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Manchester United have reportedly struck an agreement for Le Havre's Enzo Kana-Biyik, who is set to become Ruben Amorim's first summer signing.

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Kana-Biyik is yet to make a first-team appearanceWill be a free agent in the summerIn advanced negotiations with Man UtdFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

According to French outlet United are preparing to complete the signing of Kana-Biyik, a teenage striker who has impressed with Le Havre’s reserves. Known for his physical attributes, the 18-year-old forward has built a reputation for being strong in duels while also displaying surprising agility and quick movement for his stature. Despite not yet featuring for Le Havre’s senior side, his performances have consistently drawn the eyes of scouts, and United have acted decisively to beat out competition for his signature.

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Kana-Biyik is no stranger to footballing pedigree. He hails from a family with deep roots in the sport – his father, André Kana-Biyik, represented Cameroon at the international level, while his brother, Jean-Armel Kana-Biyik, also earned caps for the national team.

With such a legacy behind him, expectations are already high, and Manchester United will be hoping he can follow in the footsteps of another famous alumnus from Le Havre – Paul Pogba. The World Cup winner made the leap from the same youth setup to United at the age of 16, and the club appears to be following a similar path with Kana-Biyik.

DID YOU KNOW?

Kana-Biyik was not short of options, with both Monaco and Marseille also attempting to woo the young striker. He was even invited to visit OM’s prestigious Commanderie training centre as part of their recruitment pitch. However, it is believed that United’s long-term development plan, combined with Amorim’s personal interest in his progression, convinced the player and his representatives that England was the right destination.

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WHAT NEXT FOR KANA-BIYIK?

Rather than fast-tracking the teenager directly into the senior setup at Old Trafford, United have a measured approach in mind. The club, in coordination with INEOS – the ownership group behind both Manchester United and FC Lausanne-Sport in Switzerland – plans to send Kana-Biyik on loan to the Swiss side next season. Lausanne, playing in the Swiss top flight, provides a platform for Kana-Biyik to transition from youth football to senior competition without the immediate pressure that would come from Premier League demands.

Real Madrid winger Rodrygo is considering an exit from the club this summer after growing disheartened by his position in the squad.

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Rodrygo considering his futureDoes not believe his playing style fitsBehind Mbappe, Vini Jr & Bellingham in pecking orderFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Per Marca, Rodrygo is considering his future after seeing his playing time somewhat dip under the management of Carlo Ancelotti. He has not scored a La Liga goal since January, and has repeatedly been deployed as a substitute rather than a starter. The Brazilian believes there is simply too much of a spotlight on the likes of Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Jr, and that he would be better off seeking pastures new.

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Rodrygo is said to have been disappointed not to be included in the top 20 of the voting for either the Ballon d'Or or FIFA's The Best awards, and is seriously contemplating his future. He is set to wait for the appointment of a new manager, though, before deciding on his next move. Xabi Alonso is widely expected to replace the soon-to-be Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti, and an outright plea for Rodrygo to stay would potentially sway him.

DID YOU KNOW?

Rodrygo has a contract with Real until 2028. He has previously been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, while he is also said to have rejected a "very lucrative" offer from Manchester City last summer.

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Rodrygo must remain focused on Real's title tilt. The club sit second in La Liga, four points behind leaders Barcelona.

Hurraira scores third ton in four games after Sindh fold for 284

ESPNcricinfo staff27-Nov-2022
Muhammad Hurraira scored his third hundred in four matches as Northern took command over Sindh in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final on the second day. This one was the most impressive of the lot, with Hurraira unbeaten on 193 off 202 balls by stumps. It meant Northern took a 12-run lead over Sindh, with eight wickets still in the bank. Hurraira’s captain, Umar Amin, composed an unbeaten 79 at a more leisurely pace, and by stumps, the unbroken third-wicket stand had stretched to 269.The day had begun much more auspiciously for Sindh, who added 54 to their overnight score of 230 for 7, thanks to fireworks from No.9 Asif Mehmood and an unbeaten 61 from Fawad Alam. It pushed Sindh’s score up from 151 for 7 to 284 before Aamer Jamal dismissed Nos. 10 and 11.Sindh struck early with the ball twice, a double-strike from Mohammad Umar removing Hasan Raza and Faseeh Rana inside the first ten overs. But that was as good as it would get for Sindh, with Hurraira taking the attack to every bowler, pace and spin alike. Shahnawaz Dahani came in for particular punishment at Hurraira’s hands, particularly as the day drew to a close, as did Mohammad Umar, whose last 17 balls Hurraira plundered 33 runs off. Along the way, he had taken over as the highest run-scorer of this edition of the Quaid-e-Azam trophy edition, a feat he managed last year, too.But the damage had been done through the middle part of the day as Sindh’s bowlers were shut out of any realistic wicket-taking opportunities, with the fields pushed out to prevent run-scoring. But Hurraira, and to a lesser extent, Amin ensured that wouldn’t be possible, and a day that began so brightly for Sindh had darkened considerably as the players were brought off for bad light half an hour before the close.

Birmingham City could soon lose an attacking youngster, with three clubs keen on securing his services, as per one journalist.

Birmingham City back to winning ways after FA Cup exit

The Blues, following their entertaining FA Cup fourth-round exit to Newcastle United, returned to winning ways in League One during the week.

Chris Davies’ side brushed aside Cambridge United 4-0 at St Andrew’s on Tuesday evening after goals from Jay Stansfield, Kieran Dowell, Luke Harris and an own goal from Liam Bennett.

The win ensures Birmingham extended their lead at the top of the third tier to seven points over Wycombe Wanderers, while they are now 11 points clear of Wrexham in third.

“It was important we made a fast start and we showed the right attitude from the first whistle,” Davies told the media after the victory over Cambridge.

“Because of the highs of the performance on the weekend, there was always going to be a natural comedown and I thought the players answered all those questions and got right into the game and were very dominant. It was an important game, back in the league, and I wanted to make it count.”

Birmingham City vs Charlton Athletic

15 February

Reading vs Birmingham City

22 February

Birmingham City vs Leyton Orient

25 February

Birmingham City vs Wycombe Wanderers

1 March

Bolton Wanderers vs Birmingham City

4 March

Davies went on to add: “We’re in good shape. For me the bigger picture is: ‘Are we improving? Are we developing as a group? Are our performance levels staying high?’ There’s a look to the team that we can push on to another level and that excites me.”

Those behind the scenes in the Midlands bolstered their squad during the winter window, with Dowell joining on loan, while Grant Hanley and Myung-jae Lee signed on free transfers.

A number of players went out on loan last month, and ahead of the summer, it looks as if one Birmingham gem is a player in demand.

Birmingham City could now lose young attacker with Rangers and Palace keen

According to Football Insider reporter Pete O’Rourke, young Birmingham winger Zaid Betteka could soon leave the club, as he is yet to pen a professional deal and is attracting interest from three clubs.

Premier League outfit Crystal Palace, Championship side Norwich City and Scottish giants Rangers have all been alerted to Betteka’s potential availability in 2025.

Betteka recently made his first-team debut in the FA Cup third-round win over Lincoln City and O’Rourke said ‘losing the teenager will be a major blow for the Blues, who hold him in high regard within the corridors’.

It looks as if his future will be one to watch over the coming months, with Birmingham possibly hoping to tie him down to a pro contract to keep him at the club.

Despite Daniel Farke’s Leeds United coasting to many a victory in the Championship as of late, the Whites head into their big promotion clash tonight with Sunderland not perched at the summit of the difficult division.

Instead, Sheffield United are currently sat there admiring the view from top spot, having picked up a mammoth 22 wins themselves in league action, as Chris Wilder’s men eye up an instant glorious return back to the Premier League.

Looking back at their business before a ball was kicked gives you some insight as to how the top-flight’s basement club from the 2023/24 season have managed to bounce back so successfully, rather than being stuck inside that bleak pit.

United's best summer business

Back in the summer, before splashing £10m on new striker Tom Cannon, the South Yorkshire outfit went about their business in a rather shrewd manner.

Indeed, seven of United’s purchases before the hectic second-tier season got underway were either free transfers or loan signings, with both Callum O’Hare and Tyrese Campbell entering the building strokes of genius as EFL experienced heads.

The pair have amassed eight goals between them, surrounded by the likes of fellow attacking talent in the form of Crystal Palace loanee Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, who has six league strikes all on his own.

Away from bodies entering the building, the Blades also did a fantastic job in keeping some of the standout personnel from their Premier League journey, with Anel Ahmedhodzic an absolute brute at the back dropping down a level.

Helping himself to 12 clean sheets, he has made the Blades an extremely tough team to break down, with the man behind him in-between the sticks another sterling purchase that did cost United a fee, but has already made that amount look worthwhile.

Michael Cooper's soaring value

A brand new goalkeeper was arguably a must for Wilder and Co when dropping back down to the unforgiving second tier, having leaked a horrendous 104 goals in the top flight.

That’s where former Plymouth Argyle shot-stopper Michael Cooper has come to the rescue, with the 25-year-old now going down as a top £2m find from Devon.

Having made a name for himself at his boyhood employers with 55 clean sheets picked up from 161 appearances, the promotion-chasing Blades gambled on Cooper to be their Championship-ready ‘keeper and that decision has more than paid off with stunning saves such as this penalty stop back in November becoming commonplace.

Across 31 contests in South Yorkshire to date, Cooper has only shipped 21 strikes, with only two goals surrendered all of February so far as his high-flying team hunt down more and more pivotal victories.

Subsequently, his value has shot up and has justified United paying a fee to land the former League One Golden Glove winner, knowing full well that his continued excellence could be the difference-maker between automatic promotion being clinched and a playoff spot having to be regretfully accepted.

At the time of writing, Wilder’s assured number one in goal now has a bumped up value that stands at £5.8m – as per Transfermarkt – with the Exeter-born ‘keeper now wanting the prize of being a Premier League calibre shot-stopper to come his way.

Stat

Cooper

Games played

31

Goals conceded

21

Saves made

78

Goals prevented

+6.00

Clean sheets

17

That is a percentage increase of 190% in just a few months, with Wilder even labelling his standout 25-year-old as “class” earlier in the season, which is hard to argue against when looking up at his gleaming second-tier numbers.

Away from Cooper being put under the microscope, the experienced Blades boss will know a full team effort will get this confident group over the line, with this potentially being his third promotion achievement situated in the Bramall Lane dug-out.

Worth even more than Cannon: Sheffield United struck gold on “elite" ace

Sheffield United pulled off a blinder signing this ace when they did.

ByKelan Sarson Feb 17, 2025

Jorge Sampaoli has attempted to explain his comment in which he claimed Ousmane Dembele "plays like an autistic" person.

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Sampaoli issued formal apologyRemarks were made during Euro 2024Samapoli claims he is 'very emotional' Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Sampaoli apologised last summer after claiming that Dembele "plays like an autistic" at Euro 2024. The former Argentina boss claimed that Dembele "only has the ability to make himself shine" but, at the time, he appeared to realise he had made an unacceptable comment.

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Now, though, Sampaoli has re-litigated the issue, claiming that he expressed himself badly, but he has again claimed Dembele is too selfish. In a rather confusing explanation, the manager has also claimed the Paris Saint-Germain star is capable of being one of the best players in the world.

WHAT JORGE SAMPAOLI SAID

Sampaoli said to : "I was very bad at expressing myself. I'm very emotional and passionate, and all I wanted to say was that Dembele isn't an association player. He looks at his opponents and the goal much more than his team-mates. For me, he's one of the best in the world, but in a context like Barca's, where association is necessary, he isolates himself and doesn't perform as well. He plays his game, he does it very well, but I attach a lot of importance to authority and association football."

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PSG face Arsenal in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday. Dembele scored the only goal in the first leg, giving the French side a 1-0 lead for the second leg at Parc des Princes.

BCCI is likely to appoint a Cricket Advisory Committee to conduct interviews before announcing their decision

Shashank Kishore28-Nov-2022Nayan Mongia, Maninder Singh, Shiv Sunder Das and Ajay Ratra are among several candidates in the running to become part of BCCI’s new senior men’s selection committee.The deadline for applications closed on Monday (November 28), with the BCCI now likely to appoint a Cricket Advisory Committee to conduct interviews before announcing their decision. The first assignment for the new selection panel will be to pick the Indian team for the limited-overs series at home against Sri Lanka in 2023.Related

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In the meantime, the outgoing panel, led by Chetan Sharma, will remain in place. Its members are currently following the knockout stages of the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy, the domestic 50-overs competition, as well as the Cooch Behar Trophy.Das is currently contracted to Punjab as a batting coach. Prior to that, he was one of the coaches at the National Cricket Academy and had stints with the Indian women’s team. If Das is appointed – a number of his contemporaries believe so – he will be replacing his former Odisha team-mate Debasis Mohanty. Mohanty, the former India fast bowler, has completed his five-year term as a selector, having previously served in junior cricket.Hemang Badani* was believed to have been in the race, but he has since clarified that he hasn’t applied. Earlier, he neither confirmed nor denied his candidature when ESPNcricinfo had contacted him.7:03

Newsroom: ‘Selectors alone are not to blame for India’s T20 World Cup exit’

The current selection committee includes three members who can reapply for their jobs and while it could not be confirmed whether Chetan and Harvinder Singh will do so, it is learnt that Sunil Joshi will be stepping away. That leaves the position of the west zone selector, which has anyway been vacant since the tenure of Abey Kuruvilla ended late last year.Meanwhile, Deep Dasgupta and Laxmi Ratan Shukla, the other names doing rounds from the east, have confirmed they haven’t applied. Dasgupta is now a broadcaster while Shukla is currently head coach of the Bengal team, having taken over just six months ago from Arun Lal.Among the new applicants, Mongia has already been part of a selection committee – at both the junior and senior level – at Baroda. With 44 Tests and 140 ODIs, he is also among the senior-most candidates in the fray. Mumbai’s Sameer Dighe and Salil Ankola, along with UP’s Gyanendra Pandey and Punjab’s Reetinder Sodhi have also expressed interest in the job. Ajit Agarkar, who was among the few high-profile candidates from last time, hasn’t applied this time.When advertising for the new selection panel, the BCCI had put down a minimum qualification level of seven Tests or 30 first-class matches, or 10 ODIs and 20 first-class matches for applicants. They should have also retired “at least five years previously” and should not have been over 60 years of age. The committee when picked will comprise five members – one from each zone.* ESPNcricinfo had earlier misreported L Sivaramakrishnan’s candidature, and Hemang Badani has since clarified that he hasn’t applied for the job. The errors are regretted.