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Crystal Palace are now targeting Brendan Rodgers as a long-term replacement for Oliver Glasner, whose contract is set to expire next summer.

Palace fans will still be holding out hope that Glasner will opt to extend his contract, and there was recently a positive update, with Steve Parish confirming that talks over a new deal have already taken place.

The chairman said: “We’ve had some early conversations. “We would love to keep Oliver, we’re building something. I think for Oliver it’s about the conditions being right.”

“It’s about everything being in a way that he enjoys his work and he finds the conditions favourable to achieve. Oliver wants to win things, he makes no secret of that. That’s what he’s in football for.

“So if we can align those interests then hopefully we can make something happen.”

However, having led the Eagles to their first major trophy in history and a remarkable 19-game unbeaten run, it will be no surprise if the Austrian attracts interest from some top clubs, with Manchester United being touted as a potential destination earlier this month.

With Ruben Amorim turning the corner, having won three games on the bounce, United’s interest may have cooled, but there will no doubt be other clubs keen if Glasner continues to overachieve.

Crystal Palace targeting Rodgers as Glasner replacement

As such, according to a report from The Boot Room, Crystal Palace have now started to make contingency plans for life after Glasner, having identified Rodgers as a target for next summer.

Journalist Graeme Bailey reveals Palace are doing their “due diligence” by identifying potential replacements for their manager at the end of the season, and Rodgers is on their “long list” of targets.

Returning to England is regarded as the Northern Irishman’s “number one priority”, having recently resigned from his post as Celtic manager, amid a poor relationship with the club’s hierarchy.

In an ideal world, Glasner will put pen to paper on a new contract before too long, but if the 51-year-old chooses to seek pastures new, the ex-Celtic boss could be a fantastic replacement, having received high praise from former footballer David Meyler in the past.

The 52-year-old has won 13 trophies across his managerial career, two of which came at Leicester City, guiding the Foxes to an FA Cup triumph in the 2020-21 season, before going on to lift the Community Shield months later.

In his last five managerial roles, the Carnlough-born manager has maintained a solid point per match record, guiding Swansea City to Premier League promotion, with his three-year stint at Liverpool his only unsuccessful period.

Club

Matches

Points per match

Swansea City

96

1.55

Liverpool

166

1.77

Celtic

169

2.24

Leicester City

204

1.59

Celtic

123

2.19

As such, should Glasner depart, Rodgers could be an ideal replacement, but there is a good chance a manager of his quality gets snapped up before next summer.

Oliver Glasner threatened to leave Crystal Palace amid Marc Guehi stand-off Glasner handed Crystal Palace exit route after tense deadline day stand off

A concern for the Eagles.

ByTom Cunningham Sep 2, 2025

Allrounder claims two wickets before anchoring 301-run chase with unbeaten hundred

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay 24-Aug-2025A sublime unbeaten 141 from Ed Barnard gave Warwickshire’s qualification hopes in the Metro Bank One Day Cup a boost as his side beat Durham by four wickets, despite a magnificent century from Alex Lees. Consistent wickets plagued Durham’s innings, but the reliable Lees displayed a mix of grit and fluency to pick up a List A best of 148 and was well supported by Ben Raine (46) to get the home side to a total of 300 for eight.Warwickshire got off to a shaky start, but skipper Barnard and Hamza Shaikh combined for a partnership worth 106 to give them the edge.Shaikh was dismissed, but Barnard continued the charge and along with Michael Booth he took his side home with 14 balls to spare.The visitors put Durham into bat at an overcast Banks Homes Riverside and they got their first early on as Ollie Robinson attempted to pull an Ethan Bamber short ball, but he mistimed it and Kai Smith made no mistake with the catch.Will Rhodes then departed for 15 as he attempted a pull shot to a Bamber ball, but he got a nick on it and Smith clung on to it behind the stumps.Emilio Gay should have been walking back to the pavilion early on, as he top edged a Booth short ball but a running Bamber couldn’t cling on to it.Gay then played a couple of delightful cover drives, but he then went for 26 as he pulled an Ed Barnard ball straight to Alex Davies on the boundary.Lees remained solid in the face of consistent wickets and he swept a Taz Ali ball for four to reach fifty from 73 balls.The opener then crunched consecutive Booth deliveries for four to build some much-needed momentum for the hosts.Durham’s struggles against the short ball continued as Colin Ackermann tried to lift a Booth short ball over Smith’s head, but he didn’t get enough on it and was caught behind for 23.Youngster Robbie Bowman then went for one, as Taz Ali produced a beauty to dislodge his off-stump, while George Drissell went for seven caught behind off a Barnard ball.Ben Raine came in and showed some intent, picking up 10 runs from two Rob Yates balls and Lees reached his century from 117 balls at the other end.Lees then moved into T20 mode as he launched back-to-back Booth balls for six and Raine followed that up by smashing an Ali ball down the ground.Raine departed at the hands of Hannon-Dalby for an entertaining 46, while Lees was run out on the last ball for an excellent 148 to take his side to 300 for eight.Warwickshire started their chase of 301 with Barnard and Yates tasked with starting their chase.Barnard played a lovely shot through point off the bowling of Mitch Killeen for four to put pressure on the hosts.Raine got Yates for nine as the opener chopped one on to his off-stump, but Barnard continued to look good as he heaved a Sam Conners ball for six.Malik then backed that up with a lovely lofted straight drive for four off Raine, but the Durham bowler struck back as Malik pulled a short ball straight into the hands of Conners.Warwickshire then found themselves in a bit of trouble when Killeen got Davies LBW for seven.That brought Hamza Shaikh to the crease and he hit Archie Bailey for two boundaries early on and Barnard brought up his half-century from 48 balls at the other end.Barnard steadied the ship and punished a ball from Drissell, launching it down the ground for six and Shaikh got his first maximum as he heaved one over the long-on boundary.The England Under-19s man then reached his fifty from 67 balls, but Raine got him caught in the deep next ball for 51.It became a double salvo for Durham as Killeen got Smith for five, but Barnard notched up his century from 96 balls.However, he was running out of partners as Vaansh Jani was removed by Drissell for 15.Barnard was determined to bring the points back to Birmingham and he scooped a Conners ball for six to take them closer to the target.Booth smashed a Raine short ball for six to give the visitors momentum and he backed that up with a four off Conners, he then won it with a six off the same bowler.

Like Kanpur, Bengaluru is expected to have a black soil pitch, which will support the spinners over the course of the Test

Ashish Pant14-Oct-2024Three fast bowlers or three spinners? Play Akash Deep over Mohammed Siraj or go for a three-pronged pace attack with both along with Jasprit Bumrah? Pick one of Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel or stay with the tried and tested duo of R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.India have a problem of plenty and will have a number of things to ponder upon when they finalise their playing XI for the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru starting October 16.In home Tests, at least in the current World Test Championship [WTC] cycle, India have mostly gone with three spinners and two fast bowlers. The two Tests out of seven at home in which they played a third seamer was during the recently-concluded series against Bangladesh where they went with Deep, Siraj and Bumrah in the playing XI both times.Related

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They were faced with a similar situation ahead of the second Bangladesh Test in Kanpur, which was a black soil pitch. There they went with all three pacers in the XI, with Ashwin and Jadeja as the two spinners.In an ideal scenario, India would want to go with three spinners in their unit against New Zealand, especially with the kind of pitch on offer in Bengaluru. ESPNcricinfo has learned that the playing strip for the opening Test against New Zealand is like Kanpur, a black soil pitch. It is understood that the pitch is likely to be a slow turner along with low bounce where shot-making will not be as easy. While it won’t be a rank turner, the surface is likely to support spinners as the Test match goes by.India wouldn’t mind that clearly considering New Zealand possess enough good quality seamers in Will O’Rourke, Ben Sears and Tim Southee, who can use any moisture in the surface to their advantage. In addition, New Zealand’s spin game of late has been rather weak. In 12 innings this year, New Zealand have lost 67 of 104 wickets to spin – their most in five years.Add to that the threat posed by the Indian spinners. Ashwin has the most wickets in this WTC cycle – 53 in ten games at 21.18. Jadeja has 35 in nine, Kuldeep has 19 in four while Axar has five in two Tests. A three-spin attack then you’d think would seem a no-brainer.But the prevailing overcast and damp conditions could play a key role in forcing India to work out whether to pack their bowling unit with three seamers or three spinners.There has been consistent rain in Bengaluru over the last week or so and the forecast for the next few days is of rain and plenty of cloud cover. On Monday – two days before the Test – the pitch was under covers for most of the morning because of a consistent drizzle. Around 1.45pm, when the covers were removed, India captain Rohit Sharma, head coach Gautam Gambhir and Rishabh Pant all had a close look at the surface while also having a lengthy discussion with the pitch curator.The surface looked devoid of much grass, but being under covers and with the overhead conditions expected to be cloudy, there is a chance there could be some early assistance for the fast bowlers come Wednesday.If that is indeed the case, India could well go with Deep, Siraj and Bumrah in the XI. While the Indian spinners have done the bulk of the damage in the WTC cycle, the quicks have not been far behind. Bumrah has 42 wickets in eight Tests in the WTC cycle, 30 of which have come in India at an average of 15.40. The last time Bumrah played a Test in Bengaluru back in 2022, he picked up eight wickets on a turning track.Deep, on the other hand, has played all his three Tests in India and looked excellent while Siraj has 26 wickets in ten WTC Tests in this cycle. Both bowlers also know the M Chinnaswamy surface well having played for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL.If India do end up playing three spinners, there could also be a selection quandary as to which fast bowler to pick – the experienced Siraj or newbie Deep who has looked the part. Even with the spin unit, while Ashwin and Jadeja look set to start, do they play Kuldeep or Axar?Jasprit Bumrah has 42 wickets from eight Tests in the current WTC cycle•BCCI”Look, it [final playing XI] depends on the conditions, depends on the wicket, depends on the opposition as well. And the best part about this dressing room is that we’ve got so many high-quality players in there. We can select any of them and we know they can do the job for us,” Gambhir said when asked about whether the overhead conditions could dictate India’s playing XI.”And that is what is called the depth. We’ll have a look at the wicket tomorrow. Me and Rohit will have a chat and see what is the best combination to do the job at Chinnaswamy Stadium.”There has been only one Test played in Bengaluru in the last five years – a day-night Test in 2022 between India and Sri Lanka which the hosts won inside three days. The news point there was the ICC match referee Javagal Srinath rating that Bengaluru pitch “below average”. Of the 39 wickets in the match, the spinners accounted for 26 of which 16 fell on the first day itself.In a scathing assessment, Srinath, a former India and Karnataka fast bowler and also a former office bearer at the Karnataka State Cricket Association [KSCA], said the pitch “offered a lot of turn on the first day itself and though it improved with every session, in my view, it was not an even contest between bat and ball.”India went with three fast bowlers in the last two Tests that they won against Bangladesh. With rain in the air, and the weather damp and cloudy, they could stick to their guns and go with a similar attack. In any case, with the next two Tests scheduled for Pune and Mumbai, where the pitch is likely to take much more turn, it is likely India will switch back to a three-spin plan. But what would that attack look like?

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have entered a high-stakes battle for Anderlecht’s 17-year-old prodigy Nathan De Cat. The Belgian youth international has risen rapidly from academy standout to first-team regular, attracting top clubs with his tactical intelligence and dominant performances. With his contract running until 2027, De Cat has become the centre of a transfer race between the two Bundesliga giants.

Bayern and Dortmund move for Nathan De Cat

Few teenagers in Europe have generated as much momentum as De Cat, and both Bayern and Dortmund see him as a midfielder worth acting early for. According to , both clubs have formally intensified their monitoring, sending scouts to multiple matches this season as the 17-year-old has grown into a permanent starter at Anderlecht. However, they are just two of a number of top teams keeping track of him.

Bayern transfer bosses Max Eberl and Christoph Freund are leading the charge. They admire De Cat’s tactical maturity, his ability to dictate tempo from deep and his imposing frame, a combination they believe could make him a long-term successor to Leon Goretzka or a future anchor in Vincent Kompany’s midfield. Bayern’s interest is not casual; they have already placed him near the top of their long-term recruitment list.

Dortmund, known for identifying elite young talent before their peak, view De Cat with equal urgency. Aware of Bayern’s push, they consider the Belgian a perfect fit for their tradition of developing high-ceiling midfielders who can thrive in a fast, transitional system. Their scouting department has followed De Cat since his Europa League debut at 16, and the club is prepared to compete aggressively for his signature.

Neither club has made a formal bid yet as Anderlecht’s stance remains strong. But both Bayern and Dortmund have moved beyond preliminary monitoring and into serious evaluation, convinced they are chasing one of Europe’s next top midfielders.

AdvertisementAFPFrom Mechelen to Anderlecht: The rise of Nathan De Cat

De Cat’s journey began at KV Mechelen, but Anderlecht quickly spotted his potential and at just 10 years old he entered one of Europe’s most respected academies.

He progressed through the system at exceptional speed. By February 2024, only 15 years old, he made his professional debut for RSCA Futures, becoming one of the youngest players ever to appear in Belgian professional football. Months earlier, in October 2023, he had already signed his first senior contract. And in February 2025, at 16 years and seven months, he stepped onto the pitch in the Europa League, displaying a calmness and maturity that belied his age.

During his time with Anderlecht's youth academy, the Belgian midfielder played 33 games in which he scored three goals and registered four assists. His defensive recovery numbers and positional discipline are unusually advanced for a teenager, underpinning his reputation as a deep-lying playmaker with exceptional tactical instincts.

His breakthrough moment arrived in May 2025, when he scored his first professional goal during the Belgian Pro League Champions’ Playoff against Royal Antwerp.

Now a full member of Anderlecht’s first team, he has already made 14 league appearances this season, adding one goal and one assist to his name. With a U-17 World Cup call-up reinforcing his upward trajectory, De Cat enters the next phase of his development with major opportunities opening around him and Europe’s top clubs watching closely.

How De Cat fits in Bayern and Dortmund squad

The 17-year-old brings a blend of qualities that both Bayern and Dortmund rarely find in one teenager which includes tactical intelligence, composure, physicality, and elite ball circulation. His profile allows him to slot naturally into either system.

At Bayern, Kompany’s philosophy revolves around dominant possession, vertical progression and structured build-up. The coach has already demonstrated his ability to elevate young talents, with Lennart Karl a recent example of a youth player transformed into a reliable contributor under his watch. For De Cat, working under Kompany, a coach proven at guiding young defenders and midfielders, would offer a clear developmental pathway.

At Dortmund, the appeal lies in their high-tempo, vertical, pressing-heavy style. De Cat’s strong ball-winning instincts, sharp passing under pressure and quick decision-making may make him an ideal fit as the tempo-controller behind Dortmund’s attacking midfielders. 

In both environments, De Cat would not just be another academy signing, he would be viewed as a long-term starting midfielder. That is precisely why Bayern and Dortmund have accelerated their pursuit.

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AFPAnderlecht’s season and De Cat’s path to prominence

Anderlecht’s 2025-26 campaign has given De Cat an ideal stage. Sitting third in the Belgian Pro League, with seven wins and four draws, the club are well-placed in the championship playoffs.

To cement his prominence this season, De Cat must continue refining the aspects that define elite midfielders: maintaining high passing accuracy, dictating tempo more consistently, and adding more verticality to his play. Anderlecht want him to evolve into a central figure capable of leading both defensive structure and offensive build-up.

The club’s long-term plan is clear with De Cat viewed as a future cornerstone of Anderlecht’s midfield. They resisted releasing him initially for the U-17 World Cup because of his importance to their domestic campaign which further points to how much responsibility they already place on his shoulders.

Manchester United’s run of five games unbeaten in the Premier League is evidence that Ruben Amorim is certainly starting to get the best out of the current crop of players Old Trafford.

The 40-year-old’s stint in England has been nothing but plain sailing, as seen by his inability to lead the club to a respectable finish in 2024/25 – subsequently ending the year in 15th place.

However, the hierarchy have shown faith in the former Sporting CP boss, as seen by his £200m spending spree during the recent summer transfer window.

The likes of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have all joined the Red Devils in the last few months, with the latter of the trio already scoring six combined goals in England’s top-flight.

Despite the mammoth investment within the attacking department, the manager is still craving a new central midfielder to help take his side to the next level in the years ahead.

Man United’s hunt for a new central midfielder in January

Over the last couple of weeks, Elliot Anderson has been the name on the lips of all United supporters, with rumours rapidly starting to circle over a move for his signature.

The Nottingham Forest star has risen to stardom over the last 12 months, with the 23-year-old featuring in every league game in 2025/26, even earning him a spot in the England squad under Thomas Tuchel.

It’s been reported in recent days that the Red Devils have already reached out to the Reds over a potential deal for the youngster, but have been quoted a fee in the region of £100m for his services.

However, Anderson isn’t the only midfielder currently in their sights, with the hierarchy also closely monitoring German star Angelo Stiller ahead of the upcoming window.

According to one Spanish outlet, Amorim’s men are preparing an offer in the region of €60m (£53m) for the Stuttgart star, with Real Madrid also interested in a move for his signature.

The report claims that his current employers don’t want to lose the 24-year-old in the near future, but they could be forced to if an acceptable offer is presented by the likes of United.

Why Stiller target would be their own Anderson

United fans have seen first-hand the talents that Anderson currently possesses, after the Forest star managed to run the show in the recent meeting between the sides at the City Ground.

He featured for the entirety of the contest and thrived in and out of possession, as Sean Dyche’s men secured a 2-2 draw against the Red Devils in the East Midlands.

The 23-year-old managed to create three chances for his teammates – offering a threatening option with the ball – whilst also making 14 recoveries and preventing Amorim’s men from extending their winning run.

Anderson’s ability to complete 100% of his dribbles and register 15 passes into the final third further showcases his phenomenal talents – with such a performance leaving the United fanbase demanding his signature.

However, English talents are always more expensive in the modern transfer market, as seen by the current £100m price tag that has been placed on his head at present.

Given the money spent in the summer, it’s unclear if the United hierarchy would splash such a sum, with a potential deal breaking their club-record transfer fee set by Paul Pogba in 2016.

As a result, a move for Stiller could prove to be a more realistic proposition, but that’s not to say he’s a lower quality talent than England international, Anderson.

The German has been labelled as a similar player to the 23-year-old by FBref in the Europa League this season, with the Stuttgart star even bettering him in numerous key areas to date.

Stiller, who’s been dubbed “world-class” by one analyst, has completed more key passes per 90, whilst also making more passes into the opposition box per 90.

Games played

10

11

Goals & assists

4

2

Progressive carries

2.2

1.3

Pass accuracy

86%

83%

Key passes

2.1

1.3

Passes into opposition box

2.3

1.2

Interceptions made

1.1

0.9

Clearances made

1.4

0.8

Take-ons completed

73%

50%

Such numbers are no mean feat, especially considering Anderson’s talents in possession, subsequently showcasing the phenomenal talent that the Stuttgart talent currently possesses.

He’s also registered more progressive carries per 90, whilst achieving a higher take-on success rate, with such figures highlighting his dominance over the Forest star with the ball at his feet.

Stiller has managed to provide key talents out of possession too, even bettering the Englishman in terms of interceptions and clearances made per 90 in 2025/26.

The aforementioned figures could certainly make the German the perfect number six in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system, which could finally end the club’s hunt for a new midfielder.

Anderson may remain as many supporters’ number one choice for the role, but ultimately, his current asking price is way above the range United would spend in January.

As a result, Stiller could offer a cheaper yet more effective option to the Red Devils, potentially helping the side make a top four push come the end of May.

Man Utd have a "future £100m" star who's Carrington's very own Anderson

Manchester United already have a star who could allow them to forget about signing Elliot Anderson.

1 ByEthan Lamb Nov 12, 2025

Pete Crow-Armstrong started off the Chicago Cubs' Fourth of July game against the St. Louis Cardinals with fireworks, quickly demonstrating why it was an easy decision for him to be named a National League All-Star starter.

First, Crow-Armstrong got the second out of the top of the first inning by laying out full extension on a dive to secure a line drive to center field off the bat of Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn.

Here's a look at the sensational catch.

Then, in the bottom of the first inning, Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki and Crow-Armstrong went back-to-back, swatting a pair of solo home runs to put Chicago on the board.

For good measure, he added another solo homer in the bottom of the third inning, this one a 414-foot blast.

Cubs fans certainly don't need to be reminded, but these plays perfectly illustrated the brilliance of Crow-Armstrong.

You want defense? Crow-Armstrong ranks third among all centerfielders with 12 Outs Above Average. Offense? He has 23 home runs and 26 stolen bases.

He's a big reason why the Cubs are both in first place in the NL Central and leading the Cardinals 7-1 on the Fourth of July.