobbie Mainoo.

What makes the potential deal particularly encouraging for Chelsea is the player’s own enthusiasm about the move. Paz is understood to be genuinely interested in a transfer to England and sees Chelsea as an ‘ideal’ next career step.

His technical ability on the left foot and creativity is said to have caught the eye of Chelsea’s scouting department, who believe he fits perfectly within their current recruitment philosophy.

The young Spaniard represents exactly the type of signing Chelsea have been targeting under BlueCo’s leadership – a player with high potential who ticks multiple boxes in terms of age profile, quality and future sell-on value.

However, Paz still won’t be an easy signing by any means.

Real Madrid basically own the player in practice if not officially, possessing full matching rights on any deal for him, not to mention a 50 per cent sell-on clause and multiple buy-back options worth just £8 million for the summer of 2026 and £8.5m in 2027.(Football Italia).

This means that Xabi Alonso’s side have a massive say over Paz’s future, so Chelsea may even have to negotiate with the La Liga giants alongside Como to make this deal happen.

Devdutt Padikkal (86*), B Sai Sudharsan (73) and N Jagadeesan (64) were also among the runs in Lucknow

ESPNcricinfo staff18-Sep-2025Dhruv Jurel scored his second first-class century on a day when all India A batters except captain Shreyas Iyer were among the runs against Australia A. The hosts ended day three on 403 for 4, still 129 runs behind the visitors’ first-innings total of 532. Apart from Jurel, who was batting on 113 at stumps, Devdutt Padikkal, B Sai Sudharsan and N Jagadeesan also went past fifty at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow.India A started day three trailing Australia A by 416 runs, with nine wickets in hand, and Xavier Bartlett had Jagadeesan caught behind by Josh Phillipe for 64 in the sixth over of the day to end a second-wicket stand of 49. Padikkal then joined Sudharsan in a productive stand, but with their partnership nearing a hundred, Sudharsan missed an attempted reverse-sweep off Cooper Connolly and was trapped lbw for 73.Australia A struck again 3.2 overs later, with Iyer was trapped in front by Corey Rocchiccioli for 8. It was Iyer’s third successive low score in a first-class game, after he was dismissed for 25 and 12 against Central Zone in the semi-finals of the Duleep Trophy earlier this month.But Iyer’s wicket turned out to be the last for Australia A on Thursday, as Jurel and Padikkal rebuilt. India A were 310 behind when the two came together, and by the end of the day they had put on an unbroken 181 for the fifth wicket.Padikkal was more the patient of the two batters, taking his time in getting to his fifty off 117 balls. The aggressive Jurel reached the landmark in just 54 deliveries, getting there by smashing Rocchiccioli for two consecutive sixes and a four.Rocchiccioli was the most expensive of the Australia A bowlers, going for 128 runs in 24 overs at an economy rate of 5.33. Jurel especially took a liking to the offspinner, scoring 47 runs off him at just better than a run a ball, with three fours and three sixes.By the end of the day, Jurel had rattled along at a strike rate of 85.61 over 132 balls, and Padikkal at 48.31. The left-hand batter went to stumps batting on 86, in sight of a seventh first-class century. Their 181-run stand had come at nearly five runs an over.With only the final day’s play left, and with neither team having begun their second innings, the match seems headed towards a draw.