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The 2024 MLB Winter Meetings commenced on Dec. 9 at the Hilton Anatole Hotel in Dallas, Texas. MLB executives, managers, and members of the media gather annually during the offseason to hold meetings, speak to the media, and often conduct some of the offseason's most important signings and trades at this event.

Purpose of the MLB Winter Meetings

The MLB Winter Meetings allow the league to come together in the same building during a pivotal point of the offseason. The Winter Meetings lead to trades, signings, and plenty of rumors as teams are all in the same place at the same time. The meetings also give a time and place for the media to speak with managers and general managers during the offseason.

The biggest signing of the 2024 offseason happened shortly before the Winter Meetings began when Jeff Passan reported that Juan Soto signed with the New York Mets on Sunday night. With Soto signed, the top free agent of the offseason is officially off the market, allowing teams that didn't land him to spend their money elsewhere.

The Origin and History of MLB’s Winter Meetings

The Winter Meetings tradition dates back nearly 150 years, when the National League held an offseason meeting in 1876. The meetings became an annual event in 1901, the same year that the American League was founded.

Key Activities at the MLB Winter Meetings

During the MLB Winter Meetings, team executives often hold meetings with other teams and agents throughout the four days. Every team's manager and many general managers will talk to the press and/or hold a press conference. If a team makes a trade or major signing, they typically hold a press conference as well.

The lottery for the 2025 MLB Draft will also be held during the Winter Meetings. The lottery will take place on Dec. 10 at 5:30 p.m. ET. Two days later, the Rule 5 Draft will be held on the final day of the Winter Meetings.

Notable Deals from Recent MLB Winter Meetings

One of the most significant deals ever during the Winter Meetings took place just one year ago. At the conclusion of the 2023 MLB Winter Meetings, the San Diego Padres made the blockbuster trade of the season by sending Juan Soto and Trent Grisham to the New York Yankees in exchange for Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez, and Kyle Higashioka.

The Yankees have been a part of multiple trades over the history of the Winter Meetings. The Yankees acquired then-reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton during the 2017 MLB Winter Meetings. Over 60 years ago, the Yankees landed seven-time MLB All-Star and future two-time AL MVP Roger Maris at the 1959 Winter Meetings.

Outside of the Yankees, the Winter Meetings have been the site where historic deals, including the Detroit Tigers acquiring Miguel Cabrera, the Texans Rangers signing Alex Rodriguez, and the San Francisco Giants signing Barry Bonds, were completed.

Importance of the Rule 5 Draft During the Winter Meetings

The Rule 5 Draft takes place on the final day of the Winter Meetings, and gives minor league players a chance with another team to get promoted to the major leagues. The Rule 5 Draft prevents MLB teams from storing prospects year after year in the minor leagues, and give those prospects an opportunity for success with a different franchise.

Any player who is left off an MLB team's 40-man roster and has spent four-to-five years in professional baseball is eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 Draft. Players who signed at 18 years old or younger are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft after at least five years in professional baseball, while players who signed at 19 years old are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft after four years. Players on a team's 40-man roster are protected from getting selected in the Rule 5 Draft.

Any team that has an opening on their 40-man roster may select a player during the Rule 5 Draft. A team that selects a player in the Rule 5 Draft must pay $100,000 to the team he was drafted from, and the player must stay on the 26-man roster or injured list for at least the entirety of the next season. If he is not kept on the 26-man roster, he must be offered back to his original team for $50,000.

The most successful player taken in the Rule 5 Draft was Roberto Clemente, who went on to become a 15-time MLB All-Star with the Pittsburgh Pirates and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

How to Follow the 2024 Winter Meetings and Beyond

MLB Network will provide coverage for much of the Winter Meetings. MLB Network will be on-site to cover the Winter Meetings on and

National reporters and MLB insiders including Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Jon Morosi of MLB Network, and Jeff Passan of ESPN will be among those providing updates and news throughout the Winter Meetings.

Manchester United might be in the market for a striker during the January transfer window. The Red Devils signed Benjamin Sesko over the summer, but he picked up a knee injury during their most recent Premier League clash, a 2-2 draw away to Tottenham Hotspur.

Even if that blow doesn’t prove to be a severe one, as is expected, the Red Devils could still be in need of a new number nine in the winter window. When Sesko is absent or injured, it leaves Joshua Zirkzee as the only senior striker in the squad – although 17-year-old Chido Obi could also be called upon.

It seems as though Ruben Amorim’s side may have a centre-forward in mind if they dip into the market.

United’s centre-forward target

At this stage, it is unclear how much INEOS will put into the transfer kitty for Amorim to dip into in the January market. However, there has been a clear plan to back the Portuguese, so there could well be funds made available.

Transfer Focus

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

If that is the case, the Red Devils could be looking to win the battle to sign Brazilian striker Vitor Roque. The 20-year-old is someone United are racing to sign, according to Pete O’Rourke, transfer correspondent for Football Insider.

However, they will not be the only Premier League club looking to sign the striker in a couple of months.

Londoners Chelsea and Spurs are in the frame too, although it could be a deal that is ignited “more in the summer” if reports are to be believed. As for a price, reports in Spain indicated that he could cost as much as £44m.

Why Roque would be a good signing

Whether this is a move that happens in January or the summer, there is no doubt that United would be buying an exciting young talent. Although he struggled during his first stint in Europe at Barcelona, Roque has proven he has plenty of ability since.

Nowadays, the one-cap Brazilian international is plying his trade back in his home country, for Palmeiras. His form has been impressive in 2025, too. In 52 games across all competitions, Roque has found the back of the net 20 times and assisted five goals.

In the Brazilian top flight, the 20-year-old has played his best football. He’s made 30 appearances in the competition this calendar year, bagging 16 times, at better than a goal every other game.

Described as an “unstoppable” force by football talent scout Jacek Kulig, Roque’s underlying numbers back up how well he has played.

For example, he’s averaging 0.76 goals per game, which places him in the top 6% of Brazilian top-flight strikers.

Goals

0.76

94th

Expected goals

0.58xG

92nd

Goals per shot

0.21

89th

Shot-creating actions

4.07

88th

Take-ons completed

1.85

97th

If this deal gets over the line, it could be like the second coming of Matheus Cunha for United. Roque’s fellow Brazilian has not set the world alight in terms of goals and assists, with just one to his name so far against Brighton and Hove Albion.

But, he has still played superbly, and shown exactly why United paid the £62.5m fee to Wolverhampton Wanderers. After a wonderful performance away to Liverpool, journalist Sam Pilger described him as “an incredible signing” for the Red Devils.

If United were to sign Roque, they would love for him to have such an impact, even if he wasn’t able to chip in with goals and assists as much as you might expect. There are similarities between the Palmeiras star and United’s new number 10, with both exciting Brazilian forwards who can be a real difference maker.

For a fee of £44m, this is certainly an interesting move for the Red Devils. They may need him in January, but if they end up getting him in the summer, Roque could be an exciting addition to their attack, just as Cunha has been so far this season.

With Sesko scoring just twice so far this term, injury or not, the Old Trafford side could be in need of a suitable rival in that number nine berth.

Man Utd "monster" is fast becoming their new Vidic and it's not De Ligt

Ruben Amorim may have uncovered Manchester United’s new Nemanja Vidic.

1 ByJoe Nuttall Nov 11, 2025

Despite making only 160 for 7, Pakistan cruise to a 93-run win in their Asia Cup opener

Danyal Rasool12-Sep-20251:59

Jaffer: Looks like Haris has worked on his game

Mohammad Haris’ fifty and a bowling performance far too good for an outmatched Oman side helped Pakistan cruise to a 93-run win in their Asia Cup opener. Haris smashed 66 off 43 deliveries in an innings where none of his team-mates were quite able to match his power or timing with the bat as he helped Pakistan get up to 160.Oman received early encouragement when a ball that kept low trapped the dangerous Saim Ayub in front. Sahibzada Farhan’s off-colour form persisted in a scratchy innings as Pakistan stumbled along to 31 in the first five overs, and it was up to Haris to inject impetus into the innings.Related

'Confidence, backing is needed for any player' – Haris repays Hesson's faith

Sixteen came off the final powerplay over, and that was the start of the onslaught. Until then, Haris had 16 off 18. His next 25 balls produced 50 as Pakistan raced up close to eight runs per over, but once again, Oman pegged them back. Aamir Kaleem, the left-arm spinner, was the pick of the Oman bowlers as he had Haris drag on, before Salman Agha lapped a full toss off his first delivery to deep midwicket.It produced another barren spell for Pakistan and the boundaries dried up again. Fakhar Zaman struggled for timing and Hasan Nawaz, so often a hammer at the death, couldn’t get himself in and holed out off his 15th ball for nine runs. But a cameo from Mohammad Nawaz, who arrived in the 17th over, ensured Pakistan got past the 150-mark.Mohammad Nawaz contributed with both bat and ball•AFP/Getty ImagesBut Kaleem’s three wickets, and the overall assistance the Oman spinners got, suggested this might well end up being comfortably above par, especially in the face of Pakistan’s more accomplished spin options.And so it proved. A bright beginning for Oman’s batters was waylaid by a double strike from Saim Ayub in the powerplay. Nawaz and Pakistan’s two wristspinners Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed dried up the batters’ scoring options, and Oman began to bleed wickets. With the field spreading out and the asking rate rising, panic set in, and the innings began to capitulate. Oman slipped from 41 for 2 to 51 for 9 before being bowled out for 67; flashes of ability drowned under the gulf in quality Pakistan were able to bring to bear upon the contest.Haris takes chargeIt is knocks like these that keep Pakistan persisting with Haris through extended poor runs. He had scored just 54 runs in 11 innings before this game, but he was promoted up the order into the powerplay today. That is his strength, and having cut loose in the sixth over, he continued pumping the Oman bowlers, almost single-handedly maintaining Pakistan’s imposing run rate.2:11

Will Pakistan back this XI against India?

Farhan’s struggles at the other end threw Haris’ exploits into sharper relief. Even with the field spread out, Haris, having found his timing, continued to take on the boundary riders. His third six brought up just his second 50-plus score in the format, before a boundary the following ball saw him match his runs tally from the previous 11 innings. The 43 balls he faced for his 66 makes just this three deliveries short of his longest T20I innings in his 29-match career, and one that singlehandedly resurrected an innings that had begun to wobble.Pakistan spin lays waste to OmanSpecialist fast bowlers have dropped down the pecking order in T20I cricket under Mike Hesson, but playing just the one in Shaheen Shah Afridi still came as a bit of a surprise at the toss. Oman began the chase in a solid manner and were 32 for 2 by the end of the fifth over. But Saim Ayub had taken both those wickets, and Pakistan began to unleash the rest of their spinners on this line-up that may never had played against bowling of this quality.Abrar, Nawaz and Muqeem first asphyxiated them, and then the wickets began to fall. Muqeem took out Mohammad Nadeem to make it 41 for 3, and from thereon it was a procession. Nawaz got into the act before Muqeem doubled up the following over. Afridi and Faheem Ashraf helped themselves as Oman lost seven wickets for ten runs, imparting upon the scoreline a tinge of embarrassment Oman’s bowlers certainly did not deserve.

Barcelona have been handed both relief and pain ahead of their crucial Champions League tie against Chelsea. On one hand, they have Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford back in the squad, but they will yet again miss the services of their talismanic midfielder Pedri, who has been sidelined since late October.

Rashford's presence is important against Chelsea

Rashford, after a decent outing with England in the November international break, missed Barcelona's 4-0 win against Athletic Club at Camp Nou due to illness. However, he has now recovered from the flu and has been included in Barca's squad that will travel to London to face Enzo Maresca's Chelsea. Rashford, who enjoyed a dismal last few days at United, is currently a menace to Barca's opponents. Ever since his loan move in the summer, he has secured six goals and nine assists across La Liga and the Champions League. In the latter, he has been in ecstatic form, nailing four goals and two assists in the four outings. His involvement against Chelsea will be crucial, and Flick will be dependent on him for goals, as he has already scored six times against the Stamford Bridge-based side. Adding to that, his five assists against the Blues will be a great statistic to keep Maresca's men on their toes.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportPedri remains a concern for Flick

Pedri, who is not only admired by the Barca faithful but also by opposition managers, will be sidelined for this fixture too. He sustained a tear in the distal femoral biceps of his left leg in late October, and the Clasico was the last time he featured. He is a vital cog in Flick's machinery, as he has hardly missed games under the German coach. The femoral biceps are part of the hamstring group at the back portion of the thigh, and this is not the first time he has succumbed to such an injury. Previously, in September 2021, he suffered a hamstring injury, which kept him out for three months. However, he is said to be recovering well and, as per , has entered the final stage of his recovery.

Maresca hails Pedri and Flick before continental tie

Maresca, a Spaniard himself, has been an admirer of Pedri, who is often treated as one of the finest midfielders of his generation. The Chelsea boss, before the Barca game, spoke highly about Pedri and also of Flick's Barca. 

"It’s not only a loss for Barcelona, it’s a loss for football because he has incredible quality," he said. "Flick’s Barca looks spectacular to me. Whenever I watch them, you can always learn something. Last year, they won La Liga and reached the Champions League semifinals. They do many things well, and they are a team that always wants to take the initiative. We will try to do the same."

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Getty Images SportTwo other crucial members reintegrated into the squad

Club captain Frenkie de Jong, who has been one of Flick's most trusted personnel, served his suspension against Athletic Club and is set to make a return for the Chelsea game. Full-back Alejandro Balde, who received a blow to his head last week and was taken off at the lemon break, has travelled with the team to London.

Cat Macario shined, Jaedyn Shaw delivered a statement, and Emma Hayes couldn’t stop smiling as the USWNT capped 2025 with another dominant win over Italy.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – It was impossible to miss the smile on Emma Hayes’ face. Every time the camera panned to the U.S. women’s national team coach, she was either grinning or laughing. And she had every reason to – her team delivered the kind of performance you want to close out a 2025 slate.

Facing Italy again just days after a 3-0 win, the U.S. took care of business in much the same way. This one finished 2-0 instead of three, but the performance was just as convincing. To close out 2025, the U.S. put in one more shift – and it was the familiar faces who carried them, just as they have all year.

Cat Macario scored the first, finishing with a fantastic chip that only an in-form player can provide. Lily Yohannes assisted her, continuing her evolution at just 18. Then, for the second, Alyssa Thompson teed up Jaedyn Shaw, who did the heavy-lifting with a long-range curler that left the goalkeeper with nothing to do but aimlessly dive and wave at the ball as it soared past her. Shaw reflected on just how important it was for her to wrap up 2025 with a goal. 

"Looking back on the year, I think it has been so much of a roller coaster of emotions," she told GOAL. "I think it didn't start out how I thought it would be. I think  just like trusting in my faith and trusting in God's plan for me, that like it's all gonna work out for the betterment of seeing what like my next opportunity is, and it's all preparation for moments like these." 

Macario and Shaw's goals were the biggest causes of Hayes' happiness. But there were plenty of other reasons, too. This was a complete performance from a complete team, one that will now head into 2026 with plenty of optimism as World Cup qualifying starts next year. Hayes jokingly compared her team's progress and potential outlook for next year to a superb winter stew that isn't quite finished yet. 

"I think, first of all, it's still cooking, and it's a little bit if I think about it, like being a nice winter dish…Like a slow-cooked stew, and [it] gets better with more time it's on. The heat certainly gets more tender. I think when I watch our team play, I think you're starting to see the maturity in the performances," she said. 

GOAL breaks down the winners and losers from Chase Stadium…

Getty Images SportWINNER: Jaedyn Shaw

This 2025 calendar year tested  Shaw. There was a while there where she was seemingly staring down a crossroads. Well, whatever path she took at that crossroads was the right one because, right now, there's no doubt that Shaw is blossoming into the best version of herself. She pointed to winning a title with Gotham FC and jokingly remembered that she's still just 21 while reflecting on overcoming challenges. 

"Just being here now, being able to reflect on those times is so special for me, and ending the year on like, such a high, like winning a championship… It still feels weird. But yeah, I'm, I'm so happy to be at this point and my career, and I'm so blessed to be around these amazing people to help me in these times," she said. 

With her goal on Monday, the Gotham FC starlet snapped her 13-game goalless run, finally getting that big USWNT payoff that she deserved. It took a while to get there, as Shaw battled back from a tough run of form to start the season, one that saw her spend time with the U-23s in an attempt to rebuild. Consider her rebuilt now, though, and perhaps better than ever.

Shaw will, quite obviously, be riding high. Fresh off a NWSL title with Gotham FC, she carried that momentum right into this game. As she heads into the offseason, the forward admitted she picked an ironic spot for a vacation. 

"I will be going on vacation. I'm going to Italy, actually, which is ironic. It is ironic, but yeah, so I'm getting girls from Italy…So yeah, I'll definitely be getting some rest and recovery," she said. 

Once she's back from the the USWNT will hope she carries her momentum into 2026 now because, if she can, the sky really does seem to be the limit for a player who, just a few short months ago, faced a fight to prove that was true.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportLOSER: Francesca Durante

Durante will be sore tomorrow. This was not a fun game with her, and not just because of the goals she conceded.

The goals, of course, were pretty unsavable, but that won't make her feel any better. Macario's chip was stunning, but hey, it happens. Shaw's finish, meanwhile, was pretty unsavable and, again, it happens. In terms of pure goalkeeping, there was little Durante could do, so no real reason to feel bad there.

She will feel bad physically, though. Durante got hit hard multiple times on USWNT set pieces, forcing stoppages multiple times. The Italy goalkeeper surely got the wind knocked out of her at least one of those times. She didn't leave the game with an injury, but her back will surely feel that in the morning.

Getty Images SportWINNER: Cat Macario

There was a split second where one could see the wheels turning in Macario's head. She looked up, then down, then up again, and then came to her conclusion: "Yeah, I'm gonna chip her." The chip was perfect, and the ball went into the back of the net. 

That's what Macario can do.

In particular, though, that's what she's capable of when she's in form. With her first-half goal, she now has five finishes in her last three USWNT appearances, taking her total to eight in the 2025 calendar year. That leads the team, and it's no surprise: Macario has been leading this team all year long. This goal was among her best, but again, these types of moments have become commonplace for the Chelsea star. Yohannes, who threaded the needle in delivering the ball to the striker, believes the pair is starting to form strong chemistry on the pitch. 

"Cat is just such a special player, and I know if she gets the ball in front of the goal, 10 times out of 10, it is probably going to be a goal," Yohannes said. "So, yeah, I'm just, I think we're growing a partnership. I think that's super cool. You know, we have a great friendship off the pitch and to be on the pitch and assisting her…I'm just so proud of her."

For several years, injuries robbed the USWNT of that. For so long, this team played without her and, in truth, they thrived. Now, with Macario back and in this type of form, the USWNT has something special going, largely because she is a special, special player. 

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Getty Images SportLOSER: Italy

Scoreline-wise? Yeah, this was a little better. Two-nil is better than 3-0, so they have that going for them. Performance-wise, though? Italy didn't offer much, and they never really threatened the USWNT across the two matches in December. 

This Italy team isn't bad. They entered this window ranked 12th in the world, with the USWNT ranked second. In these games, though, there was a clear gap. On Monday, the U.S. had 66 percent of the ball and fired seven shots to Italy's one. One team was significantly better than the other here, no matter what the rankings say.

With the loss, Italy now sit on a five-game winless run. They lost to England in extra time in the Euro semifinals before drawing Japan and then falling to Brazil in October friendlies. These two defeats to the U.S. were the final pieces of that streak. There’s no shame in those results, but for a team that seems so close, turning those losses into signature wins is what will push this program forward.

SLC said that the decision was taken “after careful consideration of the broader requirement of preparing well in advance” for next year’s T20 World Cup

ESPNcricinfo staff22-Oct-2025The 2025 edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) will not take place this year as was originally planned, SLC has announced. In a press release, SLC said that the decision was taken “after careful consideration of the broader requirement of preparing well in advance” for next year’s T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.The 2025 LPL was originally slated to be held between November 27 and December 23 across three venues – Colombo, Kandy and Dambulla. SLC, however, has now decided to move the tournament to another window, in order to allow “full focus on ensuring comprehensive venue readiness ahead of the World Cup.”As per ICC guidelines, all venues for the upcoming 20-team World Cup are meant to be in perfect condition to meet the demands of hosting a major international tournament. Accordingly, SLC said they needed the time to upgrade and enhance the infrastructure in and around the grounds.The R Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo, which is one of three venues in Sri Lanka, had temporarily paused its renovation work to host 11 matches in the ongoing Women’s World Cup. SLC confirmed that the ground will resume development work immediately upon the completion of its scheduled games.The last two seasons of the LPL took place during July and August, however this year, with the 2026 T20 World Cup set to begin in February, SLC had initially felt the later window better suited their needs.ESPNcricinfo had also learnt that talks are underway to incorporate a sixth team into the LPL. The first five editions saw five teams representing Colombo, Galle, Kandy, Dambulla and Jaffna compete. Earlier this year, Jaffna Kings – formerly the longest-standing franchise, having joined in the tournament’s second edition – and Colombo Strikers were terminated by SLC for “failure to uphold contractual obligations.” As a result, the LPL currently has no franchise owners with a history stretching back beyond 2024. New owners for both the Jaffna and Colombo teams are yet to be announced.

Manchester City have now made contact over a deal for a 58-cap international, who is able to play in a number of positions.

Man City looking to increase squad depth after Bayer Leverkusen defeat

Pep Guardiola clearly had a lot of faith in some of his back-up options heading into the Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen, having made ten changes to his starting XI, but his side came up short in a 2-0 defeat.

The Spaniard has since admitted he probably made too many alterations, saying: “I always had the belief of the long season and everyone had to be involved but maybe it was too much. They played not to make mistakes instead of doing what we had to do.

“It was not the performance that we thought. I take full responsibility. We missed something. We missed an incredible opportunity and now we need to fight in the next games.”

Despite limiting the German side to an xG of just 0.51, the Blues conceded two goals for the second game on the spin, and having kept one clean sheet in their last seven games, they have now joined the race for a new defender.

That is according to a report from TEAMtalk, which states Man City have now made contact over a deal for versatile AS Roma defender Zeki Celik, who is able to play as a wing-back, full-back and at centre-back.

Celik could be available for a bargain fee in the January transfer window, given that his contract is set to expire at the end of the season, but if the Italian club are unwilling to sanction a departure, City could wait to snap him up on a free next summer.

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There may be competition for the defender’s signature from a plethora of rival Premier League clubs, however, with Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea also making enquiries of their own.

"Perfect player" Celik impressing for club and country

The 58-cap Turkey international was recently lauded by national team manager Vincenzo Montella, who said: “He’s the perfect player for any coach,”

“Celik is professional, reliable, does his job wherever you play him. In a locker room it is always needed to have guys like him.”

The 28-year-old has also put in some impressive performances for AS Roma as of late, recently scoring and recording a 95% pass-completion rate in his side’s 2-0 victory over Udinese, with the latter statistic indicating he could be ideal in a Pep system.

As such, Celik could be a solid addition to the Man City squad, particularly on a free transfer, with Guardiola clearly keen on bolstering his options at full-back, given that a Bundesliga star has also been identified as a potential target…

Tensions flared during the Detroit Tigers game against the San Francisco Giants on Monday, as Javier Baez was ejected from the contest after arguing a called third strike from home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi.

Baez was irate and needed to be restrained by his teammates before he eventually went into the clubhouse.

Baez, who is a utility player in Detroit, is expected to start at third base for Tuesday evening's game, despite having been in center field on Monday. And he'll be seeing plenty of Cuzzi at the hot corner throughout the game, as he'll be serving as the game's third base umpire.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch discussed the situation with reporters ahead of the game, and he comically compared it to parenting.

"It's like parenting," he said, via Cody Stavenhagen of . "I got to put them two in a corner and tell them they've got to sort it out and play nice."

Hinch seems to think the situation is pretty humorous, and hopefully Baez and Cuzzi can adopt that approach, otherwise they could be in for a pretty awkward run-in over at third base when Baez takes the field in the first inning.

Thomas Frank’s appointment as Tottenham Hotspur boss brought about a newfound sense of excitement, with the Dane tasked with building on last season’s Europa League triumph.

He was brought into the club to replace Ange Postecoglou, even being handed over £100m by the hierarchy to make the desired changes he wanted to his first team squad.

Whilst his tenure in North London started off in excellent fashion, even remaining as the only side unbeaten away from home in the Premier League, but that came crashing down against Arsenal last week.

The Lilywhites have now failed to win any of their last three outings, shipping a total of 11 goals in that time – with five coming against PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday.

As a result, the hierarchy have since been targeting added reinforcements for the January transfer window to try and bolster Frank’s current first-team squad.

Spurs’ hunt for added reinforcements in January

During the past couple of weeks, Spurs have been targeting a move for Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo – with the Ghanaian seen as the perfect man to improve the frontline.

He’s already scored six times and registered three assists in the Premier League this campaign, leading to interest from other sides such as Arsenal and Liverpool.

However, his asking price has already been revealed, with the 25-year-old available for £65m as his release clause becomes active from the start of 2026.

He’s not the only player currently in their sights, with Juventus centre-back Gleison Bremer a defensive option being targeted ahead of the upcoming window.

According to TuttoJuve, Frank’s men are “ready to make” a €40m (£35m) bid for the Brazilian, who has been restricted to just four Serie A appearances this campaign.

The report states that the Lilywhites see the 28-year-old as the perfect option to bolster their backline, but it’s unclear if his current employers will sanction his transfer.

Why Spurs’ £35m target would be an upgrade on Romero

After Frank’s appointment in the summer, the Dane made a swift decision to create a leadership group that would lead Spurs forward under his guidance in North London.

Centre-back Cristian Romero was named as one of the players in the aforementioned group, with the Argentine wearing the armband in every game he’s featured in.

Whilst many have heaped praise on the 27-year-old in recent times, he’s endured somewhat of a slump in form over recent weeks – as seen by the club’s poor defensive record.

He was even responsible for two of PSG’s goals on Wednesday night, as he gave the ball to Pape Sarr in a dangerous position, before blocking Vitinha’s shot with his hand – resulting in a penalty for the hosts.

His underlying stats have also taken a hit as a result in recent weeks, which has led to numerous areas becoming a cause for concern to the manager and his staff.

When comparing Romero’s stats to those of Bremer in 2025/26 to date, the Brazilian has managed to better his fellow South American in key areas – highlighting why he’d be an upgrade on the Lilywhites defender.

Bremer, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by Matteo Bonetti, has completed more of the passes he’s attempted, whilst also notching more key passes per 90.

Games played

4

10

Goals & assists

2

1

Pass accuracy

89%

88%

Key passes

0.8

0.2

% of tackles won

90%

76%

Clearances made

5.8

3.7

Recoveries made

4.7

3.7

Aerials won

68%

66%

Such numbers highlight his incredible ball-playing ability, with such numbers handing Frank an added option to play out from the back and through the thirds when needed.

He’s also won more of the tackles he’s entered in 2025/26, whilst making more clearances per 90 – offering the needed defensive quality the side has lacked in recent weeks.

Other numbers, such as a higher aerial success rate and more recoveries made, highlight his all-round dominance without the ball – with Bremer looking like an incredible addition at £35m.

Such a move may feel somewhat harsh on Romero, but ultimately, it’s clear that the hierarchy have identified a player who is a level above the Argentine international.

If the board can complete a deal for Bremer, it would be a superb deal and one that could finally hand Frank the answer to their recent struggles in the defensive third.

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ByEthan Lamb Nov 27, 2025

Young batter has opportunity to build narrative ahead of England’s defining campaign in November

Matt Roller13-Oct-2025Jacob Bethell has gone platinum. He has not broken into the music industry just yet, but England’s wunderkind used his time off at the end of the season to refresh his bright blond shock of hair and arrived in New Zealand this weekend with a golden chance ahead of him.He may not have an England crest tattooed on his biceps to prove his allegiance, but Bethell’s haircut is as much of a statement as the ‘skunk’ that Kevin Pietersen wore two decades ago in similar circumstances. For not since Pietersen in 2005 has an England batter gone into a white-ball series with such a clear opportunity to lock down a spot for the subsequent Ashes series.The obvious difference is that Pietersen had scored 21 first-class hundreds by the time that his one-day performances – most notably, a match-winning 91 not out at Bristol – secured his place ahead of the late Graham Thorpe for the first Test a few weeks later. Bethell has not scored any; as such, his case to beat Ollie Pope to the No. 3 spot in Perth relies on potential far more than performance.There may be little obvious relationship between three T20Is and three ODIs on small grounds in New Zealand and an Ashes series in Australia, but narrative is a powerful drug. After 61 Tests – already more than Jonathan Trott – Pope is a known entity, whose average has stabilised at 35. Bethell’s may yet do the same, but the uncertainty is precisely what makes him so enticing to an England management obsessed with upside.Bethell’s role in England’s white-ball teams became steadily more prominent last month: having mainly batted at No. 6, he shuffled up to No. 4 in the final two ODIs against South Africa, and moved up to No. 3 in the T20I side. If that continues in New Zealand, he will have more than enough time in the middle to press his case with substantial scores; all the while, Pope will have to watch on from afar.”I’ll be playing cricket, but whether that has any impact on what actually happens going into that Ashes series, I don’t know,” Bethell said at Thursday’s Toyota PCA Awards. “Form’s a big thing in sport… I’ll just try to put in performances to win games for England, and if that does end up in an Ashes call-up into the XI, then I’ll be taking that with both hands, hopefully.”Bethell scored the first hundred of his professional career in the ODIs against South Africa•ECB via Getty ImagesEngland have indicated that they will take a late call on the identity of their No. 3, with the logic that selection dilemmas are often solved by circumstance. Harry Brook’s withdrawal from their tour to India last year for personal reasons avoided a middle-order logjam, and England are only a rolled ankle or a broken finger away from being spared a headache for Australia.The downside of that approach is that it leaves room for speculation, which will only increase over the next month. But in turn, that only adds relevance to Bethell’s white-ball opportunities in New Zealand: if he can overcome the pressure of knowing that his Ashes spot is on the line, then he should be well equipped for the intense scrutiny of a Test series in Australia.Bethell has played in Australia before: he scored a hundred from No. 3 while captaining England Under-19s three winters ago, and had a modest season for Melbourne Renegades last year. He found conditions “pretty different to what I expected” in the Big Bash – where some pitches are slow and low – but is confident that he will be up to the task this time.Related

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“I’ve definitely had a little think about the kind of challenge that I’m going to face over there,” he said. “The only thing I’ll be looking to do is try to adapt as quickly as possible. I think my game is pretty suited to Australian conditions, in terms of [there being] a bit more bounce [than in England], so that’ll be something that I’m looking to capitalise on.”Bethell spent two weeks with his family in Barbados at the end of the summer, and reflected on a summer in which he scored his maiden professional hundred and captained England for the first time with a level of disappointment. “I’m actually not very happy with the summer I had, but it’s something that has lit a fire in me,” he said.It is that attitude that has impressed so many players and coaches in Bethell’s career to date, and means that he is a genuine contender to replace Pope – a man with nine Test hundreds – at No. 3 in Perth on November 21. He could not hope for a better chance to prove it than over the next three weeks in New Zealand.