Haris Rauf will join the county in 2022 as part of a player exchange programme

Matt Roller21-Dec-2021

Yorkshire have unveiled a partnership with Lahore Qalandars, the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise, which will aim to “nurture talent [by] reducing barriers to entry” following the racism crisis which has engulfed the county.The most pertinent part of the partnership is Yorkshire’s intention to “learn from and emulate” the Qalandars’ players development program (PDP), which provides opportunities to over 150 young players annually and aims to unearth new talent regardless of background.Haris Rauf, who has won 42 caps for Pakistan since attending Qalandars trials in 2017 and bowling with a leather ball for the first time, has been the PDP’s poster boy, and the partnership will see him join Yorkshire as an overseas player for “a period of the 2022 season”.It will also see two teams play a friendly game at Gaddafi Stadium on January 16, academy players given opportunities to train overseas, and scholarships for aspiring players from both Yorkshire and Lahore as part of an exchange programme. Harry Brook, Yorkshire’s brightest young talent, was signed by the Qalandars in last week’s PSL draft.Related

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The partnership represents a significant step in Lord Kamlesh Patel’s attempts to rebuild Yorkshire following his appointment as chair, which came about after Roger Hutton resigned in light of Azeem Rafiq’s allegations of institutional racism at the club and the handling of the report into them.Among his first moves was the decision to sack the club’s entire coaching staff as part of a major overhaul which saw 16 people removed from their roles, with Darren Gough later appointed as interim director of cricket.Yorkshire have advertised for the head coach, assistant coach, 2nd XI coach and academy coach roles in the last week, as well as inviting applications for up to six new non-executive directors “who are representative of the communities the club serves [and] are committed to the board’s aim to tackle discrimination and racism”.Yorkshire’s first-team squad contains only one non-white player – Adil Rashid, who is rarely available to play for the county due to his status as a centrally-contracted England player – and Lord Patel said that the partnership would help create a club “that is welcoming and supportive to all”.”The work the Lahore Qalandars do both on and off the pitch is remarkable and can serve as a benchmark for clubs around the world – ours included – for how best to spot, foster and support talent at all levels in the game of cricket,” Lord Patel said.”The Players Development Program is an incredible achievement – breaking the mould for how teams can be created within our sport, and demonstrating that through offering access and support, great cricketing talent can be found from all backgrounds.”Haris Rauf was first spotted at Lahore Qalandars’ open trials in 2017•Lahore Qalandars

The Qalandars already have similar partnerships with other clubs, most notably Melbourne Stars in Australia’s Big Bash League where Rauf, Dilbar Hussain, Syed Faridoun and Ahmed Daniyal have all been given opportunities in recent seasons.Rauf will be playing county cricket for the first time after agreeing to join the club and will be their first Asian overseas player since Cheteshwar Pujara in 2018, whose nickname ‘Steve’ came under scrutiny during Rafiq’s testimony to a parliamentary select committee in October.Gough said he was “thrilled” to have signed an “exceptionally talented” bowler in Rauf and that he hoped the partnership would widen access. “I have spoken in the past about my passion for developing accessible pathways to cricket,” he said.”For many people from a background like mine, cricket isn’t seen as an option, with the associated costs and access to facilities creating real barriers to entry. This partnership is an opportunity to take the blueprint the Qalandars have developed to such a success and work with them to define how that can be used to provide access for potential players from across Yorkshire.”

Liverpool were made to work for their hard-fought 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Anfield on Sunday afternoon. Arne Slot’s side put in an impressive performance to ensure they earned all three points and stayed at the top of the Premier League table, ahead of early title rivals Manchester City and Arsenal.

Liverpool took the lead against the Blues on Sunday via a Mohamed Salah penalty. The Egyptian legend slotted home from 12 yards following a foul from England international defender Levi Colwill.

Chelsea, however, got themselves back into the game through Senegalese striker Nicolas Jackson. The Blues number 15 latched onto a pinpoint through ball from Moises Caicedo to equalise for the West London outfit. It was originally given offside, but after a VAR check, the striker was deemed onside.

The goal did not hinder Liverpool much at all, and just three minutes after Jackson’s strike, they managed to take the lead again. This time, it was Curtis Jones who found the back of the net, converting a well-placed cross from Salah.

Despite late pressure from Enzo Maresca’s team, Liverpool managed to hold on for all three points at Anfield. There were some eye-catching performances, although Jones was a standout player.

Jones’ stats vs. Chelsea

Liverpool academy graduate Jones has become an important player in Slot’s short tenure at the club so far. The 23-year-old has played seven times in all competitions this term, but Sunday’s performance was perhaps his very best all season.

The midfielder starred against the Blues, capping off a wonderful showing with his goal. He met Salah’s deep cross to the back post before Robert Sanchez in the Chelsea goal could react, taking a touch and lifting the ball over him to win the game.

Outside of that, the former England under-21 was superb off the ball, working hard and often coming out on top in duels. He also won the penalty which led to Salah’s opener.

His impressive showing was reflected in his stats from Sofascore, with the midfielder creating two chances and winning six from his eight attempted ground duels.

Stat

Number

Touches

56

Pass accuracy

90%

Passes completed

37/41

Ground duels won

6/8

Tackles won

3/4

Chances created

2

Penalties won

1

Jones’ performance earned him a deserved 9/10 rating from Mark Delgado, journalist for This Is Anfield. He explained the Reds number 17 ‘played an important role’ in helping to nullify the impact of Chelsea star Cole Palmer.

As good as Jones was against the West Londoners on Sunday, there were several players who were just as effective, including striker Darwin Nunez.

Nunez’s stats vs. Chelsea

The 2024/25 season has not really seen Nunez get much of an opportunity in that famous Red shirt. He has played eight games in all competitions but has just 367 minutes under his belt, equal to four full 90-minute games.

Sunday afternoon, however, provided him with the perfect chance to show why he deserves more game time. Diogo Jota unfortunately picked up an injury and was subbed off after 30 minutes, giving Nunez the platform he needed to shine.

It is fair to say the Uruguayan attacker took it with both hands. He received an 8/10 rating from Delgado, who was full of praise for the striker. He explained the Reds number nine ‘looked very locked in’ at Anfield, praising him for a ‘hard-working display’ against Chelsea.

His stats from the game certainly reflected his all-round performance. The 25-year-old won seven from 12 ground duels and two from five aerial duels he contested. On top of that, he won three from four tackles and four fouls.

It was not a classic striker’s performance from Nunez, although he has proven he can find the back of the net, despite some inconsistency at times. With a busy schedule coming up for Liverpool, this performance will no doubt be a massive confidence booster.

He is a player who can make a huge impact on the game, even if he is not scoring. Former Manchester United right-back and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville explained in 2023 that the Uruguayan would “frighten” him as a defender.

Next up, the Reds face RB Leipzig away from home in the Champions League tonight. Slot could well decide to start Nunez whether or not Jota is injured, as he looks to find his best form under the Dutchman and continue on from Sunday’s impressive performance.

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He’s on fire so far this season.

ByHenry Jackson Oct 22, 2024

Christian Eriksen has explained his absence for Manchester United's game against Tottenham amid fears over the midfielder's health.

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Eriksen missed weekend's defeatAmorim says United being 'careful' with himMidfielder provided positive updateFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

The Denmark international's absence in last weekend's 1-0 loss at Tottenham sparked fears about his heart condition, which has affected him since he collapsed during a Euro 2020 clash. Eriksen has been playing with a heart-starting device since resuming his career in the Premier League.

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Ruben Amorim explained that the Red Devils are taking a careful approach with the 33-year-old and the ex-Spurs star has clarified that he was merely suffering from a virus in a reassuring update.

WHAT ERIKSEN SAID

Eriksen wrote on an Instagram post: "I just wanted to thank everyone for the get well messages I've been receiving after missing the Spurs game. I picked up a virus like many people do at this time of year. Nothing serious and soon ready to get back to training."

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AFPWHAT NEXT FOR ERIKSEN?

It is unclear if Eriksen will be back in Amorim's squad for this weekend's Premier League clash against Everton, who have risen to 14th – a place and a point above United – since ex-Red Devils boss David Moyes returned to Goodison Park.

Nottingham Forest are interested in signing an in-demand £35,000-a-week defender in January, according to a new report.

The Reds have enjoyed a fantastic start to the Premier League season but suffered a bump in the road over the weekend as they were beaten by Newcastle United at The City Ground. Nuno Espirito Santo will hope this doesn’t derail their campaign as supporters continue to dream of European football.

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1 ByRoss Kilvington Nov 5, 2024 Nottingham Forest news

Forest’s start to the season has been so good that owner Evangelos Marinakis is keen to tie Nuno down to a new contract. The Portuguese’s current deal runs until 2026, but the fact that the Reds sit in the top half, a few points away from the top four, has “impressed” Marinakis to the point that a new deal is in the offing.

That will likely be a priority for the Forest board, as they will not want to lose Nuno to another team. But as well as looking to secure their manager’s future, the Premier League side are also looking ahead to January.

Forest are interested in signing Chris Rigg from Sunderland after his impressive performances in the Championship have put him on their radar. The midfielder has caught the eye of a number of teams in recent weeks, and Forest are now the latest side to show an interest as they look to bolster their squad when January arrives.

As well as looking at Rigg, Forest also hold an interest in another player playing in England – someone who is unhappy with his current situation.

Nottingham Forest eyeing January deal for Lamptey

According to CaughtOffside, Nottingham Forest are interested in signing Tariq Lamptey from Brighton & Hove Albion. The right-back has been with the Seagulls since January 2020, when he joined from Chelsea after coming through the youth academy at Stamford Bridge.

Lamptey, who earns £35,000 a week at Brighton, was a firm regular in the starting XI when he arrived, playing a key role under former managers Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi, but the same cannot be said under Fabian Hurzeler.

The 24-year-old has played just four times this season, and three of those appearances have come in the Carabao Cup. His single appearance in the league came in a 10-minute cameo against Wolves a couple of weeks ago.

Appearances

90

Goals

1

Assists

8

Lamptey is in the final year of his contract at Brighton and is thought to be considering leaving the club by the end of the season, but given that is when his contract ends, Brighton may look to offload him in January.

It is reported that the defender has shown no desire to sign a new contract as he is unhappy with his current situation, which has alerted Forest, as well as Brentford, Everton, and West Ham. His preference is to remain in the Premier League, but he does have an option to move abroad, as Juventus are also interested in his services.

A Celtic exit in the summer of 2025 is “not out of the question at all”, according to a fresh update from a “superb” 24-year-old Hoops player.

Latest Celtic news

The January transfer window isn’t a million miles away now, so it is no surprise to see Celtic being linked with plenty of potential new signings. Highly-rated teenage Motherwell midfielder Lennon Miller has emerged as an exciting target for the Scottish Premiership champions, but rivals Rangers are thought to be providing competition.

There are players who could head the other way in January, however, with Alexandro Bernabei one such figure, with the left-back reportedly playing his final game for Celtic, following a loan move to Internacional.

In terms of current injuries, Adam Idah was ruled out of the international break because of injury, with his involvement with the Republic of Ireland ending before their UEFA Nations League matches got underway. The hope is that he will be back in the fold sooner rather than later, though, with his withdrawal more precautionary than anything.

"Superb" Celtic ace hints at exit

Speaking to Fotbollskanalen [via The Daily Record], Gustaf Lagerbielke admitted that he may leave Celtic for FC Twente permanently next summer, having moved there on loan earlier this year: “It is a straight loan until the summer. Then there is always the possibility that I will be bought. So far it’s felt very good there so we’ll see how it goes forward.

“There is always that [chance of going back to Celtic]. I still have a contract there. It’s not out of the question at all. Then I’ll have to see closer to the end of the season what happens with everything. But it’s a fantastic club.”

The fact that Lagerbielke was even allowed to leave Celtic on loan during the summer window suggests that Brendan Rodgers doesn’t see him as a future part of his plans. This is despite him being admired by his manager, who said of him last December after a winning goal against Feyenoord: “It was a great moment for him because he hasn’t been involved in squads, other guys have been in front of him.

“But his attitude in training in the main has been superb and he has always been ready. The irony of him being sent off and then getting the goal was great, a really nice moment for him.”

Lagerbielke has generally done well in a Celtic shirt, winning the league title and Scottish Cup last season, but he was limited to only seven appearances in the former and may feel that a move away next year is best for his development.

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His admiration for the Hoops is clear, but he is also seemingly happy at Twente and likes the idea of his temporary switch being turned into a permanent one at the end of the season.

Enzo Maresca has made a superb start to life as Chelsea boss, looking to be a shrewd appointment by Todd Boehly despite the question marks upon his arrival.

The Italian has the Blues sat in fifth place in the Premier League after the first nine matches of the new campaign, losing just twice to title chasers Liverpool and Manchester City.

His side have also impressed in the Europa Conference League, winning both of their opening two fixtures, sitting top of the league format and looking strong favourites to win the entire competition.

The 44-year-old has taken superbly to life in England’s top flight, with his philosophy suiting the current crop of players, allowing him to have a settled starting lineup and giving the big-money additions a chance to flourish under his guidance.

One player in particular has starred once more this campaign, picking up where he left off from 2023/24 and looking like a leading force in the Blues’ recent revival.

Cole Palmer’s stats for Chelsea

Following his £40m move from rivals Manchester City last summer, it was unknown what sort of impact Cole Palmer would have on the first team at Stamford Bridge – but the Englishman quickly established himself as a first-team regular.

The 22-year-old played a huge role in their ability to qualify for Europe last season, registering a combined 33 goals and assists – the highest of any player in the division.

However, he’s not been a one-season wonder, continuing his excellent form under Maresca and undoubtedly proving the talisman in the club’s early-season success.

Palmer, who’s now a regular in the England national team setup, has registered 12 goal contributions in the opening nine league matches – scoring four times in the victory over Brighton a couple of weeks ago.

Once again, he’s currently the leading contributor in the league, currently ahead of Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah as he looks to remain on top of the tree for a second consecutive campaign.

As a result, his performances have been recognised, winning the PFA’s Young Player of the Year award for last season, whilst also being nominated for the Ballon d’Or.

However, he was unable to get the better of one former Chelsea player who departed West London in the last few years.

The man who finished ahead of Palmer in the Ballon d’Or

Centre-back Antonio Rüdiger joined Chelsea in a £29m deal from Serie A side Roma back in the summer of 2017 – aiming to bolster Antonio Conte’s backline after their Premier League triumph the season prior.

The German made over 200 appearances over his five-year stint at the Bridge, helping the club secure their second Champions League title back in the 2020/21 season.

However, despite his success with the Blues, he would depart on a free transfer to join Real Madrid in the summer of 2022, allowing him to reach the next level in his career.

The 31-year-old “warrior”, as described by Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, has since won seven major honours following his move to LaLiga, including another Champions League last season.

As a result, Rudiger was in the top 30 of the Ballon d’Or rankings, finishing 22nd, three places higher than Palmer, who finished 25th despite his stellar year at Stamford Bridge.

Whilst the club tried everything to tie down the German – even offering him a £200k-per-week contract – they would undoubtedly wish that they had kept hold of the defender given his recent success.

He would’ve handed Maresca that added defensive solidity that could’ve added that extra quality to help the Italian be a success in his maiden season in charge of the Blues.

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New Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim was unable to kickstart his reign as manager with a win after only managing to secure a 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town on Sunday.

The Red Devils came into the clash on a two-game winning streak under temporary boss Ruud van Nistelrooy but were unable to continue the impressive work conducted by the Dutchman.

However, it was the first opportunity for the fanbase and the rest of the world to see the 39-year-old’s 3-4-2-1 system with time needed for the former Sporting CP boss to fully implement his tactics on the current crop of players.

The switch in system undoubtedly benefitted a handful of players during the clash at Portman Road, with Marcus Rashford finding himself on the scoresheet after returning to a more natural centre-forward role.

However, many United players struggled to make the immediate adaptation to their game, producing a below-par display as a result.

Alejandro Garnacho’s stats against Ipswich Town

Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho has been the most productive out of the United attackers in attacking areas during the early stages of the campaign.

The 20-year-old has registered seven goals and four assists in his opening 19 outings of 2024/25, often being the man to get the Red Devils out of trouble under former boss Erik ten Hag.

As a result of his impressive figures in recent weeks, the youngster was handed a start in Amorim’s debut match at the helm, but ultimately was unable to produce the goods for the former Portuguese international.

Garnacho featured for a total of 86 minutes in the meeting with Kieran McKenna’s side, but could only muster two shots on goal, unable to provide that cutting edge needed to secure all three points.

He also lost possession eight times during the draw, winning just three of the 11 duels that he entered – often looking toothless and rarely looking like creating any clear-cut opportunities for himself or his teammates.

The youngster has featured in a wide-left role in a 4-2-3-1 formation so far this campaign but was utilised in a more central role alongside Bruno Fernandes behind lone striker Rashford.

It was evident that Garnacho struggled to adapt to his new role under Amorim, taking away his major asset of cutting in field off the touchline onto his stronger right foot.

However, the same can’t be said for another United gem who thrived in an unfamiliar position against the Tractor Boys.

Amorim’s new starboy at Man United

Amorim’s three-back system requires width and an energetic presence from wing-backs in order to have an impact at both ends of the pitch.

With Luke Shaw’s injury struggles, Noussair Mazaroui and Diogo Dalot have both shared the wing-back roles, but the former was forced to feature in a centre-back role because of the wealth of injuries at the heart of the defence.

Such shortages saw winger Amad Diallo operate in a slightly deeper role, placing more defensive responsibility onto the shoulders of the 22-year-old Ivorian.

However, the “unbelievable” talent, as dubbed by Statman Dave, thrived in such a role in offensive areas, registering the assist for the Red Devils’ only goal in East Anglia.

It was his underlying stats that caught the eye, completing 91% of the passes he attempted, with two of his passes finding players in the final third as he tried to secure the win in Amorim’s debut outing.

Despite being an attacking-minded player, Diallo took to his new role like a duck to water, making five clearances – the most of any player within the defensive unit.

Amad Diallo against Ipswich Town

Statistics

Tally

Minutes played

90

Touches

71

Passes completed

40/44 (91%)

Assists

1

Key passes

2

Crosses

1/1

Ground duels won

4/7

Aerial duels won

1/1

Clearances

5

Stats via Sofascore

It’s important that the supporters don’t get carried away with the youngster’s display, but he certainly has staked his claim for a regular starting role in such a position under the new boss.

His pace and creativity were evident last night, but his ability to have a positive impact in defensive areas in his first match in that position can only be a good sign for his future development.

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Newcastle United’s lack of ambition during the summer transfer window could come back to haunt them, especially as the Premier League fixtures come thick and fast leading up to the festive period.

Eddie Howe made just five signings, including 37-year-old goalkeeper John Ruddy and 21-year-old centre-forward William Osula, hardly the type of players to push the club back into the top four.

The former Bournemouth manager also allowed a few players to leave the club too. Ryan Fraser, Matt Ritchie and Paul Dummet left for nothing, while Yankuba Minteh joined Brighton for a fee of around £30m.

It was the departure of Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest which was the most surprising, however.

With the need to balance the books to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, an offer of £35m was obviously going to help massively.

Howe recently claimed that he didn’t want to part with Anderson, who is now shining with Forest as they have impressed in the Premier League this season.

Elliot Anderson’s stats this season

For the Magpies last year, Anderson made 26 appearances, registering just two assists, yet his future at the club looked bright indeed.

They weren’t the most eye-catching stats, but as he matured and played more often, they would only improve as time went on. Forest are now getting the best out of the Englishman, however.

In 11 Premier League matches under Nuno Espirito Santo, Anderson has already recorded three assists and there will be many more to come, that’s for sure.

Aside from these assists, the 22-year-old has also created four big chances, averages 1.3 key passes and succeeds with 1.4 dribbles – a success rate of 71% – per game in the top flight.

The midfielder also recovers 3.8 balls per game and wins 5.7 total duels per game, showcasing his talents from a defensive viewpoint and this all-round ability has allowed him to star for Forest this term.

Metric

2023/24

2024/25

Goals

0

0

Assists

2

3

Big chances created

2

4

Total duels won per game

4

5.7

Key passes per game

0.7

1.3

It is clear that Howe needs to replace the player who left during the summer transfer window. Is he eyeing up a young talent from Germany as an ideal heir for Anderson?

Newcastle transfer news

According to Caught Offside, Newcastle are eyeing up a move for Hertha Berlin’s attacking midfielder, Ibrahim Maza.

The German have reportedly set his asking price at around €20 (£17m) as they look set to cash in on the player come January.

The Magpies face competition from fellow Premier League sides such as Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Leicester City, West Ham United and Brentford.

Newcastle have taken a step further and sent scouts to Hertha’s recent clash against Darmstadt, the only club out of the aforementioned ones to do so.

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This suggests Howe is leading the chase for the youngster as he bids to improve his current squad. A fee of under £20m is also well within his current budget.

Ibrahim Maza’s statistics for Hertha Berlin

The 18-year-old made his senior debut during the 2022/23 campaign, appearing twice in the Bundesliga and even scoring against Wolfsburg on the last day of the season.

Hertha were relegated and spent 2023/24 in the second tier, with Maza making a total of 13 league appearances for the club, registering three goal contributions in the process, and it was clear he was a star in the making.

This has been evidenced by his performances throughout the current season. Not only has Maza featured in all but one of his club’s league clashes this season, but the Algerian has scored four goals and grabbed two assists. Add in another goal in the German Cup and the youngster is on fire.

Hailed as a “wonderkid” by one journalist, Maza – who talent scout Jacek Kulig also described as “one of the most exciting U19s in Germany” – certainly has the world at his feet, for that there is no doubt.

When compared to positional peers within the German second tier, Maza currently ranks in the top 1% for touches in the attacking penalty area and successful take-ons per 90, while also ranking in the top 3% for progressive carries per 90 and in the top 8% for total shots per 90.

These stats show a player who is comfortable at pushing into the final third as often as possible, while also having the confidence to take on opposition defenders with ease during matches.

With Newcastle having a gap to fill due to Anderson’s departure, could the young midfielder fill in this void should he join the club in January?

Why Ibrahim Maza could replace Elliot Anderson

Last season, Anderson only created two big chances while averaging 0.7 key passes per game for the Toon, hardly statistics that got the supporters off their seats.

It was his defensive work that was more promising, with the midfielder making 1.1 tackles and recovering 2.9 balls per game in the Premier League.

The Englishman often played at the heart of the midfield, which meant his creative talents weren’t on show as often as he would have liked. But it is clear Howe needs a player to create plenty of chances for his team going forward and Maza fits the bill.

Defensively this season, Maza has been impressive, showing maturity beyond his 18 years. Indeed, he averages 1.5 tackles per game and has won 5.9 total duels per game – a success rate of 53% – which shows his tenacious nature in the midfield area.

Yes, he may lose possession on average 15.8 times per game, but this is due to the risks he takes pushing forward, which certainly isn’t a bad trait to have.

Maza may still be developing, but Howe could see this transfer as one that might improve his starting XI ahead of the second half of the campaign.

The club have scored just 13 times in the top flight this season, which heightens their need for some more creativity in the final third.

If they can sign the Algerian sensation in January, they could be onto a winner.

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The Rossoneri lost it late, conceding two unanswered as Bologna won all three points

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• AC Milan fall to Bologna 2-1 in Serie A
• Yunus Musah started, Christian Pulisic came off bench
• Match was a replay from October rain postponed game

• Getty Images Sport
  

  WHAT HAPPENED?

  U.S. internationals Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan fell to Bologna 2-1 in Serie A action on Thursday.

  Pulisic began on the bench but was introduced as a substitute in the 61st minute, while Musah played 90 minutes in the contest being named to the XI.

  Milan winger Rafael Leao opened the scoring late in the first half, scoring a lovely effort after a resilient first 30-plus minutes from Milan's attack. However, just minutes out of the halftime break, Bologna leveled after a mess in the box saw the ball pop around, only for Santiago Castro to poke it home.

  After a contentious second half, Bologna found a winner late, with striker Dan Ndoye scoring the go-ahead goal in the 82nd minute, poking him a low-driven cross in front of the net to steal all three points.

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Milan have had a rough few weeks domestically and in Europe, crashing out of the UEFA Champions League, and hitting a rough patch of form in Serie A.

  At the end of Thursday's Matchday, the sit eighth in Serie A, eightpoints out of a top-four spot that would guarantee them UCL soccer in 2025-26. The only hope they have left domestically in terms of trophies, is the Coppa Italia, where they have advanced to the semifinals of the competition.

  Sergio Conceicao, meanwhile, is on the hot seat as a manager due to the current circumstances the club finds itself in. The Portuguese coach could find himself out of a job come the end of the season if the don't finish top four in Serie A.

• DID YOU KNOW?

  The match was originally scheduled to be played last October, but due to heavy rains, was postponed. Now, four months later, the two sides were finally able to meet for the replay of their Serie A clash.

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  WHAT NEXT FOR MILAN?

  The are back in action on Sunday in Serie A against Lazio in what has now become a must-win affair.

Manchester United are now considering moving away from a £10m-a-year target and going after an “underrated” player instead due to wage demands, according to a recent report.

The Red Devils look set to announce Ruben Amorim as their new head coach, and the Portuguese will be keen to hit the ground running when he arrives during November’s international break, which was agreed between the two clubs when his release clause was met.

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Amorim needs to address Man Utd left-back problem

Amorim’s short-term goal at Old Trafford is to get going in the best way, and that is by winning football matches. But one of his long-term goals must be addressing the left-back problem at the club.

United spent the majority of last season and all of this season so far without a recognised left-back, as Luke Shaw continues to be on the sidelines with a calf injury, on which he has suffered a setback this week, and Tyrell Malacia continues his recovery from a long-term injury. INEOS decided not to sign a left-back during the summer, a decision that has been described as “unbelievable” by pundit/fan Mark Goldbridge.

The Premier League side are clearly looking at all their options, as Julio Soler emerged on their radar last week as an option to replace Shaw. Meanwhile, Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri is also being looked at by United, and there are two other names under consideration at Old Trafford in what looks sure to be the priority position they choose to address in 2025.

£10m-a-year wage demands too much for Alphonso Davies

According to Caught Offside, Manchester United remain keen on Alphonso Davies but are also interested in signing Ben Chilwell from Chelsea. The report states that it remains to be seen if a deal for Davies can be justified by INEOS due to his demands, as he looks for around 12 million euros a year, which is roughly £10 million, the same wages that Antony is on at Old Trafford.

Davies is in the final year of his contract at Bayern Munich and has interest from United, as well as Real Madrid and Barcelona. His future with the German side remains up in the air, but given his demands, a move to Old Trafford may not happen, and therefore, United are also interested in signing Chilwell.

The Chelsea defender, who has been called “underrated” by Youtuber and podcaster Laurenz Vescoli, is seen as a more realistic and affordable option for the Red Devils. However, the Englishman has also had injury problems while at Stamford Bridge, and that could potentially put United off any deal.

Davies could still be seen as a viable option for United, but it is likely that players will have to be sold and moved off the wage bill before the left-back can come to the club. Unlike Davies, Chilwell still has two and a bit years left to run on his contract, so United will have to pay a transfer fee to get him out of Stamford Bridge.