da betsson： Manchester United’s forward line has been massively underwhelming throughout 2024/25, undoubtedly contributing to their lowly Premier League standing.

da bet vitoria： The Red Devils have only registered 42 goals in their 37 league outings to date, an average of just 1.1 per 90, highlighting the need for investment in such a department over the summer.

Ruben Amorim will want to make key changes to his squad during the off-season to try and right the wrongs of the current campaign and be a success at Old Trafford.

With the summer window right around the corner, work has already been done by the hierarchy to back the manager and hand him the tools he requires to change the fortunes at the club.

However, it’s crucial that the manager makes the right additions to the squad, with quality over quantity needed if they are to return to their former glory in the near future.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Viktor Gyokeres has been a constant target for United over the last couple of months after Amorim’s arrival, understandably so given their time together at Sporting CP.

The Swede has registered 53 goals in 51 games throughout the current campaign, leading to rumours of a £60m switch to Old Trafford, with Arsenal also in the race for his signature.

However, the club have targeted alternatives over the last couple of weeks, leading to further links with Ipswich Town forward Liam Delap, according to journalist Laurie Whitwell.

His report states that the Red Devils are set to hold face-to-face talks with the striker over a move to the club after his impressive debut Premier League campaign, which has seen him net 12 times in 36 outings.

It also claims that Amorim’s side are leading the race for his signature and are willing to trigger the £30m release clause that has become active after the Tractor Boys’ relegation was confirmed.

Why United’s £30m target could be their next Rooney

Wayne Rooney will forever be a club icon at United, given their success he endured at the club over a sustained spell, breaking a whole host of impressive records.

The Englishman joined the Red Devils in a £30m deal from Everton back in 2004, with little to no fans expecting the forward to have the impact he did at Old Trafford.

He registered a staggering 253 goals in his 559 appearances, the most of any player in the club’s history, highlighting the impact he made during his spell in the North West.

Rooney also won 12 major honours during his spell at the club, including five league triumphs, something which now appears to be a distant memory given the recent slump at the Theatre of Dreams.

However, this summer, Amorim could land his own version of Rooney in a deal for Delap, following suit by joining for £30m from a smaller Premier League outfit.

The comparisons could also be made with their respective playstyles, with the Ipswich star having similar ball-striking abilities and a battering ram-like presence in forward areas.

His stats from this campaign are evidence of how much of an impressive addition he would be for the Red Devils, offering a cheaper alternative to a deal for Gyokeres.

Most goals scored by U23 STs in Europe’s top-five leagues (2024/25)

Player

Club

Games

Goals

Arnaud Kalimuendo

Stade Rennais

33

17

Hugo Ekitiké

Eintracht Frankfurt

33

15

Emanuel Emegha

Strasbourg

27

14

Benjamin Sesko

RB Leipzig

33

13

Mika Biereth

Monaco

16

13

Liam Delap

Ipswich Town

36

12

Thierno Barry

Villarreal

34

11

Joao Pedro

Brighton

27

10

Stats via Transfermarkt

Delap, who’s been labelled “phenomenal” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, has completed 1.4 take-ons per 90, along with 1.6 carries into the final third – offering the side a needed all-round presence in attacking areas.

He’s also won 1.9 aerials per 90, along with a 45% shot-on-target accuracy, handing the side the added aerial and clinical threat they’ve been lacking throughout 2024/25.

His £30m clause could prove to be a potential bargain should Amorim sign him this summer, offering a cheaper but just as impressive option in attacking areas.

Should he get anywhere near the levels produced by Rooney at Old Trafford, it would be a sensational piece of business and one that could push the side back towards their former glory.

Related The new Van Nistelrooy: Man Utd make approach for £55m Delap alternative

Man Utd are desperate to sign a new centre-forward this summer, with Liam Delap just one target to have emerged.

Posts ByRobbie Walls May 20, 2025

علق مصطفى محمد لاعب منتخب مصر الأول، على تأهل الفراعنة إلى نهائيات كأس العالم 2026، بعد الفوز على حساب جيبوتي في المباراة التي جمعت بينهما اليوم.

وحقق منتخب مصر الفوز على جيبوتي، بثلاثة أهداف دون رد، في المباراة التي أقيمت بالجولة التاسعة من عمر تصفيات كأس العالم.

وبهذا الفوز، حسم منتخب مصر، التأهل بشكل رسمي إلى نهائيات كأس العالم، المقرر إقامته العام المقبل في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية وكندا والمكسيك.

طالع | نانت يحتفل بـ مصطفى محمد بعد تأهل منتخب مصر لنهائيات كأس العالم

وقال مصطفى محمد في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “الحمد لله فضل ونعمة مع اللاعبين الرجال، نستحق أن نصل لكأس العالم، إن شاء الله بعد ذلك يكون هذا الطبيعي للمنتخب”.

وأكمل: “نحن طموحنا الآن ليس التأهل لكأس العالم ولكن تقديم شيء مستحق هناك، ونحن لدينا طموح بالوصول لأبعد مرحلة في كأس العالم ونتوج بكأس أمم إفريقيا”.

وواصل: “شرف لأي لاعب أن يرتدي قميص منتخب مصر، وأنا أعطي 100% من مجهودي، نريد الطموح يكبر معانا من الشعب المصري، الفرحة الأكبر أن نصل لمرحلة بعيدة في كأس العالم”.

وأتم: “في كأس الأمم سنبذل قصارى جهدنا، والطبيعي أن نصل لأبعد مرحلة ونحارب حتى النهاية، وأقول لجماهير الكرة المصرية كلنا نتمنى أن نفرحكم دايمًا، ويلا نشجع مصر في كأس العالم”.

David Beckham had a special message for Fernando Torres as the Liverpool legend linked up with Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi and reunited with Luis Suarez and Javier Mascherano during his visit to Florida. The former Spanish striker dropped in at the Herons' training facility for a rendezvous with his old friends.

Torres visited Inter Miami's facilitiesHad a chat with Messi and BeckhamThe ex-England skipper was excited to meet El NinoFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?

Torres received a warm reception during his recent visit to the United States, where he reconnected with several familiar faces from his playing days. The club's co-owner, Beckham, was also present to greet him, creating a moment that encapsulated the deep camaraderie shared among a generation of legends.

AdvertisementWHAT BECKHAM SAID

Beckham marked the occasion with a heartfelt Instagram post dedicated to the Spanish icon. “Welcome to Miami, El Nino,” Beckham captioned a series of images showing Torres with Messi and Sergio Busquets at the club’s headquarters.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

During his club career, Torres enjoyed immense popularity at Liverpool, where his goals and charisma made him a fan favourite. Although his time at Chelsea didn’t quite replicate that success in terms of individual performances, he still added significant silverware to his resume, including a Champions League and FA Cup double in the 2011-12 season, followed by a Europa League title in 2012-13.

Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT FOR INTER MIAMI?

Inter Miami are preparing for back-to-back road fixtures as they take on FC Cincinnati on Wednesday night. After that, a challenging away clash against the New York Red Bulls awaits them on Saturday in New Jersey.

What could have been a bleak summer transfer window now looks like it could be an incredible one for Tottenham Hotspur.

Thanks to their heroic efforts in the Europa League final last week, Ange Postecoglou’s side have a Champions League campaign to look forward to next season.

Moreover, competing at the top table of European football should allow them to attract more exciting players to bolster the squad.

In fact, if recent reports are to be believed, the club are already eyeing up a forward who’s an ideal upgrade on Mathys Tel or replacement, should the Frenchman not be signed on a permanent deal this summer.

Spurs transfer news

The last few weeks have seen Spurs linked with a multitude of brilliant attacking players, such as Jamie Gittens and Daizen Maeda.

Transfer Focus

The former is supposedly available for around £59m and has enjoyed a relatively successful season with Borussia Dortmund this year, scoring 12 goals and providing five assists in 48 games.

Maeda has been even more effective north of the border, scoring 33 goals and providing 12 assists in 51 games for Celtic, and could be available for just £25m.

However, it looks like Daniel Levy and Co could be shopping closer to home for a new attacker this summer.

According to a recent report from Spain, Spurs are now incredibly interested in Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku.

The report claims that the Frenchman’s departure from Stamford Bridge is ‘virtually assured’ and that the North Londoners are now prepared to negotiate a loan deal with an option to buy at €45m, which is just £38m.

It might not be the most popular transfer right away, but Nkunku was a force of nature at RB Leipzig, and if he were able to recreate some of that form in N17, he could be a perfect upgrade or replacement for Tel depending on where his future lies.

How Nkunku compares to Tel

So, the first thing to say is that, like Tel, the Chelsea ace is someone who can and often does play all across the frontline, so should Levy and Co not sign the Bayern loanee on a permanent deal this summer, he could come in to fulfil the same role, or compete with him if he does join.

With that said, which attacker comes out on top when we compare their output from this season?

Well, this is an area in which the former RB Leipzig star comes out miles ahead, as in 42 appearances, totalling 2039 minutes, he has scored 14 goals and provided five assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 2.21 games, or every 107.31 minutes.

In contrast, the Sarcelles-born Lilywhites ace has scored just three goals and provided two assists in 34 appearances, totalling 1714 minutes, across both his teams this season, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 6.8 games, or every 342.8 minutes.

What about their underlying numbers, then? Who comes out looking better when we take a look under the hood?

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.66

0.44

Non-Penalty G+As

0.69

0.21

Progressive Passes

3.18

2.52

Progressive Carries

1.97

2.76

Shots

2.53

2.57

Shots on Target

1.33

0.84

Passing Accuracy

88.6%

75.5%

Key Passes

1.27

1.17

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.21

1.41

Passes into the Final Third

2.49

1.17

Shot-Creating Actions

3.24

2.33

Goal-Creating Actions

0.58

0.25

Unfortunately for Postecoglou’s January addition, it’s the Blues’ “unstoppable” dynamo, as dubbed by European football expert Zach Lowy, who once again emerges victorious.

For example, he comes out on top in the majority of relevant metrics, including but not limited to expected and actual non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, shots on target, shot and goal-creating actions, passes into the final third, key passes and more, all per 90.

Ultimately, Tel is still a talented footballer, but Nkunku has the better raw output and underlying numbers while being just as versatile, so should Levy and Co regardless of whether they decide to activate the option in the 20-year-old’s loan deal; they should also be looking to bring the Chelsea ace to N17.

Only 2 passes made: Levy must ensure Spurs dud never wears the shirt again

Europa League winners Tottenham were trounced by Brighton to finish their Premier League campaign.

ByAngus Sinclair May 26, 2025

England coach says team must block out outside noise and focus on two crucial points

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jun-2024Matthew Mott, England’s head coach, says he hopes that Josh Hazlewood was joking about the prospect of Australia manipulating an early exit for the T20 World Cup defending champions, but admits his team can do little else but focus on victory against Oman on Thursday and hope the ongoing debate about run-rate calculations ends up falling in their favour.England were a distant second-best to Australia in their meeting in Barbados last week, and having endured a washed-out opening fixture against Scotland – who have since won two from two – they are no longer in control of their destiny in Group B, a situation which echoes their tame and early exit from the 50-over World Cup in India before Christmas.Even England’s own back-to-back victories over Oman and Namibia may not be sufficient to overturn their sizeable NRR deficit to the Scots – a point which Hazlewood highlighted when he suggested that Australia could be tempted to “knock it around and drag it out” when they themselves face Scotland in Group B’s final match in Antigua on Sunday.Such a tactic would echo Steve Waugh’s infamous go-slow against West Indies at the 1999 World Cup – when the target for elimination on that occasion had been New Zealand – but it would come with the risk of a two-match ban for their current captain, Mitchell Marsh, if Australia were deemed by the umpires to have contravened Article 2.11 of the ICC’s code of conduct, which pertains to the “inappropriate strategic or tactical” manipulation of matches.But Mott, who coached Hazlewood during his time at New South Wales, played down the comments as an example of his “tongue-in-cheek” sense of humour.”I think I know Josh pretty well and I know his integrity,” Mott said. “He has got a very good sense of humour and I am hoping it was very much tongue-in-cheek. I actually don’t think it is ever going to play out. Having grown up in Australia, and the will to win every game, I am sure they will come to the fore. I am very much hoping it was an offhand remark by a really good bloke who is having fun.”Either way, the potential for a run-rate rumpus is the sort of distraction that England could do without, given their lack of fluency in the tournament to date. Even before the Scotland match was abandoned, they had been notably off the pace with the ball in conceding 90 wicketless runs in ten overs, and the pressure to perform to the standard expected of defending champions is ramping up again, especially in light of their grim display in their 50-over defence last year.Related

Michael Jones: 'If David Warner opens the bowling it'd be pretty funny'

Rashid: 'Things change quickly… we have the mindset of champions'

Jos Buttler: England must 'earn the right' to worry about net run-rate

Marsh could face ban if Australia manipulate Scotland result to knock England out

England aim to revive rocky title defence against Oman

“Regardless of any outside noise about qualification, run-rates, all that sort of stuff, essentially, we’ve got to win this game and we’ve spoken a lot about that,” Mott said. “We’ve played good T20 cricket for a while now. It didn’t quite come off against Australia last game but I think we’ve got our structure in place, we’re really confident. Those who saw us train yesterday, you can see a buoyant group, up and about, that’s ready for the challenge ahead.”To offset any run-rate shenanigans, England need to beat Oman and Namibia by a combined margin of 117 runs (or the equivalent when chasing), thereby hauling their net run-rate above Scotland’s, so that only a surprise defeat of Australia can prevent them from progressing. But first things first, England must defeat a team that Scotland themselves saw off with 41 balls to spare in a pointedly fast finish in Antigua on Sunday.”We’re treating this game with Oman in isolation,” Mott said. “They’ve got our full attention. If we get into a position where we’re in a dominant position and can push hard, we will. If we have to scrap and fight and get the two points, we will as well. So, we’ll just keep an open mind, as we always will.”But essentially, we want to play that brand of cricket. I think we had glimpses of it the other day. I thought we started well with the bat, but to get a full performance in is really important. Get that on-field confidence. I think we’re really close, but obviously it’s been a bit of a disjointed tournament so far.”

23-year-old falls for career-best 211 as Kent face anohter defeat

ECB Reporters Network24-Aug-2024

Tawanda Muyeye plays into the off side•Getty Images

Tawanda Muyeye hit a brilliant maiden double century to frustrate Worcestershire’s hopes of a three day victory in this relegation scrap at New Road.The 23-year-old dominated proceedings with the bat and played the major role in Kent wiping out a first-innings deficit of 276. Muyeye began the day unbeaten on 80 and again looked a class performer as he surpassed his previous best score of 179 against Northamptonshire at Wantage Road last summer.A single off Joe Leach took Muyeye to his double ton and was the cue for an elaborate jig of delight around the square before he was embraced by team-mate Grant Stewart. He received solid support from Jack Leaning, Joey Evison, Harry Finch and Stewart.Muyeye’s fine knock came to an end in the final over of the day when he was caught behind off James Hartshorn for 211 from 279 balls with three sixes and 23 fours. It means Worcestershire remain favourites to secure a second successive win in the Championship tomorrow with Kent just 77 ahead with two wickets remaining.Tom Taylor – three for 85 from 22 overs – was rewarded for some fine bowling with two wickets with the second new ball to tip the balance of the game in the home side’s favour. But it was also one of those days for Worcestershire where the half-chances did not quite go to hand or did not stick in contrast to the superb display in the field on day one.Overnight rain and morning drizzle meant play was unable to get underway until 2pm with 66 overs remaining. Kent resumed on 104 for 2 in their second innings needing a further 172 to avoid an innings defeat.Leaning began proceedings with a trio of boundaries but New Zealander James Hartshorn brought about his downfall in the third over of the day. He was undone by a full and swinging delivery and was plumb lbw for 27.Muyeye continued his aggressive approach by pulling Hartshorn backward of square for six. He completed the second first-class century of his career from 109 balls with a single off Leach and it contained two sixes and 13 fours. Muyeye bowed to his team-mates on reaching his personal milestone and runs continued to flow at a rapid rate.But the introduction into the attack of Adam Finch led to another breakthrough with Evison pushing forward and caught behind low down by Gareth Roderick. Muyeye had one slice of luck on 135 when he top edged Hartshorn in between two fielders at backward square leg but otherwise continued to bat in impressive fashion.D’Oliveira brought himself into the attack as an all-spin combination alongside Jake Libby with Worcestershire’s over rate displayed as minus three on the scoreboard. New batter Harry Finch provided staunch support for Muyeye although he was fortunate when edging Tom Taylor and seeing a head high chance not grasped by first slip.But Taylor kept plugging away and was rewarded when Finch was caught in the crease and lbw after adding 81 with Muyeye. Stewart adopted an aggressive approach when joining Muyeye in the middle in another fruitful partnership of 84 in 16 overs.But Taylor did strike with the second new ball to end a stand of 84 when Stewart was trapped lbw for 41 at 333 for 6 and then had Matt Parkinson caught behind before Hartshorn ended Muyeye’s brilliant innings.

Rahul Dravid was done as India head coach after his initial two-year term ended at the end of last year’s ODI World Cup, where the team finished runners-up to Australia. Then came a call from Rohit Sharma, and everything changed.”Ro, thank you very much for making that call to me in November and asking [me] to continue,” Dravid, whose tenure ended after India’s T20 World Cup 2024 title win, said in a video posted by the BCCI.”I think it’s been such a privilege and a pleasure to work with each and every one of you, but Ro, also thanks for the time. There is a lot of time we have to chat, we have to discuss, we have to agree, we have to disagree at times, but thank you so very much.”Related

• Good luck finding another Rahul Dravid

• Dravid: Win a 'great testament to the fight in the team'

As coach, apart from winning the T20 World Cup, Dravid was in charge when India got to the World Test Championship final in June 2023 and the ODI World Cup final in November 2023.In his moment of glory as coach, Dravid said he didn’t believe in “redemption stories”. That was in response to a question on whether it was particularly satisfying to lift the World Cup on the same shores where India were dumped out of the ODI World Cup in the first round in 2007 with Dravid the team’s captain.”I’m not usually short of words but on a day like today, for me to be part of this, I could not be more grateful,” Dravid said. “For the respect, for the kindness, for the effort that each and everyone of you have shown to me, to my coaching staff, to my support staff.”All of you will remember these moments. We always say, it is not about the runs, it is not about the wickets, you never remember your career but you remember moments like this, so let’s really enjoy.”Dravid was hoisted by the entire team on the field during the victory celebrations, with Virat Kohli and Rohit leading the way. Dravid and the selectors were responsible for bringing back the two senior players to the T20I side earlier this year despite them having not featured in the format for a long time.8:43

Rohit Sharma: ‘This has to be my greatest achievement’

As they celebrated together, Dravid had a small message for Kohli: “All three whites ticked off. One red to go. Tick it.” The reference being to India’s wins in the ODI World Cup in 2011, the Champions Trophy in 2013 and now the T20 World Cup, all of which Kohli was a part of, and the Test championship, which India haven’t won yet despite reaching the final on both occasions so far.Dravid’s successor is expected to be named soon. VVS Laxman is coaching the second-string side that will play a series of five T20Is in Zimbabwe starting July 6, and Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary, has said that the next coach will be named ahead of the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in late July. Gautam Gambhir is the frontrunner to be named head coach.Last month, prior to the start of the T20 World Cup, Dravid had cited the packed calendar as a major reason for not reapplying for the job. “Unfortunately, just the kind of schedules [that are in place in international cricket] and where I find myself in this stage in my life, I don’t think I’ll be able to reapply,” he had said upon India’s arrival in New York.

‘Myth to say T20 cricket is for youngsters’

Nagraj Gollapudi27-Aug-20202:47

Dwayne Bravo: ‘Feels like I’m turning 27’

Dwayne Bravo believes “40 is the new 30”. Bravo, who became the first bowler to 500 wickets in T20 cricket this week, also stressed that it was a “myth” to believe T20 cricket was meant only for the youth, saying a player should be judged by performances and not age.”Yeah, 40 is the new 30,” Bravo told ESPNcricinfo this week. “Anyone who challenges or questions our age – I don’t think anyone of us, our performance has dipped or dropped because of our age. As a matter of fact, most of us even perform just as good or even better. Age is just a number. Don’t judge a player by his age, but judge him by his performance and his ability to continue to play.”Bravo, 36, is part of the band of senior players that have not only been part of teams that are serial title winners, but has also been among the most valuable players across both global tournaments as well as domestic T20 franchise leagues.The “us” he refers to above includes the likes of MS Dhoni (39), Chris Gayle (40), Shane Watson (39), Imran Tahir (41), Shoaib Malik (38) and Lasith Malinga who turns 38 on Friday. Along with Bravo all these men continue to be match-winners and magnets for young players to seek guidance.ALSO READ – Bravo @ 500: A T20 bowling phenomSome of these players might not turn up for every match, but they remain a potential threat for the opposition as Malinga proved in the 2019 IPL final, which Mumbai Indians won against Chennai Super Kings, the franchise that Bravo plays for. Incidentally, Bravo’s IPL team-mate Tahir, at 40, was the highest wicket-taker last season, winning the purple cap.”It’s a myth, yes,” Bravo said when asked if the widely held belief that T20 cricket is meant for youngsters was not correct. “You can’t beat experience. And the knowledge that we have for the game – I was the part of the every single T20 tournament around the world and I contribute to my team. Apart from being the leading wicket-taker in T20 cricket, along with [Kieron] Pollard, Andre Russell, myself – we also win most titles as well.”Dwayne Bravo is one of the most sought-after T20 players in the world•SBOTOPIn January, while playing in the Bangladesh Premier League, Gayle said he would like to play as long as possible and did not rule out turning up when he would be 45. That there is substance in Bravo’s comments was proven by 48-year old Mumbai legspinner Pravin Tambe who made headlines on Wednesday by becoming the first Indian to play in the CPL. Tambe is part of the Trinbago Knight Riders side, which also includes Bravo.Bravo will turn 37 this October. Last December, he had revoked his retirement to play T20Is for West Indies after the current team management, led by head coach Phil Simmons and Kieron Pollard asked him to mentor young bowlers. Pre-pandemic Bravo would have been optimistic about playing in the T20 World Cup, which was originally scheduled for October-November in Australia, but that tournament has now been postponed to the same window in 2021 in India.Bravo still remained hopeful and confident because of one reason. “I always pride myself on being fit, cricket-fit especially,” he said. “As people say, I am ageing well. I am turning 37 but it is like I am turning 27. I am still feeling good about myself and my body. Let’s see how the rest of the year pans out and hopefully 2021 is a better year worldwide for everybody and things can get back to normal and then [I will] take the decision.”After playing in the CPL, Bravo will travel to the UAE in September to join the Super Kings in IPL, which will be played between September 19 and November 10. Bravo has won the IPL twice with the Super Kings and remains one of their most important bowlers, especially in the middle and death overs.Bravo is also one of the only two bowlers to have won the purple cap twice in the IPL along with Bhuvnewshar Kumar who won it back-to-back in 2016 and 2017. Bravo had won it in 2013 and 2015. In 2014, when he missed major chunk of IPL due to injury, Super Kings’ captain Dhoni said Bravo’s absence hurt the balance of the team and eventually their title chances.More recently in the 2019 IPL, Bravo picked up 11 wickets in 12 matches at an economy rate of 8 01 and strike rate of 22. Asked if wining the Most Valuable Player award in IPL, a feat he has not achieved, was a desire, Bravo said he had different goals.”I am not interested [in] the Most Valuable Player [award] in the IPL. I am interested in being able to contribute to my team Chennai Super Kings’ success. Being as someone who bat at No. 7 and bowl near the death [and] back-end of the innings, it is hard to be the MVP. These are things I don’t set up myself to t be. I want to be a player that contributes with bat and ball and in the field for his team to win cricket games. I’ve been fortunate to be one of the two-time purple cap winner. And that’s good enough.”

SEATTLE — The revelers, those starved, curious and resilient creatures known as longtime Mariners baseball fans, packed Occidental Avenue on Saturday morning, two hours before first pitch. They carried exceedingly optimistic “World Series” signs, shouted “God hates the Astros,” and jammed into every inch of every store for blocks, all while balancing rally shoes atop their heads. They wore Ken Griffey Jr. jerseys, Big Dumper T-shirts and rare expressions—? ?—across their faces.

They didn’t care about things like logic, reason, elite opposition or tortured franchise history. Didn’t care that the Astros, their hated rivals, held a 2–0 lead in their division series. Didn’t care that Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez had rendered 18 taut, tactical, fairly even playoff innings little more than a painful learning experience. His moonshots in Games 1 and 2 reminded Seattle of the gap that remained—between the Mariners and the Astros, yes, but also between the M’s immense promise and the future World Series title they envision.

Still, this marked a fall weekend when local sports fans clogged the traffic-less street that runs the length of Lumen Field, home of the NFL’s Seahawks and their roaring crowds. Except that, on this particular fall weekend, those fans weren’t heading into Lumen. They were streaming it—and right toward the first postseason baseball game held in these parts in 21 long, fraught, wait-until-next .

Nothing could dim their sanguinity, an optimism borne from two decades of enduring bad luck, bad seasons and, worse yet, the occasional year that sprinkled promise on their cornflakes only to knock cereal bowls right out of their hands. These revelers seemed to grasp the significance, the possibility, however slim, that the Mariners could right this season once more, at home, against the team they disdain but wouldn’t mind becoming, if that meant five American League West titles and three World Series appearances in the last six seasons. Not to mention their larger aim—closer than ever, nowhere near certain—that, after ending the longest playoff drought in professional sports, they can, they will, not simply advance to but win their first championship.

Even then, for fans who had waited longer than any fans in professional sports for this precise moment, no one packed onto that street, eating hot dogs and marching toward T-Mobile Park, knew just how long the afternoon would extend.

Félix Hernández would throw out the first pitch.

The Mariners and Astros would play 17 innings of scoreless baseball that somehow managed to entrance a sellout crowd. They would tie three other games for the longest-ever in an MLB postseason, based on innings, a full 18.

Afternoon would give way to evening.

Light would become dark.

A few hours would become six hours and 22 minutes.

Only two things didn’t change. The Mariners played the Astros to a near standstill. It wouldn’t be enough. But those stands, the ones packed with the revelers, remained full to the bitter-and-hopeful end.

The David Moyes revival has already taken Everton so far; Goodison Park is unrecognisable from the tumbledown slump that the Scotsman inherited, confidence at a low ebb after colourless football under Sean Dyche’s wing.

Dyche did a good job, all told, but he couldn’t take the Toffees any further and rightly parted ways when The Friedkin Group looked to christen their ownership with an uplifting appointment.

Moyes has done very well indeed, losing just four of his 16 Premier League games at the helm. However, he needs new recruits this summer, especially at the front of the ship.

With Everton stepping into a new home at the Bramley-Moore dock, it feels the right time to replace the ailing Dominic Calvert-Lewin with a new number nine.

Everton's search for a new striker

Calvert-Lewin has been a stalwart for Everton, playing 270 matches across nine seasons, scoring 71 goals. He’s out of contract this summer, though, with brittle fitness levels and consequent struggles for form suggesting he should be allowed to leave.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

Beto’s resurgent as a focal frontman, but Everton want more, with Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Tim Kleindienst identified as the perfect player to join Moyes’ project.

According to Caught Offside, TFG are ready to pay the €35m (£30m) asking price for the powerful striker, though the same could be said for Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Further interest from overseas complicates matters, but Everton’s willingness to place a bid suggests that Moyes and the owners are driven toward making improvements during the off-season.

Why Everton want Tim Kleindienst

Time was when Everton would cede swift defeat in a jam-packed race for a talented striker, Goodison Park devolving into something of a hotbed for disappointment in recent years.

But this is a new era, and Moyes has restored the feel-good factor. Kleindienst, 29, could make this new feeling even better still, with a clinical track record in Germany denoting his capacity to confidently take Calvert-Lewin’s place in the squad.

The Germany international has scored 16 goals and added ten assists across 32 matches for Gladbach this season, arriving from Heidenheim last summer.

Standing at 6 foot 4, he carries the imposing physicality that Moyes has made such good use of throughout his managerial career, and with Kleindienst winning 4.7 aerial duels per Bundesliga match this season, he has what it takes to flourish in the area Calvert-Lewin so expertly excels.

DCL vs Kleindienst 24/25 (league stats only)
Stats (* per game)	Calvert-Lewin	Kleindienst
Matches (starts)*	23 (19)	30 (30)
Goals	3	16
Assists	1	7
Big chances missed	1	14
Pass completion	64%	62%
Big chances created	1	11
Key passes*	0.3	0.9
Dribbles*	0.4	0.4
Tackles + interceptions*	0.7	1.3
Total duels won*	5.5	6.9
Stats via Sofascore

The two strikers have a lot in common. Both strong and tall, they win many duels through their focal role in the air; each forward dribbles infrequently, with neither proving the most accurate in his passing.

However, therein lies the disparity. Kleindienst is far more fruitful in his passing, so creative and intelligent with his knock-ons, his lay-offs. Indeed, as per The Athletic’s Seb Stafford-Bloor, the German is “an exquisite one-touch player”.

Defensively, there’s a lot to admire too. FBref record Kleindienst ranks among the top 19% of strikers across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for tackles, the top 11% for interceptions and the top 1% for both blocks and clearances made per 90.

To be sure, signing a striker on the brink of their thirties would be something of a risk, but Kleinsdienst’s athleticism, power and dynamism would be perfect for an Everton side on the up.

Profiled in a similar way to Calvert-Lewin and coveted by divisional rivals, Everton will want to make this statement of intent.

An amazing Rooney repeat: Everton open to signing "world-class" PL star

Everton are at an important juncture as they prepare to reinforce David Moyes’ squad this summer.

By
Angus Sinclair

May 6, 2025