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The writing appeared to be on the wall for Erik ten Hag during that summer of 2024, even after Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co had afforded him a stay of execution, with Manchester United’s transfer business not exactly pointing to joined-up thinking.

Of course, there was yet another raft of Dutch or Ajax-linked arrivals that summer, be it Noussair Mazraoui, Joshua Zirkzee and Matthijs de Ligt, although it appeared evident that not every move was led or influenced by the manager.

Indeed, the decision to swap out Scott McTominay for Manuel Ugarte appeared to be at odds with Ten Hag, with the FA Cup-winning coach later admitting that he “didn’t want” to sell the Scotland star, albeit with the decision likely influenced by the need to meet PSR regulations.

Whether the 55-year-old was happy with that exit or not, he certainly didn’t appear over anamoured with McTominay’s replacement, with Ugarte starting just a solitary Premier League game under his watch, before the manager was sacked in late October.

The Uruguayan would have been delighted with that change in the dugout and the arrival of his former Sporting CP boss Ruben Amorim, although just over a year later, his place at Old Trafford already appears under threat.

Man Utd make contact to sign dream Ugarte replacement

Such is the nature of United’s squad right now, amid a string of injury and AFCON absentees, departures are likely to be limited, even for those on the periphery under Amorim.

That said, with Turkish giants Galatasaray seemingly pushing to sign Ugarte this month, INEOS should no doubt consider cashing in, even with both Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo sidelined.

The 24-year-old, who has started just five Premier League games all season, seemingly isn’t United’s long-term midfield solution, with a genuine upgrade needed before the window closes.

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That perfect replacement could well emerge in the form of Atalanta’s Ederson, with TEAMtalk reporting that talks have already been held – on behalf of intermediaries – to gauge whether a move would be possible for INEOS this month.

As per the report, the Brazilian is a long-term target, with United ready to pounce should he be available for a reduced price in the winter window.

There is a suggestion that the 25-year-old could be on the market for below €40m (£35m), and if that is to be the case, the Red Devils would be ready to strike.

Why Ederson would be the perfect Ugarte upgrade

Much like it looked to be the beginning of the end for Ten Hag in 2024, the same was arguably true of Ugarte this summer, with the former Paris Saint-Germain man having been an unused substitute for the Europa League final defeat in May.

Subsequently given a dressing down by Amorim at Carrington, the defensive-minded midfielder has been bypassed by the ageing Casemiro this season, while failing to truly capitalise on the injury woes of Mainoo and Fernandes of late.

Indeed, United’s South American duo were particularly poor against Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out, while Ugarte was especially off the pace in the loss at Villa Park not too long ago.

An upgrade is then just what Amorim is in need of, and Ederson could represent the perfect pick, having been hailed as a “monster” by journalist Ryan Taylor.

Part of the Atalanta side that swept to Europa League glory in 2024, the 26-year-old is a real all-round midfield asset, notably ranking in the top 14% of Serie A midfielders last season for interceptions per 90, as per FBref, while also ranking in the top 11% for progressive passes per 90.

For comparison, Ugarte did rank in the top 6% for tackles in the Premier League in 2024/25, highlighting his ball-winning prowess, although it is the other side of his game that is distinctly lacking, having ranked in just the bottom 18% for progressive carries.

It has, unfortunately, become a familiar sight seeing the United struggler turning into trouble or seeking the safe option when in possession, while his long ball accuracy is particularly erratic.

Ederson vs Ugarte – 25/26 League stats

Stat (*per game)

Ederson

Ugarte

Games (starts)

13 (12)

13 (5)

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

0

Key passes*

0.6

0.2

Pass accuracy*

91%

84%

Long ball pass accuracy*

73%

47%

Pass accuracy (opp. half)*

89%

82%

Tackles & Interceptions*

2.9

3.0

Total duels won*

50%

53%

Stats via Sofascore

As can be seen above, Ederson outstrips his midfield counterpart across key passing metrics in 2025/26 again, while there is little difference in their defensive contributions, with regard to tackles, interceptions and total duels won.

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In essence, the £35m man has the same relentless work ethic as his fellow South American, but while also possessing quality on the ball too, providing Amorim with the best of both worlds in the centre of the park.

With INEOS having chased different priorities over the summer, it would almost be an act of negligence not to strengthen the midfield this month.

Related Their own Declan Rice: Man Utd hold talks over signing CM "machine"

Manchester United could finally secure a midfield upgrade this month.

Posts ByJoe Nuttall

Ricardo Powell

Ricardo Powell the young West Indian batsman is turning out for Hampshire 2nd XI this week, in the Championship match v Essex at the Hampshire Rose Bowl (Nursery Ground) this week. The match is a four day contest, starting Tuesday 6th June.Powell who is playing League cricket in the North is short of match practise, and under Michael Holding’s recommendation turns out for the County.Tim Tremlett, Hampshire’s Director of Cricket is happy to give him the opportunity. “With a few of our Academy players taking exams at this time of the year, and the University members of the staff still unavailable, our resourses were stretched.”Details of this match and all 2nd XI cricket played throughout the season can be seen on the Hampshire Web Site.

Kyogo Furhashi’s return to action will ‘rattle’ Celtic’s title rivals Rangers, Frank McAvennie has claimed. 

The lowdown

Furuhashi sustained a hamstring injury in a Europa League group stage game against Real Betis in December and then aggravated it against St Johnstone on Boxing Day.

The 27-year-old has been out of action since, though The Athletic’s Kieran Devlin did reveal on Monday that he had resumed running at Celtic’s Lennoxtown training facility.

Devlin previously wrote that Furuhashi may be back ‘scampering about in the jersey’ after the international break, and he may be on schedule.

The Hoops are due to face the Gers twice in the space of a fortnight when the season resumes.

They travel to Ibrox on Sunday, 3 April before locking horns with Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side once again in the Scottish Cup semifinal at Hampden Park on 17 April.

The latest

McAvennie says it will be a ‘brilliant’ boost for Ange Postecogolou when Furuhashi is available again.

And he thinks Rangers will be nervous about the impact the Japanese forward will have, particularly against their ‘far from solid’ defence.

“It still looks like he will be back for these games against Rangers and that is brilliant for us,” he told Football Insider.

“Just having him there will rattle Rangers a bit. They will know he’s ready, waiting on the bench for his moment.

“That will be a massive blow to that team because their defence has been far from solid recently.”

The verdict

In quotes that will offer further encouragement, the player himself told Celtic supporters this week that he was feeling ‘very good’ and would be back in action ‘soon’.

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Furuhashi is the team’s top scorer with 13 goals even though he hasn’t kicked a ball in 2022, so his impact on the side is clearly massive.

If indeed he is able to feature in some capacity against Rangers, he’ll be hoping to make amends for his miss at Ibrox in August. Furuhashi was set through one-on-one with Gers keeper Robbie McCrorie but spurned his chance to equalise, and Rangers eventually won the match 1-0.

In other news, Paddy Kenny reacts as Celtic injury update emerges.

Scorecard

	Bermuda were bowled out for a paltry 13 © ICC

Bermuda’s women carved an unwanted niche in the international record books with one of the most abject performances in the game’s history. In their opening match of the World Cup Qualifiers at Stellenbosch University, they were bowled out for 13 and then South Africa took only four balls to sweep to a ten-wicket win.Bermuda’s men haven’t made much of a positive impact in the game either – eleven months ago, they conceded 413 for 5 against India in the World Cup and lost by 257 runs, the biggest margin in one-day history. But their women have just lowered the bar by several notches.They crawled to 7 for 2 after ten overs, but that represented the high-water mark. By the time drinks were taken after 15.5 overs they were 13 for 7 and had lost their 42-year-old captain, Linda Mienzer, for a determined 1 off 48 deliveries. Such was the confusion that when play resumed the batsmen returned to the wrong ends.The last three wickets failed to add to the score as Sunette Loubser finished with 6 for 3, including 5 for 1 in 12 balls.Terry-Lynn Paynter opened Bermuda’s attack but struggled to find the cut strip, conceding nine wides and a no-ball. Olivia Anderson did manage to reach one, which she dispatched for four.The statistics of the match are mindboggling. Eight Bermudans failed to get off the mark, and the three that did only managed a single each. Ten of the runs that helped make up their meagre score were extras – 71%. South Africa’s score of 15 for 0 was also made up of ten extras – nine wides and a no-ball. Anderson scored 50% of the runs scored off the bat in the match, and 80% of her side’s runs.Unfortunately for South Africa, but mercifully for the record-books, Bermuda’s debacle does not count towards the official statistics because they are ranked outside the world’s top ten countries. “I am disappointed that today’s stats don’t count for nothing,” said Loubser, “but I would say it was a team effort to win the opening match of the tournament.Bermuda’s captain, Mienzer, tried desperately to put a positive gloss on the performance. “I am extremely proud and our team is very proud to be here,” she said. “Just a year and a half ago there was no women’s programme so we went to Canada and qualified to come here which is an achievement in itself. In terms of women’s cricket in Bermuda, it has come a long way but we still have a long way to go.”South Africa’s next match is against equally unheralded opponents, Papua New Guinea, on Tuesday. “We are taking one match at a time and we are happy that we are off to a good start,” said Loubser. “It should augur well for the whole tournament. We don’t know anything about our next opponents, but that doesn’t mean we should rest on our laurels. We should be ready for anything.”

The Logan Cup, Zimbabwe’s first-class competition, is due to get underway on Thursday (April 12) but such in the chaos inside the country that not only has Zimbabwe Cricket been unable to publish any fixtures, it has yet to actually confirm who is taking part.The 2005-06 tournament was scrapped by the board – although no official announcement was made for months – amid widespread rumours that standards in the Faithwear Cup, the one-day competition which preceded the scheduled start of the Logan Cup, were so poor that the first-class games would be open to ridicule.For some time ZC claimed that it had not been cancelled, merely that the board has decided to change the dates of the first-class season. Few believed that, and the 2005-06 event was quietly allowed to die.The 2006-07 competition was supposed to herald a new start, with the abolition of the old provinces and the creation of new ones to take their place. But less than 48 hours before the opening matches were due to begin, it was apparent that nobody knew what was going on. Repeated requests for fixtures produced nothing, and ZC’s own website had no information either.On Tuesday, Chris Chiketa, ZC’s cricket operations manager, issued a statement in which he spoke of foreign players being brought in, in what would be a welcome bid to improve standards. “Kenya has shown a keen interest to be part of the proceedings,” he said, “and we hope they will make it for the second week of the tournament as they are still re-grouping after taking part in the World Cup in the West Indies.”Cricinfo spoke to Cricket Kenya and a source said that the invitation to send the Kenyan national side had come last week. He added that it would not be possible to send the full side as several players had club commitments in England, but it was still possible that an A team could travel to participate. Negotiations are said to be ongoing, but it seems bizarre that a competition can start without a full list of participants being known. On Tuesday, the ZC website referred to Pakistani cricketers being lined-up to play, but by Wednesday that reference had been removed.As a further indication of the shambles blighting Zimbabwe cricket, scorecards from the Faithwear Cup, which took place a fortnight ago, have yet to be provided to the media.

Three of the four bidders for the lucrative global television rights for 25 offshore ODIs to be played by India over the next five years have complained to the Indian board against irregularities in the tender process.Nimbus, ESPN-Star Sports and Zee Sports have alleged that Sahara’s tender was accepted by the board despite the bid being delivered after the 11 am (IST) deadline on Wednesday, which clearly violated the guidelines. They further alleged that the bid was not delivered in a sealed envelope as the rules stipulate.Nimbus and Zee Sports immediately sent out letters to the BCCI while ESPN-Star indicated that they reserved the right to take action if necessary. Meanwhile, Lalit Modi, the board’s vice-president, dismissed their claim and maintained that the bidding process was done in all fairness. “Sahara had deposited the money of five million dollars yesterday itself and its representatives were waiting at the reception whereas the other bidders had gathered in the boardroom,” he was quoted as saying by the .Himanshu Mody, the business head of Zee Sports, in his letter wrote, “We believe that the new BCCI administration has conducted the earlier tender process with complete transparency and fairness. There have been instances in the past, where companies have been disqualified on technical grounds. Keeping these facts in mind, we trust in all fairness, the Sahara financial bid should not be considered. We are hopeful the BCCI will take a fair decision on this occasion as well.”The BCCI is expected to announce the results of the bidding at Mumbai on Thursday. They have also fixed a reserve price of US $5 million per match and the bid is likely to fetch a minimum of $100 million.In his letter to the board, K Digvijay Singh, Nimbus’ CEO, said, “In line with the strict and uniform concurrence to BCCI policy, Sahara’s technical non-compliance with Clause 10 (b) of the Invitation To Tender (ITT) should render their bid subject to rejection according to the BCCI’s strict policies.”It may be noted that Nimbus has a positive working relationship with Sahara. Nevertheless, in the interests of equity and a constant policy that the present BCCI committee have taken pains to exemplify, we respectfully maintain that the Sahara bid should not be permitted to qualify herein.”The offshore television rights include the two India-Pakistan matches to be played in Abu Dhabi on April 18 and 19.

The West Indies Cricket Board has denied holding any discussions over the contracts issue with the players in the absence of the West Indies Players’ Association. The denial comes in the wake of allegations by Dinanath Ramnarine, the president and chief executive of the players’ association, claiming that the board acted in “bad faith” and went against “good industrial relations practice”.Roger Brathwaite, the chief executive of the WICB, who met with the players along with Tony Howard, the team manager, was quoted as saying in The Trinidad Express, “… as any responsible employer, the board thought it fit to let the players know about matters which affect their interests. With the Digicel home series ended, we took the opportunity to speak with them briefly as a group before they departed for their respective homes.”I told him [Ramnarine] that I took the opportunity to inform the players that the WICB has been trying without success to meet with WIPA since the start of the Digicel home series, but this had not proved possible.”Braithwaite further mentioned that the contract for next month’s series in Sri Lanka had been forwarded to WIPA, and hoped that a swift agreement could be reached on the terms and conditions for that tour. West Indies are scheduled to play two Tests followed by a triangular one-day tournament, also involving India.

India 211 for 3 (Sehwag 90, Tendulkar 44) beat Zimbabwe 208 for 6 (Streak 59*) by 7 wickets with 12.2 overs to spare
Scorecard

Heath Streak top-scored for the second match in a row for Zimbabwe © Getty Images

The third match of the VB Series, at Hobart, resulted in a comprehensive win for India, after yet another worrying top-order collapse prevented Zimbabwe from reaching a competitive total. Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar put on their second century stand of the series as India achieved the 209-run target with 12.2 overs to spare to take home a bonus point as well. Heath Streak top-scored for Zimbabwe with an unbeaten 59 and troubled the Indian openers early on, but was let down by most of his team-mates.India’s opening pair initially approached batting with caution. Having done that, Tendulkar got into his groove and split the field with languid ease, bringing out a range of strokes that had gathered cobwebs during the Test series. The cut over point, the expansive drives, and a loft over mid-off were all on display. At the other end, Sehwag, who had lost his touch temporarily, found his variety of strokes again, much to the bowlers’ chagrin.After surviving when Tatenda Taibu put down a difficult chance, Sehwag rubbed in the mistake that very over, picking a delivery from Sean Ervine and putting it into the stands at midwicket. Sehwag brought his wrists into play often, pulling balls from outside off stump to midwicket, and standing high and punching through cover. And when Raymond Price bowled to him, spectators at midwicket were under constant threat.But Price wasn’t exactly powerless. He nearly had Tendulkar caught at cover, but for a straightforward chance being put down by Streak. Tendulkar’s masterclass ended the next over, when he played down the wrong line and was bowled by Ervine for 44 (129 for 1). After missing out on Tendulkar’s wicket, Price had his sights set on Sehwag (90), who played one shot too many, and spooned a catch to cover (158 for 2). Hemang Badani (15) made a minimal contribution, before playing an expansive drive and nicking a ball to Taibu (172 for 3). Sourav Ganguly then came out to score 32 of the 37 runs India needed, and took the team home by seven wickets.Earlier, though Streak held firm at one end, he needed support. It came in the form of Ervine, who smashed an unbeaten 48 off just 33 balls. Both batsmen took their chances, and raised a rambunctious 93-run partnership off only 72 balls. They ran hard, hit harder, and India’s bowlers, who had given a good account of themselves so far, didn’t know what to do. Anil Kumble bowled eight overs for 19, but then ran into Ervine, who hit a six over cover, and helped himself to 19 more off Kumble’s last two overs. Ajit Agarkar’s last over was taken apart for 20, after the first seven had gone for 19. A spectacular six over long-on preceded an even grander hit out of the ground over midwicket. Later that over, Streak flayed one to deep extra cover to reach his fifty. It was the kind of batting display that made you forget the bad start, until India put the target in perspective.India’s bowlers choked the runs and took wickets at regular intervals to keep Zimbabwe on the mat. The openers played watchfully for three overs, before Vusi Sibanda ran for a single that might have been on if Inzamam had been the fielder. Instead, Yuvraj Singh, at point, dived, stopped, and flung the ball to the bowler’s end, and Sibanda (12) was found short of his crease (14 for 1).Stuart Matsikenyeri played tentatively throughout his stay and scored 9 before attempting a full-blooded whack off Irfan Pathan to the leg side, only to loop it up gently for Badani to take a simple catch at cover (36 for 2).Shortly after, Kumble slipped a googly through Mark Vermeulen (2), bringing an end to a scratchy 24-ball innings (48 for 3). The next three batsmen got themselves out: Stuart Carlisle (37) played across the line to a straight one from Sehwag, Grant Flower (15) patted a ball back to the bowler, and Taibu somehow converted a full-length delivery from Badani into a yorker (114 for 6). It was at this stage that Ervine walked out to join Streak, and show the top order how things should be done. But it wasn’t enough, as India bludgeoned their way to victory, turning the three-team series more and more into a two-horse race.

SYDNEY, Dec 15 AAP – Australia A centurion Jimmy Maher has urged Ricky Ponting’s senior side to remember Sri Lanka remain a threat despite the tourists’ heavy defeat at the Gabba last night.Maher, who has enjoyed a prolific season against the touring teams, added a 106 to the twin double-centuries he scored against England as Australia A racked up 8-312.Sri Lanka’s reply stuttered early and died as Sanath Jayasuriya’s side lost its opening tour match by 102 runs.But fewer than three months ago, it was Australia that was on the receiving end, slumping to a seven wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy.And Maher has warned they remain a threat, particularly in the latter stages of the triangular tournament – that also involves England – when off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan is expected to return from injury.”They will be a threat. On wickets like Adelaide and Sydney that turn a bit more, and certainly in Melbourne, I think they can be very competitive,” he said.”When Murali comes back in their side, (Aravinda) De Silva, Chaminda Vaas – you’ve got to remember the last time we played them in the Premadasa Stadium in Sri Lanka they comprehensively beat us.”They are a good cricket side and you never underestimate a Sri Lankan one-day side, with the likes of (Sanath) Jayasuriya, (Marvan) Atapattu and (Romesh) Kaluwitharana – they are all exciting players, hit the ball very hard and to all parts of the ground.”If they get away to a good start in a couple of games it’ll be very tough.”Complacency is not something Australia have been guilty of in the past and despite predictions of another unbeaten summer, Maher insists ponting will not allow any let-up in intensity.”You can never walk out and think it’s all going to happen. Obviously Australia are a fantastic unit, playing very good cricket, but on their day both these sides (Sri Lanka and England) could cause some problems.”I don’t think its going to be a walkover like everyone says. Sri Lanka have generally been a very good one-day outfit”.

CARDIFF, Wales – Shrugging and rolling his eyes, Steve Waugh admits he doesnot have the faintest idea how Australia will perform in the one-dayinternational against Pakistan tomorrow.Australia is vulnerable after losing to Middlesex and snatching a tie fromrun-of-the-mill Northamptonshire this week while Pakistan is flying highfollowing Test and limited-over triumphs over England.Damien Martyn, Mark Waugh, Ricky Ponting and Ian Harvey are in good touchbut most of the tourists are still short of a gallop because of an extendedbreak between the Indian and England tours.A three-and-half-hour drive from Northampton to Cardiff last night was anuisance and Nathan Bracken (shoulder), Damien Fleming (calf) and Ponting(hip) are carrying niggling injuries.All Waugh could do was hope that playing by memory would be enough to gethis World Cup-winning side through against Pakistan in a game which startshere at 8pm (AEST).The Aussies then play England at Bristol on Sunday.”I’ve got to say our form’s been scratchy so far,” he said ahead ofAustralia’s back-to-back introduction to the tri-series.”It hasn’t been an easy preparation – we had to have some time off cricketand away from the game, which everyone needed really badly – but thedownside of that was that when we got back on tour we didn’t have much timeto get it right.”I must admit we’re going into our first game a fraction apprehensive.”We’re relying on what we’ve done before to get us there – our knowledge andexperience and know-how and obviously our talent – but we haven’t spent alot of time in the middle.”Vice-captain Adam Gilchrist was more upbeat, saying little should be readinto the Middlesex and Northants results because the team’s trademarksharpness and enthusiasm would return when needed.”We’re happy, settling in well, it’s very exciting now the real games arestarting – the competition games where the points are up for grabs,” hesaid.”The guys are very pumped up.”The Pakistan match should be a cracker and early psychological points forthe Ashes are up for grabs at Bristol.England’s batsmen crumbled twice to Pakistan this week and Australianpacemen Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie will be intent on kicking themwhile they’re down.Waugh rejected a suggestion that watching England crash and burn ontelevision would have given him great pleasure, but he did not soundthoroughly convincing.”It’s hard to be too harsh because they could say the same about the lasttwo Tests that we’ve lost to India,” he said.”We’ve collapsed under pressure as well.”Pakistan were always a chance if they could get one or two wickets becausethey have bowlers who can take wickets with reverse swing and all that sortof stuff.”I wouldn’t like to say the old signs were there because I think any sideput under that pressure on the last day is going to struggle to come up withthe goods.”Damien Martyn’s untouchable form – 108 against Worcester and 101 not outagainst Northampton – is tempting Waugh to leave him as an opener, where heaverages 232.5 in six starts for Australia.A possible XI to play Pakistan is: Stephen Waugh (c), Adam Gilchrist (vc),Mark Waugh, Damien Martyn, Ricky Ponting, Michael Bevan, Matthew Hayden, IanHarvey, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Glenn McGrath.Changes will be made against England under the Australian system of rotatingplayers in one-day tournaments to ease the workload on each individual.”I don’t like the word rotation – I’ve got to think of another word,” saidWaugh who, as an author, should be able to come up with one soon.