Oliver Rathbone stole the limelight after coming on as a late substitute as Wrexham held Watford to an exciting 2-2 draw at the Racecourse Ground on Saturday. The Red Dragons scored but they soon gave up on the lead as Watford went ahead just before the break. Phil Parkinson's decision to put Rathbone on the pitch late in the game, however, proved to be a masterclass as his team walked away with a point.
Wrexham show grit in Watford draw
Wrexham started the match on a positive note and looked motivated to get back to winning ways after their seven-match unbeaten streak ended against Hull City earlier this week. The hosts also drew motivation from the presence of their Hollywood owners, Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac, as the actor duo were present at the Racecourse Stadium to cheer for their team.
The Welsh outfit broke the deadlock in the 21st minute as Josh Windass followed a long ball down the middle from Matty James. The forward fired past goalkeeper Egil Selvik with a clinical finish to hand his side the all-important opening goal.
The Red Dragons looked positive in their intent following the opener but suffered a setback around the half-hour mark when, against the run of play, Mamadou Doumbia equalised for Watford. The 19-year-old Mali international's shot from the edge of the box got deflected off Max Cleworth before lobbing over Arthur Okonkwo.
Three minutes before half-time, Watford went ahead and took the lead as Othmane Maamma stepped up and converted his effort. Phil Parkinson's side had the opportunity to restore parity towards the end of the first half, but one of their chances came off the post, while Lewis O'Brien's strike from close range went wide.
The Red Dragons looked underwhelming in their approach to equalise throughout the second half as Parkinson made a few changes after the break to inject fresh legs. Making the substitutions, however, proved to be a masterstroke, particularly Oliver Rathbone's introduction. The English midfielder was brought on the pitch in injury time, and within a minute, Rathbone scored the equaliser from outside the box to seal a point for his side.
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The MVP
Rathbone was the star of the show for the hosts as his cameo appearance earned Wrexham a crucial point against Watford. The Englishman was introduced in the 90th minute but he made the most of the opportunity he got by scoring a brilliant late equaliser.
The big loser
Watford defenders did well throughout the second half to keep a firm check on the Wrexham attack and hardly allowed the opponent to threaten them inside their box. However, the backline failed to keep up the level of concentration as Rathbone scored the late equaliser and robbed them of an opportunity to pick up all three points.
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Técnico do Flamengo, Tite defendeu a postura da equipe no empate em 1 a 1 com o Millonarios-COL, fora de casa, na estreia do time na Copa Libertadores. Mesmo com vantagem no marcador e um homem a mais em campo durante grande parte da segunda etapa, o Rubro-Negro viu Daniel Rivera, nos minutos finais, igualar o placar.
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Na visão do treinador, o time não administrou o resultado após a expulsão Larry Vásquez, que derrubou o meia Arrascaeta dentro da área. Pelo contrário, acionou seus atacantes de velocidade para continuar agredindo o adversário e matar o confronto.
Porém, a marcação exercida pela equipe colombiana freou o ímpeto rubro-negro, que não conseguiu furar o bloqueio imposto. Com dez homens, o Millonarios implementou uma marcação em bloco baixo, atrasando suas linhas, para aproveitar os espaços e contra-atacar.
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– Não procuramos administrar o jogo, continuamos agredindo o adversário. Colocamos três atacantes de velocidade. Não colocamos o time para trás. O Millonarios, com dez, teve marcação baixa. Atrasou a linha para ter o contragolpe. A gente não soube furar esse bloqueio – disse o treinador em entrevista coletiva.
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Para Tite, o Flamengo poderia ter saído com a vitória caso recuasse seus jogadores, mas isso fugiria das características propostas pelo comandante, que acredita que o gol de empate “é do jogo, uma jogada individual”.
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No próximo domingo (7), o Rubro-Negro encara o Nova Iguaçu, às 17h (de Brasília), pelo duelo de volta da final do Campeonato Carioca. Na primeira partida, disputada no Maracanã, o Flamengo venceu por 3 a 0 e se aproximou do título da competição.
Rob Edwards has the unenviable task of keeping Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League this season. It is fair to say he has his work cut out, with the Old Gold on just two points from the first 12 games.
His first game as manager of his former club didn’t go to plan, either. Edwards’ side were defeated 2-0 at home to Crystal Palace, to continue piling on the misery at Molineux.
Already nine points from safety, it seems a long way back for the Old Gold from this point, if they want to stay in the Premier League.
Things could get worse for the Old Gold soon, with one of their key players, Joao Gomes, linked with a move away as soon as January.
The latest on Joao Gomes' future at Wolves
It seems almost inevitable that Gomes will not be a Wolves player by the start of the 2026/27 season. Of course, if they are relegated, he will be snapped up, but a departure could happen as soon as the January transfer window.
Recent reports suggest that Manchester United are in advanced discussions to sign the 24-year-old this winter, as they look to strengthen in midfield. Indeed, the Old Gold could demand a fee of up to £44m if they are to sell their star midfielder this winter.
It would be a big loss, too. The 10-cap Brazil international has played in all 12 Premier League games this season. His ball-winning ability is imperative. Over the past year, he’s won an average of 2.15 tackles per game, placing him in the top 2% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues.
Yet, there is a silver lining to a potential sale. Gomes would raise a significant amount of funds for the Old Gold to reinvest in the squad, and although they would have to replace him in midfield, they could look to strengthen the squad to help keep them up.
However Gomes’ situation ends up, there is a member of the Wolves squad who they could perhaps look at selling first.
Wolves' priority sale should not be Gomes
After losing Matheus Cunha, also to the Red Devils, and Rayan Ait-Nouri to their rivals Manchester City in the summer, this season was naturally going to be harder. Yet, it has not been a season where all of their best players have stepped up after those sales.
One of those players is Jorgen Strand Larsen. The Norwegian was one of the Old Gold’s best players in 2024/25, bagging 14 Premier League goals in 35 games during his debut campaign.
However, things haven’t been as smooth this season for their number nine. In ten Premier League games this term, he’s only bagged one goal, coming in a 3-2 defeat against Burnley. That strike was a penalty, leaving him without an open play goal.
There has been a scathing assessment of his performances this season, too. Former Premier League scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Strand Larsen, who earns £95k-per-week, has made Wolves a “worse side”” this term because of his lack of goals, which were so important in the previous campaign.
There is a huge decline in his underlying stats from last term, too. In 2024/25, the former Celta Vigo striker averaged 1.2 shots on target and a shot accuracy of 69.39%. Comparatively, he’s averaging 0.6 shots on target and 45.45% shot accuracy this season.
Shots
1.7
1.3
Shots on target
1.2
0.6
Shot accuracy
69.39%
45.45%
Non-penalty goals
0.5
0
Conversion rate
28.57%
9.09%
Newcastle United were said to be interested in signing Strand Larsen over the summer. A fee in the region of £65m was quoted, and whilst the move did not materialise, it might be a sale Wolves now look to get over the line, be it to the Magpies or another club.
Like with Gomes, that is something they can reinvest in January, as they look to build a squad capable of, somehow, keeping them in the top flight. With Gomes’ importance to Edwards’ side, and the fact that he is in good form, it might make sense to sell Strand Larsen first.
It would be a bold call, but he is not scoring, and with prior interest, that is money that could hugely benefit Wolves in the second half of the season.
£55m spent & Hackney signs: Dream Wolves XI Edwards can build in January
This is the dream Wolves starting line-up that Rob Edwards could build in the January window.
Celtic are in the hunt for a permanent manager and that will take their focus over the international break, albeit they appear to be prioritising new arrivals regardless of who the new man in the dugout will be.
Martin O’Neill has presided over the Parkhead hotseat since Brendan Rodgers’ acrimonious departure from the Scottish Premiership champions, and there is still plenty of speculation over who could replace the Irishman on a full-time basis.
Since coming into the club after a 20-year hiatus, the former has delivered a morale-boosting victory over Falkirk and led the Bhoys to the Premier Sports Cup final in an enthralling triumph over Rangers, leading some reports to claim O’Neill could take the role permanently.
Nevertheless, there is a long list of candidates, something that refuses to narrow ahead of the international break. Bodo/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen is also a Celtic managerial candidate amid a glorious spell in Norway.
On the flipside, the main drawback of any approach to hiring the 57-year-old is that he would like to finish their Champions League campaign before committing to life in Scotland.
Wilfried Nancy, Robbie Keane and Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna are also on the Bhoys’ radar. Either way, this feels like a pursuit that may go on for time to come as majority shareholder Dermot Desmond carefully considers his options.
Away from the managerial hunt, Celtic are considering a bid for Kilmarnock midfielder David Watson, who is available to sign a pre-contract in January and is also wanted by rivals Rangers.
Recruitment is ongoing as the reigning champions look to bolster amid Heart of Midlothian’s push for the title, and they may now look to an untapped market to land a shining star.
Celtic bid to sign Under-20 World Cup winner Hossam Essadak
According to AfricaFoot, Celtic have submitted an offer for Moroccan attacking midfielder Hossam Essadak, who is currently on the books of Union Touarga Sport.
Recently, he featured in the Under-20 World Cup with his nation, captaining them to glory after they defeated Argentina 2-0 in the final to record a historic triumph.
Hossam Essadak’s senior career
Appearances
35
Goals
4
Assists
4
Not short of suitors, Sunderland have also made an official bid to try and sign the blossoming talent, and European clubs are said to be at the front of the race for his signature despite further interest from Wydad Casablanca and RS Berkane in his homeland.
Per Fotmob, Essadak created four chances, completed four dribbles and won six duels during Morocco’s World Cup heroics, and he could well be the latest star Celtic look to sign from North Africa after their summer capture of Sebastian Tounekti.
Celtic are also plotting an emotional move for a Premier League icon
Admittedly, the Bhoys are well-stocked in midfield, and departures may be needed before new arrivals can integrate themselves at Lennoxtown, though it does seem as if work is ongoing to bolster the ranks with talented stars with potential to develop.
Chelsea have been offered a Barcelona star who Spain legend Carles Puyol previously called one of world football’s best in his position, according to a new report.
Chelsea prioritise new centre-back for January transfer window
Enzo Maresca, after seeing his wish for a new centre-back unfulfilled last summer, is in agreement with the Blues that they need to bring one in when the winter window opens.
Chelsea’s lack of options was laid bare during their 2-1 win over Liverpool at Stamford Bridge just prior to the international break, with Trevoh Chalobah suspended and missing the clash alongside the injured Wesley Fofana, Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill.
Enzo Fernández
Knee
Unknown
Cole Palmer
Groin
November
Andrey Santos
Knock
Unknown
Dario Essugo
Thigh
Early 2026
Liam Delap
Hamstring
November
Levi Colwill
ACL
Spring 2026
via Standard Sport
While Fofana and Tosin are expected to be available for Chelsea’s Premier League return against Nottingham Forest this weekend, alongside Chalobah, who’s served his one-match suspension after being sent off against Brighton, the centre of defence needs to be solidified with proven quality.
Chelsea tried to sign Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth before the Spaniard’s move to Real Madrid, and internally discussed the possibility of a new centre-back later in the summer after Colwill’s ACL injury.
However, after failing to source the right profile, Chelsea ultimately didn’t move for one, with Maresca and Stamford Bridge chiefs now set to prioritise defensive reinforcements in January (Pete O’Rourke).
Chelsea also wanted another goalkeeper, as evident by their summer talks for AC Milan’s Mike Maignan and links to Gianluigi Donnarumma, with Cobham academy graduate Marc Guehi also mentioned as a BlueCo target for 2026.
Chelsea are believed to be assessing targets right now, and they’ve got their eyes on a few key men from Barcelona.
Chelsea offered Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo
One of them, according to journalist Graeme Bailey, is £208,000-per-week defender Ronald Araujo.
The Uruguay international, who’s captained Hansi Flick’s La Liga champions each time he’s started a game this season, is under contract until 2031 and will likely command a premium price tag.
He’s also not overly keen on leaving Catalonia as things stand either, but Bailey has told TBR Football that Chelsea have been offered the chance to sign Araujo regardless, potentially by Barça themselves, considering their well-documented financial problems.
The 26-year-old was in and out of Flick’s starting eleven last term, and missed the first half of 2024/2025 with a serious hamstring injury.
Despite injuries thwarting his momentum across Flick’s debut campaign as Barcelona boss, Araujo has now worked his way back into being a firm regular, and his top-level experience could be exactly what Chelsea need.
During his time at Barça, Puyol has also lavished Araujo as one of the best centre-backs in world football.
Hefty 229 not sufficient as Somerset pile through to five-wicket win
ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay12-Jun-2025Sean Dickson marked his return to Somerset’s team with top score of 76 as they made it four wins from as many Vitality Blast group games with a five-wicket victory over Middlesex in a Taunton run-feast.Middlesex ran up 229 for five – the highest ever Blast total by a visiting side at the Cooper Associates Ground – after losing the toss, Max Holden striking 87 not out off 47 balls and Ben Geddes a career-best 69 from 32 deliveries, including seven sixes.In reply, Somerset reached 235 for five with four balls to spare, Dickson, back after a broken finger, hitting five sixes and six fours in his 38-ball knock and Lewis Gregory making a rapid 58 not out.Middlesex were given a brisk start by Stephen Eskinazi and Kane Williamson, who posted 39 in less than four overs before Eskinazi was bowled by Riley Meredith attempting a scoop.Williamson was visibly frustrated to fall for 28 off 17 balls, caught at deep square off fellow Kiwi Matt Henry to make it 58 for two in the sixth over.From then on, the innings was all about Holden and Geddes, both of whom greeted left-arm spinner Lewis Goldsworthy with sixes in taking the total to 103 for two at the halfway stage.Craig Overton had impressed in his opening three overs before Geddes struck him for a straight six into the River Town and pulled another maximum at the end of his stint.Geddes went to a majestic 25-ball half-century, clearing the ropes for a sixth time, off Gregory, and then sent another ball into the river off Ben Green before Holden moved to an equally impressive half-century off 30 deliveries.Their partnership ended when Geddes was caught at long-off, Meredith striking again with his next ball as Leus du Plooy was brilliantly caught at long-on by Overton. A pulled four by Holden off Gregory brought up the 200 in the 18th over and Jack Davies hit the 12th six of the innings in the final over.Somerset lost Will Smeed to the fifth delivery of their innings, bowled by Noah Cornwell. Tom Kohler-Cadmore cleared the ropes three times before Tom Banton fell to Ryan Higgins to make it 41 for two in the fourth over.Kohler-Cadmore quickly followed to Cornwell and it was 88 for four in the ninth over when Tom Abell slog-swept a boundary catch off Luke Hollman to depart for 24.But Dickson was starting to blossom, producing a wide range of attacking shots in moving to a 24-ball fifty, reached with a reverse-swept six off Zafar Gohar. Gregory was caught off a Hollman no-ball as 18 came off the 13th over and the home side still had hope.Dickson smashed Cornwell for a straight six and Gregory rode his luck further when dropped on the boundary by du Plooy off Gohar, hitting three sixes in the same over. After Dixon holed out to long-off, the Somerset skipper hit his fifth maximum to reach a 21-ball half-century.Ben Green was dropped in the closing overs, du Plooy again the guilty fielder, before another Gregory six completed a remarkable victory.
Casemiro and Ruben Amorim have a few things in common. The Manchester United coach and midfielder share a common language; they have both played in the Portuguese top-flight, for Porto and Benfica, respectively; and they both been written off completely by Jamie Carragher live on Sky Sports. But the next time they see the former Liverpool defender, they can look him in the eye and tell him he was completely wrong.
Carragher produced one of his most memorable pieces of punditry in his 12 years with Sky when he laid into Casemiro after United were thrashed 4-0 by Crystal Palace in May 2024. The Brazil international was drafted in at centre-back at Selhurst Park due to a United injury crisis and had a nightmare evening that included being torn to shreds by Michael Olise for the first goal and then surrendering the ball in the build-up to the Frenchman completing the rout.
Carragher, who had already declared that Casemiro's legs had gone earlier in the season, saw his opportunity and subjected the ex-Real Madrid star to a humiliating takedown on 'Monday Night Football': "I always remember something when I retired, a saying I'll always remember: 'Leave the football before the football leaves you'. The football's left him at this top level. He needs to call it a day at this level of football and move. A man of that level should not be going through what he's going through now, he needs to call it a day."
Last month, meanwhile, Carragher took aim at Amorim in the aftermath of United's 3-1 defeat at Brentford. He had already criticised the coach repeatedly, including claiming that he was only still in a job because he was good looking, and he showed no mercy on 'Monday Night Football' after United had lost for the third time in six league games: "This has been a disaster for Amorim and United. This has to end as quickly as possible."
Since then, United have won three league consecutive games, while at the same time Liverpool have lost four on the spin, leaving them below the Red Devils in the table. And Casemiro has been at the heart of this United resurgence…
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Undroppable
Nearly 18 months after Carragher urged Casemiro to tear up his United contract and head to MLS or the Saudi Pro League, the Brazilian is far from in the twilight of his career as predicted. Rather, he is a nailed-on starter for both club and country, the latter of whom he captained in their most recent friendly games against Japan and South Korea.
And he is much more than just another name on the teamsheet at United, too. Casemiro scored and assisted in the 4-2 win over Brighton on Saturday, while the previous week he was one of the star performers during United's first win at Anfield for 10 seasons. He also scored what proved to be the winning goal against Chelsea in September, though he was later sent off before half-time.
Casemiro might not play every minute any more as Amorim is very aware that the midfielder is 33 years old and with many, many miles on the clock at the highest level. But when he is not on the pitch, United sure notice it; they have lost four of their 10 matches this season in all competitions, but Casemiro has only started one of them, the defeat to Arsenal on the opening weekend of the season. He was an unused substitution against Grimsby Town, meaning he played no part in one of the most embarrassing results in the club's history, while he was suspended for the defeat at Brentford and only came on for the final 10 minutes against Manchester City.
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On his way out
But Casemiro is even more important than the results suggest. United have not conceded a goal with him on the pitch since Jaidon Anthony netted for Burnley in August, while within five minutes of Amorim taking Casemiro off against Fulham the previous week, the Cottagers levelled. When he was sent off against Chelsea, Enzo Maresca's side got back into the game and nearly levelled, and when he was taken off against Liverpool after being booked in the 58th minute, United lost their momentum and then their lead before Harry Maguire's late winner. He was also replaced in the 70th minute against Brighton, and within four minutes the Seagulls scored the first of their two goals, threatening a comeback until Bryan Mbeumo's late sinker.
Winning at Liverpool, with Carragher on co-commentary duties, must have been particularly satisfying for Casemiro. But to be fair to Carragher, he was far from the Brazilian's only critic during a very difficult 2023-24 season. Casemiro suffered two injuries in his second season with United after a brilliant first campaign, and a couple of weeks after the debacle at Selhurst Park he was dropped from the starting line-up for the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Amid much confusion, he was initially named on the bench at Wembley, only to then be removed from the squad completely, and could be seen dressed in a suit while his team-mates danced on the pitch after pulling off the shock win over their local rivals. That looked like it might be his last act as a United player and he was effectively put on the market that summer as the club slapped a £30 million price tag on him.
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'Intensity' questions
Although moves to Saudi Arabia and Turkey were reportedly explored, there were no takers, and while there was some optimism regarding Casemiro's improved fitness that summer, it all went out of the window weeks into the campaign when he made two mistakes in the dreadful 3-0 home defeat to Liverpool and was taken off at half-time for the inexperienced Toby Collyer. Casemiro didn't start another league game under Ten Hag for six weeks.
Interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy did use the veteran heavily in his four games in charge after Ten Hag was sacked, and Amorim started Casemiro in the first two league games of his tenure. But the new boss apparently didn't like what he saw as Casemiro was then an unused substitute in 12 out of the next 15 matches.
The three games he did play during that period included him being brought on for just one minute against Leicester City in the FA Cup and an abysmal team performance in the 2-0 defeat by Newcastle, when he and Christian Eriksen were overwhelmed in midfield. Casemiro only returned to the team against Tottenham after an injury crisis afflicted Kobbie Mainoo and Collyer, and asked in January why Casemiro was barely featuring for him at the time, Amorim gave a less-than-complimentary assessment of the Brazilian.
"We understand that Casemiro has other things nowadays," he told . "The intelligence he has, understanding the game, understanding where the ball is going to fall but we’re in a league that I can see, even in European competitions, the difference in intensity is big. And so, I feel that this team also needs players with a very high intensity. I needed some players in certain positions with a slightly different pace."
Amorim would later criticise Antony in a similar manneer when he began to shine on loan at Real Betis.
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Roaring back to life
Casemiro roared back to life in the spring, starting eight of United's final league games and all seven of their Europa League knockout games, during which he contributed to three of the goals in the incredible extra-time comeback win over Lyon and scored in the semi-final first leg against Athletic Club. Those performances earned him a recall to the Brazil squad under Carlo Ancelotti, his former boss at Madrid, and it was a quiet summer on the transfer front as it was clear that Casemiro was still a valuable member of United's squad as he entered the final year of his contract.
Amorim subsequently changed his tune, and in April he praised the midfielder for playing his way back into the team: "He wasn’t playing because I understood in the moment that he was not the best option to the way we want to play. But he continued to work. I look at my players in the same way. If they improve what we ask, they have the opportunity. If they play well, they continue to play. That was the situation of Casemiro. The credit is all to the player."
Despite Casemiro's improvement, United did want to sign an extra midfielder in the summer. Carlos Baleba was their top priority, but Brighton were not interested in selling him, and United should be thankful about that because – so far – Casemiro has out-performed the 21-year-old Cameroon international, who was taken off before the hour-mark on Saturday. And so while Baleba was subjected to pantomime boos as he left for not moving to United, Casemiro was given a raucous reception from the home fans when he was taken off, his name reverberating around Old Trafford.
When Tottenham Hotspur sell a key player for mega money, there is history now to tell us that the cash isn’t always invested very well. Still, Daniel Levy is no longer at Spurs, so things may well change in the future.
After Gareth Bale left north London behind, heading to Real Madrid to the tune of £85m, the ‘Magnificent 7’, as they were infamously known, were not much of a success.
Enter Paulinho, Christian Eriksen, Roberto Soldado, Nacer Chadli, Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chiriches and Erik Lamela. While the latter scored that ridiculous Rabona goal, the only real success story here was Eriksen, a creative and technical marvel.
Ten years later, it was Harry Kane’s time to leave Spurs. He moved to Bayern Munich for a fee of around £86m, a relative bargain considering what he’s achieved since.
Arguably, like Bale, money was not well spent the summer he departed. The signings of summer 2023 were rather hit or miss. While Dejan Kulusevski arrived permanently, they spent £45m on an inconsistent Brennan Johnson and £50m on an injury-prone James Maddison.
Meanwhile, in 2024 £65m was spent on Dominic Solanke, who also cannot stay fit, while young gems in the form of Archie Gray and Wilson Odobert also joined. Not quite a magnificent seven, but more of an average trio. Gray and Odobert may well come good, but Solanke’s ceiling has likely already been hit.
So, perhaps Thomas Frank and Co will need to look to the academy again, just as they did when handing Kane his debut back in 2011. Once all was said and done, he’d found the net on 280 occasions, leaving as their all-time record goalscorer and Arsenal’s chief nemesis.
His form in Germany since has been nothing short of scintillating.
Harry Kane's season in numbers
Kane does goals. There’s not a whole lot else to say. Even bringing the likes of Erling Haaland and Alexander Isak into the equation, he is currently the best centre-forward in world football. The numbers support that.
While Viktor Gyokeres won the Gerd Muller Trophy at the recent Ballon d’Or ceremony, proclaimed as the best striker of 2024/25, Kane deserved to be in the conversation.
Gyokeres, for context, scored 54 times last season, but Kane ran him close, netting 41 in 51 outings.
Well, in 2025/26, he looks like he’s on track for the best season of his career as he moves into his 32nd year.
If you thought Kane couldn’t get any more ruthless, then think again. This season he has undeniably been the best player in Europe, scoring a mind-boggling 17 goals in nine games.
He’s scoring at a record of a goal every 46 minutes. It’s a level of potency we’ve very rarely ever seen from a striker in the elite game.
Truth be told, it’s peak Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo levels of goalscoring.
Kane has beaten the goalkeeper ten times in five Bundesliga fixtures while in the Champions League, he’s been a demon too, netting four in two matches, including a brace against Chelsea a couple of weeks ago.
The England skipper continued his rich vein of form against Cypriot side Pafos on Tuesday, bagging another two goals. This time he played as a no.10, behind Nicolas Jackson. It had no impact on his ability to score.
Replacing that type of output was always going to be impossible for Spurs. Solanke is a handy striker but he’s always going to be compared to Kane. That’s harsh but it’s the way of the world.
Fortunately, the Lilywhites do have one exciting academy prospect coming through the ranks who looks more exciting than Kane ever did at youth level.
Meet Spurs' most exciting academy talent since Harry Kane
At youth level Kane was impressive, scoring nine goals in 13 official matches for Tottenham Hotspur’s U21 side. Yet, he initially struggled at senior level.
The club’s record scorer didn’t find the net during five matches on loan at Norwich and also found life difficult at Leicester City and Leyton Orient, notching seven across 33 matches during those spells.
Harry Kane record @ senior level
Team
Games
Goals
Spurs
435
280
England
107
74
Bayern
105
102
Millwall
27
9
Orient
18
5
Leicester
15
2
Norwich
5
0
Nine goals in 29 matches at Millwall was slightly more productive but it wasn’t until 2014/15 where he finally showcased his elite potential.
That term the Englishman registered 31 goals for Spurs and since then, there hasn’t been a single campaign where he’s not scored fewer than 20 across a single season.
Bayern Munich'sHarryKaneduring the warm up before the match
Many have come through the academy since then hoping to emulate that sort of record. The likes of Dane Scarlett, Troy Parrott and Will Lankshear, while still young, did not show enough in their fleeting appearances.
There are still high hopes for Mikey Moore, too. The 17-year-old was compared to Neymar by James Maddison last season and has so much potential.
Yet, the most exciting talent bursting through the ranks is another 17-year-old, Luca Williams-Barnett.
The teenager may be unknown to many supporters but has already made his first-team debut, appearing for the final three minutes of Spurs’ League Cup win over Doncaster Rovers last week.
Those minutes were a fine reward for his remarkable development over the last few years. If Spurs were looking for their own Max Dowman, then they have found it here.
A no.10 by trade, who can also play up top, the talented teen was superb last season, scoring 20 goals and registering a further 12 assists in 23 outings.
He’s begun the 2025/26 term in a similar vein of form with six goals and four assists in eight appearances for the U21s.
In The Pipeline
Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.
As data analyst Ben Mattinson has outlined, he is “one of England’s best talents at youth level” and he also “scores bangers”.
His hat-trick earlier this season may not have showcased this but it proved he’s usually always in the right place at the right time, influencing play positively.
A goalscorer, a creator, an innate dribbler, Williams-Barnett has all of the tools to thrive at Spurs in the coming years.
However, for Frank, the challenge will be finding him regular minutes now in the Premier League. Their fierce rivals Arsenal, have led the way by giving the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Dowman so many minutes over the last year.
Could Spurs be brewing their own version here? The future certainly looks bright.
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A Rangers player has dropped a pointed update regarding his Ibrox future during the international break, aiming a message at manager Russell Martin.
Martin says no issues with Rangers players
The Gers did at least manage to come away with a 0-0 draw away to Celtic in the Scottish Premiership before the international break, but it has still been a hugely disappointing start to the season.
One individual who played no part in proceedings at Parkhead was Nicolas Raskin, with former Rangers striker Kris Boyd left bemused by what he sees as chaos at the training ground.
Nicolas Raskin
That being said, Martin has played down any issues that may have arisen, saying the relationship he has with his players is healthy currently: “I’d describe my relationship with all the players, all the staff as honest and open.
“I don’t think you can have anything else apart from that. There’s not a breakdown in any relationships here. If it’s honest and open, there can’t be a breakdown in any relationships.”
Rangers ace gives key update on his future
Speaking to the media after representing Belgium on international duty, Rangers midfielder Nicolas Raskin provided a 12-word update on his Ibrox future, with a short but pointed message to Martin after the manager refuted rumours of a relationship breakdown.
“But it (my future) doesn’t just depend on me, it depends on the coach.”
It is disappointing to see Raskin up in the air about his Rangers future, and clearly not entirely happy at the club, considering what a talented player he is.
The 24-year-old possesses a great combination of quality and fight in the middle of the park, with former striker Rory Loy speaking of his admiration for him earlier this year.
“You’ve seen a side of him, and I’m not saying he never showed it under Philippe Clement, but the consistency he’s shown with it since Ferguson has come in has been quite something. So I do think he deserves credit in terms of the mental side of the game and then we already know he’s got ability. He’s shown that in abundance over the last three months.”
Hopefully, Raskin’s relationship with Martin improves enough for him to remain at Ibrox for the foreseeable future, but the situation doesn’t exactly feel too encouraging currently.
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To leave an international player out of the squad entirely in a huge game against Celtic shows that all is not well, and if things don’t improve, it is hard to see both Raskin and Martin being at Rangers come the end of the season, if not by the time the January transfer window arrives.
They left their business late, but Fulham are now set to sign a second attacking target late on, with an agreement reportedly reached to sign a Premier League gem.
Update on Kevin and Fulham
Marco Silva was finally handed some good news after an afternoon to forget at Stamford Bridge on Saturday when reports emerged that Fulham had reached an agreement with Shakhtar Donetsk to sign Kevin. And whilst the Cottagers are still working on an agreement on personal terms, there’s no doubt that they are closing in on a top target ahead of the deadline.
Now that Fulham’s business is underway, Kevin may not be the only one to arrive. Fresh reports have indicated that the Cottagers have also revived a move for Raheem Sterling.
One of the most successful wingers in Premier League history, Sterling has endured a frustrating couple of years which wasn’t helped by a difficult loan spell at Arsenal last season. Now frozen out at Chelsea, he desperately needs the move that Fulham are seemingly attempting.
Of course, he wouldn’t be the first winger to revive the late stages of his career at Craven Cottage, either. Willian enjoyed two successful spells under Marco Silva and represents a fine example that Sterling should look to follow.
Raheem Sterling in action for Arsenal against Crystal Palace.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the deal, Fulham would be getting an experienced winger who has won all there is to win in English football.
With a matter of hours left until the transfer window slams shut, the West London club have burst into life and may yet welcome Kevin, Sterling and one other Chelsea gem before the deadline.
Fulham strike Tyrique George agreement
As reported by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Fulham have struck an agreement to sign Tyrique George from Chelsea in a late deadline day deal worth £22m, plus add-ons. The young forward looked destined for AS Roma before a move collapsed late on, allowing those at Craven Cottage to come swooping in.
The 19-year-old is destined for something “special” according to scout Jacek Kulig last season and it’s hard to argue with that verdict. The teenager scored three senior goals whilst assisting five more last season and will now be hoping that more game time at Chelsea’s West London rivals means more goal involvement.
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In two swift moves, Fulham look destined to welcome Kevin and George – two young attacking stars – whilst a deal for Sterling has reportedly been revived. All three would undoubtedly turn a disappointing window into one that is full of promise.