Targeting attacking reinforcements this summer, the 49ers are now reportedly leading the race to sign an impressive 21-goal striker for Leeds United in the coming months.
Leeds set to back Daniel Farke with new striker signing
If recent reports are anything to go by, then Leeds are set to go all out in preparation for the Premier League this summer. The 49ers seem determined to back manager Daniel Farke, who will be looking to earn Premier League redemption of his own following previous relegations with Norwich City.
There was a stage in which rumours were emerging that Fake wouldn’t get that chance, however, with those at Elland Road unsure on his top flight record. Club chairman Paraag Marathe has since put those rumours to bed, telling reporters in the middle of Leeds’ title celebrations: “I’m very excited to run it back with Daniel and collaborate with him.
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“I’m under no illusions that it is going to be easy. The past two seasons the three promoted teams came straight back down but we have something they don’t have, we have Daniel Farke first of all. I have ended the speculation. He is my man.”
Desperate to avoid the same mistakes that Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town made this season, Leeds have reportedly set their sights on signing proven Premier League players this summer, with names such as Kostas Tsimikas and even Jamie Vardy already mentioned as potential targets.
Tsimikas would be a particularly strong signing, given that he’s fresh from becoming a Premier League champion with Liverpool. The Greek left-back would instantly replace Junio Firpo, who is currently on course to leave Elland Road at the end of his contract next month.
Although the focus on Premier League targets is clear, however, the 49ers have also reportedly set their sights on an impressive goalscorer from outside of English football.
Leeds leading race to sign Vanat
According to reports in Ukraine, as relayed by Sport Witness, the 49ers and Leeds are now ahead in the race to sign Vladyslav Vanat from Dynamo Kyiv this summer alongside fellow Premier League side Fulham. The 23-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season, scoring 21 goals and creating a further eight in all competitions, and could now be on the move as a result.
Dubbed an “all-round centre-forward” and praised for his “powerful ball-striking” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Leeds could welcome a hidden gem by signing Vanat this summer.
Whilst his name wouldn’t steal the same headlines as the likes of Vardy, his numbers suggest that he could be an even better signing than the Premier League veteran. Racing against Fulham for his signature, Leeds should push on and formalise their interest in signing Vanat when the summer transfer window swings open.
Work is already underway to improve Celtic’s squad in the upcoming summer transfer window as they go in search of a fifth successive Scottish Premiership title next term.
The Hoops secured their fourth league title in as many seasons with a 5-0 win over Dundee United at the end of last month, whilst they also have a chance to complete a domestic treble with an SFA Cup final clash with Aberdeen.
Brendan Rodgers has already sealed one new signing for the summer in the form of Kieran Tierney, who will officially return to Celtic when his contract at Arsenal expires at the end of June.
Kieran Tierney's current market value
At the time of writing (11/05/2025), the Scotland international is valued at a whopping £8.5m by Transfermarkt, which suggests that the Hoops have landed a bargain by signing him on a free transfer.
As you can see in the graphic above, Tierney was sold for a staggering £25m after his terrific first spell at Parkhead after coming through the academy, as he joined Arsenal in the summer of 2019.
This shows that the Scottish giants have played a blinder with the experienced left-back because they sold him for a huge transfer fee and are now signing him back for nothing, whilst he is still valuable, albeit not as valuable as he once was.
Market Movers
Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?
Celtic, though, have developed their own full-back who is now worth just as much as Tierney, after they signed him for a fee of just £3.5m back in 2023, in the form of Alistair Johnston.
Alistair Johnston's soaring market value
The Hoops swooped to sign the defender from CF Montreal for a fee of £3.5m in the January transfer window at the start of 2023 to bolster Ange Postecoglou’s options at right-back.
Johnston has been a regular starter at right-back when fit and available for Celtic since his move, and has proven himself to be an excellent performer at Premiership level by combining solid defensive work with outstanding attacking contributions.
The Canada international has the strength and positioning to win the majority of his physical duels to stop opposition wingers, whilst also having the drive and stamina to constantly bomb down the flank to deliver high-quality balls into the box.
Appearances
32
30
Goals
1
4
Big chances created
11
15
Assists
5
9
Duel success rate
58%
56%
Clean sheets
11
12
As you can see in the table above, Johnston has been a star for the Hoops in his two full Premiership seasons in Glasgow, creating 26 ‘big chances’ in 62 matches.
This has helped his market value to soar way above the £3.5m that the club initially paid for his services at the start of 2023. At the time of writing, the Celtic sensation is valued at £8.5m by Transfermarkt, which means that his value has soared by £5m in a little over two years at Parkhead.
Johnston, whose work ethic was dubbed “phenomenal” by Rodgers, is now worth as much as Tierney, who was once sold for £25m, and is a highly-valuable asset for the club, thanks to the brilliant performances that he has put in on the pitch.
Celtic could sign a perfect £7m Jota replacement this summer
Celtic may be in the market for a new winger after they lost Jota to a long-term injury.
ByDan Emery May 5, 2025
Therefore, Celtic have hit the jackpot with the Canadian defender because he is an excellent player and a star who could be sold for a profit in the future, given that his value has soared during his time in Scotland so far.
Manchester United and INEOS are now preparing an offer worth £40 million to sign a “brilliant” defensive addition this summer, according to a recent report.
Amorim hails United display at Bournemouth ahead of massive semi-final
The Red Devils played another relatively meaningless Premier League game on Sunday afternoon, and it looked as though they were going to be on the end of another defeat. However, a 90+6 minute equaliser from Rasmus Hojlund secured a point for United against 10-man AFC Bournemouth.
Amorim must surely drop 4/10 Man Utd dud who lost the ball every 4 touches
Manchester United managed to salvage a point away at AFC Bournemouth courtesy of Rasmus Hojlund.
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It was a game that came right before United’s very important trip to Spain on Thursday, where they will play Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League semi-final first leg. The game against the Cherries was not important in the sense of nothing being on it for United, but Ruben Amorim felt his side deserved the point and did have chances to win the game.
“I think we deserved it. In the first half, we suffered with their high-intensity press, but we created chances. We had quite similar chances near the box with a lot of shots,” Amorim told BBC Match of the Day.
“I think we deserved at least one point if you look at the game. If you look at our last games, it is always like this – we do something to help the opponent get an advantage. Then it is really hard to score goals, but the players did really well to get at least one point.
“We have the ability to push our opponents. There are small things I think we can do better. We need to understand these moments better, but if you look at the 20 minutes [after Evanilson’s red card], we had situations to score, which is really important.”
Man Utd preparing £40m bid for Inter star Denzel Dumfries
The Red Devils winning the Europa League would not only see them play in Europe’s biggest competition, but it could help them when it comes to their transfers this summer and getting players Amorim wants. According to Inter Live, Man United are now keen on signing Denzel Dumfries from Inter Milan this summer.
Feyenoord's Ibrahim Osman in action with Inter Milan's DenzelDumfries
The report states that United are not just showing an interest but are willing to make a £40 million offer to sign Dumfries, along with a £60 million bid to sign Yann Bisseck in what would be a mega deal. It goes on to add that Giuseppe Marotta, who is chairman of Inter, is not against offers coming in for Dumfries, and he is preparing to evaluate everything. However, United are not alone in their pursuit of the defender, as Arsenal have stepped up their efforts to bring him to London.
The 29-year-old, who renewed his contract at Inter until the summer of 2028 earlier this season, has been a key player this season. Dumfries has played a total of 39 matches in all competitions, scoring eight goals and registering three assists.
The Dutch international had missed the last few weeks of football with a hamstring injury but returned to play 27 minutes against AS Roma on Sunday afternoon. United’s interest in Dumfries is particularly intriguing given he rates very similarly to Patrick Dorgu according to FBRef’s statistical profiling, perhaps making him the ideal fit on the other flank.
Dumfries
Dorgu
Apps
26
29
Starts
19
28
Goals
6
3
Assists
2
1
Progressive carries
46
93
Progressive passes
47
74
Progressive runs
159
169
Tackles (Won)
25 (18)
68 (44)
Interceptions
6
21
Blocks
25
32
Unlike Dorgu however, Dumfries is a player who has been performing at the top level for a long time now, and back in 2022 BBC pundit Micah Richards labelled the defender “brilliant” for his World Cup performance against the United States.
“Denzel Dumfries. What a player he is. I just thought his whole game was brilliant. It was his timing of his runs… He didn’t sort of mix it up too much, but when he did, it was the right moments. Down this right-hand side, he was just breathless.”
Manchester United will, unsurprisingly, be focused on potential incomings this summer, albeit with manager Ruben Amorim having already confirmed that the club will need to sell to buy, amid their concerning financial situation.
Talk has already been rife in recent months regarding the futures of both Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho – following January interest from rivals Chelsea – while there have also been suggestions that LaLiga giants, Real Madrid, are plotting a £90m offer for Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese playmaker – who revealed he turned down an “offer” to leave last summer – has warranted those admiring glances following what’s been another fine campaign on an individual basis, with the United skipper leading the way at Old Trafford for both goals and assists in 2024/25 to date.
Bruno Fernandes
Those rumours have, however, subsequently been put to bed by Amorim, with the 40-year-old outling that his compatriot is “not going anywhere”, particularly with his current deal not set to expire until 2027, plus the option of a further 12 months.
In truth, the Red Devils simply can’t afford to be without their captain and their talisman, with the former Sporting CP hero representing a real outlier with regard to the club’s recruitment over the last decade.
While there have been promising signs from recent arrivals such as Noussair Mazraoui, not since Fernandes has a marquee signing truly hit the ground running in a United shirt – perhaps that could be set to change…
Latest on Man Utd's transfer interest
The arrival of Amorim and the change to a 3-4-3 has ensured that specialised targets will need to be considered this summer, albeit with CEO Omar Berrada having only recently outlined that the club will look to acquire versatile players who can play in “multiple positions”, amid the potential of a possible change in the dugout later down the line.
Erik ten Hag
While that approach may be sensible considering the Red Devils have too often been led by the manager on the transfer front – as indicated by Erik ten Hag’s raft of Eredivisie or Dutch signings above – the Old Trafford hierarchy do still need to ensure that Amorim is handed the appropriate tools to fit his preferred system.
With that in mind, reports in Spain have suggested that United are among the clubs who are interested in prizing Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace, with the England international currently operating in Oliver Glasner’s own 3-4-3 set-up.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The suggestion is that INEOS are preparing to make an offer to land the 26-year-old ahead of next season, with the Eagles set to accept nothing less than his reported £60m release clause.
The former Queens Park Rangers starlet – who moved to Selhurst Park on a £20m deal in the summer of 2020 – is also reportedly the subject of interest from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Liverpool, with United thus facing a real fight if they are to land his signature.
Ebere Eze against Manchester United
Should Berrada and co move to the front of the queue, however, landing this ready-made, proven Premier League sensation could represent the club’s best move since acquiring Fernandes back in January 2020.
Man Utd could be eyeing their best signing since Fernandes
Having been linked with a move to Manchester City in the summer of 2019, Fernandes eventually made his way to England less than six months later, with the Red Devils forking out an initial fee of around £46m.
From a Man of the Match performance against Wolverhampton Wanderers on debut, the Portugal star simply hasn’t looked back, registering 95 goals and 82 assists in 278 games in all competitions.
What has been a particular feature of the £300k-per-week star’s game, excluding his creativity and availability, is also his willingness to slot into a variety of roles, having lined up as a deep-lying midfielder, a number ten or even on the flanks in recent years.
Those traits are no doubt shared by Eze, with the one-time Wycombe Wanderers loanee comfortable in either of the two number ten berths in Glasner’s system, as well as part of the midfield two. Equally, on international duty, the in-demand playmaker scored for the Three Lions against Latvia, having been introduced off the left flank.
Described as a “frightening” talent by teammate Joel Ward, at 26 – just a year older than Fernandes was when he moved to Old Trafford – Eze could well be entering his prime years, having stayed put in south London despite persistent speculation regarding an exit in recent times.
Eberechi Eze for Crystal Palace
As previously stated, his proven quality in the Premier League should ensure he is able to slot straight into Amorim’s ranks and make an immediate impact, in a similar mould to Fernandes, having registered 58 goals and assists in 156 games for Palace to date.
In 2024/25, meanwhile, Eze boasts six goals and nine assists in all competitions, with that tally including a return of two goals and six assists in the top flight to date for Glasner’s in-form outfit.
Games
25
Goals
2
Assists
6
Big chances created
9
Big chances missed
7
Key passes*
2.0
Touches*
52.4
Pass accuracy*
82%
Successful dribbles*
2.1
Possession lost*
14.5
Those numbers may not be too eye-catching, yet dig a little deeper, and it is easy to see the Englishman’s quality, as outlined by the fact that he ranks in the top 14% among his Premier League peers for successful take-ons, as well as in the top 12% for shot-creating actions per 90.
That dribbling prowess was on show in last week’s FA Cup win over Fulham as Eze weaved his way past a sea of defenders before curling home a stunning effort into the far corner, having also teed up teammate Ismaila Sarr following a delightful jinking run down the left wing.
Previously described as a “Champions League player” by BBC pundit Danny Murphy, the £100k-per-week genius is – as Fernandes was five years ago – ready to make that next step. United should welcome him in with open arms…
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Fit, adaptable and supremely confident, England’s Test team continue to walk the talk
Matt Roller11-Oct-20241:26
Miller: England have found perfect tempo to be ruthless
It was a collapse that could only be explained by its context. Pakistan lost this Test on the fourth evening when they slipped first to 41 for 4 then 59 for 5 and 82 for 6 in the third innings. Impressive as England’s bowlers were across the match, these were unexpectedly easy wickets to come by on a blameless pitch.But Pakistan’s batters were beaten by the time they had even reached the crease, run down by the dual burdens of their recent struggles and 150 overs being run ragged in the field. Saim Ayub spooning Brydon Carse’s first ball to mid-off was the worst of a series of grim dismissals, which were the culmination of mental and physical exhaustion.It is one thing to spend around 150 overs in the field, as both sides did in their first bowling innings. It is another for them to be spread across three days, and to spend them chasing after the ball as the opposition score at more than five runs per over: England scored 478 non-boundary runs in their first innings, compared to Pakistan’s 276.Related
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Joe Root and Harry Brook’s partnership ground them down, a 454-run epic spread across 86.3 overs. Brook’s gear change after lunch on the fourth day – he hit 99 off 65 balls in the second session – compounded Pakistan’s weariness, and left them floundering in the mid-afternoon heat. “It had a massive effect, which is what Test cricket is about,” Chris Woakes said.”Here in the subcontinent, you can have three supposedly dull days and then the game can happen quickly. That was always the plan: once we were able to get ahead and run them ragged in the field, it was always going to be hard for them, even on that surface. We know how much it takes out of you.”Root and Zak Crawley’s partnership across the final 18.4 overs of the second day was a vital phase in the match – not least after Aamer Jamal’s spectacular catch to dismiss Ollie Pope. It enabled Brook to start his innings fresh on the third day, and gave Ben Duckett’s thumb time to heal before he came out to bat at No. 4.”The way that Ducky and Creeps [Crawley] go about their business has such a good impact on the changing room,” Brook said. “Watching them go out there and put immense amounts of pressure on their two best bowlers in Shaheen [Afridi] and Naseem [Shah]… it gives you comfort going out there, thinking that the pitch is probably better than what it is.”Touring the subcontinent as an England cricketer in 2024 is completely unrecognisable to what it once was: the team are travelling with their own chef, and are staying on a luxury hotel with a neighbouring golf course. There is still a mental adjustment to make from playing in front of full houses back home to the banks of empty seats this week, which England made impressively quickly.Harry Brook and Joe Root laid the platform for England’s innings win•Getty ImagesThis win was testament to their players’ fitness, and their ability to adjust from the start after coming from a wet, cold autumn back home to the stifling heat of Multan. England insisted in the build-up that three tough training sessions would be enough for them to acclimatise and so it proved, as they coped far better than Pakistan with the oppressive conditions.Brook worked tirelessly on his fitness in the early months of this year, when he missed England’s tour to India and the IPL to be with his grandmother on her deathbed. By his own admission, this was not an innings he could have played without that dedication: “If I hadn’t done that, I’d have probably got to 150 and just slogged one up in the air.”None of England’s seamers had played a Test match in Pakistan before but Woakes, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse comprehensively outbowled Afridi and Naseem. Carse was particularly compelling on debut, bowling at high pace and finding some reverse-swing: England have moved on from James Anderson and Stuart Broad with impressive speed.The Test match run has lost its value almost as quickly as the rupee in Pakistan, but even in the context of a high-scoring match on a lifeless surface, England’s total of 823 for 7 declared was remarkable. There were seven sessions between them losing Pope to his second ball in response to Pakistan’s 556 and their winning moment on the final morning.But just as Pakistan’s third-innings failure carried an air of inevitability after their recent results, England’s players were not intimidated by a big score. This was the third time since Brendon McCullum took over as coach two-and-a-half years ago that they had conceded more than 500 in an innings: they have now won all three.”You take confidence from those previous performances, when you’re that far behind in the game,” Pope said. “We try not to think about the end result too much during the game, especially if we’re behind… That’s allowed us to go and put together these performances and good wins in situations where potentially, in the past, we wouldn’t have got over the line.”England’s series results under McCullum have been a mixed bag: they have beaten teams they would expect to, drawn with Australia, and lost heavily in India earlier this year. But it is their style and approach that has made them such a compelling team to watch: asked if this was his favourite Test win, Pope claimed it was “definitely top three” – and then named three others.Along with their victories in Rawalpindi two years ago and in Hyderabad in January, England have won three Tests in Asia that few other sides could hope to. McCullum has dismissed the idea that Bazball has been “refined” in any way beyond personnel but this was a reminder of its central tenet: that athletes perform at their best when imbued with immense self-belief.It is not totally foolproof, and there are times when England’s tactical approach has overstretched. But they have now won 20 of their last 30 Tests – and there remains an intoxicating sense that the best is yet to come.
Former player admits to mental-health struggles as he “bares soul” in racism crisis
Sam Dalling28-Jul-2022″It is a bit weird to be honest” admits Qasim Sheikh. He is speaking from The Grange, Edinburgh, during the first game of Scotland’s short bilateral series with New Zealand.”Walking in there were a lot of eyes on us and it is not what I am here for,” he continues. “Us” in this context is Sheikh and Majid Haq, Scotland’s all-time leading wicket-taker. He is speaking at the end of the most difficult of weeks.He is trying to “move things forward” and is willing to speak to anyone. In some cases, he gets the sense there is an “elephant in the room”.”People are on eggshells. But I am not going to bite anybody – I am here to possibly have some discussions,” Sheikh says.”Look, these people are probably still trying to digest what happened on Monday. Some people probably just didn’t know the extent of the issues that were there. This is such a diverse community in Scotland. There are so many South Asian backgrounds – just go around the cricket clubs.”Why is there not a bigger influx of people from the South Asian community today? Are we connecting with those communities? Are we encouraging them to come forward?”It is only 48 hours since Changing the Boundaries’ damning report was published, citing 448 examples of institutional racism within Scottish cricket. Sheikh and Haq have been driving forces in the review, having come forward in November to speak of their experiences.On Sunday, ahead of the report’s publication, Cricket Scotland’s entire Board pre-emptively resigned. The organisation failed 29 of the 31 tests used to measure the scale of the issues, barely passing the remaining two.More than 1000 participants from across Scottish cricket were spoken to and 68 individual concerns have been referred for further investigation. Those include 31 allegations of racism against 15 different people, two clubs and one regional association.Cricket Scotland is to be placed under special measures by Sportscotland until at least October 2023, while an urgent review of Cricket Scotland’s governance is high on the agenda.On Monday, post-publication, Sheikh and Haq bravely faced the media: “We hoped to get a bit more closure [from the report], but we didn’t,” Sheikh says. “I think there was a blunder from the leaders of Sportscotland and Cricket Scotland. I want to try and take things forward now. I am tired; I bore my soul on Monday, and it isn’t easy.”Qasim Sheikh bats for Scotland against MCC in a pink-ball trial match at Lord’s in 2008•Getty ImagesThe process has taken its toll on both men, with Sheikh’s comparison telling: “I lost my younger brother when I was 13 years old,” he told ESPNcricinfo. “Attending his funeral was the toughest day of my life, and that’s followed closely by going out in front of the national press. I’ve never been in a press conference before. I wasn’t speaking about something particularly positive; it wasn’t a celebration. It was a dark watershed moment for the sport. And not just in cricket.”My mental health on Monday was wobbly. Monday evening was a very weird feeling. I felt I did myself justice, and Maj did himself justice. But at the same time, I felt vulnerable. I felt like I was up and down with my emotions.”But from darkness, Sheikh hopes will come light: “I think this is a pivotal moment in Scottish sport. Having played football at a young age, this is not just a cricket issue, it’s a football issue, and other sports as well. There’s an opportunity for Scottish sport to change across the board.”The report also suggested that a minimum of 25% of Cricket Scotland’s new Board members should be Black, South-East Asian, or other mixed or multiple ethnic groups. Sheikh though will not, for the time being at least, be among them: “Absolutely not,” he said when asked. “I don’t think that would be the right decision to make. What I’m more than willing to do – and I think I’ve proven that already by doing live webinars and encouraging people to come forward – is I’m more than happy to be an ally.”I’m more than happy to advise where I think the sport is going wrong and where the things that can get better and be part of that change. Who knows, maybe one day, years down the line … you can never say never what happens in life, but no, I’m certainly not here looking for any roles, or any financial incentives.”This is simply being done for future generations and so that little boys and girls out there don’t go through that. The amount of messages I’ve had from parents alone about the pain that their children have experienced … I’m getting messages saying you’ve given our children hope. That’s enough for me. I can sleep at night knowing that that’s the case.”Indeed, it is the external support that has kept Sheikh going. He cites the Scotland women’s team as being particular allies: “I was lying in bed last night visualising what this could look like in a year’s time, and it warmed my heart. I woke up to some nice messages, in particular from the Scotland women’s team. I have come to realise that women could become really strong allies in this fight.
They definitely haven’t been as supportive as they could have been. Maj is Scotland’s leading wicket-taker. He’s played with pretty much anyone who has played for Scotland. Even these guys playing today; Maj is a senior to all of them.Qasim Sheikh on the reaction from Scotland’s current players to the racism scandal
“I am not singling them out, but I think they understand what racism is like having perhaps faced sexism or misogyny in their lives. They may not understand racism, but they get it a little bit better, whereas I do feel the men are a bit more fearful to have those discussions. Anybody that has reached out to me and given compassion, I have really appreciated that.”Sheikh also expressed gratitude for the support of former Scotland captain George Salmond through an interview with the on Wednesday. “That brought tears to my eyes,” Sheikh said. “To wake up and read his article meant a lot. He coached me when I was an under-17 and saw the talents we had.”I hope people will read that and realise that people like myself, Maj, Omer Hussain and Moneeb Iqbal weren’t just average players. We were talented players who should have gone on and had much more fruitful careers for Scotland. I’ll never forget George for that. He contacted me right at the start and he’s a very strong ally.”What has been conspicuous through absence though is vocal backing from the current players. Both Sheikh and Haq had their international careers curtailed having suggested that race was a motivating factor in selection. Sheikh has not played for Scotland since 2010, when he was aged just 25. Haq though was involved as recently as the 2015 50-over World Cup before being frozen out.Related
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Scotland head coach Shane Burger reached out to Sheikh on Wednesday morning, but that has been an exception rather than a rule: “They definitely haven’t been as supportive as they could have been,” Sheikh said. “Maj is Scotland’s leading wicket-taker. He’s played with pretty much anyone who has played for Scotland. Even these guys playing today; Maj is a senior to all of them.”I’m really disappointed with the way he’s been completely ghosted. Every so often he calls out performances and questions some people’s averages and how they’ve been performing. They’re international cricketers … they need to learn a little bit of criticism when it comes to playing. He doesn’t come out and abuse anybody or you know, swear and shout at anybody. The way that the cricket public in Scotland comes at him on that in Scotland and defends the players is quite … well, when somebody goes through something like Maj has, he doesn’t have the same support.”Safyaan Sharif spoke yesterday and said he probably wouldn’t want to put his children through it the way it is. He’s a current national team player. If that doesn’t tell you everything you need to know, I don’t know what else people need to hear to know it’s not been good enough. It needs to be a lot better moving forward.”
The Yankees were able to mount a rally to avoid elimination at the hands of the Blue Jays on Tuesday night in the Bronx, setting up another win-or-go-home situation for themselves in Game 4. Aaron Judge played likely hero among several and it's possible momentum has shifted.
Bad Bunny, who was recently announced as the halftime entertainment for the upcoming Super Bowl, had little to do with the final score but briefly became the main character once again when a foul ball drifted over to his incredibly good seat right behind home plate.
Mr. Bunny didn't exactly stick his nose in there to make a play on the pop-up but the fan seated behind him failed to make the play and a lucky souvenir hopped right into the artist's real estate.
Baseball historians may remember that Bad Bunny was a participant in the 2022 All-Star Celebrity Softball Game at Dodger Stadium.
They say the ball finds you in this sport and in this case, with all the headlines surrounding his Super Bowl nod and a fresh off hosting , perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that this guy got involved.
Rafael Devers will make his debut for the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday sporting a new jersey number—No. 16. Devers wore a No. 11 jersey throughout his time with the Boston Red Sox, up until they surprisingly traded him to the Giants on Sunday.
The number change comes because the Giants previously retired the No. 11 jersey in honor of Hall of Famer pitcher Cal Hubbell, who played for the Giants over his entire career from 1928 to '43.
With No. 11 not an option, Devers explained why he chose No. 16 as his new jersey number for San Francisco.
"I used the number in the minor leagues and I did really well with it," Devers told reporters during his introductory press conference, prompting a laugh from the press room.
In addition to a new number, Devers could soon see time at a new position on the Giants. The Giants plan to try Devers out at first base, and he will take grounders at first this week. While Devers refused to play first for the Red Sox, he is open to playing the position for the Giants. He said Tuesday, "I am here to play wherever they want me to play."
For now though, Devers will make his Giants debut Tuesday night as the team's designated hitter against the Cleveland Guardians, the position he has played all season thus far.
William Saliba has hailed the impact of new first-team coach Gabriel Heinze, as the former Manchester United defender is the mastermind behind Arsenal's defensive dominance under Mikel Arteta. Heinze, who joined Mikel Arteta’s staff in July, has quickly become a driving force behind a Gunners side that have conceded just seven goals in 14 Premier League matches; the best defensive record in the division.
A new voice on the touchline transforms Arsenal’s back line
Heinze was appointed to replace Carlos Cuesta, who departed in the summer to take charge at Parma. Since stepping into the role, he has brought his trademark intensity and relentless energy, qualities that defined his playing days at PSG, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Marseille, straight into Arsenal’s training ground. For Saliba, that fire has made an immediate impact.
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Saliba hails Heinze's impact on Arsenal
Speaking to the Media Network, the French centre-back described Heinze as a constant presence around Arsenal’s defenders.
"Gabriel Heinze helps a lot, especially the defenders," he said. "He gives us energy because he’s always talking, always loud – even in training when we do simple things, he’s always loud. Even for nothing, he will be loud! He talks a lot and it’s good to have him close to us. I think this guy can help us a lot."
Saliba’s comments paint a vivid portrait of Heinze in his element of a demanding trainer with a booming voice, someone who builds his players’ standards through intensity.
Arteta recently shed light on the reasoning behind adding Heinze to his coaching staff, a decision rooted in personal history and professional trust. The two first crossed paths during Arteta’s loan stint at PSG in the 2001-02 season, forming a bond that has lasted more than two decades.
"He’s a winner," said Arteta. "He's won in many clubs he's been at. He had a very different education as well, we've known each other for 23 years, I'm very close to that, that brings something extra."
Arteta emphasised how Heinze’s personality and tactical insight complement the coaching group: "We complement each other really well, and everybody brings a different insight, a different character, a different personality, to the table that makes us a much better team. It makes me a much better coach as well, which is the intention to have the best resources to give to the players."
Heinze's playing days were defined by a winning pedigree. After joining Manchester United from PSG in 2004, he quickly became a fan favourite for his hard tackling and relentless duels. His United career ended controversially when he attempted to engineer a move to Liverpool, only for the club to refuse and send him to Real Madrid instead. He spent two seasons at the Bernabeu before moving to Marseille, where he added yet another league title to his collection. Since his retirement in 2014, Heinze carved out a coaching career spanning stints at Godoy Cruz, Argentinos Juniors, Velez Sarsfield, Atlanta United and Newell’s Old Boys, the club where he started and ended his playing career before departing in 2023.
Injury crisis puts Heinze’s coaching to the test
Heinze’s influence is being felt at a time when Arsenal’s defensive department has been hit by significant injuries. Both Saliba and Gabriel, Arteta’s first-choice centre-back pairing, are currently unavailable. Against Brentford, the manager fielded new recruits Mosquera and Piero Hincapie, only for Mosquera to be forced off just before half-time, with Jurrien Timber being asked to fill in. Despite the upheaval and reshuffling, Arsenal emerged with a 2-0 victory, thanks to goals from Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka. The win restored their five-point cushion at the top of the Premier League and served as another testament to the defensive organisation and resilience Heinze has helped instil, as even makeshift partnerships held firm.
Ahead of the Brentford clash, Arteta shared: "He (Saliba) had a little niggle, so I think it’s going to be a matter of days, so let’s see if he’s able to be there tomorrow. Well, the ankle one was a really random and a very unlucky action that kept him out for a few weeks. He tried at Anfield, he wasn't comfortable, and he had to stay away and this one as well, very bizarre. But hopefully it will be a matter of days."
On Gabriel, Arteta added: "Big Gabi is doing very well as well, but that’s weeks as well."
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Arsenal looking ahead to Aston Villa test with confidence
The Gunners now prepare for a challenging away test against Aston Villa on Saturday. With injuries still restricting defensive choices, Heinze and Arteta will again be required to patch together solutions that maintain Arsenal’s title momentum. They have suffered heartbreak in the last two Premier League title races, fading late despite promising starts. Yet this season feels different as it is increasingly being defined by their defensive solidity.
Pep Guardiola has revealed what he said to Erling Haaland after the pair were involved in a heated exchange following Manchester City’s 3-2 victory over Leeds United on Saturday afternoon. The Norway international was made to wait for his landmark 100th Premier League goal as the 10-time champions secured all three points at the Etihad Stadium.
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Foden scores last-gasp winner as City bounce back against Leeds
Looking to return to form following successive defeats against Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen in the Premier League and Champions League respectively, City secured a big victory over Daniel Farke’s Leeds. Leading 2-0 thanks to goals from Phil Foden and Josko Gvardiol, City were pegged back following strikes from Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Lukas Nmecha.
However, in the first minute of additional time in the second half, midfielder Foden scored his second and City’s winner as he dribbled his way into space before firing the ball beyond Leeds goalkeeper Lucas Perri. The result saw Guardiola’s side move up to the second in the league table and just four points behind leaders Arsenal, who lock horns with third-placed Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.
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Haaland unable to score 100th PL goal in frustrating afternoon
In what proved to be a frustrating outing for Haaland, the striker was unable to add to his remarkable goal tally in 2025-26. Despite playing the full 90 minutes, the 25-year-old – the league’s top scorer with 14 goals in just 13 games – failed to find the back of the net against strugglers Leeds, whom his father, Alf Inge Haaland, played for between 1997 and 2000.
Disappointed after his bid to become the fastest player to score 100 Premier League goals was prolonged, Haaland was then involved in a tense discussion with Guardiola after the final whistle.
After appearing to get his point across, the former Borussia Dortmund attacker then tried to walk away before being hugged twice by the City manager, who was equally keen to express his feelings. Both Haaland and Guardiola had smiles on their faces after their chat eventually came to an end.
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Guardiola reveals what he said to Haaland after the game
And Guardiola has now revealed what he said to Haaland after the game. Lifting the lid on the episode, the ex-Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss told “He’ll do it [get his 100th goal] next game.
“Just we talk about rest. He has a huge body. Minutes, minutes, in that moment you’re fresh.
“Rest [is] not just the legs [pointing to his head]. It’s not like Phil or Jeremy [Doku], they can rest. Erling is a big man. We need him so much.”
Meanwhile, Haaland took to Instagram following City’s late win over Leeds, simply writing: “Not easy today but we never give up!”
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Former Barcelona and Bayern boss hails Foden's 'special' talent
Admitting he was “relieved” after Foden popped up with City’s winner in the final stages of a tightly-contested affair with Leeds, Guardiola felt his side should have put the game to bed a lot earlier than they did.
In his post-match press conference, the Catalan said: “The game was not in the perfect place in the first half, but it should be over for the chances we have and we didn’t concede. And after that brilliantly, Daniel changed the system like Leverkusen did, the 5-3-2 and we conceded a goal we gave away in the first minutes [of the second half].
“The build-up was completely different, and the shape takes influence in the way you play. Football is emotions and in that moment we concede the second. We made a step up and we reacted really well. Omar and Cherki came on, and we got more players in the box.
“In the last minute we had to put the ball quick to the box because in that moment the process doesn’t exist. Being with fullbacks or wingers it doesn’t matter. At the end it was the quality of Phil again, a player with special [talent].”
City are back in action when they travel to Fulham in the league on Tuesday, before they entertain high-flying Sunderland next Saturday. Guardiola’s charges then head to Real Madrid for a mouth-watering Champions League tie on 10 December.