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The rain lashed down in almost biblical fashion at Blundell Park on Wednesday evening, yet there was to be no messiah for Manchester United, as League Two minnows Grimsby Town deservedly edged into the Carabao Cup Third Round.

Ruben Amorim – looking less and less like the Red Devils’ saviour – could hardly watch as his expensively assembled side crashed out on penalties, having only briefly spared their blushes with a late fightback in normal time.

£74m signing Benjamin Sesko had even come agonisingly close to snatching a winner at the death, although that scenario would have been deeply unfair on a home side who outfought and outmanoeuvred their opponents throughout the 90-minute affair.

Four times the ball was in Andre Onana’s net – the last of those ruled out in somewhat contentious circumstances – with that fact alone emphasising just what a bruising night it was for the men in red.

Yes, there have been flashes of positivity in recent weeks, but Wednesday’s result may well have extinguished all that. A new nadir in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era has been reached.

Just where do the Old Trafford side go from here?

Andre Onana takes the blame again

The best place to start, in the post-mortem that is to follow, would be the signing of a new starting goalkeeper. Royal Antwerp’s Senne Lammens appears to be the INEOS pick, although at just 22, the young stopper appears yet another gamble for the United hierarchy.

Chalkboard

Whatever the Belgian’s credentials, however, he could arguably do little worse than United’s current crop, with the aforementioned Onana failing miserably to take his chance following his return to the starting lineup.

Altay Bayindir – the man at fault for Arsenal’s strike on the opening weekend – has been shaky enough in recent weeks, although Onana’s performance takes the biscuit, with the Cameroonian arguably to blame for both of Grimsby’s goals on the night.

Having failed to keep out Charles Vernam’s early effort at the near post, the 29-year-old then compounded that error by needlessly racing out of his goal just eight minutes later, allowing Tyrell Warren to prod home into the empty net.

Even in the ensuing shootout, the former Inter Milan man – who had looked nervy from the off after flapping at an early inswinging corner – could only produce a solitary, albeit impressive spot-kick save, despite repeatedly getting his hand to the ball.

After making five errors in all competitions last term, as per Sofascore, the reported West Ham United target has picked up where he left off, with it perhaps easy to see why Amorim has been hesitant to reinstate him on the Premier League front thus far.

An exit for the £47.2m man now appears an inevitability, be it this week, or in 2026, with teammate Manuel Ugarte perhaps among those who should well join him in the departure lounge.

Manuel Ugarte's dismal display vs Grimsby

On a night that began with the talk centred around the future of a certain Kobbie Mainoo, it was telling that the United boss opted to replace Ugarte instead at the break, with the Uruguayan yet again failing to convince.

While passes went astray, there was purpose and poise to Mainoo’s game, with the academy starlet notably picking out Bryan Mbeumo to kickstart the comeback. His penalty was also dispatched with aplomb.

The same cannot be said for Ugarte, however, with the ex-Paris Saint-Germain man again looking uneasy in the centre of the park, having lost the ball on five occasions from his 44-touch cameo, while also failing to provide a single key pass.

Minutes played

45

Touches

44

Pass accuracy

88%

Key passes

0

Successful dribbles

1/2

Ground duels

2/4

Aerial duels

2/3

Possession lost

5x

Fouls

1

An unused substitute in the Bilbao showpiece back in May, the 24-year-old’s stock already looked to have plummeted heading into the summer, with Wednesday’s outing providing a further reminder of his deficiencies.

Despite only arriving under the INEOS regime last summer, it looks as if the former Sporting CP midfielder – who worked under Amorim in Lisbon – is now on borrowed time, with MEN journalist Samuel Luckhurst claiming that ‘people at the club are giving up on him’.

Hooked at the break following what Luckhurst noted to be just a 2/10 worthy performance, Ugarte appears to have a mountain to climb to revive his United fortunes, with both he and Onana having been “absolutely useless” against the Mariners, as per writer Muhammad Butt.

While there is little doubting his physical capacity, having ranked in the top 6% of Premier League midfielders in 2024/25 for tackles won, as per FBref, his woes on the ball are plain to see, not least when considering he ranked in just the bottom 18% for progressive passes and the bottom 23% for progressive carries per 90.

Having already been acquired at the expense of one academy hero in Scott McTominay, the £50m man must surely not be prioritised over another homegrown talent such as Mainoo.

If there was to be any shining light from an evening that put the grim in Grimsby, then it should hopefully be the realisation for Amorim and his staff regarding which United midfielder actually needs to make way before the deadline…

Bigger blow than Mainoo: £50m Man Utd ace in "very advanced" talks to leave

Manchester United look set to offload another star as Kobbie Mainoo exit rumours pick up pace.

2 ByEthan Lamb Aug 27, 2025

أشاد الإسباني روبرتو مارتينيز، المدير الفني لمنتخب البرتغال الأول لكرة القدم باحترافية كريستيانو رونالدو التي لا مثيل لها.

ويخوض منتخب البرتغال مباراتين ضد كل من أيرلندا والمجر، وذلك في خضم منافسات تصفيات قارة أوروبا المؤهلة إلى بطولة كأس العالم، نسخة 2026 في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، كندا والمكسيك.

كان المنتخب البرتغالي قد فاز ببطولة دوري الأمم الأوروبية على حساب منتخب إسبانيا بركلات الترجيح، وتألق رونالدو في هذه المباراة تألقًا كبيرًا وكان حاسمًا أمام الإسبان كعادته.

وقال مارتينيز في تصريحات نقلتها صحيفة “آس”: “خلال مسيرتي المهنية، عملت مع العديد من العباقرة، لاعبين من النخبة عقليًا وجسديًا لكن كريستيانو رونالدو لا يفقد شغفه أبدًا”.

اقرأ أيضًا | قائمة منتخب البرتغال لمباراتي أيرلندا والمجر في تصفيات كأس العالم 2026

وأكمل: “عادة عندما يفوز اللاعب أو يُحقق شيئًا ما، لا يشعر بنفس الشغف في صباح اليوم التالي، لم أرَ ذلك مع كريستيانو، معه صباح اليوم التالي هو فرصة للتحسين والفوز مجددًا، هذا أمر فريد من نوعه”.

وأردف: “كريستيانو موجود منذ 20 عامًا، لم يعد اللاعب نفسه الذي كان عليه سابقًا لكنه دائمًا ما يجد طريقة ليكون مفيدًا وهو قدوة للآخرين بفضل ما يقدمه على أرض الملعب، يعشق كرة القدم ويحب الدفاع عن ألوان البرتغال، لعب أكثر من 200 مباراة، ولا يزال يُقدم مثالًا يُحتذى به، سيبقى ذكراه خالدًا”.

وعن التحديات التي تواجه المنتخب كشف: “عندما وصلت إلى البرتغال كانت أكبر مفاجأة هي الطبيعة التنافسية للمنتخب الوطني وطموح اللاعبين الشباب للتطور”.

واستطرد: “كأس ​​العالم؟ لم نضمن التأهل بعد لكننا نشعر أننا جميعًا نعمل نحو هدف، في عام 1966 حققنا المركز الثالث في كأس العالم، وفي عام 2016 فزنا بأمم أوروبا والآن كأس العالم في عام 2026 لا يُخفي اللاعبون أن هدفهم هو الفوز بكأس العالم، جميعهم يستحقون ذلك، الشعب البرتغالي يستحق ذلك”.

MatériaMais Notícias

Após o apito final do empate entre Santos e Audax Italiano na Sul-Americana, o Peixe precisou emitir uma nota para repudiar um episódio de racismo contra os atletas Ângelo e Messias, que foi exposto nas redes sociais.

Em um vídeo gravado e publicado por uma torcedora do Peixe, um homem aparece chamando os dois atletas do clube de ‘macacos’ e ainda dispara outros xingamentos para a dupla. Confira no vídeo abaixo:

continua após a publicidadeRelacionadasSantosLucas Lima revela cobrança de Neymar por conta de empate do SantosSantos20/04/2023SantosApós pedir para jogar pelo Santos, Bauermann fala sobre investigação de manipulações: ‘Neguei de cara’Santos20/04/2023SantosNeymar lamenta empate do Santos na Sul-Americana e se declara ao clube: ‘Um dia eu volto, já já’Santos20/04/2023

+ATUAÇÕES: Santos vacila em casa, não fura defesa do Audax Italiano e tropeça na Sul-Americana

Por meio de uma nota oficial, o Santos foi enfático sobre essa situação ocorrida na Vila Belmiro e prometeu realizar o reconhecimento da pessoa que realizou as falas racistas para, assim, conseguir tomar as medidas cabíveis.

VEJA A NOTA DO SANTOS, NA ÍNTEGRA

O Santos Futebol Clube tomou conhecimento na noite desta quinta-feira (20), após a partida diante do Audax Italiano, pela Conmebol Sul-Americana, de um ato de racismo isolado de uma pessoa travestida de torcedor, mas que na verdade estava ali para desagregar e criar uma situação desconfortável a todos. Ofendeu claramente os jogadores Messias e Ângelo, ao final do jogo, registrado por verdadeiros torcedores que também não aceitam esse tipo de comportamento.

O Clube lamenta e repudia um ato desses, que não deve ser mais tolerado. Iremos em busca do reconhecimento desse criminoso para que as autoridades tomem às devidas providências. NÃO vamos nos omitir. Só assim esses atos intoleráveis serão banidos da sociedade. Chega de tolerância com racismo!

South Africa lost ten wickets for 61 and were bowled out for 134 in chase of 312

Firdose Moonda20-Sep-2024Afghanistan completed their most high-profile bilateral series win and their first against a team ranked in the ICC’s top five with a 177-run victory over South Africa in Sharjah. After dominating South Africa with the ball two days ago, Afghanistan repeated the dose with the bat on Friday and posted their tenth total of 300 or more to ask South Africa to complete their sixth-highest successful chase. A collapse of 10 for 61 meant South Africa did not even get close and recorded their fifth-biggest defeat by runs. Afghanistan lead the series 2-0 with one match remaining.Birthday-boy Rashid Khan turned 26 and took his fifth career five-for to top off a day of excellence for Afghanistan in all departments. Their celebrations began with Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s seventh ODI century, followed by Rahmat Shah’s 29th ODI half-century and then Azmatullah Omarzai’s fastest fifty in the format. Omarzai reached his half-century off 32 balls, ended unbeaten on 86 off 50 balls and led Afghanistan’s charge of 93 runs in the last ten overs to post a challenging total. While Rashid headlined their bowling, he shared his success with left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote, who finished with a career-best 4 for 26.Afghanistan asserted themselves from the get-go when they chose to bat which left South Africa to field in the worst of the heat. Officially the temperature was 38 degrees Celsius but the real-feel was in the late 40s and they did not have any real menace. Gurbaz and Riaz Hassan put on 88 for the first wicket before Gurbaz and Shah shared a 101-run second-wicket stand which formed the spine of the Afghan innings.South Africa’s spinners, Bjorn Fortuin and Aiden Markram were the most effective in keeping Afghanistan quiet and conceded 59 runs in 14 overs between them, but debutant legspinner Nqaba Peter was expensive and Nandre Burger also conceded 68 runs. Lungi Ngidi was the pick of the seamers, particularly at the end of the innings but South Africa lacked wicket-taking ability, which allowed Afghanistan to get away from them with their fourth and fifth wicket stands of 55 off 40 balls and 40 off 23, respectively.Gurbaz got things underway with the first boundary: a massive six over long-off, off an Ngidi length ball. He followed it up with a cover drive for four, and then two pull shots off Burger short balls to race to go from 4 off the first 15 balls he faced to a run-a-ball 24.Fortuin was brought on in the powerplay and kept his end quiet but Burger’s insistence on using the short ball did not serve South Africa well early on. His first spell of five overs cost 32 runs. He was replaced by Peter, whose first over was tight. He gave away a boundary in each of his next two before Markam took over. Markram got the first wicket when he beat Hassan’s inside-edge and hit him on the pad above the knee roll.Rashid Khan appeals for a wicket•Afghanistan Cricket BoardGurbaz quietened down for a couple of overs but when Wiaan Mulder was brought on in the 21st over, he could not resist a charge down. He hit Mulder over long-on for his second six. What followed was an electric display of shots from both Gurbaz and Rahmat in a stand that seemed to drain South Africa. Rahmat reverse paddled Markam to third and flicked Mulder fine for four, Gurbaz lofted Peter over mid-off, mid-wicket and swept Fortuin to deep backward square to edge towards 90.Then, the nerves kicked in. He spent 18 deliveries in the 90s and seven of those on 99, including a maiden over from Fortuin, as he inched towards his milestone. He got there when he swept Markram behind square leg and his response was as emotive as they come. Gurbaz dropped his bat and then himself to his knees in sajdah, and then composed himself to create a heart-shape with his hands and blow a kiss to the changeroom and a spirited Sharjah crowd. However, in the next over, he swung at a Burger ball, missed and was bowled to end an exceptional knock. This is also the third successive year in which Gurbaz has scored two hundreds. With this knock, Gurbaz has most ODI hundreds for Afghanistan, surpassing Mohammad Shahzad (6).Afghanistan’s 200 was up after 36 overs, and they would have been eyeing a total in excess of 300. Peter made it difficult for them before the last ten overs and picked up his first ODI wicket when he dragged his length back as Rahmat advanced on him, and had Rahmat stumped on 50.Omarzai’s intent in the final period was clear when he hit Mulder over long-off for six two balls into the last 10. He sent Peter in the same area twice, and then hit him over mid-wicket for his fourth six and the shot that brought up his half-century, off 32 balls. Mohammad Nabi was little more than a spectator in the 55-run stand with Omarzai but when he tried to smash an Ngidi slower ball, he skied to Bavuma to depart for 13.That brought Rashid to the crease and he was in immediate trouble, albeit not caused by the bowlers. He hit Ngidi to sweeper cover and ran two but pulled up at the end of the second run with what looked like a hamstring concern. He received treatment on the field, skied the next ball he faced, which Peter couldn’t get to, and then held his hamstring again. Rashid stayed with Omarzai as he took Afghanistan over 300, and any problems he had with his fitness did not show in the field.South Africa’s chase got underway steadily with returning captain Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi’s opening stand of 73 in 14 overs. But Bavuma’s dismissal and then Rashid’s introduction into the attack sparked an almighty collapse. Bavuma top-edged a pull off an Omarzai short ball and the high catch was well judged by Mohammed Nabi. Bavuma departed before he even had a chance to face Rashid, who was given the ball in the 18th over and caused problems with his first ball which teased Reeza Hendricks’ outside edge. Four balls later, de Zorzi tried to drive Rashid through the covers but edged to Ikram Alikhil.Stunned by spin, South Africa went into their shell and scored only 11 runs in the next four overs as pressure built. When left-arm spinner Kharote was brought on in the 23rd over, Hendricks looked particularly out-of-sorts when he stayed back in his crease to play for turn and was bowled. In the next over, Tristan Stubbs was given out on review when he gloved a sweep off Rashid to Nabi at leg slip. Two balls later, Kyle Verreynne failed to pick the wrong ‘un and was out lbw and Markram was left with the lower-order. Mulder was Rashid’s fourth victim, beaten as he stayed back, and Fortuin was bowled by his counterpart Kharote off one that stayed low. At 112 for 7, there was no way back for South Africa.Rashid’s fifth came when he bowled Markram with a googly. Kharote took wickets either side of that to leave South Africa floored. They lost all ten wickets in the space of 20.3 overs.

Having already welcomed Carlton Morris from Luton Town, Derby County are now reportedly in talks to sign an experienced winger at a bargain price this summer.

Derby sign Carlton Morris

Leaving relegated Luton in favour of a move to Pride Park, Morris became the first signing of the summer at Derby earlier this week and will be hoping to ensure that they, unlike The Hatters, push beyond the Championship’s dropzone next season. At 29 years old, he’s now a player with plenty of experience and his versatility to play all across the frontline could prove pivotal for John Eustace.

After putting pen to paper, Morris told Derby’s official website: “It’s a massive club that I’ve heard a lot of good things about. When they came in for me, it was a bit of a no-brainer, really.

“[The move is] a big change, especially with my family. You want to know about the football club, about the area, and I’ve heard nothing but good. I’ve heard it’s a great family club, so I’m excited to get going.

“I think I’m entering the prime stage of my career as a striker now. I spoke to Rob Edwards, who has told me how good Keith Downing is and that Matt Gardiner is exceptional to work with as well.

Derby face Blackburn in race to sign midfielder with same agent as Forsyth

Derby County are now in a race with fellow Championship teams to sign a versatile midfielder.

By
Brett Worthington

Jun 26, 2025

“They’re only going to make me a better player which is crucial as I’m at a place where I’m probably the most coachable I’ve been in my career and ready to kick on.”

In their second season back in the Championship, Derby are seemingly ready to welcome more experience after Morris this summer and that includes one particular winger. As Eustace’s side aim to push on, they’ve reportedly opened talks in pursuit of a bargain deal.

Derby open talks to sign John Swift

As reported by Birmingham World, Derby are now in talks to sign John Swift alongside three other EFL clubs. The former West Bromwich Albion winger is now a free agent after leaving the Hawthorns and is believed to have already met with two managers regarding his future, one of them being Eustace.

Whilst he endured a mixed spell for the Baggies, Swift’s experience may prove invaluable for a side in Derby’s position. Meanwhile, at his best, Swift is someone who has often found himself at the centre of impressive praise.

That includes from former West Brom manager Tony Mowbray last season, who told reporters after Swift scored a free-kick against Burnley last season: “John Swift’s free-kick was a fantastic goal. He’s a wonderful player and he’s very talented. Certain games need certain types of players to give us the best chance to win.”

With three other EFL sides interested, there’s no doubt that signing Swift would represent an impressive coup for Derby, who have already made a statement by signing Luton’s Morris this summer.

The start of this season felt unusually tough for Arsenal, with visits to Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City all within the first month and a half.

Unfortunately, next year looks set to be just as tough, with an opening game away to Manchester United quickly followed by games against Liverpool and City.

So, the best way for Andrea Berta and Co to help Mikel Arteta and his side prepare for a gruelling introduction to the 25/26 Premier League season is by signing some seriously talented players who’ll elevate the squad.

Fortunately, recent reports have linked the Gunners to an incredibly exciting left-winger who’d do just that, although it would be bad news for Gabriel Martinelli.

Arsenal's winger search

While most fans have been crying out for Arsenal to sign a striker for a couple of windows now, it’s arguably just as important that they add at least one more wide player to the squad this summer.

Transfer Focus

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

It appears that that’s an opinion shared by the club, as in recent weeks and months, countless reports have linked them to incredible talents like Nico Williams and Bradley Barcola.

However, with the former now looking like he’s on his way to Barcelona and the latter now a target for German behemoths Bayern Munich, the North Londoners might need to look elsewhere, which could explain the links to Kenan Yıldız.

According to reports from JuveFC, Arsenal are now interested in Juventus’ young dynamo.

The report claims that the Gunners and London rivals Chelsea have ‘re-engaged in discussions’ to assess the possibility of signing the talented winger this summer.

Interestingly, the report claims that as the Old Lady do not want to sell the Turkish talent, they have placed a price tag of €100m – £85m – on his head, and yet it also states that offers in the region of €70m – £60m – might be considered.

It would be a complicated and costly transfer to get over the line, but given Yıldız’s ability and potential, it’s one Arsenal should pursue, especially as he’d be an upgrade on Martinelli.

How Yıldız compares to Martinelli

Now, one of Yıldız’s biggest strengths is that he can play in several positions, be that in midfield, up top, second striker and off the right, but his natural and most played position is left-wing, which is where he’d sure play at Arsenal.

Therefore, his primary competitor for game time in North London would be Martinelli, so how do the pair stack up against one another?

Well, when it comes to pure output, it is the Juventus star who comes out on top, as in 49 appearances, totalling 3332 minutes, the “magnificent” gem, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, scored ten goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to a goal involvement every 2.88 games, or every 196 minutes.

In contrast, the Gunners’ number 11 scored ten goals and provided six assists in 51 appearances, totalling 3564 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 3.18 games, or every 222.75 minutes.

Unfortunately for the Brazilian international, the comparison only becomes more one-sided when we take a look under the hood at their underlying numbers.

Non-Penalty G+As

0.43

0.38

Progressive Passes

4.33

1.87

Progressive Carries

4.24

4.69

Shots

2.41

2.12

Shots on Target

0.75

0.94

Passing Accuracy

79.7%

71.4%

Key Passes

1.81

1.56

Passes into the Final Third

2.55

0.47

Passes into the Penalty Area

1.72

1.40

Live Passes

38.4

25.4

Shot-Creating Actions

4.33

2.90

Goal-Creating Actions

0.36

0.25

Tackles

1.99

0.92

Blocks

0.98

0.73

Interceptions

0.38

0.16

Clearances

0.45

0.70

Successful Take-Ons

2.40

1.48

Ball Recoveries

4.87

3.10

For example, while he does better in a couple of metrics like shots on target and progressive carries, the young Turkish star does far better in almost every other relevant statistic, such as non-penalty goals plus assists, progressive passes, shot and goal-creating actions, shots, passing accuracy, key passes, tackles and many, many more, all per 90.

Ultimately, while Martinelli could remain an incredibly useful squad player next season, it’s clear that Yıldız is the far superior winger in practically every metric and four years his junior, so Arsenal should be doing all they can to sign him this summer.

He'd make Saka more unplayable: Arsenal open talks to sign £90m "machine"

Arsenal could make Saka even more unplayable by signing a £90m star.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Jun 19, 2025

Derby County are preparing for another tilt at life in the second-tier following their miraculous escape from relegation under John Eustace and could now make a bold statement on the market, according to a report.

Derby look to avoid repeat scenario of close shave with relegation

Avoiding the drop is never an easy feat to achieve when the chips are down. Still, John Eustace will rightfully be heralded as a miracle worker at Pride Park following his side’s turnaround.

Speaking to Football League World, pundit Don Goodman believes Derby can avoid being drawn into a relegation battle next term now that the foundations are in place to help the Rams thrive.

He explained: “I look at the 14 games John Eustace took charge of at the end of last season – six wins and three draws, and that’s despite losing the first three games he took charge of.

“If he accrued that points total over the course of last season that would be 69 points, which would’ve actually been enough for a play-off spot for Derby, remarkably.

“He’s outstanding at organising teams and making them hard to play against and hard to beat, so those are ingredients that will see Derby County not be in a relegation battle.”

Derby County make out-of-window move for "athletic" player in free transfer

John Eustace could be set to link up with a former player at Pride Park.

BySean Markus Clifford Mar 7, 2025

Inevitably, Derby will need to pull up some trees on the market to put themselves in a position of relative comfort.

Defensive duo Danny Batth and Dion Sanderson have been linked with moves to Pride Park, but there will be more in the pipeline as Eustace exhausts all avenues to put his mission into place.

Now, the Rams could turn to his former club in an attempt to pull of a statement deal that would definitely enhance their survival prospects, per recent developments.

Derby plotting move for Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis

According to EFL Analysis, Derby are in the mix to sign Blackburn Rovers captain Lewis Travis and Eustace is said to be a big fan of his exploits after working with the 27-year-old at Ewood Park.

Predominantly a defensive midfielder, reports claim it would cost £2 million to prize him away from Lancashire. Meanwhile, Wrexham are also keen to lure him to North Wales.

Lewis Travis in all competitions – 2024/25

Appearances

39

Goals

2

Assists

1

Labelled “fantastic” by David Lowe, Travis is out of contract next summer which may increase pressure on Blackburn to sell their captain this window before his value begins to dwindle on the market.

Intriguingly, he has previously spoken out about his ‘close’ relationship with Eustace, something that may be used as an emotional string to pull on in the event of any negotiations.

Nevertheless, Derby aren’t messing about in their bid to add quality reinforcements and there is no doubt their engine room would drastically improve were Travis to land at Pride Park this summer.

Celtic are building up ahead of steam with the summer window around the corner but could now be set to lose a young talent to a divisional rival, per a report.

Celtic begin to accelerate summer window plans

The Bhoys are on course to claim a domestic treble and only have to beat Aberdeen later this month in the Scottish Cup final for Brendan Rodgers to cap a fine season.

With the Scottish Premiership and Premier Sports Cup already wrapped up, coupled with a strong showing in the Champions League, Celtic are on a strong footing as they bid to keep striving forward under the Irishman’s stewardship.

Making some early inroads as the opening of the transfer window nears, the Hoops could make a surprise move for Ross Doohan once his Aberdeen contract comes to an end.

Seeking homegrown additions to meet European squad registration requirements, the Lennoxtown graduate could be joined by Lennon Miller at Celtic should they manage to prize the Scotland Under-21 international away from Motherwell.

Youngsters appear to be at the top of the agenda, given that Red Star Belgrade defender Veljko Milosavljevic may also end up at Parkhead in the near future.

Celtic could sign £11m star who'd be their best striker since Edouard

Celtic could land their best striker signing since Odsonne Edouard by signing this star.

ByDan Emery May 8, 2025

Realistically, the focus on incomings will lead to inevitable departures over the coming months. Celtic are in a great position, but not everyone is deemed good enough to make the grade in a ruthless environment.

Rodgers and his backroom staff have to make tough decisions, especially when it boils down to who to retain in the long run at Parkhead.

Now, one youngster that is set to leave Parkhead could make a move to one of their Scottish Premiership rivals if reports are to be believed.

Falkirk evaluate Celtic youngster Alasdair Davidson

According to Scott Burns of the Daily Record, Falkirk have taken a look at Celtic youngster Alasdair Davidson, who is set to leave Parkhead at the end of the season.

The 19-year-old has been joined by Daniel Cummings, Lewis Dobbie and Joe Morrison in departing the club, with the former passing up the opportunity of a new contract and the latter two not being offered extensions.

Alasdair Davidson in 2024/25 – all competitions

Appearances

10

Goals

N/A

Assists

N/A

Predominantly a central defender, Davidson looks set to join a long line of Hoops academy products destined to continue their journey elsewhere, though Falkirk have recently been promoted to the top-flight and could be a stable environment to develop.

From a Celtic standpoint, their focus will now be on bringing first-team recruits into the fold to prepare for next term, where they face the prospect of entering the Champions League at the final playoff hurdle.

Unlike the last couple of summers, swift additions will be needed to ensure Rodgers’ men can handle the strain of qualifiers, with a place in Europe’s premier competition on the line alongside a sweet financial bounty.

A young striker likened to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry is in line to leave his club, with Tottenham Hotspur ready to pay “big money” for his services, according to a new report this week.

Ange Postecoglou praises Spurs players after Europa League triumph

Spurs were forced to showcase heroic defending on their best night of the season so far, beating Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0 in Germany on Thursday night to seal their place in the Europa League semi-finals.

Related Tottenham: Lange personally holds talks over signing £50m player for Spurs

The technical director has a plan.

Posts ByEmilio Galantini Apr 17, 2025

Dominic Solanke’s penalty, courtesy of James Maddison heroically putting his body on the line to win it, was enough to keep Ange Postecoglou’s hopes of winning silverware during his second season in charge well and truly alive.

Tottenham’s next five Premier League fixtures

Date

Nottingham Forest (home)

April 21st

Liverpool (away)

April 27th

West Ham (away)

May 3rd

Crystal Palace (home)

May 10th

Aston Villa (away)

May 18th

Spurs face Norwegian minnows Bodo/Glimt in the next round, and are expected to dispatch this year’s unlikely semi-final opponents, but anything is possible in tournament football and Postecoglou will be keen to ensure they’re not underestimated.

“We can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. We’re in the semi-final and will play a difficult opponent in the semi, but it’s not about my belief in the team,” said the Lilywhites boss in a post-match press conference.

“What’s more important is the belief the team has had because after a season like ours, it would be very easy for the players and staff, they could have left me in a pretty vulnerable place in terms of them splintering, but I’ve never felt that (even) with all the noise around our season.

“They’ve been so united in believing in what we’re trying to achieve here and that is what gave me heart all along that if we got our own slice of luck in terms of getting some players back that I really believed this team could achieve.

“That is what keeps driving me. It isn’t so much my belief in them, it’s their belief in what we’re doing and both players and staff have been outstanding. I am the front man for it but they take responsibility for it as well and all my decisions and everything I do, but not at any stage have I felt they lost any belief in me or what we’re doing.”

Postecoglou’s future is on the line, and his position will very much play a role in Tottenham’s transfer plans for the summer.

Tottenham ready to pay "big money" for Gambian sensation Gibril Sima

As per Football Insider, the club are making some plans regardless, with Gambian sensation Gibril Sima now on Tottenham’s radar. The teenager is making a name for himself in Africa, drawing comparisons with Henry, and Spurs are willing to pay “big money” for Sima ahead of other European suitors.

That is according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, sharing news for Football Insider that Postecoglou’s side are very keen on the centre-forward, alongside Borussia Dortmund and Inter Milan.

His club, Dutch Lions, are resigned to losing Sima amid this interest as well, so it appears he is well and truly in line for a move abroad.

Quetta Gladiators have a strong top order as well as bowling, but new captain Saud Shakeel is untested

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Apr-2025

Multan Sultans

If consistency was the prize, Multan Sultans would be the PSL’s most successful and lauded franchise. They’ve made the final for four seasons in a row now, built on low-risk, unsexy and repeatable methods and planning. It’s much in the mould of their captain Mohammad Rizwan, though his approach at national level is being questioned. Still, since April 2021, Sultans have the highest win-loss ratio for any T20 side in league across the world.Related

• Salman Agha: Pakistan players 'need to become superstars' for PSL to grow

• Corbin Bosch banned from PSL for one year for withdrawing from 2025 season

• Can Karachi end playoffs jinx, and will spin issues cost Lahore?

• Islamabad vs Qalandars kicks off PSL on April 11; final on May 18

• Boost for Peshawar Zalmi as Saim Ayub returns to full fitness

Michael Bracewell seems to be the right pick at the right time; Akif Javed, meanwhile, is breaking through internationally. Expect Sultans to be in the playoffs mix. As always.Best result: Champions (2021)2024 finish: Runners-upStrengths

• A diverse bowling attack that covers every angle and genre: slow left-arm (Gudakesh Motie), left-arm wristspin (Faisal Akram), left-arm fast-medium (Akif, Josh Little and David Willey), right-arm fast (Mohammad Hasnain), right-arm wristspin (Usama Mir), and offbreak (Bracewell)
• Potentially deep batting line with all-round options in Willey, Iftikhar Ahmed and Bracewell

ESPNcricinfo LtdWeaknesses

• The top-order anchor approach, favoured by Rizwan, which feels increasingly at odds with the world’s batting trends.
• Perhaps it matters less these days, but there are eight players in the squad who are over 30 years old, and two more on the verge.

Islamabad United

The actual most successful team of the PSL, with three titles, sits on the other side of the great philosophical divide in Pakistan’s T20 cricket. Not for Islamabad United is the low-risk, tactical rigidity that has defined Sultans. No, Islamabad have always been much more in line with modern T20 trends, bringing together high batting intent, all-round depth, and data sensibilities. Providing both Salman Agha and Shadab Khan, the captain and vice-captain to the national side currently, perhaps that approach is in the ascendant in this moment.Best result: Champions (2016, 2018, 2024)2024 finish: WinnersESPNcricinfo LtdStrengths

• A batting order that, potentially, hits a very high ceiling. From Matthew Short through (the partially-available) Rassie van der Dussen to the evolving Agha to the very in-form late addition Sahibzada Farhan to the Khans – Shadab, their captain, and Azam – Islambad have the potential to go very big.
• Jason Holder adds quality all-round depth to a side that isn’t lacking in all-round options.

Weaknesses

• A good spinner would be useful, because Mohammad Nawaz, Agha, Imad Wasim and Shadab himself don’t shout wickets or impact.
• Shadab’s value to, and leadership of, Islamabad remains unquestioned. But his return to Pakistan colours has been mixed, and it’s not clear whether he has rediscovered his best self.

Quetta Gladiators

Once consistently one of the best teams in the PSL, Quetta Gladiators’ sole triumph in 2019 heralded only the unravelling of that legacy. They failed to make it out of the group stages for four seasons in a row after that win, breaking that run with a playoff place last season. But 2025 promises to bring a change in approach and personnel. Gladiators have appointed Saud Shakeel as their new captain and former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed as the team director. They’re hoping that brings a change in fortune as well.Best result: Champions (2019)2024 finish: FourthESPNcricinfo LtdStrengths

• With Finn Allen and Hasan Nawaz at the top of the order, Gladiators are shedding the conservatism that has dogged their top-order approach. Allen could be a game-changing addition.
• The arrivals of Kyle Jamieson, Sean Abbott and a proven PSL allrounder in Faheem Ashraf add much-needed nous to the bowling.

Weaknesses

• The captain Shakeel remains a relatively untested T20 option, having played only ten PSL games in his entire career.
• Since the departure of Naseem Shah and Mohammad Hasnain, Gladiators have struggled to bring in a fast bowler with proven PSL pedigree. Mohammad Wasim Jr had a tough time last year, and Gladiators haven’t brought in anyone else to fulfill that role.