Nottingham Forest are ready to make a sizeable offer to complete the signing of a new centre-back this summer, according to reports in the player’s homeland.
Nottingham Forest's Champions League hopes damaged
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side blew a wonderful opportunity to jump back to third in the Premier League on Thursday night, losing 2-0 at home to Brentford. Forest’s performance looked nervy throughout the evening, with the team and the supporters aware of the magnitude of the occasion, and they simply couldn’t produce the desired display and result.
Nottingham Forest managerNunoEspiritoSantobefore the match
The Reds’ defeat leaves them sitting sixth in the league table with four matches remaining, as they prepare to make the trip to Crystal Palace on Monday evening, which is another tough game against a side who have just reached the FA Cup final.
Granted, Forest are only behind fifth-place Chelsea on goal difference – a top-five spot will seal a place in next season’s Champions League – but Nuno’s men are clearly wobbling and are in need of a big result.
Nottingham Forest willing to make offer for Gatti
According to TuttoSport [via Sport Witness], Nottingham Forest are willing to make a big offer to sign Juventus centre-back Federico Gatti this summer. Everton and West Ham are also mentioned in the report, though it is stated that the 26-year-old is happy to stay put at Juve, despite it being financially beneficial to move on and earn more than his current £42,000 per week.
Federico Gatti for Juventus
It looks as though Forest will need to present quite the package to both Juve and Gatti to tempt them into a move, and if the situation changes he could be a fantastic addition at the heart of the defence.
Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo have been outstanding throughout this season, forging a great understanding at the back, but increased competition for places is still essential in that area, especially if one of the centre-backs leaves this summer.
Gatti is now an experienced player who has made 103 appearances for one of the biggest clubs in Europe in Juve, and Danilo once described him as “humble”, saying: “Gatti is an example for all of us, a humble boy who works a lot. He has had difficult moments, but he is strong, and he showed Juventus until the end.”
Federico Gatti’s 2024/25 Serie A stats
Total
Appearances
28
Starts
26
Minutes played
2188
Goals
1
Assists
0
Clearances per game
2.6
Aerial duel wins per game
1.3
Pass completion rate
95.2%
Gatti’s quality on the ball is highlighted by a 95.2% pass completion rate in Serie A this season, while his defensive expertise is oultined by an average of 2.6 clearances per game in the competition.
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For now, it looks like Forest will have to look elsewhere for defensive reinforcements, but the hope is that Champions League qualification gives them a better chance of signing Gatti.
Everton have improved since David Moyes replaced Sean Dyche at the helm, but recent results have underscored the need for new attacking quality.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin is expected to leave as a free agent at the end of the season, while Jack Harrison, Jesper Lindstrom and Armando Broja’s loan deals all conclude in two months.
However, while The Friedkin Group are going to sign forwards of various shapes and sizes, Moyes is also keen to strengthen his midfield, already focusing on a specific profile.
David Moyes
The target in question has plied under the Scotsman’s leadership for several years, and could prove an astute piece of business.
Everton transfer news
Despite the transfer window not yet open for business, the Toffees have already started putting plans into motion with the likes of Monaco’s striking sensation, Mika Biereth, linked with a move to Goodison Park.
Also on their radar is Liverpool’s Ben Doak, yet on this occasion, it looks as though Moyes is targeting experience.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Indeed, as per Football Insider, Moyes is targeting a reunion with West Ham United’s Tomas Soucek, having fielded the 30-year-old 207 times during his time at the Irons helm, more than any other player.
Tomas Soucek scores for West Ham
Though newly-promoted Leeds United are also chasing a deal for Soucek, who is valued at £10m, it’s understood that Everton have the lead in the race given the Czech international’s relationship with Moyes.
Why Tomas Soucek would be perfect for Everton
Soucek has been at West Ham for half a decade, signing on an initial loan from Slavia Prague in January 2020 before completing a £19m deal that summer.
West Ham's Tomas Soucek
The 6 foot 3 ace would bring physicality to the Everton midfield and might prove to be the perfect replacement for Amadou Onana, who was sold to Aston Villa for £50m last summer.
Described as a “midfield powerhouse” by journalist Antonio Mango, Onana’s presence has been missed on Merseyside, but Soucek could bring his own take on the role next year, working hard in the duel while making darting runs into the danger area to complement the frontline.
Prem 24/25 – Tomas Soucek vs Amadou Onana
Stats (* per game)
Soucek
Onana
Matches (starts)
31 (26)
22 (17)
Goals
8
3
Assists
1
0
Touches*
37.6
40.2
Pass completion
75%
89%
Key passes*
0.5
0.3
Dribble success
55%
79%
Ball recoveries*
1.7
2.9
Tackles + interceptions*
1.9
3.2
Duels (won)*
5.2 (54%)
4.8 (60%)
Stats via Sofascore
As you can see, Onana might be more rounded than Soucek, but the latter man has a killer instinct in the final third, which scant few Toffees players have showcased with regularity this year.
West Ham have only created 50 big chances in the Premier League this season, with just the relegated trio making fewer. This actually shines a positive light on Soucek, whose skill at finding space and striking true has seen him score eight times.
It’s no surprise he’s been called a “machine” by former West Ham correspondent Tom Clark, adding intensity and initiative to his fold.
In fact, the £90k-per-week talent ranks among the top 2% of central midfielders across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for non-penalty goals scored and the top 1% for aerial duels won per 90, as per FBref, further illustrating his combativeness and indeed goalscoring strength.
Everton fans have tasted first-hand the midfielder’s goalscoring ability and must now forge ahead to make a shrewd signing which might just pay dividends, adding an Onana-esque presence at Bramley Moore.
Soucek may not be the fluid ball player that Graham Potter wants at the heart of his West Ham system, but Moyes enforces a different type of brand, one which the veteran midfielder would dovetail right into if Everton make their move in the coming months.
He was worse than Harrison: 5/10 Everton dud proved that TFG need to spend
Everton have lost back-to-back matches in the Premier League.
Four wins on the trot in the Premier League – the last of which came resoundingly against Manchester United – have put Newcastle United in a strong position as they look to return to the Champions League.
Winning at home against Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening would certainly help to consolidate their position, one point behind third-place Nottingham Forest while holding a game in hand.
The chance to make it count has arrived, but Oliver Glasner’s Palace have been in fine fettle of late and boast a box of dangers that Jason Tindall and Graeme Jones – Eddie Howe is absent, recuperating from pneumonia – will need to ensure do not spring a trap at St. James’ Park.
Newcastle – Recent Record vs Crystal Palace
Season
Competition
Result
24/25
Premier League (A)
0-0 draw
23/24
Premier League (A)
2-0 loss
23/24
Premier League (H)
4-0 win
22/23
Premier League (A)
0-0 draw
22/23
Carabao Cup (H)
0-0 (3-2 p.) win
Stats via Transfermarkt
Four of the past 14 meetings between the two sides in all competitions have been goalless draws, but with such impressive attacking armouries, you feel that this evening-lit fixture could bring the fireworks.
Newcastle team news pre-Crystal Palace
Centre-backs Jamal Lascelles and Sven Botman are still sidelined, with left-back Lewis Hall also not expected back before the end of the season.
Newcastle defender Sven Botman.
Tindall is unlikely to make sweeping changes to the team that thrashed the Red Devils on Sunday, but one or two tweaks could be enforced.
Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton and Sandro Tonali should reprise their places in midfield, arguably the finest central trio in the Premier League right now.
However, despite his recent purple patch, there might be just cause for Harvey Barnes to return to the bench for this one. Here’s why.
Why Tindall should drop Harvey Barnes
Barnes put on a second-half clinic to thwart Man United and take his haul, impressively, to eight goals and three assists from just ten Premier League starts this season.
With three in his past two, the 27-year-old is riding the crest of a wave, his clinical edge coming up trumps with Alexander Isak four top-flight games without a goal and Anthony Gordon only returning off the bench on Sunday after his red card suspension.
However, Gordon is now back and offers a more dynamic threat. Given the Eagles’ shakiness during their 5-2 thrashing by Man City at the weekend, Gordon’s multi-skilled approach could be the best way to funnel through to Isak while upholding a balanced attacking threat.
Player ratings courtesy of Sofascore
Jacob Murphy, on that note, is effectively undroppable on the right. So consistent. So cool. So collected.
Anthony Gordon celebrates for Newcastle
With a return of nine goals and seven assists across all competitions this season, Gordon knows he could do better in that regard. But the England international brings so much more than direct goal involvements.
As per Sofascore, he’s averaged 1.9 key passes and won 4.7 duels per Premier League game this term, making good on the self-said proclamation that he’s a “nightmare for anyone” he plays against.
With this extra match wedged into Newcastle’s run-in, shuffling the pack would be a good way to keep things fresh and maintain form. Saturday evening, after all, brings an away trip to CL-chasing rivals Aston Villa.
Gordon has been an immense part of the Magpies’ rise, and while Palace’s Eagles are flying high themselves, adding Gordon to the starting line-up would be the perfect way to overwhelm a backline that has shown its chinks in recent games.
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The most exciting legspinner in the women’s game didn’t get where she has by chopping and changing
Sruthi Ravindranath04-Mar-2025″I keep it simple” is a cliché many cricketers, specifically bowlers, use, perhaps to keep themselves from revealing too much about their craft. For Alana King, you get the sense it’s not that.Running in with a stock legspinner’s grip, snapping her wrist to get enough rip on the ball, pitching it on leg stump and waiting for the magic to happen – that’s what King has been doing for as long as she can remember, and she believes she can bring that consistency and simplicity of approach into her T20 game and be successful as well. It is a method that has led to her delivering what has been called “the ball of the century”, made her instrumental in decimating England 16-0 in the Ashes with 20 wickets in four games, and produced a Test match spell where almost every ball could go into the highlights reel.It was a quick transition from the Ashes, before the emotions of winning had fully sunk in, to T20. King landed in India to play the WPL, where she represents UP Warriorz, in February. Weeks have gone by, but she still can’t stop thinking about that ripping legbreak to England’s Sophia Dunkley in the Ashes Test, and she admits she’s watched the clip a “handful of times”.Related
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“It’s hard not to [think about it], to be honest,” she says. “I think playing a Test match at the MCG was pretty iconic in itself. That ball was something that came out of my hand really nicely and something that you can watch on replay and really enjoy. You don’t really enjoy it in the moment. I was just happy that I got the wicket, but [then] I watched it a few times post-game, it was something special. Hopefully I can keep replicating that and bowl many more balls like that in my career.”I know my team-mates probably give me stick – they reckon I’ve probably watched it a hundred times. That’s not the case. I can appreciate it watching it a couple of times, and yeah, it brings a big smile to my face.”The one big challenge for King, moving as she did from Test cricket to T20 in the WPL, is to keep up with the pace of the game. “You’ve maybe got less time to think about your plans and to react in T20,” she says. “In ODI cricket you’ve got a bit more time to get into a rhythm, into your groove, and in Test cricket, you’ve got even longer time. You can stick with a plan a lot longer than one or two overs. In T20, you’ve got to be ahead of the game and the battle of what [batters] are trying to do. So I just think it’s fast-tracking your process of thinking and your plans.”I don’t really change too much. I know that a good length is going to be a good length in any format. But I’ve just got to be a bit sharper with my mind and my plans.”More where that came from: the killer ball to Sophia Dunkley in the Ashes Test earlier this year was one of nine wickets King took in that match•Cricket Australia/Getty ImagesKing is also learning how to navigate the challenges of bowling in India. “It’s not a lot of fun [as a bowler], given the boundary sizes and the flatter wickets,” she says. “But I love the challenge. I think it’s a good place to really hone your skills. You’ve got to be on the money from ball one because they’re quite batter-friendly wickets and everything’s more in [the batters’] favour. [It’s about] just trying to find stuff that’s going to be in your favour and trying to make sure you hit a good length.”Length is always going to be key no matter what format you play in, so just trying to work out what’s going to be more effective on these wickets, when the ball is sliding on a little bit with less turn. It’s how you can adapt as quick as you can but not lose sight of the strength that you have.”By getting chances to play in different grounds during the WPL, King and her Australia team-mates are also gaining knowledge of conditions in India, where the ODI World Cup is scheduled to be played later this year.”In every ground we’ve played at, you learn a bit more,” she says. “If there’s World Cup games here later on, if it’s in Gujarat or Bangalore or Lucknow, you take a little information and you keep it in your back pocket for when you’re going to be here and playing for your country. No doubt we’ve got a lot of Aussies [at the WPL], so there’ll be a lot of information collated collectively, which will be good. We’ll all put it to use when the time comes.”King was rewarded for her consistency in the WBBL this season, where she was the top wicket-taker in the tournament, with 20 in ten games. Along with it came a recall into the Australia T20I side after two years out of it, for the Ashes. She credits her comeback to Becky Grundy, her coach at Western Australia, and Beau Casson, assistant coach at her WBBL side, Perth Scorchers.Ecstasy in orange and black: King took 5 for 16 in a match against Perth Scorchers this WBBL season, going on to become the tournament’s top wicket-taker•Getty ImagesShe believes her T20 game took off after moving to Scorchers, where she bowled in the powerplay and also played on bouncy tracks at the WACA, which helped add another dimension to her skill. “I think it probably helped evolve my game,” she says. “Legspin’s obviously going to be a pretty hard match-up to bowl in the powerplay. By just bowling tough overs, I want to challenge myself and get better at that. I want to be as versatile as I can for this Australian team and if I can experiment in the WBBL with the backing of the Scorchers, I think it’s putting me in good stead.”Not having a bag of variations, especially in T20s, can put a spinner behind, but King is backing her basics to keep her going in the format. “I’ve enjoyed the challenge, and no doubt it’s not always going to be linear,” she says. “You’re going to have days that you know are not going to go your way. But that’s cricket, that’s T20 cricket and legspin bowling.And it’s not like she has no variations at all. King points out that bowling at the WACA has helped her refine her topspinner to be more effective. “It’s been really nice to get an extra bit of bounce and I’m not an overly tall person, so any extra bounce in the wicket is always going to help me.”Keeping up with the ever-evolving nature of T20 isn’t just about the technical aspects for her. A big part of it is picking up information about the opposition with the help of local players while playing in the WPL, WBBL and Women’s Hundred. “It’s just trying to be a bit more proactive to different batters,” she says. “Especially the domestic Indian players [in the WPL] – obviously you don’t know a lot about them, so [you’re] trying to get that information as quick as you can from your team-mates or from the other local players in your team.”Just developing tactically and working with some incredible internationals alongside helps. I love picking people’s brains and that’s how I learn, just having organic conversations at training or on the bus and at the game.”One of those players she has regular cricket conversations with is England left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone, a team-mate at Warriorz. King may have put Ecclestone’s side through a gruelling time in the Ashes but it was all “put aside quickly” when they arrived at the WPL, she says.A cricket buff by her own description, King spends a lot of time talking about and watching cricket in the off season. She also says she has learned a lot about tactics and technique from listening to commentary during live games. One commentator she looked forward to listening to specifically was her idol, Shane Warne. “I loved how he talked about the game,” she says. “He was so good tactically and I learned a lot from him just from commentating in games.Other favourites she enjoys listening to include Ian Smith, Harsha Bhogle and Ian Bishop. “I just love the way they speak and how they talk about the game. The female commentators like Lisa Sthalekar and Mel Jones are people who all played the game, who I grew up watching as well. They always have a different aspect and a different perspective on how they see the game. I listen to a lot of cricket. That’s how I learned the game and developed a few more plans.”It was only fitting that King got that acclaimed wicket of Dunkley bowling from the Shane Warne Stand end at the MCG, nearly mirroring Warne’s own big-spinning ball of the century in the 1993 Ashes to Mike Gatting. It was her first time bowling from that end at the MCG since it was named for Warne. “To do it in my baggy green and in whites as well as playing a Test match, it was pretty iconic. It’s something that I’ve probably reflected a little bit more on [since] – pretty iconic. Hopefully he was smiling down, enjoying it, and hopefully he was there in spirit as well. It was nice to do it, and especially at a ground that I grew up going to and watching him play [at].”That may have been one of King’s dream scenarios ticked off the list, but she also hopes to soon fulfil her dad’s dream of watching her play in Chennai, where he and King’s mother come from.”Chennai will always be a special part of me,” she says. “I’ll always have soft spot for going back there. Hopefully there’s a World Cup game later on at Chepauk Stadium. I think that will be one of dad’s dreams – to go watch a World Cup game [there] and hopefully I’m playing in that one.”
Ever since his run-in with Virat Kohli, the LSG quick has had to cope with fans taunting him on social media and on the field
Deivarayan Muthu25-May-20232:08
Moody: ‘Naveen has three versions of the slower offcutter’
Rashid Khan. Mohammad Nabi. Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Noor Ahmad. In recent years, Afghanistan’s spinners have been in demand at the IPL, and this season a seamer has joined them in the spotlight. After making a splash in the Caribbean Premier League, T20 Blast, Bangladesh Premier League and Lanka Premier League, Naveen-ul-Haq earned his first IPL contract this season and emerged as one of the bright spots for Lucknow Super Giants, taking 11 wickets in eight games at an average of 19.89 and economy rate of 7.82.In the Eliminator against Mumbai Indians in Chennai on Wednesday, Naveen claimed 4 for 38, but a batting collapse in a chase of 183 put Super Giants out of the tournament.”Yeah, it was an achievable target, and the wicket was playing quite well,” Naveen said after the game. “I think in between we couldn’t handle the pressure and we gave away three-four wickets in quick succession. That was the turning point in the game.Related
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Naveen: 'I'm backing myself to bowl against anybody and just do what worked for me'
“To be honest, it [my personal performance] was good. But we could have done better as a team. Individual performances don’t count. At the end of the day, our team’s goal was to win the trophy. So, my performance comes second, and it was a good season for me. I’ve learnt quite a few things from this IPL and [will] hopefully come back stronger.”While his captain Krunal Pandya and Yash Thakur kept offering pace to Mumbai’s batters in the powerplay, Naveen assessed the Chennai conditions better and slowed it up. Suryakumar Yadav and Cameron Green couldn’t manufacture pace for themselves. After tricking Suryakumar with a 107kph legcutter, Naveen went wide of the crease and snuck in an even slower offcutter (105kph) through the defences of Green.”You have to assess the conditions and see what they offer,” Naveen said. “I think the pitch was offering a bit of help. It wasn’t like we were bowling three-four slower ones in an over, but just to keep the batsmen guessing you have to vary your pace and vary your line and length. It counts in T20 cricket – it’s a fast format and you have to adjust quickly. You have to be one step ahead of the batter.”Ahead of the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE, Naveen had spoken to ESPNcricinfo about getting his slower balls to dip sharply at batters.Shutting out the noise – Naveen-ul-Haq celebrates Rohit Sharma’s wicket•BCCI”Yes, I’ve worked a lot on my slower balls,” Naveen had said. “In the [T20] Blast you play a home game and then an away game against the same opposition. Once, when I played one team, they started targeting my slower balls – they were standing back and waiting for them. This stuck in my mind and I worked it out during the tournament that if teams are standing back for my slower balls, then I will bowl fewer.”Then, at the back end of the tournament, most of my wickets were not off slower ones. Maybe, I bowled three-four slower balls in my four-over spell. Earlier, I would be bowling ten slower balls in a four-over spell. Since they were lining me up for them, I changed it up. So slower balls became like a surprise [weapon].”Tom Moody, the former Australia allrounder and an analyst for ESPNcricinfo, was impressed with Naveen’s variety.”What you find with his offcutter is he has got various levels of that offcutter as well,” Moody said on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out. “He’s got a very slow offcutter that dips and it’s a bit like fine spin bowlers. They spin the ball a millimetre, then they spin it an inch and then they spin it four inches.”That was the genius of [Shane] Warne. Particularly when Shane Warne had his shoulder problems he couldn’t rely on his flipper and his wrong’un as much as he did in the early parts of his career. His great skill was you didn’t know how much his legbreak was going to spin and with that beautiful curve. And the same with Naveen. In this case, it’s not just an offcutter; he has three different versions of that offcutter.”
“If my body feels well, hopefully, I’ll come and join the Afghanistan team and play in the ODI World Cup [in India]”Naveen-ul-haq
Naveen has also had to deal with pressure from off the field. Since he exchanged words with Virat Kohli during an ill-tempered game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Super Giants, the crowd has been chanting Kohli’s name to rile Naveen up. Naveen, though, has shut out the noise and on Wednesday he celebrated each wicket with his fingers in his ears.”I enjoy it. I like the crowd chanting his [Virat Kohli’s] name or any other player’s name,” Naveen said. “It gives me passion to play well for my team.”Well, I don’t concentrate on the noise from the outside or anything else. I just focus on my own process. It’s not like if the crowd is chanting or anyone is saying something… it doesn’t affect me. As professional sportsmen, you have to take this in your stride. One day you will not do your best for the team and the fans will give it to you. On another day, you will do a special thing for your team and the same people can chant your name. So, [it’s] basically a part and parcel of the game.”Naveen is currently on a break from ODI cricket – his last game in the format was in January 2021 – but he hopes to return for the World Cup in India later this year.”For now, I’m not playing ODI cricket,” Naveen said. “I’ve taken a break since 12 months ago. I’ll see my body condition and see how I’m going. If my body feels well, hopefully, I’ll come and join the Afghanistan team and play in the ODI World Cup [in India]. So, yeah, fingers crossed. We will see.”
Will Rahul retain his spot? Will Kishan open again? Does Dhawan have an outside chance?
Varun Shetty17-Mar-20212:26
What’s ailing KL Rahul?
India have depth in their squad for this series as far as their opening options are concerned. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul were touted as India’s current first-choice pair by captain Virat Kohli, with Shikhar Dhawan and Ishan Kishan offering left-handed choices. All four of them have had at least a game so far, with Rahul being the constant across the three matches. His poor form, however, has meant that India haven’t gone past the first few overs without losing a wicket in each match. In two of those cases, their powerplay scores have ended up being among their four slowest ever: 22 for 3 in the first game, and 24 for 3 on Tuesday.With only two games’ room to experiment on team structure before the T20 World Cup in October, will they make changes to the opening combination? Here are some options:Related
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Stick to Sharma-Rahul Although they were said to be first choice, the two only came together in the third match. Their stats together suggest they are India’s most destructive opening pair ever in this format (minimum two partnerships): 565 runs together in 12 innings at a scoring rate of 9.65 per over. Two of those innings have had century stands, including India’s record 165.It’s plain to see why India would consider them their first-choice pair, but will they continue to back Rahul as he goes through a lean phase? Since the start of 2018, only four batsmen have more T20 runs than Rahul – Babar Azam, Alex Hales, Colin Munro, and Aaron Finch. But India’s need to try out new options and cement a third opener for the T20 World Cup might go against him for now.
Switch back to Sharma-Dhawan If Sharma-Rahul makes the most destructive pair, then Sharma-Dhawan makes for the most prolific and consistent one. They have opened together 52 times, more than thrice the second-placed pair of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir who opened 17 times, and are unmatched for run-scoring, for any wicket. They have put up 1743 runs, scoring at 8.28 per over, with four century stands and seven fifty stands.After some time out of the T20I squad, Dhawan showed a reinvented T20 game at last year’s IPL. He was second on the run-scoring charts with a tally of 618, striking at 144.73. Only Rahul made more runs than him, but those 670 runs came at a much lower strike rate of 129.34. Is there a chance for Dhawan to take his spot back?
Make Kishan open again As one of the first-choice openers and after being rested for the first two games, Sharma could also get three matches in this series. But if Rahul doesn’t get any more game time, India could go straight back to having Kishan as an opener. The left-hand batsman began his international career with a scintillating 32-ball 56 which won him the Player-of-the-Match award, only to drop down to No. 3 in the next game. While he has had success batting anywhere in the top four for the Mumbai Indians, moving him back into the opening slot could give India the benefit of giving Suryakumar Yadav some batting time.Kohli and one of the openers If this series and its chopping and changing is, indeed, India looking to give their bench a run then there would be a lot to gain from pushing Kohli up as an opener. Yadav didn’t get to bat on debut and Shreyas Iyer is far from his best position in the XI as things stand. A batting order of Yadav, Iyer, and Pant in any of positions 3, 4 and 5 could give them all better chances to show their wares. It would also allow India to try a six-bowler strategy, with an extra space opening up for somebody like Axar Patel to come in behind Hardik Pandya.As a T20 opener, Kohli’s average is identical to his average at No. 3 – both hovering about 45. But he scores faster as opener (140.44) as opposed to No. 3 (130.44). All five of his T20 centuries have also come while opening.
Mariners star Cal Raleigh may have all but locked up the American League MVP award on Wednesday night when he blasted his 60th home run of the season, becoming the seventh player in MLB history to hit 60 home runs or more in one campaign.
With four games to play, Raleigh sits just two home runs away from tying the American League record set by Aaron Judge in 2022, and three away from breaking it. Ironically, Judge and Raleigh are neck-and-neck in the AL MVP race.
Only Roger Maris, Judge, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds have hit more home runs in a single season than Raleigh. Raleigh's 60th home run tied Babe Ruth's mark set in 1927.
The Mariners went on to beat the Rockies on Wednesday night to move to 89-69 on the season. There's no doubt there's more to come from Raleigh in what remains of the regular season, and into what should be a raucous postseason atmosphere at T-Mobile Park.
A number of Sheffield Wednesday’s takeover candidates are now reportedly considering a fresh move to get the sale of the club over the line.
Sheffield Wednesday dealt fresh point deduction
Despite the fact that Dejphon Chansiri is no longer at the club and Sheffield Wednesday are in administration, they’re still facing the consequences for the actions of their former owner. The EFL confirmed earlier this week that the Owls have been dealt a further six-point deduction on top of the initial 12 points that they had deducted.
It’s frustrating news for Wednesday, who were already destined for League One. Administrators will now be hoping to hand supporters some better news regarding the club’s takeover process.
So far, bids have arrived and been rejected from the likes of Mike Ashley, who is looking to get back into English football for the first time since leaving Newcastle United.
Administrators initially set a soft deadline of December 5, but it remains to be seen whether they can actually stick to that on Thursday. Instead, the Owls’ pain may be prolonged as candidates prepare to take a new approach to takeover attempts.
As reported by City AM, a number of candidates are considering a joint bid to buy Sheffield Wednesday to get the takeover across the line. The Championship club reportedly have six bidders on the table, but could see some of those opt to join forces to match their £30m valuation.
Sheffield-born takeover candidate makes key contact in race to buy Sheffield Wednesday
He could buy his local club.
ByTom Cunningham Nov 26, 2025
As things stand, there is no clear favourite to buy the club and Begbies Traynor’s initial deadline is likely to be pushed back until at least next week.
In the meantime, the Owls could continue looking at the free agent market. Although they are yet to welcome new owners, those at Hillsborough have already signed both Nathan Redmond and former Leeds United man Liam Cooper.
Whether it’s joint-bidders or just the one candidate in the coming weeks, Sheffield Wednesday’s new owners will instantly have their eye on success in League One next season following the club’s inevitable relegation.
Earning instant promotion back to the Championship whilst finally adding financial stability to the club should be top of the wishlist of the new owners.
Simon Jordan reveals Sheffield Wednesday "consortium" as next takeover step shared
Over the years, Manchester United has been the home to numerous elite-level centre-forwards, with Robin van Persie one who captured the hearts of the fanbase.
The Dutchman joined in a controversial deal from Premier League rivals Arsenal for a reported £24m back in August 2012 – a deal that proved to be an absolute bargain.
He ended up making 105 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring a total of 58 goals, with his total of 26 league goals in 2012/13 helping Sir Alex Ferguson win his final top-flight title.
Former Manchester United forward Robin van Persie.
Van Persie also managed to notch 16 assists during such a period, taking his total goal contributions to 74, resulting in an average of 0.7 goals or assists per game over a three-year period.
Such a record has undoubtedly cemented his place in the Red Devils history, but numerous managers have been unable to rely upon similar talents at Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim is the latest manager to try and unearth his own version of the talisman, subsequently spending big on a new centre-forward during the recent summer window.
The reasons behind Benjamin Sesko’s struggles at United
After taking the reins back in November last year, Amorim had to rely upon the likes of Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee to provide the goods at the top end of the pitch.
However, the duo’s tally of just seven combined goals in the Premier League last season highlighted the need for reinforcements during the summer transfer window.
The board handed the manager over £200m worth of funds to make the desired changes, which resulted in three huge names making the move to Old Trafford.
Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were just two of the additions made by the hierarchy, with Benjamin Sesko the player brought in to operate alongside the pair in the final third.
The latter of the trio cost a reported £74m from RB Leipzig during the summer, with real hope generated by the fans that he would be the man to solve their issues.
However, his start to life in Manchester has been far from plain sailing, as seen by his tally of just two goals in his first 11 league outings – even going four games without a goal.
His early struggles will no doubt present cause for concern, with his underlying numbers also highlighting his lack of impact in recent months after his big-money switch.
He’s only registered a total of 3.6 touches in the opposition box per 90, which has ranked him in the bottom 20% of all other centre forwards in England’s top-flight.
Such a figure showcases that he’s either unable to get himself into the right positions, or he’s not being provided the goods – which could explain his lowly goalscoring tally.
However, Sesko has been hugely reliant upon players around him, with his tally of 0.2 dribbles completed showcasing that he’s unlikely to create a chance on his own.
Like the aforementioned tally, it has placed him in the bottom 20% of other strikers in the league, which could also be contributing to his lack of goals at present.
The United star who could end Sesko’s Man Utd career
There’s no doubt that Sesko will need added time to flourish in England, with his big-money transfer to United in the summer presenting a huge culture change for the 22-year-old.
He’s had to move to a new country, league and surroundings, which is certainly a daunting task for a young talent – which too could be having an effect on his lack of output.
But the lack of quality in such a department has no doubt ramped up the pressure on the Slovenian international to provide the goods in front of goal at Old Trafford.
Amorim will no doubt have to manage Sesko personally to get the best out of the centre-forward, but it’s unclear how much patience the manager will present to the new addition.
The fans, too, will need to cut him some slack, but it will no doubt be tricky, especially given the form of the previous talents in such a role – including the likes of Van Persie.
However, the club may have their next talisman in the form of Chido Obi, with the young star already matching the Dutchman in making the move to Old Trafford from rivals Arsenal.
At just 17, the fans will have to be patient with the Dane, but there’s no doubt excitement has been generated by his incredible goalscoring record in the youth setup.
He scored 13 times in just 11 appearances for the U18 outfit last campaign, living up to the billing he is a “goalscoring machine” in the words of scout Jacek Kulig. Such form has seen him make the step-up to the U21 squad over the last couple of months.
Obi has now made 22 appearances at such a level, scoring nine times and registering four assists in the process – even managing to thrive at an age group four years above his own.
Given the lack of quality in the centre-forward department last season, Amorim even handed the teenager his first taste of senior football in an attempt to improve the situation.
The Dane made a total of eight first-team appearances in 2024/25, but failed to find the back of the net once – however, it didn’t stop the youngster from receiving huge praise.
Teammate Leny Yoro previously waxed lyrical about the youngster, even claiming that he could become “one of the world’s best” in the years to come should he continue on his current path.
After returning to youth level, Obi has backed up Yoro’s statement, averaging a goal every 100 minutes and registering a staggering total of 2.2 shots on target per 90 this season.
Games played
8
Games started
3
Goals scored
3
Mins per goal
100
Shots on target
2.2
Dribbles completed
68%
Touches in opposition box
6.6
Fouls won
1.7
He’s even completed 68% of the dribbles he’s attempted, massively starring in such an area, something which Sesko has been unable to do over the last few months.
Obi has also dominated countless backlines lately, as seen by his tally of 4.7 duels won, with his physical presence potentially perfect for Amorim’s current side.
Whilst he’s just 17, the future is massively bright for the Dane at Old Trafford, with the club desperately needing to streamline his progress into the senior ranks.
Sesko’s inability to impress could certainly hand the manager the perfect chance to allow him to stake his claim and nail down the position as his very own for many years to come.
If he can match Van Persie’s level during his own time with the Red Devils, he will certainly be a fan-favourite and a player who can take the first-team back to their former glory.
An Mbeumo repeat: Man Utd to make £52m bid for "best winger in the country"
Manchester United look set to make another huge bid for a new attacker for Ruben Amorim.
One of the best midfielders of his era, perhaps the greatest crosser of a football ever and a free-kick taker to rival the best the game has ever produced, David Beckham was a special player to say the least. And yet due to his off-field impact, one of the sport's great champions of the past 30 years is generally forgotten when it comes to referencing the true legends of the game.
Beckham – or, to give him his newly-minted full title, Sir David Beckham – marked an era both on and off the pitch as he wrote the manifesto for the evolution from footballer to brand. He represents to football what Michael Jordan did for basketball a few years earlier as Beckham became a true global icon who pushed boundaries beyond the sport, paving the way for Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and Lionel Messi, among others, to follow in his footsteps.
But that shouldn't overshadow what 'Becks' was able to achieve from a pure football perspective, and what makes him a fine addition to GOAL's Hall of Fame:
Bend it like Beckham
Through the late 1990s and early 2000s, Beckham was the sport's poster boy, the player every teenager dreamed of becoming, both from a sporting and style point of view. His ever-changing hairstyles – from his boyband-style blonde highlights to the buzz cut he sported at the beginning of the new millennium, from the mohawk that infuriated Sir Alex Ferguson, to the controversial cornrows and the man bun of his Real Madrid days – were copied around the world. His adidas Predator boots became must-haves for any wannabe footballer; a No.7 Manchester United shirt suddenly the height of fashion.
A lot of fans wanted to look like Beckham, but everyone dreamed of being able to kick the ball like him. His unmistakable style, with his right arm whipping behind him as he swung another ball into the box, became one of the sport's most famous silhouettes, and even inspired the title of a film that allowed a new audience to find the game: 'Bend it like Beckham'.
However, no one has ever come close to the absolute perfection of that technical move, with which Beckham was able to trace millimetric trajectories with a class, elegance and naturalness that are more akin to artists than sportspeople.AdvertisementMuch more than a pop icon
Beneath the glossy surface, Beckham was undoubtedly one of the strongest midfielders going, and probably the most underrated champion of his era. He was a victim of the mass media, who were more interested in his relationship with popstar Victoria Adams than his displays at Old Trafford on a weekend.
For many years, Beckham was talked about more in the front pages of the tabloids than he was in the sports section. As such, the common perception when discussing him being amongst the true elite was inevitably influenced by him being a personality before a footballer, almost as if he were too handsome, too perfect, too stylish to be taken seriously.
But let's get one thing right: Beckham was a special player. He was not a pure winger who would wow crowds with his dribbling and agility, but with his right foot he managed to leave everyone speechless with his pinpoint passes. He was more of a wide playmaker – although he did try to reinvent himself as a central midfielder at points – a midfielder with refined technique, heavenly vision and extraordinary ball skills. It is no coincidence that he is unanimously recognised as the best crosser of all time and one of, if not the best, free-kick taker in history.
His free kick against Greece in October 2001, which allowed England to qualify for the World Cup in Japan and South Korea, remains his Mona Lisa, a masterpiece that will remain forever in the annals, as will his fabulous goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon in 1996, which symbolically marked the beginning of his legendary career at United.
Getty Appearances can be deceiving
However, Beckham's greatness on the pitch cannot be limited to the precision of his right foot. The third-most capped player in the history of the Englan national team, Beckham was also captain of the Three Lions for six years, wearing the armband in 58 matches, going from public enemy number one,after his sending off in the 1998 World Cup against Argentina to a symbol of redemption and leadership.
A charismatic and courageous leader on the pitch, Beckham was always ready to sacrifice himself for his team. He was a true example of professionalism, as repeatedly emphasised by even the toughest coaches such as Fabio Capello, who went so far as to disobey president Florentino Perez's instructions and reinstated Beckham to the Madrid line up, which led to a historic La Liga title triumph before the midfielder left to join LA Galaxy.
Wherever he went, Beckham left his mark: From titles with United to those in Madrid, from successes in MLS to his short stints at AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, the Londoner was able to immerse himself in each new environment with a humility that had nothing to do with the image that the tabloids had built up around him for years.
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Ballon d'Or worthy?
In 1999, the year Beckham won the treble as a key player for Ferguson's United, Beckham arguably deserved to also take home the the Ballon d'Or, which was instead awarded that year to Rivaldo. The Brazilian had been sensational in La Liga for Barcelona but had been eliminated from the Champions League in the group stages.
>Beckham, by contrast, had been forced to pick up the pieces after a World Cup in which he was vilified, publicly bullied by English fans, and greeted on Premier League pitches with a soundtrack of boos, insults and verbal abuse. He endured this relentless hostility without ever showing his emotions, responding simply with what he did best: playing football.
"The more he was targeted, the better he played," his former team-mate Ole Gunnar Solskjaer would later say. Six goals and 12 assists in the Premier League, two goals and eight assists in the Champions League, and a crucial goal in the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal, Beckham unquestionably made a decisive contribution to the Red Devils' journey to immortality.
The 1999 Ballon d'Or, which saw Beckham finish in second place, would probably have allowed the English midfielder to enter another dimension in the collective imagination, in the circle of undisputed number ones. Today, 12 years after his retirement, re-evaluating the value, relevance and footballing aura of Sir David Beckham is not a nostalgic gesture, but rather an act of justice towards one of the great icons of the sport.