Tag Futebol

The Neetu David-led selection committee will soon pick India’s 15-member squad for the World Cup starting September 30

Shashank Kishore18-Aug-2025India enter their final stretch of World Cup preparations with a settled squad. They are buoyed by a tri-series win in Sri Lanka (also involving South Africa), and a series win in England. According to India captain Harmanpreet Kaur, their settled outfit is the biggest point of difference from the lead-up to previous campaigns.On Tuesday, when the Neetu David-led selection committee meets to pick India’s 15-member squad for the World Cup starting September 30, one of their toughest decisions could be around Shafali Verma’s selection. Whether she is selected or not might be decisive to how India plan to balance consistency and explosive potential in the squad.There are also tough selection calls to be made on key players coming back from injury. Here is a quick look at the questions the selection committee will need to take a call on:The Shafali factorFour of the top six (Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh) are certainties. As things stand, Pratika Rawal has made a compelling case to open with Mandhana, having notched up 703 runs in 14 innings at 54.07, while striking at 88.Similarly, Harleen Deol has added a touch of consistency to her game since her comeback from injury late last year. She struck a maiden ODI century against West Indies in December, and has been a regular in the ODI setup since. Occasionally, though, there have been question marks about her tendency to start slowly, even though there’s no threat to her place in the squad.Pratika Rawal has numbers on her side as India opener•BCCIWith Yastika Bhatia likely to be the second wicketkeeper, the team management also has a reserve batter in the mix. This makes the call to select Shafali – or not – tricky, even though there are no doubts about her experience and track record at the international level.What she currently lacks, however, is form, which is evident from her recent returns for India A in Australia: scores of 52, 4, and 36 in three one-dayers, and 41, 3, and 3 in the T20s that preceded them.Amanjot the allrounder balances the team, but is she fully fit?During Pooja Vastrakar’s absence from the side due to a long-standing stress injury, the team management found an able back-up in Amanjot Kaur.The allrounder was used as the second seamer during the T20I leg of the England tour, which India won 3-2. In that series, apart from bowling her seam-ups and picking three wickets across 13 overs, she also struck an incredible, match-winning 63 not out to shore up a floundering innings.Amanjot Kaur has been a valuable addition to the side•ECB/Getty ImagesHowever, the flaring up of a back injury during the ODI leg of the tour has raised some concerns. At the time, Harmanpreet termed her exclusion as rest, but it is understood that the team management has been concerned over her injury status and treated her with utmost caution.While her scans are believed to have cleared her of a major issue, the selectors will need to assess if she can handle dual responsibilities of being a second seamer, which gives the team management the luxury of being spin-heavy, like they’ve tended to in recent times.If Amanjot makes the cut, it is likely India may not need a third specialist seamer. In this case, someone like Arundhati Reddy could miss out. The selector then might have to make a case for selecting either Shafali, or a genuine wrist spinner – which they’ve lacked lately – like Prema Rawat, who had a breakout India A tour in Australia.There is no question over their other two allrounders, who are near certainties in the squad as well: Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav, who impressed in England as well with her captaincy stint on the A tour of Australia. While Deepti offers bowling utility and finishing prowess, Radha is an outstanding fielder and has rediscovered herself as a left-arm spinner.Deepti Sharma and Radha Yadav are in line to be guaranteed selections•BCCIWill selectors punt on undercooked Renuka?Much will depend on whether Renuka Singh, pace spearhead until recently, is fully fit after recovering from a stress fracture. If she isn’t, Arundhati will be a straight shoo-in. But for now, indications are that Renuka is on the right track to make the cut, even though there is the risk of her being undercooked. She has not played any form of cricket since the WPL, and the Australia ODIs in the lead-up to the World Cup could be her final chance at getting into her groove.Kranti Goud, the Madhya Pradesh pacer, has climbed through the selection ladder with her bristling energy and ability to hustle batters, as was seen during her match-winning 6 for 52 to seal the ODI series in England. Goud’s excellent early initiation may put her ahead of Arundhati in the queue, especially if Amanjot is fit.Sneh Rana, who made an excellent comeback during the Sri Lanka tri-series, and N Shree Charani are the two other specialist spinners in the mix, along with Deepti and Radha. Shreyanka Patil and Minnu Mani are also off-spinning allrounders who could be discussed.India (likely squad): Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-captain), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Deepti Sharma, Amanjot Kaur, Radha Yadav, Sneh Rana, N Shree Charani, Renuka Singh/Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Goud, Shafali Verma/Prema Rawat

Currently, it feels like Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave Liverpool at the end of his contract last year and sign for Real Madrid has benefitted nobody.

The Spanish giants have yet to find a starring role for the right-back in Xabi Alonso’s system; Trent is out in the cold vis-à-vis Thomas Tuchel’s England; Liverpool keenly miss their starboy’s creativity and flair.

All of this is premature. Much can change, and it has only been three months since the 2025/26 campaign kicked off. But Arne Slot’s Liverpool are lacking ideas at the moment; and just as importantly, they cannot find the answers to their opponents’ tactics.

Slot sought to reorient Liverpool’s creative focus to a more typical area, working with Anfield sporting director Richard Hughes to sign Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for what stood as a record-breaking £116m fee for a few months.

Now, Liverpool are looking into new attacking midfielders to rival Wirtz for a place in the Reds’ starting line-up.

Why Liverpool are looking to sign Wirtz rival

Liverpool have landed a generational talent in Wirtz. The 22-year-old proved across years of age-defying quality in his homeland that he is destined for greatness.

However, we cannot deny it’s been a rocky road since the start of the season.

Wirtz is yet to register a goal involvement in the Premier League and he has not scored in any competition. However, his struggles stand against the backdrop of Liverpool’s wider issues this season. Slot’s side are worryingly imbalanced and sapped of confidence, having lost five of their past six top-flight fixtures.

But Wirtz has demonstrated his skill for Germany during the current international break, with analyst Raj Chohan saying his “creative passing has been insane”.

Minutes played

90′

77′

Goals

0

0

Assists

0

2

Shots (on target)

4 (2)

2 (0)

Accurate passes

46/56 (82%)

72/77 (94%)

Chances created

1

6

Crosses

0/5

2/5

Dribbles

5/6

1/3

Recoveries

5

9

Ground duels

8/10

3/5

But, with Harvey Elliott struggling out on loan with Aston Villa and bound to depart for good in the near future, Liverpool have lined up 19-year-old midfielder Kees Smit as a potential rival for Wirtz in Slot’s system.

According to Soccer News, the AZ Alkmaar talent is emerging as a serious candidate for a transfer to Liverpool, and FSG are further drawn to the player after Slot’s personal advocacy, having worked with the young prospect during his stint with AZ back in 2019/20.

The teenager is valued at around £22.5m, and Barcelona and Real Madrid are among the circling sharks.

What Kees Smit would offer Liverpool

Smit is young and inexperienced, but the word on the Dutch streets is that he is one of the nation’s most exciting up-and-comers. Indeed, analyst Ben Mattinson has acknowledged Smit for his “superstar potential”, not just naturally gifted but intelligent, industrious and strong in defensive phases.

The Netherlands U21 star has made 50 senior showings already, scoring four goals and supplying six assists. Increasingly important in the Eredivisie, he’s started all 11 matches this term, notching two goals and two assists apiece while completing 88% of his passes, creating two chances on average each game and recovering six balls a match.

He’s so energetic, mobile and athletic while bearing the shrewdness to apply himself in the correct phases, never over-exerting. This is a rare trait for one so young, and emphasises the midfielder’s potential for success in the Premier League.

As per FBref, Smit ranks among the top 14% of midfielders in the Dutch top flight this season for pass completion and successful take-ons, and the top 8% for shot-creating actions per 90.

Should Wirtz be worried for his starting berth? While all of the above is true, stepping into the harsh English footballing climate is no easy task. Wirtz would testify for that argument.

But Smit is less of an out-and-out attacking midfielder than his older counterpart, and in this, he could be a glove-tight tactical fit under Slot’s management, instilling more creativity while adding to the steel and compactability of the engine room.

His more balanced approach differs from Wirtz’s own. The new Merseyside recruit has faced criticism for a perceived lack of physicality in the Premier League. Some pointed fingers regarding this matter have been unfair, but there’s no question that Wirtz needs to be more active in the duel, more combative when pitted against defenders.

The aforementioned Mattinson has singled Smit out as a “duel monster”, further underlining his potential in Slot’s Liverpool set-up.

The Reds have options in midfield, and they have creative players too. But it doesn’t take someone with Slot’s football-tuned mind to conclude that something isn’t working for the Premier League champions, who need to find a way out of this present rut, else a concerning start will devolve into a disastrous campaign with far-reaching ramifications.

If Liverpool succeed in sealing Smit’s signature this winter, there’s every chance that the perfect dimension would be added to ease the offensive issues at the club.

Who knows, perhaps the competition would help Wirtz grow into his Liverpool skin and begin to show that ability that was promised when Liverpool spent a staggering sum on bringing him over from Germany.

But if not, Smit has the potential to stand proud as one of the world’s best, and this could give Liverpool’s German maverick cause for concern.

Forget Ngumoha: 19-year-old star is Liverpool's new Luis Diaz in the making

Liverpool could now be brewing their next Luis Diaz in this rising 19-year-old star.

ByKelan Sarson Nov 18, 2025

فاز اتحاد العاصمة الجزائري على أولمبيك آسفي المغربي، بهدف دون مقابل، في المباراة التي جمعتهما مساء اليوم الجمعة، ضمن منافسات كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.

واستضاف أولمبيك أسفي المغربي نظيره اتحاد العاصمة في الجولة الثانية من دور المجموعات في بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الإفريقية.

طالع|الزمالك يواجه كايزر تشيفز في مهمة صعبة خارج الديار بـ الكونفدرالية

وتمكن اللاعب زكريا دراوي، من تسجيل الهدف الوحيد في اللقاء لصالح اتحاد العاصمة في الدقيقة 84، بعد هجمة أربكت دفاع الفريق المغربي.

وبهذا الفوز، يعتلي اتحاد العاصمة صدارة مجموعته في منافسات كأس الكونفدرالية، برصيد ثلاث نقاط.

أما أولمبيك آسفي يبقى في رصيده ثلاث نقاط بالمركز الثاني، في انتظار مباراة سان بيدرو ودجوليبا بنفس المجموعة. هدف فوز اتحاد العاصمة على أولمبيك أسفي في الكونفدرالية

Chelsea have built a squad full of brilliant players over the last few years, with the injured Cole Palmer being the jewel in their crown.

The former Manchester City prospect joined the club over two years ago and, since then, has been nothing short of world-class.

In 101 appearances, the Englishman has racked up a monstrous tally of 45 goals and 29 assists.

So, fans should be delighted about reports linking Chelsea to an international star who could be another Palmer-type signing for them.

Chelsea target their next Palmer

Even though the transfer window is still over a month away, Chelsea have already been linked with a host of potentially game-changing signings.

Transfer Focus

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

The likes of Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Atlético Madrid’s Julian Alvarez are just some of the names touted for a move to Stamford Bridge.

Yet, while they’re both incredible players, it would be hard to describe them as Palmer-like, which isn’t the case with Marcus Rashford.

Yes, according to a recent report from Spain, Chelsea are interested in signing the England international next summer.

The report has revealed that, while Barcelona are happy with how the 27-year-old is performing on loan this season and have a €30m buy option – £26m – they are also still considering whether he’d be worth the financial outlay, given the club’s position on that front.

Moreover, as the Spanish side have been deliberating on the matter, the report claims that the Blues have already been in contact with the player’s camp, and want to make him a key part of their attack next year.

It’s unclear how much Manchester United would charge the West Londoners, but given their desire to move him on, it could be in the region of his Transfermarkt valuation of €40m, or about £35m.

It could be a complicated deal to get over the line, but given Rashford’s ability and form, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he could be another Palmer.

Why Rashford would be another Palmer

Now, while there certainly are some differences between the two players, such as their ages, there are still several reasons why Rashford could be another Palmer-type signing for Chelsea.

For example, and this is the most important of them all, while he has had a few down seasons since he broke onto the scene, the 28-year-old has also had more than a few in which he’s been practically unplayable.

In the 22/23 season, before the wheels well and truly fell off at Old Trafford, the Manchester-born monster racked up an utterly sensational tally of 30 goals and 12 assists in 56 games.

A couple of years before that, he scored 21 goals and provided 18 assists in 57 games, and his overall tally of 216 goal involvements in 426 games for the Red Devils is genuinely astounding.

Moreover, he is currently showing that he can reproduce such numbers in another league entirely: in 16 appearances for Barca, totalling 1134 minutes, he’s scored six goals and provided nine assists, which is an average of a goal involvement every 1.06 games, or every 70.87 minutes.

In other words, the dynamic attacker, whom content creator Neal Gardner dubbed one of “the best in the world”, is someone who could have a similar game-changing impact on Enzo Maresca’s side as Palmer has.

Furthermore, it would also be another instance of the West Londoners pouncing on an incredible English player no longer wanted by one of the Manchester clubs.

Finally, just like Pensioners’ talismanic number ten, the 68-capped international is almost certainly going to be heading to the World Cup with England in the summer and will likely play a key role for Thomas Tuchel.

Ultimately, while it might be a complicated transfer to get over the line, Chelsea should do what they can to sign Rashford in the summer, as he could be another Palmer.

Chelsea have signed an "alien of a talent" who could usurp Estevao & Palmer

The incredible talent could become a bigger star for Chelsea than Estevao and Palmer.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Nov 19, 2025

Jaker Ali will continue as captain with Litton Das ruled out by a side strain

Mohammad Isam28-Sep-2025Soumya Sarkar has made a comeback to the Bangladesh T20I squad for the series against Afghanistan after captain Litton Das was ruled out due to a side strain. Jaker Ali will lead the side in Litton’s absence, while the rest of the squad that played in the Asia Cup in the UAE was retained.Bangladesh’s team physio Bayjedul Islam did not specify a timeframe for Litton’s return. “He (Litton Das) had missed the last two matches of the Asia Cup with a side strain. An MRI scan has revealed a grade 1 strain on the left abdominal muscle,” Bayjedul said. “He is undergoing recovery and will not be available for the T20 series. The medical team will continue to manage his rehab and monitor his progress.”Sarkar, 32, returned to the side after injuries forced him out of the T20I series against UAE and Pakistan earlier this year. He last played a T20I in the West Indies in December 2024.Jaker led the side in Bangladesh’s last two Asia Cup matches against India and Pakistan but wasn’t able to thrive as a designated finisher; he has single-digit scores in his last three games.Bangladesh will play three T20Is against Afghanistan on October 2, 3 and 5 – their second T20I series in Sharjah. They had lost to the hosts UAE 2-1 in May and also lost a T20I against Afghanistan in 2022 at the venue.Bangladesh squad: Jaker Ali (capt), Tanzid Hasan, Parvez Hossain Emon, Saif Hassan, Towhid Hridoy, Shamim Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Taskin Ahmed, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, Mohammad Saifuddin, Soumya Sarkar

Wolverhampton Wanderers have now submitted an offer for Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Garcia, with it being revealed the forward could be available for a bargain fee.

Wolves certainly need some inspiration from somewhere if they are to dig themselves out of trouble, given that they are currently sitting bottom of the table, having taken just two points from their opening 11 Premier League matches.

Not only do the Old Gold have the worst defensive record in the top flight, but they have also been extremely poor from an attacking point of view, having scored just seven goals, the fewest of any Premier League side.

In fact, not a single one of Rob Edwards’ players has scored more than one league goal, with Jorgen Strand Larsen failing to make the impact he did last season, so it would make sense for the new manager to pursue a new forward in the January transfer window.

Wolves make offer for Gonzalo Garcia

That is exactly what Wolves are planning to do, according to a report from Spain, which states they are one of several Premier League clubs to have made an offer of around €20m (£18m) for Real Madrid forward Garcia.

Sunderland and Aston Villa have also made moves for the Spaniard, who could seemingly be available for a bargain fee, given that cashing-in for £18m is regarded as an ‘attractive financial opportunity’ for the La Liga club.

The Old Gold want to get a deal done quickly, given that the 21-year-old’s value could increase as the season goes on, with some key figures at Real Madrid of the belief he could still have a future at the Bernabeu.

In truth, it would be surprising if the youngster was prepared to make the move to Molineux, given that Wolves are at serious risk of being relegated, but he could be a major coup if Fosun were able to get a deal done.

Journalist Zach Lowy clearly believes the Madrid starlet could be capable of playing for a club competing at the top level, having singled him out for praise courtesy of his impressive displays at the Club World Cup.

The centre-forward bagged four goals in six games out in the USA, while also providing one assist, but unsurprisingly, he has since been unable to displace the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr in the starting XI.

Consequently, it would make sense for Garcia to move to a new club this January, but Wolves will have to improve their league standing considerably to stand a chance of winning the race.

Wolves and Edwards keen to sign Premier League striker

Wolves and Edwards keen to sign "aggressive" £90,000-p/w Premier League flop

He’s cost £1m for every appearance made so far.

By
Charlie Smith

Nov 14, 2025

England’s conduct in the last hour of the Manchester Test came across as moral posturing, and it’s regrettable that it came on the watch of an otherwise great ambassador for the game

Sidharth Monga28-Jul-20251:19

Harmison: ‘A little bit farcical towards the end’

It’s weird what offends cricketers.They work with an opaque internal moral code of conduct. They can legit bully players in the name of sledging after singling out who they feel are “mentally weak”, but hell hath no fury like a batter scorned by a run-out backing up, which is well within the laws of the game. They can desperately appeal for wickets when they know the batter is not out but their side is out of reviews. They can bend the laws for every last bit of advantage and then take offence at someone running the clock out or getting treatment on the field. Or someone batting on for a well-earned milestone after having batted the best part of a day to save a Test and keep his team alive in a series.Ben Stokes is an elite competitor. The game of cricket is immensely richer for him. He leaves everything out on the field even if it means he is absent for his family between Tests. This was his 12th Player-of-the-Match award in Test cricket. Only 12 men have more. Not long ago, he and his team were gracious in victory, checking on a crestfallen Mohammed Siraj practically seconds after taking the last wicket at Lord’s.Related

• Injured Stokes out of fifth Test against India, Archer and Carse rested

• Jamie Overton added to England squad for fifth Test against India

• Weary England show their frustrations as Test ends on sour note

• India's grit outlasts England's endurance to make 2-2 a possibility

• Gill on the dramatic end: Jadeja, Washington 'deserved a century there'

And here they were, going on and on about India not accepting their offer for a draw at the start of the mandatory overs.The teams had been at it for hours, days. At that stage, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja had withstood everything England could throw at them. They were 80 not out and 89 not out, respectively. Washington has previously run out of partners on 85 and 96 in Tests. This would be his maiden Test hundred.England went into this righteous fit the moment their offer for the draw was not accepted.There is no specific morally superior way of playing the game. The laws of the game clearly say you can’t consider a game over until the overs are bowled or both captains have agreed on ending the game prematurely.Just like England were right to offer the draw when they didn’t see another result possible, Shubman Gill, the India captain, was well within his rights to let his two rescuers go on and have a moment of personal glory on top of a gigantic effort in the absence of their best batter of the last five years, Rishabh Pant.3:12

‘Would they have walked off?’ – Gambhir on Stokes’ draw offer

The same dressing room stands up and applauds Joe Root, a great Test batter, when he gets to a hundred. They get twitchy when Root has to go to stumps unbeaten on 99.They can’t say with a straight face that personal milestones don’t matter. If they come at the expense of a team’s interests, it is that team’s problem. In this case, there was no such possibility. India would have had to live with it if they had lost wickets in pursuit of the milestones and left open a window for a daring England chase, but they were confident that couldn’t happen.The meltdown that ensued can happen in the heat of the moment. When you are at the absolute brink of physical endurance – like England were – the mind can get frayed. However, even after he had had an hour to think about his actions, Stokes still chose to virtue-signal. When asked if he would have pulled the plug on a young batter a few hits away from a maiden Test century after having batted through the day, Stokes said he couldn’t see how the extra ten runs made any difference to what Washington and Jadeja had already done.If this piece was about whataboutism, it would have pointed out the Wellington declaration, made soon after Root’s century to set New Zealand a target of 583, or the declaration with a 352-run lead against Ireland in 2023, made soon after Ollie Pope’s double-century.Those extra few runs were not making a difference to England’s team goals, but this is not about that at all.It is about not trying to impose your values on others.If this was done to gain some kind of competitive advantage, it would have still been fine. This, unfortunately, came across as moral posturing, which is highly avoidable, at all times. It is regrettable that it came on the watch of an otherwise great ambassador for the game.

While Daniel Farke is taking a lot of heat at the moment surrounding his incapabilities as a Premier League manager, the Leeds United players he keeps selecting also need to take their fair share of the blame for what is currently occurring.

Against Aston Villa last time out, Elland Road regulars such as Pascal Struijk and Joe Rodon didn’t cover themselves in glory whatsoever, with the Dutchman – in particular – looking weak physically, when winning just three of his eight attempted duels.

Moreover, Sean Longstaff, who stunned earlier on in the season with a goal and assist against AFC Bournemouth, looked noticeably flat up against the likes of Youri Tielemans for the energetic away side, leading to him giving possession away a costly 13 times.

Farke also has a part to play here, considering he works with the camp week in week out in trying to pick wins up, with the German clearly unable to inspire his team to get out of their rotten slump.

Still, he wouldn’t have foreseen how poor a start Lucas Perri would have made to life in England, as the Brazilian consistently looks uncomfortable in the Premier League.

Perri's poor start at Leeds

Leeds’ arrival back in the top-flight would have been met with equal levels of excitement and trepidation from the die-hard Elland Road fanbase.

Indeed, supporters would have been understandably over the moon that their beloved side had finally jumped back up to the big time.

But, they would have been worried immediately about their goalkeeper situation up a division, with an error-prone Illan Meslier cast to one side during the promotion run-in.

Unfortunately, despite splashing out £13.9m on his services this summer, the aforementioned Perri hasn’t looked like a steady pair of gloves whatsoever since joining, with a disastrous eight goals already given up in November alone.

The ex-Lyon stopper received plenty of pelters after the Villa defeat, too, when he remained frozen to his spot for Morgan Rogers to hammer home this delightful free-kick effort.

Ex-Leeds player Jon Newsome has even gone as far as to label Perri a complete “waste of funds”, and it could be argued he’s been a complete waste of time and energy, as well, considering his steep price tag, and his billing as a top-flight capable ‘keeper that would make Meslier a worry of the past.

Yet, despite all the abuse that has come his way, he isn’t the biggest waste of time in Farke’s camp currently.

Leeds have a bigger waste than Perri

At least in Perri’s case, he doesn’t have much competition breathing down his neck, with Farke surely extremely hesitant to chuck in Meslier to a relegation dog-fight, alongside another reserve figure in Karl Darlow.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

Therefore, the hope will be that the South American can play his way out of this mess, having started his choppy Leeds career with a promising clean sheet against Newcastle United.

On the contrary, Sebastiaan Bornauw already looks resigned to a place on the periphery, owing to recurring injury issues troubling him in West Yorkshire, and the likes of Joe Rodon, Pascal Struijk and Jaka Bijol being other options Farke can call upon in the heart of defence.

For a modest £5.1m fee, Leeds would have been hoping that they’d hit the jackpot with the assured Belgian, who had 140 Bundesliga appearances under his belt, before making the switch to England, with former Wolfsburg sporting director Marcel Schäfer previously hailing the former German top-flight titan as a consistently “strong” presence for his team.

Across those 140 games, Bornauw would help himself to a stable, if slightly unspectacular, 27 clean sheets, meaning he would have been viewed as a handy utility signing, too, when the deal was arranged, as Leeds prepared to use their full squad to beat the drop.

Instead, he has largely been injury-ridden since swapping Germany for West Yorkshire, with just one forgettable appearance coming his way so far in the EFL Cup versus Sheffield Wednesday.

For as much as Perri has largely been calamitous, at least he has made his presence known. Whereas Bornauw looks to already be burning a significant hole in Leeds’ wage bill, for how little action he has thrown himself into, with Leeds-based content creator Lewis Deighton rightly calling the unfolding situation out as “absolutely laughable”.

Amazingly, his £45k-per-week pay packet means he is earning more than the aforementioned Joe Rodon and Ethan Ampadu – who earn a lesser £40k-per-week salary each – despite both figures continuing to be ever-presents in the Farke regime.

It’s very clear how much Leeds dropped the ball this summer with unconvincing signings, as the under-pressure German now potentially pays the ultimate price with his job.

Leeds now plotting January move for "outstanding" £17.5m Champions League striker

The Whites are looking to bring in a new centre-forward this winter.

ByDominic Lund Nov 27, 2025

Newcastle United have a tough run of fixtures to contend with for the rest of November, before the bumper Christmas schedule weighs heavily on the calendar.

Indeed, the up-and-down Magpies have a tricky home clash with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City up next, as Eddie Howe no doubt worries already as to how his porous defence will deal with a free-flowing Erling Haaland.

Then, it’s back-to-back away fixtures at Marseille and Everton in the Champions League and Premier League, with Howe, presumably, under even more intense pressure if he fails to pick up a win or two across this stretch of contests.

Far too many players Howe has relied on over the years have failed to deliver the goods across recent matches, with many of those underperformers also falling into the high earners bracket at St James’ Park.

Assessing Newcastle's current wage bill

Newcastle’s highest earner currently continues to lead by example for the most part in club captain Bruno Guimaraes.

Understandably, during losses on the road against West Ham United and Brentford, the Brazilian wasn’t at his liveliest.

But, the £160k-per-week “talisman” – as he has been recently labelled by Michael Carrick – does still have three goals next to his name this season, when bailing his topsy-turvy side out of some sticky situations, which included this wonderfully taken strike breaking the deadlock against Nottingham Forest last month in a much-needed 2-0 win.

The same adoration isn’t being extended to Joelinton and Anthony Gordon – who both take home a hefty £150k-per-week pay packet – with the pair notably struggling in league action this season. Neither player has scored a single goal or registered an assist from a combined 16 Premier League outings.

Thankfully, Nick Woltemade has lived up to his club-record £69m price tag, and his high £132.5k-per-week wage, on the contrary, with four league goals already next to his name.

There will be some grumbles about Anthony Elanga’s £55m fee and £100k-per-week wage, though, with the ex-Manchester United attacker dubbed a “massive overpay” by analyst Raj Chohan, with the Swede yet to show off his exhilarating best on the wings. He remains goalless so far on Tyneside.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

The likes of Elanga and Gordon are not the only players being hounded.

A "legendary" star must be ditched by Newcastle

Elanga will also surely have the benefit of patience on his side, with the 23-year-old only 17 games down for his new employers. In time, the hope will be that the expensive £55m purchase does come good.

Whereas, in the case of Joe Willock, the peak of his Newcastle career looks to be very firmly behind him now, with his drop-off in form on Tyneside a very concerning tale.

Towards the start of his Newcastle playing days, Willock perform the role of a bright spark in front of goal from the midfield ranks expertly, much like Guimaraes now provides Howe and Co.

Staggeringly, he scored in seven straight Premier League matches during his initial loan spell from Arsenal during the 2020/21 season, as Willock lived up to Mikel Arteta’s words of being a “special” talent.

Ex-Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell even went as far as to state that Willock had achieved “legendary stats” at St James’ Park with this unbelievable goalscoring run, further hailing the number 28 as “god-like” to the Tyneside masses.

Games played

133

Goals scored

10

Assists

9

Transfer fee

£25m

Wage per week

£80k-per-week

Willock has, arguably, become a victim of his own successes at Newcastle, with the former Arsenal midfielder only managing to cough up two more goals across 133 games, away from exploding onto the scene with a breakneck eight goals during his first 14 outings.

The Athletic’s Chris Waugh has simply labelled the 26-year-old as a major “disappointment” over the past couple of seasons, with only 100 minutes of Premier League action handed his way this campaign, really bringing into view his lavish £80k-per-week wage.

Wildly, that means summer arrival Malick Thiaw earns less than Willock, despite being an ever-present part of Howe’s defensive unit in the Premier League so far this season, with the German only banking a £70k-per-week salary.

It’s far from the most uplifting story seeing the decline of Willock in real time, but if Howe is to turn around his side’s fortunes right now, he will have to consider shelving the EFL Cup-winning midfielder for good very soon, alongside other previous regulars who have now fallen off the horse.

Everton enter race to sign £88m South American "machine" with Newcastle

The Toffees need a creative spark.

1 ByTom Cunningham Nov 16, 2025

Runners-up PBKS’ Indian core dominates ESPNcricinfo’s uncapped team of the season

Sreshth Shah05-Jun-2025 ‘Where talent meets opportunity’. The IPL 2025 season lived up to the tournament’s motto as India’s uncapped players grabbed the spotlight with their performances. Whether debutants making an impact or experienced players elevating their game, this season flexed India’s talent depth. Here’s ESPNcricinfo’s uncapped team of the tournament.1. Vaibhav Suryavanshi (Rajasthan Royals)A replacement for his captain Sanju Samson, the 14-year-old Suryavanshi started his IPL journey with a first-ball six, setting the tone for the fearless, aggressive batting that followed. The power Suryavanshi generated alongside some sweet timing was a standout. He finished the season with 18 fours, 24 sixes, and 252 runs, but his most impressive stat was his strike rate of 206.55, the highest of all batters who have faced at least 50 deliveries. His 101 in 35 balls against Gujarat Titans (GT) was the second-fastest in IPL history.2. Priyansh Arya (Punjab Kings)Minimal footwork, maximum impact, that was Arya in his debut IPL. Backed by head coach Ricky Ponting, Arya’s lofted shots and flicks off the body made him a lethal powerplay hitter. His 475 runs, the highest by an uncapped batter in a debut season (surpassing Devdutt Padikkal’s 473 in 2020), came at a strike rate of 179.24. His 43-ball 102 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) was the third-fastest century by an Indian.Related

Big scores, big chases, big aggregates – the IPL 2025 runathon

IPL 2025: Kohli, Bumrah, Iyer headline ESPNcricinfo's team of the tournament

IPL 2025 showed the might of the uncapped Indian batter

3. Prabhsimran Singh (Punjab Kings)A retained player, Prabhsimran delivered on his promise with his best IPL season – 549 runs at a strike rate of 160.52. His crisp drives and ability to capitalise on loose deliveries made his partnership with Arya one of the stories of the season. His 48-ball 91 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and a 49-ball 83 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) masked PBKS’ middle-order woes. His aggressive approach to pace helped him become the highest run-scorer (1305) in IPL history for an uncapped Indian.4. Nehal Wadhera (Punjab Kings)Another uncapped gem for PBKS, Wadhera came from Mumbai Indians (MI) to his new team with a point to prove and turned himself into an adaptable player. With a tendency to hit straight or pummel short balls through midwicket, Wadhera hit a 37-ball 70 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) but his best performance came in Qualifier 2, where in a high-pressure scenario, he matched Shreyas Iyer shot-for-shot to help take down his old team with a 28-ball 49 in a high-octane chase.5. Shashank Singh (Punjab Kings)The 33-year-old, also retained by PBKS, was their finisher. With seven not outs in 14 innings, Shashank brought the fireworks with a 16-ball 44 against GT, 15-ball 33 against LSG, and 30-ball 59 against RR, all unbeaten performances. He was the highest scorer in the final with 61*, and it was another 350-run season for Shashank.Naman Dhir repaid MI’s faith in him with impressive performances as a finisher•AFP/Getty Images6. Naman Dhir (Mumbai Indians)MI used a right-to-match card on Dhir at the auction, and he showed why with his ability to race off the blocks. His 17-ball 38 against Delhi Capitals (DC) was the difference in a close game, and his 18-ball 37 in Qualifier 2 gave MI a promising score. The 11-ball 25 against LSG was another standout, while his eight-ball 24 against DC turned a below-par team total into a winning one. His highest score of the season came out of position, as he made 46 from No. 3 against LSG, while his season’s ball-per-boundary ratio was an astonishing 3.73.7. Vipraj Nigam (Delhi Capitals)A legbreak bowler with a big rip, Nigam was one of the season’s finds with with 11 wickets at an average of 32.36 for DC. Throw in his 142 runs at a strike rate of 179.74, and he was matching Axar Patel in utility. He silenced the Chinnaswamy by dismissing Virat Kohli in a spell of 2 for 18 in four overs on a ground notoriously difficult for spinners. Earlier, he had stifled CSK with 2 for 27 at Chepauk. With the bat, his ability to manufacture boundaries was on show when his 17-ball 39 helped beat LSG by one wicket, while his 19-ball 38 saved DC the blushes against KKR.Digvesh Rathi’s notebook celebration became a regular sight in IPL 2025•Associated Press8. Digvesh Rathi (Lucknow Super Giants)Pure cinema. That’s what Rathi turned out to be with his accurate wristspin, his “notebook” celebrations, and his desire to seek out a fight. Such was his form that by the end of the season, teams were looking to see out the man playing his debut IPL season. He finished with an economy of 7.59, the second-highest tally of wickets (14) for an uncapped bowler and the most for an uncapped spinner. He was also the lone bright spot among LSG’s bowlers.9. Suyash Sharma (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)A zippy googly that flattened Andre Russell’s stumps in the season opener set the tone for Suyash. He wasn’t always among the wickets, but his stump-to-stump bowling, alongside the variation in the dip of his deliveries, made him a tricky prospect. In eight of his games, he maintained an economy of under 8.50, while he saved his best for PBKS. His 2 for 26 against them early in the season contributed to a comfortable win, while his 3 for 17 in Qualifier 1 left RCB chasing only 102.10. Ashwani Kumar (Mumbai Indians)The left-arm seamer from Punjab made a late entry into MI’s XII. He struck with his first ball on IPL debut against KKR, dismissing Ajinkya Rahane, and finished the evening as the first Indian to take a four-wicket haul on IPL debut. His sharp yorkers and back-of-the-hand slower balls in the back-end of the innings made him a regular in the second half of the season, while his bowling average of 21.09 was the best among all uncapped bowlers. Such was Mumbai’s belief in Ashwani that Hardik Pandya trusted him to bowl the 19th over of Qualifier 2.11. Yash Dayal (Royal Challengers Bengaluru)RCB has immense faith in Dayal, one of only three retentions made by the eventual champions. That’s because of his knack for coming up trumps when the pressure is high. MS Dhoni witnessed that once again, when Dayal successfully held his nerve against CSK in the 20th over of the chase in their two-run win. With Josh Hazlewood and Bhuvneshwar Kumar as his senior seamers, Dayal quietly did his job of producing wide and straight yorkers, often bowling in dewy conditions. In the final, he bowled ten dots in three overs to strangle PBKS.12. Vaibhav Arora (Kolkata Knight Riders)With 17 wickets it was another successful season for the tall, swinging bowler. He finished with the most wickets among uncapped bowlers despite playing only 12 games. His stellar head-to-head against left-hand batters was on show as he dismissed Sunrisers Hyderabad’s Travis Head and Ishan Kishan in a spell of 3 for 24. He also held his cool against Rajasthan Royals to eke out a one-run victory at home by playing his part in a final-ball run-out. But his bowling in the death overs was exposed this season, finishing IPL 2025 with an economy of 10.11, among the worst in the season.