Latest news with #forwardline
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lille and Lyon interested in Toulouse's Yann Gboho
Toulouse FC have seen their forward line decimated this summer. Joshua King departed following the expiry of his one-year deal; Zakaria Aboukhlal, the club's top scorer last season, joined Torino on a permanent deal; and Shavy Babicka also left on a permanent deal. There could yet be a further departure. Yann Gboho (24) has impressed since joining Toulouse from Cercle Brugge. In 52 games, he has nine goals and eight assists. However, his impact and ability to eliminate opponents is what makes the winger so important to Le TéFéCé. However, he could join King, Aboukhlal, and Babicka in departing. As per a report from RMC Sport journalist , two Ligue 1 clubs, Lille OSC and Olympique Lyonnais, are interested in the winger. Turkish side Beşiktaş are also in the race to sign Gboho, who is valued at €12m by his club. Hawkins adds that it is Beşiktaş who are currently best placed in the race. GFFN | Luke Entwistle
New York Times
07-08-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Manchester United's new £200m attack: How Benjamin Sesko fits with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo
Good things come in threes — or at least Ruben Amorim will be hoping so. The Manchester United head coach is set to completely refresh his forward line with the addition of three exciting new attacking options. Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo joined earlier in the window and now the club have agreed a deal with RB Leipzig for centre-forward Benjamin Sesko that will take their spending on a new attack past £200m ($268m). Advertisement It's a tantalising prospect for United fans. While their defence was found sorely wanting last season, shipping 54 goals, United have still managed to finish sixth on three occasions in the past decade conceding this number or more. Instead, it was their stuttering attack that proved more damaging: United scored just 44 goals in 2024-25, their lowest-ever return in a Premier League season. It's an area that clearly demanded a reboot, but can the new trio gel and flourish within Amorim's system? Projecting how an individual player will perform at a new club is always fraught with uncertainty. The crystal ball becomes murkier still when trying to anticipate the chemistry of an entirely rebuilt forward line. Still, the roles and performances of the trio at their respective clubs in recent seasons offer encouraging signs that they can complement and even elevate each other's strengths. The most basic test of this fluidity is positional: will they get in each other's way? We don't know what exact configuration Amorim will settle on next season — Sesko has yet to sign while Mbeumo and Cunha have played just 45 minutes together in a preseason friendly against Everton — but on paper the trio appear well-balanced. Looking at their touch maps from last season, Mbeumo shows a strong preference for the right flank, Cunha drifts inside from the left rather than hugging the touchline, and Sesko typically operates through the middle, making it entirely feasible to start all three in their favoured positions. But simply slotting three talented players in their favoured roles is no guarantee of chemistry. What matters most is how they interact. Does the centre-forward make the kind of runs the wide players like to pick out? Do they play the passes he thrives on? Do they press as a coherent unit? Cunha and Mbeumo profile as near mirror images of one another, which should allow them to dovetail naturally and play off each other. Both excel at driving their teams up the pitch with surging ball carries and progressive passes — the kind of attacking profiles United sorely lacked last season, as shown in the graphic below. Cunha also brings the added benefit of having played as a left-sided No 10 for Wolves in a 3-4-2-1 system, the same setup Amorim is steadfastly committed to at United. What's less clear is how these wide attackers will link up with Sesko. Part of that uncertainty stems from the Slovenian's relative inexperience, coupled with two contrasting campaigns at Leipzig that muddy the waters when it comes to identifying his natural playing style. When Sesko signed for Leipzig, he was deployed as a classic penalty-box striker — playing on the shoulder of the last defender, with most of his touches concentrated in advanced areas. But last season, as Leipzig's form cratered and their attacking issues began to resemble United's, the creative supply line faltered. Sesko was often forced to drop deeper to get involved. Advertisement To get a better sense of how he might fit, we can look at the kind of centre-forward Cunha and Mbeumo have thrived alongside in the past, what Amorim typically demands from his strikers, and how well Sesko matches that profile. While they share stylistic traits, Mbeumo and Cunha tend to look for slightly different things from their centre-forward. For starters, Mbeumo enjoyed a much stronger partnership with Yoane Wissa at Brentford last season than Cunha did with Jorgen Strand Larsen at Wolves. Mbeumo combined with Wissa 166 times, compared to just 80 passes between Cunha and Strand Larsen. But for the Cameroonian international, it wasn't just about this link-up play. He thrived just as much on Wissa's tireless off-ball movement, which intelligently created space for him to exploit. The sight of Wissa dragging a defender away with an overlapping or underlapping run, allowing Mbeumo to cut inside and curl one in with his left foot, became a regular feature at the Gtech Community Stadium last season. By contrast, Cunha typically looked for Strand Larsen to drop deep, using the Norwegian's imposing physical frame to play quick wall passes that allowed Cunha to burst towards the edge of the box as he cut inside from the left. One such sequence is shown below, taken from Wolves' 3-0 home win against Leicester last season. Across both seasons at Leipzig, Sesko has shown this willingness to drop deep and link up with the midfield. According to tracking data from SkillCorner, he has ranked highly among European strikers for both runs coming short and runs that support the ball carrier in each of his Bundesliga campaigns. This suggests that he can offer Cunha and Mbeumo a platform for quick, fluid, short-passing combinations. But it's long, direct runs into the channels that Amorim truly prizes in his centre-forwards — movements that stretch defences and open up space for the two No 10s to attack. Sesko made more of these runs during his debut campaign, but they became less frequent as Leipzig's overall form declined. By contrast, existing forward Rasmus Hojlund has consistently shown a willingness to make these runs, even if he often remains peripheral in build-up play. Advertisement United's style under the Portuguese coach is built on slow, patient build-up — only Manchester City recorded a lower direct speed in the league last season, but long passes into the channels for the striker remain a key tactical outlet. While Hojlund may be more eager to make these kinds of movements, the issue lies in what happens when the ball is actually played into him. Despite standing at 6ft 3in, Hojlund struggles in the air, winning just 25 per cent of his aerial duels last season — a figure that ranks him near the bottom among strikers across Europe. What Sesko may lack in movement, he makes up for with his ability to make the ball stick. The scatter plot below highlights just how much more aerially dominant he is than Hojlund. He also far outstrips the Dane for successful take-ons per 90 minutes — an important trait for when long balls are lumped forward and the striker must fend off defenders while waiting for the attacking cavalry to arrive. United don't yet have the structure behind the attack to support a Haaland-type forward — one who loiters around the box, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. Their No 9 needs to roll up their sleeves, get their shorts muddy, and get involved. And there's plenty of evidence that Sesko is more than willing to do just that. But perhaps most encouraging is his Haaland-like knack for finding and finishing chances, regardless of what's going on behind him. Leipzig have endured two topsy-turvy campaigns, yet Sesko hit double figures for goals in both. In fact, all three of United's new forwards scored more than 10 goals last season. The easiest and quickest way for them to build chemistry and confidence is to carry that trait over to Old Trafford. (Top photos: Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
The Guardian
04-08-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Rio Ngumoha shines to fuel Liverpool's optimism for new season
A vacancy has arisen on the left of Liverpool's forward line and an early, eye-catching application to fill the role has arrived from a 16-year-old. Rio Ngumoha further enhanced his first team claims with a sparkling display against Athletic Bilbao that underlined the formidable strength, and options, available to Arne Slot. Ngumoha opened the scoring superbly and teed up a second goal for Darwin Núñez inside five minutes at Anfield in the first of two pre-season friendlies against the Basque club. A packed Anfield crowd had to wait for the second fixture to catch a first glimpse of new signings Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Hugo Ekitiké and Jeremie Frimpong. Ngumoha kept them entertained and whetted the appetite prior to their appearances as Liverpool recorded a comfortable 4-1 win in match one. The left winger is not eligible to sign a professional contract until he turns 17 on the 29th of this month but showed why Chelsea were livid when Liverpool tempted him away from their academy last summer. In only the second minute of his second senior appearance at Anfield the teenager, who made his full debut against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup last season, set off from the halfway line and, with Athletic defenders all in retreat, curled an excellent finish into the bottom corner of the Kop goal from 20 yards. Ngumoha produced something similar in Liverpool's previous pre-season outing against Yokohama F Marinos last week. That goal came on the day Luis Díaz completed his £65.5m transfer to Bayern Munich, creating an opening on the left that could be filled by any one of Cody Gakpo, Wirtz, Ekitiké and perhaps the 16-year-old talent from London. His display was enough to prompt chants of 'Rio' from the Kop and a song in his honour from the singer who appeared during the interval. Ngumoha's emergence – predicted with confidence by John Terry when he lamented the youngster's exit from Chelsea – is timely for Liverpool as they await Newcastle's next move on Alexander Isak. There may not be a rush to replace Díaz given the options already at Slot's disposal. The Premier League champions can afford to wait on their prime target for the No 9 role and leave their £110m offer for Isak on Newcastle's table. Three minutes after his individual goal Ngumoha headed down a Ben Doak cross for Núñez to convert from close range. Anyone looking for clues as to Núñez's next step – with Al Hilal interested in taking him to the Saudi Pro League – will have noted the hand-on-the-heart celebration that followed from the £60m-rated Uruguay international in front of the Kop. A glimpse of Liverpool's past and future, perhaps. Doak and Harvey Elliott, two other players who could leave Anfield in this window, were also on the scoresheet in the first contest against Ernesto Valverde's side. Ngumoha's footwork and pace also impressed in the 67 minutes he was on the pitch. He received a well-earned rousing reception when replaced by Trent Koné-Doherty. The opening game started at 5pm as scheduled despite supporters in the Main Stand having to be evacuated just over an hour before kick off due to a false alarm. Liverpool's first appearance on home soil since the tragic deaths of Diogo Jota and his brother, André Silva, was marked by the club's former captain Phil Thompson and Athletic president, Jon Uriarte, laying wreaths in front of the Kop before the game. There was a moving moment 20 minutes in when everyone inside the stadium rose to their feet to applaud Liverpool's number 20. Play stopped and players from both teams also joined in the applause for Jota and Silva. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion Slot was without Virgil van Dijk for both Bilbao games due to illness. The Liverpool head coach indicated the club captain could be a doubt for Sunday's Community Shield against Crystal Palace. Conor Bradley and Joe Gomez were also absent through injury, forcing Slot to deploy 18-year-old midfielder Trey Nyoni in central defence for the first Bilbao contest and Luca Stephenson at right-back, while goalkeeper Alisson was unavailable having left Liverpool's recent pre-season tour of Asia due to personal reasons. Summer signings Freddie Woodman and Armin Pecsi filled in for the first choice goalkeeper, playing one half each, while Georgia international Mamardashvili made his Anfield bow in the second game behind a central defence of Ibrahima Konaté and Wataru Endo. That is one department where the champions appear light at present. Ngumoha could add to their riches up front.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Spain international emerges as shock Barcelona alternative to Marcus Rashford
Barcelona are looking to strengthen their forward line this summer, and it is no secret that the position is their top priority. After missing out on Nico Williams, and with Luis Diaz looking a near impossible deal, the Blaugrana are looking into alternatives. Top of that shortlist of alternative options is Marcus Rashford, who is no longer wanted by Manchester United and set to leave this summer. The England international is holding out for a move to Barcelona, but Director of Football Deco seems unconvinced by the idea. Other potential alternatives that have been named include Antonio Nusa and Rafael Leao. Barcelona interested in Bryan Zaragoza However another surprise option has emerged as a potential candidate to add depth to the Blaugrana frontline. As per El Chiringuito, Barcelona have been in contact with the agents of Bayern Munich forward Bryan Zaragoza. They are keen on Zaragoza as a potential alternative on the left. Negotiations for a return to La Liga Zaragoza had been in negotiations for a return to La Liga as it was. Celta Vigo had shown interest in the former Granada man, who is not part of the plans at Bayern Munich. However negotiations had been progressing at a slow pace, and there have been no recent updates on a proposed loan move to Balaidos. He had agreed terms with Celta though. Image via CA Osasuna Advertisement Ups and downs for Bryan Zaragoza The Blaugrana have shown previous interest in Zaragoza, so the idea of a move to Barcelona is not entirely out of the blue. Before his €17m move to Bayern, Barcelona scouted the Spain international, and last summer, there was talk that he could be an option on loan for the Catalan side. Zaragoza, 23, returned to La Liga on loan last season with Osasuna, and showed flashes of brilliance, particularly against Barcelona, but after an injury in December struggled for consistency, eventually finishing with a goal and six assists in 28 appearances.
