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Spending big money in the transfer market is one way to bring about success in the modern game, but it’s not a guaranteed marker that trophies will follow.

Manchester United have spent upwards of £800m in the last three years alone, but they are currently on a 12-month drought without any form of silverware under Ruben Amorim.

Another option football clubs desperately rely on is their youth systems, with the use of top-level academies often presenting a constant conveyor belt of talent for the future.

The Red Devils have been known for their success in producing elite-level stars, with the Class of ’92’ arguably one of the most iconic groups of prospects to make the jump into the professional game.

One other player has also successfully made the jump and impressed at Old Trafford in recent seasons, after massively impressing through the ranks as a youngster.

Marcus Rashford’s youth record at Man Utd

Many of United’s young prospects join the club at a young age and spend the majority of their youth years as part of the Red Devils’ infamous academy system.

Attacker Marcus Rashford was no different after joining the club at the age of seven and enduring a remarkable rise and progression through the ranks as a youngster.

It’s unclear how many goals he scored before reaching the U18 age group, but he did make himself a household name as he edged towards the end of his scholarship.

The Englishman scored 13 goals for the U18s during the 2015/16 season – sitting at the top of their goalscoring charts until he was handed his first-team debut.

At 18 years and 113 days, Rashford was handed his first start against FC Midtjylland in the Europa League – subsequently taking advantage of the opportunity handed his way.

Despite being a teenager, he netted twice against the Danish outfit in February 2016, which made him an instant hit with the Red Devils’ supporters at Old Trafford.

He’s since racked up over 450 appearances for his boyhood club, but has had to move away on a temporary basis to gain regular football after falling down Amorim’s pecking order.

The United gem who could be their next Rashford

The decision to offload Rashford by Amorim has been one that has been called into question over recent weeks, amid his form on loan at Barcelona from United.

He scored within the first few minutes of the Amorim tenure against Ipswich Town, but it would be one of the few highlights for the forward after a fallout with the 40-year-old.

The 27-year-old has since joined Hansi Flick’s side on loan for the 2025/26 campaign, scoring five times and registering four assists in his 12 outings for the LaLiga outfit.

However, he still has the chance to resurrect his career in the near future, but he could find it tricky to secure his place in the first-team if Chido Obi is handed a chance to thrive.

The 17-year-old generated huge excitement last season with his phenomenal goalscoring record at youth level – with the Dane thriving with valuable minutes at Carrington.

He scored 17 times in just 20 appearances, often featuring for the club’s U18 and U21 sides and helping the former finish second in the youth Premier League.

As a result, he was handed multiple substitute appearances in the first-team setup, registering seven league outings, but only appearing for a total of 160 minutes.

Chido Obi-Martin’s goalscoring record

Team

Appearances

Goals

Arsenal U18s

21

32

Arsenal U21s

2

0

Man Utd U18s

11

13

Man Utd U21s

18

8

Man Utd first-team

8

0

Stats via Transfermarkt

Despite not scoring, Obi was highly praised by many for his performances – leading to one analyst labelling him as a “homegrown Oshimen” – a huge compliment given the Nigerian’s record of 37 goals in 41 appearances throughout 2024/25.

At just 17, it’s crucial that Amorim and various other staff behind the scenes manage the youngster in the right way to help him reach his full potential at the Theatre of Dreams.

However, the similarities to Rashford are there for all to see, given his time in the youth system, but he’s yet to score as early as the Englishman did in the first-team.

At present, the Dane is still 12 months younger than the former academy graduate when he made his first-team bow, showcasing how much time he has to make an impact under Amorim.

However, if Obi can replicate Rashford’s form with the Red Devils, he may have a huge bearing on any success the side manages to achieve in the near future.

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Posts 1 ByEthan Lamb Oct 22, 2025

For the first time since the initial period after the Saudi-backed takeover, Newcastle United’s transfer business carried the air of planning rather than panic.

Last summer had been defined by a scramble to meet Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which led the club to reluctantly cash in on academy graduates to balance the books.

Twelve months on, the Magpies appear to have learned their lesson.

The sale of Alexander Isak to Liverpool for £125 million and Nick Woltemade’s arrival from Stuttgart for £69 million dominated headlines this window.

Newcastle also pushed through a £55 million deal for Yoane Wissa from Brentford, finally landing the striker they had pursued after failed attempts to sign other targets.

The additions of Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, and Anthony Elanga further highlight the blending of established professionals with younger, developing talents.

Newcastle have adopted a strategy resembling that of Chelsea, who invest heavily in youth prospects that can be integrated into the first team or later sold for a profit. The policy shift feels directly linked to the scars of last summer, where the club’s lack of foresight in sales forced them into unwanted departures.

The most painful of those was Elliot Anderson, a boyhood product whose departure still lingers among supporters.

Anderson was the one that got away

Few transfers captured Newcastle’s PSR reality quite like the exit of Elliot Anderson.

Born in the North-East, Anderson represented pure profit under financial rules, having come through the academy system.

In 2024, he left for Nottingham Forest, with goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos heading the other way in a deal that neither the player nor the club truly wanted. Newcastle’s desperation at the time was obvious.

Winger Yankuba Minteh was reluctantly sold to Brighton while late moves for Isak and Anthony Gordon had even been considered to balance the books. The decision to sanction Anderson’s departure was a clear by-product of heavy spending in the early takeover years without meaningful outgoings.

For Anderson, however, the move proved beneficial.

At Forest, he escaped Newcastle’s midfield, where Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali, and Joelinton occupied all the available slots.

Instead, he became a vital cog in Nuno Espírito Santo’s side, registering 37 league appearances last season, with two goals and six assists.

The statistical profile underlines his all-round game.

Matches Played

37

Goals

2

Assists

6

Progressive Carries

52

Progressive Passes

143

Anderson ranked in the 88th percentile for assists per 90 (0.19) and 77th for shot-creating actions (3.07), demonstrating his ability to influence the final third, per FBref.

Off the ball, he impressed too: 88th percentile for tackles per 90 (3.07) and 87th for clearances (2.40), showing a willingness to work in deeper areas.

His successful take-ons, at 1.18 per 90 (89th percentile), reflect a player capable of carrying the ball under pressure.

That form earned Anderson his first senior England call-up, switching allegiance after previously representing Scotland at youth level.

For Newcastle, it was bittersweet: a homegrown talent thriving elsewhere, sacrificed in the name of compliance.

Alfie Harrison is the next big thing

While Anderson may be the one that got away, Newcastle could yet be vindicated in their youth-first policy if Alfie Harrison fulfils his potential.

Signed from Manchester City in January 2024, Harrison has been described by The Secret Scout as “one of the most exciting attacking midfielders in England.”

The 19-year-old has already clocked up 40 appearances for Newcastle’s youth sides, producing six goals and 13 assists, per Transfermarkt.

He even featured against Atlético Madrid in pre-season with the first team, a sign of how highly he is regarded by Eddie Howe’s coaching staff.

Though a loan move was discussed over the summer, Harrison has stayed put to train alongside senior internationals – exposure that could only accelerate his development.

Harrison operates best as a classic No.10, thriving between the lines where he can execute key passes or make late runs into the box.

That, however, is the tactical sticking point.

Howe rarely employs a traditional playmaker, preferring a midfield trio built on intensity and physicality.

Still, the hope is that a pathway is there.

Newcastle’s push to stockpile young talent in anticipation of both PSR pressure and long-term squad building creates room for players like Harrison to emerge.

If his numbers at youth level translate to the senior game, the Magpies could have unearthed a future star without the financial sting of another enforced sale.

For all the disappointment of losing Anderson, Newcastle’s recalibrated recruitment could ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself.

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ByAngus Sinclair Sep 25, 2025

If Harrison is given the right platform, the Magpies might just find their next homegrown success story waiting in the wings.

It was a case of what might have been for Bangladesh who declared with 37 overs left

Madushka Balasuriya21-Jun-2025

Taijul Islam got Angelo Mathews out in his last Test innings•AFP/Getty Images

Sri Lanka batted out 32 overs in the final session and ensured that the first Test in Galle ended in a draw. But it wasn’t a result without minor jeopardy, as Sri Lanka lost four wickets on the way before Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis shut shop for good.The teams shook hands with five overs left to play in the day, with the pair having played out 53 balls in their partnership. But reflection later on might leave Bangladesh with the one hanging question – could they have declared sooner?Dhananjaya and Kamindu had come together after Sri Lanka had lost both Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal in quick succession, both to the excellent Taijul Islam, who ended with figures of 3 for 23.But despite Taijul and Nayeem Hasan’s best efforts, it was clear the remaining six wickets would not fall before the 37 overs were up. But what if Bangladesh had a further 13 overs to play?Najmul Hossain Shanto celebrates his hundred•AFP/Getty Images

Valid question, but one we may never get an answer to. As things panned out, Bangladesh added 48 runs in 11 overs in the post-lunch session after a roughly two-and-a-half hour rain delay. Sri Lanka were set a target of 296 off 37 overs – at a required rate of eight an over – if they wanted to steal an unlikely win.Those 37 overs might have been more, but the primary goal of Bangladesh continuing to bat after the rain break seemed to be for Najmul Hossain Shanto getting to his second century of the game – it was the third instance of a Bangladesh batter scoring two centuries in the same Test, and the second time Shanto had accomplished the feat.It took 50 deliveries after the restart for Shanto to get to the milestone, during which Bangladesh had scored just 19 runs and lost the wickets of Litton Das and Jaker Ali – both succumbing to the growing turn on offer, and frustration with defensive lines down leg. In the next 16 balls, though, Bangladesh ransacked 28 – including a trio of sixes from Shanto down the ground off the spinners.That those runs had come as the pitch had begun to take some pretty extravagant turn, likely down to the moisture trapped under the covers, made them even more impressive. But it also served to bring into more critical light the pace at which Bangladesh had proceeded at the start of the day.Bangladesh led by 247 when rain forced a break•AFP/Getty Images

In the hour and a bit in the morning session before the rains came, Bangladesh had seemed content to plod along at a session run rate of just 3.15. Conventional wisdom would have indicated the need for a minimum of two sessions to bowl Sri Lanka out, and with Bangladesh no doubt wanting a lead in excess of 300, a run rate of five or more seemed to be the call of the day. But with Sri Lanka also happy to set defensive fields, Bangladesh – who have had a very lean period in Tests of late – had no desire to put valuable World Test Championship points at risk.In hindsight, maybe even with a lead of 247 – which is what they had by the break – the early declaration might have still been the correct option. There were 50 overs in total to play at that point, and there’s little doubt Bangladesh would have liked every one of those available to them.Taijul and Nayeem certainly would have, with both utilising the now stricken Galle surface much better than their Sri Lanka counterparts. Taijul in particular was proving a handful, threatening both edges – as highlighted by the wickets of Mathews and Chandimal. The former was caught bat-pad following an arm-ball that took the inside edge and popped up to silly point; the latter had one rip past his forward defence and peg back off stump.Earlier, he had seen Lahiru Udara advancing and dragged one shorter to zip it past the edge and have him stumped. Nayeem, meanwhile, had Nissanka playing early to one, and chipping it to short midwicket.There’s no way to say for sure how exactly the game would have panned out if the declaration had come sooner, but Taijul and Nayeem, more than most, would have loved to have found out.

In what could see them finally get one over on Real Madrid, Liverpool could yet hijack the Spanish giants’ move to sign an England international when 2026 arrives.

Slot slams "stupid" Ekitike red card

Away from potential incomings, it was one of Liverpool’s summer signings who stole the headlines for the wrong reasons against Southampton. After emerging from the bench, Hugo Ekitike was perfectly placed to score another late winner for Liverpool as they edged past the Saints in the Carabao Cup.

For a brief moment, the Frenchman was the hero of the hour. And then he continued his celebration by replicating Lionel Messi’s famous shirt celebration to receive his second yellow card and subsequent red card in the 86th minute. It’s a moment that he won’t be forgetting anytime soon and one that Arne Slot slammed in his post-match reaction.

The Dutchman told reporters: “I told him if you score in a Champions League final in the 87th minute after outplaying three players and hitting it into the top corner I can maybe understand that you are like ‘this is all about me’.

“I’m old-fashioned, I’m 47 and old and I haven’t played at this level but I did score a few goals and if I had scored a goal like this I would have turned around and walked up to Federico Chiesa and said this goal is all about you, not about me. “So needless, not smart, you call it stupid, I call it stupid as well.”

"Really difficult" – £150k-p/w Liverpool star admits he wasn't at "level" Slot wanted

The player is feeling much better now.

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It’s fair to say that the manager didn’t hold back when sharing his true feelings, but that’s the type of mistake that cannot happen at Europe’s top clubs. It’s the type of mentality that attracts players in the first place and the type that is now reportedly tempting a Real Madrid target.

Jarrad Branthwaite tempted by Liverpool move

As reported by Caught Offside, Jarrad Branthwaite is now tempted by a move to Liverpool and Manchester United, which could yet see him reject the chance to join Real Madrid in 2026. The Spanish club have admired the England defender from afar, but could see any potential move hijacked by Premier League opposition.

Speaking about Branthwaite’s desire to join a big club, Caught Offside’s Mark Brus wrote: “Everton have sometimes had to sell their star names to bigger clubs, though they’ll obviously hope to be able to keep Branthwaite for as long as possible. As per my sources, though, it’s well established that the talented young Englishman has the desire to play for a top club.”

Brus also claimed that Man United are expected to submit an offer worth as much as £60m to sign Branthwaite in 2026. Whether Everton deem that worthy of selling their star man or Liverpool decide to match that price is the big question.

It would certainly steal the headlines if one of the Toffees’ most important players jumped ship to Anfield.

Bernardo Silva has revealed that he knows "exactly" where he will play next summer with his Manchester City contract expiring in less than a year. The Portuguese midfielder last signed a renewal in 2023 and has often been linked with a departure in the past few years. Silva is now expected to call curtains on his illustrious City career, following other legends who departed in the past year.

Silva into the final year of his Man City contract

Silva has long been linked with a move away from City but remains a key player under Pep Guardiola. With his deal expiring at the end of the season, though, it seems the anticipated transfer is set to go through next summer. After being named the captain following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne, Silva is focused on putting the club "back where it belongs" before revealing his decision over his future.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportSilva is clear about his Man City future

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Silva said: "I know exactly what I'm going to do but it's not the time to talk about it. It's time to focus on City to try to do my best to put the club back where it belongs. In regard to my contract, I'm really focused on doing a proper season with Man City and being as well as possible to perform and to bring back the team and the club to the level where it deserves to be in the world."

New era at the Etihad Stadium

Silva is now the senior-most player in the City squad in terms of games played for the club, followed by John Stones and Phil Foden. The 2023 Champions League winners have officially kick-started a new era at the club, following the exits of icons like Kevin De Bruyne, Ederson, Kyle Walker, and Ilkay Gundogan. It is expected that he will not put pen to paper on a new deal next summer as the Cityzens continue to invest in youth. 

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Getty Images SportBenfica return on the cards?

"Yes, I can confirm that a contract is waiting for Bernardo Silva. And I really want to bring him in in January," said Benfica presidential candidate Joao Noronha Lopes earlier this month. Silva began his career at Benfica, whom he joined as an eight-year-old in 2002, and could mark an emotional return to the club 11 years after leaving. On the other hand, Serie A giants Juventus have also been reported to hold interest in acquiring the 31-year-old on a free transfer next summer. 

Bojan Miovski made his debut for Glasgow Rangers on Sunday in a 0-0 draw in the first Old Firm clash of the Scottish Premiership season at Ibrox.

The Macedonia international, who recently signed on a permanent deal from Girona, made some intelligent runs and used his body well to win a few crucial fouls to relieve pressure for his side.

Russell Martin’s next task is to build a team that can consistently create chances for the left-footed attacker, who did not get a ‘big chance’ in front of goal against Celtic.

Rangers make offer for Premier League forward

The Ibrox giants are looking to bolster their options out wide to provide the former Aberdeen marksman with more support before the end of the window.

Transfer Focus

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

According to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, Glasgow Rangers have made an official offer to sign Crystal Palace forward Jesurun Rak-Sakyi.

The journalist claims that the Light Blues and Celtic have both made last-gasp attempts to bring the English youngster up to Scotland on loan for the season.

Joseph adds that Leicester City and Lyon are also keen on signing the left-footed attacker, but it remains to be seen what Palace’s plans for him are on deadline day.

Why Rangers should sign Jesurun Rak-Sakyi

The Gers must push as hard as possible to seal a last-minute loan deal for Rak-Sakyi ahead of their rivals because he could be a huge threat at the top end of the pitch alongside Miovski.

Rangers have already found their new prolific scorer, hopefully, by signing the Macedonian star who scored 32 goals in two Premiership seasons during his time with Aberdeen, per Transfermarkt.

In Rak-Sakyi, the Gers could have a winger with the potential to provide a huge goal threat alongside Miovski, potentially taking some of the attention away from the centre-forward because the opposition defence will have to be wary of the threat that he poses.

The 22-year-old can score and create goals by cutting in on his left foot from the right flank, which could attract centre-backs to step out to close down his possible shot.

That could create space for Miovski, who showed glimpses of his intelligent runs on Sunday, to slip in behind off the last line if Rak-Sakyi is able to pick him out.

Appearances

43

34

Starts

40

22

Goals

15

7

Minutes per goal

233

248

Big chances created

5

3

Key passes per game

1.3

0.9

Assists

8

2

As you can see in the table above, the English dynamo can score and create goals at a decent rate, with 22 goals and ten assists in his last two full seasons in England.

These statistics show that Rak-Sakyi, who was described as “devastating” by U23 scout Antonio Mango, could cause plenty of problems for opposition defenders with his goal threat and his creativity.

This is why he could form an exciting partnership with Miovski at the top end of the pitch, because Rangers could have two players who have the quality to consistently be a threat in the final third, particularly with their goalscoring attributes.

With Djeidi Gassama, who has already scored four goals this season, on the left wing, Martin could have a prolific front three on his hands if they all gel and perform to their potential.

Martin cost Rangers the win by playing star who was worse than Aasgaard

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Tottenham Hotspur are now progressing towards a spectacular deal to sign an “extraordinary forward”, and a swift breakthrough on personal terms is likely.

Tottenham vying to sign new winger

In many ways, it has been a difficult summer for Tottenham, having missed out on Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White, leaving Daniel Levy with a lot of work to do before the transfer deadline, which is in less than one week’s time.

As we enter the final stages of the transfer window, Spurs appear to have three main targets on their transfer shortlist, all of whom enjoyed impressive 2024/25 campaigns.

Target

Current club

League G/A in 24/25

Rodrygo

Real Madrid

12

Maghnes Akliouche

AS Monaco

15

Savinho

Manchester City

11

However, it has proven to be difficult to get any deal over the line, with Real Madrid demanding around £86m for the Brazilian winger, while some Spurs chiefs are pessimistic about their chances of tempting Manchester City into a sale.

According to a report from TEAMtalk, however, a deal for Savinho is very much still on the cards, with talks now progressing, and Tottenham thundering towards what would be a spectacular signing.

The Lilywhites are in active talks over a deal for the 21-year-old, and Man City are now lining up a replacement, which suggests Pep Guardiola’s side will be willing to cash-in on the young winger before the September 1st deadline.

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2 ByDominic Lund Aug 26, 2025

Crucially, the starlet is keen on a move to north London, in order to become a key part of Thomas Frank’s project, which means a swift breakthrough on personal terms is now likely, although not yet agreed.

With discussions over a £70m+ deal progressing, it is now looking more likely the Brazil international will move to N17 before the deadline, which could be a major boost for Frank…

Savinho could be "extraordinary" signing for Spurs

Guardiola has previously made it clear he doesn’t want to see the winger leave, saying: “I am only concerned right now that Savinho will be with us for the rest of the season and hopefully many years, because of the potential he has at 21. He has to improve in final positions but he is an extraordinary player.”

It is true that the former Girona man is still raw, and his end product could be a lot better, having scored just one Premier League goal up to this point, but an assist tally of ten in his debut campaign at the Etihad Stadium is very impressive.

Tottenham desperately need to bolster their attacking options, and Savinho is the most exciting option on the shortlist, given that he is still only 21-years-old, and he has already proven himself in the Premier League, so it is exciting news that a deal is now looking more likely.

Chelsea have stepped up their pursuit of one player who’s now effectively ruled out every other destination this summer, according to reliable journalist David Ornstein.

The Blues are expected to be very busy in terms of both incomings and outgoings before the transfer deadline on September 1.

Cole Palmer

7.33

Moises Caicedo

7.02

Enzo Fernández

6.95

Nicolas Jackson

6.88

Noni Madueke

6.82

via WhoScored

Enzo Maresca has already watched Kepa Arrizabalaga, Basir Humphreys, Noni Madueke, Marcus Bettinelli, Mathis Amougou, Djordje Petrovic, João Félix, Armando Broja, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Lesley Ugochukwu leave Stamford Bridge this summer, raising nearly £220 million transfer fees.

This has allowed Chelsea to balance out the squad and make room for key new additions, with UEFA pressuring the west Londoners to produce a ‘positive transfer balance’, or face an inability to register summer signings for next season’s Champions League.

With more also expected to depart, Chelsea are currently in talks to seal a few further incomings as BlueCo give Maresca their full backing.

Chelsea have been linked with RB Leipzig sensation Xavi Simons for a while now, and it looks like things are seriously heating up.

Maresca’s side are advanced in their talks and The Netherlands international has removed Leipzig from his Instagram bio – a clear indicator that his move to London is gaining traction with Chelsea reliably believed to be far down the line in negotiations.

Some reports even suggest that Chelsea have reached a “total agreement” for Simons and only the final details are to be ironed out, but this is yet to be backed up by the wider media.

Simons isn’t the only player who’s dropped hints about a potential move to Chelsea on Instagram, either, with Man United winger Alejandro Garnacho deploying similar social media tactics.

The Argentine boldly liked a post from Fabrizio Romano linking him with a switch to London, which is again seen as a clear suggestion that he wants to join them.

Tottenham and Aston Villa have been named as alternative landing spots for Garnacho who’s determined to leave Old Trafford, but according to Ornstein, Chelsea face zero threat from either of them.

Alejandro Garnacho rules out every other club but Chelsea

The reporter, in an update on X, states that Garnacho only wants Chelsea ‘or nothing’.

For The Athletic, Ornstein writes that talks are ‘now advanced’ for the 22-year-old, who’s effectively ruled out all other options but a switch to Cobham.

In a further boost for Chelsea, United have been forced to drop their previous asking price of £70 million to around £50 million, as per the BBC, so Maresca could see the exciting winger join his squad in a cut-price deal.

Garnacho’s public Red Devils fallout could be cause for concern over his attitude, but The Telegraph report that Chelsea are satisfied with his personality after conducting extensive background checks.

Sheffield Wednesday have now suffered “another blow” regarding the future of a current player, according to an update from reliable journalist Joe Crann.

Grim summer for Sheffield Wednesday continues

This is a dark period in Owls history, with the club’s finances in dire straits and supporters desperately hoping to see Dejphon Chansiri sell the club.

Both Wednesday players and other club employees have seen long delays in their wages being paid in recent months, while Danny Rohl’s future as manager is very much up in the air.

Meanwhile, key players have now departed, including attacking heroes Josh Windass and Michael Smith – their contracts were both terminated – with nothing but negatives on show heading into the new Championship season.

Big changes have to happen at Wednesday as soon as possible, in terms of the ownership and finances, or it is difficult to see anything other than an extremely difficult 2025/26 season ahead of them.

"Great" Sheffield Wednesday player set to leave

Now, according to The Star‘s Crann on X, Sheffield Wednesday defender Akin Famewo is set to be the next player to leave the club this summer, with a move to Hull City edging closer:

“Akin Famewo is in talks with Hull City, and could be their player in the next couple of days. Another blow, although not an unexpected one, for SWFC this summer.”

These setbacks must be so hard to take for Owls fans, and while Famewo may not be an indispensable figure, he has still been a good servant at the back, being lauded by Crann in the past.

Famewo was a part of Wednesday’s squad that reached the Championship back in 2022/23, following a memorable run in the League One playoffs, – he started 15 league matches – and the 26-year-old’s defensive ability will be a miss.

The fact that Hull want to sign him shows that he is valued by other second-tier clubs, and he could prove to be a shrewd signing for them for a number of years. The question at the moment now seems to be, which Owls player will leave next?

Cook believes that Root can go on to surpass Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time tally

ESPNcricinfo staff09-Oct-2024Joe Root has become England’s top run-scorer in Test cricket, overtaking Alastair Cook when he reached 71 with a straight drive for four on the third morning of their first Test against Pakistan.Root acknowledged the landmark with a wave of his hand – and then his bat – to England’s players and coaching staff, who stood to applaud him on the dressing-room balcony at the Multan International Cricket Stadium. He started this tour 70 runs behind Cook’s career aggregate of 12,472, and went clear of him by driving Aamer Jamal down the ground.Last month, Root surpassed Cook’s record for the most Test centuries by an Englishman with twin hundreds against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. He has now drawn clear of Cook for total runs, too, and has moved into fifth on the list of all-time leading run-scorers in Test cricket. He was more than 800 runs behind Rahul Dravid, in fourth, when he overtook Cook.Root went past Cook’s tally of 33 Test centuries with twin tons at Lord’s•AFP/Getty Images

Root is still more than 3,000 runs behind Sachin Tendulkar’s world record, but Cook believes he has every chance of breaking it. “I can see him overhauling Sachin Tendulkar’s record,” Cook told the BBC. “When I retired, I thought there was every chance that my record will be broken. I thought only the effects of captaincy and the hunger that takes out of you would stop him. I think the fact that Ben Stokes has taken over the captaincy has helped Root.”You could say Sachin is still the favourite, but [only] just. He’s been so lucky with injuries. All great players who played for a long time have been lucky with injuries. You just never know what’s around the corner, but it has to be something like it that could stop him. But I don’t see that happening for Root to lose that hunger and ability to keep driving himself forward for the next couple of years.”The only slight hurdle in his way will be the Ashes series – there is always something happening around the series. It’s in 14 months’ time and there’s always a story about the damage that happens or doesn’t happen around every Ashes series. I’d give Sachin 51% and Root 49%. But I would be betting on Root to do it.”Related

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England seize opportunity after Brook triple, Root double flatten Pakistan

Pakistan await their date with mediocrity as familiar tale unfolds in Multan

Speaking ahead of the first Test, Root had played down the significance of the record. “The only reason it’s on my mind is because people keep asking me about it, to be honest,” he said. “I see myself playing Test cricket for a lot longer. It’s not like I’m going to get to a certain mark or a number and say, ‘Right, I’m done now.’ I just want to keep enjoying the game, keep playing.”With Ben Duckett unable to open the batting on the second evening in Multan and Ollie Pope deputising for him, Root was batting a spot higher than usual at No. 3. Having walked out to bat in the second over of England’s innings, Root combined with Zak Crawley and Duckett – who recovered overnight and came in at No. 4 – for century partnerships, as England chipped away at the deficit.Root made steady progress on the third morning, reaching 50 for the 99th time in his Test career when inside-edging Naseem Shah through square leg on the stroke of the drinks break. On 65, he survived an lbw shout when struck on the pad by Aamer Jamal, which Pakistan reviewed unsuccessfully; four balls later, he secured the England record.