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Temba Bavuma heard the references as Australia tried to get into South Africa’s heads on the fourth day at Lord’s, but the ‘chokers’ tag can now be banished to history.When Bavuma and Aiden Markram resumed on day four needing 69 to win, the Australians reminded them that the job wasn’t done. The tension was palpable in the middle, especially when Bavuma edged Pat Cummins behind with 65 needed and Tristan Stubbs had his bail trimmed by a beauty from Mitchell Starc with the target 41 away.But in the end, there were no major alarms as Markram took them within touching distance of the target with an innings for the ages.Bavuma was quick to say how facing the current Australian team is a different experience than in the past – a clear reference to the infamous 2018 series – but that didn’t mean there weren’t a few words.Related

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“Playing against Australia is a bit different in the last couple of years,” he said. “They’re not as vocal out on the field. They’re still aggressive through their body language, through obviously their skill, but there’s not a lot of chatter.”Of course, the tag of us being chokers, that came about this morning. One of their players threw out the fact that we could lose our eight wickets in less than 60 runs. I definitely heard that.”Aiden kept using the [words] lock in after every over, let’s keep locking in. Let’s give them nothing. So yeah, not a lot of chatter, just one or two things that were, that were said.”1:53

Steyn on SA’s WTC win: ‘We saw the biggest of the biggest come through’

Australia stretched the game as long as they could and in the end were able to take the second new ball, but by then only 14 runs were needed and Markram dispatched the first delivery of it emphatically through midwicket.”It was kind of just draw it out as long as we can, try and for the pace bowlers, just try and go for two runs an over,” Cummins said. “[Nathan] Lyon was looking really likely and you never know, maybe some clouds come over, maybe a new ball does something different, just try to string it out as more and more nerves play into it as well.”Markram, who had been emotional when reaching his century on the third evening and referenced his own feelings when falling short in last year’s T20 World Cup, hoped talk of the past had been permanently put to bed.”It would be great to not have to hear it again, that’s for sure,” he said. “In terms of it motivating you, I mean, there’s always going to be external things that can motivate you, but it’s not your sole purpose for playing. To have got the job done and to literally have got the job done and to get rid of that is quite a big thing for this team.”Cummins was gracious in his assessment of Markram’s performance and South Africa overall after the frequent debates about their route to the final.”A few of us have played alongside him as well in IPL and [he’s] very well respected,” he said. “He’s a good man, Aidan. Unfortunately for us, he kind of made it look pretty easy out there and just built a big innings. We threw a fair bit at him, but [he] had an answer for everything.””Everyone has a slightly different route to make the final, but they absolutely deserved to make the final and showed why I think they’re very deserving champions.”

Celtic have failed to win three of their last five matches in all competitions and have been held to drab scoreless draws in two of those matches.

The Hoops failed to make the breakthrough against Hibernian at Parkhead on Saturday afternoon, despite creating seven ‘big chances’ to find the back of the net, per Sofascore.

Brendan Rodgers will be disappointed that his team were unable to score from 26 shots and seven ‘big chances’ at home in front of their own supporters, particularly as the result has left them second in the table.

It will be doubly frustrating because the Scottish giants also had six ‘big chances’ to score against Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League on Thursday night, but only scored once.

This means that Celtic have scored one goal from 13 ‘big chances’ created in the last two matches against Red Star Belgrade and Hibernian, which does not paint their attack in the best light.

Kelechi Iheanacho was the player who scored in the draw against the Serbian side in midweek, with a terrific finish into the top corner, but he lost his mojo for the clash with Hibernian.

Why Kelechi Iheanacho let Celtic down against Hibernian

The left-footed marksman made a terrific start to his career at Parkhead with a debut goal, from the penalty spot, against Kilmarnock to win the game in the 96th minute.

Iheanacho then registered an assist for Sebastian Tounekti against Partick Thistle in the League Cup in his second outing, before scoring an excellent goal against Red Star Belgrade in the Europa League.

His contributions across those three matches earned him a start in the number nine position against Hibernian, having come off the bench in the matches to score against Kilmarnock and Red Star Belgrade.

Iheanacho was unable to build on those promising cameos, though, as his performance against Hibernian left a bit too much to be desired, particularly with his play in front of goal in the 0-0 draw.

The Nigeria international played the opening 67 minutes of the match against Hibs and was unable to make the breakthough in front of goal, despite the team creating enough chances for him to do so.

Vs Hibernian	Kelechi Iheanacho
Minutes	67
Shots	4
Shots on target	1
Big chances missed	2
Passes completed	9/10
Key passes	1
Big chances created	0
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, his teammates helped him to take four shots at goal and have two ‘big chances’, but he squandered his opportunities, including one from close-range that smacked the crossbar.

The former Sevilla marksman, who arrived at Parkhead as a free agent, will be hoping that he can improve his efficiency in front of goal as he gets back up to full match sharpness, given that the clash with Hibernian was just his second start of the season.

Iheanacho lost his goalscoring touch for the weekend’s clash, having scored in two of his first three games, but there is another player in the squad whose decline in form in front of goal is even more concerning.

Chalkboard

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

Rodgers unleashed Daizen Maeda on the right flank against Hibernian, with Iheanacho through the middle and Sebastian Tounekti on the left flank, and the Japan international produced an underwhelming display.

Daizen Maeda has lost his Midas touch for Celtic

In the 2024/25 campaign, it seemed like everything Maeda touched turned to goals. He ended the season with a return of 33 goals in 51 appearances in all competitions, per Transfermarkt.

The Japanese marksman, who scored 16 goals in the Scottish Premiership, earned the Player of the Year award in Scotland, thanks to his prolific form in front of goal.

Unfortunately, it currently looks like last season’s exploits were a flash in the pan for the 27-year-old attacker, whose output in front of goal has declined since the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

As explained in the clip below from the Daily Record’s show, Maeda has “lost his Midas touch” for Rodgers at the top end of the pitch on this season’s evidence so far.

The Celtic forward missed two ‘big chances’, as many as Iheanacho, whilst playing on the right wing against Hibernian, per Sofascore, and earned a player rating of 6/10 from 67HailHail.

Unfortunately, missing ‘big chances’ has become a theme for the Japan international this season in the Premiership, as he has failed to kick on from his 33-goal campaign last term.

Daizen Maeda (Premiership)	24/25	25/26
Appearances	34	6
Goals	16	1
Minutes per goal	160	446
Conversion rate	28%	13%
Big chances missed	17	4
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Maeda’s conversion rate has plummeted by 15% in the Premiership, which shows that he has been far too wasteful with his shots in the current season.

One possible explanation for his decline in form is the fact that he missed out on a summer move away from Parkhead. In his pre-Hibernian press conference, Rodgers suggested that the attacker may have a “subconscious” thing holding his performances back because of that failed move.

Maeda scored 33 goals last season and may have been excited to get a move to a major European league, but the Hoops were unable to source a replacement for him late on in the window, and staying at Parkhead may have been tough to take.

This is, of course, just speculation, but Rodgers’ comment about it being a “subconscious” issue does point towards that being a possible reason for the forward losing his Midas touch in front of goal.

"Phenomenal" Celtic star looks like the biggest loser from Tounekti's rise

This Celtic star may end up being the biggest loser from Sebastian Tounekti’s form.

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Hopefully, Maeda can get back on track and start to show the lethal efficiency in the final third that resulted in him winning the Premiership Player of the Year award last season.

Arsenal have already had to cope with several injuries in attack this season. Most recently, it is Noni Madueke who has suffered from a fitness problem. The England winger will miss the next couple of months due to a knee issue. He joins Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus on the sidelines.

However, the Gunners are bolstered in attack ahead of the weekend’s trip to Newcastle United. Mikel Arteta confirmed in his pre-match press conference that Martin Odegaard could return to the squad after injury. Bukayo Saka is also confirmed to be fit after playing an hour in the Carabao Cup win over Port Vale.

Arsenal’s injury issues in attack have meant Arteta has needed the full depth of his squad. Leandro Trossard got the nod to start against Manchester City last weekend.

Trossard’s performance against Man City

It has been a strange season so far for Belgium international Trossard. He’s very much been on the periphery of Arteta’s squad, playing just 166 minutes in five games. He was also an unused substitute in two Premier League games.

Yet, his impact has been notable when given the opportunity. He has two goals and two assists, which include one of each in the Champions League against Athletic Club. From the start, however, he has struggled to have an impact.

The former Brighton winger has only started once this season, in their recent 1-1 draw against Man City. It certainly wasn’t the best performance, with The Standard journalist Simon Collings rating his efforts a 5/10. Collings said it was ‘frustrating’ watching Trossard against City.

Indeed, the stats show just how much of a disappointing performance the 30-year-old forward put in from the left wing. He lost the ball 14 times, failed to create a chance, and didn’t complete any of his three crosses, per Sofascore.

With that poor performance in mind, it might not be a surprise to see Trossard ruthlessly dropped out of the lineup against Newcastle. Arteta could have the perfect replacement lined up.

Who Arteta could replace Trossard with

The Gunners are certainly short of attacking options ahead of their tough trip to St James’ Park. Madueke would surely have been a lock to start against Eddie Howe’s side, but he is, of course, sidelined. Eberechi Eze could operate out wide, but he shone in midfield against Port Vale.

Instead, Gunners boss Arteta could turn to 18-year-old attacker Ethan Nwaneri to start out wide against the Magpies. The Hale End graduate has played four times this season, and whilst all those appearances have come from central areas, he can certainly play on the wing.

Arsenal’s Spanish gaffer has shown adaptability this season when it comes to playing left-footed wingers on the left flank, which would be the case with Nwaneri. It is a role Madueke has filled already, with Saka operating on his favoured right-hand side.

Nwaneri certainly has the technical ability to operate out on the left and help break down the low block that Newcastle could well employ. This is something they have done in the past, as noted by analyst Adrian Clarke on the Premier League website.

Described as a “special talent” by Statman Dave, the 18-year-old created an average of 1.3 key passes last season for the Gunners. He could be crucial to unlocking the Magpies’ defence, who will no doubt be resolute.

Minutes

38.8

1436

Goals and assists

0.7

11

Key passes

1.3

20

Dribbles completed

2.9

47

Tackles and interceptions

1.5

24

Expected goal involvements

0.29xGI

4.67xGI

The youngster is excellent when carrying the ball in tight spaces. Again, this could be important in breaking down the potential low block Howe will use. There won’t be much space to run with the ball, so having a player who is excellent at keeping possession in tight areas could be key.

This goal for England under-21s is a prime example.

Given how Newcastle deep might play against the Gunners on Sunday afternoon, Nwaneri could be a vital part of Arteta’s plan. His impressive technical ability to both pick an incisive pass and keep the ball in tight spaces could be key if the Magpies do play with a low block.

Arteta certainly trusts the 18-year-old, and giving him a chance out on the left would further show just how highly he rates him.

Arsenal have an "insane" Hale Ender brewing who'll one day take Eze's #10

The incredibly exciting talent will become a superstar for Arsenal.

ByJack Salveson Holmes Sep 25, 2025

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has been crystal clear on his desire for the club to bring in reinforcements at the top end of the pitch before the end of the summer transfer window.

Speaking earlier this month, the Hoops head coach said: “The squad will hopefully look again different come the end of the window.

“I think it’s very clear. We need to improve in the front end of the pitch. The attacking department has always, and always will be, the strengths of my teams. We’ve lost important players in that area, and we need to replace players in that area.”

There is still just over a week left to go before the summer transfer window slams shut, which means that there is still time for the board to get Rodgers the player he wants to improve the team.

The former Liverpool boss handed opportunities to some of his new signings, including Shin Yamada and Hayato Inamura, in the 3-0 win over Livingston in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday.

And it was one of the club’s summer signings who caught the eye with a brilliant performance for the Scottish giants, as Benjamin Nygren excelled.

What Benjamin Nygren offers for Celtic

The Sweden international showcased his versatility against Livingston by playing out on the right wing after featuring in central midfield in his first few outings for the Hoops.

Nygren, who was signed from Nordsjaelland in the summer, offers Rodgers the flexibility to move him between roles in-game and from game-to-game when needed, which is a useful asset to have within a squad when facing injuries or in-game situations.

The left-footed whiz also offers quality in front of goal. A return of 16 goals in 32 games for his former club last season suggested that he would provide a threat in the final third for Celtic, but you can never be too sure about how a player will adapt to Scottish football.

After an underwhelming debut against St Mirren, as he got his feet under the table at Parkhead, Nygren impresed with a goal and an assist in a 2-0 win over Aberdeen in his second appearance.

Vs Livingston	Benjamin Nygren
Minutes	90
Sofascore rating	9.9
Shots	5
Goals	2
Key passes	3
Big chances created	1
Dribbles completed	2/5
Long passes completed	5/5
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the Celtic star was immense against Livingston in his latest outing, on the right wing, with two goals in the 3-0 win, including one thumping finish into the top corner with his ‘weak’ foot.

It is fair to say, with three goals and one assist in three league games, that Nygren has hit the ground running as an impressive offensive force for Rodgers.

Now, Celtic could find another forward who has the ability to hit the ground running at Parkhead as they reportedly close in on another attacking signing.

Celtic closing in on deal for new winger

According to journalist Sacha Tavolieiri, Royal Antwerp winger Michel-Ange Balikwisha has decided to sign for Celtic before the end of the summer transfer window.

The reporter claims that the Hoops have reached an agreement on personal terms with the Belgian forward, who is now set to complete a move to Scotland in the coming days.

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Tavolieri claims that Balikwisha had a meeting with Celtic officials this week and was convinced by the project that was laid out to him, which has led to his decision to make the move to Parkhead.

This comes after The Celtic Way recently reported that the Premiership champions had agreed a £4.5m deal with Royal Antwerp to sign the Belgian forward to bolster the squad.

The last hurdle to clear before a transfer could be completed after agreeing a fee was to convince the player to make the switch, and it appears as though the Hoops have cleared it.

Why Balikwisha could be a Nygren repeat

At the age of 24, Balikwisha is set to arrive in Glasgow as he heads into the prime years of his career as a winger. He is not a young and inexperienced forward who needs time to develop, and he is not a veteran whose best days are past him.

This means that the 24-year-old star could come in to hit the ground running as an immediate starter and star-quality operator out wide for Rodgers, much like Nygren has.

The versatile attacker, who can play on either flank or in central midfield, has scored one goal and created four chances in four games in the Pro League so far this season, per Sofascore.

This comes after an injury-disrupted 2024/25 campaign led to him registering four goals and three assists in 16 outings in the top-flight last term, which shows that he can provide quality as both a scorer and a creator of goals.

That is further backed up by his performances in the Pro League for Royal Antwerp in the 2023/24 campaign when he was fit for the majority of the campaign.

23/24 Pro League	Michel-Ange Balikwisha
Starts	27
xG	6.46
Goals	7
Big chances created	6
Key passes per game	1.5
Assists	5
Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, the £4.5m-rated star caught the eye with his contributions as both a scorer and a creator, outperforming his xG and averaging 1.5 chances created per game.

Balikwisha, who was described as a “creative” talent by analyst Will Glavin, is a direct winger who wants to make things happen at the top end of the pitch, by taking shots and playing passes and crosses into the final third to create chances for his teammates.

He could get supporters off their seats and excited by his play at the top end of the pitch, with his form in the Pro League suggesting that he has the potential to be a Nygren repeat for Rodgers.

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Balikwisha is set to arrive in his prime, ready to perform, and could hit the ground running as an immediate star for the Scottish giants heading into the rest of the season.

Big picture: Pakistan and Bangladesh hope rain stays away

It has not been a tournament to remember for either Pakistan or Bangladesh, and the team talks ahead of their last game, against each other in Rawalpindi, are likely to be similar: play for pride, etc. With some chatter about the poor weather – if it continues, as the forecast says, the long faces in the two dressing rooms will get longer.Pakistan’s numbers in the Champions Trophy matches against New Zealand and India don’t make for pretty reading. Their top-order batters haven’t pulled their collective weight. With Fakhar Zaman out injured, Imam-ul-Haq came in and didn’t do much. Saud Shakeel and Babar Azam have both hit a half-century each, but not been able to have any major impact. Mohammad Rizwan hasn’t looked in any sort of form despite scoring a century in the tri-series at home before the Champions Trophy. Pakistan could bring in Kamran Ghulam just to freshen things up, but who do they drop?After the top four, it’s no better. Khushdil Shah, Salman Agha and Tayyab Tahir seem to be playing similar roles, which has led to stagnation in the middle. Faheem Ashraf, potentially, could have balanced the side a bit, but hasn’t been given a go. And the quick bowlers have struggled to control the flow. India took apart Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf. Naseem Shah has been better, but has looked below his best. Abrar Ahmed has bowled one great delivery that was overshadowed by his celebration.Related

• Pakistan won't take Bangladesh pacers lightly, Aaqib Javed says

• Aaqib Javed's post mortem: Lack of experience in the ranks hurt Pakistan

• Shanto fears Bangladesh are 'taking it lightly' after exit

• Pakistan slide feels like a terminal, slow decline

Bangladesh haven’t been too different, bar their quick bowling. Their batting has been one-dimensional, and not been able to go through the gears, with the lower order having to bail them out. Their top order caved in against India, while Michael Bracewell’s offspin got rid of their middle order in the other game. Najmul Hossain Shanto showed form against New Zealand, while Jaker Ali has been consistent – they might have to do even more against Pakistan. As is the case with Towhid Hridoy, who scored an impressive century against India.1:58

‘Disappointing to see Bangladesh’s big players go missing in a must-win game’

But they will want veterans Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah to sign off from what could be their last ICC game with a bang and not a whimper. Their lack of fire has been disappointing to see, though, in Mahmudullah’s case, it’s just been one match and one failure.Taskin Ahmed and Nahid Rana have to do the heavy lifting again on Thursday, with Mustafizur Rahman continuing to be steady without being spectacular. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Rishad Hossain, the lead spinners, have a lot to do, too, especially in Rawalpindi where they should have a more central role.But the two teams will also be looking beyond this game. They have to set their priorities right in the domestic circuit and then look for improvement in their international teams. They will both have to go back to the drawing board ahead of the next ICC tournament, and figure out how they can make a better fist of it, especially with a transition of sorts possibly around the corner.

Form guide

Pakistan LLLWL
Bangladesh LLLLL

In the spotlight: Abrar Ahmed and Jaker Ali

His send-off after the wonder ball to Shubman Gill has attracted all the attention, but Abrar Ahmed has been one of the few success stories for Pakistan in the last couple of weeks. He’s posed a wicket-taking threat. He’s been economical as well. But Bangladesh handled him well last year in the Rawalpindi Test so it will be interesting to see what happens on Thursday.Jaker Ali has been a revelation for Bangladesh in the lower-middle order in the last few months. It has been just seven ODIs, but he averages 50-plus with two fifties. He is a strong hitter in the death overs, often finding the boundaries, but wouldn’t mind having another specialist batter at the other end for at least a part of the time. Jaker can also offer his wicketkeeping if Bangladesh look to tinker with their XI and leave out Mushfiqur.For Mushfiqur Rahim, as well as Mahmudullah, this could be a final appearance in an ICC tournament•ICC via Getty Images

Team news: Will the teams ring in the changes?

Could Pakistan leave out one of their star quick bowlers to give Mohammad Hasnain or Faheem Ashraf a chance? They also have batting options in Usman Khan and Kamran Ghulam.Pakistan (possible): 1 Imam-ul-Haq/Usman Khan, 2 Babar Azam, 3 Saud Shakeel, 4 Mohammad Rizwan (capt, wk), 5 Salman Agha, 6 Tayyab Tahir, 7 Khushdil Shah, 8 Shaheen Shah Afridi/Mohammad Hasnain, 9 Naseem Shah, 10 Haris Rauf, 11 Abrar AhmedBangladesh are likely to field the same line-up that played against New Zealand.Bangladesh (possible): 1 Tanzid Hasan, 2 Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), 3 Mehidy Hasan Miraz, 4 Tohwid Hridoy, 5 Mushfiqur Rahim (wk), 6 Mahmudullah, 7 Jaker Ali, 8 Rishad Hossain, 9 Taskin Ahmed, 10 Mustafizur Rahman, 11 Nahid Rana

Pitch and conditions: An eye on the weather

Pakistan will hope that their farewell from their own Champions Trophy is not rained out. There is rain in the forecast. The previous match at the venue, between South Africa and Australia, was abandoned because of rain too. The pitch would have been under cover for a lot of the last three days by the time the game starts, and there’s always the chance of extra moisture around the square.

Stats and trivia: Bangladesh’s pacers slightly better

• This is the first Pakistan vs Bangladesh contest in Champions Trophy history
• Pakistan beat Bangladesh in their only previous ODI in Rawalpindi in 2003
• Pakistan have a 12-0 overall home record against Bangladesh in ODIs
• The fast bowlers across the two teams have taken 11 wickets, but Bangladesh’s group has a bowling average of 44.83 and have conceded runs at 5.12 per over, while Pakistan’s have an average of 63.50 and an economy rate of 7.18.

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta could be ready to open his cheque book once again, with the Gunners eyeing a highly-rated winger for January.

Mikel Arteta’s league leaders, despite conceding a dramatic late equaliser away to Sunderland last weekend, are still the team to beat this season.

Before their trip to the Stadium of Light, Arsenal enjoyed a staggering run of eight consecutive clean sheets across all competitions — equalling their own club record set in 1903. During this historic period, they went 12 hours and 56 minutes without conceding a single goal, with Nick Woltemade coming as the last player to score against them all the way back in September.

Olympiacos, West Ham, Fulham, Atlético Madrid, Crystal Palace, Brighton, Burnley and Slavia Prague all failed to find a way past Arsenal until Dan Ballard, who once plied his trade in the Hale End academy, and Brian Brobbey finally ended their incredible defensive streak.

Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions since defeat to Liverpool
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 1-1 Man City
Port Vale 0-2 Arsenal
Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Olympiacos
Arsenal 2-0 West Ham
Fulham 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-0 Atlético Madrid
Arsenal 1-0 Crystal Palace
Arsenal 2-0 Brighton
Burnley 0-2 Arsenal
Slavia Prague 0-3 Arsenal
Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal

Arteta has built Arsenal’s rock-solid title challenge off their imperious defence and exceptional threat from set pieces, with the north Londoners bagging 12 from dead ball situations so far this campaign — more than any other club in the top flight (12).

This also comes after Berta gave Arteta his full backing in the summer transfer window,

Arsenal ended last summer as one of England’s most lavish spenders, investing nearly £270 million into the squad and registering the highest net spend of any Premier League side. Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera, Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres were all brought in to bolster Arsenal’s title challenge, and Arteta is hoping to have the latter two back from injury to face Tottenham right after the international break.

While Eze can play on the left-wing, with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard also standing out as key options, reports suggest that Berta could look to bring in another star man for that area of the squad in 2026.

Martinelli and Trossard face uncertain long-term futures at Arsenal with both of their deals expiring in 2027, and the club have been linked with AC Milan’s Rafael Leao as one of many potential targets for the left-wing.

According to the latest reports from Spain, they also maintain a serious interest in Lyon star Malick Fofana.

Arsenal preparing January move for Malick Fofana

The 20-year-old, who scored 11 goals and racked up six assists in all competitions for Lyon last term, commands a price tag of around £52 million with both Liverpool and Barcelona seriously considering a move as well.

Hansi Flick’s La Liga champions have already held talks with his representatives ahead of January, according to one Spanish media source, with it also being reported that Arsenal are preparing to battle Barca and Liverpool for Fofana’s signature in January.

Called a “magnificent” up-and-coming talent by members of the media, the Belgium international enjoyed a fine start to this campaign as well before suffering a recent ankle sprain.

Kevin De Bruyne even compared Fofana with star Man City winger Jeremy Doku, which is high praise considering the latter’s exceptional form this season, having just put Liverpool to the sword in a 3-0 rout at Eastlands.

His pace and directness is complemented only by his versatility, which will seriously appeal to Arteta, with Fofana able to play on the right-wing and at centre-forward when required.

The former Gent sensation would be a stellar option, but it would surely require one of Martinelli or Trossard to leave and free up space — giving Arteta a key decision to make given both of the super subs contributions this term.

Caleb Jewell passes 1,000 runs for the season but is only wicket to fall in Derbyshire second innings

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay10-Sep-2025

Only ten overs were possible on a rainy day at Lord’s•Getty Images

Caleb Jewell reached 1,000 County Championship runs for the season on a rain-ravaged third day of Derbyshire’s clash with hosts Middlesex at Lord’s.Only 10 overs were possible, but it proved sufficient time for the Tasmanian left-hander to reach the landmark with a glance tickled to the fine-leg fence.The 28-year-old, who reached his 1,000 in what was his 22nd innings for the county, also became the only wicket to fall, as Derbyshire closed on 33 for 1, bowled by a beauty from Ryan Higgins which flattened the off stump.The further frustration for Jewell was he hadn’t reached the pavilion steps before the second rain interruption of the morning drove the players off for an early lunch.Only three more overs were bowled, during which Luis Reece survived two huge lbw shouts from Toby Roland-Jones before rain prevented any further play.Both sides are desperate for a win to keep any pressure on second placed Glamorgan in the Division Two promotion race, but it will take creative collaboration between the respective captains to contrive a positive result on the final day.

It’s wall-to-wall Cummins watch in the lead-up to the you know what. But there’s some other stuff here as well

Alan Gardner15-Oct-2025Worries abound down under that talismanic Australia captain Pat Cummins might not be fit for the Ashes. Such is the frenzy of speculation that Cricket Australia’s medical department is working around the clock to provide updates…CA spokesman: “It’s not ideal, but we know Patty’s such a trooper. It might be that he’s a bit underdone compared to how we like it, but that’s better than being overcooked. Probably medium-rare, should be fine with a little sriracha. Still pretty hopeful we’ll get him on the barbie in good time.”CA spokesman: “That’s to be expected. We know the timeline is tight. There are known knowns and known unknowns. The problem comes with unknown unknowns. The next step is to get some more variables into his training – some dog-walking, beach frisbee, maybe a little egg-and-spoon. We’ll give him all the time he needs.”CA spokesman: “This is certainly not the outcome we hoped from getting Patty back out on grass. In all likelihood, he’s unlikely to be in the likely XI, but we’ll have to wait and see. We’re confident he’ll still play a big part in the series. Just having him around the group is going to be a big plus for the boys.”CA spokesman: “Look, it’s in the hands of the medicos. Getting his workloads up is going to be the difficult thing, now that he’s been reduced to a greasy smear on the pavement. But Patty Cummins is a champion. Even if he’s only able to operate in the spirit realm, he’s going to be a real handful for Poms.”

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It is not so long since Cummins and his Australia team were being criticised by the local media for being too woke, and the Light Roller was reminded of this after David Warner popped up with his Ashes prediction – copyright all news organisations – the other day. “I think 4-0. There’s going to be a washout somewhere, generally Sydney… If the captain doesn’t play, they might win one game.” All typically bullish from the Bull, you might think, but hold on. What red-blooded former Aussie player worth his Pommie-baiting inner mongrel predicts anything other than a 5-0 whitewash? And as for England winning a Test if Cummins isn’t available… Eesh. Truly they have gone soft.

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Your move, BCCI. It’s not often that the richest, most powerful board in world cricket is stumped, but Mohsin Naqvi’s vigilante methods at the Asia Cup final have put them in a quandary. Neither India or Pakistan covered themselves in glory through the course of the tournament – but Naqvi raised (or lowered) the bar on pettiness by denying India their actual moment of glory. Or forcing India to deny themselves, as the case may be.Either way, India still haven’t got their hands on the cup, which is presumably minding its own business in a cupboard somewhere at the ACC headquarters in Dubai. Naqvi’s last communication on the subject came via X a few days after the final: “If they truly want it, they are welcome to come to the ACC office and collect it from me.” Straight from the schoolyard playbook, but you can’t knock it for effectiveness. At this point, there isn’t much the BCCI can do beyond putting pictures of the Asia Cup on milk cartons and sitting out the next couple of years until Naqvi is no longer president.

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To the Women’s World Cup, where we must discuss the depraved depths to which the ladies have descended. Of course, with the arrival of professionalism and greater scrutiny on the women’s game, we shouldn’t be surprised to see some unsavoury behaviours creeping in. The men are always effing and jeffing, arging and barging, and so we may to have to accept similar from our sisters – but transgressions can’t go unpunished. Which is why we were pleased to see the ICC cracking down after Nonkululeko Mlaba’s egregious send-off for Harleen Deol. Okay, yes, most people might not have even noticed Mlaba’s smile-and-wave-like-you-spotted-a-friend-in-the-queue-at-the-bakery if it hadn’t resulted in a disciplinary charge. But sometimes you have to make an example. Do we want our girls growing up knowing the genteel standards that cricket holds sacred, or not?

Sunderland returned to Premier League action after the international break with a whimper, instead of a bang.

Indeed, Regis Le Bris’ men lost 1-0 away at Fulham, which doesn’t seem like the demoralising result on first glance. But, on another day, Marco Silva’s hosts could have run away with the clash as resounding winners, having notched up a colossal 23 shots, to the Black Cats’ meagre five.

Le Bris will hope his side can return to winning ways in the top-flight when AFC Bournemouth come to Wearside next, before December kicks into gear, which sees huge contests such as the Tyne-Wear Derby arrive on the jam-packed calendar.

Before you know it, the January transfer window will also reopen to give Sunderland an apt opportunity to improve their ranks, ahead of a tough second part of the season, with some high-profile names already being linked to the Stadium of Light.

Transfer latest at Sunderland

Sunderland were very busy in the summer before jumping up to the big time in the Premier League, with a whopping £162m forked out on the likes of Granit Xhaka and Robin Roefs.

Therefore, it isn’t the wildest shout to suggest they could break the bank again if a tempting move comes their way in January, with recent reports from Spain suggesting that the Black Cats could boost their forward line with the acquisition of Real Madrid hotshot Gonzalo Garcia.

The biggest rumour of them all comes in the form of Matteo Guendouzi, the former Arsenal midfielder who worked under Le Bris at Lorient.

Keith Downie reported last week that the Mackems boss has not ruled out a move for the Frenchman as they potentially go about bringing another former ex-Gunner to the Stadium of Light.

He isn’t the only Lazio midfielder catching the eye, with concrete rumours emerging involving the Premier League newcomers being in the hunt for Lazio outcast Fisayo Dele-Bashiru.

As per reports from Italy, Sunderland are named as one suitor taking a look at the ex-Sheffield Wednesday midfielder this January, with the centre of the park a clear priority position to improve.

Sunderland will hope, even if a move for Guendouzi isn’t forthcoming, that they can still clinch a deal for Dele-Bashiru to leave Serie A behind, as Le Bris potentially works his magic on another diamond in the rough, much like he did with Wilson Isidor.

How Dele-Bashiru can be Le Bris' next Isidor

Isidor hasn’t had the smoothest career up to this point, even if he is now four Premier League goals down in Sunderland red and white.

Unfortunately, the 25-year-old attacker has had to bounce back from a lot of adversity already, so early into his playing days, with the Rennes-born striker never going on to score a senior goal for AS Monaco, before many loan moves to the likes of Lokomotiv Moscow came to fruition.

Thankfully, the nomadic marksman has now found a home that suits him in Wearside, after such a well-travelled career, with Dele-Bashiru’s career path looking very similar.

Like Isidor, the “special” midfielder as he’s been labelled in Nigeria, is well-travelled, having already played in countries such as Turkey and Italy, after failing to make the grade at Manchester City at youth level.

Much like Isidor, though, he has shone in the EFL previously – which is where the 6-foot-1 striker bagged 13 goals to seal Sunderland’s promotion out of the Championship – with seven goal contributions coming his way on the books of the Owls in League One, as a rising youngster in South Yorkshire.

The nine-time Nigeria international has also shone in spurts for Lazio, even if only four appearances have come his way this season, with five goals and three assists from 33 appearances perhaps standing him in good stead to acclimatise to the Premier League effortlessly, as Isidor has managed.

Away from possessing a similar eye for a goal and assist like his Rennes-born counterpart, Dele-Bashiru would also be a useful buy when you consider his versatility across his up-and-down career to date, with his Lazio teammate in Boulaye Dia even hailing him as a talent who “can do everything”, whether that be from a central role, down the flanks, or even as an unorthodox defender.

CM

99

14 + 9

AM

41

7 + 6

RW

7

1 + 0

LW

7

2 + 1

RM

2

0

DM

2

0

RB

2

0

Valued at around the £4.7m mark, which is the amount he officially joined Lazio for, this is a deal that would be really worth exploring, with Dele-Bashiru lining up across seven different positions during his bumpy career to date.

Isidor only cost around the £5m price range, as well, and in January, another Isidor-style deal could soon be wrapped up.

Sunderland chief in contact with 14-cap midfielder who Cesc Fabregas "loves"

The Black Cats could land another transfer coup in 2026.

ByTom Cunningham Nov 21, 2025

There were a few interesting names on the teammates when Glasgow Rangers announced their U19 side to take on St Mirren on Monday night, as several first-team players were involved.

Dujon Sterling made his long-awaited return from an Achilles injury to start at centre-back alongside fellow first-team defender Clinton Nsiala, although the young Gers then found themselves 3-0 down at half-time, and went on to lose 4-2.

Along with those two central defenders, attacking midfielder Kieran Dowell played his first match since August, having been out through injury, after Russell Martin opted to keep hold of him in the summer.

Why Rangers should have sold Kieran Dowell

Since moving to Ibrox from Norwich on a free transfer in 2023, the English playmaker has failed to prove his worth to the Scottish giants on the pitch, which is why he should have been moved on before this season.

In almost two-and-a-half years at Rangers, Dowell has produced more goals and assists out on loan (ten for Birmingham) than he has for the Gers (five), per Transfermarkt.

The left-footed dud has scored two goals and provided three assists in 38 games for the club, including no goals and one assist in six matches under Martin this season.

His contract is due to expire at the end of the season, per Transfermarkt, and it remains to be seen if he is a part of Danny Rohl’s plans, with the likes of Djeidi Gassama, Mikey Moore, Oliver Antman, Nedim Bajrami, Findlay Curtis, and Thelo Aasgaard ahead of him in the pecking order.

Should his deal expire next year without him working his way back into the team to make a big impact at Ibrox, Dowell may well be looked back on as a pointless signing due to his lack of contributions on the pitch.

Chalkboard

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

Meanwhile, one of Kevin Thelwell’s summer recruits currently looks like he is on course to be the biggest waste of time for the Light Blues since Dowell, Joe Rothwell.

Why Joe Rothwell has been a poor signing for Rangers

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, of course, because the idea of the signing of Rothwell on paper seemed solid. A technically sound central midfielder who could control the game in midfield, with experience in the Premier League and the Championship.

However, the midfield technician, signed on a permanent deal from Bournemouth, has not been able to deliver quality performances for the Light Blues on a consistent basis, as he has seemingly struggled with the intensity and speed of the football in Scotland.

It is always difficult to predict how a player will adapt to the intensity of the league, which is why so many players, like Dowell, flop after good spells elsewhere, and Rothwell has followed in Dowell’s footsteps as another player who has fallen short of the physical requirements.

Successful dribbles

4

Bottom 42%

Touches in the opposition’s box

4

Bottom 26%

Tackles

7

Bottom 26%

Duels won

16

Bottom 25%

Duel success rate

47.1%

Bottom 39%

Ball recoveries

22

Bottom 36%

Possession won in the final third

1

Bottom 19%

As you can see in the table above, the English central midfielder ranks poorly among his positional peers in a host of metrics based around physicality and mobility.

These statistics show that Rothwell, who has no goals and two assists in 19 appearances for Rangers, does not have the speed or mobility to consistently compete against other midfielders in the Scottish Premiership.

The 30-year-old dud, whom Heart & Hand content creator David Edgar described as “rotten”, has been an unused substitute in all three of the league matches that he has been available for during Rohl’s tenure.

This suggests that the German head coach has not been too impressed by the English dud, which means that his future could be thrown into doubt in January should his game time not improve.

Thelwell signing is a bigger waste of time than Chermiti & Miovski at Rangers

This Glasgow Rangers flop is a bigger waste of time this season than both Bojan Miovski and Youssef Chermiti.

ByDan Emery Nov 24, 2025

Therefore, this Thelwell signing looks like the biggest waste of time at Rangers since Dowell because he is an experienced player who has not made an immediate impact on the pitch, and now looks to be surplus to requirements already.