England allrounder hits 52 as Invincibles belt third-highest total in women’s Hundred history
ECB Media12-Aug-2025 174 for 5 (Capsey 52, Baker 2-25) beat 152 for 6 (Lister 33, Wellington 2-27) by 22 runsOval Invincibles put their indifferent form behind them at Edgbaston as they racked up the third-highest score in the short history of the women’s Hundred to beat Birmingham Phoenix by a comfortable 22 runs.The Invincibles’ 174 for 5 was also the second-highest total this season – men or women – behind the 176 for 5 they themselves conceded to London Spirit on the opening day.”It’s nice to get a win on the board after two close losses,” said Alice Capsey, who top-scored with 52 off 29 balls. “The openers were brilliant. One of our reflections after the first two games was that we bat so deep we can take some more calculated risks.”They took the game on so nicely and it made my job pretty easy – to keep the momentum going and keep putting pressure on. The pitch played better than I thought it would and came on pretty nicely. “Getting over the line was the main thing and now we go back to The Oval; we can take a lot of confidence and we love playing there.”Having elected to bat, the Invincibles set their stall out early, Lauren Winfield-Hill and Meg Lanning breezing to 54 for 0 in the 25-ball Powerplay.Lanning’s dismissal for 36 off 19 merely brought in Capsey, who was barely inconvenienced by the loss of Winfield-Hill and Marizanne Kapp, raising a 28-ball half-century as Paige Scholfield also motored along at the other end.The two of them treated Aussie legend and Phoenix captain Ellyse Perry with disdain while Hannah Baker avoided the worst of the onslaught, finishing with a creditable 2 for 24 from her 20 balls.Meg Lanning gave Invincibles a flying start•Getty ImagesWhen Phoenix batted, Aussie starlet Georgia Voll, who had conceded 20 from her five balls as a bowler, got off to a flyer but the experience of Kapp and Amanda-Jade Wellington started to tell.Emma Lamb and Perry gamely attempted to keep up with the spiralling rate but Wellington had her compatriot smartly held by Winfield-Hill behind the stumps for 29 off 16 to effectively put the game beyond Phoenix’s reach.Ailsa Lister and Amy Jones battled hard, the Scottish batter in particular impressing with an unbeaten 18-ball 33 including four fours and a six, but the Phoenix ended up well short and well beaten.
Arsenal chief Andrea Berta is continuing his mission to tie down Mikel Arteta’s most crucial stars with brand-new deals, and the Gunners are now prepared to do something they’ve never done in their history.
Arsenal favourites for Premier League title after near-impenetrable start
Right now, Arsenal aren’t just Premier League title contenders — they’re the team to beat.
Arteta’s side sit pretty atop the table, and it’s no surprise given how they’ve combined defensive solidity with set-piece menace to frustrate opponents week after week so far.
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Opposition sides have found it near-impossible to carve out clear chances against an Arsenal side who’ve leaked just three goals in all competitions this season, the best record of any team in Europe right now.
Surprise Serie A title contenders Roma have also conceded just three in the league so far, but unlike Gian Piero Gasperini’s side, Arsenal are just as unbreakable in Europe as they are domestically.
Arsenal’s threat from dead balls has also been a nightmare for teams to deal with.
Time and again, they’ve capitalised on corners and free-kicks, with Gabriel already racking up four goal contributions as a direct result from set pieces this term.
The arrival of Gabriel Heinze to Arteta’s coaching staff has been pinpointed as a key reason why Arsenal have built themselves into even more of a rock-solid force at the back, and if they continue in this fashion, a first league title in 22 years looks pretty inevitable.
While their guerrilla tactics from dead balls and long-throws aren’t exactly easy on the eye, with pundit Jamie O’Hara boldly claiming that Arsenal are ‘killing the Premier League’ with this style of play, Arteta won’t be caring in the slightest right now.
Excitement around the Emirates Stadium is brewing, and the future is looking very bright as Berta looks to convince Arsenal’s star men to commit their futures at N5.
The Italian, who led a near-£270 million spend on summer transfers in the last window, has already managed to tie down the likes of Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Gabriel and William Saliba in the last few months alone.
Berta also rewarded the likes of David Raya and Leandro Trossard with pay rises, showcasing a determination to acknowledge certain members of the squad for their fine form, while it is believed that talks have been held over fresh terms with Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber as well.
However, their most vital contract discussions have centered around star winger Bukayo Saka.
Arsenal poised to hand Bukayo Saka record-breaking pay rise
The England international is back to his best and playing week in, week out after hamstring problems, with Saka causing Atlético Madrid nightmares in the Champions League this time last week.
While Saka is yet to register his first assist of the campaign, he’s already netted crucial goals against the likes of West Ham and Olympiacos to put those games beyond doubt, and the 24-year-old is vital to the way Arteta likes to play.
The Hale End academy superstar’s current deal expires in 2027, and it is imperative that Berta seals his extension sooner rather than later.
Reports suggest that Arsenal are optimistic Saka will pen an extension by Christmas, and according to journalist Wayne Veysey, the club could break a record by doing so.
Writing for Football Insider, Veysey reports that Arsenal could make Saka the club’s first-ever £300,000-per-week player, with talks ongoing over a new deal that will likely make the winger their new highest-paid star above Kai Havertz, who is on £280,000-per-week.
Over a potential five-year contract, Saka is apparently in line to earn over £75 million, which doesn’t even take into account performance-related bonuses or other add-ons.
Negotiations are said to be progressing well, and Saka is likely to sign in the “upcoming period”.
Para Ronaldo Fenômeno, hoje é dia de celebrar (de novo). O ex-jogador comemora 47 anos de idade nesta sexta-feira. Mas há quatro dias ele também celebrava pelo mesmo motivo. Qual a razão do duplo aniversário de Ronaldo? A gente explica!
O brasileiro eleito três vezes o melhor jogador do mundo nasceu no dia 18 de setembro. A confusão se dá, porém, porque o pai de Ronaldo só registrou o filho quatro dias depois, no dia 22.
+Veja a posição do seu time no Brasileirão!
Assim, de acordo com registros oficiais, o ex-camisa 9 nasceu há 47 anos. Apesar de surpreendente, Ronaldo conta ambos os dias como seu aniversário e não se importa em receber homenagens nos dois dias.
Neste sábado, uma série de clubes e jogadores publicaram mensagens aos jogador.
+ Parabéns, Ronaldo! Assista a grandes lances da carreira do Fenômeno
Veteran legspinner wants to help with rebuilding England’s white-ball dynasty
Valkerie Baynes15-May-2025
Adil Rashid speaks at a Net Gains event•IG / Nura Content
At the age of 37 Adil Rashid is as hungry as ever to keep pushing himself and play his part in turning England’s white-ball form around.Rashid retained his place as England’s premier legspinner in the ODI and T20I squads to host West Indies from May 29.The series, starting with three ODIs, will be Harry Brook’s first assignment as white-ball captain and an opportunity for England to arrest a seven-game losing streak in the format – they have lost nine of their last 10, including a winless Champions Trophy campaign, as well as four of their last five T20Is.”I’m trying to go as long as I can if the body allows, but also form, making sure that I try my best and giving myself the best chance,” Rashid said. “I’ve still got the hunger to become the best and try my best and not just for myself, but from a team point of view, to win World Cups for the team and try to become the best team we can. That’s what drives me at the moment.”Related
Right man, wrong time: Why Harry Brook had to be captain too soon
Harry Brook to shelve franchise cricket as England captain
West Indies include Amir Jangoo, Jewel Andrew for Ireland, England ODIs
England pick Dawson, Hartley and Carse for West Indies white-ball series
Buttler, Bethell and Jacks set to miss IPL playoffs
Rashid was the leading ODI wicket-taker on England’s tour of India which preceded the Champions Trophy with seven at 27.28, one ahead of Ravindra Jadeja and Harshit Rana. His crucial figures of 4-0-15-1 in the third T20I kept the series alive, although India ended up winning 4-1.Speaking at a suburban ground in London as part of the Net Gains initiative, Rashid attributed his longevity to his decision in 2018 to give up red-ball cricket.”I think that’s been the key,” he said. “And it’s almost having priorities in life and sometimes when you are at that stage of knowing, ‘okay, when can I play, when do I rest?’ If I want to keep going for as long as I can then I know I’ve got to have that balance.”If I just keep playing too much, you can burn out and finish your career where you don’t want to be. So for my aim, the most important thing is having that balance in life.”Another spinner the same side of his mid-thirties but having taken a different path is Liam Dawson, the left-arm orthodox allrounder named for the T20 leg of West Indies’ visit where he could represent England for the first time since 2022.His selection came off the back of an extended run of form, including at the SA20 with two-time champions Sunrisers Eastern Cape and Hampshire, which led to him being named as one of Wisden‘s Five Cricketers of the Year for 2024, when he claimed 54 Championship wickets and scored 956 runs at almost 60.Dawson made himself unavailable for selection on England’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh in early 2023 to play for Lahore Qalandars in the PSL, and hinted at international retirement last year, but has now come full circle in a tale of not giving up.”For him to come back now it shows determination, it shows his hunger to become the best and good on him,” Rashid said. “He’s a lovely guy and he’s a very, very good cricketer so I’m sure he’ll do well for England when he plays.”Dawson’s selection – and Rashid’s enduring influence for England – also speaks to a defiance in the face of inevitable questions as elite sportspeople approach 40.”You’ve got some players who compete in their early forties,” Rashid said. “Look at Jimmy Anderson, he’s 42, he’s fit, he’s going well and he’s got that hunger. So it’s all depending on the individual.”But sometimes it can be the outside noise, right? You’re hitting 35, 36, what you’re looking to next. But in your mind still you’re thinking, ‘wait, I’ve still got another five, six years here. I feel good, I feel fit, I want to give my all. I’m still loving the game, I’m still hungry.’ So there’s a lot of factors taking place, but it can sometimes creep in.”At the other end of the age spectrum Rashid expects Brook, Jos Buttler’s 26-year-old replacement as skipper, to bring a positive outlook to the captaincy.”As an individual he’s quite a positive person, so I’m sure he’ll bring that to the game,” Rashid said. “We as the squad, as a coaching staff as well, I think it’ll be exciting to see what he brings to the table, but I’m sure he’ll do wonders.”He’s been captain for Superchargers. He showed his qualities there and that was the first time he captained as well, so I’m sure as he captains more the better he will get. But you don’t see it until he’s done it. He’s always been fairly quietish, I think generally, but confident, and that’s what you need as a captain. You don’t always have to be the loudest, you don’t always have to be the one speaking, but if you’re respected, well that’s what you need.”IG is the Official Investment Platform of England Cricket. Through the Net Gains initiative, IG and the ECB have invested to open new public net facilities to help grow the game of cricket in England and Wales, supporting under-represented communities and generating long-term real returns for the game and the people who play it.
قاد الدولي المصري، إبراهيم عادل، فريقه الجزيرة الإماراتي للتأهل إلى دور الـ8 من منافسات بطولة كأس الإمارات “كأس رئيس الدولة” للموسم الحالي 2025-2026.
حسم فريق الجزيرة التأهل إلى دور ربع النهائي من بطولة كأس الإمارات بالفوز على نظيره عجمان، بهدفين مقابل هدف، في المباراة التي أقيمت بينهما اليوم الأحد، في دور الـ 16.
طالع | مدرب بيراميدز: انضمام إبراهيم عادل لـ الأهلي سابق لأوانه.. ويورتشيتش بطل أوضة اللبس
وجاء هدف الجزيرة الأول عن طريق مدافع فريق عجمان بالخطأ فى مرماه بالدقيقة 31، بعد مجهود فردي رائع وإرسال عرضية من إبراهيم عادل.
وأضاف إبراهيم عادل، هدف الجزيرة الثاني في الدقيقة 44، بعد متابعة لكرة ساقطة داخل منطقة الجزاء، سددها في المرمى.
بينما جاء هدف فريق عجمان عن طريق لاعبه، فيكتور هنريقو في الدقيقة 36.
وبذلك، يتأهل فريق الجزيرة إلى دور ربع النهائي مع كل من يونايتد والوحدة وشباب الأهلي وخورفكان وبني ياس والعين ودبا الحصن. أهداف إبراهيم عادل في مباراة الجزيرة وعجمان اليوم في كأس الإمارات
Tottenham Hotspur have now directly contacted a “fantastic” defender’s club, in order to assess the possibility of a potential deal, according to a report.
Spurs looking to bolster full-back options despite Spence renewal
Tottenham are relatively well-stocked in the full-back department, given that Thomas Frank has Destiny Udogie at his disposal at left-back and Pedro Porro on the opposite flank, while Djed Spence is capable of playing on either side.
Despite a rocky start to his career at Spurs, Spence has now done enough to earn a new long-term contract, and the full-back has admitted he is delighted to extend his stay in north London.
That said, given that Spence has predominantly featured on the left in recent times, Frank may want to bring in another full-back to provide competition for Porro on the right, and Manchester City’s Rico Lewis was recently identified as a potential option.
Last week, intermediaries made contact with the Lilywhites over a potential deal, and Frank’s side have now stepped up their interest, having made direct contact with Man City.
That is according to a report from Caught Offside, which states Tottenham have now submitted an enquiry to City about Lewis, but there could be fierce competition for the full-back’s signature, with a number of rival Premier League clubs also keen.
Indeed, Chelsea, Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest have all made approaches for the 20-year-old, with the Tricky Trees even submitting an offer worth €30m (£26m), which was knocked back by the Blues.
That said, it remains to be seen whether a deal will be possible, with Pep Guardiola keen to keep hold of the youngster, while also recently saying: “I think he’s going to stay, I think. He told me that. But, I said, maybe tomorrow, after tomorrow, it’ll change.”
"Fantastic" Lewis could challenge for Porro's starting spot
Once lauded as “fantastic” by Guardiola, the English starlet has managed to repay his manager’s faith in him by establishing himself as an important player for City, making 28 appearances in the Premier League in the 2024-25 campaign.
Frank approves Tottenham move for "world-class" £60m Savinho alternative
Thomas Frank has now given the green light for Spurs to make a move for a winger.
1 ByDominic Lund Aug 18, 2025
During that time, the Bury-born defender has also showcased his versatility, featuring at left-back and even in central midfield, although right-back is the five-time England international’s favoured position.
As such, Lewis would most likely be brought in as a direct competitor to Porro, and he could have the potential to usurp the Spaniard on a long-term basis, considering Pep has stated the City ace is “one of the best” players he has trained.
That said, it could be difficult for the full-back to displace the 25-year-old in the Tottenham starting XI, given that Porro has outperformed him in both an attacking and defensive sense over the past year.
كشف محمد أحمد سلامة رئيس نادي الاتحاد السكندري، ما تردد حول رغبة زعيم الثغر في التعاقد مع طارق حامد لاعب خط وسط الزمالك السابق في صفقة انتقال حر.
وكانت ترددت بعض الأنباء حول وجود رغبة من نادي الاتحاد السكندري في التعاقد مع طارق حامد لاعب الزمالك وضمك السعودي السابق، خلال الفترة الحالية.
طالع.. وكيل طارق حامد يوضح حقيقة مفاوضات الزمالك معه وموقف اللاعب
وقال سلامة في تصريحات خاصة لـ بطولات: “نقدر القيمة الفنية لطارق حامد فهو لاعب كبير وشرف لأي ناد تواجد لاعب مثله في صفوفه، ولكن لم ندخل في مفاوضات من قريب أو من بعيد معه”.
وأضاف: “ما تردد هو كلام لا يرتقي لمفاوضات ولم نتحدث مع طارق حامد، وما علمناه هو رغبته في إنهاء مسيرته الكروية في نادي الزمالك، ولكن لم نتحدث معه بشكل رسمي أو لم نعرض عليه فكرة اللعب في زعيم الثغر”.
وأردف: “من الصعب التعاقد مع طارق حامد هو لاعب كبير ولكن الراتب الذي كان يتقاضاه في السعودية كبير ولا يتناسب مع إمكانيات النادي الحالية، كما أن عامل السن يقف عائقا أيضا في إمكانية التعاقد معه”.
Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi expects Mason Greenwood to become a "complete" footballer like the "greatest players in Europe". The Italian has pushed the forward hard since arriving at the French side last summer and it is clear he has high hopes for him. The head coach also wants him to learn from the likes of elite players such as Kylian Mbappe and Raphinha.
De Zerbi sets Mbappe and Raphinha challenge for Greenwood
The 23-year-old had a superb debut season for Marseille in 2024-25, scoring 22 goals and bagging six assists in 36 appearances. Former Brighton head coach De Zerbi has a lot of faith in the ex-Manchester United man's ability but feels he needs to improve his pressing game to get to the level of Real Madrid's Mbappe, Barcelona's Raphinha, and Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele.
Advertisement
getty
What De Zerbi said on Greenwood
He said, via RMC Sport: "I expect him to become a complete player, like the greatest players in Europe. Yesterday, I saw a bit of Newcastle vs Barcelona. I saw Raphinha, who was pressing everyone in the last 20 minutes, with incredible determination. I also see Kylian Mbappe in Madrid, who was pressing everyone, Ousmane Dembélé in Paris too last year, we remember. I would like to help him, because it helps Marseille in general. I would like him to become a complete player, a team player. That is my job, it is not just individual work. The collective, you improve it by improving the individuals."
De Zerbi demands the best from Greenwood
Despite him having an excellent campaign for the French giants, that did not stop De Zerbi from dropping Greenwood last season as he questioned his attitude and application. But the former Sassuolo boss clearly feels that his strategy is the best way to get the most out of him. He certainly looked undaunted when Greenwood's Marseille took on Mbappe's Madrid in their 2-1 Champions League loss in midweek.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Getty Images Sport
What next for Greenwood and Marseille?
The one-time England international will need to be at his best when De Zerbi's Marseille, who sit seventh in Ligue 1, host defending French champions and current league leaders PSG on Sunday evening.
Enzo Maresca’s side stunned plenty of fans and pundits alike on the pitch by adding a Club World Cup title to their Conference League title and have been just as active off of it.
For example, the board have been able to shift a number of players they no longer wanted, like Noni Madueke and Kepa Arrizabalaga, while also bringing in several who could seriously improve the squad, like Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens.
However, they aren’t done there, as they’ve been heavily linked with the mercurial Xavi Simons, and now it would appear as if they are closing in on another player who’d be a dream teammate for the Dutchman.
Chelsea target dream teammate for Simons
While Chelsea continue to be linked with a host of players this summer, one of the more prominent over the last week or so has been Simons.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Reports from earlier today even claimed that the Blues are actually closing in on a deal for the RB Leipzig ace, which could see him move for around £52m.
While that is no small sum of money, it does feel like fair value for a 22-year-old star who racked up 11 goals and eight assists in just 33 appearances last season.
Interestingly, in addition to signing the Amsterdam-born star, the West Londoners now also seem intent on bringing another player to the club who’d be a dream teammate for him.
At least that is according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, who has reaffirmed that Chelsea are incredibly interested in Jorrel Hato, suggesting that he is ‘ready to accept personal terms’.
More than that, the Italian journalist has revealed that the Blues are in talks with Ajax and view the defender, who is keen on the move, as their “next top priority.”
Romano makes no mention of the fee required to sign the player, but stories from earlier this month claim it could be around £60m, and while that is a lot, it might be worth paying, especially as Hato could be a perfect teammate for Simons.
Why Hato would be a dream teammate for Simons
So, one of Simons considerable strengths is that he’s comfortable playing in the middle of the park as a ten, or out wide as a winger – and sometimes up top – so when it comes to forming a partnership with full-back, it would be incredibly beneficial if they could overlap and come inside depending on what is needed in that moment.
Fortunately, Hato is such an intelligent and gifted footballer that he can do just that.
While he prefers to come inside and invert, at least that’s what he does more often at Ajax; you can see his ability to overlap in his heat map from last season.
This ability to fulfil both roles without much bother will do two things.
Firstly, it will mean he can avoid getting in Simon’s way, depending on where he is on the pitch.
Secondly, it could also see him get more game time due to his adaptability, which in turn will allow him to develop a more effective partnership with the Leipzig star.
Away from their position, the reason they’d be great teammates at Chelsea is that the “exceptional” talent, as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, is also a part of the Dutch national team.
Therefore, they’ll have even more time than most to get a proper understanding of one another’s game.
Finally, while the 19-year-old wonderkid’s primary role will be to defend, he’s also shown an ability to create chances for his team, as in 33 league appearances last season, he racked up six assists to go with his two goals, which suggests he could provide a decent number of chances for the former PSV Eindhoven star to score.
Hato’s 24/25 League Season
Appearances
31
Starts
30
Minutes
2592′
Goals
2
Assists
6
Goal Involvements per Match
0.25
Minutes per Goal Involvement
324′
Points per Game
2.23
All Stats via Transfermarkt
Ultimately, Simons looks like he’ll be a brilliant signing for Chelsea, but if the Conference League champions want to get even more out of him next season, signing Hato as well would be a good place to start.
Unofficial Chelsea swap deal possible as club open talks for Maresca outcast
Manchester United have been constantly pursuing a move for Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo throughout this summer window, but it appears their persistence has finally paid off.
The Red Devils managed to agree a deal with the Bees for the 25-year-old forward, in a move that could reach up to £71m should all the add-ons be reached in the future.
There’s no denying that it’s a huge fee for a player who’s only had one top-level season in the Premier League, but it highlights the ambition shown by the board this window.
The Cameroonian international registered 20 league goals last time around, over two times more than any player within Ruben Amorim’s side that finished the 2024/25 campaign.
However, despite agreeing to such a hefty sum for the forward, the hierarchy appear to be continuing their hunt for added reinforcements, including the signing of one player who could prove to be a better addition than that of Mbeumo.
The latest on United’s hunt for new additions this summer
Emiliano Martínez is one high-profile signing United are looking to complete during this summer’s market, with the Aston Villa shot-stopper available for a fee in the region of just £21m.
It’s been reported that the player himself would be keen on a move to Old Trafford, potentially taking advantage of Villa’s PSR situation, which could require player sales before the end of the window.
Aston Villa'sEmilianoMartinezreacts after Paris St Germain's Nuno Mendes scores
However, another player has emerged as a potential target for the Red Devils during the off-season, with RB Leipzig star Xavi Simons on their radar, according to Sport via Sport Witness.
They claim that higher-ups from United have already had meetings with the Dutch international’s representatives over a possible transfer before the September 1st deadline.
It also states they aren’t alone in their hunt for the 22-year-old, with Chelsea also firmly in the race for his signature, leading to a £60m price tag being mooted.
Why United’s £60m target would be a better signing than Mbeumo
Given his tally of goals last season, it’s no surprise that a deal for Mbeumo would excite the fanbase, subsequently handing Amorim the clinical talent he’s lacked in attacking areas since arriving.
Brentford's BryanMbeumocelebrates scoring their first goal
However, the 25-year-old mainly operated in a wide right role at Brentford last season, a position which he won’t be able to occupy at Old Trafford, given the manager’s 3-4-2-1 system.
It’s already confirmed that he won’t be utilised as a striker, leaving the Cameroonian to play in one of the two number ten positions behind the striker, potentially partnering Matheus Cunha in providing the goods.
Such a deal could prove to be a risk, splashing serious money on a player and utilising him in a slightly unfamiliar role, especially considering the other options available this summer.
As seen by their attempts to convince Simons to join the club, the club have been targeting countless options, with the Dutchman a much bigger talent than Mbeumo.
He’s a younger star, subsequently having the potential to explode into an elite-level talent in the years ahead and would’ve even been a cheaper deal given his £60m valuation placed on his shoulders by the Bundesliga outfit.
However, when comparing his stats to those of the pending new arrival, he managed to outperform him in multiple areas, highlighting why he’d be a better signing for Amorim’s system.
Games played
25
38
Goals & assists
16
27
Shot-on-target accuracy
46%
43%
Goal per shot on target
0.5
0.4
Progressive passes
5.9
3.7
Pass accuracy
78%
66%
Key passes made
2.2
1.8
Take-on success
1.4
1.3
Carries into final third
2.9
1.8
Fouls won
2.4
1.1
Simons, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by OptaJohan, may have been outscored, but did manage to post a better goal per shot on target rate than Mbeumo, showcasing he’s more clinical with the chances he’s presented with in front of goal.
He also completed more key passes per 90, along with more progressive passes per 90, having the end product to allow those ahead of him to find the back of the net – a crucial component for any number ten in the modern game.
The Leipzig star’s dominance doesn’t stop there, completing more take-ons per 90, highlighting the ability he possesses with the ball at his feet, offering a more all-round threat than United’s soon-to-be £71m signing.
Given the difference in figures produced and the price tags between the pair, it’s evident that a deal for Simons would be a better signing for the Red Devils this summer.
Xavi Simons celebrates
Both players possess a lot of talent, but ultimately, if the club are to reach the next level in the years ahead, they need to be making the correct calls in the market, something which they’ve failed to do once again if they land Mbeumo over Simons.
He's perfect for Mbeumo: Man Utd discussing move to sign £100m-rated CF
Manchester United could be about to land another star alongside a deal for Bryan Mbeumo.