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Tottenham Hotspur are now seen as the favourites to sign a highly-rated forward, despite his agent’s talks with London rivals Arsenal and Chelsea.

Daniel Levy gifted Spurs transfer boost after Europa League triumph

Spurs’ triumph in the Europa League final last week stands to seriously benefit the Lilywhites in far more ways than ending their long wait for silverware.

Salah-like forward considers joining Tottenham as contract expires in 2025

Spurs have an opportunity to strike a bargain deal.

ByEmilio Galantini May 28, 2025

While Ange Postecoglou fulfilled his promise of ‘always’ winning silverware during his second season in charge, subsequently ending Spurs’ 17-year wait for a major trophy, chairman Daniel Levy will also have a much easier task when it comes to attracting the club’s top transfer targets.

Son Heung-min

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James Maddison

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Pedro Porro

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Dominic Solanke

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Dejan Kulusevski

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via WhoScored

The north Londoners are reportedly set to receive £38 million in prize money from winning the Europa League, and will earn at least £15.7 million from qualifying for the Champions League, even if they lose every game and go out in the group phase (Sky Sports).

The boost is clear from a financial perspective, but Spurs’ place in the Champions League draw next term now suddenly makes the club a far more attractive landing spot for big-name players.

As reliably reported, Tottenham are aiming to sign more experienced players this summer (BBC), and their European status makes this objective all the more possible.

This is especially true when it comes to Bayern Munich star Leroy Sane, who is out of contract beyond June 30, with Sky Sports reporting earlier this week that Postecoglou’s side have now been offered his services.

The 29-year-old is a proven attacking star at the highest level and possesses great Premier League experience from his time at Man City.

Since departing Eastlands for Bavaria, he’s racked up 61 goals and 55 assists in 220 appearances at Bayern, with 27 of those goal contributions coming in the Champions League.

Some may even suggest he is exactly the calibre of player needed to bolster Spurs’ inexperienced squad.

Tottenham favourites to sign Leroy Sane ahead of Chelsea and Arsenal

Arsenal and Chelsea have been linked with a move for Sane within the past few months, but Tottenham’s Europa League win has now catapulted them into pole position.

That is according to Sport Bild, who report that Tottenham are ahead of both Chelsea and Arsenal in the race for Sane, despite the latter two sides holding talks with his agent, Pini Zahavi.

Discussions over a new deal for Sane have stalled recently, thanks in part to the £242,000-per-week winger appointing Zahavi, but the representative travelled to Munich this week for another meeting with Bayern regarding the player’s future.

For this reason, we advise an err of caution when it comes to Sane. There is reason to believe this flirting with Premier League sides could simply be a ploy to encourage improved terms from Bayern, and Levy won’t want to be embroiled in a dramatic transfer saga.

It’s no secret that Manchester United have fallen way below the high standards they’ve set for themselves this season, currently occupying a place in the bottom half of the Premier League.

The Red Devils are set for their lowest ever points tally and league finish of the Premier League era, with boss Ruben Amorim desperately needing to make changes next year if he’s to be a success at Old Trafford.

The forward line has certainly contributed to their recent failures, netting just 42 goals in their 36 outings, with Bruno Fernandes their current top scorer on just eight goals.

Strikers Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have only managed to find the back of the net seven times between them, highlighting the lack of attacking threat within the current squad.

However, the upcoming transfer window hands boss Amorim the perfect opportunity to improve the situation, with a new talisman needing to be at the top of his list this summer.

United’s hunt for a new striker this summer

With the transfer window rapidly on the horizon, United have already wasted no time in pursuing potential targets to strengthen the options at the manager’s disposal.

The likes of Liam Delap, Matheus Cunha and Victor Osimhen have all been touted with a summer switch to Old Trafford, but no deals have yet been completed for any of the aforementioned trio.

However, another name has entered the frame in the form of Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, with a potential reunion on the cards with Amorim, according to CaughtOffside.

The report claims that the Red Devils are preparing an offer for the 26-year-old Swedish international, who’s managed to register a staggering 52 goals in his 50 appearances throughout 2024/25.

It also confirms that Arsenal and Liverpool are in the race for his signature this window, with the hierarchy needing to work tirelessly to avoid missing out on him to a divisional rival.

Why United’s latest target would be perfect alongside Amad

The Europa League final next week hands United a golden opportunity to end the season on a high, whilst also securing their place in the Champions League for 2025/26.

Amorim’s side must be fully focused on such an occasion, especially considering there is no longer anything to play for in the Premier League.

If they are to go beat Tottenham Hotspur for the first time this season and claim European glory, Amad Diallo will be a key reason, with his success this campaign nothing short of remarkable.

He’s registered 18 combined goals and assists across all competitions despite missing a large chunk of the year through an ankle issue, which required surgery.

However, he’s back and ready for action, with a fully fit 22-year-old a prospect to fear for any opposition, as seen by his contributions throughout 2024/25.

Such figures could fall perfectly into the hands of Gyokeres should he make the switch to Old Trafford, with his goalscoring tally undoubtedly improving the situation Amorim has on his hands.

The Swede, who’s been labelled “one of the best strikers in Europe” by Fabrizio Romano, has also managed to register 4.4 shots per 90, with 2.5 of which going on target – showcasing his clinical nature in the final third.

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He’s also created 2.1 chances per 90 to date, along with a 52% aerial success rate, handing the side an all-round option at the top end of the pitch, which could allow Amad to increase his own tallies.

It’s unclear how much the Red Devils are set to bid for his services this summer, but it would be a phenomenal piece of business that would see the talisman link up with his former boss.

Given the interest elsewhere, the hierarchy will have to jump ahead of the opposition and make him their number one target, with Gyokeres having the tools to thrive in the Premier League and take the club back to where they belong.

He'd be amazing with Cunha: Man Utd prepare £65m bid for "sensational" star

Manchester United could land a star who would be perfect alongside Matheus Cunha at Old Trafford.

ByEthan Lamb May 15, 2025

Only the most unbelievable of relegation escapes would suffice if Ipswich Town are to survive in the Premier League past this season, with the Tractor Boys now looking dead set on an instant return to the Championship.

A mammoth 12 points now separates the Suffolk strugglers from 17th placed Wolverhampton Wanderers, who managed to sneak away from the relegation zone even further when beating Kieran McKenna’s lowly men 2-1 last time out.

The 10 best relegation escapes in Premier League history

As Ipswich look to pull off a great escape, here are some of the Premier League’s best survival stories.

By
Stephan Georgiou

Apr 3, 2025

Despite all the obvious negativity that’s hanging in the air at Portman Road, there have been some positive performers during Ipswich’s fleeting top-flight voyage, with left-back star Leif Davis managing to stand out.

Davis' Premier League heroics

The ex-Leeds United defender would have entered into the promised land of the Premier League eager to prove himself, having torn the EFL to shreds with sensational attacking displays season after season.

After all, during his side’s automatic promotion heroics up to the top division, Davis would amass a staggering 21 assists and two goals from 43 clashes, meaning he could potentially take the next step-up in his stride.

Whilst his numbers haven’t quite been as jaw-dropping in the elite league, Davis has shown bursts of his sublime quality in his new and tricky surroundings, with this well-executed volley pulled off against Leicester City one of four goal contributions he’s managed to tally up in the league for his relegation-doomed outfit.

There could well be some parties sniffing around for the Newcastle-born full-back’s services come this summer, therefore, with reports even wildly suggesting that Juventus are taking a look at the assist machine as a fresh option down the left.

Sinking back down to the second tier will bring about waves of uncertainty, but McKenna doesn’t need to be overly worried about what happens down the left-flank next campaign, with a new Davis-style defender already emerging at Portman Road.

McKenna's next Davis in the making

Even with a bruising relegation looking likely to take place, Ipswich should be well equipped enough to mount an instant promotion charge based on the talent at McKenna’s disposal.

That should be the case even if Davis does depart, with former West Bromwich Albion man Conor Townsend already proving to Tractor Boys supporters that he can be equally sharp in the attacking areas when assisting Liam Delap for this breakaway strike away at AFC Bournemouth.

Whilst he isn’t a spring chicken anymore at 32 years of age, the reserve full-back has still managed to fill in competently in Davis’ absence over the last couple of top-flight encounters, with six duels also successfully won against the Old Gold despite the crushing final scoreline.

Moving away from his top-flight output, however, and Townsend could be the real deal for McKenna’s men back down in the Championship, with the Ipswich number 22 a consistent top performer for the Baggies when last strutting his stuff at the level.

Townsend’s G/A record by season at West Brom
Season	Games played	Goals scored	Assists
23/24	46	0	5
22/23	48	3	3
21/22	44	0	2
20/21	27	0	2
19/20	30	1	1
18/19	18	0	2
Sourced by Transfermarkt

Always consistently available for selection at the Hawthorns, Townsend would bow out of his time in the West Midlands with 15 assists next to his name from 213 games.

Coming close to promotion last time out in the division with the Baggies too, the 32-year-old will be raring to succeed with the Tractor Boys if selected more regularly down a league, with the potential there for the £15k-per-week defender to pick up even more goals and assists surrounding by some exceptional personnel for the EFL.

Indeed, even Davis himself has admitted that Townsend has been keeping him on his toes of late, after branding the experienced full-back as an “incredible player”, with an “incredible left foot”. That has since been followed by further praise from Dara O’Shea, who highlighted the veteran’s “amazing” recent displays down the left flank.

Already heralded as being an “important” figure by his manager when initially signing in gifting Ipswich more depth, this importance to the cause could shine through even more if he’s handed the first-team reins after Davis ups and leaves.

McKenna could be brewing his next Hutchinson in “special” Ipswich star

Kieran McKenna could get more out of this Ipswich Town ace in the Championship.

By
Kelan Sarson

Apr 7, 2025

The India spinner looks back at a fantastic 12 months, during which she won the WPL, debuted for India, and became a big favourite of selfie-hunters

Daya Sagar and Vishal Dikshit25-Sep-20243:20

Shreyanka Patil: I don’t like to lose, my fighting spirit comes from there

Shreyanka Patil will be going to the T20 World Cup after all.Two weeks ago, not long after passing a fitness test after suffering a finger injury, Patil twisted her ankle during a practice match in Bengaluru. For two days, her dream of playing in her first T20 World Cup appeared slim.While the swelling went down gradually, no decision was going to be made without looking at the scan results. Even after the results arrived and indicated no major damage, Patil was informed that there would be a “wait and watch” period before a call was taken.On Tuesday (September 24), Patil was part of the Indian contingent that flew out to the UAE for the tournament, which India are looking to win for the first time.

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Patil has had a dream run in the last 12 months. Soon after becoming the first Indian to feature in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) late last year, she made her white-ball debut for India in December. In March, she was front and centre of a victorious Women’s Premier League (WPL) campaign with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).She is just 12 T20Is old, but her reputation since the WPL ended has only grown. Her ability to bowl across different phases, particularly at the death, is a standout feature.”I was just focusing on my process,” Patil said earlier this month at a QUA brand shoot in Delhi. “I was not really thinking of what’s going to happen next. I thought I’ll just give my best whichever team I play for.”Patil, 22, broke through in WPL 2023, where RCB finished last, after two good seasons with Karnataka. This season, too, she was among the top spinners for RCB, along with Asha Sobhana, Sophie Molineux and Georgia Wareham, taking 13 wickets that included figures of 4 for 12 in the final.Related

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For Patil, one of the major takeaways from the WPL 2024 experience was the crowd that turned up in Bengaluru, which hosted the first leg of the season, where deafening cheers greeted captain Smriti Mandhana and her team.”This year, when we faced that crowd in Bangalore, it was just massive,” Patil said. “When we get so much from the audience, like people watching us, we want to do more, we wanted to give our best. I mean we keep doing that, but when you see people turning out and saying ‘wow, they play so well’, that’s again a plus point for all of us.”So playing with the likes of Smriti and Pez [Ellyse Perry], there are a lot of things to learn also and not just on the field but off the field. You get to learn a lot of stuff. It was amazing. That platform has really set the standards for the domestic players and for us.”Personally, for me, everyone would say, ‘she’s got the Purple Cap’, but for me it was like a rollercoaster ride because in the first half in Bangalore I couldn’t perform at my best. I was really disappointed because I like my Bangalore. So I went back and Malo [Malolan Rangarajan, RCB’s assistant coach] helped me with my bowling and then Smriti literally backed me up no matter what. So I’m very grateful to the whole management who supported me at that time and then the second half really turned out to be a good one for me.”Only two seasons old, the WPL has not only helped budding players financially but also thrown up fresh options for the Indian team management. Patil was among them, along with players like Saika Ishaque and Tanuja Kanwar; cricketing skills aside, these players also needed to pick up how to deal with the glitz and glamour of the WPL, and of being India players.Shreyanka Patil finished WPL 2024 as the Purple Cap winner•BCCI”So after the WPL, when I came back home, there were thousands of people in front of my house asking me for selfies,” Patil recalled. “They said, ‘you really did well, you were just amazing, we love your bowling, we love your smile,’ all kinds of comments. And I couldn’t stop smiling. So it was just so amazing the crowd there and I really enjoyed.”Patil also finished the WCPL as runners-up with Guyana Amazon Warriors last year. Her quick journey to the top, she said, could be down to her competitive attitude and ability to not get bogged down by pressure on the big stage.”I think it comes very naturally to me since I was a kid,” she said. “I don’t like to lose. I get up and say, ‘I’m going to try my heart out, I’m going to give it everything, no matter what’. I would love to have that fighting spirit with me always.”For me, pressure is a good thing. So when I say ‘pressure’, it’s not like I think negative or something. I feel cool under pressure because that’s what I practiced during my practice sessions as well. I put myself into those pressure situation like last two balls left, four runs to win. How am I going to bowl? So repeating those kinds of practice sessions helped me settle those nerves.”Patil will be among four spin-bowling options for India, along with Radha Yadav, Deepti Sharma and Asha, when their T20 World Cup campaign starts on October 4 against New Zealand in Dubai. Then they face Pakistan on October 6, also in Dubai. The other two teams in India’s group are Australia and Sri Lanka.Patil hasn’t played a competitive game since the Asia Cup opener, but is now relieved to have overcome the injury scares as she gets set to give her dreams of winning a World Cup a leg up.

With the T20 World Cup in four months’ time, the think tank will want to iron out all the kinks as soon as possible

Firdose Moonda20-Jun-20225:24

Dale Steyn: ‘Four games don’t make Temba Bavuma a bad player’

What to do about Temba Bavuma?There is no doubt he is an astute captain and an articulate speaker, but neither of those things are what is needed from an opening batter in T20 cricket. There, it is purely about numbers – and particularly strike rate. Bavuma’s is 120.60 in T20Is, which, since June 2021, has fallen further to 115.94 – the lowest among openers from the top six teams at the previous T20 World Cup. Moreover, if Quinton de Kock doesn’t fire, that strike rate might become a liability for South Africa.Bavuma isn’t the biggest hitter, but in this series he was also kept quiet by the outstanding skill of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, which limited his ability to rotate strike. Coach Mark Boucher recognised the problem: “Bhuvi was exceptional. He put us under pressure in the Powerplays. That’s an area that India dominated us in, and that’s something we will definitely look into and try and improve”.Related

Injured Bavuma ruled out; Maharaj and Miller to lead white-ball teams in England

'There's no issue there' – Mark Boucher shrugs off concerns around Temba Bavuma's strike rate

Ugly is beautiful for Pretorius the batter as he gets going

Bavuma: 'IPL title win will do Miller's confidence a world of good'

Bavuma: 'I understand I have a voice, and the influence to make things better around me'

But how? On this tour, they responded to sluggish starts by promoting Dwaine Pretorius to a pinch-hitting role at No. 3, which worked once in four matches, and probably won’t be a long-term solution. Perhaps there is an argument to move Bavuma down the order – easier said than done, read on to find out why – or to ask him to make use of the retired outs we have seen in this format of late.Either way, a quick survey of other openers – David Warner, Jason Roy, Martin Guptill and Rohit Sharma – says that striking at around 140 is more acceptable, and Bavuma has to get up there to make sure South Africa get off to more aggressive opening passages of play.Who fits in the middle order?Rassie van der Dussen won a game, Heinrich Klaasen won a game, David Miller was with both of them as they did so, Tristan Stubbs got two matches but didn’t bat, and it sounds like Aiden Markram – who missed this series after contracting Covid-19 – will slot straight back in. But is there space for all of them?It is likely that South Africa can only fit three, or at a push, four of these five players into Nos. 3 to 6 or 7 in the batting order, and it may be tricky to decide between them. Markram offers a part-time bowling option, Klaasen can keep wicket if he needs to, and van der Dussen and Miller have experience on their side.David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen offer experience to South Africa’s middle order•Gallo ImagesIf the last of those holds sway, that may mean Stubbs sits out for the time being, but his form in the most recent domestic competitions suggests that South Africa should give him an opportunity sooner rather than later. A problem of plenty in the middle order is one selectors don’t mind having. Besides, the openers’ issue is way bigger than this.Seven batters or two allrounders?On the evidence of the XI picked for the last match, South Africa can’t have both. They played the combination of Pretorius and Wayne Parnell – who Marco Jansen replaced in the fourth match – and six specialist batters in the first three games, but had to leave Jansen out in the fifth to play the seventh batter.With two allrounders, they also created room for two specialist spinners, which gave them six bowling options; but the batting looked a bit light. With seven batters – allrounder included – they only have five bowling options and space for just one specialist spinner, which can be limiting, unless the allrounder is also a spinner. And that is what they wanted from the outset.”We wanted to play six batters with Aiden being our sixth bowling option, but we couldn’t do that,” Boucher said, further opening the door for Markram’s immediate return.It is likely that in Australian conditions – where the T20 World Cup will be held in four months’ time – South Africa will revert to one specialist spinner and three quicks. Their choice, then, will mostly be between seven batters or six and an allrounder, with Markram doing some bowling too.Lungi Ngidi can reach 140kph-plus, and has also developed a well-disguised slower ball•BCCILungi Ngidi over Anrich Nortje?Ngidi had not played a T20I for almost a year before this series, while Nortje had not played any format of international cricket in more than six months. They both made their returns, and on the early evidence, there is a case to be made for Ngidi’s inclusion over Nortje’s if South Africa have to choose only one of them.Ngidi was benched for the entire IPL but spent the time working on his conditioning and skills, and looks leaner and fitter than at any point in his career while also being more in control of his craft. He can still reach 140kph-plus, and has also developed a well-disguised slower ball and his change-ups brought wickets, especially in the final match.Nortje, who regained full fitness following a persistent hip and back injury at the IPL, was more wayward, struggling to find his lengths on occasions. By his own admission, he is not quite where he was before the injury, and wants more time to bowl longer spells and find his rhythm.That will come in the next few months, with a full tour of England looming, and his progression could set up an intriguing contest with Ngidi and perhaps even Jansen in South Africa’s XIs at the T20 World Cup.

A Tasmanian run machine, a Bajan allrounder shunned for going on a rebel tour, and six other what-if stories

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Jun-2020Jamie Cox, Australia
Trying to earn a slot in Australia’s batting line-ups of the 1990s and early 2000s was no easy feat – just look at the Australia A line-ups they were able to put out. Tasmania’s Jamie Cox, who still stands as the second-highest run-scorer in Sheffield Shield history (10,821) was among the most unfortunate of the lot, never getting the chance to wear the baggy green or play any match for Australia. Overall he scored 18,614 first-class runs with 51 centuries, and also enjoyed a successful career with Somerset. He later became an Australia selector, saying at the time: “The selectors did frustrate me for a decade. I think the career that I had actually holds me in real good stead to be a selector.”
Farhad Hossain, Bangladesh
Of the eight Bangladeshi batsmen to score 7000 or more first-class runs, only one hasn’t played international cricket. A couple of things went against Farhad Hossain: an impatient selection panel, and a mistrust within the BCB top rungs of the quality of the country’s first-class cricket. From 2008-09 to 2011-12, Rajshahi Division won the National Cricket League four times in a row, and Hossain was one of their key performers in this period, scoring 2206 runs at an average of 46.93, with five hundreds. But two poor matches for Bangladesh A seemingly convinced the selectors that he wasn’t cut out for the highest level. By never picking Hossain, they also deprived Bangladesh of possibly their best ever slip catcher.
Amol Muzumdar didn’t play for India despite scoring 11,167 first-class runs•Hindustan Times via Getty ImagesDon Shepherd, England
One mighty Welsh injustice was rectified earlier this month when Alan Jones, Glamorgan’s titanic opening batsman, was re-awarded his England cap a full 50 years after his one-off appearance against a Rest of the World XI in 1970 – a match that had been retrospectively stripped of Test status despite the quality of the opposition. But no such succour was ever made available to Don Shepherd, Jones’ Glamorgan team-mate, whose brisk, skiddy offspin racked up a remarkable 2218 first-class wickets between 1950 and 1972, but whose path to England recognition was permanently blocked by fingerspinning giants such as Jim Laker, Fred Titmus and Ray Illingworth. A glimpse of what might have been occurred at Swansea in 1964, when in front of a rapt Welsh crowd Shepherd bowled Glamorgan to victory over the touring Australians with the doughty match figures of 9 for 93 in 69 overs.
Amol Muzumdar, India
When Amol Muzumdar was at his absolute best, India’s Test middle order was headlined by Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly, and Mohammad Azharuddin before them. He had to wait his turn, and the wait never quite ended – somewhat like the time, while at school, he waited in full regalia to walk in but had to watch Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli put on 664 runs. Muzumdar, whose batting was more about touch and timing than power, and oodles of patience, never made it to the highest level, but became a domestic giant, hitting up 11,167 first-class runs in 171 matches in a career that ran from 1993-94 to 2013-14. He remains the second-highest Ranji Trophy run-getter of all time, his 9202 runs only behind Wasim Jaffer’s 12,038.

Saeed bin Nasir, Pakistan
He’s played 21 seasons and is still going strong, but every moment of his career has come in domestic cricket. In four of those seasons, Saeed bin Nasir scored in excess of 900 runs, twice tipping over into four figures. He’s made 11,025 first-class runs at a somewhat underwhelming 39.09, but during his best years in the early 2000s, he averaged above 50 for five seasons. Should he have played for Pakistan? Let’s put it this way – 40 Pakistani batsmen have scored 10,000 or more first-class runs, and of them, 38 have gone on to play for their country. Only bin Nasir and Saeed Anwar Jnr have missed out. Bin Nasir’s form earned him a call-up for the home series against Bangladesh in 2003 when Pakistan, reeling from a shock World Cup exit and several retirements, did theoretically have a place for someone of his promise. It wasn’t to be.
Franklyn Stephenson signs autographs for fans in Durban in 1983•Getty ImagesJohann Myburgh, South Africa
In the early 2000s, two young batsmen from the Northerns set the South African domestic scene alight. One was Jacques Rudolph, who went on to have not one, but two stints as a South Africa international with a county career sandwiched in between. The other was Johann Myburgh, who some would say was the flashier of the pair and whose 108 first-class games and 118 List A appearances included no international caps. Mybugh was an aggressive top-order batsman who came too early for the T20 league craze, was overshadowed by Rudolph, and struggled to force his way into a South Africa side that already had Gary Kirsten and Herschelle Gibbs as an established opening pair and Graeme Smith waiting in the wings. Myburgh finished with a first-class average just under 41, and a strike rate of just under 130 from his 92 T20 games, before finishing his career at Somerset.
Sajith Fernando, Sri Lanka
Had he played in any other era, Sajith Fernando would almost certainly have represented Sri Lanka. When he was starting out in first-class cricket as a batsman, in the mid 90s, Sri Lanka’s top order was packed with members of that hardened class of ’96. When those batsmen eventually made way after the 1999 World Cup, however, Fernando was considered too old to be thrown in, the selectors single-minded their pursuit of youth and regeneration. Splitting playing commitments between Sri Lanka, England and Australia, Fernando eventually made 10,700 first-class runs at 38.62, and became an excellent bowler as well, taking 269 wickets at 23.78 with his offspin.
Franklyn Stephenson, West Indies
Had he not gone to the rebel tour of apartheid-era South Africa, Franklyn Stephenson might well have entered the great allrounders’ club of the 1980s as West Indies’ heir to Garry Sobers. Replacing Richard Hadlee at Nottinghamshire in 1988, Stephenson emulated the New Zealand great with a double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets. He was more of a bowler, though: a fearsome proposition with his height, swing, pace and the slower ball, of which he is credited with being a pioneer. In 1991, he went back to South Africa, and inspired Orange Free State, a former Afrikaner bastion, to seven titles. He lost out to some really good West Indies bowlers, but Stephenson still maintains it was his trip to South Africa eight years previously that denied him the maroon cap.

Enzo Maresca questioned the quality of Chelsea's bench strength after the Blues suffered a shock loss to Leeds United. It was a disjointed and error-strewn performance that saw the Blues fall 3-1 at Elland Road on Wednesday night. The defeat has reignited concerns over the club’s squad depth as the Italian guides a young squad who are still learning to navigate the Premier League’s unforgiving rhythm.

• Maresca's experiment backfires

  Maresca made five changes from the side that drew with Arsenal against Leeds. It was a rotation forced as much by necessity as design. Reece James, who delivered an immense midfield display against the Gunners, was rested to protect his fitness. The captain returned on Saturday at Bournemouth. But Chelsea was again without Moises Caicedo, who continues to serve a three-match ban following his red card in the north London derby. The Chelsea manager admitted that he regretted some of his decisions at Leeds, particularly the omission of 18-year-old Josh Acheampong, whose involvement he later suggested might have offered greater stability. Meanwhile, summer signing Tosin Adarabioyo endured a difficult evening, and Maresca did little to shield him in public, noting the centre-back did not play well. The 45-year-old sought to explain the gulf in performance between his starters and players on the fringes, saying he cannot pretend there is no hierarchy within the squad.   

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• GOAL
  

  What did Maresca say about Chelsea squad

  Speaking to reporters, ahead of the Bournemouth clash, Maresca said: "Most of the rotation we do is because the other one cannot play. But I always try to be honest with you. In football, in life, in any job, there is a level. Andrey [Santos], unfortunately, is not Moi [Caicedo]. Tosin is not Wes. They have different skills. They are different. If I say to you that Andrey is like Moi, you can understand for yourself that I am a liar. There is a level at all jobs. Like me. Plenty of managers are better than me. Some not. But there is a level at all jobs. So, for me, [this] is the reality."

  Maresca later conceded that squad management has become the most challenging aspect of this campaign at Stamford Bridge. The constant churn of fixtures and the fragility of some players have left him struggling to maintain consistency.

  "We are in a process where we are trying to understand and to learn why, for instance, at Leeds we were not good enough," he said. "I don’t know if the solution is to have 12 or 14 players and the rest just play some minutes. But we are trying to understand. If today you play every three days, two days like now with the same 11, I don’t know [if it’s possible].

  "I would like to play Reece [James] every game. He is much better. He is already playing two games a week; he needs to aim for three games a week. So he is already improving in that. But I also would like Moi not to be suspended or Wes every game. For sure, we need Reece for the next games." 

  Asked whether Fofana could soon cope with the intensity of three fixtures a week, Maresca was blunt: "It’s too early. He’s doing well one game per week. Hopefully, he can play two games per week. What we don’t want with Wes is another four, five, six months out."

• Leeds punished a passive Chelsea performance

  Leeds entered the evening in the relegation zone but played with the hunger and cohesion that Chelsea lacked. Maresca’s players appeared passive and mostly came out second best during duels and half-balls.

  Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Maresca did not sugar-coat his assessment. He said: "A very poor night, they [Leeds] deserved to win the game, they were better in all aspects. [We will] Just try to analyse and learn from this game and focus on the next one. It's not about possession; in possession, you need a purpose. Today, they were better in all aspects. Congratulations to them. After the goal we scored, we had one or two clear chances, but the third goal killed the game completely, then it's much more difficult. It's reality, it's Premier League, you need to perform every game, no matter if you are at home or away or who the other team is. It's important to see where we are going to be in February or March, but most important is to understand what we did bad tonight and then try to improve."  

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  What comes next?

  Chelsea will hope to regain momentum when they travel to Bournemouth on Saturday. The Cherries have lost four of their past five matches, presenting an opening for Maresca’s side to steady themselves after a turbulent week. Arsenal lost to Aston Villa, and that allows the Blues to reduce the gap with the leaders if they manage to emerge triumphant at the Vitality Stadium.   

MatériaMais Notícias

A torcida do Botafogo, por meio do Movimento Ninguém Ama Como A Gente, foi responsável pelo mosaico levantado durante o amistoso beneficente Futebol Solidário neste domingo (26). A partida solidária em prol das vítimas das enchentes no Rio Grande do Sul (RS) teve grande mensagem de “Força” vinda das arquibancadas.

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Na parte de trás das peças do mosaico estava presente a logo do Movimento Ninguém Ama Como A Gente. Segundo o portal “ge”, a organização da partida convidou o movimento, responsável por produzir as festas nos jogos do Alvinegro. Além da palavra “Força”, as cores verde, amarela e vermelha, presentes na bandeira do RS, formavam a imagem.

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تقدم فريق جيرونا بهدف أول في مباراته أمام ريال مدريد، حيث يتواجه الفريقان ضمن مباريات بطولة الدوري الإسباني موسم 2025-2026.

ويحل ريال مدريد ضيفًا على جيرونا بملعب “مونتيليفي” في إطار مباريات الجولة الرابعة عشر للدوري الإسباني “الليجا” للموسم الجاري.

وتمكن جيرونا من التقدم بهدف أول في الدقيقة 45 قبل نهاية شوط المباراة الأول، عن طريق لاعبه عز الدين أوناحي.

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الهدف جاء بعد لعبة جماعية متقنة للاعبي جيرونا، انتهت بتمريرة من فيكتور إلى عز الدين أوناحي، الذي سدد تسديدة صاروخية رائعة في شباك تيبو كورتوا.

وكان ريال مدريد سجل هدفًا عن طريق كيليان مبابي قبل هدف أوناحي، لكن لم يحتسب بعد العودة لتقنية الفار. هدف أوناحي في مباراة ريال مدريد وجيرونا

قال عبد الناصر محمد مدير الكرة بنادي الزمالك إن الفلسطيني عدي الدباغ مهاجم الفريق الأول لكرة القدم غادر القاهرة عقب مباراة زيسكو الزامبي الأخيرة في بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية الأفريقية، بعد حصوله على موافقة الجهاز الفني للمشاركة مع منتخب فلسطين أمام ليبيا في التصفيات المؤهلة لكأس العرب.

وتابع عبد الناصر للموقع الرسمي للزمالك: “جاء ذلك في ظل أهمية المباراة لمنتخب فلسطين للتأهل إلى كأس العرب وهو ما جعلنا نوافق حتى نرى الأشقاء في أفضل المحافل طالما بالإمكان المساعدة، كما أن اللاعب لن يتأخر عن بعثة الفريق الأبيض”.

وأضاف مدير الكرة أن اللاعب سيتواجد مع بعثة الزمالك في جنوب إفريقيا بشكل طبيعي غدٍ الأربعاء، بعدما تم إنهاء كافة الإجراءات له بالتنسيق بين الجانبين.

طالع|مواعيد مباريات فلسطين في كأس العرب 2025

وأوضح عبد الناصر محمد أنه تم وضع برنامج خاص للاعب لخوض تدريبات استشفائية فور وصوله لجنوب إفريقيا وسيكون جاهزًا لخوض مباراة كايزر تشيفز في الكونفدرالية.

وتغادر القاهرة في الحادية عشرة مساء اليوم الثلاثاء، بعثة الفريق الأول لكرة القدم بنادي الزمالك متجهة إلى جنوب إفريقيا، استعدادًا لخوض مباراة كايزر تشيفز الجنوب إفريقي، في بطولة كأس الكونفدرالية، ويترأس البعثة أحمد خالد حسانين عضو مجلس إدارة نادي الزمالك.

ويحل الزمالك ضيفًا على كايزر تشيفز الجنوب أفريقي في الجولة الثانية لدور المجموعات في الثالثة عصر السبت 29 نوفمبر الجاري باستاد بيتر موكابا بمدينة بولوكواني