Tag Futebol

At most times, Russell would have backed himself to face the final ball of a close chase, but here he had enough faith in Rinku’s abilities

Sreshth Shah09-May-20232:07

Dasgupta: Russell’s faith in Rinku reflects KKR’s confidence

Andre Russell has done the improbable with the bat for Kolkata Knight Riders for over half a decade. As long as Russell is in the middle, the possibilities are endless. When Russell is gone, so are KKR’s hopes.That’s one of the reasons why, possibly, Russell walks back looking frustrated, angry and disappointed when he gets out during a close finish. But against Punjab Kings on Monday evening, Russell did no such thing despite being run-out on the penultimate ball of the match. He was a picture of calm walking back after scoring 42 in 23 balls, even though KKR were one ball away from potentially being out of the playoffs race.That’s because Rinku Singh was still there, and on strike, for that last ball. Rinku did not disappoint Russell, or KKR, finishing the game with a four. It was a moment that not only displayed Rinku’s growing stature as a finisher but also the passing of the finisher’s baton in KKR.Related

• Russell and Rinku star as KKR seal last-ball thriller

• Kohli vs Gambhir and KL Rahul's injury: Another IPL week with Tom Moody

“In any other game, with any other batter, I’m not sure if I would run [a bye in the penultimate ball],” Russell told reporters after the match. “I’ve never really done those things before. I would back myself to bat the last delivery and get the job done. But when you have a guy like Rinku, who has been so successful in the last couple of overs for us, and when you have such a fearless player who has a shot to counter any delivery, I was definitely confident.”I gave him a hug and said, ‘listen, bring home the bacon for us; at the end of the day, we need you at this point’, and he said, ‘okay, big man, no worries’. Happy days.”Russell and Rinku had just got themselves set when Arshdeep Singh was tasked with bowling two of the last three overs. KKR needed 36 in 18, and even though Arshdeep conceded ten runs in the 18th over, one four from Rinku was a streaky one, and the bowler’s assortment of wide yorkers and short balls made it tough for the two batters to tee off.Then, with 26 needed off 12, all Arshdeep needed was for Sam Curran to leave enough runs for him to defend in the 20th. Russell looked to hurt Curran, and succeeded with six, six, dot, six in the space of four balls. That over went for 20, and the target of six in the last over made KKR overwhelming favourites.”Sam Curran was trying to bowl into my body so that I hit the big side of the boundary, that was their plan,” Russell said. “I hit him for two sixes over the big side but as a bowler, because I think like a bowler too, so I knew he wasn’t going to bowl in that area again. The short ball that he bowled, I missed out on it, but when he bowled the slower cutter into the wicket, I just gave myself that little room and just used my hands to get it over the field.”He didn’t have any third man, it was the short side, and that wasn’t part of their team plan. But when you conquer a team’s bowling plan, then their Plan B is in the batter’s zone most of the time. So T20 is tough and you have to make sure you, as bowlers and batters, stay calm in any situation.”But Arshdeep executed his plan perfectly for the first five balls of the last over.Russell was welcomed with a yorker, followed by a wide yorker that he could only slice behind square. Rinku then found a thigh-high full toss too tough to put away and Russell followed it up with a drive to cover for two. That made the equation two off two, and with Russell on strike, the penultimate delivery was high stakes.Arshdeep bowled a terrific wide yorker that was too good for Russell. He swung at it and missed as the ball bounced to the keeper. But Rinku had sprinted across to the other end to ensure he would face the last ball. Russell, slow to take off, was run-out, leaving KKR still needing two off the final ball.But Rinku on strike. The Eden crowd, which was until then cheering for Russell, started their “Rinku, Rinku, Rinku” chant.Arshdeep went with a leg-side plan for the final ball. The leg side was the shorter side and there was little chance of KKR’s batters making it back for two if the ball went there to a fielder. The bigger off-side region had big pockets for twos, so Arshdeep was not going to go there.Rinku Singh leaps in joy after hitting the winning boundary•BCCIKnowing all that, Rinku moved to the leg side even before Arshdeep delivered the ball. If Arshdeep bowled the ball he wanted to, it would have landed around leg and Rinku had the option of going inside out over cover for two. Instead, Arshdeep missed his length, his attempted leg-stump yorker becoming a thigh-high full toss, and Rinku swivelled a shot off his hips that went for four past fine leg. Like after his celebrations against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad, Rinku opened his helmet and ran towards the dug-out, with his team-mates mobbing him for his match-winning unbeaten 10-ball 21.”The key to Rinku’s performance is being very calm,” Russell said. “As a batter, you have to have an open mind and be relaxed. You can’t expect just a full-pitched delivery. You have to expect the slower ball, the yorker, the short ball at the head, and Rinku has a shot for every delivery. That’s the key to his success. His technique is very simple… and I’ve been encouraging him whenever I get a chance to talk to him to stay humble.”Because no matter how many people keep shouting ‘Russell, Russell, Russell’, I always just stay humble. Because when you get swell-headed, that’s when you lose it. He’s a great guy, I love him like a brother, and I hope he keeps doing what he’s doing.”

Belated request to stay leaves allrounder in no-win situation, and may hasten end of Test career

George Dobell16-Feb-2021It felt like a farewell. As Moeen Ali thrashed five sixes and three fours in 12 balls of carnage, it felt as if he had decided to go out playing the way he had always wanted to play. To go out swinging, if you like.First, the reality check. Moeen will probably play for England again within a month. Yes, he’s returning to England now, but he will re-join the tour party in time for the T20I leg of the tour which starts on March 12.He could return to Test cricket, too. He’s only 33 and, despite that moderate form with the bat and some inconsistency with the ball, he showed glimpses of the ability that has earned him nearly 200 Test wickets and nearly 3,000 Test runs.But just because he can, doesn’t mean he will. And the fact is, with England likely to play one spinner in home Tests and during the away Ashes, he is giving other candidates – and younger candidates, at that – a chance to establish themselves in his absence. This feels like the end of the road.It’s probably worth reflecting on how we arrived at this point. How a man whose life has been, for the most part, driven by an ambition to play for England, has “chosen” (more on this word later) to go home rather than play Test cricket. It would have seemed unthinkable a few years ago. It is no exaggeration to say his father sometimes went without food to ensure Moeen – and his siblings – had the best chance to fulfil their potential in life. In Moeen’s case that meant playing cricket.And that’s what he did. He used to rush to the park to play cricket the second he was released from school. When the park was locked each night, he and his friends would climb back in and play in the dark. When his mum dragged him home, he’d play in the hall of their house. He was a professional cricketer before he could grow a beard. How could a man so obsessed with the game end up in a situation where he has declined several touring opportunities with England?Maybe we are over-complicating things here.We have to remember this key point: England are trying to fulfil an absurdly heavy schedule during a pandemic. To that end, they have asked their players to spend a long time on the road without the option – usually a part of touring life, these days – of seeing their friends or families. For those all-format players on the tours of Sri Lanka and India, that means the prospect of three months away.Virat Kohli had his stumps disturbed by Moeen Ali on the first day of the second Test•BCCIThe added complication comes when we factor in the IPL. If we do, it leaves those all-format players facing the prospect of up to five months away. And, while that may have been deemed acceptable in an age when cricketers travelled by boat and were not expected to play an active role as parents, it isn’t any more.The ECB, consequently, committed to giving those all-format players a break at some stage of the tour. Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer, you may recall, were rested from the Sri Lanka leg. Mark Wood and Jonny Bairstow missed the first two Test of this series – both are back in India now – while Jos Buttler played the first Test and was rested for the next three. Moeen was told he would be going home after the first two Tests in India. He spoke about it before the series started.Now, let’s go back to that ‘chosen’ word. It was the word used by Joe Root when he confirmed Moeen was heading home after the second Test. “Moeen has chosen to go home,” he said.It wasn’t the word used to explain Buttler’s or Archer’s absence. It wasn’t the word used to explain the absence of Bairstow or Wood or Stokes, either. Or the word used when Root himself missed the first Test of the 2020 summer to be at the birth of his child. Only Moeen’s.So, why use it with him?Well, it is possible that Root simply expressed himself clumsily. In the aftermath of a chastening defeat, having dealt eloquently with questions about the pitch and England’s problems against spin, he might simply have erred in suggesting that Moeen had simply decided to go home. Who hasn’t done that at some stage? Root has had a magnificent tour; he can be forgiven a misstep.But we should be very clear that it is a misleading word. The fact is – and they do not dispute it – the England management had agreed Moeen’s rotation period ahead of the series. It was their decision.England celebrate after Moeen Ali bowls Virat Kohli•BCCIBut then confidence in Dom Bess wilted. And Moeen enjoyed a return to Test cricket which, while not perfect, provided a reminder of the high ceiling his game has. He would, but for dropped chances, have taken a 10-for, remember. And he has now taken 56 wickets at 25.69 apiece in his last 11 Tests. So, sometime on Monday afternoon, Ed Smith, the national selector asked Moeen stay on the tour.It was an unfair request, really. And a request not made to any of the other rotated players. It forced Moeen into an impossible situation whereby he was made to feel he was either letting down his family or his team. But by then he had made a commitment to that family – a family who have watched on helplessly as he was diagnosed with Covid-19, remember – and they were expecting him home. Was he meant to call and say ‘Sorry, kids: hopefully see you in three months’? In such a light, it wasn’t really a choice at all. He is, by the way, expected to spend little more than a week at home. His flight back to India departs on February 26.You wonder what Bess makes of all this. As if he hasn’t had enough to deal with, he will now go into the second half of the series knowing that he was not just dropped, but that the national selector asked another spinner to stay on tour because confidence in him was so low. It’s not terrific man-management, is it?There will be those, no doubt, who suggest Test cricket should be England’s (and Moeen’s) priority. And there will be those appalled that the IPL is factored into this equation. The fact is, though, these players cannot be expected to ignore the riches on offer in India and besides, with a T20 World Cup to be played in the country later in the year, there are strong cricketing reasons for being involved in the tournament.

Smith asking Moeen for a favour now is like receiving a late-night text from the ex that broke your heart; if they liked it they should have put a ring on it.

Moeen doesn’t have a full central contract, remember. An IPL gig (he was released by RCB last year but is in the auction at the end of this week) could more than double his annual income. For a man in the home stretch of his career, it is a factor that has to be considered.It’s probably unfortunate that it was Smith who asked Moeen to stay. That relationship hasn’t been especially warm since May 2018 when Smith dropped Moeen from the first Test squad he announced – he didn’t just drop him, he questioned his value overseas and his ability as a first-choice spinner in an unnecessarily punchy series of interviews – and then dropped him again after the first Test of the 2019 Ashes. Moeen had been the top wicket-taker in the world over the previous 12 months, yet was not offered a full central contract a couple of months later. That is the key moment when the relationship started to sour. At the time he most needed support, Moeen was cast adrift.And so we end up here. With a man who has done him no favours asking for a favour. It’s hard to avoid the suspicion that there’s some more less-than-glorious man-management coming home to roost. Smith asking Moeen for a favour now is like receiving a late-night text from the ex that broke your heart; if they liked it they should have put a ring on it.Related

• Joe Root hails 'wonderful role model' in wake of Moeen Ali's Test retirement

• 'I was wasted, but in a good way' – Why Moeen Ali felt it was time to retire from Test cricket

• Moeen Ali to announce retirement from Test cricket

• Moeen plays his greatest hits, thrilling and frustrating simultaneously

• With the hunger back, Moeen eyes 200 Test wickets

The problem with the ‘chosen’ word is that it has acted like a dog whistle for the ignorant or those with agendas. It has suggested – perhaps quite innocently – that Moeen has somehow turned his back on the team. It has left Moeen facing accusations – some from people who really should know better – of apathy or weakness or selfishness which few of his team-mates in similar positions have had to endure. It threw him to the wolves, really. It needs to be corrected.There is, perhaps, a deeper irony here. Moeen has been used as the poster boy for inclusivity by the ECB since he made his international debut. But, as we reflect on the wreckage of this situation, we might well question how equitable and inclusive his treatment has been. It’s worth repeating: nobody else was described as choosing to miss part of the tour.And so it feels like an ending.Did Moeen fulfil his talent? A batting average of 28.88 seems criminally low for one so blessed. But 189 Test wickets? At a better strike-rate than Graeme Swann or Jim Laker? That’s an over-achievement, really.There was something about the fragility of his cricket – the sense that you were never more than a waft from disaster – that somehow made every moment more vital and precious. All in all, his career has been like so many of his innings. It left you wanting more. But it was kind of beautiful while it lasted.

By no means was Friday a banner day for the Detroit Tigers, who emerged from their series opener against the Seattle Mariners on the wrong side of a blowout 12–3 loss.

However, it was a banner day on a smaller scale for one man: Tigers catcher—or should one say —Jake Rogers.

With his team in a nine-run hole in the ninth inning, Rogers took the mound for the third pitching outing of his career. After inducing a groundout from first baseman Donovan Solano and hitting right fielder Luke Raley with a 73 mph fastball, Rogers coaxed third baseman Ben Williamson into a lineout to end the inning.

Fired up, Rogers inquisitively gestured toward an umpire with his glove, implying that he wanted to be checked for foreign substances after his mound success.

Rogers, in addition to his pitching heroics, owns eight RBIs this year. Can you say two-way player?

As we approached 2025, the fear was that Liverpool would lose their talisman, an all-time great in the form of Mohamed Salah, on a free transfer.

Well, the Egyptian signed a new deal and closed out an enthralling individual season for the Reds. He led Arne Slot’s team to title glory, taking home the Premier League title back in May.

The foundations Slot had built during his maiden campaign in English football were remarkable but it’s all petered out in frantic fashion throughout the ongoing term.

A year on from uncertainty surrounding Salah’s future, a different sense of uncertainty lingers heading into 2026.

This time around it feels unlikely that he’ll be staying around at Anfield for much longer. It’s a sad end for one of the Premier League’s modern-day greats.

Why Mohamed Salah could leave Liverpool

The winger had an enthralling 2024/25 season, ending the year with a whopping 34 goals and 23 assists in 52 outings. However, this term has not been a pretty one for the Egyptian who has only bagged five times in 19 appearances for Liverpool.

Slot’s side have been in a rotten run and Salah’s poor form has coincided with that. He’s been so poor, however, that the Dutchman has taken the decision to select him on the bench across the last three games. As Salah himself said post-game, it’s unheard of.

However, there lies the problem. What Salah said after the game. He launched a stunning attack on Slot after Liverpool drew 3-3 with Leeds and it has thrown his immediate future in Merseyside into doubt.

“I’m very disappointed, Salah began. “I’ve done so much for this club – everyone can see that – over years, especially last season, sitting on the bench I don’t know why. It seems like the club has thrown me under the bus. That’s how I feel it.”

The forward continued: “It’s very clear that someone wants me to get all the blame. Club promised me a lot in summer. So far I I’m on bench three games, so can’t say they have kept those promises.

“I say many times I had a good relationship with the manager and all of a sudden we don’t have any relationship, I don’t know why. It seems like someone does not want me in the club.

“But again this club, I always support it. my kids will always support it. I love the club so much and I will always do. I called my mum yesterday because I knew I wasn’t going to start and told my mum and dad to the Brighton game [next Saturday].”

The latest on Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool

It’s thought that one of Salah’s main suitors continues to be Saudi Arabia and it would not be a surprise if he heads off to the Middle East before too long.

That’s because he’s now been totally excluded from the matchday squad for Liverpool’s clash with Inter Milan in the week.

According to Football FanCast sources, Richard Hughes and Co met after Salah made those comments and while it initially looked like he could just miss the clash with Inter, he has officially been removed from selection for a ‘short period’.

Sources suggest that the decision has been taken in consultation with manager Slot in the best interests of the player, the squad and the club. It’s thought that the boss has given the decision his full support.

Whether that means that Salah will miss Liverpool’s next league game against Brighton next Saturday remains to be seen but considering the attacker is due to head off to AFCON after that, it’s likely this is the last we’ll see of him in a Liverpool shirt, at least this year.

What the future holds in the long term is currently unknown but it’s certainly not looking good for either player or manager right now.

Gallery: How Salah interacted with Liverpool teammates in training on Monday

Mo Salah is unhappy with life at Liverpool right now.

ByFFC Staff Dec 8, 2025

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez had a memorable Mother's Day with his mom, Yilda Diaz, on Sunday ahead of the Royals' matchup vs. the Boston Red Sox.

Diaz got to throw the ceremonial first pitch at Kauffman Stadium to her son Perez. The stadium roared with cheers for Diaz as she's the mom of the team's arguably most lovable player as Salvy is in his 14th season in Kansas City.

The best part of Diaz's first pitch is the fact that she threw a strike right to her son. Perez was all smiles and was clearly proud of his mom for showing off her baseball skills. He ran to give his mom a hug after in a sweet moment.

This will definitely be a memorable Mother's Day for both Diaz and Perez.

We'll see if Perez can score some runs or make a big play for the Royals on Sunday to make his mother even more proud.

Every UK TV fixture from the English Premier League, Championship, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1.

Football on TV today

A daily guide to football on TV in the UK for the upcoming round of fixtures in the major European leagues. This includes where to watch live football streams, as well as the fixtures and kick-off times. As well as this, all the info on Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League, Carabao Cup and FA Cup football can be found here.

Friday 21st November Bundesliga, Championship, La Liga, Ligue 1

19:30

Mainz v Hoffenheim

Bundesliga

BBC iPlayer, Bundesliga YouTube

19:45

Nice v Marseille

Ligue 1

Amazon PPV, Ligue 1+

20:00

Preston North End v Blackburn Rovers

Championship

Sky Sports Main Event

20:00

Valencia v Levante

La Liga

Premier Sports 1

Saturday 22nd November Bundesliga, Championship, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League, Serie A

12:30

Burnley v Chelsea

Premier League

TNT Sports 1

12:30

Bristol City v Swansea City

Championship

Sky Sports +

12:30

Charlton Athletic v Southampton

Championship

Sky Sports +

12:30

Coventry City v West Brom

Championship

Sky Sports Main Event

13:00

Alaves v Celta Vigo

La Liga

Premier Sports 1

15:15

Barcelona v Athletic Bilbao

La Liga

La Liga TV

17:00

Fiorentina v Juventus

Serie A

DAZN

17:30

FC Koln v Eintracht Frankfurt

Bundesliga

Sky Sports Football

17:30

Osasuna v Real Sociedad

La Liga

Premier Sports 1

17:30

Newcastle United v Manchester City

Premier League

Sky Sports Main Event

18:00

Rennes v Monaco

Ligue 1

Ligue 1 +

19:45

Napoli v Atalanta

Serie A

DAZN

20:00

Villarreal v Real Mallorca

La Liga

Disney +

20:05

PSG v Le Havre

Ligue 1

Amazon PPV, Ligue 1 +

Sunday 23rd November Bundesliga, Championship, La Liga, Ligue 1, Premier League, Serie A

11:30

Verona v Parma

Serie A

DAZN

12:00

Sheffield Wednesday v Sheffield United

Championship

ITV1, STV, Sky Sports Main Event

13:00

Real Oviedo v Rayo Vallecano

La Liga

Premier Sports 1

14:00

Auxerre v Lyon

Ligue 1

Ligue 1 +

14:00

Leeds United v Aston Villa

Premier League

Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League

14:00

Cremonese v Roma

Serie A

DAZN, TNT Sports 2

14:30

RB Leipzig v Werder Bremen

Bundesliga

Amazon PPV

15:15

Real Betis v Girona

La Liga

Premier Sports 1

16:15

Brest v FC Metz

Ligue 1

Ligue 1 +

16:15

Nantes v Lorient

Ligue 1

Ligue 1 +

16:15

Toulouse v Angers

Ligue 1

Ligue 1 +

16:30

St Pauli v Union Berlin

Bundesliga

Amazon PPV

16:30

Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur

Premier League

Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League

17:00

Lazio v Lecce

Serie A

DAZN

17:30

Getafe v Atletico Madrid

La Liga

Premier Sports 1

19:45

Lille v Paris FC

Ligue 1

Amazon PPV, Ligue 1 +

19:45

Inter Milan v AC Milan

Serie A

DAZN, TNT Sports 1

20:00

Elche v Real Madrid

La Liga

Premier Sports 1

Monday 24th November La Liga, Premier League, Serie A

19:45

Sassuolo v Pisa

Serie A

DAZN

20:00

Espanyol v Sevilla

La Liga

Premier Sports 1

20:00

Manchester United v Everton

Premier League

Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League

Chelsea manager Sonia Bompastor has revealed that Hannah Hampton could miss the rest of 2025 with a quad injury, potentially ruling her out of the Lionesses upcoming friendlies against China and Ghana later this month. The renowned shot stopper missed Chelsea's 6-0 win over St. Polten in the Women's Champions League, after picking up the injury during the Blues 1-1 draw with Arsenal last Saturday.

• Hampton to miss big games for both Chelsea and England

  Bompastor confirmed that Hampton will miss the next few weeks of action at the very least, ruling her out of key fixtures for both club and country. The 24-year-old completed her side's draw with rivals Arsenal despite the ailment, but was ruled out of their midweek demolition of the Austrian champions. 

  Chelsea travel to Liverpool tomorrow in the Women's Super League, before hosting Barcelona in the Women's Champions League on November 20. The inaugural winner of the Women's Yashin Trophy would have been a nailed on starter for Sarina Weigman's side in the upcoming international window as the European champions work towards the 2027 Women's World Cup in Brazil. 

  Hampton was also absent from England duty last month with an elbow injury. She was replaced by Manchester City keeper Khiara Keating, who conceded twice in the first 20 minutes of her debut against Brazil. The Lionesses eventually fell to a 2-1 defeat to the Selecao. 

Advertisement

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Bompastor: Hampton will be out for a "few weeks"

  In her pre-match press conference ahead of the Liverpool clash, Bompastor said: "Hannah won't be here. She picked up a quad injury.

  "She will be out for a few weeks. We'll see if we see her before the end of the year but I'm not sure."

  When the French manager was asked if that would rule the 24-year-old out of international duty, she simply replied: "It could be the case, yes."

• Hampton injury presents an opportunity for Peng and Keating

  Hampton's extended absence opens the door for Livia Peng to show her potential in the Chelsea goal. The Swiss stopper joined the Blues in the summer following an impressive two year spell with Werder Bremen. She was named to 's team of the season in 2024-25, as she kept seven clean sheets in 21 league games. The 23-year-old has cemented her spot as Switzerland's no. 1, starting all four of her country's during this summer's European Championship as the host nation was knocked out at the quarter final stage by eventual finalists Spain. She made her club debut in Chelsea's dominant win over St. Polten earlier this week. 

  City's Keating will also have the opportunity to stake her claim to be Hampton's clear backup at the very least. The 21-year-old has gone from strength-to-strength since supplanting Ellie Roebuck as the City No.1 during the 2023-24 season. She would go on to win the WSL Golden Globe at the end of that campaign, making her the youngest player to pick up the award. Keating has been in impressive form again this term, keeping nine clean sheets in all competitions. 

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

• Getty Images Sport
  

  Injury comes at challenging time for Hampton

  After last season's resounding successes: winning the Euros, picking up the award for the best female goalkeeper in the game and winning the WSL for the second time, the start of the 2025/26 season has been a tough ride for Hampton. 

  The protracted fallout from Mary Earps autobiography, in which the former Sports Personality of the Year accused her understudy of being "disruptive and unreliable" has been an unwelcome distraction. Hampton presumably would have hoped to move on from that saga by letting her play do the talking, especially with the Three Lions on her chest. While she has been in impressive form for her club, conceding just four goals in eight league appearances this term, missing her second international window in succession with injury, is a cruel blow. Hopefully, she can recover before the end of 2025. The league phase of Chelsea's Women's Champions League campaign concludes with ties against Roma and Wolfsburg in December. 

Kevin Filling has quickly become one of Europe’s most-watched teenage talents but the Swedish striker insists he’s staying grounded despite growing transfer noise. With Manchester United and Aston Villa circling the AIK prodigy, the youngster remains focused on cementing his place at Stockholm. For now, he says, “I don’t know anything” and prefers to let his football do the talking.

United and Villa eye Swedish teen sensation

According to FotbollDirekt, United have turned their attention to AIK Fotboll’s Filling and have added him among their latest targets. The 16-year-old forward has made headlines with both United and Villa having initiated contact with AIK for a potential deal.

The initial reports suggested “concrete negotiations,” but Swedish media quickly dismissed those claims. Still, both English clubs have sent scouts to monitor the teenager, who’s played eight Allsvenskan matches this season, scoring two goals in just 204 minutes of play.

Filling, who joined AIK’s youth setup in 2023 after stints at Vaseteras and IK Franke, has been on a steady rise. In 2025, he even spent a brief loan spell with Enkopings in Ettan Norra, Sweden’s third tier, scoring once in three appearances. His progress hasn’t gone unnoticed, and AIK’s €5 million valuation underlines their belief in his potential. United and Villa, however, are reportedly willing to pay no more than €3 million.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportFilling maintains composure amid the hype

For all the transfer buzz, the teenager himself remains unfazed. Speaking to Expressen, Filling brushed off the speculation with maturity well beyond his years.

“It’s nothing special. I don’t know much. I’m focused on AIK and that’s where all my focus lies. So, I’ll just continue there.”

When pressed on whether he’s thinking about his future, his answer was even simpler:

“No. I don’t know anything, so no, I’m not thinking about it that much."

The Swedish youngster further shares that he is only focused on developing at AIK and getting regular minutes as soon as possible.

“To take a starting place in the team and do as well as I can in every match and every chance I get. I want to continue and deliver more points."

Despite turning heads across Europe, Filling knows that any move to England would be a long-term project. Under FIFA’s transfer rules, he cannot move to the UK until November 2026, when he turns 18, though a deal can be agreed in advance.

The youngster’s grounded attitude has impressed coaches and scouts alike. Sources in Sweden describe him as a “focused, humble and analytical player”. AIK currently sit fourth in the Allsvenskan table.

The making of Kevin Filling

Filling's rise has been marked by consistency over hype as he is turning heads across Europe. Born in November 2008, Filling honed his early skills at IK Franke and Vasteras before joining the AIK academy in 2023. He quickly established himself as one of their most promising talents, standing out due to his composure, positional sense, and remarkable maturity on the ball.

The 2024-25 season proved to be his breakthrough year. At just 16, Filling made his Allsvenskan debut for AIK and immediately found the net in a dominant 3-0 victory against IFK Goteborg. His subsequent performances reflect a rare combination of precision and maturity as he registered eight shots and scored two goals. Crucially, he achieved this while keeping a clean disciplinary record.

AIK coaches praise his “instinctive finishing and calmness beyond his years,” traits that have captured the attention of the Red Devils. Filling's development is a prime example of the modern football trend: elite clubs are now prioritising young, tactically intelligent forwards who combine technical skill and mental sharpness over sheer physical power.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

Getty Images/GOALUnited's development plan for Filling

Filling’s future remains in Sweden, and that may be the best place for him. AIK are determined to protect their gem, with sporting directors reiterating that “no sale is planned in the winter.” The club see him as a central figure in their 2026 plans, aiming to challenge Malmo and Djurgarden for domestic dominance.

Meanwhile, United and Villa continue to watch closely. Both are in contact with AIK, and United, under INEOS ownership, are expanding their European scouting reach, especially in Scandinavia, a region that has recently produced stars like Rasmus Hojlund and Alexander Isak. Reports suggest that United's plan for Filling involves a strategic developmental loan to Lausanne-Sport, an INEOS-owned club, to ease his transition and acclimatisation within their operational structure.

Crystal Palace are thought to be in pole position to sign a new forward who stunned Chelsea earlier this year.

Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner responds to Man Utd rumours

The Eagles have enjoyed a brilliant start to the 2025/26 Premier League season after lifting the FA Cup and Community Shield earlier this year and are now on a club-record 18-game unbeaten run.

Saturday’s dramatic win against champions Liverpool saw Palace move on to 12 points after six games, with Eddie Nketiah’s late winner ending the Reds’ 100% start to the campaign.

As a result of the brilliant job Oliver Glasner is doing at Selhurst Park, he continues to be linked with roles elsewhere.

There have been claims he is on Manchester United’s radar to replace Ruben Amorim, with reports even suggesting he would take the Old Trafford job “in a heartbeat”.

“My information is if Glasner was offered the Manchester United job, he would take it in a heartbeat.” (Ben Jacobs)

However, when asked about the direct rumours of a move to Manchester and other ‘top clubs’, Glasner has now said:

Steve Parish and co will be hoping Glasner continues in his position when the January 2026 transfer window opens, and it looks as if the Eagles are already working on one potential addition.

Matthew McConaughey reveals shock Premier League team that he's a "fan" of

The Hollywood star has made an unexpected reveal…

By
Tom Cunningham

Oct 1, 2025

Crystal Palace "in negotiations" to sign Flamengo forward Wallace Yan

According to reports in Brazil, relayed by Sport Witness, Crystal Palace are thought to be in pole position ahead of Wolves to sign Flamengo forward Wallace Yan in 2026.

The Eagles had talks in the summer which will continue into the New Year. Flamengo director Jose Boto is aware of Palace’s talks for Yan which involve the player’s agent, Claudio Guadagno.

Journalist Julio Miguel Neto said: “The Flamengo forward is in negotiations to move to Europe, and Crystal Palace appear as the main interested party.”

At the age of 20, Yan has now scored seven goals in 28 appearances for Flamengo’s first team after coming through the academy, two of which came at the Club World Cup. He even sealed a shock win for the Brazilian side over eventual winners Chelsea, scoring the third goal of a 3-1 win late on.

Filipe Luis, a former Chelsea left-back, is the manager of Flamengo and has described what Yan is like as a centre-forward.

“He uses both feet and finishes very well with either. He is light, versatile, healthy and a finisher. I see him much more as a nine, a guy who attacks space.”

A move to Selhurst Park is seemingly being worked on behind the scenes, making this one to watch over the coming months.

Former Scotland midfielder Don Hutchison has urged Liverpool boss Arne Slot to drop summer signing Jeremie Frimpong, claiming the Dutchman’s performances have been far below the club’s standards. Hutchison believes Conor Bradley should now be given the chance to start at right-back, arguing that Frimpong’s form and confidence have dipped alarmingly since his arrival at Anfield.

Frimpong's poor start

Frimpong’s start to life at Liverpool has been far from smooth, with the high-profile summer signing struggling to replicate the form that made him a standout at Bayer Leverkusen. Having joined in a €35 million move to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold, expectations were high that Frimpong’s explosive pace and attacking flair would translate seamlessly into Slot’s system.

However, the Dutch full-back has struggled to find rhythm, managing just 79 minutes across three Premier League appearances and failing to record a single goal or assist. His limited impact, coupled with growing defensive concerns, has led to mounting scrutiny over his role in Liverpool’s starting XI. Hutchison has now joined the critics, suggesting Frimpong should be benched until he regains both composure and consistency on the ball.

AdvertisementGetty Images SportBradley to step in?

Hutchison made his feelings clear when analysing Liverpool’s defensive setup, insisting that Frimpong should make way for Conor Bradley. The former Everton and Sunderland midfielder didn’t hold back in his assessment, saying: “I’d have Bradley starting in the team now, absolutely. I don’t think Frimpong’s current standard gets him anywhere near the first XI for Liverpool. I’ve watched every Liverpool match I could so far this season, and in some matches like the Southampton game, he just kept giving the ball away. Simple passes were going stray, and his confidence is just starting to erode.

“He played right wing against Galatasaray, and I think that was Arne Slot experimenting for who steps in for Salah when he’s off at the Africa Cup of Nations. But he struggled then, too. I just think you’re looking at a young player who is struggling for form.

“When I watch Liverpool now, I see a team that is so out of sorts that they have to go back to basics. It needs to be Bradley at right-back. On the left, it’s harder to say. I still rate Andy Robertson but seeing him with his hands on his knees at Chelsea as Eestevao scored, I’d think he was a League Two player. I’d love to know what he was thinking when he was taking a breather then. On the left, toss a coin between Kerkez and Robertson, but Bradley has to be starting on the right.”

Frimpong's adjustment period

Frimpong’s rocky transition has been compounded by the tactical and physical demands of English football. Unlike his time in the Bundesliga, where Leverkusen’s system allowed him to operate as an attacking wing-back, Slot’s Liverpool side requires far more defensive discipline and positional awareness. The shift has exposed areas of his game that need refinement, with analysts pointing out lapses in tracking back, positioning during transitions, and misjudged passes under pressure.

In contrast, Bradley — who impressed during Liverpool’s injury-hit campaign last year — has shown a more balanced mix of defensive resilience and attacking intelligence, strengthening Hutchison’s argument.

Meanwhile, Frimpong’s struggles also come at a time when Liverpool’s overall form has been inconsistent; the team has failed to find a settled rhythm in either domestic or European competition. Frimpong’s case appears to be part of a wider pattern of adjustment issues within Slot’s squad.

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting

AFPWhat comes next?

As Liverpool prepare for a crucial stretch of fixtures across the Premier League and Champions League, the question now turns to whether Slot will heed Hutchison’s advice. With Bradley pushing for more minutes and fans calling for a return to defensive basics, Frimpong could find himself temporarily sidelined as he regains form and confidence. Slot’s emphasis on tactical structure and discipline means performances will dictate selection, not reputation — a stance that could work both as a challenge and a motivator for the Dutchman.

Frimpong’s attacking instincts remain a valuable asset, but consistency will be the deciding factor in whether he cements his place long-term. With the Africa Cup of Nations on the horizon and Mohamed Salah expected to miss matches, the coming weeks could be defining for both Liverpool’s right flank and Frimpong’s future role in the team.