In his capacity as a Fox Sports analyst, Alex Rodriguez had a front-row seat to the magical World Series that the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays pushed to, and beyond, its limits. In the end it was the defending champions who were able to secure back-to-back titles by outlasting their Canadian hosts last Saturday night in a game that brought more eyeballs to baseball than any in the previous eight years. So he had plenty of time to take in the energy and atmosphere that only added to the drama fans at home were able to enjoy. And to compare it to all previous versions of the Fall Classic.
Asked by if we just watched the greatest World Series every played, Rodriguez explained why he believes so.
"Yes," he said. "Well, in my lifetime, I've never. You know, that's obviously very subjective, but in my lifetime, I've never seen a better one. It had all the elements of just the juiciest, most delicious, World Series."
Rodriguez is not alone in his assessment, as many have wondered if the sport just enjoyed a high-water mark that will be difficult, if not impossible to match. The way he processed the seven-game greatness, however, is unique. Seated next to David Ortiz, Derek Jeter and Kevin Burkhardt, the former player was able to witness all the ingredients that went into making things buzz.
"It had three S’s, right?" Rodriguez said. "It had, it had superstars, it had strategy and it had incredible storylines. And what's great about baseball."
Rodriguez also spoke about the episodic nature of a baseball playoff series as opposed to the immediacy and one-and-doneness of other sports.
"Super Bowl has one like Tom Cruise movie. Over 100 million people will watch. What's different and what I think more compelling about a seven-game World Series, which are very rare—we only had two prior to this one in the last eight years—is that is like a mini docuseries and there's seven episodes.
"And just like , if you watch all six now, you're invested. You're hooked. You're hooked in the characters, the storyline, the strategy. And then you must watch game seven. So it was just awesome. I'm so proud of the game."
The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates in style Monday night, courtesy of a walk-off solo home run by Alec Burleson in the bottom of the ninth inning.
While it was a fun victory on a late summer night, a historically low number of fans were inside Busch Stadium to witness it.
The Cardinals are now just 65-67 on the season and it appears that they will miss the postseason for a third straight year. That lack of success might be the reason why only 17,675 fans were in attendance on Monday night. That number, according to the Derrick Goold, is the lowest in the stadium's history and the first time they have had under 20,000 people at a home game since the stadium was opened in 2006.
That's a tough look for a franchise that has won 11 World Series titles. But it's also a sign of the times for a club that has only won one two playoff series since 2014.
Lots of MLB fans roasted the Cardinals and their fans, who have been known to refer to themselves as the best in baseball.
The Cardinals will host the Pirates in the second game of their series Tuesday night at 7:45 p.m. ET.
Costa Rica’s World Cup hopes have taken a severe hit. A 1–0 loss to Haiti has left Miguel Herrera’s side on the brink in the CONCACAF qualifiers, with their direct path now hanging by a thread. Pressure around Herrera grew louder after the match as Los Ticos have a difficult path to next year's tournament.
AFPCosta Rica drop to third in Group C
Herrera’s team entered the match with a chance to seize control of the group, especially after Nicaragua stunned Honduras earlier in the day. Instead, slipped to third place, and their fate now depends on a combination of unlikely results.
Haiti struck the decisive blow just before halftime. Josué Casimir slipped a pass into the box for Ruben Providence, whose low cross found Frantzdy Pierrot for the opener. Keylor Navas immediately expressed his frustration, shouting toward a back line that reacted far too slowly. Despite pushing forward in the second half, Costa Rica never found the equalizer.
AdvertisementAFPLos Ticos must beat Honduras
The math is now unforgiving for Herrera. Costa Rica must defeat Honduras in San José next week and hope Haiti fail to beat Nicaragua. Anything less than a victory eliminates them entirely from direct qualification and could even shut the door on the playoff route.
AFPHerrera faces growing pressure
Pressure around Herrera grew louder after the match, including a tense exchange during his arrival to the postgame press conference. Asked whether he still believed he should lead the team for the decisive match, he didn’t hesitate. “It’s not my decision. If we don’t qualify, then we’ll have to consider what comes next. I’m committed to this project.”
Herrera took full responsibility for the team’s poor return – one win, one loss, and three draws in the final round – but emphasized that decisions about his future lie with federation president Osael Maroto.
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AFPNavas and Costa Rica now need a miracle
Costa Rica will now carry their fading World Cup hopes into a must-win showdown against Honduras – the group leader, but one that also arrives under significant pressure after a 2–0 defeat on the road to Nicaragua.
The MLB postseason is underway, some exciting baseball has already been played and some more is around the corner for the next month or so.
In order to properly enjoy this postseason, there are a few key rule changes to brush up on. MLB postseason rules differ from the regular season rules in two key ways.
Here's how.
What are the extra innings rules in the MLB playoffs?
Unlike in the regular season, where a "ghost runner" is placed on second base at the start of the top of the 10th and in any ensuing extra innings, postseason baseball reverts back to traditional rules. This means that, should any of the playoff games go to extra innings, pitchers will begin the frame with no traffic on the basepaths. While the pitch clock (more on that in a moment) will still shorten the game time, the lack of an automatic runner in extra innings could lead to some slightly longer games—and managers having to go deeper into their bullpens.
How many challenges do managers get in the MLB playoffs?
Unlike in the regular season, where managers only receive one challenge, skippers will have two challenges for each postseason game. Clubs retain the challenge if the call is overturned, but lose the challenge if no calls are overturned.
Other than that, each rule from the regular season carries over to postseason play, though it's worth going over a few of these rules as a reminder.
Is there still a pitch clock in the MLB postseason?
Yes, the 30-second timer between batters, as well as the 15 and 20-second timers between pitches with the bases empty and runners on, respectively, are still rules implemented in the MLB postseason. Additionally, just as is the case in the regular season, pitchers are limited to two disengagements (pickoff attempts or step-offs) per plate appearance, though these reset if the runner or runners advance during the plate appearance.
What about the three-batter minimum rule?
Yes, the three-batter minimum rule, first implemented in 2020, is implemented in the postseason. Pitchers must face a minimum of three batters or finish a half-inning. If the pitcher faces one batter to end an inning, he can be removed from the game but he is also allowed to return for a second inning. If he returns for a second inning, then he must face two more batters to reach the required total of three.
How is home-field advantage determined in the World Series?
The pennant winner with the better regular season record receives home-field advantage in the World Series, regardless of how the teams were seeded for the postseason. If the two pennant winners finished with the same regular season record, then a tiebreaker determines home-field advantage for the Fall Classic, in this order listed below:
On the eve of the tournament opener, the contrasts were subtle but telling in Guwahati. India’s training session was light, confident and precise. Avishkar Salvi, India’s bowling coach, tried Rana’s offspin grip before she showed him how it’s done. Kranti Goud charged in with rhythm and responded to match-specific challenges. It was a sight of a team that looked settled.Earlier in the afternoon, Sri Lanka had gone through a more muted, methodical session. They started with catching drills before quickly shifting to the nets. It was not all work and no play, though. Left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera teased the young seamer Malki Madara about getting Hasini Perera lbw, and Sugandika Kumari joked with fellow offspinner Dewmi Vihanga about why her grip was better.Two teams, two different rhythms. But the bigger picture was clear: this World Cup doesn’t begin with undercooked sides trying to find cohesion. This begins with teams well-prepared and clear on goals.Related
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Since the 2022 edition – which saw pandemic-hit schedules and limited preparation in the lead-up – the change has been striking. Sri Lanka, who didn’t qualify then and hadn’t played an ODI in three years, arrive with 31 games under their belt. India have been the busiest, having played 38 since the last edition, including 14 this year.”We’ve played more ODI cricket after the last T20 World Cup,” India captain Harmanpreet Kaur said. “We have won most of the games. That has definitely given us a lot of confidence to do well in ODI cricket. We now have a lot of experience. This group has played together for so many years. There is a lot more clarity.”And that clarity is evident – not just in numbers, but in body language, in banter, in how batters walk into the nets, and bowlers finish their spells. This World Cup picks up where the teams left off, with momentum already building.
Form guide
India LWLWL Sri Lanka LLWWL3:45
Athapaththu: ‘Would like to see an Asian team lift the trophy’
In the spotlight: Jemimah Rodrigues and Udeshika Prabodhani
She has already played 51 ODIs, but the match against Sri Lanka will be Jemimah Rodrigues’ maiden appearance in a 50-over World Cup. A natural top-order batter, she has slotted seamlessly into India’s middle order. Rodrigues scored her first ODI hundred earlier this year and showcased her finishing ability during India’s last two series – the tri-series in Sri Lanka involving South Africa, and the tour of England. With the pitch at the ACA Stadium expected to be flat, Rodrigues will aim to make her World Cup debut a memorable one.Veteran left-arm seamer Udeshika Prabodhani will be key for Sri Lanka with the new ball. Her ability to swing the ball and maintain control during the field restrictions has been invaluable. She could pose a challenge to India’s right-hand opener Pratika Rawal with her inswingers. However, match rustiness could be a factor – Prabodhani last played international cricket at the 2024 T20 World Cup, and hasn’t featured in an ODI since August 2024. But if her performance in the last warm-up game is any indication – 2 for 26 from six overs, including two maidens – Sri Lanka have little to worry about.
Team news: Amanjot could return
Harmanpreet confirmed that the entire squad is fit, which could pave the way for Amanjot Kaur’s return to the XI after recovering from a back injury. That would likely mean only one of Sneh Rana or Radha Yadav makes the final cut. While Amanjot did not bowl in either of the warm-up games, on the eve of the match, she bowled a short spell and then spent some time batting in the nets.India (probable): 1 Smriti Mandhana, 2 Pratika Rawal, 3 Harleen Deol, 4 Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), 5 Jemimah Rodrigues, 6 Richa Ghosh (wk), 7 Deepti Sharma, 8 Amanjot Kaur/Radha Yadav, 9 Sneh Rana, 10 Kranti Goud, 11 Renuka SinghBased on the two warm-up matches, Sri Lanka are expected to have Hasini Perera opening with Chamari Athapaththu. Vishmi Gunaratne, usually an opener, is likely to bat at No. 4. With Prabodhani back, only one of Achini Kulasuriya and Madara will play.Sri Lanka (probable): 1 Hasini Perera, 2 Chamari Athapaththu (capt), 3 Harshitha Samarawickrama, 4 Vishmi Gunaratne, 5 Kavisha Dilhari, 6 Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), 7 Nilakshika Silva, 8 Sugandika Kumari, 9 Inoka Ranaweera, 10 Malki Madara/Achini Kulasuriya, 11 Udeshika Prabodhani2:06
Harmanpreet: ‘No pressure at all’ playing World Cup at home
Pitch and conditions
On Monday, after a spell of slightly cooler weather, the evening in Guwahati turned noticeably muggier. Around the start of play, temperatures are expected to hover in the low 30°C, though it may feel hotter under the afternoon sun. The centre pitch will be used, which has minimal grass.
Stats and trivia
The ACA Stadium will become the 55th venue in India to stage a women’s ODI.
Kavisha Dilhari’s 26 wickets are the most for Sri Lanka in ODIs since the 2022 World Cup. Three Indians have surpassed that mark in the same period – Deepti Sharma (59), Renuka Singh (35) and Sneh Rana (27).
For the first time since 2016, Athapaththu is not Sri Lanka’s leading ODI run-getter in a calendar year. Harshitha Samarawickrama leads the pack with 336 runs, with Athapaththu fifth on the list.
Smriti Mandhana’s 2100 runs are the most by any batter since the last ODI World Cup. The next best is Laura Wolvaardt with 1736.
One of India’s three ODI defeats to Sri Lanka came earlier this year.
Quote
“No doubt it’s a quite new venue for us. But in India, many stadiums have a very similar feel, similar pitches, and we have played a lot of cricket in India. So we are taking it as an opportunity.” “Udeshika is our strike bowler, she is the most senior player in my team. If I have to take a decision, sometimes I go to her for an opinion, and she helps me out. That is the [equation] we have. It’s a big privilege for me to play with her.”
Although Major League Baseball did release new uniforms for All-Star weekend in Atlanta, the league thrilled fans when they announced the jerseys would be worn for everything but the All-Star Game.
The MLB decided to revert its All-Star Game dress code back to a previous format where players would wear the uniforms of their respective teams, rather than donning the ASG-specific attire. Players wore the All-Star jerseys at other events over the festivities in Atlanta, including Monday night's Home Run Derby.
For the All-Star Game on Tuesday, National League players wore their home white uniforms at Truist Park, home of the Atlanta Braves, while American League players wore their road jerseys. Both squads did rock All-Star specific hats, though. With the traditional threads back in action for the Midsummer Classic, fans were thrilled at the league's aesthetically pleasing decision:
Tradition is back—and hopefully it's here to stay.
The players from both teams stuck to their own routines, but the buzz is expected to grow when they face each other
Shashank Kishore06-Sep-202513:47
Runorder: What is India’s best XI for the Asia Cup?
Shortly after 7pm, all eyes at the ICC Academy turned towards the nets area of the Pakistan team. They’d just arrived for their final training session ahead of Sunday’s tri-series final against Afghanistan in Sharjah.Would there be a cross-over with India, who were already in the middle of their own preparations? Would players exchange pleasantries or keep their distance? Those hoping for a moment worth filming were left disappointed as both teams stuck to their routines.India’s session spanned nearly three hours in which each of their specialist batters spent more than an hour in the middle, before the allrounders padded up and whacked the ball into all corners to bring down what turned out to be more range-hitting than a net session aimed at players finding touch.Related
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Pakistan batted at the nets area tucked away in a quiet corner, away from the prying eyes. They prepped on surfaces that offered turn, bite and uneven bounce, perhaps simulating what’s in store against Rashid Khan, AM Ghazanfar and Noor Ahmad come Sunday. Away from the nets, Shaheen Shah Afridi took a few catches and did a light warm-up, while Haris Rauf ran laps.The assortment of surfaces at the ICC Academy, as many as 40 of them – largely Asian but also some that replicate bouncy conditions like at the WACA, Gabba and some that offer swing and seam – were put to good use by as many as 60 players over the last few days, including those from Oman and Hong Kong.By the time training wrapped up on Saturday, the organisers breathed a sigh of relief. Pakistan had a game to play on Sunday, and India announced a rest day.The evening began with India doing a bronco drill with cones placed at 20, 40 and 60 metres distances. The squad split into three groups of five. Trainer Adrian Le Roux called the shots, Sitanshu Kotak kept score, while head coach Gautam Gambhir turned cheerleader. The exercise wasn’t about results as much as it was about simulating match-day conditions in the event that India field first in the heat.Once the lights took full effect, the players shifted into full-fledged centre-wicket nets. Friday had been about easing in, but Saturday had a sharper edge, perhaps even giving us a peek into combinations that are slowly beginning to emerge.Purely on evidence of the first two days, it seems as if Jitesh Sharma may have a slight edge over Sanju Samson as India’s first-choice wicketkeeper. He underwent extended batting stints on Saturday, with Gambhir watching closely from behind the nets. At one point, he appeared to advise Jitesh about some of his premeditated attempts at scoops and pick-up shots.The Indian team during their first training session ahead of Asia Cup 2025•Shashank Kishore/ESPNcricinfo LtdSamson, meanwhile, only took throwdowns to begin with and sat watching the other batters go through their paces. Just before the session wound down, though, he padded up and hit the ball far and long. Out came the pulls, flat-bats and some heaves that had him occasionally grimace at losing his shape.All told, there was little to suggest anything was off. His timing was crisp and the sound it made off the sweet spot had those patrolling the boundaries and beyond repeatedly running distances to fetch the ball hit into the outer periphery of the ICC Academy Ovals, some even into Pakistan’s training area.Long before Samson took guard, Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Tilak Varma were the first to stride out, followed by Suryakumar Yadav, Rinku Singh, and Jitesh. For the next 90 minutes, they faced a mix of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya.Then came a battery of local net bowlers that included three wristspinners and two left-arm seamers, all instructed to go flat out. India’s two throwdown specialists jumped in periodically, cranking up the pace whenever the session needed a jolt. India completed a four-hour-long training session close to 9pm.Sunday is rest day, with the Indian team lined up to have two more sessions in the lead-up to their Asia Cup opening game against UAE on September 10.
Are Manchester United back on track? It’s probably premature to make such a conclusive claim, but then we can’t help but notice the hint of success now that Ruben Amorim has strung together a five-match unbeaten run in the Premier League.
It was refreshing to see the Portuguese coach speak candidly after the recent draw at Tottenham Hotspur, though. Amorim understands that, while progress has been made in recent months, there is so much work still to be plied.
While the likes of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha have reshaped the Red Devil frontline for the better, there’s no question that issues remain in the centre of the field, even with Casemiro resurgent and the skipper, Bruno Fernandes, in fine form.
Man Utd's search for a midfielder
INEOS and the Manchester United recruitment team have accepted that the midfield requires something of a rebuild, with Bruno and Casemiro into their 30s and Kobbie Mainoo out of sorts.
One of the pleasing changes of recent months has been a focus on adding Premier League-proven quality. Mbeumo and Cunha stand as testaments to this. Now, the same logic must be applied in the centre.
There are a number of possibilities, the most noisy of which centres on England star Elliot Anderson, though Nottingham Forest have placed a prohibitive £100m price tag on their prized star’s name.
United are ready to spend in 2026, though, and could instead make a move for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, having profiled the Cameroonian talent last summer.
According to GIVEMESPORT and Fabrizio Romano, Old Trafford Director of Football Jason Wilcox has held positive discussions with the young midfielder; however, it looks like Brighton have doubled down on their £115m valuation.
Crucially, Baleba is “very keen” on leaping at the chance to sign for Amorim’s outfit, and so a deal could certainly be pulled off next year.
Why Man Utd want Carlos Baleba
Man United have needed a mobile centre-midfielder for a while, and in Baleba, they might just land the perfect player.
The Brighton star is into his third season in the Premier League, and though he hasn’t been at his best since the summer, this is likely because of the fallout from United’s failed attempt to bring him away from Fabian Hurzeler’s outfit in August.
Hailed by analyst Joao Miguel as being a “transition monster” who “eats hectares of space for lunch”, the 5 foot 11 star would dovetail right into the way Amorim wants to play, perhaps even more so than Anderson, who is firmly rooted in Forest’s counter-pressing brand of football.
Anderson might be more mobile and energetic in his game, but Baleba’s mix of tough-tackling defending and ball-playing quality makes him the perfect alternative, and one who could even come to surpass the England man.
For all the gains United have made in recent months, they are still an imperfect outfit. Too easy to catch on the break and lacking physicality, xGA data reveals Amorim’s side to be among the most statistically porous in the division.
Premier League 25/26 – Highest xGA Totals
Club
Goals Conceded
xGA
Burnley
22
23.4
Nott’m Forest
20
16.6
Man United
18
16.4
West Ham
23
16.3
Wolves
25
16.0
Data via FBref
Baleba’s strength and ground-covering presence would ease this problem and then some, adding the fresh legs needed to keep Bruno on his A-game. This positive chain would ripple through to the forwards, who are already showing such promise.
Anderson is emerging as a talented midfielder, and either would be a credit to the Man United project. However, Baleba’s desire to move to Manchester, the club’s comprehensive profiling of his style and his powerful and athletic approach could see him emerge as the pick of the bunch.
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“When we dropped Shaheen and Nawaz, that’s where the game changed,” the Bangladesh coach said
Mohammad Isam25-Sep-20253:15
Why do Bangladesh struggle in pressure situations?
Bangladesh coach Phil Simmons felt three dropped catches followed by “bad decisions” from the batters in a 136-run chase against Pakistan upended his team’s chance of reaching the Asia Cup 2025 final. Bangladesh lost by 11 runs in their Super Fours fixture after Pakistan’s lower order bailed them out of a dire situation.Pakistan were 51 for 5 when Nurul Hasan and Mahedi Hasan dropped Shaheen Shah Afridi in the 12th over. Afridi went on to hit two sixes in a 13-ball 19 and hand Pakistan a bit of momentum. After he fell, Parvez Hossain Emon dropped Mohammad Nawaz on zero; Nawaz went on to make 25 off 15 balls with two sixes and a four.Fielders often have a difficult time picking the ball up against Dubai’s unusual “ring of fire” floodlights, but Simmons didn’t think this had been an issue with any of the chances.Related
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“When we dropped Shaheen and Nawaz, that’s where the game changed,” he said. “Before that, we were in control. Some of the catches maybe [had something to do with the lights] but I don’t think the ones we dropped had anything to do with the lights.”Simmons felt Bangladesh’s batters had taken better decisions against Sri Lanka compared to this chase against Pakistan. Bangladesh hit more sixes than Pakistan, but they also lost a number of wickets while trying to play big shots. Simmons also suggested that the team had missed captain Litton Das, who sat out his second straight game with a side strain.Mohammad Nawaz had Mahedi Hasan caught at cover•AFP/Getty Images
“We didn’t have to chase it in any [particular number of] overs. We just had to win the game,” Simmons said. “It was just bad decisions. All of the teams have that at some point. It was us today. We didn’t make the best shot selections.”We just chased 160 [169 vs Sri Lanka] two games ago. We are not a team that can lose Tanzid [Hasan] and captain [Litton] in one game and just fill [the void] like that. We are getting to that stage, we are not there yet. Losing the captain in such good form is a big thing for us.”We chased 160 [169] on the same wicket, where we made better batting decisions. Batting order doesn’t say we batted well or badly. We made bad decisions today.”Bangladesh have historically struggled to match the most successful T20I sides when it comes to strike rates. Simmons felt they were starting to address this issue, but what cost them in this game was their inability to build partnerships.”The [strike-rate] gap will reduce the more we play at the international level, the guys will know what to do at this level,” he said. “I agree that our strike-rate isn’t up there, but we are up there in six-hitting. I don’t think it is about our ability to score quickly. We have to bat for longer and put on partnerships.”Bangladesh shuffled their batting order in this chase, with Mahedi Hasan promoted to No. 4. Simmons felt this was the right move given Mahedi’s ability to counter pace, even if he only managed 11 off 10 in this game.”You look at it as someone batting at No 4. I look at it as someone taking on the pacers in the powerplay,” Simmons said. “He could have taken on the pacers more than if he went in the lower order against the spinners. I had Jaker [Ali] and Shamim [Hossain] down there, who could take on the spinners.”The defeat against Pakistan ended Bangladesh’s Asia Cup campaign. They beat Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in succession before going down in back-to-back matches against India and Pakistan.All was not lost, though, and Simmons pointed out a couple of positives from the competition..”[Saif Hassan] is definitely the biggest positive from this [campaign],” he said. “The other one is how our bowlers did in the whole tournament. They were spot-on, every game.”
Manchester United supporters have for so long been used to countless levels of success and trophies – often having the bragging rights over the supporters of their rivals.
However, over recent years, the Red Devils faithful have often been disappointed, with only a handful of FA Cups and Carabao Cups to show for their efforts.
The club have also gone an unthinkable 12 years without a Premier League triumph, with no manager able to win the title since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement.
Ruben Amorim is the latest manager to try his luck at Old Trafford, with the hierarchy already handing the 40-year-old over £200m worth of additions since his arrival 12 months ago.
However, despite his spending spree in the summer transfer window, he could be about to be handed another significant backing from the board to aid his quest for success in the role.
United’s hunt for a new midfielder in the January window
The recent additions may have massively improved the options in the final third, but neglected the central midfield department, which desperately needs addressing in the winter.
Jobe Bellingham has been one name mentioned with a potential move to Old Trafford in recent weeks, after failing to nail down his side in Borussia Dortmund’s starting eleven.
The 20-year-old has started just two Bundesliga games in 2025/26, which could see the Englishman being tempted to return to his homeland to reignite his once-promising career.
However, he’s not the only player currently in their sights, with Nottingham Forest sensation Elliot Anderson another midfielder the Red Devils hierarchy are targeting.
According to one Spanish outlet, Amorim’s side are currently preparing a bid in the region of £100m for the England international – a deal that would be a club-record, surpassing the fee paid for Paul Pogba.
The report also states that the hierarchy have been closely monitoring the 23-year-old in recent months and are preparing a move before his value soars further amid his recent international success.
Why United’s latest target would be perfect for Bruno
Bruno Fernandes has for so long been a shining light within the United ranks, but he’s had to take on a new responsibility within the first-team side in recent weeks.
As a result of the big-money additions in the final third, he’s had to drop into a slightly deeper number eight role – a position which is a slightly unfamiliar one to him.
Given his previous attacking midfield role, the 31-year-old still likes to get forward and impress – as seen by his tally of four chances created against Forest – the most of any player on the pitch.
However, if Bruno is to continue to do so during Amorim’s spell, he desperately needs a deep-lying option alongside him to regain possession and allow him to reach the heights he achieved last season.
Casemiro has recently partnered the Portuguese international, but at 33, he’s coming to the back end of his career – with a long-term replacement needed in January.
Anderson could provide Amorim with just that, with the 23-year-old having the talents to be an immediate fan-favourite whilst having the potential to improve further in the years ahead.
He’s developed into an elite-level number six in 2025/26, with the Englishman ranking at the top of 13 different categories for all midfielders in the Premier League this season.
Numbers such as 2.6 tackles won and 7.7 duels won per 90 showcase his ball-winning capabilities, which have led to one commentator labelling him as “world-class.”
Such numbers would allow Bruno to operate in his slightly more advanced role, taking the defensive responsibility away from him and reach his peak levels – as seen in 2024/25.
Elliot Anderson – PL stats (25/26)
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
10
Goals & assists
1
Pass accuracy
87%
Progressive passes
8.9
Passes into final third
8.8
Take-ons completed
2.5
Ball recoveries
8.5
Tackles made
2.6
Duels won
7.7
Stats via FBref
Anderson has also thrived with the ball at his feet, subsequently registering 8.9 progressive passes and 8.8 passes into the final third per 90 – figures which would hand Bruno the ammunition he needs to create chances in attacking areas.
Other numbers, such as 2.5 take-ons attempted and 8.5 ball recoveries made, further highlight his phenomenal all-round quality – with the younger certainly one of the country’s hottest properties.
A deal for his signature would certainly cost the hierarchy a pretty penny, but it would allow the club to land the deep-lying option they have been craving for many months.
The prospect of Anderson partnering with Bruno at the heart of the side is one for the fanbase to get excited about, with such a duo potentially leading Amorim to new heights during his tenure at Old Trafford.
Not Bruno or Mbeumo: Man Utd star is becoming one of the "best in the world"
Manchester United have already unearthed a new world-class under Ruben Amorim.