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Paul Pogba has been urged to join Fulham "where the pressure is not as high" as the World Cup winner is gearing up to return to football.

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• Pogba a free agent after Juventus exit
• Can return to action in March 2025
• Ryan Babel suggested him to join the Cottagers

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The 31-year-old midfielder, who was banned for doping, has seen his suspension reduced, enabling him to resume training in January 2025 and compete officially by March. However, with Juventus terminating his contract, Pogba is in the hunt for a fresh employer, hoping that his free agency will be an alluring bait.

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  WHAT BABEL SAID

  According to Babel, a move to a mid-table Premier League team like Fulham could help Pogba rediscover his form without the immense pressure that comes with playing for a top-tier club.

  "Yes, I think Paul Pogba could be a good addition for a Premier League club," he said during an interview with

  "The only question is which team. I think he could deliver for teams like Fulham, the teams where the pressure is not as high as Man United. Not for the fact that he could not handle that pressure, but simply because I think there will be too much pressure on him. He’d be in the spotlight if he joined one of the top four teams. I think you know with all the trauma and things that he’s experienced; I think for him it would be good to join a team that doesn't necessarily have the pressure to win the title. Then he could very quickly be one of the main stars and establish himself as a top-level player again. He would stand out in a team like that. He hasn’t played football in a long time. It’s not easy to come back in at that level, it won’t be easy for him, but of course, he has the talent to do it."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  While Babel has endorsed Fulham, other clubs are also reportedly interested in Pogba. Ligue 1 side Marseille has been named as a potential destination, offering the opportunity to return to his home country. Additionally, Arsenal have been linked with the French World Cup winner, though such a move might place him back under the intense spotlight he endured at Manchester United.

• GOAL
  

  WHAT NEXT FOR POGBA?

  For Pogba, the next move is critical as it will shape the latter stages of his football career. Whether he chooses the relative calm of a club like Fulham or takes on a bigger challenge, the decision will likely determine his legacy. With his talent still evident but questions lingering over his physical condition and mental resilience, Pogba faces a pivotal moment in his journey.

It is a mark of the expectations England’s captain has of himself that even 190 didn’t feel like enough. Still, his team never let control of the match slip

George Dobell in Kolkata07-Dec-2012Most batsmen would have been delighted to finish with a score of 190, but not Alastair Cook. The somewhat absent minded manner of his dismissal – failing to ground his bat as he avoided a hard and accurate throw from Virat Kohli – left him “deeply upset” in the words of Jonathan Trott.Cook’s century, his third of the series, helped England build a dominant position on the third day. It was not particularly exciting, it was not particularly pretty and it was not at all easy, but it was a day when England inexorably took a grip on this Test. Some tight bowling from India prevented England scoring at the run-rate they may have liked but a lead of 193, on a pitch beginning to offer more assistance to the bowlers, tightened their grip on India until it became suffocating. Boa Constrictors kill just as effectively as tigers.While that, in time, will no doubt console Cook, he was disappointed at both failing to register the third double-century of his Test career and by failing to ensure, through his own actions, that England took advantage of their strong platform to establish a match-winning position.”He was deeply upset and realised what an opportunity he had out there to still be batting tonight,” Trott said. “That’s the way he is. He’ll be very disappointed.”He’s not one who will express too much emotion or disgust, but deep down I know he’ll be very upset. He didn’t really say anything. We just let him stew. I’d just put it down as a freak dismissal.”Cook need not have worried. Such was the strong performance of his colleagues that England did not squander their chance. They now have an excellent chance to inflict a second successive defeat on a side who have not suffered such an indignity at home in more than a decade.Trott made his highest score since the Test in Galle in March, Kevin Pietersen provided valuable impetus and Samit Patel, Graeme Swann and, in particular, Matt Prior produced selfless performances to press home England’s advantage and punish a weary attack. Even Ian Bell, who fell to an unworthy flail, could be partially excused as he did so in a bid to pick-up the scoring pace and earn enough time to bowl India out once more. England will, according to Trott, bat on in the morning, with India facing a fight to avoid an innings defeat.Certainly Trott took encouragement from the obvious deterioration in the pitch over the course of the day. While it is no minefield, there were signs of far more turn for the spinners and some uneven bounce for the seamers. As Trott hinted, had India utilised the conditions a little better, batting could have been far more difficult.Alastair Cook was ten runs short of being able to raise his bat again•BCCI”It was pretty flat for the first couple of days,” Trott said. “But now there’s maybe a bit more turn and variable bounce. I had a few that I left that kept low. If they’d been straight it would have been quite tricky.”Well though India’s spinners performed on day three, the suspicion remains that the sharper pace at which the England spinners bowl might prove more dangerous on this surface. England’s seamers will also feel they can utilise the cracks in the pitch more effectively than their Indian counterparts.The sight of India’s players, exhausted and demoralised, lying on the outfield and receiving massage at stumps, will have done little to dishearten England. The fact that India face a seventh successive session in the field at the start of the fourth day will do little for their morale. India may be clinging to the memory of the miraculous victory over Australia here in the Test of 2001 and it is true that cricket would not be nearly such an entertaining game if it was predictable. But there is no Rahul Dravid or VVS Laxman now and the absent Harbhajan Singh is not the bowler he once was.Indeed, when we come to reflect on this match, we may well conclude that strength, fitness and fielding has been the difference between the sides.The two defining moments came in the first four sessions of the game. In the first, two England players, one a fast bowler who could have got away with a spell of grazing in the outfield, the other a somewhat corpulent fellow with little reputation in the field, conjured a run-out from nothing. Patel pulled off an excellent diving stop after a long chase to prevent the boundary and pushed the ball back for the supporting Steven Finn to produce the throw that ran-out Virender Sehwag. It was a moment that defined teamwork and commitment; a moment that spoke volumes about the importance of going the extra mile.It was also a moment that stood in contrast to India’s sometimes apathetic and listless display in the field. For in the second defining moment of this game came when a young man, Pujara, found himself at slip while still wearing shin pads and a chest guard from his spell at short-leg and dropped a man in the form of his life. On the third day, Sehwag showed the folly of his absence from the slips by taking the sharpest of chances to dismiss Patel.Cook cared so much he struggled to deal with the disappointment of being out for 190. India cared so little they could not be bothered to get their best fielders in the most important positions or ensure they were dressed appropriately. It’s hard to avoid the conclusion that if England win this series, it will because they wanted it more.

The absence of a high-quality allrounder from England’s squad has limited their attack options

George Dobell in Mumbai22-Nov-2012It was not Monty Panesar that England missed in Ahmedabad. It was not Steven Finn, either. Not entirely, anyway.It was actually Ian Botham. Or Andrew Flintoff. Or Tony Grieg. It was the absence of a high-quality allrounder who could balance the side.As England prepare for the second Test in Mumbai, it is worth looking at the record books. India have only lost at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai six times, twice to England, the most recent defeat coming in 2006.Talk of that 2006 Test usually evokes memories of Shaun Udal. The offspinner claimed 4 for 14 – including the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar – in the fourth innings to bowl England to a victory that levelled the series. Flintoff, however, made two half-centuries and claimed four wickets and had England not possessed his all-round strength they may well not have risked selecting Udal, the second spinner.England’s only other victory at the Wankhede came in 1980. On that occasion, Botham took 13 wickets and scored a century in one of the most accomplished all-round performances in history. Again, Botham’s all-round skill allowed England to field a five-man attack containing two spinners. It was the same story in 1976-77 – England won that five-Test series 3-1, when they were captained and balanced by Grieg’s offspin in a five-man attack.Even in 1984-85, when they came from behind to win 2-1, they tried to find that same balance. On that occasion, Chris Cowdrey was less effective as an allrounder and England were obliged to rely on a four-man attack split between two seamers and two spinners, with Cowdrey and Mike Gatting filling in as support bowlers.The similarity is that on each occasion England have won, with the exception of 1984-85, they have possessed a Test-quality allrounder capable of balancing the side and allowing them to play five bowlers.That is not an option as they go into the second Test of this series. Perhaps, one day, Ben Stokes might develop into that quality allrounder or perhaps, one day, it will be accepted that Rikki Clarke has matured into the cricketer his talent suggested he might become when he was prematurely selected almost a decade ago. For now, though, England have to decide to go into the game with either a five-man attack and risk exposing a long tail, or a four-man attack lacking either a second spinner or a third seamer. The pretence that Samit Patel should be considered a true allrounder was undermined by Andy Flower, the England coach, describing the bowling in Ahmedabad as a “four-and-a-half” man attack.Neither option is ideal. With the batsmen so unconvincing in the first Test, England are loathe to weaken it further and risk a tail that starts with Graeme Swann at No. 7 or No. 8. But, at the same time, they struggled for penetration and variety in the first Test and have admitted it was an error to omit Panesar from the side. He looks certain to play in Mumbai on a recently used track that will, inevitably, aid spinners.Selection is complicated further by illness to Stuart Broad. His place was far from secure anyway, but the idea of risking a recently sick man with a sore heel in a two-man attack may force a further rethink. Stuart Meaker, by far the most impressive and quickest of England’s seamers in practice, could be on the brink of a Test debut.He could find less sympathetic places to make it. While Meaker, relatively short for a modern fast bowler, is not one to generate steepling bounce, he may enjoy the humidity and the sea fret that sometimes aids swing bowling at the ground. He may surprise a few with his pace and his skill, too.Stuart Meaker is in contention for a Test debut in Mumbai•Getty ImagesHis selection might be regarded as a step into the future. While the current team have achieved unheralded success for England, this has been an awful year for them. Indeed, if they lose in Mumbai they will have equalled the most losses an England team has ever experienced in a Test year: eight.Flower has to learn from history. He has to avoid the error made by one of his predecessors, Duncan Fletcher, and be prepared to renew the team. Fletcher, and England, suffered when he persisted with a team that was clearly past its best for the Ashes tour of 2006-07 on the basis that they had performed so well in 2005. But milk that was good last week may be sour today. Meaker and Finn may just represent the future of England fast bowling. Broad and Tim Bresnan, if they cannot recover the pace they once had, may represent the past.Alastair Cook, the England captain, rejected any notion that the England team had become a little too cosy. “I disagree wholeheartedly with that,” he said. “That’s not true.” But while Cook accepted England had underperformed in Ahmedabad, he also reiterated his belief in his players.”Clearly last week was tough for confidence when you get beaten in such a heavy manner,” he said. “First-innings runs are vital. I spoke about it when we lost the game and we have been speaking about it ever since.”We have to hold our hands up: in these conditions we haven’t played well enough to get the results. There’s no one else who we can blame.”I am confident. The guys have done it in the past. A couple of guys have done it in subcontinental conditions, a couple haven’t done it in subcontinental conditions but we know if we’re going to win this game we’re going to have to score runs.”It is an obvious point but true. If England’s batsmen continue to struggle, technically or temperamentally, against spin, it will make no difference what bowling attack they field.

India will face Pakistan at the MCG on October 23

ESPNcricinfo staff21-Jan-2022Australia will start the defence of their Men’s T20 World Cup title against trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand at the SCG in a rematch of last year’s final, while India and Pakistan will face each other at the MCG in their opening fixtures.Those were among the standout contests in the fixtures’ list for the 2022 T20 World Cup, which was announced on Friday. The tournament begins on October 16, with Sri Lanka facing Namibia in Geelong in the first round before the Super 12s start on October 22 in Sydney. While Australia vs New Zealand is the opening game of the round, the India-Pakistan fixture will take place on October 23.ESPNcricinfo Ltd

On three days, during the Super 12s, there will be three games taking place. These are all Group 2 games, which has Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, South Africa, and two teams coming through from the first round of matches. The days in question are October 27, when two matches will be played in Sydney and one in Perth, then October 30, when two matches are scheduled to be held in Perth and one in Brisbane, and finally November 6, when Adelaide will host two matches and Melbourne one.The two semi-finals will be held in Sydney (November 9) and Adelaide (November 10) before the final at the MCG on November 13.In Group one of the Super 12s, Australia are alongside New Zealand, England, Afghanistan plus the winner of the Group A qualifiers and the runner-up in Group B.Australia T20 captain Aaron Finch said knowing the groups so far out does help with planning, but it doesn’t make it any easier as Australia looks to defend their title on home soil.”Our planning was ultra-detailed last time,” Finch said at the MCG on Friday. “Knowing what the groups look like eight, nine months out is really helpful because it can help your level of detail in that planning phase. It’s a tough group though. They’re both tough, and when you throw in qualifiers like West Indies, Sri Lanka, you’ve got to play really well to get out of the group stage.”Two global qualifiers will determine the final teams that will head to Australia. Matches will be played in Adelaide, Brisbane, Geelong, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.Australia won the title for the first time last November when they beat New Zealand by eight wickets in Dubai. Mitchell Marsh was Player of the Match for his unbeaten 77 off 50 balls.

Wayne Rooney has been given “alarming” advice as he struggles to get Plymouth going, but sacking him is not considered to be “the answer”.

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• Overseen just 20 games so far
• Needs to plug defensive leaks
• Already fighting to save his job

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Manchester United legend has overseen just 20 games as Pilgrims boss and has suffered defeat in half of those fixtures. A couple of heavy losses over recent weeks have led to uncomfortable questions being asked about Rooney’s future.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  It has been suggested that he is already facing the axe at Home Park, with back-to-back home games against Oxford and Swansea putting him in make-or-break territory – with there talk of a documentary series that was intended to shed light on his return to management being shelved.

• WHAT PALMER SAID

  Former EFL player and coach Carlton Palmer is not convinced that parting with Rooney would be the right call by Plymouth, but he has told of what needs to change in Devon: “Plymouth Argyle's owner, Simon Hallett, has thrown his support behind Wayne Rooney, and so he should. He's admitted that the results have been poor in recent weeks, and I think one of the things that would be concerning me more than anything else would be the amount of goals that Plymouth are conceding. Already the goal difference that they have got is -20.

  “I don't believe the answer is sacking the manager. Wayne Rooney is a young manager, it doesn't matter who was going to take over there, they were going to struggle, they haven't got the finances to compete with the teams in the Championship. If Wayne Rooney keeps Plymouth in the Championship this season, he will have done well, but he's got to stop them conceding.”

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Ex-England international Palmer went on to say: “If you're going to get beat, you get beat, but don't be getting beaten by fours, fives and sixes because that creates problems for the owner, he's got to arrest that. They're outside the relegation positions at the moment on 17 points, with Portsmouth at the bottom on 13 points and QPR and Hull on 15 points, but a couple of wins gets you into mid-table.

  “I don't think there's any panic, there's certainly no panic, but he needs to stop them conceding so many goals. It's alarming how many goals they have conceded, you can't be conceding 38 goals in 18 games and only scoring 18 goals, you're going to get relegated on that basis, so he needs to address that situation, and I'm sure Wayne will do that.”

Amid the arrivals of Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, Manchester United are now reportedly ready to send a particular transfer flop out on loan this summer in a repeat of Jadon Sancho's move last season.

Man Utd transfer news

It's been a solid summer at Old Trafford so far, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe's reign already impressing. The Red Devils welcomed Zirkzee to kickstart their transfer business after the Dutchman impressed at Champions League-qualifying Bologna in Serie A last season. United then turned their attention to reinforcing their backline with arguably one of the best young centre-backs in European football – signing Yoro for a reported £52m.

After officially signing for the club, Yoro told Manchester United's website: "Signing for a club with the stature and ambition of Manchester United so early in my career is an incredible honour. Since my first conversations with the club, they set out a clear plan for how I can develop in Manchester as part of this exciting project, and showed a lot of care for me and my family."

However, as one star emerges, one flop could be set to leave. According to Mark Ogden of ESPN, Manchester United are now willing to let Antony leave on loan this summer if clubs are willing to pay his £70k-a-week wage. The winger arrived in 2023 for a reported £81m, but may now go down as one the Premier League's most expensive flops following a spell to forget at Old Trafford.

The winger may be hoping to enjoy a similar loan spell just as Jadon Sancho did last season at Borussia Dortmund, where he showed glimpses of his best form and helped the German club reach the Champions League final, where they lost to Real Madrid.

"Fighter" Antony needs summer move

A player who showed plenty of potential at Ajax, Antony simply hasn't been good enough at Manchester United and looks destined to follow in the footsteps of previous transfer flops such as Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku. The Brazilian is far from the first young player to struggle at Old Trafford and he may not be the last player to leave before enjoying the success that many believed was set to come in the Premier League.

Even throughout his poor form, Erik ten Hag has continuously backed Antony, saying via Metro last season: "There is also the team, first, the team is not playing well, when they don’t bring him the balls, again, I’m also responsible for that.

"But, obviously, also, there’s a lot of noise and that dropped his levels. He can do better, but all the players can do better. Antony is also a fighter, he has the confidence, he is brave, I am confident he will bring the performance that [shows] he is the right player for us."

Selling Antony this summer would show a ruthless side to Ten Hag amid the Dutchman's recent contract renewal off the back of a disappointing campaign last time out, while the emergence of the likes of Alejandro Garnacho perhaps allows room for United to make do without the Brazilian.

Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland both strike twice in an over as Australia look to capitalise on 82-run lead

Valkerie Baynes27-Dec-2021Some vintage James Anderson bowling kept England in the contest on an eventful second day of the third Test at the MCG, only for the tourists’ brittle batting to falter in the face of a devastating blitz by Australia’s quicks which put the hosts on the verge of sealing the series.Debutant Scott Boland and Mitchell Starc claimed two wickets each to crush England during a scintillating final hour and undo the effect of Anderson’s four-wicket haul, which had fleetingly given the tourists hope.With their warm-up routine thrown into chaos by four positive Covid tests among team staff and their families which delayed their departure for the ground – and the start by half an hour – England showed the sort of bottle that was sorely missing as Australia romped to a 2-0 series lead to wrest back some control with the ball. Cleared to play after passing lateral flow Tests in the morning, the England players were scheduled to undergo PCR testing at the close of play, with the match allowed to proceed in the meantime.And it was the 39-year-old Anderson, who made his international debut at the same ground in an ODI in 2002, leading the way with two particularly miserly spells which yielded the important wickets of Steve Smith and Marcus Harris, who top-scored with 76, either side of lunch.Australia were bowled out for 267, a first-innings lead of 82 runs. But England’s top order had no answers as Starc claimed two wickets in as many balls to put them 2 for 7. As if the pressure on England captain Joe Root wasn’t cranked up enough, he barely survived Starc’s hat-trick ball, an unplayable delivery beating his outside edge.Related

• James Anderson finds his groove before England lose the plot

• Test match continues despite four Covid cases emerging in England touring party

By the close, England were in disarray after Starc struck in the fifth over of the innings when he found Zak Crawley’s outside edge, taken by keeper Alex Carey for 5, and then trapped Dawid Malan lbw for a first-ball duck.Pat Cummins maintained the pressure in an outstanding spell, while Boland came on for the penultimate over and had Haseeb Hameed caught behind with his third ball, then removed nightwatchman Jack Leach with a gem that clattered into the top of off stump two balls later as the match slipped back into a more familiar rhythm with England staring down a series defeat.Root was unbeaten on 12 at the end of the day and Ben Stokes on 2 but, as capable as the England duo are of hauling their side out of trouble, the mission looked beyond even those two.By the time Anderson took the second new ball in the final session, Australia were eight wickets down and led by 51. He then proceeded to fling himself into the air at mid-on to stop a ball struck firmly by Cummins that was surely headed to the boundary. And while his failure to cling on with his outstretched right hand constituted a drop, his effort enhanced an already impressive display of professionalism by England’s elder statesman.Anderson bowled 10 maidens en route to his haul of 4 for 33 from 23 overs. Having dismissed opener David Warner the previous evening, Anderson bowled Smith for just 16 after Ollie Robinson had removed nightwatchman Nathan Lyon in the fourth over of the second day. Smith fell in a superb Anderson spell of 6-5-1-1, the only run coming off the first ball, an inside edge when Smith was on 5 which Jos Buttler got glove tips to but could only parry the chance to fine leg.James Anderson claimed 4 for 33 to keep England fighting•Getty Images

Mark Wood, too, bowled well and he struck with his third ball of the day when the dangerous Marnus Labuschagne fell for just 1 as the first of Root’s three catches at slip.Under-pressure Harris went to lunch unbeaten on 48, having overtured an lbw decision to Ben Stokes when he was on 36 with replays showing that there was bat on ball.Australia helped themselves to six runs off the first over after lunch, bowled by Leach, and 10 off the second, from Wood, during which time Harris raised his third Test fifty. Both bowlers’ subsequent overs were tighter but, as if to ram home the fact that England were in danger of letting their good morning’s work come undone, Buttler then fluffed a stumping chance off Harris when he was on 63. The opener advanced at Leach, who saw him coming and fired the ball down the leg side, only for Buttler to thrust out his right glove in vain.Robinson broke through to dismiss Travis Head, caught by Root, and Anderson had Harris out in similar fashion three runs shy of equalling his best Test score during another outstanding four-over spell that yielded just two runs.Australia hit the front late in the middle session before Leach, back after a torrid time at the hands of Australia’s batters in the opening Test at the Gabba, trapped Cameron Green lbw in the second over after tea.Stokes removed Carey before Starc and Cummins added 34 runs for the ninth wicket, the third-highest partnership of Australia’s innings.
Anderson struck again in the fourth over with the new ball to dismiss Cummins, caught by Hameed at point, and Wood had debutant Boland taken in the slips to close out the innings, for what it was worth, given what was to come.

Robert Lewandowski has joined Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League 100 club after scoring for Barcelona against Brest.

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• Lewandowski brings up Champions League century
• Only the third player to do so
• Ronaldo and Messi ahead of him

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Lewandowski scored after just 10 minutes against Stade Brestois in the Champions League on Tuesday evening. The Pole now has six goals in five matches in this campaign and has subsequently brought up 100 goals in the competition.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Only two players have scored over 100 goals in the Champions League: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Ronaldo has scored 141 goals in the Champions League, while Messi has netted 129. Lewandowski is the third to join the club. Karim Benzema is fourth in the list with 90 goals but the next active player on the list is Thomas Muller, in eighth, with 54 strikes for Bayern Munich.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The Pole has scored his 100 goals for three clubs: Borussia Dortmund, Bayern, and Barcelona. He won the competition in 2020 with Bayern, scoring 15 goals in 10 games as the Bavarians strolled to glory.

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  WHAT NEXT?

  After facing Brest, Barcelona play Las Palmas on Saturday in La Liga. They are currently top of the table in Spain, four points clear of second-placed Real Madrid.

Plays of the Day for the Champions League match between Auckland Aces and Titans in Durban

Firdose Moonda17-Oct-2012Appreciation of the day

Jacques Rudolph is one of the batsmen who showed that playing proper cricket shots can be effective in 20-overs cricket with his unbeaten 83 in the opening match and he continued in that vein in Durban. He leaned into a drive off Michael Bates’ first over and caressed the ball through the covers with the gentleness of a summer’s breeze. Martin Guptill was on the microphone at the time and could only admire. “Oh, that’s just a good shot,” he said on air before encouraging the bowler to “keep going”.Athleticism of the day

Rudolph looked set to bat through the innings again, although he seemed to tire during the latter stages of his knock. He did not time his drive over extra cover and Andre Adams was on to it. He had to make ground from cover and leap at the right instant, but got there with enough time to go and with both hands although he was moving significantly to his left. He took the catch to end Rudolph’s knock and show that, even at 37, age really is nothing but a number.Experience of the day

They say you can’t buy it and, cheesy as it sounds, Alfonso Thomas is proof of it. Having played professional cricket for 15 summers, Thomas knows a thing or two about bowling, especially on South African pitches. Although he plays his cricket up country, Thomas spent two years at the Dolphins and would also be familiar with the Kingsmead pitch, where his seam movement could be shown off. His fourth delivery of the day straightened from a short of a length and Lou Vincent had a prod. That was all Thomas needed to take the wicket, showing that knowing what to do really does pay off.Luck of the day
Auckland had to have some and it came when Colin de Grandhomme tried to hit left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe through the offside. He backed away so far that he could not get back to counter the turn and ended up inside-edging almost onto his stumps. Fine leg was wide and de Grandhomme managed to survive and pick up four runs, although Auckland would have needed plenty more if they were to seriously challenge the Titans.Colour of the day
Already in this tournament both teams have worn the same shades; when Uva Next played Trinidad & Tobago, they were both kitted out in red. Today, both Auckland Aces and Titans were dressed in light blue shirts but at least this time there was something to separate them. Titans’ bottoms are the same shade as their tops, but Auckland have darker blue bottoms.

Oh to be Mason Mount.

Snapped up by Manchester United from rivals Chelsea last summer on a £55m deal and handed the club's famed number seven shirt, the Englishman went on to endure a miserable debut season at Old Trafford, featuring just 20 times in all competitions amid a string of injury woes.

Subsequently out of the international fold and with no clear role at United amid the emergence of compatriot Kobbie Mainoo, the 25-year-old will have a lot to do in 2024/25 to change the narrative regarding his 'disaster' purchase.

Things may not get any easier for the former Blues star, however, if Erik ten Hag moves to strengthen his midfield ranks even further this summer…

Latest on Man Utd's transfer search

With Joshua Zirkzee already in the door, United have continued their summer squad overhaul with the signing of Lille starlet, Leny Yoro, with it looking as if the Premier League outfit have fended off rival interest from European champions, Real Madrid, for the 18-year-old's signature.

Following that impending deal, Football Italia have reported that the club are set to turn their sights toward another Frenchman, amid claims that United – as well as Liverpool – are in line to hold talks over a deal for ex-Juventus playmaker, Adrien Rabiot.

The 29-year-old – who was part of France's Euro 2024 squad – has seen his departure from the Old Lady now officially confirmed following the expiry of his contract with the Serie A giants at the end of June.

How Rabiot compares to Mason Mount

There may be a collective sigh among United fans amid this latest link to Rabiot, with rumours having been rife over a possible move for the rangy left-footer back in 2022, only for the deal to collapse due to the player's reported wage demands.

Quite whether anything would be different this time around remains to be seen, although the prospect of snapping up such an experienced figure on a free may prove hard to turn down.

The "extraordinary" talent – as hailed by fellow Frenchman, David Trezeguet – could represent a real threat to any hopes Mount has of cementing a role for himself in the centre of the park, with Rabiot also able to operate in a left-eight role, or just in front of the back four.

The current United man has endured a woeful last two seasons for both the Red Devils and Chelsea after contributing just ten goals and assists in all competitions in that time, with the departing Juve star, meanwhile, racking up 25 goal involvements since the start of 2022/23.

Where Rabiot also excels is in his ability to surge forward from deep when in possession, notably ranking in the top 14% among his European peers for progressive carries per 90, while Mount ranks in just the top 31% in that regard – as per FBref.

The physical presence that the former Paris Saint-Germain man can offer would also prove incredibly valuable, showcased by the fact that the 6 foot 4 ace ranks in the top 11% for aerial duels won per 90, while the man he could replace ranks in just the top 45% for that same metric.

Equally, while Mount was forced to watch on from afar as the Three Lions reached the Euro 2024 showpiece, Rabiot was a central part of an albeit underwhelming Les Bleus squad that made it to yet another major tournament semi-final. The 48-cap international started five games in Germany, notably registering two tackles and interceptions per game, while averaging two key passes per game as an indication of his quality both in and out of possession.

A figure who has regularly performed at the elite level over the last decade or so, the free agent could then represent the final nail in the coffin for Mount's brief United career, with undoubted merit in following up the Yoro coup with this high-profile pursuit.

Man Utd want "outstanding" England ace who could be their own Rice

Manchester United are focusing on midfield recruits.

By
Matt Dawson

Jul 16, 2024