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Sunderland will hope that a soul-crushing defeat in the Tyne-Wear Derby doesn't derail their Championship campaign, Michael Beale's side unbeaten in their last three in the bread and butter of the league before a reality check was handed out courtesy of their arch-nemesis Newcastle United in the FA Cup.

The full-backs in the 3-0 Magpies humiliation let Sunderland down big time, especially down the left-hand side of the Stadium of Light turf with Aji Alese looking uncomfortable and tense which resulted in the stand-in defender giving away possession 15 times and only winning a solitary duel in the game.

EFL Championship done deals: Every January 2024 transfer

As the January transfer window closes, FFC has you covered for every in and out involving your club in the EFL Championship.

ByLuke Randall Feb 1, 2024

With Niall Huggins sidelined potentially for the entire season, on top of Dennis Cirkin suffering a setback recently in his recovery from injury, the priority for the Black Cats this month should be to recruit a new left-back and Beale could well have found his desired man according to reports.

Sunderland transfer latest – Bogdan Mykhaylichenko

Sunderland are reportedly interested in adding another Ukrainian to their ranks this month in the form of Bogdan Mykaylichenko, the current Dynamo Zagreb defender linking up with fellow compatriot Nazariy Rusyn on Wearside if a deal was pulled off.

Bizarrely – as reported by Croatian newspaper Rijeka Danas – Mykhaylichenko's current contract with the Croat giants could be terminated owing to the full-back using his phone in the dressing room after a recent Zagreb defeat.

Ukrainian journalist Ihor Burbas has further added fuel to the fire by confirming that Sunderland are very much keen on adding the 26-year-old to their squad for more numbers in the left-back area according to reports, via Sport Witness.

The controversial defender has divided opinion in Croatia, but based on his Anderlecht and Shakthar days prior to this switch to Zagreb, Mykhaylichenko would be a shrewd and worthwhile acquisition to help out Trai Hume on the opposite flank with creativity and flair in abundance and fill in for Huggins competently.

Mykhaylichenko's style of play

Criticised by his manager Sergej Jakirović for his attitude at the club, Beale and Sunderland can offer Mykhaylichenko an escape and a way to let his football do the talking again.

The 26-year-old has a pedigree that the Black Cats would love to have in their squad, picking up two assists in the Champions League for Shakhtar in back-to-back contests up against Real Madrid even when playing at the Santiago Bernabeu back in 2022.

Minutes Played

90

Assists

1

Touches

65

Accurate Passes

37/45 (82%)

Cross Success

100%

Clearances

5

Tackles

3

Aerial Duels Won

1/1

Ground Duels Won

3/5

In total, over his full career to date, Mykhaylichenko has amassed 16 assists from the left-back spot whilst also fancying himself going forward with eight goals scored next to his name.

In fleeting appearances for Zagreb this season, the current number 15 has also shown his prowess teeing up teammates to score – registering two assists in the UEFA Europa Conference League back in September last year versus FC Astana, despite only being on the pitch for a mere ten minutes.

The wantaway full-back could complement the Sunderland system perfectly and fill in for Huggins, giving Beale's men even more drive and energy down the wings alongside Jack Clarke's vibrant displays on his same flank and then Hume on the opposing channel.

The Northern Irishman's vigour has been crucial for the second tier playoff chasers this campaign, winning 3.06 tackles per 90 minutes on average over the last year according to FBRef as a hot-headed and aggressive figure.

It was evident in one tussle with Newcastle player Anthony Gordon in the Tyne-Wear Derby, Beale wanting more passion from his side and for more wins to be tallied up as a result so to maintain a playoff spot.

Mykhaylichenko's potential deal to come into the club feels like a win-win situation, risk-free as it's a free transfer deal and could offer Sunderland yet another attacking outlet to overwhelm Championship defences on their way to a potential promotion.

It would also soften the blow of Huggins being in the treatment room for the foreseeable future, allowing Beale fewer selection headaches subsequently.

A new update has emerged regarding Erik ten Hag's future as Manchester United manager, courtesy of journalist Dean Jones.

Erik ten Hag under pressure

The Dutchman is only in his second season at Old Trafford, but having impressed first time around, finishing third in the Premier League and winning the EFL Cup, the current campaign has been more of a struggle.

In fairness to Ten Hag, he has been hit with a string of injury problems in his squad, but equally, some performances and results have been well short of what is expected. For that reason, some reports in recent months have claimed that the 53-year-old is under pressure to keep his job as United manager, should things not improve moving forward.

Now, a new update has dropped – one that discusses potential replacements for the Red Devils boss.

Update on Ten Hag's Man Utd future under Ratcliffe

Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones admitted that Manchester United could look to replace Ten Hag with Julen Lopetegui in the future when Sir Jim Ratcliffe has a 25% share of the club, rather than former Chelsea boss Graham Potter. Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi also gets a mention, although at this moment in time, "Ten Hag will be the man that leads the Ratcliffe era at Manchester United".

"My reading of this situation, based on what I have been told by people pretty well-connected to it, is that Ten Hag will be the man that leads the Ratcliffe era at Manchester United, but the tolerance levels around poor performances and results are going to change. Basically, he will be judged on what we see and if it’s not good enough, then they will be more ruthless about sacking him than the Glazers probably would have been.

"With that in mind, it's conceivable that Ten Hag loses his job before the end of the season, but there really isn’t much more clarity than that right now. The evidence we have in front of us shows that United remain a long way short of the expectation levels of the fanbase and so, of course, there will be considerations around who would come in if Ten Hag goes.

"My personal information has been that Lopetegui and maybe even Roberto De Zerbi would be stronger contenders than Potter and I have to admit I have extreme reservations about Potter being able to handle life at Old Trafford based on what we saw from him at Chelsea."

Erik ten Hag

2022-present

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

2018-2021

Jose Mourinho

2016-2018

Louis van Gaal

2014-2016

David Moyes

2013-2014

Alex Ferguson

1986-2013

Ron Atkinson

1981-1986

Dave Sexton

1977-1981

Tommy Docherty

1972-1977

Frank O'Farrell

1971-1972

It does seem as though Ten Hag still has the support of those high up at the club, but there is also no question that he will find himself at the point of no return if United's inconsistency continues for the remainder of the season, leading to them missing out of a place in next season's Champions League.

The next few months feel important, but should he be relieved of his duties, there is no guarantee that someone like Lopetegui would come in and be a roaring success. Until off-field issues surrounding the Glazers and the eventual takeover of the club are sorted, the longer every manager could end up struggling at Old Trafford.

أبلغ المدير الفني للفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي برشلونة، هانز فليك، الإدارة الرياضية في العملاق الكتالوني بموقفه من التعاقد مع جناح يوفنتوس، فيدريكو كييزا.

وأصبح كييزا خارج خطط يوفنتوس مع المدير الفني الجديد، تياجو موتا، الذي صرح بالفعل بأن اللاعب يجب أن يبحث عن نادٍ جديد.

ويمتلك يوفنتوس عقد كييزا حتى 30 يونيو 2025، لكن النادي الإيطالي يريد التخلص منه مع بعض اللاعبين الآخرين الذين لن يعتمد عليهم خلال الموسم المقبل.

اقرأ أيضًا.. موندو توضح حقيقة اهتمام برشلونة بضم سترلينج من تشيلسي

وبحسب صحيفة “سبورت” الكتالونية أن مدرب برشلونة قد أبلغ إدارته بأنه يريد ضم كييزا بالفعل، حيث كان يرغب في الإيطالي منذ أن كان في بايرن ميونخ ولكن يوفنتوس رفض وقتها.

ويريد فليك أن يتعاقد برشلونة مع لاعبين مميزين قادرين من الناحية الفردية على حسم المباريات الصعبة بعد حسم صفقة، داني أولمو، من لايبزيج.

وأفادت الصحيفة أن هناك مفاوضات متقدمة بين برشلونة ويوفنتوس حول كييزا، واللاعب أعطى أولوية للانتقال إلى النادي الكتالوني، ولكن الاتفاق لم يحسم بعد.

After recent stutters against Luton Town and Toulouse, Liverpool got back to their ruthless best against Brentford in the Premier League to cap off an impressive start just before the third international break of the season. Sitting second and just one point away from league leaders Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp's side have the opportunity to go above last season's treble winners when they square off at The Etihad in the first game back after the international break.

If the Reds are to mount a serious title challenge, however, then they may need to look towards the January transfer window to complete Klopp's midfield rebuild. And reports suggest that FSG could be about to do exactly that.

Liverpool transfer news

Liverpool's summer overhaul, despite how many changes were made, has been fairly seamless. Those who arrived have slotted straight in and have impressed where the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho began to fail. Dominik Szoboszlai has been particularly impressive, offering the Reds mobility in the middle of the park once again. Ryan Gravenberch, meanwhile, has shown signs of becoming yet another bargain under Klopp, as he bounces back from Bayern Munich failure.

One struggle that has remained is the defensive midfield role, however. So far, Alexis Mac Allister has been shoehorned into the role and has, therefore, been exposed at times. Reports suggest that FSG could solve that problem in January though. According to Sport, Liverpool have taken the lead in the race for Andre Trindade. The Fluminense man is reportedly worth €35m (£30m) and has attracted the interest of the Premier League giants, alongside Barcelona.

Previous Liverpool transfer news suggested that the Reds had pulled out of the race to sign Andre, but now it seems as though they are leading the way in the chase for his signature in a major twist ahead of January. When the winter window opens, the Brazilian is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Liverpool leading the way for "monster" Andre

When looking at Klopp's newest version of his Liverpool side, there's a sense that the only player missing is an out-and-out defensive midfielder capable of replicating Fabinho's role when at his best. It has become clear fairly quickly that Mac Allister is not the man to do that and would be better used in a more advanced role similar to his Brighton & Hove Albion days. Andre, however, could be that player for the Reds. Andre's stats, compared to Mac Allister's, certainly suggest as much.

Player

Progressive Passes Per 90

Interceptions Per 90

Tackles Won Per 90

Andre Trindade

6.43

1.09

1.40

Alexis Mac Allister

5.42

0.69

1.21

It comes as little surprise that the Fluminense man has been at the centre of praise over the last year or so, including from ESPN's Fernando Campos, who posted on X: "Pressing and playing with the confidence of someone who knows he's different. Get out of the hush and make the team work. André Trindade is the best defensive midfielder in the country and is a monster of a player."

Manchester City's Erling Haaland has been labelled "quite useless" after a flop showing against Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals.

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Haaland kept in check by Antonio RudigerStriker had little room to manoeuvreSlammed by Rafael van der Vaart after unimpressive displayWHAT HAPPENED?

The Norwegian striker was hardly involved during City's thrilling 3-3 draw against Real Madrid in the first leg of their last eight tie on Tuesday evening at the Santiago Bernabeu. Haaland was reigned in by Antonio Rudiger for most of the match, and when he tried to drift away from the German centre-back, Aurelien Tchouameni stepped in to take care of him.

Advertisement(C)Getty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE

Haaland's numbers further highlight how poor he had been on the night. According to the striker had just 20 touches, lost possession seven times, managed just a single shot on target and failed to complete a single dribble.

WHAT RAFAEL VAN DER VAART SAID

Former Real Madrid midfielder Rafael van der Vaart was unimpressed with Haaland, and vented his frustration on "Erling Haaland was very bad," said the Dutchman. "If he doesn't score, he's quite useless. I find him a very average player on the ball."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin (26) had more touches than Haaland (13) in the first half of the match. Moreover, Haaland has played more Champions League games without scoring (3) against Real Madrid than any other team in his entire career in the competition to date.

India might hold the edge on paper but they have the scars of their last encounter against Pakistan, and the absence of their best batsman, weighing against them

The Preview by Danyal Rasool19-Sep-20186:04

Agarkar: Pakistan have a slight edge over India

Big PictureThere’s nothing that can be said to downplay this game that’ll convince anyone. A dead rubber, with both sides – in spite of Hong Kong’s best efforts – already through to the next stage? Who cares? It’s Pakistan versus India.This tournament’s format isn’t one where finishing first has any meaningful advantage, either. Never mind that. These sides are odds-on favourites to meet again on September 28, in the final. So? It is that counts.When India and Pakistan meet, nothing but the present matters. It is cricket’s most lucrative drawcard, a parochial rivalry meant for global consumption.Besides, with these two juggernauts having eschewed bilateral ties for reasons that are anything but sporting, who would complain about one more India-Pakistan fixture? The real spice in this tie comes from its standalone appeal. These sides are so closely matched – and so vastly improved of late – it is hard to see where one can overwhelm the other.India’s fast bowling, for long the butt of jokes on the green side of the border, is perhaps more dynamic than it has ever been; Jasprit Bumrah is the top-ranked ODI bowler currently. Similarly, Pakistan’s batting, for much of the past decade, a weakness to the point of parody, now boasts a lethal opening pair, followed by the highest-ranked batsman in the tournament in Babar Azam. Both are better fielding sides than they were 10 years ago: India by incremental, methodical improvement over the years, and Pakistan partly by the sharp-shock method Mickey Arthur’s backroom staff has implemented over the last two years.Every reference point stops at the Champions Trophy final; it is Year Zero. India, a side so inexorably on the rise, need to play Pakistan – and beat them – to confirm to themselves that that day at The Oval was a mere aberration, an outlier that does not loosen their grip on their neighbours in big matches. For Pakistan, it is the ultimate inspiration, their one saving grace. If they could overpower India in a match of that magnitude, does that mean this irksome psychological blip against their biggest rivals has finally been put to bed? Could it come to be recognised as a turning point instead of a fond memory they keep having to reach further back in time to reminisce upon?India undoubtedly come into this with the more daunting form. Since that Champions Trophy meeting, they’ve won ODI series in the West Indies, Sri Lanka, and South Africa, and beaten Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka at home. The only series loss was a 2-1 reversal in England recently. Pakistan have by no means whimpered out since then, but they look more fallible. The wins, albeit convincing, have come in whitewashes against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. But they did suffer an embarrassing whitewash when they travelled to New Zealand earlier this year. They will have to play better cricket than they did on that tour, or, indeed, than was sufficient to see off Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.It remains to be seen how well India cope in Virat Kohli’s absence, both as player and captain. In the recent Test series against England, India were so dependent on him that they began to look like a one-man batting side. Besides, it is hard to predict how much the game against Hong Kong, far more competitive than they’d bargained for, drained the team. But they have several matchwinners in the ODI side – some of whom sat out Tuesday’s game. Even so, it should be fascinating to see how they react without the security blanket of their best player.Pakistan have pondered playing another spinner on the dust-bowl in Dubai, since this tournament has had spin flourish and runs haven’t been as bountiful as they are in limited-overs cricket these days. But India play spin well, and Pakistan don’t have as much depth in the spin department as India do. There’s also the question about what to do with Mohammad Amir, who is increasingly beginning to look like a shadow of the bowler that terrorised India last June.Form guideIndia WLLWW (last five completed games, most recent first)
Pakistan WWWWWAFP

In the spotlightRohit Sharma has been given the responsibility of leading India in this tournament. Before the Asia Cup, he had only captained the national side once before, in a three-match series against Sri Lanka last year, where scores of 2 and 7 sandwiched a monumental, unbeaten 208 in the second game. That has been the pattern for him in the games since, too; it’s either boom or bust. While he has two centuries in the 11 games since that double, he has failed to cross 25 on all of the other nine occasions. It serves to reiterate how crucial the first Powerplay will be for Pakistan when they field. Rohit has struggled for starts, and if Pakistan can capitalise on that, they would neutralise one of the most dangerous batsmen in modern-day cricket. Because once he gets going, he can become impossible to stop.Sarfraz Ahmed hasn’t had to bat in ten of the last 20 ODIs Pakistan have played, while Shoaib Malik has either not batted or finished not out in eight of his last 17 innings. What that does tell you is that Pakistan’s top order has been taking care of business for well over a year now, leaving the middle order underused and, perhaps, a little protected too. If India can chip away at the top three early – something they failed to do in the Champions Trophy final and ended up paying for – it exposes Sarfraz, Shoaib and the still-wet-behind-the-ears Asif Ali, putting them in the spotlight in a high-pressure game. They have played good cameos in the past, but if they’re required to rebuild the innings and prevent India from nibbling their way into the tail, it will be a challenge different to the anything they’ve faced in a long time.Team newsThe schedule hasn’t been so kind to India, who have been forced to play back-to-back games in the brutal UAE heat. That meant some of their players were rested against Hong Kong. But a full-strength side should see the returns of Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, even as the twin wristspin threats of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal find conditions to their favour.India (probable): 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Rohit Sharma (capt), 3 KL Rahul, 4 Ambati Rayudu, 5 MS Dhoni (wk), 6 Kedhar Jadhav, 7 Hardik Pandya, 8 Bhuvneshwar Kumar 9 Kuldeep Yadav, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Jasprit BumrahPakistan might go in with an unchanged line-up; they will come into this game having had two days of rest, so fatigue shouldn’t be an issue. The only question is whether it’s worth playing an extra spinner, in which case left-armer Mohammad Nawaz becomes a factor. Junaid Khan might also want a crack at India – he holds a good record against them. In either case, the man to make way would most likely be Mohammad Amir.Pakistan (probable): 1 Fakhar Zaman, 2 Imam-ul-Haq, 3 Babar Azam, 4 Shoaib Malik, 5 Sarfraz Ahmed (capt & wk), 6 Asif Ali 7 Shadab Khan, 8 Faheem Ashraf, 9 Mohammad Amir/Junaid Khan/Mohammad Nawaz, 10 Hasan Ali, 11 Usman KhanPitch and conditionsSurfaces in Dubai have produced low scores this Asia Cup, with spin playing a vital role in keeping batsmen in check. That said, good fast bowling will be rewarded early on – you only need to look at Lasith Malinga’s opening over against Bangladesh to know that – but the hot conditions mean fitness could become a key factor in the final analysis.Stats and Trivia Since these two sides met last time, Pakistan have only played 15 ODIs, winning 10 and losing five. India have played 31 ODIs, winning 23 and losing eight. Shoaib Malik has played more matches against India than any player from either side has against the other. In 39 games, he has scored 1661 runs at an average of 47.45, with four hundreds, and has taken 22 wickets. India’s most seasoned campaigner against Pakistan is MS Dhoni, with 1230 runs in 33 ODIs at an average of just under 56.

Worcestershire were crowned T20 champions – look back at how they did it

Matt Roller15-Sep-2018

Liverpool return to Europa League action to take on Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise at Anfield tonight, after seeing their unbeaten start to the season cruelly ended with defeat in the Premier League against Tottenham Hotspur.

Ange Postecoglou's Spurs capitalised on two contentious Liverpool red cards in London on Saturday evening to leapfrog them in the league table, while also benefitting from a high-profile officiating calamity as Luis Diaz's superb goal was incorrectly chalked out for offside.

Regardless, Jurgen Klopp was delighted with the gallant performance of his squad, who look miles above the woeful squad of last season that languished to a fifth-placed finish and squandered the prospect of playing in the Champions League this season.

It stung alright, but the loss must now be used as a launchpad to secure success, continuing to challenge for the title and advance through the domestic and continental competitions the Reds are involved in. In the Europa League, the German manager has a glorious opportunity to win the elusive piece of silverware that has evaded him during his Merseyside reign.

Before this season, Liverpool had last played in Europe's second-most continental competition in 2016/17, impressing and reaching the final but losing to Sevilla, who claimed the trophy for the third season in succession.

Victory is to be expected against USG, though they do currently top the Belgian Pro League after nine matches and boast enough firepower to inflict damage on a Liverpool defence that has only kept one clean sheet from nine matches this term.

What's the latest Liverpool team news?

Curtis Jones and Diogo Jota are both eligible to play tonight as their respective bans do not spill into continental competition, but Cody Gakpo will be sidelined after injuring his knee against Spurs last weekend.

Thiago Alcantara is still yet to make his maiden appearance of the campaign as he continues to rehabilitate from injury, and Thursday's match comes too soon for his availability; likewise, his compatriot Stefan Bajcetic is a fitness doubt.

However, Trent Alexander-Arnold could be poised to make his first start for Liverpool since captaining his side to a 3-0 victory over Aston Villa over one month ago, having recovered from a hamstring problem to feature from the bench on Saturday.

As far as squad selection goes, Klopp will probably be inclined to make widespread changes as he did for the win over LASK in Austria two weeks ago, with a daunting Premier League clash away to Brighton & Hove Albion awaiting at the weekend.

Will Darwin Nunez start against Union Saint-Gilloise?

One player who is likely to start both upcoming clashes this week is Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez, with the Anfield side's club-record signing not featuring at the weekend due to complications from the double red cards.

He has been in fine fettle this season though, scoring four goals and supplying two assists from eight matches across all competitions – starting just three times.

Darwin Nunez Strengths & Weaknesses (via WhoScored)

Strengths

Weaknesses

Finishing

Offside awareness

Headed attempts

Crossing

Key passes

Defensive contribution

Praised for his "razor-sharp" performances by Sky Sports commentator Peter Drury, the 24-year-old is making improvements from last season, where his wayward finishing and questionable decision-making left him a schismatic figure at the club, undeniably talented but indisputably unrefined.

With Gakpo, who was firing himself into form, now out for the count, Nunez is presented with a fine chance to exhibit his skills and provide the firepower to align with Klopp's ambitious goals: pushing for titles across all fronts.

As per FBref, the £140k-per-week machine ranks among the top 11% of forwards across Europe's top five leagues over the past year for goals, the top 15% for assists, the top 5% for progressive carries and the top 2% for touches in the attacking box per 90.

It's impressive stuff for a player who has been so polarising over the past year, and there is every possibility that he will continue to make progress in his game and cement himself as one of the most formidable forces in European football.

Against USG, he can indeed implement such attributes to wreak havoc, and must do so to pump confidence back into a side seeking a route back to winning ways.

Should Liverpool unleash Diogo Jota tonight?

While Nunez will surely start, another man who could and must play a starring role is Jota, whose quickfire yellow cards at the weekend caused Liverpool further agony as they lost a second man against a fluid and fast-rising Lilywhites side.

It was a poor, poor decision, and whatever the noise surrounding his controversial first booking, he should never have lunged in moments later at a time Klopp called for composure.

While he will be unavailable against the Seagulls, he can play tonight and could provide the dynamism and incisiveness to boost Liverpool's chances and restore his own confidence.

The £140k-per-week Portugal phenom has popped up with some big goals already this term, scoring three times and being praised for his "quality" finishing by The Athletic's James Pearce.

Jota is also heralded as a "pressing monster" across his club's frontline – as has been said by assistant coach Pep Lijnders – and offers a kind of multi-functional prowess that most forwards can only dream of.

He ranks among the top 2% of positional peers for goals and the top 1% for assists per 90, which say everything about his destructive capabilities as the Liverpool spearhead, and at a time where the Reds need to shake off the injuries suffered last time out, he will offer security in the offensive flow.

Klopp must provide Jota with the chance to redeem himself after his troubles at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium at the weekend, and while the Reds will be confident of victory, deploying such a talented sharpshooting maverick will only enhance their chances considerably.

Wolverhampton Wanderers are in a difficult situation both on and off the pitch, as Gary O’Neil attempts to weather the repercussions of the club’s financial issues in the summer.

Financial Fair Play (FFP) restrictions saw a host of talent offloaded to generate funds, leaving the current squad short of personnel, making the high points of the Old Gold’s Premier League journey seem so long ago.

When Nuno Espirito Santo guided Wolves to consecutive seventh-place finishes after earning promotion in 2018, not many would have anticipated how poorly things would turn out.

Despite being the poster boy at Molineux for the majority of his time as manager, the Portuguese made some fundamental errors during his predominantly successful tenure, as highlighted by some missed opportunities to capture talent. Vitinha has always been one notable name.

When did Vitinha play for Wolves?

In 2020, Portuguese midfielder Vitinha made the trip of many of his compatriots before him by joining Wolves on a season-long loan from FC Porto.

There was a pre-agreed purchase clause in place for the Midlands side to sign the 2000-born talent on a permanent basis, with the fee agreed to be in the region of £17m if he made a sufficient impact.

Unfortunately for the Old Gold, things didn’t work out as hoped for the promising young star, who failed to make an impact at Molineux, scoring just one goal in a total of 22 appearances in the 2020/21 season.

During the span of the Premier League campaign, the central midfielder started just five games out of the 34 that he was named in the squad, as well as being substituted into proceedings on only 14 occasions, via Transfermarkt.

By the time the summer of 2021 arrived, the skilful talent returned to his homeland, and typically for Wolves, had an impressive season at Porto, which showed those in the Midlands what they could have had.

In the 2021/22 Liga Portugal, the former loanee set the tone for midfielders in the league to follow, registering the highest rate of attempted passes per 90 with 78.49, and ranking in the top 2% of midfielders for his rate of 8.24 progressive passes per 90, via FBref.

What is Vitinha doing now?

To rub salt into Nuno’s wounds, Vitinha’s trickery in Porto didn’t go unnoticed, as he was picked up by European giants Paris Saint-Germain last summer for a fee of €40m (£34m).

Now playing with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, the Portugal international is thriving in Paris, and has become a key member of the squad in both Ligue 1 and the Champions League.

Previously lauded as a “maestro” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, the midfielder is now valued at €60m (£52m) by CIES Football Observatory, adding fuel to the fire when considering the fortunes Wolves could have generated by signing him for £17m.

Aside from the financial gain the Old Gold could have resourced by unearthing the 23-year-old’s quality, Nuno could have added a high-calibre player to the ranks, as he now prevails as one of the top midfielders in Europe.

As per FBref, Vitinha ranks in the top 3% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues for his stellar pass completion rate, averaging 90.7% completed passes per 90 over the past year.

When weighing up the fee Wolves could have grasped the budding talent for, and the price he is now valued at, Nuno had a shocker by failing to commit to the development of the PSG sensation.

Manchester United’s Jekyll and Hyde season continues as they slipped to a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, made even more surprising considering they eased to a 3-0 win over the same opposition in midweek.

Erik ten Hag has now presided over four defeats in just seven Premier League matches so far this season and if they don’t improve, and fast, their title aspirations could be over before Halloween.

How did Manchester United perform vs Crystal Palace?

In midweek, United wrapped up the victory by scoring three goals in the first 55 minutes of the match, yet they couldn’t quite find that same ruthless nature this afternoon. The Red Devils did enjoy 77% possession throughout the tie, but clearly couldn’t take their chances. Indeed, they had only four shots on target while missing two big chances and these contributed to the defeat.

Ten Hag rotated a few members of his playing squad, and he unleashed striker Rasmus Hojlund from the first whistle, but the youngster failed to inspire the Old Trafford side to a victory.

How did Rasmus Hojlund play vs Crystal Palace?

The Dane was given the opportunity to lead the line by the manager as he looked to kickstart his United career Despite playing the full 90 minutes, Hojlund took only 25 touches – this was 12 touches fewer than Andre Onana who managed 37 during the match, indicating just how little influence he had.

When he did have a rare touch of the ball, the striker completed only 13 passes while making just one key pass and losing possession five times, which is further evidence that he struggled with the ball at his feet.

Hojlund did succeed with 100% of his dribble attempts while also having three shots in total, yet failing to score may have dented his confidence while letting Ten Hag down in the process.

Since arriving in Manchester, the former Atalanta forward hasn’t quite settled in as yet, playing just six matches so far and scoring only one goal, against Bayern Munich in the Champions League during their 4-3 defeat.

That performance gave Ten Hag a glimpse into exactly what he can offer United going forward as the striker received a Sofascore rating of 7.2 for his display while having two shots in total and winning 100% of his aerial duels during the match, showcasing his strength in the air.

It was an impressive debut in Europe’s elite competition for the young Dane and showed that if he is given the chance to get up to speed, he will be a major success at United, no doubt about it.

Today was however a poor performance overall and one that will need to be forgotten about sooner rather than later if he is to help the Red Devils come out of this recent malaise. With a hectic schedule in the next few weeks, Ten Hag will need to count on Hojlund to add to his goal tally if he looks to lead the club to more glory this term.