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West Ham United are now looking to sign a “sensational” £35m midfielder who’s won the Premier League title two times, amid growing uncertainty surrounding his future…

West Ham eyeing new midfielder amid Paqueta uncertainty

West Ham star Lucas Paqueta recently admitted that he wanted to return to Brazil during the summer transfer window, saying: “Maybe I shouldn’t even be saying this, but I had some conversations with Filipe (Luís), who is a friend, in addition to the work he’s doing at Flamengo,”

“I really expressed my desire to return and also showed it to my agents.”

Ultimately, the attacking midfielder ended up staying put, however, and he has since gone on to put in some impressive performances in the Premier League, scoring three goals, most recently finding the back of the net in the 3-1 victory against Newcastle United.

That said, the Hammers won’t be particularly reassured by the fact one of their key players was angling for a move, and they have now set their sights on a new attacking midfielder, who could be brought in next summer.

That is according to the print edition of the Sunday Mirror (via West Ham Zone), with a report stating West Ham want to be kept informed about Harvey Elliott’s situation, having failed to make an impact since arriving at Aston Villa on loan from Liverpool.

Villa have an obligation to pay £35m for Elliott if he plays ten matches this season, but he hasn’t been getting a look-in as of late, which means Liverpool may recall the Englishman during the January transfer window.

The 22-year-old, who is represented by the same agency as Niclas Fullkrug, is viewed as a target for the summer, rather than this winter, but the Hammers may have to fend off rival interest, with RB Leipzig also named as potential suitors.

"Sensational" Elliott could reignite career at the London Stadium

The attacking midfielder’s move to Villa simply hasn’t worked out, but he is still very young, and there are plenty of signs he could be an exciting acquisition for West Ham, having impressed at times during his spell with Liverpool.

West Ham and Tottenham get Ivan Toney response after holding discussions

The Al-Ahli striker is fielding enquiries ahead of January.

ByEmilio Galantini Nov 29, 2025

The London-born midfielder made 149 appearances for the Reds, amassing 15 goals and 20 assists and playing a role in his side winning two Premier League titles, while the 28-cap England U21 star has also caught the eye at international level.

As such, West Ham should continue to monitor Elliott’s situation as the season goes on, ahead of potentially launching a move next summer, with the former Fulham man in need of a move to a club where game is guaranteed, if he is going to fulfill his potential.

Tim Southee, the New Zealand fast-bowling great, has been appointed Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) bowling coach for IPL 2026, as reported by ESPNcricinfo earlier.”We are delighted to welcome Tim Southee back to the KKR family, this time in a coaching capacity,” KKR chief executive Venky Mysore said in a statement. “Tim’s vast experience and technical expertise will be instrumental in shaping our bowling unit. His leadership qualities and calm approach make him an ideal mentor for our young bowlers.”Southee, who hasn’t retired as a cricketer but has taken on coaching assignments over the past year, including with the England men’s national team, said returning to KKR, who he represented as a player, felt like a natural step.Related

• Shane Watson joins KKR as assistant coach

• Abhishek Nayar appointed KKR head coach ahead of IPL 2026

“KKR has always felt like home to me, and it’s an honour to return in this new role,” he said. “The franchise has an incredible culture, passionate fans, and a great group of players. I look forward to working closely with the bowlers and helping the team achieve success in IPL 2026.”His appointment came amid significant changes to KKR’s coaching group, now headed by Abhishek Nayar.Former bowling coach Bharat Arun and spin coach Carl Crowe have both moved to Lucknow Super Giants, while Ottis Gibson, who served as assistant coach last season, has exited the setup. Shane Watson has joined as their new assistant coach, and Dwayne Bravo continues in his role as team mentor.Southee had a long but somewhat up-and-down IPL career as a player. Between 2011 and 2023, he represented Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Mumbai Indians, before joining KKR in 2021, where he remained until 2023. He has 31 wickets from 43 matches in the IPL, with his best season coming with KKR, in 2022, when he claimed 14 wickets in nine matches.

South Africa have picked a team best suited for the subcontinent, but conditions here expose even seasoned teams, let alone first-timers

Firdose Moonda11-Nov-20251:47

Phillander: South Africa’s young team has had ‘phenomenal preparation’

South Africa’s last two tours to India have been tests of character and conditions, and it would not be too harsh to say the visitors failed on both counts. After their nine-year unbeaten run away from home was broken when they were outspun in 2015, South Africa were on shaky ground in 2019: without a permanent coach and on the cusp of an administrative unravelling that changed the game.But six years is a long time in sport, and South Africa have rebuilt from the ground up. They’re once again a champion Test side, more inexperienced than their predecessors but equally street-smart. At full strength, they have not lost a Test series under coach Shukri Conrad since his appointment in January 2023, which makes the New Zealand series of 2024 (when Conrad was forced to take a makeshift squad because of clashes with the SA20) the only time they’ve been defeated. So they’ll believe this is their best chance to beat India at home since they last did it, in the year 2000.Related

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South Africa return to India without fear of the Turnado

Bavuma comment: Against India, SA will prepare for the worst and hope for the best

De Zorzi and Stubbs – SA identify their horses for Asian courses

To do that, they’ve assembled a squad who have been there but haven’t done that. This includes the captain Temba Bavuma, opening batter Aiden Markram, pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada, and what appears to be sub-continent specialists, albeit that for many, this is their first experience of Tests in India.Overall, eight of South Africa’s squad have never played a Test in India before and three others have limited experience but could still add value. Batter Zubayr Hamza and left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy were on South Africa’s 2019 tour to India and Simon Harmer on the 2015 one. Hamza has also been on three A tours to the country, where he averages 42.09 in red-ball cricket. As for the rest, this is what they will bring to the table.Ryan RickeltonOpening batter Ryan Rickelton had never been to India before this year and will now make a second trip in nine months after his maiden IPL stint in 2025. There, he was Mumbai Indians’ third-leading run-scorer, hitting three fifties from 14 matches while striking at 150.97.While those numbers will give him confidence, Rickelton knows he will need to summon the discipline he “puts away,” in his own words, when transitioning from red-ball to white-ball cricket. His two Tests in Bangladesh last year brought just 40 runs, though he was batting out of position at No. 5, but he enjoyed better returns in Pakistan. Rickelton batted for more than three hours and scored 71 in the first innings of the first Test in Lahore, where he showed the patience to play the long game.Tony de Zorzi After losing his place to Rickelton earlier this year, Tony de Zorzi got another opportunity when Bavuma missed the Pakistan series through injury and took it. He scored a century in Lahore, which was his second Test hundred and second in the subcontinent, and 55 in Rawalpindi. His ability to play spin must make him a strong contender for the starting XI even though he is the only member of the squad who has never played a match, in any format, in India.2:43

Philander: South Africa batters will carry IPL learnings into Tests

Dewald Brevis India is very familiar with Dewald Brevis after he earned his first IPL contract off the back of performances at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup but the early hype barely paid off. Brevis had two quiet seasons for MI and was re-examined as a replacement player for Chennai Super Kings this year. Two half-centuries in quick time towards the latter end of the campaign showed his credentials.Since then, Brevis scored a half-century on his Test debut and enjoyed his first ODI appearance. He had a curious tour of Pakistan, which was all or nothing with two ducks and a run-a-ball 54 in the Tests. That doesn’t bother South Africa, who see Brevis as a wild card with the ability to change the game in the space of a session, and specifically surprise the opposition with his batting tempo.Tristan StubbsIt has been a difficult year for Tristan Stubbs, who has struggled for form across formats including at the IPL. He scored 300 runs in 14 matches for Delhi Capitals with a top-score of 41* but found some rhythm with half-centuries against Australia and England and another in the Rawalpindi Test. The conundrum with Stubbs in Tests seems to be where South Africa want to bat him. He has played at Nos. 3, 4 and 5 and his century in Bangladesh came at No. 3 which may inform how South Africa use him in India, if at all. He is likely competing for a spot against de Zorzi or Wiaan Mulder.Kyle Verreynne Known as one of South Africa’s best players of spin, this series is an important one for Kyle Verreynne, with the bat and with the gloves. Verreynne has only played two List-A games in India on a South Africa A tour in 2019, which was also his first trip to the subcontinent. In the years since, he has shown himself to be a versatile and adaptable cricketer in a variety of conditions including the County Championship. With three hundreds in the previous cycle, Verreynne was the South African with the most centuries, and he also has one in Bangladesh which speaks to his credentials in the region.Wiaan Mulder has done nearly everything for South Africa in Tests•Zimbabwe CricketWiaan Mulder It’s still unclear how exactly Mulder fits into South Africa’s plans as he has done everything from opening the bowling to batting anywhere from No. 3 to 8, to standing in as captain, and this tour may provide some direction. Mulder is one of three seam-bowling allrounders and the only one with some decent red-ball returns in India. He was part of a South African A side that toured India in 2019 and was their leading run-scorer.Mulder’s inclusion may depend on whether South Africa anticipate some swing and how they plan to stack their line-up. His century in the second Test against Bangladesh last year, which came after a fifty in the first Test, will mean he is fairly high up the pecking order but with the resources at South Africa’s disposal, may not be high enough.Marco JansenYou only need to remember the 2023 ODI World Cup to summon memories of how good, and how bad, Marco Jansen can be on the big stage. After searing through Powerplays in most of the group stage, Jansen suffered a severe case of stage fright against India.He has since worked on his big-match temperament and was the best-performing South African bowler at the most recent IPL. What Jansen brings in terms of his left-arm angle, aggression, and even big-hitting is well known and this series will be a test of whether he can translate that to Tests in India. Jansen has played 50 matches in India, including one red-ball game on the 2019 A tour, where he took 2 for 59. He has only played one Test in the subcontinent before, going wicketless in Rawalpindi.Corbin Bosch A late international bloomer, Corbin Bosch has enjoyed a magical last year in which he has debuted across all formats for South Africa and earned an IPL contract. He played just three games for MI, which is the extent of all his experience in India but has been preferred over someone like Lungi Ngidi for his skill set. Bosch is genuinely fast, regularly hitting speeds above 140kph, and he’s a confident ball-striker too. He performed well in the white-ball series against Pakistan and, though he may not get into the XI immediately, he provides strong backup.

Stats highlights from the fourth day of the World Test Championship final at Lord’s

Sampath Bandarupalli14-Jun-20251:53

Dale Steyn: ‘We saw the biggest of the biggest come through’

9722 Days between South Africa’s two ICC titles – the Champions Trophy in 1998 and the World Test Championship (WTC) in 2025.282 The target South Africa chased to win the WTC final against Australia was their fifth-highest chase in Test cricket. Four of those five wins have been against Australia.It is also the second-highest chase at Lord’s.8 Consecutive wins for South Africa in Test cricket, a streak that began in the West Indies last year. It is their second-longest winning streak in the format, behind the nine successive wins in 2002-03. Their eight-match streak is also the longest winning run in the WTC; India and New Zealand had won seven in a row during the first WTC cycle.Related

Markram delivers WTC glory to end South Africa's history of heartbreak

'As divided as we are at times, rejoice in this moment and just be one' – SA players on WTC 2025 victory

138 South Africa’s first-innings total in the WTC final at Lord’s – their lowest first-innings total in an away Test win. Only three times have they won a Test after scoring fewer in their first innings.3 Number of teams to win a men’s Test in England by scoring the highest total of the match in the fourth innings, before South Africa in the WTC final. West Indies won by scoring 344 at Lord’s in 1984 and 226 at The Oval in 1988, while England made 362 against Australia at Headingley in 2019.9 Test wins and a draw for Temba Bavuma in ten matches as South Africa captain. Only England’s Percy Chapman (9) had as many wins as Bavuma in his first ten Tests as captain.136 Aiden Markram’s score in the fourth innings of the WTC final after bagging a duck in South Africa’s first innings. Only the West Indian Roy Fredericks had a higher fourth-innings score – 138 against England at Lord’s in 1984 – after making a first-innings duck.3 Hundreds for Markram in the fourth innings in Tests. Only Graeme Smith (4) has more fourth-innings tons for South Africa.74 First-innings lead South Africa conceded at Lord’s. The previous time they won a Test after conceding a lead of more than 50 was in 2011, when they beat Australia in Cape Town.

Manchester United are looking to add to their squad in January, and Fabrizio Romano has revealed one signing the Red Devils absolutely “will” make in 2026.

Ruben Amorim will be pleased with the progress his side have made in their last batch of Premier League matches with the international break now here, given that the Red Devils have gone five games unbeaten in the top-flight.

Despite looking set for a defeat last weekend, Matthijs De Ligt’s late header against Tottenham salvaged Manchester United a draw in the capital to keep his side one point off the top four.

Intriguingly, the Red Devils now sit above Liverpool on goal difference after their heavy defeat to Manchester City on Sunday, which is a testament to their resilience despite losing three players due to injury, something Amorim was keen to point out when speaking to Match of the Day.

“It was a complicated match, especially in the end. If you look at the game the three points were there to take. I think we can be so much better to understand more what’s happening in the game,” said the United boss.

“We lacked a little bit in the final third, the quality was not perfect. We fight in every adversity. We lost Harry Maguire, Casemiro, Benjamin Sesko and we lose two goals, but we still managed to score.”

While the Slovenian appears to be the worst of the casualties, it does beg the question of where Manchester United could look to strengthen in January. With that in mind, Romano has delivered a telling update from Old Trafford.

Fabrizio Romano confirms Man Utd "will" sign midfielder

Speaking on GIVEMESPORT’s Market Madness podcast, Romano has confirmed that Manchester United will “for sure” sign a midfielder next year, noting that Atletico Madrid star Conor Gallagher and Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller are two targets that the club could look to acquire.

Conor Gallagher in 2025/26 – all competitions
Appearances – 16	2 goals 0 assists
Angelo Stiller in 2025/26 – all competitions
Appearances – 17	1 goal 5 assists

With both midfielders excelling inside Europe’s top five leagues, it appears there could be room for movement, even if January may not be a suitable time due to the difficult nature of conducting business mid-season.

Man Utd are also eyeing a midfielder they could get a £60m discount on

Gallagher’s homegrown status would also appeal to Amorim. However, there are no certainties in football, and it appears that there is plenty of work to be done before Manchester United secure a new operator in the engine room.

Roy Keane has claimed that his infamous leg-breaker on Erling Haaland's dad, Alfie, was not an unfair challenge. To get a bigger picture and understand the magnitude of Keane’s fury, you have to rewind to September 1997, when Manchester United faced Leeds United at Elland Road.

• How did it all start?

  Keane was a player who thrived on combat on the pitch. However, he went down in agony after rupturing his cruciate ligament while attempting a challenge. As he lay on the turf, clutching his knee in genuine pain, Haaland, who was playing for Leeds, stood over him and sneered, accusing him of faking an injury. 

  "He tried to tackle me and I got the free kick. He was lying on the ground and I just told him to ‘get up’ as you normally do with players – nothing more than that," Haaland said in an earlier interview. "I wasn’t trying to intend anything against him, but obviously he took that very hard."

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  That fateful day in Old Trafford

  For Keane, who never forgot a slight, those words became fuel. Four years later, in April 2001, fate delivered the perfect opportunity for revenge during a Manchester derby at Old Trafford. And Keane didn’t miss. His right boot smashed into Haaland’s knee with sickening force as Keane stood over his old adversary, snarling expletives. He didn’t even pretend it was an accident.

  In his 2002 autobiography, he admitted it outright: "I’d waited long enough. I f*cking hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that you c***. And don’t ever stand over me sneering about fake injuries."

  At the time, Keane received a £5,000 fine and a three-match ban. But when his autobiography publicly confirmed what everyone suspected, that the assault was premeditated, the FA reopened the case. He was handed an additional five-match suspension and fined a further £150,000. 

  In his second autobiography, published in 2014, he doubled down once again, describing Haaland as "an absolute pr*ck to play against."

  "[He] p*ssed me off, shooting his mouth off. He was an absolute pr*ck to play against. Niggling, sneaky," he wrote.

  "I did want to nail him and let him know what was happening. I wanted to hurt him and stand over him and go: 'Take that, you c***.' I don’t regret that. But I had no wish to injure him. It was action; it was football. It was dog eats dog. I’ve kicked lots of players and I know the difference between hurting somebody and injuring somebody. I didn’t go to injure Haaland. When you play sport, you know how to injure somebody.

  "There was no premeditation. I’d played against Haaland three or four times between the game against Leeds, in 1997, when I injured my cruciate and the game when I tackled him, in 2001, when he was playing for Manchester City. If I’d been this madman out for revenge, why would I have waited years for an opportunity to injure him? Was I going around for years thinking: ‘I’m going to get him, I’m going to get him.’? No. Was he at the back of my mind? Of course, he was. Like Rob Lee was, like David Batty was, like Alan Shearer was, like Patrick Vieira was. All these players were in the back of my mind: ‘If I get a chance I’m going to f*cking hit you, of course I am.’"

• One final declaration from Keane!

  Keane is never one to hide behind PR polish or remorse, and has again claimed that his tackle on Haaland was "not a bad challenge", defiantly insisting that he was merely trying to "hurt him", and not end his career. 

  Speaking on , the ex-Manchester United captain declared: "This is my last time talking about this tackle, the Haaland one. I still don’t think it was a bad tackle, I really don’t. I don’t care what anyone says. It’s not as bad as everyone thinks it is. When you play sport at that speed we played at, there’s a difference between hurting somebody and injuring somebody – big difference. That’s my argument. I was trying to hurt him, not injure somebody."

  When asked about it in 2024, Haaland said wryly: "Is that a coincidence, or isn’t it? If you’re in the ground and someone hits you in the right leg, you can still twist your other leg. It can get injured and that’s probably what happened.

  "I haven’t played a full 90 minutes after that incident, that’s the hard fact. And people can judge whatever they want. Obviously, I found out afterwards that it was with intent and he was seeking revenge and all these things. I think that’s a bit sad. Sad for football and it was not good for me either at the time."

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  Did Keane actually end Haaland's career?

  Keane used one argument to justify his lack of guilt as the Norwegian played a full international just four days after the infamous tackle and played 68 minutes for City shortly after. 

  "Haaland finished the game and played four days later, for Norway," he said. "A couple of years later, he tried to claim that he’d had to retire because of the tackle. He was going to sue me. It was a bad tackle but he was still able to play four days later."

  One must note that although Haaland did undergo the knife in that summer, it was on his left leg, whereas Keane tackled him on the right.

It is not controversial to say that Tottenham Hotspur have struggled in the Premier League this season, though, adopting a glass-half-full mentality, it could also be suggested that Thomas Frank’s project, in its infancy, has the potential to be a success.

However, we need to see a more synergised frontline and a sharper overall build-up strategy. Spurs have struggled for stable home form and fluency in their creativity this season, and that has formed the crux of their struggles.

Many players have flattered to deceive, but Johnson’s poor performances have perhaps gone somewhat under the radar as Frank continues to hand the Wales international a second-string role.

Brennan Johnson's struggles at Spurs

In keeping with the wider narrative at Tottenham, Johnson has ebbed and flowed since joining the club from Nottingham Forest for around £47.5m in 2023. However, he will be desperate for an uptick in form after a tough start to the Frank era, peripheral after scoring 17 goals across all competitions last year.

Johnson may have an eye for goal, but Frank clearly doesn’t fancy him as a regular starting option for the Lilywhites at the moment, with the Welshman only starting three of the past 11 fixtures in the Premier League.

Despite scoring in both of Tottenham’s opening league outings, he has offered very little in regard to ball-carrying and creative metrics, clinical when afforded space in the danger area but offering very little else for an outfit desperate for more dynamism.

See below for how Johnson’s data from the top-flight terms matches up against the form of Mohamed Kudus, and you’ll get a sense of why Frank is loath to give him a starting berth.

Premier League 25/26 – Mohammed Kudus vs Brennan Johnson

Stats (* per game)

Kudus

Johnson

Matches (starts)

13 (13)

13 (6)

Goals

2

2

Assists

5

0

Touches*

52.4

17.8

Shots (on target)*

1.5 (0.5)

0.4 (0.2)

Accurate passes*

20.9 (87%)

6.7 (70%)

Chances created*

1.6

0.4

Succ. dribbles*

3.1

0.2

Ball recoveries*

5.1

0.9

Tackles + interceptions*

1.9

1.1

Duels won*

6.5

1.8

Data via Sofascore

This isn’t good enough. Johnson has the physicality and electric nature to provide much more. After all, he has been hailed by content creator HLTCO in the past for his “frightening” pace and directness down the flank, right or left.

But time is surely running out for him to nail down a regular starting berth. He’s unlikely to displace Kudus, and while most Lilywhites have left something to be desired this season, there’s a lot of quality there.

And there’s more still to come, with an out-on-loan star sure to be eyeing a place above Johnson in the north London pecking order next season.

The Spurs star who could replace Johnson

Analyst Ben Mattinson has described Mikey Moore as a prospect with “superstar potential”, having taken his first steps in Tottenham’s first team last season, scoring his first senior goal in the Europa League and racking up two assists besides across 19 matches in all competitions.

Moore is currently sidelined with a muscular injury, approaching one month since last playing in the Scottish Premiership, and though he struggled to impose himself throughout the early weeks of the campaign, Rangers’ abject form made it difficult for the youngster to hit the ground running.

His natural potency in the final third and underlying athleticism suggest that he might be the perfect Johnson heir, especially since he is comfortable playing across both flanks.

Spurs writer James Harris has even said that he could “bring back the old Aaron Lennon” to north London, so dangerous and dynamic when running with the ball.

Lennon racked up 364 appearances as a right winger for Tottenham, and pace and potency were staples of his game. Like Moore, he was an incredibly direct winger; though he offered far more from a creative standpoint than, say, Johnson, there’s a sense that Moore might share the retired England star’s protean threat.

Though it hasn’t been plain sailing for Moore in the highlands this season, it’s probably fair to say that the experience has toughened him up some, and that could prove instrumental in nailing down a starting spot down the line at Tottenham.

Already, he is showing that he has more in his locker than Johnson, a wider and more threatening array of skills.

Expect big things from this kid in the future, even if that comes at Johnson’s expense, it will help elevate Frank’s project.

Related The new Son: Spurs prepared to pay £65m to sign "world-class" talent

Tottenham Hotspur could be about to fork out a hefty sum to land a new attacker for Thomas Frank.

Posts ByEthan Lamb Dec 3, 2025

Manchester United are set for some considerable squad changes in the new year with a deal now authorised for a new striker in 2026.

United planning for squad transformation under Amorim

The Red Devils’ charge for Champions League qualification is well and truly on as they picked up a crucial three points against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

Consistency is the name of the game for Ruben Amorim after his side showed their flaws in a defeat against a ten-man Everton side, but the signs are overwhelmingly positive for the forming Sporting boss heading into the hectic winter fixture schedule.

Related "Oh my" – Gary Lineker blown away by Man Utd's "world class" number one transfer target

The Red Devils are set to be active in January…

Posts ByBen Goodwin Dec 1, 2025

United will play six matches in December, and will then head into the January transfer window with a very clear picture of what the manager needs to continue their recent transformation.

The futures of Harry Maguire and Casemiro are both in the balance, with the pair among United’s highest earners and both out of contract at the end of the season.

Rank

Player

Gross pay per week

Gross pay per year

1

Casemiro

£350,000

£18,200,000

2

Bruno Fernandes

£300,000

£15,600,000

3

Matthijs de Ligt

£195,000

£10,140,000

4

Harry Maguire

£190,000

£9,880,000

5

Matheus Cunha

£180,000

£9,360,000

Fabrizio Romano revealed last week that Amorim would prefer to tie both players to down to new deals, but there is an understanding that will only be possible on reduced wages.

Man Utd hold "serious" talks over new forward signing

On the incoming front, the manager has so far failed to find a solution in the number nine position, with Benjamin Sesko injured after an up and down start to life at Old Trafford and Joshua Zirkzee yet to really cement himself as a viable option despite scoring in the win at Palace.

Sky Sports reporter Sacha Tavolieri delivered an update on Manchester United’s interest in Serhou Guirassy over the weekend, with INEOS seemingly pressing ahead with their search for more options up front despite furnishing Amorim’s squad with three new attackers in the summer.

According to Tavolieri, ‘Manchester United have made serious enquiries’ over a deal for the Borussia Dortmund striker, who will be one of the ‘hottest transfer stories to watch in 2026’.

What’s more, the Red Devils have already been ‘authorised’ to trigger the Guinea international’s €50 million release clause (£44m).

Guirassy has scored nine times in 17 appearances in all competitions for Dortmund this season, and manager Niko Kovač recently compared the 29 year-old’s influence to some of the best strikers in world football.

Indeed, his stats suggest he is more Kane than Haaland, as the striker ranks in the 86th percentile for non-penalty goals per 90 but also sits in the 74th percentile for assists per 90 (compared to other strikers in the big five leagues), suggesting he would bring more than just clinical finishing to United’s number nine position.

Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot has delivered a blunt message, urging his team-mates to play with “hurt and anger” as pressure mounts on Ruben Amorim after another disappointing Premier League setback. With United slipping in their pursuit of the top five, Dalot insists the squad must find greater obsession and inner drive to meet the club’s expectations.

• Man Utd falter as their continue downward slide

  Manchester United find themselves stalled in their attempt to climb into the Champions League places after a stuttering run of form damaged the momentum built from an encouraging unbeaten spell. A home defeat to 10-man Everton and a frustrating draw against relegation-threatened West Ham have intensified scrutiny on Amorim’s project, despite a solid win at Crystal Palace wedged between the dropped points. United now face a critical trip to Wolves, who are winless all season, in what is increasingly viewed as a must-win fixture to ease tension around the manager.

  Dalot had thought he secured victory against West Ham with his goal, only for United to concede late and let a valuable opportunity slip away. The result left fans dissatisfied, the atmosphere tense, and expectations at risk of drifting out of reach during a period where United’s fixture list had appeared favourable. Failure to beat Wolves would likely trigger further discussion about Amorim’s suitability and whether the squad is reacting adequately to his demanding standards.

  Amorim’s frustration after the West Ham draw was clear, with the manager reportedly delivering a stern debrief to his players the following day. Dalot echoed that sentiment, suggesting performances must come from emotional intensity as much as tactical execution.

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  Dalot urges Man Utd players to fight for form

  Speaking ahead of the clash with Wolves, Dalot said: “Sometimes it's not football qualities. We have shown this season that we can be a very good team, but we need to get into ourselves. It has to be from inside. It has to be from the anger and drive you need every day to win football games.

  “We need to become a bit more obsessed about playing for this club, winning games and winning trophies. I'm not going to get into the 'we need time' thing. We have to win straight away because that's what the club demands. That's why it hurts sometimes even more when we have opportunities like this and we don't win.”

  He added: “Even after winning three or four games in a row, people will expect you to win five or six or seven. So, we just have to focus on one game, one win at the time. (Against West Ham) we had a good chance to get closer to the top positions and I think that’s what hurts even more.”

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  Amorim's job under threat yet again

  Dalot’s comments reflect a broader theme within United’s dressing room, where Amorim has continuously pushed players to meet the club’s historical standards while demanding more consistency. The Portuguese coach has been vocal about needing improvements from multiple players, including Dalot and Patrick Dorgu, insisting they are “far from the best” and require higher levels of performance. Dalot responded by embracing that criticism, acknowledging that every United player must adapt to the pressure of being judged on their most recent performance.

  The defender also pointed to the psychological demands of playing for a club of United’s stature, noting how quickly expectations rise after only a handful of victories. The reaction to the West Ham draw illustrated this reality, with supporters booing at full-time despite the team having been in improved form just weeks earlier.

  Amorim’s position, while not yet under immediate threat, has become a topic of increasing debate as fans weigh visible tactical improvements against recurring lapses in key moments. United’s inability to turn dominance into results remains a concern and one that threatens to undermine their ambitions of returning to Europe’s elite competitions. With expectations high after heavy investment and a philosophy-driven managerial appointment, the margin for error has narrowed considerably.

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• Man Utd face crucial clash with Wolves

  Manchester United now turn their focus to Monday’s clash with Wolves, knowing that anything less than victory risks deepening the scrutiny on both the players and the manager. Dalot’s rallying cry places the responsibility squarely on the squad to respond with intensity, conviction and the “obsession” he believes is required to restore winning habits. Should United secure the three points, it may provide the platform Amorim needs to rebuild momentum, while another setback would almost certainly escalate pressure ahead of the festive fixture congestion.

Manchester United’s midfield depth is becoming a bit of an issue under Ruben Amorim. Whilst he has found his first choice pivot in Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes, the Portuguese manager does not seem to trust his squad depth in those deeper areas.

His stubbornness at not playing Kobbie Mainoo is bizarre, given how talented the young Carrington graduate is. It now seems that the England international will leave his boyhood club on loan this winter, with Napoli one potential destination.

As for Manuel Ugarte, he has only played 301 Premier League minutes and seems off the pace for the Premier League, having been described as “not good enough” by Gary Neville, following the Manchester derby defeat.

With that in mind, it might not come as a surprise that United are targeting a new midfielder.

Man Utd’s latest midfield target

Midfield is clearly an area United are looking to improve this winter. They have already been linked with Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace in the last few days, although they will face lots of competition for the Englishman.

Another player the Red Devils could target is Stuttgart star Angelo Stiller.

According to reports in Spain, United are one of the sides ‘interested in acquiring his services’, with the German international one of the top names on their midfield shopping list.

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However, despite having seemingly made an ‘approach’, they will not be alone in the hunt for Stiller’s signature.

United’s competition comes in the form of Real Madrid, with Los Blancos looking to add to their own midfield depth after losing Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in the last few seasons.

As for a price, Stiller – who is said to be keen on moving to the Spanish capital – could cost upwards of £53m to tempt Stuttgart into a sale.

How Stiller compares to Adam Wharton

Five-cap Germany international Stiller has shone in the middle of the park for Stuttgart over the last few seasons. Described as a “complete” midfielder by football analyst Ben Mattinson, he oozes class on the ball, controlling play from deeper areas.

This season has been no different for the midfielder, who was born in Munich and has played for Bayern Munich at senior level. Stiller has played 17 times so far this term, chipping in with one goal and assisting five.

Indeed, those assists from deeper areas are a key theme of Stiller’s game. He has 22 assists in 98 games for Stuttgart. This pass against FC Augsburg is an example of how creative he can be, looking to pull the strings from the edge of the final third.

Of course, the German is not the only midfielder United are looking to sign. Wharton is also a name high up on their shopping list, as he is for many clubs.

The Palace midfielder has shone for the Eagles again this season, playing 15 games across all competitions.

His former manager at Blackburn Rovers, Jon Dahl Tomasson, said, “on the ball, he’s Champions League level.”

Indeed, like Stiller, Wharton is a true controller, able to dictate games from deeper areas. Look at the influence he had in midfield against Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final last season.

It might well be the case that United only end up signing one of Stiller or Wharton, given how alike their profiles are. Whilst the former Blackburn star has Premier League experience, it might be the case that Stiller is actually a better signing.

The stats go a long way in supporting this theory, too. So far this season, the German averages more progressive passes, with 7.56 to Wharton’s 5.06 per 90 minutes, and more ball recoveries, with 5.47 compared to 4.68 each game.

Stiller & Wharton key stats compared

Stat (per 90)

Stiller

Wharton

Progressive passes

7.56

5.06

Passes into final third

7.44

3.77

Passes into penalty area

2.33

1.04

Progressive carries

2.21

1.17

Ball recoveries

5.47

4.68

Stats from FBref

It is easy to see why bringing Stiller in over Wharton could be a better move for United. Not only does he rank ahead of him in several key metrics, but the former Bayern star is also someone who has more of an impact in the final third and racks up far more assists.

As Mattinson said in a separate post, the 24-year-old is “the perfect player for Amorim’s style of play.” He could certainly be that controller in United’s pivot, with the skills he has in possession, whilst also contributing in attack.

A fee of £53m is not too expensive in the current transfer market. Stiller could be the ideal candidate to add depth to United’s midfield that Amorim trusts.

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Posts ByJoe Nuttall Nov 20, 2025