Inter advanced to the final of the Champions League but are now shifting focus to a series of must-win Serie A games.

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Inter defeated Barcelona 7-6 on aggregateThey're only three points off Napoli in title raceInzaghi confident of competing on all frontsFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱AFPWHAT HAPPENED?

Inter pipped Barcelona to advance to the Champions League final on Tuesday after crucial goals from Francesco Acerbi and Davide Frattesi made it 4-3 on the night, and 7-6 on aggregate.

Nerazzurri boss Simone Inzaghi has since dismissed any notion that they prioritised the Champions League over Serie A and reiterated their commitment to try and win everything in their sights.

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After reaching their second Champions League final in three years, Inter now return to domestic duties as they aim to catch up with league leaders Napoli. Inzaghi's men were leading in the Scudetto race until Matchday 32, but two consecutive 1-0 losses to Bologna and Roma allowed Antonio Conte's Napoli to leapfrog them to the top of the table. With the Naples outfit having, on paper, an easier run of games, Inter have a tough task on their hands to claim Serie A title glory.

WHAT INZAGHI SAID

Inzaghi, after their historic win against Barcelona, said: "We’ve never prioritised one over the other. It’s nonsense to say we’re choosing one competition. We’ve given everything."

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Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR INTER AND INZAGHI?

Inter and Inzaghi will travel to Turin to take on 11th-placed Torino, while Napoli welcome Genoa, who are 13th, to the Maradona Stadium in Naples. Indeed, the Nerazzurri must win and hope that Napoli drop points to keep their Scudetto hopes alive.

Liverpool have been warned injuries will prevent Conor Bradley from fulfilling his potential as he has been tipped to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold.

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• Alexander-Arnold to leave Liverpool
• Bradley has been viewed as club's future
• Injury expert has doubts

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• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Liverpool’s preparations for life after Alexander-Arnold are underway, but questions remain over whether 21-year-old Bradley is ready to fill the significant void left by the departing right-back. While Bradley has stepped in admirably on occasion – most recently playing the final 30 minutes in the 3-1 defeat to Chelsea – the step up to being a weekly starter is a considerable one.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Despite showing flashes of potential since making his debut in 2021, Bradley’s progress has often been disrupted by injuries. Out of his 51 senior appearances, only 14 have come as Premier League starts. A hamstring problem sustained against Real Madrid last December resurfaced earlier this year, and a minor training ground knock also sidelined him from Liverpool’s recent clash with Tottenham.

  Fitness issues remain a significant obstacle in Bradley’s development. Though he returned to action against Chelsea, his limited availability raises concerns about how dependable he can be over a demanding season, especially if tasked with filling one of the most crucial roles in Liverpool’s system.

• WHAT HAS BEEN SAID

  Ben Dinnery, a respected football injury analyst, has advised caution over pushing Bradley into Alexander-Arnold’s shoes prematurely. Speaking to , he said: "I think putting Conor Bradley straight in to replace Trent Alexander Arnold at right-back would be a big decision from Arne Slot. It’s a lot to ask to rely on the young lad to deliver performances week-in, week-out. I think Slot is smarter than that, though, you have a duty of care as a manager to look after the players in the here and now, but also to maintain that upwards trajectory in their long-term careers."

  Dinnery acknowledged Bradley’s talent but urged Liverpool to manage his minutes and avoid overburdening him. "From what we’ve seen from Bradley, he’s a player with lots of potential and can deliver at the highest level, but you need to temper those expectations given his young age," he said. "We’ve already heard about the latest hamstring setback he’s had, and they’ve got to be acutely aware of that and understand that there are psychological demands as well as physical, especially when playing at a stadium like Anfield in front of the Kop. Liverpool play on the biggest stage in the world in the Champions League, too, against some of Europe’s greatest opponents. If Trent were to leave, I’m sure Slot has identified targets for that position."

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  DID YOU KNOW?

  Liverpool are also believed to be exploring other options to strengthen the left side of their defence. One name that has emerged is Fulham full-back Antonee Robinson. Although Robinson has also struggled with minor injuries recently, Dinnery believes his situation is far less concerning.

  He said: "Liverpool have been linked with Antonee Robinson, who’s been affected with this injury for the last month or so. That said, if you ask any Premier League player at this stage of the season how they’re feeling, none of them are going to say 100%! When the games are coming thick and fast, it’s difficult to get that rest from those knocks and niggles.

  "This is why I don’t think it’d be an issue for Liverpool looking at him, it’s just indicative of how players are towards the latter stages of the season. These players do go through rigorous pre-screening to identify any underlying problems, but these medicals aren’t straight yeses or no’s."

After confirming the arrival of Stefanos Tzimas, Brighton & Hove Albion have now reportedly agreed a deal to sign their first summer arrival a matter of days following January’s transfer deadline.

Brighton transfer news

Whilst’s it wasn’t a hectic window for Brighton, they saved their best move till last to welcome Tzimas on a permanent deal before loaning the forward back to Nuremberg for the rest of the season. With Evan Ferguson heading out on loan to West Ham United at the same time, the Seagulls’ transfer business will certainly be interesting to watch when both young forward re-enter The Amex in pre-season.

Welcoming his new striker with open arms, Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler told the club website: “Stefanos is an exceptional young talent, an out-and-out centre-forward with a natural ability to score goals, and we are absolutely delighted to have signed him.

“He will join up with us in the summer, ahead of next season, but we are really looking forward to working with him, and feel he has a very exciting future ahead.”

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Dominic Lund

Feb 3, 2025

Tzimas’ arrival may yet be a sign of things to come too. According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Brighton have now reached an agreement to sign Clement Bischoff in a deal worth €8m (£7m).

In what will reportedly be the Seagulls’ first summer transfer, the versatile midfielder will arrive and join up with Tzimas in the hope of turning Hurzeler’s side back into one vying for the European places.

Following a dip in form since November – culminating in a 7-0 humiliation at the hands of Nottingham Forest – Brighton will be hoping to turn a corner under their young manager and then welcome two young additions when the summer arrives.

"Excellent" Bischoff is a rising star

Such is their reputation for signing the Premier League’s next stars, Brighton fans have every reason to be excited once again in the case of Bischoff. The Brondby teenager can play both as a left-midfielder and as a left-back in what should offer Hurzeler key versatility and has even earned the praise of Ben Mattinson this season.

The analyst described the midfielder’s two-way dribbling as “excellent” and his crossing ability as “well-weighted in an early-season review of his potential and what could come next.

Having had a hand in as many as 10 goals so far this season, with two goals and eight assists, it’s clear that Bischoff is a threat on the left-hand side whether that is in midfield or from within the backline.

A rising star and another youngster that Brighton have seemingly identified, Bischoff should be one to watch when the summer arrives.

تحدث عماد متعب لاعب الأهلي السابق، عن رأيه في أداء عدد من لاعبي القلعة الحمراء، وذلك قبل خوض غمار بطولة كأس العالم للأندية 2025.

ومن المقرر أن تنطلق بطولة كأس العالم للأندية خلال الفترة من 14 يونيو حتى 13 يوليو بمشاركة 32 فريقًا لأول مرة في التاريخ.

وقال عماد متعب في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “الحمد لله على نعمة الأهلي يجعلنا نكون متواجدين في بطولات ومسابقات عالمية، لولا الأهلي سيكون صعب فرق تكون متواجدة في البطولات العالمية”.

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وواصل: “بن رمضان لاعب كبير ويستطيع أن يندمج مع الأهلي واللاعبين بشكل سريع”.

وأفاد: “سنواجه أندية فيها نجوم من كل أنحاء العالم وأسماء كبيرة جدًا، اللاعبين كلها نفسها تشارك وتقدم أفضل شيء لديهم”.

وأكد: “اتفق مع ريبيرو أن عدد لاعبي الفريق يكون 28 لاعبا لأن 35 لاعبا في الملعب بيكون زحمة، 28 لاعبا عدد يكفي لـ كأس العالم للأندية”.

وأوضح: “وسام أبو علي واحد من المهاجمين المميزين في كل شيء، يتحرك بشكل جيد داخل منطقة الجزاء وخارجها ويجيد ضربات الجزاء والثابتة واللعب بكلا القدمين وضربات الرأس”.

وأردف: “تريزيجيه من اللاعبين المفضلين لدي جدًا لاعب ملتزم وراجل ومن الصفقات المفيدة للفريق ونجاحه على مستوى الخبرات والإمكانيات الفنية عالية جدًا”.

وأتم: “أفشة لاعب كبير ومهم ويمكنه التحكم في رتم المباراة، لاعب يمتلك خبرات كبيرة وشارك في كأس العالم للأندية أكثر من مرة”.

Sikandar Raza has always wanted to be a busy cricketer. He has seen players around him traversing the globe, from one T20 league to another. He has always wanted to be one of them and now, he pretty much is. He has played in the Pakistan Super League, the Caribbean Premier League, the Bangladesh Premier League and the Lanka Premier League, apart from domestic T20 tournaments in Afghanistan and Nepal. He is currently in Kathmandu to turn out for the Biratnagar Super Kings. Next month, he is scheduled to go to Dhaka for the BPL. And come March, he will be at the highest-profile franchise league of them all, having been snapped up by Punjab Kings today at the 2023 IPL auction.The Zimbabwe allrounder, who has roots in Punjab, was quite excited at the prospect. “It was part of my thinking that before I hang my boots up, it would be nice to have the IPL on my CV,” Raza told ESPNcricinfo. ” (thank God) it has happened. I am really happy, humble and excited at the same time. I would have [been fine with] any franchise but to have a Punjabi in Punjab, it is a great match.”Raza was following the IPL auction in Kathmandu, and just as his name came up, the internet connection dropped. By the time he was online again, his turn had come and gone.”I was in training today. I was calm. Sometimes I was nervous. I went through all the emotions before the auction.”We went back to the hotel. Then there was an anti-corruption meeting [while the auction was on]. When it was my turn at the IPL auction, I was moving from one room to another, and the internet got disconnected.”While it was connecting back again, I started getting a lot of messages from my friends, congratulating me. I said, ‘what, I can’t see it. Are you guys playing a prank?’ They said check the auction. I said I am checking but I haven’t even been up there.”What happened was, by the time I reconnected, I had gone already. So basically I didn’t see the bid. Maybe that was a good thing actually. I reckon it’s a good thing. If I was watching, I would have shouted in the meeting!”This caps a stellar year for Raza, who has helped Zimbabwe beat Bangladesh in ODI and T20I series, scored a hundred against India, and secured a first win against Australia in Australia. Then came the Men’s T20 World Cup, where they beat Pakistan in dramatic fashion. Raza was central to most of these big moments, both with bat and ball.”It has been incredible. It has been life and career changing. Every time I have won a Player-of-the-Match trophy, I kiss my mum’s hand and give her the trophy. The best part of these few months is that I have handed her over a lot of trophies. I think the trophy cabinet is full now. To sum it up, I would say that making my parents proud has been the highlight.”And the on-field highlights? “The top three would be the hundred against India, and beating Ireland and Pakistan in the T20 World Cup,” Raza said, after much thinking.All this on the back of Zimbabwe having to fight for a place in the T20 World Cup via a qualifying tournament, and Raza not being in the right state of mind just months ago. A video call with new coaching director Dave Houghton, Raza said, proved to a be a major turning point.”Without going into too many details, I wasn’t enjoying my cricket. My first meeting with Dave Houghton was via a WhatsApp video call. I was in Rajshahi, Bangladesh. That one meeting changed a lot of things for me. I was expecting a firm order that ‘I want you back on this day.'”But all he said was, ‘Son, you are playing cricket. Make sure you win the trophy. Enjoy it. I will see you when you come back’. That’s all he said to me, and it changed a lot of things in my mind. It was a turning point. Dave Houghton has played a huge role.”Now, Raza is exactly where he wants to be in his cricket career, and he plans to soak it all in. “I used to see other cricketers go from one league to another, and on to another. Allah has given me this opportunity, so I will not complain about anything – the wicket, weather or changing environment, culture and changing room. I will just be grateful, which makes everything else easier.”

Chelsea are now preparing a £75m bid for an “incredible” Premier League star, and they may also look at using one of their own players as a makeweight in negotiations, according to a report.

Blues pursuing a defender

Ahead of the summer transfer window, one of the Blues’ main priorities appears to be bringing in some new defenders, having been linked with moves for a number of top centre-backs.

Barcelona’s Jules Kounde is one of the most high-profile centre-backs thought to be on the shortlist, with Enzo Maresca’s side willing to push the boat out to get a deal done.

However, there are also some options from much closer to home, with it recently being revealed the west Londoners are the favourites to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi, despite interest from European heavyweights Bayern Munich.

There has now been a new update on Chelsea’s pursuit of Guehi, with a report from Spain revealing they are now preparing a bid of around £75m for the summer.

The Palace defender is described as one of the Blues’ main targets, having caught the eye of Maresca, and they are now willing to make a huge bid to get a deal done, after making attempts to sign him during the winter.

Not only are Maresca’s side willing to make a £75m offer plus bonuses, but they are also considering whether to use a player as a makeweight in the negotiations in order to sweeten the deal.

The report does not state which player could be offered to the Eagles, but the willingness to send someone in the opposite direction is said to underline Chelsea’s desire to get a deal done as quickly as possible.

Related Chelsea preparing £25m offer for "brilliant" forward who may replace Nkunku

The Blues are keen to bolster their attacking options this summer.

Posts ByDominic Lund Feb 23, 2025 Trevoh Chalobah swap deal could make sense

Maresca was forced to recall Trevoh Chalobah from his loan spell at Selhurst Park last month, with the manage lacking options in defence due to the injury sustained by Wesley Fofana.

Chalobah was a key player for the Eagles prior to his loan being cut short, and Oliver Glasner described him as a “very good player”, so it could make sense to use the centre-back in negotiations for Guehi.

Lauded as “incredible” by members of the media, the England international has certainly earned a big move with his performances for Palace, once again playing a big part in his side picking up a clean sheet in a 2-0 victory against Fulham at the weekend.

The 24-year-old made three interceptions, three tackles and blocked one shot to keep the Cottagers at bay, while also showcasing his leadership by captaining the side.

That said, £75m seems a large fee for a player who will be out of contract next summer, so it would make sense for Chelsea to try and engineer a swap deal, and there is seemingly a good chance Palace would be keen on Chalobah, given the praise from Glasner.

The Australia teenager has heaped praise on the India batter for the insights she shared during their time together in the WBBL

S Sudarshanan07-Dec-2022

Phoebe Litchfield sees herself as a like-for-like replacement for Rachael Haynes – ‘top-order, middle-order batter, lefty and a fielder’•Getty Images

Australia’s uncapped teenaged batter Phoebe Litchfield has heaped praise on India opener Smriti Mandhana for sharing insights during the Women’s Big Bash League last year and termed her one of her “favourite left-handers to watch.”Mandhana led the charts for for Sydney Thunder in WBBL 2021-22 with 377 runs at a strike rate of 130.44. Litchfield, who became the youngest batter to hit a WBBL half-century in 2019, was next on the list with 263 at a strike rate of 109.12. While Mandhana opted out of the WBBL this season, Litchfield was Thunder’s top run-getter with 280 at a rate of 117.64, with two half-centuries. Those runs contributed to a call-up to the Australia side that is now in India for a five-match T20I series.Related

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“Smriti was awesome to play with. She is a class above,” the 19-year-old Litchfield said in Mumbai on Wednesday. “As a lefty I learnt a lot off her. She helped me through those innings. I definitely made the most of her [time] over there [and] picked her brains. She’s one of my favourite left-handers to watch.”She actually gave me one of her bats at the end of the series. I used that and it was a peach! [The chat with her was about] just batting insights around how to go about a game. Sometimes you shank some, sometimes you go well. You’ve got to stick in there and put an innings together. She helped me with that.”Litchfield has been regarded as a bright prospect ever since her WBBL debut. She stroked her maiden List A century this season for New South Wales Breakers in the Women’s National Cricket League, underlining her next-big-thing status in Australian cricket. While the tag sits comfortably on her, she admitted to the occasional pressure that it brings.”I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t cross my mind,” she said. “The pressures of scoring runs always plays on the mind, especially as a young player. With the media going ‘oh, you are the next big thing’ and I hope like I don’t go nowhere or something like that. But as soon as I hop on the field it disappears, which is nice.”I focus on scoring runs and actually having fun around the group and seeing players like Rach [Rachael] Haynes, Alyssa Healy play and mirror my game to the T and have fun.”Litchfield is looked at as a like-for-like replacement for Haynes, who retired from professional cricket this season. Having had her first practice session in India on Tuesday, Litchfield, who’s into her first full season as a full-time cricketer – and not having to juggle the sport with school – said she was still getting to grips with subcontinental surfaces.”I am like-for-like for Rach – as in a top-order, middle-order batter, lefty and a fielder,” she said about her possible role. “I guess that’s the spot that is free in the Aussie set-up. But I am not looking for anything at the moment and just relishing the time in the group.”It wasn’t the greatest hit on these spinny, slow wickets but it’s my first hit in the subcontinent. It is not going to be perfect but yeah, it was lots of fun batting with Midge [Healy], who was smacking it down at the other end while I was struggling to get off the mark.”

Pat Cummins struck early with the ball before rain curtailed Australia’s final-session push

Firdose Moonda28-Dec-2022Alex Carey scored his maiden Test hundred as Australia piled on the runs at the MCG then removed South Africa captain Dean Elgar in the second over before rain brought an early end to the third dayAustralia piled on 189 runs in 54 overs on an overcast day with Carey and Cameron Green, who defied a fractured finger, adding 117 for the eighth wicket against an increasingly exhausted attack. South Africa were kept in the field for more than five sessions and bowled 145 overs in total and were unable to bowl Australia out on a surface that remained good for batting.Elgar was unable to take advantage of them as he gloved Pat Cummins down the leg side off the third ball he faced. The edge died on Carey but replays showed he took a clean catch low down to send Elgar back for a duck. It was the second time in the series Elgar had been dismissed in this fashion after also being caught down leg in the first innings in Brisbane.Related

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Australia could have done further damage when Cummins found Theunis de Bruyn’s edge in his next over but it swerved away from David Warner at first slip and he could not hold on. Mitchell Starc, who bowled despite suffering tendon damage his finger in the field on the first day, just missed Sarel Erwee’s edge and had two appeals for lbw against de Bruyn which were missing. Starc was expected to continue bowling despite his wound, which opens up as he bowls and necessitates him to mop up the blood after almost every delivery.Starc was not the only one who battled through pain. Green also had a broken finger after being hit while batting but returned to the crease to score an unbeaten half-century and provide solid defence while Carey counterattacked. The pair ground South Africa’s attack down after a bright start. Despite bowling in 40 degree heat throughout the second day, South Africa came out with good intent and, helped by cooler conditions, struck early. They took three wickets in six balls as Anrich Nortje turned up the heat.The stroke that took Cameron Green to his half-century•Getty ImagesAfter Travis Head reached a 54-ball 50 with a pull off a short ball, Nortje went full and straight and took out his off stump. The dismissal brought Warner, who retired hurt with cramp after reaching 200 on day, back for more. He danced to the crease but was met by a Nortje ball that zoned in on leg stump, beat the flick and bowled him. Warner, having walked back in to a standing ovation, left to another.Cummins found the boundary when he steered a wide Nortje ball through point and then nicked off against Kagiso Rabada. South Africa were convinced of the edge but needed to confirm it on review.South Africa had created an opening but Carey and Green soon closed it with a stand that shut out the attack. Carey was strong on the drive and drilled Lungi Ngidi for three successive fours including the one that brought up his fifty while Green was content with biding his time as he tried to protect his finger from any further blows.Carey brought up the Australian 500 with a top-edge off a hook shot from a Rabada bouncer and his own hundred when he ran three off Jansen. He was the first Australian wicketkeeper to score a century in nine years, since Brad Haddin in 2013. His innings ended when a popped a short delivery from Jansen straight up in the air.By then, Green had faced 164 balls and if there was any pain, he wasn’t showing it. He had also started to play some shots and took on the short ball. He reached fifty off 170 balls with a cut over point. To add insult to injury, Starc also tucked into the bouncer and top-edged Nortje over square leg to six. In the next over, Starc was hit on the helmet and was undergoing his concussions check when Cummins called the batters in.Australia will operate with a four-man attack for the rest of the match, with Green unable to bowl. Head and Marnus Labuschagne are expected to provide back-up if required.

It is fair to say, Everton have not been renowned within the Premier League for being the best at recruitment over the last decade.

Huge fees have been paid for players such as Yannick Bolasie, Morgan Schneiderlin, Davy Klaassen, Cenk Tosun, Yerry Mina, André Gomes, Jean-Philippe Gbamin, Moise Kean, Allan, and many, many more, with the vast majority, if not all of those, offering very little return on investment.

However, the Toffees did have a genuinely top-class Premier League full-back on their hands, whom they decided to let go for just £2m.

That’s proven to be one of the Blues’ biggest mistakes in the market given their options on the right and left side of defence now.

How Everton's full-backs are performing in 2024/25

Last Saturday night’s 1-1 draw with Wolves at Molineux, in which Jack Harrison was on target, extended Everton’s unbeaten streak to eight Premier League games, with David Moyes propelling them away from danger and up to 15th.

Nevertheless, as the Toffees prepare to move into their brand-new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in August, they have a poor squad, with former England midfielder Karen Carney telling the Guardian she believes the club’s ‘long-term strategy’ should remain under scrutiny.

This lack of quality certainly extends to the full-back positions where, as outlined by Patrick Boyland of the Athletic, Moyes has a selection of imperfect options, so let’s assess these players.

Mykolenko

25

2026

28

Young

39

2025

29

Patterson

23

2027

8

Coleman

36

2025

4

As the table shows, two of Everton’s full-backs are both in their mid-to-late 30s and out of contract this season, with both Nathan Patterson and Séamus Coleman making very few appearances this season due to injuries.

This has left Ashley Young, who’ll celebrate his 40th birthday in July, and Vitaliy Mykolenko as the first-choice options, even though Boyland of the Athletic described the Ukrainian as ‘limited’ and ‘unspectacular’, hence why Jake O’Brien, a centre-back by trade, has been deployed on the right in recent weeks.

Mykolenko’s lack of forward threat is in complete contrast to another left-back, on Everton’s books until quite recently, now considered one of the best in the Premier League.

Ex-Everton full-back now thriving in the top-flight

Antonee Robinson joined Everton’s academy at the age of 11, making 27 appearances at U21 level for the Toffees, but never handed his first-team debut, loaned out to both Bolton Wanderers and then Wigan Athletic, before joining the Latics permanently in 2019 for a reported fee of only £2m.

The left-back made 65 appearances for Wigan across two seasons, catching the attention of Serie A giants AC Milan, seemingly set to make a £6m move to San Siro in January 2020, especially considering he travelled to Italy for a medical.

However, speaking on Ben Foster’s podcast, Robinson revealed that the move fell through because, during his medical, it was discovered that he was having ectopic heartbeats.

That prevents him from playing in Serie A, given that the Italian authorities are ‘very stringent’ when it comes to heart health, following the high-profile and tragic deaths of both Davide Astori and Piermario Morosini.

Instead, six months later, he moved to Fulham for £2m, paying his release clause following Wigan’s relegation, while Everton attempted to re-sign him, intending to then sell him straight away to make a quick profit, which Robinson himself said he “wasn’t having that”.

Now 27, the full-back has made 180 appearances for the Cottagers, featuring in each of their last 60 Premier League fixtures, starting all but one of these matches.

Robinson’s performances have been earning rave reviews, with Jeff Rueter and Andy Jones of the Athletic labelling him the ‘best left-back in the Premier League’, while David O’Brien of BBC Sport describes his displays as ‘outstanding’.

Meantime, Dom Smith of the Evening Standard notes that he has been ‘brilliant’, with Fadumo Olow of Sky Sports praising his ‘speed, defensive resilience, and attacking contribution’.

So, let’s take a look at his statistics this season.

Appearances

28

=6th

Minutes

2,449

15th

Assists

10

=2nd

Assists – xA

+6.2

1st

Crosses into the area

25

1st

Progressive carries

94

13th

Attempted passes

1,657

10th

Tackles

71

10th

Interceptions

47

3rd

The most eye-catching of the statistics in the table above is the fact Robinson has ten Premier League assists to his name, only Mohamed Salah has more, which is not bad for a full-back.

This has also seen Robinson earn international recognition, named United States men’s national team player of the year for 2024, having won his 50th cap for the USA against Jamaica in November, very much the undisputed first-choice for Mauricio Pochettino ahead of a World Cup on home soil.

Football Transfers believe Robinson’s current value to be around £31m, which for context, is a higher valuation than anyone in the current Everton squad, even Beto and Jarrad Branthwaite and higher than £29m-rated Richarlison, a man sold by Everton for £60m.

Meanwhile, amidst interest from Liverpool, Pete O’Rourke of Football Insider reports Fulham would only be willing to sell for around £50m.

Thus, Everton must regret letting the American slip through the net, both when they initially sold him and then when they made a seemingly half-hearted attempt to bring him back to Merseyside.

He earns more than Ndiaye: Everton must axe Thelwell's "disaster" signing

The Everton board surely can’t wait to see the back of this miserable signing.

ByAngus Sinclair Mar 12, 2025

What a rise to the top it has been for Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo. Although he is out injured at the moment, the Stockport-born midfield sensation has become a key player for his boyhood club so far, under both Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim.

He has already made an impressive number of first-team appearances in that famous Red shirt. Mainoo has featured 60 times for United so far, scoring six goals and grabbing two assists from midfield in that time.

The 19-year-old rose to superstardom last season when he made his first Premier League start against Everton and completely ran the show in midfield.

Mainoo’s debut vs Everton

There have been few midfielders players, particularly ones aged just 18, who have made a bigger impression than Mainoo on their first Premier League start. He was thrust into the United midfield after months out injured, and just two appearances for the academy to regain full fitness.

United fan, analyst, and host of The Overlap: The Breakdown, H, summed up the Englishman’s performance that day. He described the youngster as “elegant” and “relaxed”, calling it a “seriously good performance” on his full debut.

The youngster was so composed that day, showing his impressive ability to carry through the opposition’s press and how hard he worked off the ball. It was an eye-catching and dominant showing from someone who was, in reality, quite inexperienced.

The stats on Sofascore from Mainoo’s full debut show just how well he played. The United number 37 had 61 touches of the ball, completing 83% of his passes. Off the ball, he won an impressive five from eight duels.

Sadly, given his injury, Amorim will not have the option of calling upon Mainoo for United’s trip to Goodison Park this weekend. However, he could make the bold decision of starting another exciting young midfielder who could have a similar rise to the top in a United shirt.

The academy midfielder who could start vs. Everton

Amorim had to call upon several young academy stars last weekend against Tottenham Hotspur, due to United’s injury crisis. Only one of those, Chido Obi, got the chance to feature, but there were several exciting talents on the bench.

One of those youngsters was Sekou Kone. The 19-year-old Malian midfielder joined the club over the summer, in a deal that was reportedly worth £1m. United beat Premier League rivals Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers to the signing.

So far, Kone has not had much of a chance to showcase his ability. Injuries have affected him this term, meaning he has played just six times for the Red Devils academy. However, he is clearly rated highly enough for Amorim to include him on the bench last weekend.

Kone really made waves at the under-17 World Cup for Mali at the end of 2023. He helped his side to a third-place finish, beating Argentina in the third-place playoff match. His stats from the game were extraordinary. As per Sofascore, he won 15 out of 20 duels, created three chances, and registered an assist.

Stat

Number

Touches

62

Pass accuracy

83%

Passes completed

34/41

Duels won

15/20

Tackles won

6/7

Long balls completed

6/6

Dribbles completed

5/6

Chances created

3

Assists

1

With that in mind, it is perhaps unsurprising that football scout Antonio Mango thinks Kone could “be a beast”. He ran the midfield in the under-17 World Cup, and perhaps he deserves the chance against Everton, to show what he can do in senior football.

One man who Kone could replace in the middle of the park is Casemiro. The experienced Brazilian made his first start of 2025 against Spurs but struggled to impose himself on the game, with the opposition coasting around him at times.

He received a 4/10 post-match rating from The Manchester Evening News’ Samuel Luckhurst. The United writer said the former Real Madrid star looked “constantly off the pace” against the Lilywhites.

Perhaps taking a punt on Kone is a risk worth taking for Amorim. Casemiro struggled and seems destined to leave the club, with reports at the end of January hinting at a move away from Old Trafford.

The Malian would be an investment to the future, and Goodison Park seems to be the place talented young midfielders break into the United first-team. Perhaps Kone could become the second coming of Mainoo in that sense.