Almost every single player in the Tottenham Hotspur squad has had a role to play this season, with Ange Postecoglou putting trust in each individual to perform.

When looking at the current Spurs side, almost all of the players will stay with the Australian as the club begins their new era, which just shows how impressive their start to the rebuild has been.

All of the summer incomings have adapted instantly, while the seasoned squad members have also stepped up, helping the side be in a brilliant position to achieve Champions League football.

But there’s one player in particular who deserves a lot of credit for his start to life in England, with his performances causing his market value to explode.

What Spurs paid for Destiny Udogie

During the 2021/22 Serie A campaign, Destiny Udogie announced himself to Italy as one of the most talented prospects in the country.

Playing as a left-wing back with the freedom to express himself, the confident teenager starred in his first real campaign, showcasing his ability to affect the game in the final third with five goals and three assists in 35 matches.

After his breakthrough season, plenty of clubs across Europe were interested in signing the Italian, even Manchester City, but it was Spurs who eventually got the deal done, spending £15m on Udogie in the summer of 2022.

However, he didn’t join the Lilywhites instantly, instead returning to Udinese on a season-long loan, where he continued to impress, but he’s only gone to another level under Postecoglou this season.

Related Tottenham eyeing "brilliant" star with more assists than Udogie this season

He’s a wanted man.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Mar 4, 2024 What Udogie is worth in 2024

Going into the campaign, the “quality” defender, as dubbed by scout Jacek Kulig, was always going to be the first-choice left back.

Udogie had proven to be more than capable of performing amongst the very best in Italy, and despite being just 21 years of age, he was definitely more than ready to be handed an opportunity to shine.

Luckily, the defender has taken it with both hands, becoming one of Spurs’ most reliable and consistent players across his 27 Premier League starts.

Over these matches, Udogie has impressed at both ends of the field, picking up five goal contributions and making 2.5 tackles per game, with his well-rounded profile making his value increase dramatically.

Spurs' Highest-Valued Players

Player

Value

Destiny Udogie

£68m

Dejan Kulusevski

£68m

Pedro Porro

£51m

Cristian Romero

£51m

Brennan Johnson

£51m

Via CIES' Football Observatory

Udogie is now the joint-highest valued player in the entire Spurs squad alongside Dejan Kulusevski, with an estimated worth of £68m.

This also makes him the most valuable left back in the entire Premier League and the joint-highest valued across all of Europe’s top five leagues, as per CIES' Football Observatory.

Incredibly, his value is even greater than both James Maddison’s (£34m) and Heung-min Son’s (£26m) combined, who have 11 and 24 league goal contributions between them, respectively, this campaign, which just further highlights how special Udogie truly is.

Spurs certainly hit the jackpot by signing Udogie for such a cheap fee, but what’s arguably just as impressive is their management of the youngster, with last season’s loan at Udinese playing a vital role in his progress this season.

With Alisson Becker now back from injury, Liverpool's shock 3-0 defeat against Atalanta in the Europa League could turn out to be Caoimhin Kelleher's final game at the club, with exit links stealing the headlines and the Reds turning their attention towards a replacement.

Liverpool transfer news

The Irishman has stepped up suberly to complete the impossible task of filling in for Alisson during the Brazilian's spell on the sidelines but is likely to drop back down to the bench now that his fellow shot-stopper is back. To sum up Kelleher's unexpected impact, he has now played more games than Alisson this season, rarely looking out of place in the process.

Klopp must drop Liverpool’s 3/10 struggler who was worse than Nunez

The Reds suffered a chastening Anfield defeat in the Europa League vs Atalanta.

ByAngus Sinclair Apr 12, 2024

Those performances have attracted plenty of interest from Celtic, however, who have been linked with a move for Kelleher in the last few months. Now, when the summer window swings open, the Bhoys could make a move worth a reported £20m to find their replacement for Joe Hart.

Kelleher's potential exit has signalled Liverpool into action too. According to Graeme Bailey for HITC, Liverpool have sent scouts to watch Filip Jorgensen this season ahead of a possible move to sign the Villarreal shot-stopper this summer.

The 21-year-old has impressed this season and Liverpool aren't the only club allegedly interested, with Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers also reportedly eyeing moves to sign Jorgensen in the coming months. Standing at 6 foot 3, it's no surprise that a goalkeeper of Jorgensen's stature and potential has attracted such interest.

"Revelation" Jorgensen can become new Alisson deputy

For young goalkeepers, there's arguably no one better to learn from currently than Alisson. We've seen how much Kelleher has benefitted from following in the Brazilian's footsteps this season and now Jorgensen could get the chance to do the same.

Just 21-years-old and a towering figure, the Dane certainly ticks plenty of boxes when it comes to becoming a top goalkeeper, but now he must realise the potential that those in La Liga believe he has in abundance. X account La Liga Extra didn't shy away from praising Jorgensen last month.

The only concern with a move to Liverpool would, of course, be playing time thanks to just how good Alisson is. As shown this season though, the 31-year-old isn't injury-free and one knock could quickly create the ultimate opportunity for Jorgensen in the same way that it did for Kelleher in the current campaign.

With change afoot at Anfield, Jorgensen could arrive to instantly become the next shot-stopper to follow in Alisson's footsteps, potentially becoming a long-term solution for Liverpool in the Premier League in the process.

On Sunday, McKenna Whitham created history by becoming the youngest player to play for a US football team in the top division.

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• Whitham makes debut for NJ/NY Gotham
• Becomes youngest soccer player in top division
• Beats Cavan Sullivan's record after just 11 days

• WHAT HAPPENED?

  Whitham celebrated her 14th birthday on Saturday, June 28, and then received a special gift a day later as she was brought on as a substitute in the 80th minute as NJ/NY Gotham looked to hold their one-goal lead against Washington Spirit at Subaru Park. NJ/NY signed Whitham earlier in the week as a national team replacement player, a rule the NWSL uses to fill rosters during major tournaments.

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• WHAT WHITHAM SAID

  Speaking earlier in the week following her signing, Whitham said: “I processed it, and it’s still new to me. But, I mean, I’m not going to be cocky about it. I’m going to stay humble, and I’m still going to keep developing. My goal is to be a top player in the NWSL, and I know that Gotham will help me become that player.”

• USA Today Images
  

  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Her debut made her the youngest ever soccer player, male or female, to play in the United States' top division beating Philadelphia Union's Cavan Sullivan who had set the record 11 days earlier in the same stadium during the Union's 5-1 win over the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer.

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• WHAT NEXT FOR WHITHAM?

  The 14-year-old will continue playing for NJ/NY in the Summer Cup but will not be permitted to make her NWSL debut until her professional contract kicks in at the start of 2025.

Aston Villa cruised into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League last night with a huge 4-0 victory over Ajax.

Villa Park was bouncing from the first minute until the last, and the atmosphere was only enhanced after Ollie Watkins opened the scoring in the 25th minute.

However, shortly after, Unai Emery’s star striker was forced off with an injury, which certainly dampened the mood slightly.

Nevertheless, a Leon Bailey goal on the hour mark gave the hosts some breathing room, before a late flurry extended the lead.

With that excellent performance in mind, let’s take a look at two players who excelled under the pressure to progress.

Moussa Diaby’s stats versus Ajax

Moussa Diaby started the evening in his usual second-striker role behind Watkins, and he had one of his best games in a Villa shirt.

Birmingham World reporter Charlie Haffenden handed the French forward an 8/10 in his post-match player ratings, commenting that Diaby put in a "much-improved display" and "was far better with his decision-making." The winger's statistics from the tie certainly mirror that rating.

With Ajax having more of the ball, it suited Diaby’s strengths perfectly, providing the 24-year-old with the opportunity to use his ball-carrying skills and pace on the counterattack.

The former Bayer Leverkusen star completed 100% of his dribbles, as per Sofascore, made two key passes, and had three shots on target throughout the tie.

Diaby also grabbed the fourth goal with a lovely, composed finish into the near post, which rounded off an almost perfect night for Villa, but there was one player who really stood out in particular once again.

Douglas Luiz’s game in numbers

It’s no surprise to see that Douglas Luiz was once again instrumental in a Villa win, with that being a common occurrence this campaign.

The Brazilian also received an 8/10 rating from Birmingham World in what was yet another confident and dominant performance from the midfielder, where he displayed his complete skillset under extreme pressure after that tough defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at the weekend.

Luiz was in control throughout, regardless of whether his side had possession of the ball or not, with the table below proving why he was absolutely immense.

Douglas Luiz vs Ajax
Stats	Luiz
Minutes	83
Assists	2
Pass accuracy	85%
Possession lost	6
Key passes	4
Duels won	2/2
Tackles	2
Dribbled past	0
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see, not only did the number 6 retain the ball well, as shown by his pass accuracy and possession lost stats, but he also displayed his creativity.

The former Manchester City man took the corner for the Watkins goal and also set up Bailey for the second, with his two assists and four key passes making him a class above the other midfielders on the field.

Luiz also won 100% of his ground duels, made two tackles, and wasn’t dribbled past once, which highlights the defensive security he brought to the team.

Overall, it was a perfect night for Villa and a perfect performance from Luiz, who continues to perform to such a high standard.

Tottenham have been tipped to offload a member of Ange Postecoglou's squad who's played nearly every Premier League game this season.

Spurs players linked with summer exits

A number of names are facing very uncertain futures at Spurs as we slowly approach the summer transfer window.

Talks already underway as defender now hopes to quit Tottenham this summer

He’s set his sights on another club for 2024/25.

ByEmilio Galantini Apr 13, 2024

In the last few days, some reports have suggested that midfielder Giovani Lo Celso is pining for the exit door at Tottenham after being given precious few chances to impress this campaign.

The Argentine has contributed well on occasion, but James Maddison's presence has kept him out of Postecoglou's starting elevens on a very regular basis. As well as Lo Celso, another player struggling for minutes is young winger Bryan Gil.

Bryan Gil

191

Manor Solomon (injured for large period)

198

Giovani Lo Celso

468

Oliver Skipp

572

Rodrigo Bentancur (injured for large period)

729

The former Sevilla star, signed by Fabio Paratici in 2021, elected to stay at Spurs in January and fight for game time – but his efforts have been in vain thus far. Gil, though, only wants to leave Tottenham in the event of a permanent project – with a loan very unappealing given the amount of temporary spells away he's already been on.

There are also the contingent of Spurs players out on loan who must be considered. Japhet Tanganga will have just a year remaining on his deal when he returns from Millwall, with young striker Troy Parrott likely to attract interest following a brilliant season at Excelsior in the Netherlands.

Postecoglou has apparently decided Djed Spence is not part of his future plans, and the same can be said of left-back Sergio Reguilon (Alasdair Gold). Club-record signing Tanguy Ndombele is very, very likely to be transfer listed as well, as Spurs look to part company with one of the biggest flops in their recent history.

Leeds want to make Joe Rodon's deal permanent this summer after his excellent Championship campaign, while closer to home, uncertainty surrounds the future of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg.

Alan Hutton tips Hojbjerg exit from Spurs

The Denmark international has actually played nearly every league game this season, amassing 31 top flight appearances, but the vast majority of them have been off the substitutes' bench.

Speaking to Tottenham News, BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Alan Hutton says Hojbjerg's "time is up" at Tottenham and he'll be gone this summer.

“Hojbjerg, there has been a conversation for a while now that maybe his Tottenham career was over," said Hutton. Ange has brought him back in from time to time and he has played minutes but not as regularly as he would want.

“I genuinely believe he would have left before now but with a new manager coming in, he probably thought he had an opportunity to force his way in, but it has not quite happened. Again, if they’re going to bring in a midfielder who is relatively similar then you’re thinking maybe my time is up here so he’s somebody who will be looking at his options again come the summer.”

Turkish outfit Galatasaray are reportedly after a "special" Liverpool player in the summer transfer window, in what could be a shock development.

Liverpool transfer news

The Reds have six mammoth Premier League matches remaining this season before the Jurgen Klopp era at Anfield comes to an end. Once the new manager is brought in during the summer, he will no doubt want to bring in players who suit his style of play, so plenty of business can be expected.

One player who has been linked with a switch to Liverpool in the coming months is Bayern Munich superstar Jamal Musiala, who could be weighing up his options. Manchester City are also showing strong interest in the attacker, with a return to England far from out of the question.

Last summer, the Reds showed interest in signing Chelsea centre-back Levi Colwill, and a recent report has suggested that they could be back in for him during the summer. Young Senegal defender Mikayil Faye is another individual who has been backed to seal a move to Merseyside, with additions to the backline potentially needed if Joel Matip departs when his contract expires at the end of the campaign, as is expected.

There could be others who leave Liverpool, however, and a surprise exit claim has now emerged.

"Special" Liverpool player linked with exit

According to Turkish outlet Fotomac, Liverpool midfielder Ryan Gravenberch is wanted by Galatasaray this summer, with the Super Lig giants seeing him as a strong option to bring in. He is looked at as an ideal midfield partner for Lucas Torreira.

This is a rumour that has seemingly come from nowhere, and it would be an undoubted surprise to see the 21-year-old depart so soon into his Reds career.

Ryan Gravenberch's Premier League stats this season

Stat

Total

Appearances

21

Starts

10

Goals

0

Assists

0

Tackles per game

1.0

Key passes per game

0.5

Pass completion rate

82.8%

Gravenberch only joined from Bayern last summer, and while he has struggled to impress as much as fellow new signings Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Wataru Endo, he has undoubted talent, with assistant manager Pep Lijnders calling him "special" and also saying of him:

"Ryan in the final third, as an eight, is the one who slides, the one who still has [an] overview, the one who has a first touch with his left or right to get out of a situation, out of proper pressure. He can keep the ball under high pressure and still find the passing option forward. He is a complete, complete eight with scoring and with attitude. It is the eight we searched for and the eight we got. We are thankful to our owners and our scouting and everyone who made it happen."

Related Romano confirms Liverpool interest in £100m Szoboszlai upgrade

This star could be the perfect player to lead the post-Klopp era.

Posts ByAngus Sinclair Apr 20, 2024

Granted, more is needed from Gravenberch moving forward, with the Dutchman struggling with consistency across his 21 Premier League appearances this season, but he has been compared to Jude Bellingham in the past, and he is worth persevering with, assuming the new manager wants him.

New Zealand’s innings folds in just 38.1 overs as Luus picks up second six-for of ODI career

ESPNcricinfo staff30-Jan-2020For the third time in this ODI series, New Zealand had first strike, and for the third time this series, South Africa came up trumps. This time it was on the back of innings-wrecking 6 for 45 from legspinner Sune Luus, who spun the hosts out for 149 and secured South Africa direct qualification into the 2021 ODI World Cup.New Zealand’s innings folded in just 38.1 overs, with Suzie Bates their only performer of note, scoring 51 of their runs. They had been inserted by South Africa and looked on course for a decent total at 96 for 3 in the 23rd, with Bates set at one end. Then, Luus struck her first blow: Katie Perkins stumped by Trisha Chetty for 11. The wickets – including two more stumpings – came quick and fast thereafter, with Luus racing to her second-best figures in ODI cricket. The innings ended with No. 11 Rosemary Mair’s run-out.None of South Africa’s batters really got going, but then the target of 150 was never really going to stretch them. They eased home in the 38th over, on the back of 30-somethings from captain Dane van Niekerk and Mignon du Preez.”I was really happy with how the girls handled the pressure in today’s match and how we went about our job with a sense of confidence,” van Niekerk said after the match. “We started really well in the field. Kappie (Marizanne Kapp) and Shabnim (Ismail) managed to put pressure on and didn’t concede a lot. The six-for from Sune (Luus) was the key and really proud of her- that’s initially what started it off and created a big buzz in the field. It is a great feeling to come out with a 3-0 win over a very strong New Zealand side.”The teams will now play five T20Is, which gain extra significance as it is their last chance to fine tune plans for the Women’s T20 World Cup that kicks off in Australia on February 21.

The series will also be the first big one for both teams in the year of the T20 World Cup later this year, with over 20 matches to go for each

The Preview by Vishal Dikshit23-Jan-20205:39

Bangar: Understanding ground dimensions key in NZ

Big PictureNew Zealand must be hurting and how. The last time they took the field they had been thrashed 3-0 in the Tests in Australia, and the last time they played a T20I, it ended in, well, a Super Over loss to England. New Zealand were leading that five-match T20I series 2-1 and even though they handed England an innings loss in the Test series later, crossing the Tasman Sea after that dented their confidence considerably. Now, New Zealand face a stiff opposition in India to end their home summer before landing in Australia again for three ODIs.ALSO READ: Tim Southee backs New Zealand to bounce back after Australia setbackThe India series will be “huge” for them, as selector Gavin Larsen said, to work out a few things: a best XI with several players injured and how to restore their reputation. First, they will draw confidence from the fact that they had beaten India 2-1 in the T20Is last year, with a similar bowling attack that is to play in the coming series. The hosts have recalled Hamish Bennett, who last played an international in 2017, to join Tim Southee, Blair Tickner and Scott Kuggeleijn in the pace attack, with Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi making up the spin department. Where are the rest? Well, Trent Boult, Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry are all injured. Another worry for them will be Santner’s form, as he picked only one wicket in four Test innings in Australia. A different format, though, could do it for the left-arm spinner who took his best T20I figures – 4 for 11 – against India, in 2016.There’s more experience to fall back on in the batting department, with Kane Williamson, who returns after missing the T20Is against England, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor and Colin Munro making the top and middle order.The series will also be the first big one for both teams in the year of the T20 World Cup later this year, with over 20 matches to go for each.India are also without a few injured players – Shikhar Dhawan, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar – but their depth in reserves has hardly ever been stronger. They will have their tails up after drubbing Sri Lanka 2-0 in T20Is and fighting back formidably against a full-strength Australia to win 2-1 in the ODIs. They have a settled bowling line-up with four quicks, two spinners and three allrounders to choose from. With Samson replacing Dhawan in the 16-man squad, it remains to be seen if he and Pandey will get a chance if Rishabh Pant gets to play as wicketkeeper and KL Rahul plays purely as a batsman.Form guideNew Zealand TLWWL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
India WWWLWIn the spotlightHamish Bennett will be in line to make his T20I debut with 17 international games to his name already. In the absence of New Zealand’s main frontline quicks, Bennett now has a big task ahead against India’s batting line-up that doesn’t have as much experience in the lower-middle order. Bennett could use his pace, bounce and variations in the middle or end overs to dent India’s progress towards a big total. Bennett comes on the back of figures of 3 for 34 against Auckland in the Super Smash final, New Zealand’s domestic T20 tournament, in which he finished as the leading wicket-taker with 17 scalps from 11 games, and an economy rate of 7.20.ALSO READ: Firebird Hamish Bennett ready for his New Zealand rebirthVirat Kohli and Kane Williamson pose with the T20I series trophy•Blackcapsnz/Instagram

With Pandya not returning to international cricket anytime soon, India need to have his solid back-up for the T20 World Cup. They are carrying three allrounders – Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar – and it will be a good trial for both Dube and Washington in New Zealand conditions after India played their recent games at home. Both Dube and Washington could play in the XI and India need to assess if they will need a batting or a bowling allrounder more in Australia later this year.ALSO READ: India have missed a trick with their allrounder strategy, writes Aakash ChopraTeam newsRoss Taylor said on Tuesday the injuries in their camp has given the fringe players a chance to stake a claim for spots. New Zealand have a fairly stable top half which sees Williamson’s returns. It might mean they will have to pick one of Colin de Grandhomme and Daryl Mitchell for No. 6.New Zealand (probable): 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Colin Munro, 3 Tim Seifert (wk), 4 Kane Williamson (capt), 5 Ross Taylor, 6 Colin de Grandhomme/Daryl Mitchell, 7 Mitchell Santner, 8 Ish Sodhi, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Scott Kuggeleijn, 11 Hamish BennettIndia played only five bowling options in their last T20I against Sri Lanka, but may now have to pick a sixth on a high-scoring Eden Park. Virat Kohli said on the eve of the match that making KL Rahul keep in T20Is too will give them “a lot more balance” to play another batsman. In that case, they can accommodate Manish Pandey at No. 5 and two allrounders at Nos. 6 and 7 out of Ravindra Jadeja, Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar.India (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 KL Rahul (wk), 3 Virat Kohli (capt), 4 Shreyas Iyer, 5 Manish Pandey, 6 Shivam Dube 7 Washinton Sundar/Ravindra Jadeja, 8 Kuldeep Yadav/Yuzvendra Chahal, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Navdeep Saini, 11 Jasprit BumrahPitch and conditionsAuckland is where the Super Over was played against England recently, with both teams scoring at over 13 an over in a rain-curtailed match. A cloud cover and some drizzle is expected in the morning and evening which could affect the 7.50pm local time start. With no heavy rain expected, we should get a game even if with reduced overs.Stats and triviaWith legspinner Adam Zampa coming into focus against Kohli in the recent ODIs, New Zealand will probably want to bowl Ish Sodhi to him early. Sodhi has a decent record against India, having dismissed Kohli and Rohit once each: he has taken 11 wickets in seven innings, averaging 16.18 with an economy rate of 7.73Ross Taylor is batting too low to play an anchor role in this format. He has primarily batted at No. 5 for New Zealand since 2018, but at a strike rate of just 119.40, he is scoring slow for that position. Among 31 batsmen to score 100 or more runs batting at No. 5 or lower in T20Is since 2018, Taylor’s strike rate of 125.80 is 10th worst (there are 21 other batsmen that score faster than he does).Quotes”Honestly, even if you think of revenge, these guys are so nice you can’t get into that. We get along really well with all these guys.”

Monday marked 11 years to the day since Manchester United last clinched the Premier League title, Robin van Persie netting a stunning hat-trick against Aston Villa to mark the perfect send-off for departing manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

Over a decade on, the Red Devils look no closer to ending that lengthy barren run, with potentially yet another change in manager looming in the Old Trafford dugout, amid reports that Erik ten Hag may not reach a third season in charge at the club.

Despite prior claims that Sir Jim Ratcliffe was set to keep faith with the former Ajax boss, the weekend's dismal FA Cup collapse against Coventry City may have served as a tipping point or turning point in the Dutchman's reign, even despite the eventual progression to a second successive Wembley showpiece in the competition.

Ten Hag – who branded the media "embarrassing" for their reaction to that 3-3 draw – remains bullish even amid the heightening scrutiny, albeit with even the most ardent of his supporters likely to be doubting his United credentials.

If this summer is to be the endpoint for the 54-year-old, the likelihood is that his two-year stint will be branded a failure, having been unable to steer the club back to the top of the domestic and European game – even crashing out of the Champions League group stage this term.

However, there are perhaps a handful of reasons as to why Ten Hag's legacy could stand greater than any coach since Ferguson's retirement, with his faith in young talent at the centre of that.

Of course, Louis van Gaal was responsible for blooding Marcus Rashford – who has scored 131 goals since his debut in February 2016 – while Jose Mourinho put his trust in a certain Scott McTominay, who now boasts ten goals in what is a career-best season.

GK – Joel Pereira

RB – Tim Fosu-Mensah

CB – Eric Bailly

CB – Phil Jones

LB – Demetri Mitchell

CDM – Axel Tuanzebe

CM – Paul Pogba

CM – Scott McTominay

RW – Jesse Lingard

ST – Wayne Rooney

LW – Joshua Harrop

The likes of Ralf Rangnick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer also turned to Anthony Elanga and Mason Greenwood, respectively – while David Moyes promoted Belgian wizard, Adnan Januzaj during his ill-fated stint in charge – yet for varying reasons, none of that trio remain part of the first-team squad in Manchester.

While each coach following Ferguson has had at least one standout academy talent to be responsible for, Ten Hag, meanwhile, could leave a stronger legacy after unleashing two potentially formidable future stars – Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.

Alejandro Garnacho's record at Man Utd

Ten Hag may not have been responsible for plucking the 16-year-old Garnacho from Atletico Madrid for mere peanuts – £420k to be precise – in 2020, but boy has he afforded the Spain-born, Argentina international the chance to flourish in the senior ranks.

The star of United's FA Youth Cup win in 2022, the winger netting a brace in the victory over Nottingham Forest in the final, Garnacho was handed his debut at the tail-end of 2021/22, prior to truly establishing himself under Ten Hag's watch the following season.

After overcoming a difficult start under the new boss following criticism of his attitude during pre-season in the summer of 2022, Garnacho scored his first goal for the club against Real Sociedad in the Europa League in the November – and hasn't looked back since.

Likened to a "young Cristiano" by club legend, Paul Scholes, the teenager ended that first season with five goals and four assists in all competitions, notably striking late goals away at Craven Cottage and Elland Road.

As for this season, the 19-year-old has become a firm fixture of the side after starting over 30 successive games in all competitions, plundering nine goals and four assists in that time to remain a real shining light amid a turbulent collective campaign.

The youngster's recent indirect social media criticism of his manager may suggest otherwise, but Garnacho must surely be thankful for being given such a prominent role so young, with Ten Hag having been rewarded for his bold approach.

The same can also be said of the aforementioned Mainoo, with the pair looking like the type of players that any future manager can build the side around for years to come.

Kobbie Mainoo's season in numbers

Also part of that triumphant FA Youth Cup side, Mainoo has had to bide his time since 2022, only making just three first-team appearances last season under Ten Hag – including a start against Charlton Athletic in the League Cup.

As the 19-year-old has himself admitted, he was grateful for the way in which Ten Hag was keen to "push" him during his time in the youth ranks, prior to eventually making his mark at senior level, with the Dutchman's patient approach paying off.

An injury sustained in pre-season did play a factor in Mainoo's 'late' entrance to the first-team set-up, but since making a full Premier League debut against Everton in late November, he's only gone from strength to strength, racking up three goals in 25 appearances.

Dubbed a "bright light" for the side by Gary Neville, the Stockport-born starlet – who has also now picked up two caps for his country – only looks set to kick on from here, with a place at Euro 2024 potentially in the offing.

Now set to be a "key player" for the club moving forward, as per former Arsenal and Chelsea hero Cesc Fabregas, Mainoo could be the heartbeat of the team for a decade or so, thus saving United millions in the transfer market in the process.

Again, Ten Hag was not responsible for the midfielder's growth prior to his arrival in the dugout, yet the experienced coach deserves great credit for the way he has handled him since then, with few managers likely to have been willing to promote the playmaker so swiftly.

Perhaps, there may be even more academy talents to emerge before too long…

The academy stars who could follow Garnacho & Mainoo

One look at the bench at Wembley on Sunday showcased those who could be next off the famed production line in Manchester, with left-back star Harry Amass – who has been dubbed "Luke Shaw's successor" by journalist Alex Turk – notably among them.

That injury-depleted matchday squad also included another of those to feature in the FA Youth Cup final almost two years ago in the form of 18-year-old centre-back, Louis Jackson, with fellow teenagers Ethan Wheatley and Habeeb Ogunneye also earning an inclusion.

There is also excitement surrounding 19-year-old Omari Forson, who came off the bench against Mark Robins' side, while another fledgling forward – Shea Lacey – is also setting tongues wagging for his displays in the youth set-up.

What the Man Utd team could look like once Shea Lacey becomes a regular

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ByRobbie Walls Apr 16, 2024

All in all, the future certainly looks bright even despite the overall doom and gloom at the Theatre of Dreams, with Ten Hag warranting praise for his hands-on approach toward the academy, which has played its part in the success stories of Garnacho and Mainoo.

Having such talents at your disposal is one thing for a manager, but to actually utilise them and put faith in them at such a young age is another matter entirely, hence why Ten Hag's legacy – which includes last season's Carabao Cup success – will live on even if Ratcliffe and co decide to cut ties this summer.

A poll of 2,000 fans has found that more than half believe Manchester City should be deducted points if found guilty of their FFP charges.

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Man City facing trial115 charges against themFans hoping for punishmentWHAT HAPPENED?

The Betfair and YouGov poll of 2,000 fans asked what punishment City should face if they are found guilty of their 115 charges in court. The allegations will be investigated by an independent disciplinary tribunal starting next month and a verdict is expected in 2025. They have already been warned they could face a points deduction of up to 80 points, which would almost certainly relegate them to the Championship.

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A total of 55% of those polled believe City should face a points deduction, while 45% are behind a fine, and another 41% believe City should be stripped of their Premier League titles. There are also votes for exclusion from the Premier League (39%), a transfer ban (37%), while only 2% believe there should be no punishment.

City fans are unsurprisingly most in favour of a fine (49%), while 37% accept a points deduction would be an adequate punishment. Fifteen per cent believe they do not deserve a punishment.

DID YOU KNOW?

Man City have won four Premier League titles in a row and are aiming to win their fifth successive trophy, which would extend a remarkable record. Pep Guardiola's side have been dominant, perhaps explaining why most rival supporters believe they should be seriously punished.

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GettyWHAT NEXT?

Man City open their title defence against Chelsea on Sunday. They will hope to lay down another marker, having already beaten Manchester United in the Community Shield. Whether any possible points deduction would come into play and affect their 2024-25 tally remains to be seen, with the football world undoubtedly waiting to see what will happen when the verdict is delivered.