Liverpool are looking to complete the signing of an “incredible” player next year, potentially beating rivals Manchester United to his signature, among others.
Isak in Liverpool training ahead of debut
The Reds are back in Premier League action on Sunday action on Sunday afternoon, making the trip to Burnley in a game that many will expect to see the visitors win comfortably.
For Alexander Isak, it has the potential to be a special day, with the Swede in line to make his debut at some point, even if it is from the substitutes’ bench.
The 25-year-old took part in his first training session for Liverpool on Wednesday, with footage showing the elite finishing ability that he has in his locker, and why the Premier League champions were willing to pay Newcastle United a record-breaking £125m for his services.
Granted, Isak needs time to build up his match fitness, so as mentioned, Hugo Ekitike is likely to be preferred at Burnley this weekend, but a second-half cameo feels on the cards, in what is hopefully the first of many appearances in a Liverpool shirt.
Liverpool enter race to sign "incredible" ace
According to TEAMtalk, Liverpool are now battling to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton in 2026, whether that be in January or next summer.
Man Utd “face a fierce battle” with their biggest rivals, with FSG now entering the race, whereas Newcastle United and Chelsea are also mentioned as options for the £60m-rated England international.
Wharton is one of the most exciting young English players around currently, already becoming such an accomplished footballer at the age of just 21.
The Palace star is an elegant player with a lovely left foot, and he possesses the ability to both dictate play from a deep midfield role, but also shine out of possession, displaying good positional sense and a strong work ethic.
Wharton, who has won two of his three games against the Reds (66%), could be a brilliant squad addition for Liverpool, coming in as a replacement for Wataru Endo, before maturing into a key starter, having been lauded by former Palace teammate Eberechi Eze.
“Playing with him at Palace, I’ve got used to seeing the way he plays and understanding him. He’s very calm, composed, and a joy to play with. For someone so young, he’s very mature and very wise. When you speak to him, it feels like you’re speaking to someone older than you, that’s the type of person he is. He’s an incredible player.”
"Huge money" – Liverpool eye 2026 move for "magician" after Isak and Wirtz
What a signing this could be.
ByHenry Jackson Sep 9, 2025
There was a time when United were clearly the more exciting proposition than Liverpool, but that has changed significantly in the modern game, and the hope is that Wharton sees the champions as his best future option, picking them over the Red Devils and other suitors.
It’s the same old story at Manchester United – even Saturday’s win can’t mask that.
Seven games into the Premier League season, United are ninth, having lost three times already and been dumped out of the Carabao Cup by League Two side Grimsby Town.
There have been signs of progress, no doubt, but it’s been a familiar tale for the Red Devils, whose fanbase recognise the importance of the juncture just ahead.
Ruben Amorim has gone through the wringer since making the move from Portugal, leaving two-in-a-row champions Sporting Lisbon and taking on a huge job at Old Trafford, who had parted with Erik ten Hag early into the 2024/25 season, with cup triumphs papering over the general lack of progress at the club.
And while all of a United persuasion would love to see the Portuguese tactician pull it together, he is nearly on borrowed time in the hot seat.
The latest on Amorim's Man Utd future
“What makes me suffer is to lose games, not to lose my job.” This is what Amorim said in his pre-match press conference, ahead of Manchester United’s 2-0 win against Sunderland in the Premier League.
He wore his passion on his sleeve as he addressed the reporters in front of him, advocating vehemently for his system and stressing that it has the capacity to thrive in the Premier League.
Amorim, at least, has spoken with candour about his and Man United’s situation. He knows things need to change, and he knows that results have not been good enough, having won 19 of 50 matches at the helm.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, at least outwardly, has given the 40-year-old is full support, but it can’t go on like this. Results need to change, fast. Should it prove more of the same after the October international break, INEOS may well bite the bullet and end Amorim’s stay.
Jose Mourinho
93
54%
Erik ten Hag
85
52%
Ole Gunnar Solskjær
109
51%
Louis van Gaal
76
51%
David Moyes
34
50%
Ralf Rangnick
24
41%
Ruben Amorim*
33
27%
*before Sunderland
A number of candidates have already been earmarked, and there’s one who might strike fans as particularly curious.
Man Utd could sign a more radical coach than Amorim
Manchester United. Never ordinary. ‘Hated, ignored, but never ignored’ is more than just a mantra; it is a truth, and the club need a big personality with tactics proven to work in the Premier League.
Roberto de Zerbi, with this in mind, could be the perfect coach to take the hot seat at the Theatre of Dreams, having previously impressed as the manager of Brighton & Hove Albion before leaving in 2024 and joining Marseille.
Last season, the possession-based tactician guided Marseille to a second-placed finish in Ligue 1, having languished to an eighth-place conclusion previously. They are third this term, with four wins from six outings.
Well, according to transfer insider Graeme Bailey, De Zerbi is very much on Man United’s shortlist “if and when” they decide to move on from Amorim, very well regarded at the top end of the INEOS hierarchy.
Aged 46, De Zerbi might field a more conventional 4-2-3-1 formation than Amorim’s controversial three-back line-up, but he’s certainly more radical on the spectrum than most.
He has a fan in Pep Guardiola, who praised the “unique” style of football the Italian implements and remarked that he “monopolises the ball in a way it hasn’t been for a long time.”
Finishing, the Manchester City boss made quite the claim, saying he is “one of the most influential managers of the last 20 years.”
A complicated, sharp-witted manager, De Zerbi’s Marseille completed more passes (3092) in Ligue 1 last season than any other side not hailing from the capital, and his desire to attack the press and implement through a short build-up is something not wildly different to Amorim’s vision, but perhaps could be better implemented at Old Trafford.
He has, after all, actually proven himself in the Premier League, instrumental in taking a Brighton side who had a reputation for attractive football after their promotion and then shaping them into something sustainable and competitive at the higher end of the division.
Across the 2023/24 campaign, only Man City completed more passes than the Seagulls, so it’s clear to see why he has a fan in Pep. If De Zerbi were to arrive at Man United and get a tune out of the underperforming Redmen, there’s no reason why this couldn’t be a style of football to propel the club back into the limelight, consistently challenging for the biggest prizes once again.
Manchester City
1st
26,251
Brighton & Hove Albion
11th
23,547
Liverpool
3rd
22,515
Tottenham Hotspur
5th
22,488
Chelsea
6th
21,926
Manchester United
8th
18,074
Stats via Premier League
Last season, Man United finished fifth in the Premier League passing charts, having completed 15,931 across the campaign. FBref also reveal Brighton achieved an xG (expected goals) total of 56.8 that year, whereas United hit only 52.6 across the 2024/25 campaign.
Described as “one of the best coaches in the world” by his players at the Stade Velodrome, De Zerbi might be somewhat radical in his tactical vision, but he has proven himself in the Premier League and earned the admiration and respect of the division’s heavyweights.
This is what Man United need. Amorim might be a left-field thinker, but he’s trying to fit square pegs into round holes, and a freshen-up looks like it would be the best thing for all parties at this stage.
The new bomb squad: INEOS must axe £425k-p/w Man Utd trio with 760 games
Manchester United still have some deadwood that needs to be removed from the Old Trafford set-up.
Rana back in the T20I side; maiden T20I call-ups for Kranti Goud, Sayali Satghare, N Shree Charani and Shuchi Upadhyay
S Sudarshanan15-May-2025Shafali Verma has been named in India’s T20I squad for the first time since the Women’s T20 World Cup last year, while Sneh Rana, too, makes it for the first time since the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup. They are part of the 15-member T20I squad for the white-ball tour of England that starts on June 28.Seam-bowling allrounders Kranti Goud and Sayali Satghare, and left-arm spinners N Shree Charani and Shuchi Upadhyay received their maiden T20I call-ups. Shree Charani and Upadhyay were part of the ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka that India won earlier this week. Goud was called-up to that squad after Kashvee Gautam was ruled out midway because of a leg injury.Related
India's road to Women's T20 World Cup 2026: what's right and what needs a look
India are shedding their over-dependency on Mandhana and Harmanpreet
Shafali was out of the national side after ODI series at home against New Zealand last year. She went back to domestic cricket and scored heavily – leading run-getter in the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy (527 runs, 152.31 strike rate, 75.29 average) and the Senior Women’s One Day Challenger Trophy (414 runs, 145.26 strike rate, 82.80 average) – while captaining Haryana. She also scored 304 runs (fourth-most in the season) from nine innings at a strike rate of 152.76 for Delhi Capitals in WPL 2025.Following her ODI debut, Kranti Goud received her maiden T20I call-up for the England tour•SLCRana, on the other hand, has forced her way into the T20I setup following her performance in WPL 2025, where she was drafted in by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the injured Shreyanka Patil. Rana picked up six wickets in five matches and almost helped RCB qualify for the playoffs when she hit Deepti Sharma for 26 runs in an over against UP Warriorz. She is not part of BCCI’s centrally-contracted players but was the Player of the Series in the ODI tri-series in Sri Lanka. Patil, who picked up an injury at the T20 World Cup last year, is yet to be given clearance by BCCI’s Centre of Excellence (formerly the National Cricket Academy).Harleen Deol, who is a regular No. 3 in the ODI side, is back in the T20I side for the first time since July 2024. She was Gujarat Giants’ third-highest run-getter in WPL 2025, scoring 232 runs at a strike rate of 120.83. Raghvi Bist, Uma Chetry and Minnu Mani, who all played in India’s last T20I assignment against West Indies at home, do not feature in the England-bound squad.Despite the strong showing, Shafali continues to miss out from India’s ODI squad, that is largely unchanged following their strong tri-series showing. Satghare is the only addition to the team that won the competition. She made her ODI debut against Ireland at home earlier this year and took three wickets in three matches.Pratika Rawal, who averages 63.80 in 11 ODIs, is the designated opening partner for Smriti Mandhana with Deol backed to bat one-drop. Yastika Bhatia will be the back-up wicketkeeper for Richa Ghosh while Maharashtra’s Tejal Hasabnis is the spare batter in the ODI setup.ESPNcricinfo LtdShree Charani and Upadhyay, who finished third on the wickets tally and was the Player of the Tournament as Madhya Pradesh won the Senior Women’s One Day Trophy last year for the first time, are part of the spin department headed by Deepti and Rana.There was no word on fast bowlers Renuka Singh, Pooja Vastrakar and Titas Sadhu, who were left out of the tri-series squad because of injury.India Women will play five T20Is followed by three ODIs on the tour that overlaps with the men’s five-match Test series. As per the women’s future tours programme, this is India’s last ODI series ahead of the Women’s World Cup they would be hosting later this year.India squad for the women’s T20I series against EnglandHarmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, N Shree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Goud, Sayali SatghareIndia squad for the women’s ODI series against EnglandHarmanpreet Kaur (capt), Smriti Mandhana (vice-capt), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Tejal Hasabnis, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, Shuchi Upadhyay, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare
The last time Leeds United sealed promotion to the Premier League courtesy of former Elland Road icon Marcelo Bielsa, there was a lot of promise in the air that the Uruguayan would be the transformative figure to make the West Yorkshire side a top-flight staple once more.
In all fairness, for a brief moment in time, he looked to be just the radical figure they needed, with a ninth-place finish in the Premier League coming right after the Championship title had been triumphantly lifted.
Unfortunately, it all unravelled from this point onwards, with relegation at the end of the 2022/23 season coming about with Sam Allardyce at the helm, long after the South American’s sad exit.
Can Daniel Farke be the manager to finally establish Leeds as a superpower in the top league? The German has already collected two early wins to guide the Whites to a promising 11th spot, after all.
It appears as if Leeds have really strengthened their options after lifting the second-tier title on a mammoth 100 points, with Farke already in love with a vast portion of his new personnel.
Ranking Leeds' best summer signings
Farke will be desperate to steer Leeds to safety having already tasted the bitterness of relegation from the top-flight when managing Norwich City.
The early signs show that the Whites won’t be basement dwellers, with new signings such as Gabriel Gudmundsson, surely too good to be sucked into a relegation battle.
Minus scoring an own-goal away at Fulham, the energetic Swede has stood out as a very competent replacement for Junior Firpo in the infancy of this season so far, with his determination to keep the ball in play last time out against AFC Bournemouth culminating in Leeds taking the lead.
While he couldn’t follow up on his goal away at Wolverhampton Wanderers versus the Cherries, Noah Okafor also shone as a bright attacking spark against Andoni Iraola’s men.
He will likely be viewed as another sterling summer pick-up, with a tricky three successful dribbles being registered, keeping the South Coast visitors on their toes.
There is also Dominic Calvert-Lewin. He won’t be the best signing Leeds ever make but Premier League-proven, he has shown flashes of his quality at this level already when expertly heading an effort home at Molineux.
But, Anton Stach has a convincing case to be viewed as Leeds’ top bit of business overall, with the £17m forked out to land the German already looking like money well spent.
Why Stach has become so important for Leeds
Stach had impressed early on at Elland Road, but he truly arrived on the scene in some style when hammering home a stunning free kick away at Vitor Pereira’s Old Gold.
Away from just this audacious effort – which was heralded as a “beauty” by Gary Lineker – Stach has also stood out as a well-rounded, aggressive presence in the middle of the park for Leeds in a similar build to fan favourite, Yorkshire Pirlo, Kalvin Phillips.
Of course, when Phillips was at the heart of the Bielsa operation, Leeds managed to finish in that aforementioned ninth spot in the challenging division.
History could well repeat itself with a similarly robust, yet skilful figure now in Farke’s XI, with 3.7 ball recoveries averaged per game this season in Premier League action, followed up by the former Hoffenheim ace also winning a high 5.3 duels per clash.
Stach’s PL numbers (25/26)
Stat (* = per 90 mins)
Stach
Games played
6
Goals scored
1
Assists
1
Touches*
53.3
Accurate passes*
28.8 (77%)
Key passes*
2.2
Ball recoveries*
3.3
Total duels won*
5.3
Stats by Sofascore
Former Watford striker turned pundit Troy Deeney has also waxed lyrical about Stach since his arrival, labelling the number 18 as “very impressive”.
But, he isn’t the only midfielder who has been on the receiving end of some glowing comments.
Why bargain Leeds star is a better signing than Stach
While Stach instantly bedding in will, of course, raised a few smiles in West Yorkshire, it would have been seen as a big disappointment if the German didn’t come in and hit the ground running from the get-go, having cost £17m to obtain.
Whereas, in the case of Sean Longstaff, Leeds fans would have known all about his Premier League credentials, but might well have erred on the side of caution over whether he’d be an instant success story, having arrived at Elland Road off the back of starting just eight league games last season for Newcastle United.
There needn’t have been any worries, however, with Nedem Onuoha’s prediction of Longstaff joining for just £12m being a “sneaky good” signing ringing very much true, with the former Magpies midfielder pretty much faultless last time out versus Bournemouth.
During that clash, he looked like one “one of the best signings in the Premier League” full stop – as was boldly declared by journalist Daniel Storey.
Staggeringly, away from firing home a superb effort and collecting an assist, the well-rounded 27-year-old also won a mammoth ten duels to ensure his side at least collected a share of the points against the Cherries.
His wider numbers make for some unbelievable reading, too, with Opta statistician Jonny Cooper revealing – after his impactful showing against Bournemouth – that Longstaff has covered a staggering 12km per league clash so far this season.
Also averaging more tackles per 90 minutes this season than Chelsea ace Moises Caicedo as per Fotmob – who once cost a staggering £115m – on top of also averaging more accurate passes than the likes of Crystal Palace favourite Adam Wharton, it’s already abundantly clear that Farke and Co have pulled off a major steal landing the Newcastle-born battler for just £12m.
Leeds’ summer signings who cost more than Longstaff
Player
Transfer fee
1. Jaka Bijol
£18.7m
2. Noah Okafor
£18m
3. Anton Stach
£17m
4. Lucas Perri
£15.6m
Sourced by Transfermarkt
Weighing up his modest fee next to Leeds’ other notable summer signings further reinforces the bargain Leeds have managed to seal, with injury-stricken goalkeeper Lucas Perri even costing a higher fee at the £15.6m mark.
Therefore, there is plenty of logic behind Storey’s claims, with Longstaff once even receiving praise from Pep Guardiola back in 2019 during the early days of his St James’ Park senior career.
While his time on Tyneside did unfortunately fizzle out, the “outstanding” 27-year-old – as he has already been labelled by his new manager – has undoubtedly already found a new lease of life away from his hometown side.
Longstaff is just one cog in Farke’s machine who can certainly play a key role in Leeds becoming top-flight regulars again.
Leeds had the original Gudmundsson & they let him leave for just £1m
Leeds must regret cashing in on this star who was the original Gabriel Gudmundsson at Elland Road.
The competitive La Liga fixture, to be held in Miami, comes after years of conflict over a possible match outside of Europe
Welcome to the footballing apocalypse. This is the thing that Europe was so, so afraid of. As a continent, they gatekeep their sport so expertly. Soccer is for them, not for the world – at least, in person. Or many in the European game, anyway, would have you believe.
So much for that.
What started in 2019 – and had been in gestation since far before then – has become reality. A European league will play a competitive soccer match in the United States. After years of flirtation, months of talks, and weeks of complaints, we have the details. The match will be played in Miami, between Barcelona and Villarreal, on Dec. 20. La Liga have signed off. Other parties have reluctantly agreed.
The logistics, then, are fairly simple. Two football teams who routinely play matches overseas every summer will do so again. In one sense, this isn't particularly new. Except for one enormous caveat: this game actually matters. Three points are on the line. For Barcelona, it could be a crucial result as they look to retain the La Liga title. For Villarreal, it will surely be pivotal as they push for European football. The teams currently sit second and third in the table.
And that's where the tension lies here. The problem is not that a game between two Spanish teams is being played on American soil. The issue is that it will count. It should also be noted that La Liga isn't alone – Serie A confirmed that a fixture between AC Milan and Como will be played in Perth, Australia in early 2026, another groundbreaking moment in the sport’s globalization.
Specific to the Miami match, there are two camps: those for an American-based game, and those against. Their disagreements are fundamental and unlikely to be resolved no matter what argument either party puts forth. This raises larger questions about the soul of the game that simply cannot be answered in one fixture or even one season.
But what is clear – and perhaps far more pivotal – is what comes next. December's fixture, it would seem, could open the floodgates to something that simply cannot be stopped. The thirst for soccer in America is real. And now the game can be transplanted anywhere.
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The Premier League flirts
The soccer world has been confronting this possibility for a while now. In 2008, the Premier League officially proposed playing a 39th fixture outside of England. The idea, then, was football as imperialism. Owners saw that there was a global appetite for the game, and suggested that 10 fixtures be played in a weekend in January, with staggered start times around the world. Proponents wanted individual cities to bid, and even earmarked the 2010-11 season as a potential start date.
That notion was quickly dismissed at all levels. The managers of Liverpool and Manchester United showed a rare moment of solidarity – they joined in their opposition. Supporters' Groups were outraged, and fought back. Even Sepp Blatter, then FIFA president, looked like a good guy, earning favor with fans for suggesting that not only was the idea misguided, it could also be detrimental in England's hopes to host the 2018 World Cup (a bid they lost, anyway).
Since then, it has simmered. The Premier League reportedly thought about it again in 2014, and chatter has remained constant about the possibility of a game being played in the U.S., especially given expanded American ownership in England's top flight.
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La Liga gets serious
The Premier League, then, cooled its interest. The reasons are myriad. Fan pushback was serious. Owner power took over. And certainly a bumper TV deal that brings billions of dollars – and millions of eyes – onto the league every week, made an "away" game less necessary for their wallets.
But La Liga got serious. And that makes sense. This is, in many ways, a financial decision. It's supply and demand. The league and its teams know that foreign fans will pay a premium for tickets. Sell out a game at hiked-up prices in Miami, and a handsome payday will, in theory, be the result. La Liga's TV deal is tidy – every game is now carried on ESPN+ in the U.S. – but they are steps behind financially relative to the Premier League.
This has long been a gripe of league president Javier Tebas. He has railed again and again over the Premier League's apparently unchecked financial power. And he has a point. English football's revenues massively eclipse those of Spanish sides. Transfer fees in England are massive. Mid-table clubs outspend most of La Liga's elite.
No single game in Miami will amend that. But for La Liga, it seems a decent start. They originally tried to have a Barcelona-Girona game in Miami in 2019. Last year, they tried to play Barca-Atletico Madrid in the same city. Both of those attempts were brushed off. But the sentiment stayed alive. Tebas spoke often about wanting a game on foreign soil.
"This is strategic for us. It is very important for us to make sure that people understand that we as La Liga are willing to be bold, are willing to be innovative, are willing to try things in a different way, and we're gonna try," Nicolas Garcia Hemme, La Liga North America Managing Director, told GOAL this week.
Getty
The lawsuit
But it all seemed a bit like flimsy attempts at manifestation. There were blockers. UEFA and FIFA's regulations around playing domestic competitions in foreign countries are pretty water-tight. And then there were the legal battles.
Relevent Sports, a match promoter that had helped organize preseason friendlies for La Liga teams, sued both FIFA and the United States Soccer Federation, claiming that the two bodies had violated antitrust laws by conspiring to bar domestic leagues from playing games abroad. What followed was a complicated legal case, with suits being dismissed and then appealed, back and forth.
But in April 2025, there was a significant breakthrough. Relevent Sports settled its antitrust lawsuit with the U.S. Soccer, a development that came a year after Relevent and FIFA reached their own settlement to drop FIFA as a co-defendant. The terms of that settlement were not disclosed, but FIFA said it would form a working group to analyze rules about how and where domestic fixtures could be played.
And you could have seen what was coming next. One-by-one, the appropriate governing bodies submitted. UEFA, FIFA, USSF, and CONCACAF all had to sign off on a U.S. match. With pressure mounting, they did so – despite some rather public reluctance. The door was open.
Then, it was a simple question of logistics. Barca pulled out of the friendly in 2019, realizing where public sentiment was focused in the soccer hive mind. But with money on the table, and the Blaugrana still strapped for cash, they jumped in. Atletico and Real Madrid were both out. But Villarreal slotted in with glee.
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Milan, Como, and Australia
And they're not alone in this effort. America isn't the only country eager to host competitive fixtures within its borders. Australia, admittedly, has been a less lucrative market for foreign clubs in preseason tours. East Asian tends to be targeted. But going down under isn't as common as it used to be.
That hasn't stopped Serie A and Milan, though. They will face newly promoted Como in Perth in February, another fixture that UEFA admittedly reluctantly approved. Fans were admittedly furious, but Como outlined their reasoning: the league needs to do these things to stay alive:
"Sometimes sacrifice is essential, not for individual benefit but for the greater good, for growth, and above all, for the survival of the league itself," they said in a statement. They went one further, insisting that they might lose some – if not all – of their best players if the league doesn't take advantage of their opportunities.
"We must ask ourselves honestly how we can retain our best players, build competitive teams, and attract the world's elite to Serie A if we do not adapt," the league said.
Celtic have been the dominant force in Scotland for many, many, years and are currently aiming to win their fifth title in succession in the Scottish Premiership.
The Hoops have won the league title and a domestic cup in each of the last two seasons, after winning the domestic treble in Ange Postecoglou’s final year at the club.
Since Brendan Rodgers returned to the club to replace Postecoglou in the summer of 2023, Celtic have won two Premiership titles, the SFA Cup, and the League Cup.
One, admittedly minor, criticism you could level at the Northern Irish head coach, though, is that he does not offer too many opportunities to academy and young players within the squad, despite the team’s domestic dominance.
Daniel Kelly (87)
Alex Valle (651)
Colby Donovan (101)
Rocco Vata (3)
Sean McArdle (14)
Jude Bonnar (10)
Francis Turley (1)
As you can see in the table above, no academy player aged 21 or under played more than 87 minutes across the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns for the Scottish giants.
However, Colby Donovan has emerged as a genuine first-team option for Rodgers this season, after impressing in the 2-1 win over Kilmarnock on Sunday.
Why Colby Donovan is a genuine first-team option for Celtic
The 19-year-old academy graduate should be considered a regular option for the first-team moving forward because he has shown that he can deliver in the Premiership.
Kilmarnock away is not an easy game to play. They have only lost five of their 19 home games in the Premiership since the start of last season, and use an artificial pitch.
The Scotland U21 international, who has played 36 times for the club’s B team, adapted to his surroundings fairly quickly after a couple of loose touches early on in the match.
Donovan, as shown in the highlights above, played a crucial role in the winning goal for Celtic with a darting run into the box to tee up James Forrest, whose shot was blocked by an arm to hand Kelechi Iheanacho the chance to score the winner from the spot.
As well as that vital contribution at the top end of the pitch, the 19-year-old right-back also showed that he has the physicality and pace to deal with opposition attackers in the Premiership.
Minutes
90
Clearances
7
Blocks
1
Tackles
2
Ground duels won
3/6
Aerial duels won
4/4
The statistics in the table above illustrate how solid he was out of possession for the Scottish giants, winning 70% of his duels throughout his 90 minutes on the pitch on his full debut in the division.
Whilst this was only one performance, Donovan carried himself as if he had been in the team for years and fully looked the part at right-back for the Hoops, after that nervy start to the game, as mentioned.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
The Scottish right-back is not the only promising young star within the first-team squad, though. In fact, Rodgers may be brewing an even bigger homegrown talent than Donovan in the form of central defender Dane Murray.
Cameron Carter-Vickers and Liam Scales are currently ahead of the 22-year-old titan in the pecking order to start matches, but he was on the bench against Kilmarnock ahead of summer signing Jahmai Simpson-Pusey, which shows how highly the manager rates him.
Why Dane Murray may be a bigger talent than Colby Donovan
The academy graduate has had a long road back to the first-team after suffering two cruciate ligament injuries that kept him out of action for around two years between 2021 and 2023.
Murray had made his debut for the senior side as a teenager against Midtjylland in a Champions League play-off tie in 2021, but those two injuries have set him back in recent seasons.
The Scottish defender spent time on loan at Queen’s Park in the Championship in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns to build his fitness back up, before his return to Parkhead in January of last season.
Since his return to Celtic, Rodgers has given him opportunities to shine in the first-team and the club rewarded him with a new contract last month.
After Murray signed his new deal, the Hoops head coach said: “It’s great for him because he’s a great boy. He’s got a lot of potential. And I think over the next 12 to 18 months, he’s going to really grow.
“His ceiling is so high. There are areas of the game he needs to clearly work on. But he’s 6ft 4in, he’s quick, he can take the ball. He has a comfort with the ball which aligns with top players. Just, concentration is something that’s key for defenders.”
These comments show how highly rated Murray is by the coaching staff and illustrate how complete he is as a player, because the centre-back has all the attributes needed to make it to the very top.
Minutes
90
45
Goals conceded
0
0
Clearances
7
2
Interceptions
1
0
Tackles
3
1
Dribbled past
0x
0x
Duels won
8/13
2/2
Pass accuracy
89%
98%
As you can see in the table above, the 22-year-old colossus’ performances against Livingston and Kairat this season back up Rodgers’ comments, because he was dominant physically, quick enough not to be dribbled past at all, and incredibly reliable with the ball at his feet.
Murray is capable of turning in complete and impressive performances as a centre-back for Celtic, domestically and in Europe, and could develop into a fantastic and complete central defender for the club.
Donovan, meanwhile, is not a complete right-back because he has only delivered two assists in 46 appearances for Celtic at academy and first-team level combined, per Transfermarkt, which shows that the defender needs to work on the threat that he offers in the final third.
Murray, though, has shown that he can deliver defensively and in possession as a centre-back for the Hoops, and Rodgers has made it clear that he believes the 22-year-old star has a huge ceiling to hit.
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Therefore, Celtic may have an even bigger homegrown talent than Donovan in Murray, but it is now down to him to oust Scales from the starting XI to nail down a place next to Carter-Vickers moving forward.
Patidar batted for over 30 minutes in the nets but didn’t field or take catches
Shashank Kishore15-May-20253:57
Who should replace Padikkal in the RCB line-up?
Rajat Patidar, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain, has resumed batting following a recovery from a finger injury on his right hand that needed ten days to heel. He had picked up the injury while fielding against Chennai Super Kings on May 3.Patidar started with mild throwdowns before testing his entire range of batting movements as RCB resumed training on Thursday evening, two days ahead of their clash against KKR. With a little bit of taping, he strode out to the nets and batted for over 30 minutes, seemingly unhindered by the right hand. Patidar didn’t, however, field or take catches.If Patidar is deemed fit to play, it will come as a massive boost for RCB in their quest to finish in the top-two. RCB are currently second on the points table with eight wins in 11 games, and need at least two wins to assure themselves of a top-two finish – something they’ve never achieved since 2016.Related
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Patidar’s availability will also somewhat cover up for Devdutt Padikkal’s absence at No. 3. The left-hander has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a hamstring injury, with the franchise bringing in Mayank Agarwal, primarily an opener, as his replacement. They also won’t have the services of Jacob Bethell for the playoffs due to international commitments.Patidar’s form has somewhat tailed off after a sensational start – 23 is his highest score across his last five innings. So far this season, his first as captain, Patidar has hit 239 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 140.58. His most-recent half-century, a 32-ball 64 in a winning cause against Mumbai Indians, came more than a month ago.
Amazingly, Leeds United’s record at this early stage in the Premier League season lines up well to their positive start out of the blocks under Marcelo Bielsa during the 2020/21 season.
Directly after sealing promotion up to the big-time, the much-loved South American would steer the Whites to an unbelievable ninth final position, having initially picked up two wins from his side’s opening five clashes in the league.
Daniel Farke already has two victories under his belt, too, with the 3-1 success away at Wolverhampton Wanderers last time out further mirroring Leeds sides of old when it came to the clinical nature of their first-half display.
Of course, there is still a long way to go, but the German will be hoping he can pull off a similarly high finish down the line.
Leeds will no doubt feel a boost knowing Ao Tanaka is also slowly but surely returning to full fitness, with the Japanese midfielder going down as an instant revelation in the Championship.
The shrewd capture of Tanaka
The Whites really did win in the summer transfer market before embarking on their promotion adventure, as the likes of Jayden Bogle and Joe Rodon joined to enhance the defence, while Manor Solomon added more quality up top on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
Yet, snapping up the services of Tanaka for just £2.9m from Fortuna Düsseldorf managed to slip under the initial radar.
However, it’s safe to say that Tanaka is now a well-known and much-loved presence at Elland Road, with the silky 27-year-old going on to collect five goals and two assists last campaign on the way to Farke and Co. returning to the Premier League.
He made such a blistering impact to proceedings that Farke would even label him as “unbelievable” for what he can offer, with those glowing words backed up by his well-rounded game when averaging both a 90% pass accuracy last season, while also getting stuck in with 4.3 duels per second-tier clash, as per Sofascore.
Further noted as being “difficult to dislodge” from the starting XI by Paul Robinson last season, it is testament to Leeds’ collective strengths so far this campaign that they haven’t been derailed by Tanaka’s injury issues.
While Tanaka has been sidelined, another astute capture achieved this summer has stood out, with the cost-effective buy perhaps going down as Leeds’ best foray in the market since the £2.9m deal to bring the number 22 to English shores.
Leeds have made their best signing since Tanaka
After all, Leeds have managed to bolster their midfield positions this summer, away from solely relying on more of Tanaka’s magic up a division.
Indeed, Anton Stach is also in the running to be considered Leeds’ smartest purchase since landing the Japan international last year, with the versatile 26-year-old costing £20m and proving to be worth all that cash alone just based on this fierce free-kick being hammered home at Molineux.
Wth an assist also next to his name, it’s clear that Leeds have struck gold already with another standout buy from the Bundesliga.
Yet, it could well be argued that Gabriel Gudmundsson is actually a better buy than Stach, despite his electric start to life in West Yorkshire, with the arrival of the Swede making the Whites feel far more assured about their problematic left-back spot.
While Leeds did recruit well when making the step-up, it was a clear body blow when Junior Firpo exited the building this summer, with the former Whites hero amassing ten assists last season from the left-back position.
This left Farke and Co. in a considerable spot of bother as Sam Byram was now the only recognised option on the left. Thankfully, Leeds would seal a deal to bring Gudmundsson for just £10m to fill the Firpo-shaped hole, with this looking to be a worthwhile bargain already.
Gudmundsson – PL stats
Stat – per 90 mins*
Gudmundsson
Games played
5
Goals scored
0
Assists
0
Touches*
63.2
Accurate passes*
31.6 (81%)
Ball recoveries*
3.6
Clearances*
3.8
Total duels won*
4.2
Stats by Sofascore
Minus his own-goal horror show away at Fulham, Gudmundsson has been a solid addition, with his calming influence on the ball different to that of a gung-ho Firpo, but more effective in the Premier League.
Moreover, with 4.2 duels won on average, he has more than helped Leeds to pick up those two invaluable victories, with three duels successfully won on the road at the Old Gold. He was arguably the club’s “best player” in that latest victory.
Heralded as a “fantastic” addition to the camp already by ex-Leeds defender Tony Dorigo, it could well be that the Malmo-born star goes on to be viewed as another Tanaka-like bargain, particularly if his efforts steer the Whites to immediate survival and, potentially, even more.
Leeds star spotted "limping" and may now be injured alongside Jayden Bogle
One of Leeds’ replacement players has had his own injury concerns.
Josh Hazlewood marked a spectacular return after injury, taking three wickets to dismantle PBKS’s top order with precision and swing. His spell at the start of the innings not only left PBKS reeling but also pushed him back into the top three of the Purple Cap standings. With 21 wickets form 11 innings, he has jumped to No. 3 spot.Noor Ahmad of Chennai Super Kings (CSK), with 24 wickets, continues to lead the table while Gujarat Titans’ Prasidh Krishna, with 23, is behind him. Apart from Prasidh, Mumbai Indians’ Trent Boult, who has 19 wickets and occupies the fourth position, will also be in action in the Eliminator on Friday.Virat Kohli joins in the celebration as Josh Hazlewood bagged his third on Thursday•BCCI
Orange Cap table
Chasing a low score of 102 in New Chandigarh, RCB’s Virat Kohli could only add 12 more runs to take his tally to 614 runs from 14 matches. Kohli maintained his fifth position on the Orange Cap table.There was no change at the top with Gujarat Titans’ B Sai Sudharsan (679) leading the table, followed by Shubman Gill (649) and Suryakumar Yadav (640) of MI. All three of them will be in action on Friday.Mitchell Marsh of Lucknow Super Giants has signed off the season with 627 runs and sits at No. 4.Here’s what ESPNcricinfo’s MVP table looks like.And here are some other IPL 2025 tables that show the season’s best performers in different aspects of the T20 game.
Manchester City and England defender John Stones revealed he briefly considered retiring amid his injury nightmare last season.
The 31-year-old’s 2024/25 campaign was decimated by foot and hamstring injuries, which saw him make just 24 appearances for club and country and none after February.
Stones considered retirement amid Man City injury struggles
He is back fit again this season and looks set to make his first appearance under England boss Thomas Tuchel in the upcoming games against Wales and Latvia.
Despite his injury woes last season, Stones, on £250,000-a-week at the Etihad, was invited to Tuchel’s summer camp for the games against Andorra and Senegal, which showed the German’s intention for the defender to be part of his plans.
“I love England so much and I love playing for England,” Stones said. “Some of the best moments in my career have been playing for England at tournaments.
“And when he said to (me), would I come out and be with the guys and continue my training, it was a no-brainer. For me to come and show my face to the guys, offer advice, be a good team-mate, I suppose – it was a special moment.
“I had not thought about it since, because everything moves on so fast. But it was a big sign and something that I was really happy to