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Dinesh Karthik’s 14-year journey will reach a major milestone on Friday, when Tamil Nadu play against Karnataka in a quarter-final

Deivarayan Muthu in Visakhapatnam22-Dec-2016When Dinesh Karthik made his Ranji Trophy debut as a 16-year old in 2002, S Suresh, S Sriram, J Madanagopal, J Gokulakrishnan and Hemang Badani were his team-mates in the Tamil Nadu side. They have all become coaches now. In fact, Madanagopal and Gokulakrishnan coached Karthik at Albert TUTI Patriots in the Tamil Nadu Premier League. Karthik’s 14-year journey will reach a major milestone on Friday, when he plays his 100th Ranji match, which just happens to be a quarter-final against rivals Karnataka.Despite the time that has passed, Karthik retained vivid memories of his first outing as a first-class player. “I was just jumping, chilling and enjoying,” he told reporters in Visakhapatnam. “[S] Sharath had a wide, red eye looking at the wicket, big eyes and focussing and he used to tell me, ‘what? you are not focusing?’ The match was against Baroda in Guru Nanak Ground. Irfan [Pathan] was there and already on the verge of playing for India. I had no clue. I had just come from [playing] Under-19 [cricket] and enjoying [myself], just taking it casually.”Karthik came in to bat at No.8 and put on a fifty partnership with Sharath, which handed Tamil Nadu the first-innings lead. “They [Baroda] scored 380-400 odd, and we chased it back,” he said.” I was batting with Sharath and I had made a good 37 or something before tea, but after the break first ball I slashed at was caught behind. He was very upset, but I was just not bothered. I was like wow, and walked back as fast as I had come in.”In his second match against Uttar Pradesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Karthik remembered hitting his way to 88 not out. “I think there was a bit of pressure but I didn’t know,” he said. “I was not bothered about it also because I went to play India Under-19 after that. I was like, ‘cool, I am happy, you dropped me and I am on my flight for Under-19.’ It just never affected me and went with the ride.”At one point, after making that fifty, he had even told Sharath, ‘”Ranji Trophy is so easy man, it can’t be so easy’. Sharath looked at me and laughed for about five minutes without saying anything. Now after my ups and downs when I look back it’s such an immature statement”It isn’t difficult to see why Karthik felt unchallenged. He has all the shots in the book and a few that aren’t in there as well. And that made him a pretty handy limited-overs player.In a Champions League T20 game between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings, R Ashwin went around the wicket, paused in his action, and then bowled a quicker one on middle and leg stump. Karthik, having shuffled outside off, paused as well and then viciously slog-swept his Tamil Nadu team-mate into the stands beyond square leg. Once, against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Karthik reverse-paddled medium-pacer Darren Sammy for four off the back of the bat for Delhi Daredevils in Dubai.All that flash has also got him into trouble. In Tamil Nadu’s first game of this year’s Ranji Trophy, Karthik attempted an ambitious scoop and perished in a tense low-scorer. Mumbai won. Several coaches have tried to wean him off the high-risk-low-reward shots, but those had also contributed to some of his more memorable performances too.”The first hundred I got [against Railways in 2003-04]…I had to play out the last ball of the day and we were 220 odd for 5 in a tricky situation. I stepped out and hit the last ball of the day for a six,” he said. “If you ask me to do that today, I won’t be able to do it. But that’s what I did then. I just felt that I could not defend so just stepped out and hit the ball. That was the mindset back then.”The one against Baroda where we were trailing and I got a hundred and we won; it was an important innings in the context of the game. Even against Railways, this season, we were behind eight-ball and I scored a hundred and we won the game. Then the hundred against Mumbai in the final [in 2004], they had a good bowling attack. Aavishkar Salvi, Nilesh Kulkarni. We were 60-70 for 5, and I got 120 odd and we just managed 300 and then they smashed us. It was a daunting task to play against Mumbai in the final then, so it was a good hundred. There have been a few hundreds, but reaching the final on three occasions has been a good thing for me, just that we haven’t been able to cross the line.”Karthik is now the senior-most player in the state side. While he was disappointed that a finger injury coincided with India’s hunt for a wicketkeeper to stand in for Wriddhiman Saha in the Test series against England, he has learnt to accept such setbacks are inevitable. He has learnt to move on.”It was touch and go between him [Parthiv Patel] and me,” he says. “My finger being injured didn’t help the situation. That’s how life is. Sometimes I might get an opportunity when nobody is expecting it. I have to take the good with the bad.”

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Oct-2016Sami Aslam helped address the slide with his fifth Test fifty•Getty ImagesYounis Khan could have been stumped for 30, but he survived and went on to make 51•Getty ImagesMisbah-ul-Haq too could have been dismissed for 6, had an lbw appeal gone West Indies’ way. He made 53•AFPDevendra Bishoo helped make up for these missed opportunities, taking four wickets after tea•AFPAnd Pakistan, who had begun the final session on 148 for 3, finished a precarious 255 for 8•AFP

As the transfer window approaches its fifth week of officially opening, Arsenal have yet to make a new addition to the first team.

In their defence, Edu Gaspar and Co have made David Raya's move permanent, and from reports, it appears that Ricardo Calafiori's imminent transfer is being held up by discussions between FC Basel and Bologna.

However, with less than a month until the Premier League graces our screens once more, the Gunners are risking missing out on their top targets.

That said, recent reports have revealed that Mikel Arteta is currently pushing the club to sign an increible player who has been compared to Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal transfer news

According to a recent report from Spanish publication Sport (via Sport Witness), Arsenal are still intent on signing Spain star Nico Williams.

In fact, while the Gunners are well aware of the Athletic Bilbao star's preference to join Barcelona this summer, they have identified him as the 'chosen one' to improve their attacking threat next season and see him as the ideal option for the left wing.

The report claims the 22-year-old has a €58m – £49m – release clause in his contract which is proving to be a significant issue for the Catalan side, and while it would still be a hefty fee for the Gunners, it would be well within their financial ability to pay it.

Overall, it may prove challenging to convince Williams to move to North London over Barcelona this summer, but if Arsenal want to make their attack even more potent next season, they'll have to put in the work to do it, and the comparison to Martinelli is just an extra incentive.

Why Williams would be a great signing and his comparison to Martinelli

So, before looking at why Williams would be such a good signing for Arsenal and his unreal form last season, let's take a look at this comparison to Martinelli and where it came from.

It stems from FBref, which compares players in similar positions across Europe's top five leagues before creating a top ten list of the most comparable players for each one. In this case, they concluded that the Brazilian is the seventh most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Spaniard.

It's not just the fact that they play on the left and love to take players on that makes the two stars so comparable, but also the fact that they produce very similar underlying numbers in a swathe of metrics, including non-penalty expected goals, actual non-penalty goals, progressive carries, passes into the final third, switches and tackles, all per 90.

It might seem odd that the player Arsenal want to sign to play off the left ranks so closely to their current left-winger in so many metrics, but it's not just about his underlying numbers.

He showed the world just how effective he can be last season, and along with his impact at the Euros, that's the main reason to believe he'd be incredible in North London.

For example, in just 37 appearances for Bilbao in 2023/24, the Spanish "pace demon", as dubbed by presenter Adam Keys, won the Copa del Rey, scored eight goals and provided 19 assists, meaning he averaged a goal involvement every 1.37 games in what was a historic campaign for the Basque giants.

He followed that up by helping La Roja win their fourth European Championship, scoring twice – including in the final – and providing one assist.

Ultimately, while it may be a challenge to convince Williams to join Arsenal this summer, Edu and Arteta must give it their best shot.

At just 22 years old, the young Spaniard looks like he's already one of the best attackers in Europe, and in a team with Bukayo Saka on the other side, he could achieve incredible things in North London.

Arsenal struck gold on "phenomenal" star who's worth way more than Merino

The incredible player has been a game-changer since his arrival.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Jul 18, 2024

The striker's low confidence is just one sign of the low point the champions find themselves in after losing three games in a row

"Manchester City don't give you the twists," said Gary Neville during last season's Premier League title run-in. "You always said in the years gone by that there will be a twist and a turn, that something happens. I'm not sure it is going to happen."

Neville might have been proved right then as Pep Guardiola's side held off the threat of Arsenal and claimed a record fourth successive title by winning their final nine games. But right now City are not just twisting, they have fallen flat on their faces.

For just the third time in the Guardiola era, they have lost three games in a row in all competitions, going out to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup before being well beaten by Bournemouth and then destroyed by Ruben Amorim's Sporting CP. And next up is the trickiest of trips to Brighton, who offer a serious threat of City suffering a fourth consecutive defeat for the first time ever under Guardiola.

It is no exaggeration to say that the Catalan faces the toughest challenge of his glorious spell in charge at the Etihad Stadium. And how he navigates it will affect the destination of the Premier League title, as well as impacting whether or not this will be his last campaign with the club.

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  'Everything going the wrong way'

  Bernardo Silva should have enjoyed returning to his home city of Lisbon but as he spoke to after Sporting had ripped his side apart at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, he could not hide his sadness or his incredulity. "It's difficult to find the reasons why what is happening now to us," the Portugal international said. "I don't remember in seven-and-a-half seasons losing three in a row. We're in a dark place, everything looks to be going the wrong way."

  Indeed, it is not just the results that are concerning. Something just does not seem right with Guardiola's side. As Neville referenced last May, City are usually experts in composure. They can numb the most intimidating of atmospheres into silence by keeping the ball forever. They can lose a player like Kevin De Bruyne for half of the season or Erling Haaland for two months – and still win the league.

  They can write off a big money signing like Kalvin Phillips in a matter of weeks and barely notice. They can be hit by 115 charges from the Premier League, threatening their very existence, but block it all out and still go on to win the treble. Keep calm and carry on winning, no matter the circumstance.

  But that usual sense of serenity has been replaced by a feeling of panic. Just look at Haaland.

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  Haaland is low on confidence

  The Norwegian takes pride in avoiding stress as much as he can, embracing meditation and sleep techniques. Now, though, he looks anything but relaxed. He had five attempts on goal against Sporting and each wasted opportunity told a different story. He could be forgiven for not beating Franco Israel from a tight angle early in the game but his next effort, when he latched on to a bouncing ball in the area and then shanked it well wide of the near post, portrayed his current lack of confidence.

  So did his next effort, a header that lacked the power to cross the goal-line before being cleared by Viktor Gyokeres. Worst of all was his performance from the penalty spot, when he hit the ball as hard as he could, hammering it against the crossbar.

  As Guardiola warned us last season when he said "Never criticise your top scorer, he will shut your mouth," one must always be careful about writing off Haaland. He had scored an outrageous volley in his last Champions League outing and has 11 Premier League goals. But he is on a patchy run of form, to put it mildly.

  He has failed to score in six of his last 10 games for City. In the Premier League, he has one goal in his last five. Against Wolves, he registered zero shots on goal. But against Newcastle, as in Lisbon, he had five attempts but got no joy. Against Southampton he was laughably wasteful, scoring just once from eight shots.

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  Desperate defending

  When Guardiola said his team were "not emotionally stable" in Lisbon, it sounded like he was referring to Haaland. But he was in fact referring to Josko Gvardiol and Matheus Nunes for the manner in which they gave away penalties in the second half. Both players threw their arms out to try and stop their opponents. It looked like a sign of desperation.

  Perhaps it should not be surprising that City look out of sorts defensively. In Lisbon, they were fielding a different back four for the fifth game in a row and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey was making his first-team debut. The 19-year-old was thrown into the deep end but Guardiola had little option as his defence has been decimated. Ruben Dias and John Stones were out, while Kyle Walker had just rushed back from injury and was kept on the bench after his erratic display against Bournemouth.

  Rico Lewis has usurped Walker in the line-up on many occasions this season, although the 34-year-old's injury issues have been a factor in that regard. And this was a night when City badly missed their experienced right-back and his renowned recovery pace.

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  Longing for Rodri

  And, of course, City were missing Rodri, the one player who they have not been able to do without in recent years. The English champions lost all four of the games he was suspended for in the first half of last season and, after winning the first six games after he suffered his season-ending injury against Arsenal, they are again showing how much they rely on the recent Ballon d'Or winner.

  Mateo Kovacic worked best last season when he was sitting next to the Spaniard in midfield. Without him, he has been increasingly exposed. Ilkay Gundogan has looked much less vibrant than when he left for Barcelona. Perhaps that should be no surprise for a player who turned 34 last month, had spent the previous season in a much less intense league and who retired from Germany as he needed to play less football.

  Dias and Stones are unlikely to be back for City’s trip to the Amex Stadium to face a Brighton side who gave Liverpool a real fright last week and who have beaten Newcastle, Tottenham and Manchester United while taking points off Arsenal.

  When the defensive injury crisis abates, however, there is every chance that City regroup and rediscover their old selves.

In pursuit of putting an end to their goalscoring problems once and for all, Erik ten Hag has now reportedly personally held talks with one of Manchester United's summer targets.

Man Utd transfer news

It's a big summer at Old Trafford. After putting his faith in Ten Hag, Sir Jim Ratcliffe will be desperate to see Manchester United avoid a repeat of their last Premier League campaign, which saw the Red Devils finish as low as eighth. They did at least end their season on a high by defeating Manchester City to win the FA Cup, but only time will tell whether that win will be the start of a resurgence or one that just papered over the cracks once again.

Man Utd looking to beat Newcastle in race to sign Premier League wonderkid

He’s one for the future.

By
Tom Cunningham

Jun 29, 2024

With or without that FA Cup win, it became clear last season that United must welcome some fresh faces this summer, whether that be a replacement for Casemiro (in the form of the heavily linked Manuel Ugarte) or Raphael Varane, who is set to leave Old Trafford as a free agent at the end of the month. What's more, an update has emerged on the Red Devils' pursuit of a target who could finally solve their attacking problems.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Ten Hag has now personally held talks with Joshua Zirkzee regarding a summer switch to Manchester United. The Bologna forward has been linked with a move in recent weeks and those at Old Trafford have until mid-August to trigger his €40m (£34m) release clause, as per Fabrizio Romano.

Still just 23 years old and impressing in Serie A, Zirkzee is certainly a player who is capable of partnering Rasmus Hojlund and providing the attacking spark that Ten Hag's side so desperately lacked last season.

"Powerful" Zirkzee can ignite Rashford's best form

It's no surprise that as Marcus Rashford struggled for consistency and goals, so did Manchester United. The academy graduate had his season summed up when Gareth Southgate dropped him from his England squad for Euro 2024, leaving the winger to reflect on a campaign to forget.

The winger must pick himself up and dust himself off as soon as possible with pre-season right around the corner and the potential chance to work alongside a rising star with the calibre of Zirkzee, who could finally help rediscover Rashford's best form.

What's instantly notable is the fact that both players outperformed their expected goals last season, which suggests that United's main task must be to create chances for the two forwards who are clearly more than capable of taking them.

Dubbed a "powerful striker" by former Bayern Munich academy manager Holger Seitz, the arrival of Zirkzee would be an excellent start to Manchester United's summer business.

Lord of the Rings star & Real Madrid fan Viggo Mortensen wrote to El Pais condemning Vinicius Jr as a "spoilt child" over his Ballon d'Or boycott.

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• Rodri edged out Vinicius Jr for the Ballon d'Or
• Real Madrid's entourage decided to snub the ceremony
• Mortensen slammed the decision in his letter to El Pais

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Real Madrid initially planned to send a delegation to the Ballon d’Or awards. However, when it became clear that Vinicius Jr. would not win the award— despite a remarkable season with Los Blancos that included a second Champions League title – the club chose to stay away from the ceremony. The Brazilian had been considered a frontrunner for the accolade, but the award ultimately went to Rodri, the Spain and Manchester City midfielder who enjoyed an exceptional season with City, culminating in Premier League and Euro 2024 victories.

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Real Madrid’s decision to withdraw from the Ballon d’Or gala has drawn criticism from football insiders and former players. Now, the celebrated Lord of the Rings actor and longtime Real Madrid supporter has joined the bandwagon. Living much of the year in Madrid, Mortensen is deeply familiar with Spanish culture and football, and his opinion struck a chord with many Madridistas. The actor criticised both Vinicius and the club’s response to his snub, accusing Real Madrid of lacking sportsmanship and showing arrogance.

• WHAT MORTENSEN SAID

  Mortensen’s letter in left little room for interpretation. He openly criticised Vinicius Jr. and Real Madrid’s response, describing it as an unsportsmanlike act motivated by entitlement.

  “Real Madrid, after finding out that their spoiled child was not going to win the Ballon d’Or and the child was furious and sad, said that the club does not go where it is not respected," he wrote "And the decision was made to support Vinicius Jr. and his tantrum about not going to Paris for the awards ceremony.

  “It’s being a bad loser, period. I am a Real Madrid fan, but I think that if the club does not go where it is not respected, it is the club’s fault for this type of stupidity, this unsportsmanlike and arrogant conduct. Hala Madrid! always, but how embarrassed this makes me."

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  WHAT NEXT FOR VINICIUS?

  Despite the controversy, Vinicius is set to make his return to the field this weekend as Real Madrid face Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium. However, concerns have arisen about the fixture, as heavy flooding in the Valencia area may cause a postponement. If the match goes ahead, it offers Real Madrid and Vinicius Jr. an opportunity to shift focus back to the field and potentially regain momentum after a turbulent week marred with controversy.

When Erik ten Hag arrived at Manchester United in 2022, the summer plan was clear: rebuild the midfield.

Casemiro joined, and so did Christian Eriksen, but fast forward to today and the Dane’s future at the club – according to reports – is in doubt.

The creative midfielder only made 12 Premier League starts last season, which clearly proves that he’s now viewed as a squad player.

However, United are now on the lookout for a new midfielder to upgrade from Eriksen, who has also been compared to a certain English superstar in Jude Bellingham.

Man Utd’s search for a new midfielder

According to a report from CaughtOffside, Man Utd will attempt to sign Adrien Rabiot from Juventus this summer.

The French star is said to be admired by Ten Hag, with him being viewed as ‘his priority in midfield.’

Rabiot’s contract in Turin expires soon, which would inevitably make him available on a free transfer.

However, what will give the Red Devils an advantage over other potential suitors is the fact that it’s been reported that the midfielder is waiting for the Manchester club.

Why Rabiot would be a huge upgrade on Eriksen

It’s fair to say that ever since his arrival in Turin, Rabiot has performed consistently, despite rarely receiving many plaudits for his impact.

His role at Juventus isn’t to be the best passer in the side, the most dominant defender, or even the most threatening in the final third, but his ability to tick all the boxes is vital.

Last season, the Frenchman started 30 games in Serie A, operating as a box-to-box in a midfield three for almost all of those.

However, it seems that Rabiot is someone who’s made for the big occasions, as shown by his performance for France against the Netherlands at Euro 2024, where he made four key passes and won all his duels, as well as during his most recent Champions League campaign.

Firstly, there’s no debating that Rabiot and Eriksen are the polar opposite when it comes to their strengths and approach to the beautiful game.

The Juve ace is far less involved in the possession side of play in terms of progression and creativity, often making runs off the ball to create space, which is one reason stats platform FBref classified him as a ‘similar player’ to Bellingham.

Just like the Real Madrid superstar, Rabiot provides an endless amount of energy in the middle of the park, with his intensity levels among the very best, whereas United’s Dane has been described as a “passenger” by football creator Liam Canning for his lack of manoeuvrability.

The fact that the 29-year-old’s goals, progressive carries, and tackles are so high proves that he covers the entire field during each game, and that athleticism would make him an upgrade on Eriksen alone.

On top of that, what makes Rabiot such a "monster," as dubbed by journalist Robin Bairner, is that he has the ability to pop up with goals, which would add another dimension to the United attack; that’s just another attribute that makes him similar to Bellingham.

Overall, considering that Rabiot could be snapped up on a free transfer, and he offers so many desirable traits, it would be crazy for United to pass on the opportunity of making him a replacement for Eriksen.

What Man Utd's dream XI could look like after £230m spending spree

Marcus Rashford doesn’t make the best eleven.

1

By
Tom Lever

Jun 7, 2024

Celtic have just over two months left to bolster their playing squad before the summer transfer window, which opened earlier this month, slams shut.

The Hoops are yet to make their first signing of the summer as they prepare to strengthen Brendan Rodgers' team ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

They are coming off the back of winning a domestic double last season in the Northern Irish head coach's first year back in the dugout at Parkhead.

The Bhoys secured the Scottish Premiership title for the third year in succession and then won the SFA Cup, with a 1-0 win over Rangers at Hampden Park, thanks to a goal from loanee Adam Idah.

It was recently reported that Celtic want to sign the Irish striker on a permanent deal but Norwich's new manager, Johannes Hoff Thorup, wants to take a look at him in pre-season before making a decision on his future.

If they fail to convince the Canaries to part ways with the 6 foot 3 marksman then they could go into next season with Kyogo Furuhashi as their main source of goals once again.

They could land the Japan international an exciting partner at the top end of the pitch to ease the goalscoring burden as they are reportedly in the market to land a new forward.

Celtic's interest in exciting young winger

According to GhanaSoccerNet, Celtic are one of a number of clubs competing to land a deal for Sogndal Fotball winger Edmund Baidoo this summer.

The report claims that there is 'significant' interest in his signature from several teams thanks to his impressive form in the second tier in Norway this year.

It states that Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion have made their move to speak with the player and his representatives ahead of a possible transfer.

GhanaSoccerNet adds that Leeds United, Celtic, and Club Brugge are also in the mix to sign the talented youngster to bolster their attacking ranks.

The report also reveals that his contract does not expire until the summer of 2027 and this means that Sogndal are under little pressure to cash in on him.

Although, it remains to be seen how much the Norwegian side are likely to demand for the teenage whiz, amid interest from a host of clubs across Europe this summer.

If the Hoops can strike an agreement with them and win the race for his signature then they could land an exciting partner for Kyogo in the Premiership next season, if the young talent can make the step up to Scottish football.

Kyogo Furuhashi's struggles last season

You could have forgiven Celtic supporters for expecting big things from the Japanese forward last season after his terrific performances under Ange Postecoglou the previous year.

He had just won the PFA Scotland Player of the Year award for the 2022/23 campaign after a staggering return of 27 goals in 31 Premiership appearances.

Unfortunately, the 29-year-old attacker could not replicate that success under Rodgers last term as he struggled in front of goal throughout the 2023/24 season.

As you can see in the table above, the Japan international's form fell off a cliff from the 2022/23 campaign to last term, with his goalscoring touch seemingly deserting him.

Kyogo spurned a staggering 24 'big chances' and only found the back of the net 14 times in his 38 games, whilst he underperformed his xG of 18.39 by 4.39 – the largest underperformance in the squad.

This shows that the experienced dud did not make the most of the chances that his teammates were consistently creating for him in the Premiership.

His lack of form in the final third meant that Celtic needed their wingers to step up and make up for his struggles by getting on the scoresheet themselves.

Unfortunately, however, Daizen Maeda and Luis Palma only combined for 13 league goals between them and Nicolas Kuhn managed two in 14 outings after his January move from Rapid Wien.

Rodgers, though, could now land a winger with the potential to provide a bigger goal threat from the flank by securing a deal to sign Baidoo to ease the pressure on Kyogo to be a consistent goalscorer for the Scottish giants.

Why Celtic should sign Edmund Baidoo

The Hoops should swoop to sign the 18-year-old phenom as his form in the second division in Norway this term suggests that the potential is here for him to develop into a fantastic attacker.

It is worth adding that this move would be a risk for the Premiership champions, though, as he is a teenage talent who is yet to play in a top-flight or in a major European country, which means that there is no guarantee that his form will translate over to Scotland.

However, his sublime form during the 2024 campaign suggests that it is a risk worth taking as he could emerge as a brilliant, and much-needed, partner for Kyogo at the top end of the pitch.

The young whiz, who only turned 18 in January, has enjoyed an eye-catching start to the season with Sogndal, with Norway's leagues running through a calendar year, rather than from August to May.

As you can see in the table above, the Ghana-born starlet has provided a strong goal threat from the right wing with a conversion rate of 19% – better than Kyogo's 14% in the Premiership last season.

The right-footed ace has racked up eight goals and six assists, 14 involvements, in 17 appearances in all competitions this term, which is a direct goal contribution every 1.21 matches on average.

Baidoo, who GhanaSoccerNet founder Sannie Daara lauded as "in-form", has showcased his ability to score and create goals at an impressive rate, but in the second tier in Norway.

Celtic could forget Idah in swoop for SPFL star who's "unplayable at times"

The Hoops are reportedly interested in a deal for the centre-forward this summer.

By
Dan Emery

Jun 26, 2024

If he can carry that goalscoring form over to the Premiership then he could be the efficient goalscorer from the wing that the Hoops need to make up for Kyogo's struggles.

Manchester United have sacked Erik ten Hag with immediate effect, less than a day after the team's damaging defeat by struggling West Ham.

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• United officially confirm Dutchman's sacking
• INEOS patience finally runs out
• Red Devils lost four of nine PL games

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  The Red Devils announced in an official statement that the manager had been relieved of his duties on Monday following the dismal defeat at the London Stadium, their fourth loss in nine Premier League games. The statement read: "Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager. Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024. We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  United have made their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, with Sunday's defeat by West Ham leaving them 14th in the Premier League table after nine games. They have also failed to win any of their three Europa League games, drawing against Twente, Porto and Fenerbahce.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  Ten Hag was in serious danger of losing his job late last season as United came eighth in the Premier League, their worst finish since 1990. The club spoke to numerous candidates including Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna and Thomas Tuchel but Ten Hag eventually clung on and was given a one-year extension of his contract. It means that United are likely to have to pay an estimated £7 million in compensation to Ten Hag, which could have been avoided in the summer.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MAN UTD?

  Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of the team as interim head coach while United look to recruit a permanent successor to Ten Hag. The legendary ex-Red Devils striker will lead the team in Wednesday's game at home to Leicester City in the Carabao Cup.

Arne Slot says Liverpool's upcoming clash with high-flying Chelsea is their "biggest challenge" of the season so far.

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• Liverpool face Chelsea this weekend
• Slot compares Blues to Man Utd
• Says clash is "biggest challenge" so far

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Ahead of Liverpool hosting Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday, Reds boss Slot likened the Blues' spending to Manchester United's. The Red Devils and the Stamford Bridge team have the biggest net spend over the past five years in the Premier League and splashed around more than £200 million ($261m) each on transfers this summer. In the run-up to the clash between first and fourth in the Premier League, Slot has prepared his team for a stern test this weekend.

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  WHAT ARNE SLOT

  He told reporters: "If you look at the league table, it is [the biggest challenge of the season]. I think Manchester United is a very good team, a top club in England that has spent a lot of money to even make the team better again. Same for Chelsea in this season. Chelsea does really well. If you look at the league table then they are the ones that might be our toughest opponent. But it's not always about the league table. Sometimes it's about the form of the day, it's about their game plan. We had some difficulty with Wolves as well, who are bottom of the league, I think. But it is a challenge, that's for sure."

• THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Slot has made a seamless transition at Anfield since replacing legendary manager Jurgen Klopp in the summer. They sit top of the Premier League and have impressed in the Champions League, but Enzo Maresca's Chelsea have made a strong start to the campaign, too. This encounter will be a true test of their credentials on Sunday.

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• LFC
  

  WHAT NEXT?

  After Liverpool's clash with Chelsea, the Reds return to Champions League action next Wednesday when they travel to Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. The tests get even tougher as they then take on Arsenal at the Emirates on October 27.