da pinup bet： England and major tournaments have not always got on, with the World Cup not having come home since 1966 when they lifted it with a win over West Germany thanks to a Geoff Hurst hat-trick – something that, along with the iconic commentary, remains a key part of the fabric of English football.

da pinnacle： Since then, the closest they have come to success has been a spot in the semi-finals. Reaching the last four in 1990, they were knocked out by West Germany before losing to Italy in the third-place play-off.

More recently, they suffered the same fate against Croatia in 2018, falling to an extra-time defeat before being beaten by Belgium as they settled for fourth place once again.

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Beyond that, it has been a case of quarter-final heartbreak at best, with the Three Lions failing to make it out of the group stages in 2014 in Brazil during a dreadful campaign, while they failed to qualify in 1994.

As a result, very few English players have happy memories of World Cups, except those who hit the back of the net with any sort of regularity.

So as Thomas Tuchel prepares to lead his new team to the ultimate international glory, we’ve taken a look at the 12 players who have managed more than two goals at World Cup finals in England colours.

All stats correct as of 25th February 2024.

England’s top goalscorers at World Cups

Rank

Player

England caps

England goals

World Cup goals

1

Gary Lineker

80

48

10

2

Harry Kane

103

69

8

3

Sir Geoff Hurst

49

24

5

4

Michael Owen

89

40

4

5

Sir Bobby Charlton

106

49

4

6

Bukayo Saka

43

12

3

7

Marcus Rashford

60

17

3

8

Steven Gerrard

114

21

3

9

David Beckham

115

17

3

10

David Platt

62

27

3

11

Roger Hunt

34

18

3

12

Nat Lofthouse

33

30

3

12 Nat Lofthouse 3 goals

The first of several players on three World Cup goals for the Three Lions, Nat Lofthouse led the line for England in the 1950s with astonishing effect. In just 33 Three Lions caps, he managed to find the net 30 times, giving him one of the best goals-per-game records for his nation.

All three of his World Cup goals came in 1954 in Switzerland. Coming into it off the back of a 17-goal season with Bolton Wanderers, Lofthouse scored twice in a 4-4 draw with Belgium to help England out of the group stages.

He then netted in the next round but it was in vain as the Three Lions crashed out at the hands of Uruguay thanks to a 4-2 defeat in the last eight.

11 Roger Hunt 3 goals

Roger Hunt is the first of those who were a part of the 1966 World Cup-winning squad on this list, but the Liverpool icon is often forgotten among the other greats in English football history.

He appeared just 34 times for England, and was an unused substitute for the entirety of the 1962 tournament, but certainly left his mark four years later.

His World Cup record reads six appearances, three goals and two assists, all without missing a minute of the tournament. He opened his account at Wembley against Mexico in the group stage (with highlights above), before scoring both goals against France in a 2-0 win to ensure that his side topped their group and progressed into the next round.

A Liverpool and England hero overshadowed by the likes of Jimmy Greaves and Sir Geoff Hurst, Hunt’s contribution to England’s success was invaluable.

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Posts 10 David Platt 3 goals

David Platt’s only opportunity to find the net at a World Cup came in 1990 after he was part of the side that notoriously failed to qualify for the 1994 edition, despite Platt himself having scored seven times from midfield in qualifying.

Given his debut by Bobby Robson, Platt scored a last-16 extra-time winner against Belgium before being handed a start in the following game. He repaid that faith by heading in the opening goal as England defeated Cameroon 3-2, and had a goal disallowed in the semi-finals as England were knocked out by West Germany on penalties.

There was time for one more goal for the midfielder, though he may not remember it too fondly as it came in the third-place play-off defeat to Italy days later.

9 David Beckham 3 goals

It is truly shocking that a player of David Beckham’s quality only has three World Cup goals to show for his talent, but his time in major tournaments was forever shrouded in controversy.

The Manchester United and Real Madrid icon was dropped for the first two games of the 1998 World Cup after accusations that he was not concentrating, and after scoring a free-kick in their final group game, he was sent off as England were knocked out by Argentina in the round of 16, with Becks leaving in disgrace.

His revenge came four years later as he scored from the spot to beat Argentina in the group stages, but England again fell flat and were knocked out in the quarter-finals.

He found the net one final time in 2006 against Ecuador, again from a free kick, becoming the first Englishman to score in three separate World Cups, before the Three Lions were eventually knocked out in the quarter-finals once more, this time by Portugal.

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Posts 1 8 Steven Gerrard 3 goals

Another of the so-called “golden generation” of English talent, Steven Gerrard’s career is perhaps another that deserved more international success. The heartbeat of Liverpool’s midfield for almost two decades, he missed the 2002 World Cup through injury.

It meant that he had to wait until 2006 for his first World Cup goal, and like London buses, a second soon followed as he netted against Trinidad & Tobago and Sweden to finish as England’s top goalscorer at the tournament, though he was one of three who missed penalties in the shootout against Portugal.

He captained England into the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and found the net in the forgettable 1-1 draw with the United States before his side were thrashed 4-1 by Germany in the first knockout round.

7 Marcus Rashford 3 goals

Though unlikely at present, it is possible that Marcus Rashford adds to his tally of World Cup goals in an England shirt. The 27-year-old was last in the Three Lions squad almost a year ago, and his career has stalled since.

Once England’s youngest-ever debut goalscorer, Rashford was taken to the 2018 World Cup as a 21-year-old but struggled to make a major impression when given the opportunity – though he did net in the shootout win over Colombia.

Four years later, he had a much more central role; he netted from the bench in a 6-2 thrashing of Iran before scoring twice against Wales to help England qualify as Group B winners in Qatar. However, his chances of adding to that in 2026 look remote at the moment.

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Posts 6 Bukayo Saka 3 goals

Though still in the infancy of his England career, Bukayo Saka has already proved himself a big-game player for the Three Lions, and seems to be the undisputed starter on the right-hand side going forward.

The winger has only been to one World Cup so far in his career, having made his international debut just before Euro 2020. However, he left his mark at his maiden World Cup, scoring twice against Iran and once against Senegal to help England into the quarter-finals.

Against France, he was named Player of the Match by outlets on both sides of the channel, but could not prevent his side from falling to a 2-1 defeat and exiting the competition.

Still just 23 years old, he is likely to have at more World Cups left in him, and is likely to shoot up this list in the years to come.

5 Sir Bobby Charlton 4 goals

The Iconic English footballer. Sir Bobby Charlton was the star of the 1960s, winning the Ballon d’Or in 1966 and finishing runner-up in both 1967 and 1968, while his return of 49 goals in 106 outings for England from midfield speaks volumes.

He scored the first of his four World Cup goals in 1962 in a win over Argentina, but had to wait four years to add to that tally. However, as the central force of England’s 1966 World Cup triumph, Charlton scored in the 2-0 group-stage win over Mexico, before scoring two more against Portugal to send England into the final against West Germany.

Charlton continued into the 1970 World Cup, but could not add to his tally and retired on the flight home, at the time leaving as England’s record appearance holder.

4 Michael Owen 4 goals

A prodigious talent robbed of the latter stages of his career by injuries, Michael Owen was already considered the future of English football as a teenager.

Making his debut at 18, he was taken to the 1998 World Cup and became England’s youngest goalscorer at a World Cup when he netted against Romania, before scoring one of his nation’s all-time great goals in the following game against Argentina, before his side eventually went out on penalties.

Four years later, his impact was a little less impressive, with Owen failing to score in the group stages. However, he netted in their last-16 win over Denmark and scored the opening goal against Brazil, before the Three Lions fell to a 2-1 defeat to exit the competition.

2006 saw Owen rush back to fitness, and he suffered a serious knee injury in his side’s final group game which ruled him out of the remainder of the tournament, while he also picked up a hamstring injury ahead of the 2010 World Cup which curtailed his international career.

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Posts 1 3 Sir Geoff Hurst 5 goals

Responsible for scoring England’s only World Cup-winning goals, Sir Geoff Hurst wasn’t even set to play in the 1966 World Cup, but was thrown into the quarter-final after an injury to Jimmy Greaves and kept his place until the final.

It’s safe to say that it was a sliding-doors moment for both Hurst and the Three Lions, with Hurst having only made his England debut earlier that year.

He scored the only goal of the game against Argentina to help them into the semi-finals, before grabbing a hat-trick in the final (including two in extra-time) to secure the Jules Rimet trophy for England.

He remains the only player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup final and win the tournament – a record that could still stand for some time to come. A part of the squad four years later, Hurst could only manage one goal as his side were knocked out by West Germany in extra time.

da lvbet： One of the biggest errors that Manchester City have made in recent years was to sell Cole Palmer. Since the Wythenshawe-born superstar left the Etihad Stadium in search of first-team opportunities, he has become one of the most exciting players to watch in Europe.

da bet esporte： After making the move to West London outfit Chelsea in the summer of 2023, Palmer has scored 39 goals and grabbed 21 assists in 73 games. For City, opportunities were few and far between for the England international. He made 41 appearances for his boyhood club, scoring six goals and registering two assists.

He is not the only player to have excelled after leaving City. Morgan Rogers is another example.

Rogers’ record since leaving Man City

There is a saying that goes, ‘the grass isn’t always greener’, but that is not something Rogers can relate to concerning his decision to leave the Etihad Stadium. After moving to Middlesbrough in the summer of 2023, he moved to Aston Villa in January 2024, for an initial £8m, which could almost double with add-ons.

Just like Palmer has for Chelsea, the attacking midfielder, who was born in Halesowen, has been simply sensational for Unai Emery’s side. As Jamie Carragher described him, Rogers has been “unstoppable” in a Villa shirt.

This season, the 22-year-old has played 35 games, scoring 11 goals and grabbing six assists across all competitions. That includes a Champions League hat trick against Celtic and a goal and assist in a 2-1 win over City in the Premier League.

That one must have stung Pep Guardiola. Erling Haaland aside, Rogers actually has more combined goals and assists in all competitions than any other City player this season. His 17 goal involvements would rank him second, with Phil Foden the next nearest with 15.

Surely City wish they had kept Rogers, given his impressive form in a Villa shirt. Luckily, Guardiola might get a second chance at utilising a player of his profile, in the form of an up-and-coming academy star.

The Rogers-esque academy star

City’s academy have produced some excellent players over the years. Of course, two of those are Palmer and Rogers, who have been superb since leaving the club. Other talents are still playing for the Premier League champions, the likes of Phil Foden and Rico Lewis.

Perhaps the next youngster off this impressive conveyor belt of talent will be 17-year-old midfielder Divine Mukasa. He has impressed so far for the City academy and has previously been compared to Rogers.

Football scout The Next Wave explained that Mukasa has a “unicorn blend” of “size & technical ability”. They compared him to Rogers, explaining that a player of that profile is someone City are “screaming out for” at the moment.

Mukasa’s form for City’s under-18s this season has been extraordinary. The 17-year-old has been on fire across age groups, and has 13 goals and 21 assists in 27 games. In the under-18s Premier League, the midfielder has 12 goals and 13 assists in 14 appearances.

One of his best performances in a City shirt so far came last season, in the UEFA Youth League against Red Star under-19s. As per Sofascore, he created two chances and won four out of six ground duels, showing a good range of skills in midfield.

Mukasa stats vs. Red Star (2023/24 season)

Stat

Number

Minutes played

62

Touches

31

Pass accuracy

76%

Ground duels won

4/6

Chances created

2

Tackles won

2/2

Dribbles completed

1/1

Stats from Sofascore

Football scout Ben Mattinson described Mukasa as someone with “UCL level potential”. He is an exciting prospect for City, who might be someone who breaks through in the next few seasons, or even sooner if the opportunity arises.

Guardiola lost his chance with Rogers, who has gone on to do great things away from, and against the club. He will surely be hoping to integrate Makasa sooner rather than later, given how good he could be for the Citizens.

da 888casino： The last few years have been more than a little bumpy for Tottenham Hotspur.

da betsul： The club has cycled through managers of varying styles before landing on the uber-attacking Ange Postecoglou.

On top of that, the squad has seen a fair bit of churn, with a number of players leaving, most notably the record-breaking and era-defining Harry Kane.

However, as this season has shown, the North Londoners’ project is far from complete, and it might soon be time for another club icon to follow the Englishman out the door.

The Spurs star who should be phased out

It will come as no surprise to those who have been watching Spurs this season that the icon we are talking about is Son Heung-min.

The South Korean superstar is undoubtedly a legend of the club and one of the most devastatingly effective wingers the league has seen over the last decade or so, but therein lies one of the key issues with him playing a prominent role today: he’s been around too long.

Unfortunately, as with all professional footballers at some point in their careers, the former Bayer Leverkusen star is simply a victim of time.

The age PL players peak

Position

Peak

Goalkeeper

28

Centre-Back

27

Full-Back

25

Central Midfielder

25

Wide Attacker

26

Central attacking mid

26

Striker

27

All Data via The Athletic

For example, research from The Athletic revealed that wingers hit their peak at 26 years old, and their ability to take-on defenders dramatically decreases at 30 – the Lilywhites star is 33 in May.

Moreover, while he can still be brilliant in bursts here and there, as he was against Ipswich Town, those bursts don’t come frequently enough anymore.

Indeed, even though he has been able to rack up a tally of ten goals and ten assists this season, he’s found the back of the net in the league just once since the 22nd of December.

In all, Son is a true Tottenham legend, but to ensure Postecoglou’s project can continue to develop next season and beyond, it might be time for him to take more of a backseat in the squad, especially as the manager might already have the perfect replacement.

The Spurs ace to replace Son

While the likes of Mikey Moore and Wilson Odobert could certainly fall into this category, we are leaning towards Mathys Tel.

The 19-year-old dynamo may only be on loan from Bayern Munich at the moment, but there is a £45m option to buy in his deal and, according to reports earlier this month, there is a feeling from some in the know that he’s open to remaining in North London for the long term.

Now, it would be fair to say that, so far this season, the young Frenchman hasn’t exactly shown why he is so highly rated.

However, he was limited to just 458 minutes in Germany and has only just arrived in a brand-new team and country, so the fact he’s already scored a goal in just 299 minutes of action is a reasonable return.

Tel’s 23/24

Appearances

41

Starts

10

Minutes

1406′

Goals

10

Assists

6

Goal Involvements per Match

0.39

Minutes per Goal Involvement

87.87′

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Moreover, when the “mind-blowing” prospect, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, was given 1406 minutes of first-team football for Bayern in 41 appearances last season, he managed to score ten goals and provide six assists, which comes out to an astounding average of a goal involvement every 87.87 minutes.

Finally, while he has played up top a few times since moving to N17, he spent just as much time off the left while in Germany, so he should be able to step into Son’s shoes and support Dominic Solanke on his return without much trouble.

Ultimately, the South Korean international has been nothing short of sensational for Tottenham over the last decade, but to move the club forward, he probably needs to step back, and in Tel, Postecoglou could have the perfect long-term replacement.

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da bet7k： Chelsea have now made contact over the signing of a defender, having stepped up their interest in recent weeks, but there may be competition for his signature from one of their London rivals, according to a report.

Blues keen to strengthen in defence

da betsson： The Blues have set their sights on multiple defenders ahead of the summer transfer window, with Flamengo right-back Wesley Franca now emerging as a target, having held talks over a deal for the Brazilian in recent days.

On the opposite side of the backline, Enzo Maresca’s side could look to bring in Sunderland left-back Dennis Cirkin, having started to work on a deal, though there is set to be stiff competition for his signature from a number of Premier League clubs.

Maresca is clearly keen to bolster his options at full-back, and the manager is also driving a move for Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who could be brought in as a replacement for Robert Sanchez.

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Signing a new goalkeeper may be an important task this summer given the catalogue of errors Sanchez has made this season, but there is also a desire to strengthen in the centre-back department.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, Chelsea have now made contact over the signing of Feyenoord’s David Hancko, having stepped up their interest in the centre-back over the past few weeks.

However, there may be competition for Hancko’s signature, with Tottenham ramping up their interest of late, while Atlético Madrid and Juventus are also named as potential suitors – and he is said to be enticed by the idea of joining the Italian club.

Feyenoord would be willing to sanction the defender’s departure for £42m this summer, making him a relatively affordable option should the Blues choose to formalise their interest in the summer.

"Freak technician" Hancko could be a solid signing

The Feyenoord star has received high praise from freelance scout Ben Mattinson, who has lauded him for his ability to drive the ball forward from defence.

The former Sparta Prague man’s attacking ability is underlined by his impressive goal and assist record in the league over the past five seasons.

Season

League appearances

Goals

Assists

2020-21

24

5

2

2021-22

30

7

5

2022-23

34

2

4

2023-24

34

5

2

2024-25

23

3

2

Journalist Diederik de Groot has also described the Slovakia international as the “best defender” he’s ever seen at Feyenoord, and he has been in impressive form this season, emerging as one of the most consistent performers in the squad.

Hancko has certainly earned the chance to prove himself in the Premier League, and a £42m fee seems reasonable, so Chelsea should continue to monitor his performances before potentially launching a bid in the summer.

da bet vitoria： Everton manager David Moyes has all but guaranteed safety, ensuring the club will play Premier League football at their new Bramley Moore Stadium next season.

da prosport bet： For a time earlier this season, it looked as though the Merseyside outfit could suffer relegation to the Championship, but Moyes has worked his magic, proving there is life in the old dog still.

The next step is moving up the Premier League table and with some investment this summer, there is no reason why the Toffees can’t secure a top-half finish next term. Might a European place even be on the horizon too?

There are the makings of a fine squad at Goodison, no doubt about that, but Moyes should be taking a look at the youth academy at the club in order to perhaps save Everton some money in the transfer window.

During his first spell, the likes of Wayne Rooney, Jack Rodwell and Leon Osman emerged as excellent young talents, with two making the club a significant profit in the process.

It was someone else who broke onto the scene during Moyes’ first spell who could have become an Everton icon had things worked out differently, however.

Sometimes, players don’t quite live up to their early promise and this was the case for James Vaughan, who made his senior bow for the Toffees aged just 16 back in 2005.

When James Vaughan was the next big thing

Vaughan emerged through the Everton academy as a player who could follow in the footsteps of Rooney. He had everything required to make it at the highest level, no doubt about that.

When Everton played Crystal Palace towards the end of the 2004/05 campaign, Vaughan came off the bench with just 15 minutes remaining, making his debut in the process.

With the three points already wrapped up, the youngster scored with just three minutes to go, becoming the youngest ever goal scorer in the Premier League, aged just 16 years and 271 days.

Alan Irving, Vaughan’s assistant manager, praised the player after the game, saying: “It was a fantastic day for him. People will make comparisons with Wayne Rooney but they are different players. It was terrific for him just to get on so to score made it a dream debut.”

It looked like Vaughan was going to be the next thing out of the Everton academy. Their next Rooney, who could dazzle for a season or two before being sold for a major profit.

James Vaughan’s career statistics

Club

Games

Goals

Huddersfield Town

95

33

Everton

61

9

Tranmere Rovers

46

25

Bury

40

24

Wigan Athletic

39

6

Crystal Palace

30

9

Sunderland

27

2

Bradford

27

10

Birmingham

17

0

Portsmouth

11

0

Leicester

8

1

Norwich

6

0

Derby

2

0

Via Transfermarkt

Unfortunately, it didn’t quite work out that way for the teenager. He made 14 appearances during the 2006/07 season in the top flight, scoring four goals, but he would go on to score just two more Premier League goals for the club after that campaign.

Plagued by injuries during his spell, he managed only 60 games for the club, with just nine of them in the starting XI. The striker signed for Norwich City in 2011, but things didn’t work out, and he spent time at Huddersfield, scoring 33 goals in 95 matches.

After leaving the club, Vaughan endured somewhat of a nomadic career, turning out for eight clubs, but he couldn’t replicate the form he showed for Huddersfield and retired in 2021.

He is now working as a scout for the club he made his senior bow with, earmarking the future generation.

As for the present day, George Morgan is someone who has shown plenty of talent during his time at Finch Farm recently. Could he be the next Vaughan for Moyes? Albeit with more luck on the injury front?

Everton could have their next superstar brewing

The 18-year-old began making waves during the 2023/24 season for Everton U18s, scoring two goals in seven U18 Premier League matches, while finding the back of the net once in two FA Youth Cup appearances.

In October 2023, he was named as one of the 20 best youngsters in the Premier League by the Guardian, with journalist Andy Hunter saying Morgan was ‘a powerful, fast centre-forward with an eye for goal’, before stating that the teenager based his game ‘on Robert Lewandowski’ which could stand him in good stead over the next few years.

After this impressive season, Morgan signed his first professional contract with Everton in the summer of 2024, stating at the time:

“It means a lot because it’s something I’ve been working towards since joining the club,” said Morgan once the deal was signed. Being here so long, it’s great playing with your mates and improving. There’s a real togetherness and it’s like a big family.”

It could turn out to be a wise move tying the 18-year-old down to a professional deal, as he could certainly make an impression in the first team.

Across the 2024/25 campaign so far, Morgan has scored nine goals in 19 appearances in three different competitions – the FA Youth Cup, U18s Premier League and the Premier League 2 – proving he can make the step-up if required.

Despite being born in Milton Keynes, Morgan has chosen to represent Wales at international level, following in the footsteps of his dad, Craig Morgan.

He has featured for the U19s in four matches thus far, scoring against Italy during a 3-3 draw last year, and if he maintains his current form in the youth setup, the U21s will be his next port of call.

In The Pipeline

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Moyes has tremendous talent at his fingertips, no doubt about that. The main thing for the manager now is to make sure he doesn’t peak too soon.

Vaughan was hampered by injuries during his spell at Everton. If Morgan can get a chance before the end of the season under the Scot, he could showcase his talents ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

The next few months could be exciting indeed for the teenage sensation.

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da spicy bet： The Conference League was never going to be of the utmost importance for Enzo Maresca in his debut year at Chelsea.

da roleta： That said, it’s been a fine learning curve for a number of young players and has allowed enough rotation to try and keep those on the fringes of the squad happy.

Players like Christopher Nkunku and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall haven’t been preferred much in the Premier League but have made their mark in Europe.

Nkunku is the competition’s second top scorer with five and has taken to proceedings nicely. Still, as Chelsea were finally handed a tougher opposition, they didn’t exactly set the world alight.

Following their trip to Copenhagen last week where they won 2-1, the second leg was hardly a thriller. It was far from it, in fact, as despite Cole Palmer’s introduction at the break, the Blues could only win 1-0.

They’re in the hat for the next round, however, and that’s all that truly matters.

The biggest positives from Chelsea’s win over Copenhagen

This was not an amazing night for many in blue but there were a trio of players who shone.

Unsurprisingly, the first of which was club-record man Moises Caicedo.

While Palmer’s barren run of form continues, Caicedo only continues to get better, putting in a particularly physical display on Thursday evening, notably winning eight of his nine duels.

Rather more surprisingly, though, was the impact of the aforementioned Dewsbury-Hall. Since signing from Leicester last summer he’s barely kicked a ball but played a pivotal part this week, scoring the game’s only goal.

A mention too for young Tyrique George who started on the right wing and outshone the more senior Jadon Sancho on the opposite wing.

Jadon Sancho’s performance in numbers

George has been one of the beneficiaries of Chelsea’s venture in the Conference League this campaign, and he did well on Thursday night.

The teenager didn’t leave the field with a goal or assist but he certainly didn’t let anyone down in the final third, registering two key passes and completing four of his dribble attempts.

It was certainly a more encouraging performance than Sancho whose inconsistent loan spell at Chelsea only continues to rumble on.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

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The winger now hasn’t scored for the club since the 8th December and hasn’t posted an assist since the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on January 4th.

So underwhelming have his displays been that Sancho’s only shot on target against Copenhagen was his first goalbound effort since 26th December. A damning stat, indeed.

Remember how incredible this player was at Dortmund and it beggars belief that he’s now so often struggling to make things happen.

Beyond that one shot, it was another tricky night at the office for the Manchester United loanee who was handed a 4/10 rating by GOAL. Their correspondent, Peter McVitie, admitted that he had ‘a really quiet game”.

Sancho vs Copenhagen

Minutes played

65

Touches

33

Accurate passes

16/18 (89%)

Key passes

0

Shots

1

Successful dribbles

4/7

Ground duels won

4/9

Possession lost

8x

Crosses

0

Expected goals (xG)

0.03

Expected assists (xA)

0.04

Stats via Sofascore.

The stats certainly support that. Sancho had just one shot, didn’t produce a single key pass or cross and had fewer touches than goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen (38). Given the standard of opposition, you’d expect so much more from a player who was dazzling in the Champions League with Dortmund last term.

During their run to the final, he produced as many as 12 dribbles in their semi-final win over PSG. That was the most by any player in a single game in that season’s edition. It was also the most by any player in a Champions League semi-final since Lionel Messi in April 2008 against Man United.

A little over a year on, he’s back in English football again, and sadly, struggling once more.

Chelsea might not have too many options right now in the final third but regardless of that, Maresca must drop Sancho when they face Arsenal on Sunday.

It’s not just his short-term future he should be sweating over, however, with Brazilian teenage superstar Estevao set to arrive formally in the summer and the news that 17-year-old Sporting winger Geovany Quenda is due to sign too.

Quenda is a right winger by trade but has also played minutes on Sancho’s favoured left side. On this evidence, the Englishman does not look a match for either of these wonderful teenage talents.

Perhaps that obligation to buy wasn’t the smartest of decisions from Todd Boehly and Co.

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da bet esporte： Manchester United better roll up their proverbial sleeves ahead of the summer transfer window. Ruben Amorim and INEOS have a mammoth task on their hands, and it’s one which cannot afford a slip-up.

da dobrowin： It’s looking unlikely there will be anything tangible to cheer about before the 2024/25 campaign concludes.

United are 13th in the Premier League after a wretched term that saw Erik ten Hag given the boot in October. That said, Amorim’s side are into the quarter-finals of the Europa League, preparing for Athletic Bilbao.

The Red Devils are attempting to wipe the slate clean, and while fresh faces need to be brought in across various positions on the pitch, some sales need to be enforced too, with too many overpaid stragglers still on the books.

The state of Man United's wage bill in 2024/25

At the start of the season, Bruno Fernandes signed a new contract worth £300k-per-week, extending his stay at Old Trafford until 2027. Of all the outfit’s well-paid members, he is the most deserving of his paycheck.

However, those around him are largely stealing a living, very much a part of the problem. You will see in the table below that two of the highest earners at United are Marcus Rashford and Antony, both wingers shipped out on loan in January.

Further down the list, Christian Eriksen and Victor Lindelof combine to take £270k from the coffers each week; both players are out of a deal this summer, neither expecting a renewal.

Manchester United’s Highest-paid Players

#

Player

Salary

1.

Casemiro

£350k-per-week

2.

Bruno Fernandes

£300k-per-week

2=

Marcus Rashford

£300k-per-week

4.

Mason Mount

£250k-per-week

5.

Antony

£200k-per-week

Data via Capology

As you can see, there’s a player we haven’t yet addressed. He’s earning the prettiest penny of them all, and he needs to be sold this summer.

INEOS must ditch expensive flop

When Casemiro signed for Man United in a deal worth £70m in 2022, some felt it was too big a fee, with Sky Sports pundits calling it a move of “desperation”.

However, the general consensus was that one of the game’s pre-eminent midfielders had arrived to shore up Ten Hag’s midfield.

Sadly, he’s fallen by the wayside in red. Jamie Redknapp scathingly remarked that the 32-year-old “looks like he’s in Soccer Aid,” while Amorim has only started him four times in the Premier League since first benching the expensive man three games into his tenure; on nine occasions, Casemiro hasn’t even made it off the bench.

It’s clear he needs to leave this summer, freeing up invaluable space on the wage bill and serving as a statement moment in INEOS’s shaky start to life at the club, parting with one of the biggest contention points United bears. Well-known content creator Mark Goldbridge even labelled him a “waste of time.”

We’ve crunched the numbers and worked out that Casemiro has earned over £50m since leaving Spain for Greater Manchester. Combine that with the £70m fee paid for his signature, and Man United have been bled some £120m by the ageing Brazilian.

Casemiro was once a formidable force, the anchor at the heart of one of the most incredible squads in the history of the great game.

It’s clear he’s not going to return to that imperious level under Amorim’s wing, and if previous reports that he has suitors from the lucrative Saudi Pro League, Ratcliffe and his team must surely work tooth and nail to agree a deal that would see Casemiro end his time in the Premier League.

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da bet nacional： Whilst Leeds United have only managed to win one of their last five Championship matches, Daniel Farke’s side still remain on course to secure promotion come the end of the season.

da bet vitoria： The Whites sit second, just two points behind leaders Sheffield United, with striker Joel Piroe deserving a lot of credit for his performances in the first team throughout 2024/25.

The Dutchman has notched 15 goals in the league throughout this campaign, sitting as the club’s top scorer and second-highest in the division – highlighting his impact.

Jayden Bogle has also cemented his place at right-back in Farke’s side, featuring in 37 outings, with the £5m forked out for his signature in the summer now appearing to be a bargain.

However, high hopes were held for numerous players in recent years, with none of them able to feature at Elland Road anymore after failing to reach their full potential.

Leeds talents who failed to live up to their potential

Midfielder Lewis Bate joined Leeds in a £1.5m deal from Chelsea back in the summer of 2021, with high hopes of becoming a first-team regular in Yorkshire.

However, the 22-year-old would only make five appearances at Elland Road over a four-year period, before leaving on a free transfer and joining Stockport County last summer.

Cody Drameh was another player tipped to have a key role for the Whites as a youngster, having the potential to be a crucial player in the club’s backline after arriving from Fulham in 2020.

After just 10 first-team appearances and three separate loan spells, he also departed on a free transfer in the summer, looking to kick-start his professional career at division rivals Hull City.

The aforementioned pair aren’t the only players to fail to deliver in Yorkshire, with one other star sold after being unable to match the ambitions placed on his shoulders.

The former Leeds star who could’ve been their own Van Dijk

Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk has been a leading talent in world football over the past few years, being a leading figure in the Reds’ success under various managers.

Many argue the Dutchman is the best centre-back of all time, winning eight major honours during his time at Anfield, including a Champions League title – helping him finish in the top three of the Ballon d’Or.

Stars like him don’t come around very often, but Leeds could’ve had their own version in the form of Leo Fuhr Hjelde, who was sold to Sunderland back in January 2024.

The 21-year-old originally joined the Whites from Celtic back in 2021, with the potential to emulate the success of Van Dijk given the praise previously heaped on him.

Former Ross County boss John Hughes tipped him to be “the next Van Dijk” before his move to Yorkshire – highlighting how impressive the addition of the defender was at the time.

Leo Hjelde’s stats for Sunderland in the Championship (2024/25)

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

10

Goals & assists

1

Pass accuracy

78%

Chances created

1.2

Tackles won

1.2

Duel success rate

55%

Interceptions made

1.7

Stats via FotMob

However, during his first two years at the club, he was restricted to just six appearances, unable to break into the side given their Premier League status.

An impressive loan stint at Rotherham United saw him return to the fold under Farke in 2023, but would only last six months before being permanently offloaded – joining the Black Cats in a £2m deal.

Whilst he’s only made 12 appearances this campaign, at the age of just 21 he still has bags of time to fulfil the hype that was placed on him as a teenager.

However, any success he will achieve won’t be for the Whites, with the club potentially living to regret their decision to sell him should he get anywhere near Van Dijk’s level.

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da leao： Tottenham Hotspur defender Cristian Romero is being repeatedly linked with an exit this summer, but he could be joined by an “underrated” Spurs teammate.

Cristian Romero attracting Atlético Madrid interest

da betobet： The Lilywhites face a very real prospect of losing Romero once the transfer window reopens, as reports are suggesting that the Argentine wants to move on for a fresh challenge amid interest from Atlético Madrid.

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As per some media sources, Romero is “pushing” to leave Tottenham, with chairman Daniel Levy postponing talks over a new contract for the 26-year-old as a result (The Boot Room). Meanwhile, others claim that Atlético boss Diego Simeone has reached out to the £165,000-per-week defender in an attempt to entice him with a move to La Liga (Uriel Lugt).

Sky Sports have also backed these reports that interest in Romero from Atlético is there, so the prospect of him departing N17 is seemingly looking more and more possible by the day.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Chelsea (away)

April 3rd

Southampton (home)

April 6th

Wolves (away)

April 13th

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

Tottenham are out of both domestic cups and sitting 14th in the Premier League table after 15 top-flight defeats, with a good run in the Europa League coming as their only chance to win silverware and qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Atlético undoubtedly provides the pull of regular European football and the chance to compete for major honours, and the same can certainly be said of their cross-city rivals, with Real Madrid also considering a summer move for Romero.

The former Atalanta star’s exit would be a blow for manager Ange Postecoglou, if he is even in the job by next season, but Romero isn’t the only Spurs player attracting real interest heading into an important summer window.

Tottenham open to selling Richarlison as three clubs plan bid

Injury-ridden striker Richarlison is among the players who could quit Tottenham with Romero, according to journalist Jorge Nicola.

As per the reporter, speaking on his YouTube channel, rumours are surrounding Brazilian Serie A trio Palmeiras, Fluminense and Flamengo are all plotting a bid for Richarlison, who cost Levy £60 million to sign from Everton in 2022.

However, the cost of an operation could prohibit these sides from moving, even if Nicola states that Tottenham are considering the permanent sale of Richarlison from July.

“In the last few hours, speculation has been that Palmeiras, Fluminense and Flamengo are preparing a proposal to buy the player in the middle of the year,” said Nicola.

“The big news on this subject is that Tottenham, very bothered by the center forward’s series of injuries, is considering negotiating him permanently starting in July.

“I can rule out Palmeiras being interested in Richarlison. When Verdão spends 155 million reais to buy Vitor Roque, they stop looking for the player,” he added.

“Even if Tottenham admits a loss and loses, for example €18m, Richardson would still cost €40m. This number is completely out of line with the reality of any football club in Brazil, not to mention Pombo’s salary. Richarlison earns around R$3,900,000 at Tottenham, much higher than the salary of any active player in the country.”

The 27-year-old, called “underrated” by pundit Micah Richards, enjoyed a terrific purple patch of goalscoring form under Postecoglou midway through last season. However, fitness issues have caused him to miss the vast majority of 2024/2025.

After a frustrating campaign, don’t be surprised to see Richarlison follow Romero out the door.

da 888casino： Joining the race against Aston Villa to sign a young goalkeeper target, Newcastle United and PIF have reportedly sent their scouts on a fresh mission in pursuit of beating the Villans in the transfer market.

Newcastle receive Champions League boost

da casino： As if Newcastle’s recent mood couldn’t get any better, they received further good news courtesy of Arsenal this week. The Gunners swept past Real Madrid in ruthless fashion to put one leg in the Champions League semi-finals and confirm that there will be a fifth spot among Europe’s elite up for grabs in the Premier League. Currently sat in that final fifth place, those at St James’ Park will be delighted.

One point above Manchester City with a game in hand, Newcastle look unlikely to relinquish their place as things stand having eased past Leicester City in dominant fashion last time out.

After watching on as his side extended their recent run to four wins on the bounce, manager Eddie Howe gave his verdict on the race to secure Champions League football, telling reporters: “It’s going to hot up. The next week for us is a big week.

“We have three really tough games and that will go a long way in seeing where we are at the end of the season. We are in a better position than we were but there is still a lot of work to do.”

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The Magpies boss won’t need reminding just how important a place among Europe’s elite could be for Newcastle this summer either, especially as rumours continue to surround star man Alexander Isak.

Both Liverpool and Arsenal have taken a reported interest in the Swede, but Champions League football could yet go a long way for Newcastle in pursuit of avoiding a frustrating exit. At the same time, meanwhile, European contention would also hand them a major boost in search of reinforcements.

Newcastle scouts sent on Berke Ozer mission

One position of concern for Newcastle this season has been in between the sticks, with Nick Pope suffering further injury issues and Martin Dubravka not doing enough to take the No.1 shirt on a permanent basis. Given that both are now in their 30s too, it wouldn’t be absurd to suggest that Howe needs a fresh option in goal. And that’s where one particular target could come in.

According to Ajansspor, as relayed by Sports Witness, PIF have now sent Newcastle scouts to watch Berke Ozer in action on Monday as his Eyupspor side take on Adana Demispor.

The Magpies are reportedly racing against Aston Villa in pursuit of securing the goalkeeper’s signature this summer and may yet receive the positive reviews they’re searching for on Monday night.

With 11 clean sheets to his name in all competitions so far this season, Ozer has kept a better record than Newcastle No.1 Pope and could yet find himself on his way to St James’ Park to take his place in Howe’s strongest side. Earning a reported £276k-a-year, the goalkeeper is certainly affordable and ticks plenty of boxes for Newcastle.