Arsenal are now open to January offers for one Gunners star, with it being revealed Mikel Arteta will need to offload players and free up space in the squad.
The Gunners are well-stocked in the striker department, with Viktor Gyokeres adapting to life in the Premier League very well since making the move from Sporting CP in the summer transfer window, receiving high praise from Arteta after bagging a brace against Atletico Madrid.
The Spaniard said: “All of us [appreciate Gyokeres] because he makes us a much better team. I think we’ve become much more unpredictable,”
“He’s so physical, opens the spaces for everyone. The way he presses the ball, holds the ball, it’s just phenomenal.”
The 27-year-old, who bagged his fourth Premier League goal of the season against Burnley earlier this month, has certainly started well, while Kai Havertz is now closing in on a return from injury, having not been involved since the 1-0 win against Manchester United back in August.
Consequently, there may be little game time available for Arteta’s other striker, Garbiel Jesus, and there has now been a major update on his future at the Emirates Stadium…
Arsenal now open to January offers for Gabriel Jesus
According to a report from Spain, Arsenal are now open to offers for Jesus in the January transfer window, as they need to offload players and free up space in the squad, and the Brazilian is no longer a part of Arteta’s plans.
Persistent injuries have meant the 28-year-old has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium, and a return to Palmeiras could now be on the cards, with the Brazilian club willing to bring him back, potentially on a loan-to-buy deal.
The 64-time Brazil international has received high praise from Arteta in the past, with the manager saying back in September 2023: “He is a tremendous player, a really important player for us. He changed our world last season. You could all see that.”
That said, it is probably the correct decision to offload the centre-forward, given that he has been unable to put his injury problem in the rearview mirror, missing a number of games for club and country over the past few seasons.
Gabriel Jesus’ injury record by season
Games missed
2022-23
17
2023-24
17
2024-25 onwards
56
It has recently emerged that the £13.7m-a-year striker has returned to training after an extended period of time on the sidelines, which could be a boost for Arteta, given that the manager has been left light on options at times this season, with Gyokeres and Havertz suffering setbacks.
With Arsenal looking to compete on all fronts, faring well in the Champions League and through to the EFL Cup quarter-final, Jesus may still have a role to play in the short-term, but it would not be the end of the world if Arsenal sanction a January departure.
Gabriel Jesus makes admission on Arsenal's future Arsenal star makes transfer admission and says club "want" to sign him
He’s responded to the speculation around his future.
Glasgow Rangers crashed out of the League Cup at Hampden Park on Sunday afternoon after they were beaten 3-1 by their city rivals.
Danny Rohl lost for the second time in four matches since his arrival at Ibrox, but it did take extra time for Celtic to eventually clinch their victory after a hard-fought 90 minutes.
The Gers had to dig in and fight for the majority of the match because they were sent down to ten men in the 38th minute when Thelo Aasgaard was given his marching orders.
How Thelo Aasgaard let Rangers down
The Norway international was in the team to provide creativity and flair in the left-sided central midfield position, but he had little impact on the match in his time on the pitch.
Aasgaard’s biggest contribution to the game was how his red card changed the match, as it meant that Celtic had an extra man advantage for the rest of the 90 minutes and extra time.
It was an unfortunate situation for the central midfielder, rather than a malicious challenge, as he caught Anthony Ralston whilst turning and attempting to control the ball.
Regardless, Aasgaard let his side down by putting his foot in that position to control the ball, which gave the referee a decision to make.
Chalkboard
Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.
The former Luton Town man was far from the only underwhelming performer on the pitch for the Light Blues, though, as Youssef Chermiti was just as bad.
Why Danny Rohl should drop Youssef Chermiti
The Portugal U21 international had registered a goal and an assist in his last two outings in the Scottish Premiership for Rangers, per Sofascore, which earned him a place in the XI for this semi-final clash.
After his goal against Kilmarnock off the bench, Chermiti started in the 1-0 win over Hibernian earlier this week, but struggled outside of his assist for Danilo’s brilliant goal.
Minutes
77
Shots on target
0
Big chances created
0
Assists
1
Dribbles completed
0/2
Possession lost
14x
Duels won
8/19
As you can see in the table above, his all-round play left plenty to be desired, as he lost the majority of his duels and lost the ball 14 times without registering a single shot on target.
The Portuguese centre-forward was then just as bad as Aasgaard in the 3-1 loss to Celtic because he missed two huge opportunities to find the back of the net in the first half when the score was 0-0.
Mohamed Diomande played a perfect ball across to the striker, who was unmarked in the middle of the box, but his effort veered wide of the target when it seemed harder to miss. It was a miss that caused Premier Sports TV pundit Michael Stewart to describe him as “so poor” during their live coverage.
The summer signing from Everton then evaded his marker at the back post to attack a sublime free-kick delivery from James Tavernier, only to fail to find the target from two or three yards out.
Chermiti’s lack of composure in front of goal ultimately cost Rangers because they could have been one or two goals up with those chances, but, instead, they failed to take the lead, then they went down to ten men and one goal down.
It was a dismal showing from the £8m summer signing, whose performance was as poor as Aasgaard’s, and that is why Rohl should ruthlessly ditch him from the starting line-up.
Chermiti upgrade: Rohl readying Rangers approach for "dangerous" £1m gem
As Danny Röhl seeks to strengthen his Rangers attacking options, should they sign a £1m rated gem who’s better than Youssef Chermiti?
Nottingham Forest are now pursuing a January move for an “outstanding” British player, having monitored him closely over the past few weeks.
Forest looking to improve defence after Everton setback
Forest have certainly made progress since the arrival of Sean Dyche, now sitting two points clear of the Premier League relegation zone, and they have often looked solid from a defensive point of view, keeping four clean sheets in their last seven matches in all competitions.
The Tricky Trees aren’t in the clear just yet, however, being brought back down to earth with a 3-0 defeat against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium last time out, with Dyche critical of some aspects of his side’s performance, saying: “We were nowhere near it on the physical side. We had the ball in many places but the decisions went against us.”
The manager also added: “The players deserve a lot of credit, but they have to fight and play to their shape. We were well short of that.”
With Dyche perhaps looking to make his own mark on the squad he inherited, Nottingham Forest are now pursuing a January move for a new defender, namely Sassuolo’s Josh Doig, according to a report from Tuttomercatoweb (via Sport Witness).
However, the Italian side have no interest in sanctioning a departure this winter, as Doig is regarded as one of their most important players, so it may be difficult to tempt them into a sale.
The Scottish defender has been monitored closely over the past few weeks, but there are some doubts over whether the Tricky Trees need to bring in a new left-back, with Neco Williams and Oleksandr Zinchenko already on the books, and Botafogo’s Cuiabano set to return next month.
Nottingham Forest could launch 2026 move for £44m striker compared to Tevez
The Tricky Trees are looking to sign a new centre-forward next year.
1
By
Dominic Lund
4 days ago
"Outstanding" Doig impressing in the Serie A
Lauded as “outstanding” by coach Neil Critchley, the Scot has certainly impressed in the Serie A over the past year, ranking very highly across a range of defensive statistics, when compared to other full-backs.
Josh Doig’s key statistics
Average per 90 (past year)
Interceptions
1.53 (92nd percentile)
Blocks
1.53 (87th percentile)
Aerials won
1.62 (91st percentile)
Former Hibernian teammate Lewis Stevenson has also waxed lyrical about the Sassuolo star in the past, saying: “He has the potential to go to the top level. He is 6 foot 3, fast, strong. Even just looking at him with his top off – without meaning to sound creepy – he looks like Ronaldo, with that kind of physique. He just is an athlete.”
The Edinburgh-born defender has been a key player for the Italian side so far this season, making 13 Serie A appearances, and he earned his first cap for Scotland in a 4-0 victory against Liechtenstein in the summer.
That said, given that Dyche already has Williams and Zinchenko at his disposal, bringing in a new left-back shouldn’t be a priority this winter.
Eddie Howe has now reportedly told Newcastle United to go and sign a Serie A midfielder who Tyneside scouts have already watched in action.
Eddie Howe delivers Nick Pope verdict after Marseille mistake
It’s been one step forward and two steps back for Newcastle this season. The Magpies defeated Manchester City in an excellent display last weekend, before picking up where they left off to take the lead against Marseille. It looked as though they were finally back on track. But that’s when it all fell apart.
Nick Pope’s moment of madness allowed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to equalise from wide, before the former Arsenal man was at it again to score what proved to be the eventual winner for the French hosts.
It’s not the first time that Pope has come under fire in a Newcastle shirt this season, but Howe decided to back his shot-stopper in his post-match interview, saying: “I think it’s a concern when we concede goals, regardless of who’s at fault. I think we have to look at everything with a balanced head.
“He (Pope) saved us many times. He made some really good saves against Manchester City just two days ago. That’s the life of a goalkeeper. But I’ll certainly back him.”
With Aaron Ramsdale waiting in the wings, however, it remains to be seen just how many more chances Pope will receive. Up next, Newcastle travel to the Hill Dickinson stadium for the first time to face an Everton side who just defeated Manchester United at Old Trafford.
It’s a game that the Magpies will be desperate to win to at least make it back-to-back victories in the Premier League. Alas, it’s also one that may expose their lack of depth in midfield once again.
PIF have signed an "explosive" talent who can end Gordon's Newcastle career
Newcastle United already have an exciting attacker up their sleeve who can end Anthony Gordon’s stalling Magpies career.
ByKelan Sarson Nov 27, 2025
It’s a fairly open secret that Howe’s targeting reinforcements in that area ahead of 2026 and reports are now claiming that he’s told the club to go and sign Serie A star Manu Kone.
Howe tells Newcastle to sign Manu Kone
According to Tuttomercatoweb, Howe has now told Newcastle to sign Kone after sending his scouts to watch the impressive AS Roma midfielder.
The midfielder would instantly add depth to the Magpies’ midfield, but Roma have already reportedly dealt those at St James’ Park a frustrating blow in pursuit of his signature. Unsurprisingly, Roma are keen to keep hold of Kone and have told Newcastle that he is not for sale in 2026.
Whether Newcastle test the waters despite Roma’s stance is the big question. Kone would certainly be worth the chase. The Frenchman was dubbed “composed” by Como scout Ben Mattinson ahead of arriving in Serie A in the summer and could yet be on his way to the Premier League.
As bad as Pope: Howe must drop 4/10 Newcastle dud who made just 14 passes
A year after his surgery to repair a hole in his heart, Yash Dhull has had a fruitful DPL campaign and is gung-ho about continuing his comeback
Daya Sagar25-Aug-2025An Under-19 World Cup trophy as captain. An IPL contract. Twin hundreds on Ranji Trophy debut. A century on Duleep Trophy debut. The big time just around the corner?Yash Dhull’s stocks had been rising steadily when, at 21, he came to know in June last year that he had a hole – of 17mm – in his heart. Dhull had to undergo surgery and had to rest for a month to recover. Age is on his side, so in August, he returned to action with the Delhi Premier League (DPL) but his body couldn’t cope with the strain. He had to withdraw from the tournament where he was leading the Central Delhi Kings side.A year later, Dhull is back in the DPL and is hoping to use it as a platform to return to the conversation as far as the BCCI and the IPL teams are concerned. This time, he has managed to make a mark.Related
Yash Dhull: 'My first intent is to always score runs and score them quickly'
Aayush Pandey and Sanjeet Desai do their bit to put Chhattisgarh on the cricket map
IPL star Priyansh Arya sets sights on Ranji Trophy
Kushagra hopes to remain 'in the eyes of the selectors'
Yash Dhull hits century months after heart surgery
In six innings so far in DPL 2025, Dhull has smashed 364 runs at a strike rate of 172.51 and an average of 121.33 with the help of two centuries. His next assignment will be the Duleep Trophy, where he will turn out for North Zone from August 28 in Bengaluru.”It was around the same time last year, June-July, but I can’t remember properly because actually I don’t want to,” Dhull tells ESPNcricinfo about the low. “It was a really tough time. I didn’t want to get the surgery done because of the DPL and the domestic season, which was to follow, but the doctor said I had no option. I was on bed rest for one entire month after the surgery.”Then I gradually tried to train but my body couldn’t keep up. My blood pressure and heart rate would shoot up when I tried to run and I would be out of breath. The doctor told me anything could happen if blood pressure shot up, if I tried to overdo things. I was under heavy medication, which would make me drowsy. So I had to withdraw from the DPL and go back to my bed rest.”As his health improved, Dhull found he had a month-and-a-half to prepare for the 2024-25 domestic season. He had his family, the doctors and the coaches in his corner, but this time Dhull didn’t rush into things. He went one step at a time and at the Ranji Trophy – which was split in two phases – he played all seven games for Delhi, scoring 444 runs with two centuries at an average of 49.33.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Yash Dhull (@yashdhull22)
“I knew I was going to make a comeback,” Dhull says. “I had the self-belief that not only would I return to action at the right time but also perform well. The century against Tamil Nadu was one of my best knocks because even my family was scared whether I had regained the stamina to play a long innings. I not only did well in a pressure match but batted the whole day against a strong side like Tamil Nadu. It was really satisfying.That century against Tamil Nadu was, for obvious reasons, an emotional moment, which reflected in his aggressive celebration when he took his helmet off, spread his arms wide and let out a scream… one could spot the tears in his eyes. The celebration came out again recently when he scored his maiden DPL century, which was an unbeaten 101 off 56 deliveries.”That surgery was a kind of setback for me in my cricket career,” Dhull said. “Sometimes I used to feel that I would never play again. So whenever I score a century now, the emotions come out on their own.”
****
Dhull’s name had started doing the rounds in Indian cricket soon after he finished India’s victorious Under-19 World Cup campaign in 2022 with an average of 76.33, which was soon followed by a Ranji debut for Delhi. When that chapter started with twin scores of 113 and 113* – also against Tamil Nadu – he was rewarded with call-ups for the Duleep Trophy and the Irani Cup later that year and made his white-ball debuts for Delhi.After a century on debut in the Duleep Trophy as well, another step-up came in the form of being selected for India A for the Bangladesh tour in December 2022, and captaincy for Delhi in the Ranji Trophy.Yash Dhull celebrates after scoring the maiden century of the Delhi Premier League 2025•Delhi Premier League T20To top it all, he also had an IPL contract of INR 50 lakh with Delhi Capitals where he would join his Delhi seniors Rishabh Pant and Ishant Sharma. In July 2023, he was also captain of India A in the Emerging Asia Cup, where he led the likes of Abhishek Sharma, B Sai Sudharsan, Riyan Parag, Nitish Kumar Reddy and Harshit Rana, who have all gone on to play for India since then.With all these soaring highs also came some disappointing lows in the form of inconsistent performances, and opportunities for the India A side soon stopped coming, and after the IPL 2025 mega auction, he was without a contract.”No matter who you are, a sportsperson’s career is bound to go through ups and downs, and you have to learn from them,” Dhull, still only 22, says. “How will you learn without these ups and downs? In this journey, there are more struggles than success. Earlier I used to live in my past and overthink my future so I could hardly cash in on my present. Now I try to stay in my present and focus on the opportunities that come my way.”For now, my focus is the DPL and the next game here. After that, Duleep Trophy is going to be very crucial for me. I’m going step by step now and not thinking too far ahead. I stay in the present and try to enjoy every moment now, because if I perform well, things will fall in place for me on their own. I just have to keep performing and wait for my time.”This interview was first published in ESPNcricinfo Hindi.
South Africa will look to continue building their white-ball brand of cricket under all-format coach Shukri Conrad
Firdose Moonda01-Sep-2025
Big picture
Have you caught your breath? Had a cuppa? Realised that barely 40 hours have passed since Joe Root was playing in the Hundred final and he will be at it again, this time for England in a 50-over contest against South Africa? It’s still (sort of) summer, England, and even though the rains have started to roll in, this is your swansong.South Africa are back, with far less at stake than was the case three months ago, when they competed in the World Test Championship final. Then, everything was on the line, including their reputation as bottlers. Now, with a mace in the cabinet and a captain who is celebrated as a national hero, there is relief and expectation that the next trophy they lift will be the 2027 ODI World Cup, at home.Of course, the small matter of next year’s T20 World Cup remains and, of course, South Africa will be among the contenders but the longer white-ball format is in focus now, especially after they completed a fifth straight successive series win over Australia. South Africa have travelled 16,500 kilometres from Brisbane to Leeds to continue their process of building their white-ball brand of play under all-format coach Shukri Conrad.Related
Brook challenges Crawley, Cox to push for England white-ball call-ups
Sonny Baker set for England ODI debut against South Africa
Jamie Overton out of Ashes amid 'indefinite break' from red-ball cricket
Miller 'within the mix' in South Africa's ODI plans
Much like his counterpart, Brendon McCullum, Conrad believes in giving his players freedom to play fearlessly and encourages them to be bold in their decision-making. Two sides with that kind of mindset is a recipe for entertainment, so expect the next two weeks could be explosive, especially given the history.The last time these sides met in a bilateral series, South Africa had to pause the inaugural edition of the SA20 and win the contest to secure their spots at the 2023 ODI World Cup. It’s not exactly the same situation for England, but you would argue there are similarities. Next season’s Hundred will be the first played with private investment, and there are whispers of a format change to bring it in line with other T20 leagues, while England currently sit eighth in the ICC’s ODI rankings. The top eight teams (excluding co-hosts South Africa, who are sixth, and Zimbabwe, who are 11th) qualify automatically for the 2027 tournament and England will want to be careful they don’t get too close to the bone as the event draws nearer.Much more immediate is the SA20 auction, which takes place next week. While no one from the England ODI squad is on the list, many South Africans, including opening batter Aiden Markram, left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj and seamers Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger and Kwena Maphaka, will be hoping to put in performances that can sway franchise owners into giving them a big payday.Harry Brook and Brendon McCullum will oversee the white-ball series against South Africa•PA Photos/Getty Images
Form guide
England WWWLL (last five ODIs, most recent first) South Africa LWWLW
In the spotlight
All eyes will be on Jacob Bethell, who will become England’s youngest captain on their T20I tour of Ireland later this month but has had a quiet summer so far. Bethell had a tough time at the Hundred. In eight matches, he only got into double figures three times. But he offers an all-round package: dynamic in the field and effective with the ball. His left-arm spin picked up several key wickets, including Andre Russell’s at a crucial stage in the first T20I against West Indies in June. With leadership around the corner for him, he will want to use this series to show he is ready to take on the challenge of seniority so early in his career.Jacob Bethell will want to use this series to show he is ready for bigger challenges•Gareth Copley/Getty Images
Late last week, South Africa’s batting coach Ashwell Prince called Tony de Zorzi “on the fringes” of the first XI and said de Zorzi would be “a little bit disappointed with himself” for his recent performances. Scores of 38 and 33 in Australia would ordinarily not have been enough to keep de Zorzi in the team but Matthew Breetzke is managing a hamstring concern, which gives him another opportunity. De Zorzi has got starts and usually looks organised in the middle but will want to watch out for how he handles the short ball in particular, as he tries to make a case for a longer run.
Team news
England confirmed a debut for 22-year-old quick Sonny Baker, who will play just his 12th List A match. Baker will partner Jofra Archer, who has been injury-free this summer and played in six out of eight matches in the Hundred. The two seamers are the only changes from the last time England played an ODI, against West Indies in June, and replace Saqib Mahmood and Matthew Potts. The batting line-up is unchanged.England: 1 Jamie Smith, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Joe Root, 4 Harry Brook (capt), 5 Jos Buttler (wk), 6 Jacob Bethell, 7 Will Jacks, 8 Brydon Carse, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Sonny Baker.Codi Yusuf has been added to the South Africa squad•PA Photos/Getty Images
Kagiso Rabada has not completely recovered from the ankle inflammation that kept him out of the Australia ODIs and will not be risked at the start of this tour. Codi Yusuf, currently playing for Durham, has been called up but not named for the first match. That leaves it to Ngidi to lead a four-man pace pack that includes Burger, Corbin Bosch and Wiaan Mulder. Captain Temba Bavuma, who is managing his workload after sustaining a hamstring injury at the World Test Championship final in June, will start the series, though he may not play all three games.South Africa: 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Ryan Rickleton (wk), 3 Temba Bavuma (capt), 4 Tony de Zorzi, 5 Tristan Stubbs, 6 Dewald Brevis, 7 Wiaan Mulder, 8 Corbin Bosch, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Nandre Burger, 11 Lungi Ngidi.
Pitch and conditions
Headingley is known as one of the best batting pitches for white-ball cricket in the UK, with an average first-innings score of 274 since 2005 and only one score of under 200 (in a rain-affected match) in that time. Both line-ups boast batters capable of keeping those numbers high. This will be the first ODI played in England under the new regulations, in which the fielding team must choose one ball to use after 34 overs and it will be interesting to see how that affects run-scoring. It’s also worth keeping an eye on the weather, with rain expected from 3pm and again at 9pm.
Stats and trivia
Bavuma is 69 runs away from 2000 in ODI cricket. He will be the 22nd South African batter to reach the landmark.
The sample size is small but, eight games into his captaincy, Harry Brook currently has the best ODI average by an England captain who led in at least five games: 73.83.
Two of the last three bilateral series between these two sides have been drawn, and the third was won by South Africa. The last time England won a bilateral series against South Africa was in 2017.
Quotes
“We’re trying to create an environment where we are working towards something, like Morgs [Eoin Morgan] did when he took over years ago. South Africa will be a new challenge to play against, slightly different to West Indies, and we have got to try and assess situations and execute our skills as well as we can.”
“This series will give us another opportunity to improve on the facets within our game. For the younger guys, it’s giving them more opportunities to see the extent of the role that they can fulfil within the team. Then, just make sure we keep winning as a team and making sure we are where we need to be.”
Ben Stokes has signed a fresh two-year England contract, providing the clearest indication yet that he intends to play in the 2027 Ashes series on home soil.Stokes, 34, has tapered his schedule significantly due to injury, to the extent that the only side he has represented in the past 12 months is England’s Test team. He has been sidelined with hamstring and shoulder issues this year and has not played a limited-overs international since November 2023, but his new contract suggests he has no plans to stop soon.Brendon McCullum, England’s head coach, is under contract until the end of 2027 and Stokes’ new deal suggests that the coach-captain combination could continue for another two years. England have won 25 and lost 14 Tests since McCullum and Stokes took over in June 2022, but are yet to register a series win over a “Big Three” opponent ahead of the imminent Ashes tour to Australia.Related
Treats amid the treadmills fuel England's white-ball hunger
Overton has his window to prove the point of his selection
England out of answers as ODI rot extends for another series
Vaughan: 'Stokes will expect to win the Ashes, that is his mentality'
Stokes is one of 14 players to have signed a new two-year central contract, with a further 12 players under contract until October 2026 and four more signing development deals. The ECB announced the list on Tuesday, which director of men’s cricket, Rob Key, said reflected “the depth and strength of talent” in the English game.Five players have signed their first central contracts: Sonny Baker, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton and Luke Wood. A further six players were not offered deals after their contracts expired: Jonny Bairstow, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, and Chris Woakes, who has retired from international cricket.Key said that multi-year contracts – which were introduced two years ago – were designed to help the ECB manage workloads of all-format players and to ensure that, in the case of players in high demand on the franchise circuit, “England remains their priority”.England central contracts 2025-2026•ESPNcricinfo Ltd
These include Adil Rashid, whose new deal implies that he will continue until at least the 2027 50-over World Cup, while Sam Curran’s two-year contract marks a return to favour after he spent the first half of this year outside England’s white-ball squads. Jos Buttler has also committed to a two-year deal despite stepping down as white-ball captain earlier this year.Notably, several members of England’s Test side have only signed one-year contracts, leaving open the possibility of a post-series clear-out in the event of a heavy defeat in the upcoming Ashes. These include Shoaib Bashir, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope and Mark Wood, who is now in the final year of the three-year contract he signed in 2023.Four seamers in the England Lions squad to tour Australia have been awarded development contracts for 2025/26: Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Tom Lawes and Mitchell Stanley. Hampshire’s John Turner, who missed most of the 2025 summer after a back stress fracture, has lost his development deal.”This structure allows us to support our players properly while maintaining strong squads across all formats as much as possible,” Key said.The most notable omissions from the contracts list are Tom Banton, an ever-present in England’s T20I side since Brook took over as white-ball captain, and Jordan Cox, who has been a regular squad member across formats in the last year.
England men’s central contracts
Two-year contracts: (until Sep 30, 2027) Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Ben Stokes, Josh TongueOne-year contracts: (until Sep 30, 2026) Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Zak Crawley, Liam Dawson, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Phil Salt, Luke Wood, Mark WoodDevelopment contracts: Josh Hull, Eddie Jack, Tom Lawes, Mitchell StanleyLapsed contracts: Jonny Bairstow, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, Chris Woakes, John Turner
South Africa will play two matches in Colombo, first against Sri Lanka and then against Pakistan
Madushka Balasuriya16-Oct-2025For the first time this World Cup, South Africa will be playing in Colombo. While this is going to be a fairly significant change in conditions as far as batters are concerned with the pitches at the Khettarama having shown to be tougher to score on, South Africa are banking on the knowledge gained on their recent tour of Sri Lanka to help them manage.”I think now we as a team, we kind of know the players, especially me as a bowler. I know there are ways to bowl, their strengths and their weaknesses,” stated Nonkululeko Mlaba on the eve of their match against Sri Lanka. “So yeah, it was very important for me to actually read and to know the players.”Mlaba is likely going to play a crucial role if South Africa are to come away victorious, with the left-arm spinner having picked up eight wickets across the first four games of the tournament. With those wickets coming in India, she would have been forgiven for being excited by the prospect of bowling on the spin-friendly surfaces in Colombo, however she’s happy to focus on keeping things simple. After Sri Lanka, South Africa will face Pakistan in Colombo on Monday, before moving to Indore to meet Australia.Related
Rain, redemption and a race for the semis: SL face SA in crucial Colombo clash
“I think it’s my second time playing here. Because we had a tri-series against Sri Lanka and India, and yeah, it’s always good to come back here and hopefully this time around I’ll just do well for the team.”One thing that I normally do best is just sticking to my good lines and lengths, and the rest will take care of itself.”South Africa have faced some tough challenges already across this tournament, most notably in their heavy opening game loss to England. But even in their three wins, they have been forced to work hard for the results.Against India and Bangladesh, it was a strong rearguard that saw home two tricky chases, while it was only against New Zealand where the win was relatively comfortable. Mlaba believes there are no easy games in this tournament”I just feel like each and every team is very hard to play against because we played against Sri Lanka in a tri-series and also played against them at home, and they beat us in a few games.”They definitely have a good team – the spinners, they’re very good. And [Chamari] Athapaththu herself, she’s quality. So as a team we don’t underestimate any team, we just play our own game and try our best to win the game.”One running theme across South Africa’s matches this tournament has been a tendency to allow teams back into the contest from a position of strength, most recently when Bangladesh fought back from 78 for 5 to post a total of 232. Mlaba, however, is not unduly concerned.”That’s obviously part of the game,” she said. “You know we as a team, you start off well and then sometimes you just lack here and there, but then it’s just a matter of trying to bring the team together and just try and focus and do well in that certain period.”I’ve watched a lot of games and a lot of teams, they’ve also been going through the same as us. So, it’s just part of the game, it’s cricket.”
Left-arm wristspinner is returning to India to prepare for the upcoming Test series against South Africa
ESPNcricinfo staff02-Nov-2025Left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav has been released from the T20I squad in Australia to return to India and prepare for the upcoming Test series against South Africa.Kuldeep has now been included in the India A squad for the second four-day game against South Africa A beginning on November 6 at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. India A won the first game on Sunday, with Rishabh Pant scoring 90 in a chase of 275.The BCCI said in a statement that the request to release Kuldeep had come from the Indian team management. Kuldeep had played only one of the three ODIs and the first two T20Is in Australia. He was left out of the XI for the third T20I in Hobart and Washington Sundar took his spot. India play the fourth and fifth T20Is in Carrara and Brisbane on November 6 and 8.Related
Arshdeep and Washington help India level the series against Australia
Kamboj, Suthar take India A home after Pant 90
Arshdeep's career highlights the balancing act T20 cricket imposes on India
India’s first Test against South Africa starts on November 14 in Kolkata.India squad for last two T20Is in AustraliaSuryakumar Yadav (capt), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (vc), Tilak Varma, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar.India A squad for second four-day game vs South Africa ARishabh Pant (capt & wk), KL Rahul, Dhruv Jurel (wk), Sai Sudharsan (vc), Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, Tanush Kotian, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed, Gurnoor Brar, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep, Kuldeep Yadav
Manchester United’s 2024/25 campaign handed Ruben Amorim and the hierarchy a huge task of winning the fanbase over ahead of the ongoing season.
The Red Devils’ 15th-place finish in the Premier League was nothing short of an embarrassment, with such a standing the club’s lowest since the division’s formation back in 1992.
The Europa League gave the manager a chance to redeem himself, but such a competition brought about more misery – losing the final in Bilbao to fellow English strugglers Tottenham Hotspur.
Manchester United manager RubenAmorimbefore the match
Despite all the failures of Amorim’s debut year at Old Trafford, the hierarchy decided to stick with the 40-year-old for 2025/26 – even handing him over £200m worth of funds to improve the first-team squad.
However, further embarrassing defeats against League Two side Grimsby Town in the Carabao Cup once again led to rumours over the manager’s long-term future in the role.
He’s since managed to win three league games in a row for the first time in his tenure, with some of his tactical tweaks finally starting to take effect 12 months on from his appointment.
The impact of Bruno & Mbeumo in Amorim’s system at United
Despite United struggling massively last season, it didn’t stop club captain Bruno Fernandes from impressing and producing some astonishing numbers in the final third.
The 31-year-old ended 2024/25 on a combined 37 goals and assists, by far and away the highest tally of any player in the squad – with his efforts saving the club from a relegation battle.
However, after the recent summer spending spree, the Portuguese international has been forced to operate in a deep-lying central midfield role – but it hasn’t taken away from his incredible ability in attacking areas.
Bruno currently sits on a total of four goal contributions, but his underlying stats highlight the bearing he is still having on creating carnage for the opposition.
In the recent Premier League outing against Nottingham Forest, he registered a total of four chances created – the most of any player on the pitch at the City Ground.
Bruno has also created the most chances of any player in the first-team squad this campaign, with his average of 2.8 per 90 ranking him in the top 3% of all players in the division.
Most of his opportunities have fallen the way of Bryan Mbeumo, with the 26-year-old tasked with the responsibility of transforming the club’s lack of quality in the final third.
The Cameroonian cost a whopping £71m including add-ons from Brentford, but has already made an immediate impact despite the pressure of the price tag looming over him.
He’s scored four times in his first ten outings for the Red Devils, but like Bruno, his underlying figures are the ones that greatly highlight his impact in the Premier League during 2025/26.
Mbeumo’s total of 1.4 shots on target per 90 ranks him in the top 4% of all players in the division, undoubtedly contributing to his impressive goalscoring tally.
He also ranks in the top 4% for crosses completed and the top 10% for successful dribbles – further reaffirming how he’s helped transform the club’s ability to impress in front of goal.
The United star who’s becoming the best in the world
The impact of Bruno and Mbeumo in the final third simply can’t be understated, with the duo playing a key role in United’s recent revival under Amorim this season.
The pair have played a key role in the majority of the club’s goals in the Premier League this campaign, with such a situation night and day from the previous year.
Amorim’s men have already netted 17 league goals in just 10 outings to date, which is already 45% of the efforts registered during the embarrassing 2024/25 campaign.
Such an investment has already been worthwhile, which has certainly set the first team on the right trajectory for success if they can sustain such levels in the years ahead.
As for the defensive department, they have often come under fire for their lack of quality – with the majority of which being directed to goalkeeper Andre Onana.
However, the centre-backs in front of the shot-stopper didn’t cover themselves in glory, resulting in the Red Devils conceding 44 times in just 38 matches.
The hierarchy backed Amorim in the summer, as previously mentioned, even landing a new goalkeeper in the form of Senne Lammens from Belgian outfit Royal Antwerp.
The 23-year-old cost a fee in the region of £18m during the recent window, subsequently being an investment for the immediate and long-term future at Old Trafford.
His arrival has brought a newfound sense of confidence in the defensive department, already keeping a clean sheet and only conceding five times in his four senior outings for the Red Devils.
Amorim’s men currently remain unbeaten during the youngster’s spell in the first-team, which is no coincidence given the struggles of those who have filled the void before him.
His stats from the early stages of his career at Old Trafford no doubt highlight his impressive start to life in England, which has seen the side rise up England’s top-flight.
Senne Lammens – Man Utd stats
Statistics (per 90)
Tally
Games played
4
Minutes played
360
Saves made
12
Goals prevented
0.4
Goals conceded
5
Clean sheets
1
High claims
5
Passes completed
48
Stats via FotMob
Lammens has achieved a 71% save percentage to date, whilst making three saves per 90 – tallies which have certainly prevented the side in numerous key moments.
He’s also achieved a goals prevented xG of 0.38, ranking him in the top 8% of all ‘keepers in the league – which has led to one analyst tipping him to become one of the “best in the world”.
The Belgian’s ability to quickly transition the play has also aided Mbeumo and Bruno, with his tally of 8.8 accurate long balls per 90 able to quickly start a counterattack for Amorim’s men.
Given his tender age, it’s certainly frightening how exciting Lammens could be at United, with the 23-year-old able to fill the void between the sticks for at least the next decade.
Should he carry on his current path under Amorim, there’s no reason as to why he can’t play a vital role in any success endured by the Red Devils in the near future.
Sesko upgrade: INEOS lead race to sign £42m "future superstar" for Man Utd
Manchester United could be about to sign another striker despite Benjamin Sesko’s arrival.