Chelsea are making transfer plans behind-the-scenes despite a hectic summer window, and a rumour has now emerged involving Real Madrid.

Chelsea edge past Benfica after José Mourinho's return to Stamford Bridge

Enzo Maresca’s side grabbed a much-needed 1-0 win over José Mourinho’s Benfica earlier this week after a difficult last month.

An 18th-minute own goal from Richard Ríos proved decisive as the Blues bounced back from their opening Champions League game defeat to Bayern Munich, not to mention their dismal loss against Brighton last weekend, with all three points against the ‘special one’ and a clean sheet.

The evening carried significant sentiment as Mourinho made his first return to Stamford Bridge since November 2020.

The Portuguese tactician, who won three Premier League titles over his two spells with Chelsea, received warm chants from the home support before Maresca’s young side eventually saw out the contest.

Chelsea fielded their most youthful starting eleven in Champions League history with an average age of just 24, but they did just about enough to overcome the Primeira Liga side ahead of another vital game this weekend.

Their win provides crucial momentum ahead of this weekend’s challenging Premier League clash with Liverpool on Saturday evening, and it comes in the aftermath of reports suggesting tension between Maresca and Chelsea’s board.

Maresca isn’t entirely happy with the squad at his disposal right now (Simon Phillips), coming amid their serious centre-back shortage, with Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah all set to miss their face-off against Arne Slot’s side.

Chelsea’s boss publicly stated that he wanted a new centre-back in the summer window.

However, despite internally discussing options after Colwill’s ACL injury, and holding talks with Dean Huijsen’s camp, BlueCo couldn’t get one through the door (Simon Phillips).

It has left them desperately short, and reports suggest that Chelsea are now prioritising the signing of a new defender in January as they respond to Maresca’s central defensive crisis.

Amid Maresca and the hierarchy’s rumoured differences, one decision that threatens to escalate the Italian’s dissatisfaction would be star midfielder Enzo Fernández’s sale to Real Madrid.

Chelsea prepared to let Enzo Fernández leave in Real Madrid swap deal for Fede Valverde

Indeed, Chelsea are now reportedly willing to facilitate a swap deal that would see Fernández move to Real in exchange for Federico Valverde, according to Spanish outlet Defensa Central.

The Argentine, who’s become a figurehead of Chelsea’s midfield after an initially difficult start to life, has been called one of the club’s only two “world-class” players alongside Cole Palmer by former defender David Luiz.

Xabi Alonso’s side have been monitoring Fernández ever since his Benfica days, with the player himself apparently “delighted” by the prospect of a move to the Spanish capital.

However, while Chelsea would entertain a proposed swap which would see Valverde head in the opposite direction, Real have no plans to consider letting their star midfielder leave despite a bad start to 2025/2026.

Valverde was forced to release a statement after widespread criticism from the media, with the 27-year-old also having a nightmare during Real’s 5-2 derby defeat to Atlético Madrid last weekend.

Real’s vice-captain started in nearly every one of his 65 appearances in all competitions last season, and has been favoured by their new manager as well.

Alonso handed Valverde the armband in all of their Club World Cup games, with the 71-cap Uruguay international also playing in all but one match this season — their 5-0 win over Kairat Almaty in the Champions League.

Given Alonso’s faith in Valverde, not to mention his clear statement, it doesn’t look like the versatile ace has plans to leave any time soon.

One of the biggest concerns emerging among the fanbase at Leeds United at the moment appears to be the lack of goal threat in the team in recent games.

The Whites have failed to score a goal from open play in the first four matches of a league season, failing to score in any of their last three games in the division.

Lucas Nmecha’s penalty in the 1-0 win over Everton on the opening day of the 2025/26 campaign is the only league goal that has been scored by the Whites since they won the Championship title.

Leeds scored a whopping 62 goals to avoid relegation in their first season back in the top-flight under Marcelo Bielsa in the 2020/21 campaign, with Patrick Bamford’s 17-goal haul standing out as the headliner from that attack.

Daniel Farke has to find a way to platform his attackers in a way that allows them to be as effective as Bamford was that season, because one of his forwards does have the potential to be a big threat in front of goal.

Leeds swooped to sign Dominic Calvert-Lewin on a free transfer from Everton this summer and one of the reasons why they moved to bring him in was because he is a proven Premier League player.

Why Calvert-Lewin could be the goalscorer Leeds need

Despite his experience in the league, signing the 28-year-old centre-forward was a risky move by the Championship champions because he has not been at his best in front of goal for several years.

Per Understat, Calvert-Lewin only scored three goals from 8.85 xG in the Premier League for the Toffees in the 2024/25 campaign, which led to them deciding to allow him to depart from the club on a free transfer.

The 11-cap England international also missed 21 matches through injury in the 2024/25 and 2023/24 seasons combined, per Transfermarkt. This means that Leeds are banking on being able to help him avoid injuries in a way that he has been unable to do in recent years.

24/25

8.85

3

23/24

13.63

7

22/23

6.50

2

21/22

6.22

5

20/21

18.21

16

19/20

16.11

13

18/19

6.17

6

17/18

5.44

4

16/17

1.25

1

As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin did score an eye-catching 29 goals in the Premier League between the 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns for the Toffees, which shows that he does have the capability to score plenty of goals in the top-flight.

It is down to Farke to find a way to get the best out of the striker, though, and down to the player to take his chances when they come to build his own confidence back up.

If Leeds can get Calvert-Lewin firing at his best, then they could have their next version of Bamford from the 2020/21 season to fire them to safety in the Premier League.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

To help the former England international, Farke could revert to the 4-2-3-1 formation that served him so well in the Championship. The Whites scored 95 goals in 46 matches and racked up 100 points with that formation, before switching to a 4-3-3 in the Premier League to provide more stability in midfield.

It seems to have gone too far the other way, though, with the lack of attacking threat in the team at present, which is why the manager must go back to a 4-2-3-1 and unleash Wilfried Gnonto in a lesser-seen role for him to get the best out of Calvert-Lewin.

Why Gnonto could get Calvert-Lewin firing again

The bulk of the Italy U21 international’s appearances for Leeds in the 2024/25 campaign came on the left or the right flank, as he only played centrally in three of his 46 outings in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

Gnonto has also started this season as a wide option in the 4-3-3 formation, starting the first three matches on the left wing, but he has yet to deliver a shot on target or a ‘big chance’ created.

The move back to a 4-2-3-1 system could help to get the best out of the Italian forward whilst also providing Calvert-Lewin with more support and more creativity around him at the top end of the pitch.

As you can see in the graphic above, Gnonto would slot in behind the striker with Dan James on the right and Noah Okafor on the left flank, which would mean that Leeds have three attackers supporting the forward instead of two wingers and three central midfielders who are not specialist attackers.

The reason why Farke should unleash the Italian youngster, who Statman Dave once described as “electric”, in a central position behind Calvert-Lewin is that his career statistics suggest that he is at his best playing off a number nine.

Right wing (62)

14

10

Second striker (48)

20

7

Left wing (38)

7

4

Attacking midfield (18)

4

1

Right midfield (9)

2

0

Left midfield (7)

0

1

Striker (6)

2

0

As you can see in the table above, Gnonto’s best return of goals and assists combined per appearance in his career is as a second striker, which is a role he could play in a 4-2-3-1 in the hole behind Calvert-Lewin.

The former Zurich star scored nine goals and created ten ‘big chances’ in 26 starts in the Championship last season, per Sofascore, whilst playing as a winger, so imagine what he could produce as a regular starter as a second striker, which appears to get the best out of him.

Gnonto’s ability to score and create goals from central positions could benefit Calvert-Lewin in multiple ways, because the Italian’s goal threat could take some of the pressure off the striker and his creativity could provide the Englishman with the chances he needs to score.

As aforementioned, Calvert-Lewin needs plenty of chances to score and unleashing Gnonto as a second striker as part of a formation change that would improve the team’s attacking set-up could be exactly what Farke needs to do to get him firing.

Leeds messed up selling James & Gnonto upgrade who'd solve Farke's big issues

A star sold by Leeds United last year would solve the club’s current attacking problems as an upgrade on Dan James and Wilfried Gnonto.

1 ByDan Emery Sep 15, 2025

Newcastle United’s start to the new Premier League campaign has been far from convincing.

Supporters came into the season with high hopes after Eddie Howe achieved silverware last year, but the Magpies are already struggling for rhythm and creativity in the final third.

They began with a 0-0 draw against Aston Villa, before losing 3-2 at home to Liverpool in a chaotic contest.

A second goalless draw followed away at Leeds, highlighting their difficulties in carving open stubborn defences.

The first three points of the season finally arrived in a narrow 1-0 home win over Wolves, only to be followed by another frustrating 0-0 against Bournemouth and then a last-gasp 2-1 home defeat to Arsenal.

The numbers tell their own story. Newcastle have generated just 5.2 expected goals (xG) across their opening six matches – only West Ham, Aston Villa, and Burnley have managed fewer.

Lowest Expected Goals (xG) – 2025/26

Burnley

4.5

Aston Villa

5.0

West Ham

5.0

Newcastle United

5.2

Wolves

5.6

Source: Fotmob

For a side that had prided itself on intensity and attacking fluidity under Howe, this sharp decline is concerning.

Part of the issue stems from recruitment, but Howe’s tactical tinkering has not helped.

Persisting with variations of a back three has blunted Newcastle’s attacking edge. Too often the side has looked hesitant and reactive, with key attacking players failing to contribute.

While output must improve, much of the frustration among fans has centred on one man.

Anthony Gordon – Synonymous with the malaise

Anthony Gordon entered the season with renewed optimism.

“I’m really refreshed. I’ve got my appetite back for football,” he said before the campaign kicked off.

On paper, he should be central to Newcastle’s attacking success.

Last season, Gordon contributed six goals and six assists across 34 appearances, a solid if unspectacular return.

He has yet to register a single goal or assist in the league this season.

His only strike came as a late consolation against Barcelona in the Champions League.

A red card against Liverpool and subsequent three-match suspension disrupted his rhythm further, and he now looks a shadow of the player who posted 25 goal contributions across all competitions in 2023/24.

For Gordon, the challenge is not just statistical but psychological.

Once a winger who thrived on directness and intensity, he is currently embodying Newcastle’s collective malaise.

Hesitant in possession, predictable in attacking patterns, and lacking the conviction to turn tight games.

His role on the left flank has been underwhelming, leaving fans questioning whether Eddie Howe should look to the club’s younger talent to inject energy and belief into a stuttering attack.

Newcastle's young Gordon replacement

If Gordon represents the current problem, Park Seung-Soo may offer the solution.

The South Korean teenager only joined Newcastle in July from Suwon Bluewings, but he has already generated real excitement within the fanbase.

Seung-Soo made history in his homeland in June 2024, becoming the youngest player to feature in the K League at just 17 years and three months.

By the time he left Suwon, he had played 28 games in all competitions, scoring once and providing three assists.

Primarily a left-winger but versatile across the front line, Seung-Soo is right-footed and thrives in one-on-one situations.

John Duerden, the leading Asian football expert, has even suggested his playing style “is similar to Mbappé” – high praise for a player valued at just £150k.

Since arriving in the North-East, he has already shown glimpses of his potential.

His pre-season displays caught Howe’s eye and earned him a spot in the matchday squad for the opener against Aston Villa.

He has since featured three times in Premier League 2 and once in the UEFA Youth League, impressing with his direct running and willingness to take defenders on.

At just 18, Seung-Soo is still raw, but Newcastle’s lack of spark in attack makes a compelling case for his inclusion.

With Nick Woltemade still adapting, Yoane Wissa sidelined, and Gordon out of form, the teenager could provide the injection of pace, unpredictability, and intensity that has been missing from Howe’s attack.

For supporters, the hope is that Howe will be bold enough to make the switch.

Gordon may rediscover his form in time, but at present, Seung-Soo looks ready to tear it up in the Premier League and give Newcastle the lift they so desperately need.

Heading into added on time at Fulham, Leeds United looked as if they were going to have to make do with a second successive stalemate in the Premier League.

A point would have likely been taken as well after a valiant defensive display in West London saw Joe Rodon win a commanding five aerial duels, while Karl Darlow in between the sticks stayed alert throughout, with three big saves registered.

Unfortunately, an own-goal right at the death from Gabriel Gudmundsson would hand the Cottagers all three points, as the summer purchase from Lille accidentally placed a header past Darlow – after stopping a Fulham attacker from connecting with a late corner-kick – to break Leeds hearts.

This sucker punch shouldn’t detract too much from the otherwise committed defensive display on Leeds’ travels, but the loss did definitely highlight the lack of cutting edge Daniel Farke’s relegation-threatened side possesses in attack, as another goal-shy performance was served up.

Leeds' poor displays in attack

Since the opening day victory over Everton at Elland Road, Leeds have failed to score a single goal from open play, with that worrying trend continuing away at Marco Silva’s fortunate hosts.

Not even the added presence of new signing Noah Okafor to the starting XI could inspire an improved performance in the forward areas, with the former AC Milan winger failing to hit a single on-target effort at Bernd Leno’s goal, before being hauled off just shy of the 70-minute mark.

Brenden Aaronson did show occasional glimpses of quality down Okafor’s opposing right-hand side, with one big chance unfortunately squandered by the hot-and-cold American, but it was another flat display that will seriously worry Leeds in their hunt for more wins near the foot of the division.

In particular, one underperformer up top at Craven Cottage will have irked Farke to the point where he feels his spot in the first team is no longer concrete, with a huge clash at the bottom of the table coming Leeds’ way next against Wolverhampton Wanderers, demanding a more potent display in the attacking areas.

The "bang average" Leeds star who must now be axed

It’s not as if Fulham blew away the visitors either, with Silva’s men being restricted to just five efforts all afternoon due to a tight-knit Leeds defence routinely keeping them at bay.

However, there is always a possibility that a side will come back into a game if your own finishing is so wasteful, as Dominic Calvert-Lewin endured another frustrating day at the office, leading the line for the away team.

Having missed four big chances on his debut as Leeds were dumped out of the EFL Cup at the hands of Sheffield Wednesday, Calvert-Lewin would have been looking for a swift change of fortunes, lining up for Farke’s men on Saturday. Instead, the ex-Everton marksman would trudge off the pitch after 69 minutes, looking rather dejected by his unmemorable efforts.

Indeed, the 28-year-old’s overall numbers from the 1-0 defeat don’t paint a pretty picture, with Calvert-Lewin giving up the ball every three touches, just one glaring statistic of many that makes for some pretty grim reading.

Minutes played

69

Goals scored

0

Assists

0

Touches

15

Shots on target

0

Accurate passes

5/8 (63%)

Total duels won

6/6

Possession lost

5

The brand-new number nine did throw himself about valiantly with all six of his duels won, but it’s clear that Calvert-Lewin is still bereft of confidence in front of goal, with zero shots on target being registered at Leno’s goal, despite his commanding presence in the air.

His passive showing in terms of peppering Leno’s net would even see Sky Sports’ Michael Dawson, when speaking on Gillette Soccer Saturday, state that Calvert-Lewin was “bang average” throughout, with a starting spot now not looking so secure.

Further handed a low 6/10 rating post-match by the Yorkshire Evening Post’s Graham Smyth, who bemoaned Calvert-Lewin ‘needlessly’ finding himself offside throughout the tense affair, it will be interesting to see who the German picks for the crunch clash at Molineux.

With Joel Piroe and Lukas Nmecha also at the former Norwich City’s disposal up top, it could well be that one of those reserve faces gets the nod over the former England international shortly, as Calvert-Lewin has depressingly failed to hit the ground running in West Yorkshire.

£2.5m Leeds player now house-hunting to seal permanent Elland Road exit

The Whites appear set to swiftly offload the man in question.

BySean Markus Clifford Sep 12, 2025

Even though they have received plenty of criticism for it over the years, Chelsea’s transfer policy has seen them build a squad full of exceptionally talented youngsters.

The club might not be ready to challenge for a Premier League title this season, but over the next few years, as their youngsters become increasingly comfortable, they could be a real force in all competitions.

One of the players who looks like he could be a genuine superstar for the West Londoners is Estevao, who was sensational against Liverpool on Saturday.

However, Chelsea have already got their hands on another incredible prospect who could end up being an even bigger talent than the 18-year-old.

Estevao's brilliant performance against Liverpool

It should be said that Estevao’s brilliant display against Liverpool on the weekend didn’t come as much of a surprise to Chelsea fans and those who have been watching them this season.

After all, while he hadn’t scored before the game, he had made a couple of impressive cameos off the bench against the likes of Crystal Palace and Benfica.

Moreover, in his first start for the club, against West Ham United, he was near-enough unplayable and, thanks to some silky movement and technical brilliance, provided his first assist for Joao Pedro.

However, even then, it can’t be denied that his efforts against Arne Slot’s side felt far more significant and like a real statement to the rest of the league.

He only came on in the 75th minute, but once he was on the pitch, it was impossible to ignore him.

Granted, a lot of what he tried didn’t actually come off for him, but the fact that he attempted three dribbles, played two key passes, and was accurate in two of his three crosses in just a little over 20 minutes of action is hugely impressive.

He made Andy Robertson’s life miserable in the closing moments of the game and then, thanks to his awareness and positioning, was in the right place at the right time to poke home the winner.

Daniel Sturridge summed it up well after the game when he said the teenage gem “came on and was absolutely top draw.”

In all, Estevao looks destined to reach the very top of the game, but Chelsea have already signed another sensational prospect who might just be an even bigger talent.

Chelsea's bigger talent than Estevao

In good news for Chelsea fans, there are a few genuinely exciting youngsters set to join the squad next summer, including Denner, Geovany Quenda, and Kenry Paez.

Chalkboard

Football FanCast’s Chalkboard series presents a tactical discussion from around the global game.

However, when it comes to someone who might be a bigger talent than Estevao, only one name comes to mind: Dastan Satpayev.

The Blues secured a deal for the Kazakhstani forward in February, but as he was 16 at the time and is now 17, he has to wait another season before he can move to West London.

However, that might not actually be such a bad thing, as he’s been getting plenty of game time with Kairat Almaty in recent campaigns and making quite the impression.

For example, in 27 appearances last season, totalling 1908 minutes, the young phenom scored 13 goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.35 games, or every 95.4 minutes.

Appearances

27

Minutes

1908′

Goals

13

Assists

7

Goal Involvements per Match

0.74

Minutes per Goal Involvement

95.4′

So far this season, the Almaty-born ace has scored three goals and provided one assist in nine games, seven of which have been qualifiers for the Champions League, with the other two being in the competition proper.

The hype surrounding the forward is no joke, with one analyst going as far as calling him “a future Ballon d’Or winner” and, as if that wasn’t enough pressure, “a future rival to Lamine Yamal.”

Finally, the 17-year-old is not just impressing at club level, but also on the international stage.

After producing five goal involvements in ten games for Kazakhstan’s U17 side, and then making one appearance for the U21s, he has already won five senior caps, two of which have come against Wales.

Ultimately, Estevao is the man of the moment and appears destined for greatness, but it seems that Satpayev will follow a very similar path in a year’s time and could even surpass him.

Moises Caicedo tells Chelsea fans where he ranks himself compared to Kante

The Blues midfielder scored a stunning goal as his side went on to defeat Liverpool.

BySean Markus Clifford Oct 6, 2025

TalkSPORT pundit Simon Jordan has revealed that he spoke to Daniel Levy in the summer and urged the former Tottenham chairman to hire an alternative to Thomas Frank.

Tottenham braced for Champions League reunion with Bodo/Glimt

Spurs take on last season’s Europa League semi-final opponents, Bodo/Glimt, in the Champions League group phase this evening as Frank looks to build upon their 1-0 win against Villarreal last time out.

At the end of 2024/2025, The Lilywhites ran out 5-1 winners on aggregate over Bodo/Glimt to reach their first European final since their Champions League loss to Liverpool in 2019 — beating tonight’s opponents 2-0 the last time they travelled to the Aspmyra Stadion in May.

Bodo/Glimt’s journey to the Champions League phase comes as historic for both the club and the country they hail from, as they’re the first team from Norway to reach this stage of the competition for two decades.

Frank is no stranger to Scandinavian football and will be aware of the threat they pose this evening, according to Bodo/Glimt chief executive Frode Thomassen, who hailed the 51-year-old in an interview with GiveMeSport.

Thus far, ex-chair Levy and the board’s decision to appoint Frank looks like the right one.

Matches

9

Wins

5

Draws

2

Losses

2

Points

14

Points per game

1.89

He’s overseen five victories from nine of his first games in charge, with Tottenham also displaying a real grit to come back from losing positions to snatch dramatic draws in their last two Premier League outings.

Joao Palhinha’s expertly taken side-footed half-volley ensured Spurs avoided a humbling defeat at home to Wolves on Saturday, yet again proving the case that Tottenham should activate the £27 million buy-option at the end of the midfielder’s loan deal.

Despite their bad luck at the Amex in recent seasons, Tottenham also came back from 2-0 down to 2-2 against Brighton a fortnight ago, with signs suggesting that Spurs are already a far more robust outfit than under Ange Postecoglou.

Simon Jordan urged Daniel Levy to hire Oliver Glasner instead of Thomas Frank

Tottenham had other options on their managerial shortlist to replace Postecoglou.

According to reports, before the club announced Frank as their latest new manager, Tottenham did consider a move for Crystal Palace boss Oliver Glasner.

The Austrian is working wonders at Selhurst Park right now, despite losing a succession of star players in the last two summer windows, with Michael Olise joining Bayern Munich in 2024 and Eberechi Eze signing for boyhood club Arsenal last summer.

They also face the looming threat of Marc Guehi’s departure as his contract winds down towards expiry, but for now, Glasner’s Palace are unbeaten in their last 18 games across all competitions.

Now, pundit and ex-Palace chairman Jordan has told talkSPORT that he urged Levy to go for Glasner before Tottenham eventually hired Frank, calling the tactician a “top, top manager”.

The 51-year-old’s contract currently expires next summer, so if things don’t work out with Frank, the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss will be readily available in 2026 as things stand.

Of course, this is presuming another top side doesn’t come in for Glasner, which may be wishful thinking considering just how fine of a job he’s done in South London over the last 12 months.

Strip away everything else, and you can more often than not reduce T20 contests to a simple count-off: who hit more sixes? Mumbai Indians (MI) hit 17 in the IPL 2025 Eliminator, and Gujarat Titans (GT) hit eight.Rohit Sharma top-scored for MI with 81 off 50 balls; B Sai Sudharsan top-scored for GT with 80 off 49. The difference lay in MI’s hitting depth. Five of their batters cleared the boundary at least three times each.Related

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• Calm Ashwani fills the gaps in MI's Bumrah-centric bowling plans

• Sai Sudharsan: I have 'a lot of things to improve' in my T20 game

• Stats – MI's record total and Rohit's day of milestones

• 'Today was that day for me' – Rohit and MI ride their luck to Qualifier 2

This hitting depth took MI to the second-highest total in any IPL playoff game, and ensured that GT’s target always remained just out of reach, even though their chase, advantaged by dew, was alive almost until the end.And there was one other difference between MI and GT, a difference MI can call on against every other team in the tournament: Jasprit Bumrah. His raw figures were impressive enough – 1 for 27 in four overs – and he also produced the moment of the match, a pinpoint leg-stump yorker to bowl Washington Sundar between his legs, and end an 84-run fourth-wicket stand with Sai Sudharsan.Bumrah followed up with an 18th over that went for just nine runs – despite containing a six – and that left GT with 36 to get off the last 12 balls. It became 24 off six after Trent Boult’s 19th over, and while it was possible – especially with Rahul Tewatia and M Shahrukh Khan at the crease – it’s an equation that usually favours the bowling team.1:29

Two lives for Rohit ‘unlocked the freedom’

Rohit rides his luck, Bairstow returns with a bang

MI’s total was built on the back of a blazing start from their new opening pair. Jonny Bairstow, replacing Ryan Rickelton who has left for international duty, smashed a 22-ball 47 on his debut for his third IPL team. Rohit, meanwhile, made his fourth fifty and highest score of the season.MI chose to bat a day after Punjab Kings (PBKS), sent in, had been bowled out for 101 at the same venue the day before. This was a different pitch, however, with even bounce and none of the seam movement of Qualifier 1.Even so, GT could have had MI in trouble early, only for Gerald Coetzee and Kusal Mendis – the latter making his IPL debut – to put Rohit down on 3 and 12. Within minutes, GT were firmly on the back foot, with Bairstow tonking Prasidh Krishna for 26 runs – though two of his boundaries came off the edge – in the fourth over.Bairstow fell in the eighth over, but MI kept punching. Rohit’s use of the sweep against GT’s spinners was particularly noteworthy, bringing him 27 runs – the most he’s scored with variants of the sweep against spin in any IPL innings for which shot data is available – off just six balls.He slowed down after reaching his half-century, only scoring 31 off his last 22 balls. Here was another parallel with Sai Sudharsan’s innings: he scored 28 off his last 21. And just like Sai Sudharsan and Washington, Rohit and Bairstow put on 84 off 44 balls.1:38

Moody: Bairstow is used to such pressure moments

MI flex their middle-order muscle

The most ominous thing about MI’s innings was the steadily rising frequency of their six-hitting. Even though Bairstow and Suryakumar Yadav – who made his 15th successive 25-plus score in T20s – were out by then, they cleared the rope nine times in the last six overs, with Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir doing their bit before Hardik Pandya finished with three maximums off Coetzee in a 22-run final over.If GT could have done anything differently with the ball, it could have been to use the slower ball more often. Prasidh and Mohammed Siraj dismissed Rohit and Tilak in the 17th and 18th overs with skilful use of this weapon, but GT probably turned to it a little too late, and didn’t use it often enough even then.By the time dew set in during the chase, this option was taken out of MI’s toolkit, leaving them to put their trust in on-pace yorkers and the odd hard-length ball.1:49

Moody: Sudharsan an all-format player for India for 10-plus years

GT rebound quickly from early loss of Gill

GT lost Shubman Gill early, with Boult striking in typical fashion – angling the ball across the right-hand batter and bending it back to trap him lbw – to pick up his 32nd first-over wicket in the IPL. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is some way behind in second place with 27.Then Bumrah bowled a four-run first over of swing and searing pace, leaving GT 9 for 1 after two. But they quickly found their voice, with Mendis putting a shocker behind the stumps – apart from the early Rohit spill, he also dropped Suryakumar in the 12th over – behind him with a pair of big leg-side sixes off Boult in the third over, and Sai Sudharsan finding the gaps with impressive frequency while rushing past 700 – and then 750 – runs for the season.Mendis was looking ominous on 20 off nine balls when he fell in unfortunate fashion, his back foot slipping backwards when he stepped deep in his crease to pull Mitchell Santner in the seventh over, and trampling the stumps. It portended good things for GT in a way, though, since it was an early sign of dew.The ball certainly came onto the bat beautifully as the Sai Sudharsan-Washington partnership surged. Washington took a little while to get going – he was on 11 off nine initially – but quickly found his boundary-hitting range and began to dominate the stand. When he hit Boult for two sixes and a four in the 13th over, he was on 47 off 22, and GT needed 81 off 42.2:13

Moody: Ridiculous how far ahead of the rest Bumrah is

Bumrah turns the tide

It was at this point that Bumrah re-entered the game. The fourth ball of his third over was a candidate for the ball of IPL 2025, swerving late, homing into the base of leg stump, and Washington’s front leg opening up to try and create space for his bat to access the ball only created a channel for the ball to burst through.It wasn’t over yet, but with Sai Sudharsan falling to Richard Gleeson – another MI debutant – in the 16th over as GT chased a boundary almost every ball, MI’s grip tightened. And with all the dew about, their execution of yorkers – they usually didn’t miss by much even when they did miss – was exemplary.Bumrah and Boult were excellent, and Gleeson bowled three hard-to-hit balls in the 20th to close it out mathematically before trudging off with a hamstring issue, but impact sub Ashwani Kumar was just as good. The left-armer eventually had the responsibility of bowling the last three balls, and finished with 1 for 28 in 3.3 overs.

The eight players who are part of the WTC squad will return to South Africa by May 27

Firdose Moonda15-May-2025

Kagiso Rabada will not be available for GT, should they qualify for the playoffs•IPL

The eight South African players who are part of the World Test Championship (WTC) final squad will return to home by May 27 and, as a result, miss the IPL 2025 playoffs.The eight players, Kagiso Rabada (Gujarat Titans), Aiden Markram (Lucknow Super Giants), Marco Jansen (Punjab Kings), Tristan Stubbs (Delhi Capitals), Lungi Ngidi (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), Wiaan Mulder (Sunrisers Hyderabad), Ryan Rickelton and Corbin Bosch (both Mumbai Indians) will leave for the United Kingdom with the rest of South Africa’s WTC final squad on May 30, to prepare for a warm-up game against Zimbabwe from June 3 at Arundel.ESPNcricinfo has confirmed that Cricket South Africa (CSA) has concluded negotiations with the IPL about the early release of these players, given the importance of the WTC final, which will be played on June 11 at Lord’s against Australia.All other South African players not part of the WTC final will remain at the IPL until its conclusion.Related

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The IPL resumes on May 17 after it was suspended for just over a week in the wake of the India-Pakistan cross-border tensions. RCB will take on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the first game, with Ngidi expected to be a part of the fixture, in case Josh Hazlewood does not recover in time from a shoulder niggle.Out of the seven teams which have the WTC final-bound South Africa players, SRH are out of contention. GT have played a chunk of the season without Rabada, the last being on March 29 against MI and are just one step away from sealing a playoffs spot.MI will be most affected with their South Africa contingent departing after the league stage. With 336 runs in 12 innings, Rickelton is MI’s second-highest run-getter, while Bosch has played useful cameos and bowled decently in the three games he’s played.Jansen’s departure will also worry PBKS, who need two wins in their last three games to confirm a playoff spot. Jansen is PBKS’ third-highest wicket-taker with 11 wickets in as many games. Stubbs, meanwhile, has been DC’s designated finisher and is their third-highest run-getter this season with 259 runs in ten innings at a strike rate of 151.46.Markam has 348 runs in 11 innings for LSG and is their third-highest run-scorer so far. LSG are currently placed seventh on the points table and need to win all their remaining fixtures, and even that might not be enough for them to make it to the playoffs.The league phase ends on May 27, while the playoffs begin on May 29, with the final on June 3.

Now that we have some distance from the disappointing loss to Liverpool, there is plenty to be optimistic about for Arsenal this season.

For example, Mikel Arteta was backed in a big way in the summer, with players like Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Noni Madueke.

Moreover, in addition to these new players, Hale End looks to have produced another superstar in the making for the club in the unreal Max Dowman.

The teenager already looks more than comfortable in the senior game and like he has a bright future ahead of him, although there was another academy superstar who was once predicted to do big things and is now worth less than £1m.

Max Dowman's rapid rise

It would be fair to say that, aside from the Champions League run, last season was one of the least enjoyable campaigns Arsenal fans have had for some time, as it felt like everything was going wrong.

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Your star player or biggest flop has left the club but what are they doing in the present day? This article is part of Football FanCast’s Where Are They Now series.

However, the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly was a real bright spot, and yet, even as they broke into the first team, there was talk of an even more exciting prospect in the academy – a 14-year-old who was playing well beyond his years.

This was, of course, Dowman, and when you take a look at his statistics from last season, it becomes easier to understand why those in the know, like Jacek Kulig, were going as far as proclaiming him to be the “most exciting prospect” he had seen “since Lamine Yamal.”

For example, in just 23 appearances, totalling 1945 minutes, he put the ball in the back of the net 19 goals and provided five assists for good measure, which comes out to an average of 1.04 goal involvements per match, or one every 81.04 minutes.

Numbers like these forced Arteta and Co to bring the youngster on the pre-season tour this year, and for the first time, fans were able to see why so many are so excited about him, as he came off the bench against Newcastle United and won a penalty in short time.

However, the most significant indication of just how highly the club rate the teenager is the fact he’s now a regular part of the first-team squad, and that not only did he make his Premier League debut against Leeds United, but that the manager felt comfortable subbing him on at Anfield when the team needed a goal.

In all, while it is still so early, the hype around Dowman is starting to feel justified, which unfortunately was never the case with a former Hale Ender who is now plying his trade in Europe.

Arsenal's original Dowman

Every year, there is a new set of exciting academy talents that fans get excited about, but sometimes, there is more than that; there is an expectation, and while Dowman looks like he might fulfil the expectations fans have of him, Charlie Patino was unable to live up to the expectations people had of him.

While it seems a long time ago now, the youngster was expected by many to be the next big thing to emerge from Hale End.

For example, back in October 2021, former Gunners’ wonderkid Jack Wilshere told the press that the youngster was “going to make a name for himself in the future” and that he was “one who everyone at the training ground is talking about.”

As if that wasn’t enough, Arsenal scout Brian Stappleton claimed that Sean O’Connor, the scout who discovered Wilshere, told him Patino was “the best player who has ever walked through the doors at Hale End.”

The hype was only further fueled when the “golden” youngster, as dubbed by talent scout Jacek Kulig, came off the bench to make his competitive debut for the club in a League Cup match against Sunderland in 2021 and scored.

With regular first-team football the next step, Arsenal sent their exciting wonderkid on a number of loan spells, first to Blackpool and then Swansea City.

However, while he did okay during this time, a total tally of seven goals and eight assists in 72 games didn’t suggest he was quite ready to play under Arteta, and so when the player’s camp made it clear he wanted to leave, the Gunners were forced into accepting a low £1m off from Deportivo La Coruna due to the lack of interest from other sides.

Patino’s Loan record
Team	Blackpool	Swansea
Appearances	37	35
Goals	3	4
Assists	4	4
Goal Involvements per Match	0.18	0.22
All Stats via Transfermarkt

Unfortunately, things have not worked out for the 21-year-old, as he’s made just 12 appearances over the last year, in which he’s failed to score or assist a single goal.

Unsurprisingly, this has seen his valuation tank, and according to Transfermarkt, the former next big thing is now worth €600k, which is just £518k.

Ultimately, while there is still plenty of time for Patino to forge a great career for himself, it’s probably safe to say the hype and pressure placed on his shoulders were not justified.

Madueke upgrade: Arsenal gem who left for £0 is now "one of the best in the world"

The superstar would be an excellent rival for Saka at Arsenal.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 11, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur’s squad has come a long way in such a short space of time, with Thomas Frank the current beneficiary of the hierarchy’s impressive recruitment.

Managers like Antonio Conte have tried and failed to transform the club, subsequently being unable to bring the success the fans have desired to North London.

The Italian ultimately left the club back in March 2023 despite achieving a 53% win percentage, with Ange Postecoglou taking over ahead of the following campaign.

In the last couple of years, the hierarchy have spent big on the transfer window to try and take the club to the next level and achieve a sustained period of success – whether that be in the Premier League or Europe.

One of the players brought in during such a period has demonstrated his talents for the Lilywhites, but has also come under fire for his lack of impact at certain times of his spell at the club.

The ups and downs of Brennan Johnson’s Spurs career

Brennan Johnson joined Spurs for a reported £47.5m back in the summer of 2023, arriving with high expectations after netting 10 goals and registering three assists for Nottingham Forest the year prior.

The Welshman has endured a topsy-turvy time in North London to date, only scoring five times in his first season at the club – leading to unjustifiable abuse from the supporters.

Such a situation would lead to the winger deleting his social media accounts, but it would lead to a huge upturn in form and securing his place as a regular starter once again.

Johnson would score 18 times across all competitions last campaign – the most of any player in the squad – even netting the winner in the Europa League final against Manchester United.

The goal against the Red Devils ended the Lilywhites’ 17-year wait for any form of silverware, subsequently handing a generation of supporters memories to last a lifetime.

Whilst scoring twice in as many outings at the start of 2025/26, Johnson has since fallen down the pecking order of late, failing to make a single start in the Premier League since the end of August.

As a result, he’s subsequently being outperformed by one former Spurs star who may have been harshly sold given his lack of first-team action in North London.

The former Spurs star who is playing better than Johnson

Whilst Spurs have spent big in the transfer market over the last couple of seasons, numerous players have had to be sacrificed to help balance the books to avoid any financial implications.

Harry Kane has been the biggest player to depart North London over recent windows, leaving in a mammoth £82m transfer to join Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.

The Englishman has left a huge gap in the first-team squad, unsurprisingly so given his tally of 280 goals for the Lilywhites – the most by any player in the club’s history.

He wasn’t the only attacker that was sacrificed by the club to raise funds, with former boss Conte deciding to offload winger Jack Clarke to Sunderland back in the summer of 2022.

The winger joined the club from Championship side Leeds United for a fee in the region of £10m, with his addition seeing the club land themselves a star for the future.

However, it’s safe to say his time in North London failed to live up to expectations, as Clarke was restricted to only four senior appearances for the club – none of which came in the Premier League.

After countless loan spells away from the Lilywhites, he would move on a permanent basis to join the Black Cats three years after his transfer – subsequently unable to have the impact he desired.

Fast forward to the present day, the 24-year-old now plies his trade for Ipswich Town after joining them for £15m last summer, now becoming a key member of their current first-team squad.

Clarke has now scored three times and registered one assist for the Tractor Boys, a tally higher than that of Johnson, who’s only scored twice in the 2025/26 campaign.

Jack Clarke – stats in 2025/26

Statistics (per 90)

Tally

Games played

9

Goals & assists

4

Pass accuracy

78%

Chances created

1.3

Cross accuracy

67%

Successful dribbles

2.3

Tackles won

1.8

Fouls won

2.1

Stats via FotMob

There’s no denying the Englishman is achieving such heights in a lower division, but it’s clear that he’s a player full of confidence at present – but the same can’t be said for the Welshman.

Frank needs to give Johnson the support he needs to get back to the levels he produced last season, with his drop in from in recent weeks a huge concern to everyone involved with the club.

As for Clarke, it’s great to see a former player finally fulfilling the potential he arrived with, but it’s a real shame that he’s not doing so in the whites of Tottenham.

His departure may have been a tad premature, but unfortunately for the fanbase, he will now remain a case of what could’ve been with their loss now Ipswich’s gain.

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