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There is no hiding away from the fact that Glasgow Rangers have had a horrendous start to the 2025/26 campaign, domestically and in Europe, under Russell Martin.

The Light Blues swooped to appoint the former Scotland international, who had been out of work since being sacked by Southampton last season, but he has failed to win the supporters over yet.

It has been the worst start for the club in the Scottish Premiership in 47 years, with four draws and one loss in five games, after the 2-0 loss to Hearts on Saturday.

Lawrence Shankland, who was a reported target for Rangers last year, scored both of the goals for the Jam Tarts, as the Light Blues failed to offer a threat of their own at the other end of the pitch.

The Ibrox giants made 14 additions to their first-team squad during the summer transfer window, which means that there does need to be a degree of patience with some individuals as they get up to speed in a difficult environment, created by the team’s performances.

Rangers have seen it plenty of times in recent years when a player has a slow start to life at Ibrox before exploding into life. Malik Tillman is one notable example of that.

Rangers hit the jackpot with Malik Tillman

The Light Blues swooped to sign the USA international from German giants Bayern Munich on a season-long loan in the summer of 2022 to bolster their options at the top end of the pitch.

At the time of the announcement, Giovanni van Bronckhorst said: “He is an exciting young talent who will further add to our attacking options and myself and the coaching staff are looking forward to working with him.”

The Dutch head coach made it clear that he was a ‘young talent’ whom the coaching staff would work with, which is why it was not a surprise when he had a fairly slow start to life at Ibrox.

Tillman managed two goals and one assist in his first 12 appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues, as he struggled for consistency early on in his Glasgow career, per Sofascore.

However, the German-born star went on to end the campaign with 12 goals and five assists in 43 outings for the Scottish giants, which shows that he improved his output at the top end of the pitch as the season went on.

22/23 SPFL	Tillman	Percentile rank vs AMs
xG	6.35	Top 9%
xG on target	6.59	Top 8%
Goals	10	Top 6%
xA	4.60	Top 15%
Assists	4	Top 33%
Chances created	46	Top 9%
Successful dribbles	43	Top 9%
Stats via FotMob

As you can see in the table above, Tillman ended up being one of the most impressive attacking midfielders in the Premiership in the 2022/23 campaign, as he ranked highly as a scorer, a creator, and as a dribbler.

This shows that the Gers hit the jackpot with the USMNT talent because they were willing to be patient with him as a loan player, which is something to keep in mind when judging the current squad.

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Whilst you may jump to Thelo Aasgaard as a direct comparison to Tillman, given that he is also an attacking midfielder and has failed to deliver a goal or an assist in his first three outings in the Premiership.

However, Martin is brewing the club’s next version of Tillman at Ibrox in a different underperforming Light Blues attacking signing – Mikey Moore.

Why Mikey Moore is the next Malik Tillman for Rangers

Unlike Aasgaard, Moore is similar to the former Rangers star in the sense that he is also a loan player from a big European club, Tottenham Hotspur instead of Bayern Munich, and is a young and inexperienced player.

Whereas Aasgaard is 23 and played 163 first-team matches for Wigan, as well as 17 for Luton Town, before his permanent move to Ibrox during the summer transfer window.

Moore arrived in Glasgow this summer with just three league starts in first-team football under his belt during his time with Spurs, as this is his first loan move away from the Europa League champions.

This is why it should not be a surprise to anyone that the 18-year-old talent has had a slow start at Rangers, despite his claim that he would like to be one of the best players in the world.

Moore has delivered no goals and one assist in five appearances in all competitions for the Light Blues so far this season, per Transfermarkt, assisting Nedim Bajrami for the opener in the 4-2 win over Alloa Athletic in the League Cup.

All of the teenage talent’s appearances for the Light Blues so far this season have come on the left wing, per Transfermarkt, but his career statistics suggest that he should be used more centrally.

Mikey Moore’s career (U18, U21, and first-team)
Position (appearances)	Goals	Assists
Left wing (18)	4	6
Attacking midfield (8)	6	4
Centre-forward (7)	11	4
Right wing (6)	1	0
Left midfield (3)	0	1
Stats via Transfermarkt

As you can see in the table above, Moore has scored 17 goals and delivered eight assists in 15 outings as an attacking midfielder or striker, compared to five goals and seven assists in 27 games as a winger, on the right and left combined.

These statistics suggest that the English whiz, who was described as “fearless” by teammate James Maddison, would be far more effective for the Gers if Martin utilised him as an attacking midfielder or perhaps as a second striker behind Bojan Miovski or Youssef Chermiti.

Moore has looked a little lost on the left wing in the Premiership, completing 17% of his attempted dribbles this season per Sofascore, and playing him centrally could help to simplify his game and allow him to concentrate on making an impact in the box, rather than trying to beat three or four players with the ball.

Rangers had "athletic beast" on trial, now he's worth more than Chermiti

Rangers had a star on trial in 2023 who is now worth £7m more than Youssef Chermiti.

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Dan Emery

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Therefore, there needs to be a degree of patience with Moore whilst he finds his feet at Ibrox and Martin finds out how best to utilise his talent within the team, because his statistics in central positions suggest that he has the potential to explode in the same way that Tillman did.

MatériaMais Notícias

Em menos de uma temporada completa defendendo o Bahia (29 partidas com um gol e uma assistência), o lateral-esquerdo equatoriano Jhoanner Chavez vai retornar para seu clube formador, o Independiente del Valle. A informação foi confirmada pelo clube de Salvador nesta segunda-feira (31).

A transação em questão ocorrerá com caráter de empréstimo e terá vínculo somente até o fim de 2023. Fazendo, assim, com que o clube de Sangolquí tenha um velho conhecido para as disputas tanto do Campeonato Equatoriano como, principalmente, da Libertadores onde enfrenta o Deportivo Pereira nas oitavas de final. Com o Bahia, o acordo do lateral-esquerdo vai até 2027.

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>Assista aos jogos do seu clube do coração com aquela gelada! Copo Stanley a partir de R$120,00

Segundo detalhou o diretor de futebol do Esquadrão, Claudio Santoro, a ideia de ceder Chavez para a equipe que o formou tem, como principal intuito, dar possibilidades maiores de atuação ao atleta de 21 anos de idade. Considerando, principalmente, a alta concorrência existente no elenco do Bahia em seu setor:

– Chávez é um jogador talentoso, de enorme potencial, mas que precisa continuar jogando. Com a chegada do Camilo (Cándido), além das presenças de Matheus Bahia e Ryan, entendemos que o melhor seria emprestar ao clube formador, com possibilidade de jogar competições como a Libertadores, retomar a confiança e voltar para o início da próxima temporada.

Leeds United head coach Daniel Farke did not get his wish for more quality at the top end of the pitch in the final few days of the summer transfer window.

The former Norwich City tactician made it clear, after the 0-0 draw with Newcastle United in the Premier League, that his team needed reinforcements up front.

Farke said: “In defence and midfield, goalkeeper position and full-back position, we’ve done really good business. But we spoke quite open and honest about it, we would need to add some more quality up front.”

The board were unable to get any deals over the line after those comments from the German boss, although they did try to get a deal done for Harry Wilson on deadline day before Fulham pulled the plug at the last minute.

In the end, Leeds added three attacking players to their squad during the summer transfer window: Lukas Nmecha, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and Noah Okafor.

The Switzerland international, Okafor, was the only player they paid a fee for, as strikers Nmecha and Calvert-Lewin both arrived as free agents.

Why Leeds United signed Dominic Calvert-Lewin

It is easy to understand why the former England international was an attractive target for the club when they sat down and discussed who they wanted to target in the transfer market.

Calvert-Lewin left Everton at the end of June after his contract with the Premier League side expired, which meant that he was available on a free transfer and Leeds did not have to shell out millions on a transfer fee.

The 28-year-old marksman also had 249 appearances in the Premier League under his belt, per Transfermarkt, during his time with the Toffees, scoring 57 goals and providing 18 assists.

On paper, Calvert-Lewin’s availability and experience made him a very attractive target for a team that had just been promoted to the top-flight from the Championship.

However, the English forward was also available on a free transfer for a reason. His injury record in recent seasons with Everton did not make for great reading.

24/25

2

15

23/24

3

6

22/23

4

29

21/22

2

33

As you can see in the table above, Calvert-Lewin has not been a reliable player over the last four years because he has suffered too many injuries, and missed too many matches.

On top of that, the former Sheffield United striker has underperformed his xG by 25.20 goals (57 goals from 82.20 xG) across his Premier League career, per UnderStat, which shows that the Leeds attacker is a wasteful finisher in front of goal.

Leeds supporters have already had a glimpse of his underwhelming finishing skills. Calvert-Lewin missed four ‘big chances’ in 32 minutes off the bench against Sheffield Wednesday in the League Cup, before firing his penalty over the bar in the shootout, per Sofascore.

The concerns over the ex-Everton marksman’s injury record and goal return may explain why the club are now being linked with another centre-forward ahead of the next window.

Leeds preparing January offer for Premier League striker

According to CaughtOffside, Leeds United are one of a number of clubs already eyeing up a potential swoop for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta ahead of the January transfer window.

The report claims that the Whites are keen on a deal to sign the French centre-forward and that they are preparing to make a formal offer for his services at the start of next year.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

It states that Aston Villa and Newcastle United are also in the race to sign the former Mainz number nine. All three clubs are said to have made Mateta a priority target heading into the next transfer window.

CaughtOffside adds that Crystal Palace are ready to demand a fee of around £40m for their star striker should any of those three teams attempt to snap him up in January.

It now remains to be seen whether or not any of the interested teams are willing to offer as much as £40m, but it the report does claim that Leeds are ‘determined’ to improve their attack with respect to their pursuit of the striker.

Why Leeds should sign Jean-Philippe Mateta

The Whites should pay the £40m that it could take to prise Mateta away from Selhurst Park in the January transfer window because he could come in as an instant replacement for Calvert-Lewin, just five months on from his arrival at the club.

As aforementioned, the concern with the former Everton man is that he will not deliver enough quality in front of goal, due to his injury record and his underwhelming finishing in the Premier League over the years.

Leeds may get to January and realise that they need a prolific centre-forward to lead them to safety in the top-flight, and Mateta could be just the man for the task.

The French attacker is a proven Premier League striker whose form in recent seasons suggests that he would arrive in West Yorkshire as a huge upgrade on Calvert-Lewin for Farke.

Mateta scored 16 goals from 10.94 xG in the top-flight in the 2023/24 campaign, per Sofascore, whilst Calvert-Lewin scored seven goals from 12.93 xG for Everton that term.

Appearances

37

26

xG

13.53

6.75

Shots on target per game

0.9

0.8

Goals

14

3

Big chances created

7

1

Assists

2

1

As you can see in the table above, the Eagles frontman also outperformed the current Leeds striker in front of goal last season, scoring 11 more goals and outperforming his xG once again.

The Palace star, who was described as a “threat” by podcaster HLTCO, is a proven and clinical goalscorer who knows how to find the back of the net on a consistent basis in the division, something Calvert-Lewin has not shown in recent seasons.

Mateta has also only missed four Premier League games through injury in the last two seasons, per Transfermarkt, and could be far more reliable for Farke week-in-week-out.

Therefore, signing the £40m-rated striker in January could be a huge move by the club to improve the team and immediately replace Calvert-Lewin in the number nine position, given that the Frenchman appears to have far more to offer to the side.

Summerville really rates him: Leeds have their own O'Reilly in 19-year-old star

Leeds United may already have their own Nico O’Reilly in a young talent who is currently out on loan.

ByDan Emery Sep 8, 2025

Tottenham Hotspur are now willing to make a huge offer for an “incredible” £80m forward, who is now “keen” on a move to north London this summer, it has been revealed.

Spurs remain keen on new winger after losing Son Heung-min

Son Heung-min made the extremely difficult decision to leave Tottenham this summer, making the move to LAFC, and the South Korean has gotten off to a fantastic start in the MLS, recently picking up his first assist.

It was arguably the right time to cash-in on Son, given that the Spurs legend is now 33-years-old, and Brennan Johnson has proven he could be up to the task of being the long-term replacement at left-wing, scoring against Burnley on Saturday afternoon.

However, with Son leaving, and James Maddison set to miss the majority of the campaign due to an ACL injury, Thomas Frank is light on options in attacking areas, and remains keen on adding another winger to his squad.

Earlier this week, it was revealed that Savinho’s agents are trying to get a move to north London over the line, and there has now been a new update on Tottenham’s pursuit of the Manchester City winger.

According to a report from Spain, Spurs are now willing to make a new offer for the Brazilian, having already had a £60m bid knocked back, and there is a feeling that a deal could be possible.

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While City are keen to keep hold of the winger, they could be tempted to cash-in if an ‘irresistible’ offer arrives, with Pep Guardiola’s side valuing the 21-year-old at the £70m – £80m mark.

Fabrizio Romano has also revealed the youngster is “keen” on a move to north London, with talks still ongoing.

"Incredible" Savinho could be ideal Son heir

It is little wonder Man City are hesitant to sell the young winger, given that he is held in very high regard by Guardiola, who waxed lyrical about the forward after impressing against Leicester City last season.

The City boss said: “He’s a guy who can play on both sides, today he finally scored a goal. He has an incredible ability and quality he’s proven in that period.”

The Brazil international is also fantastic at dribbling and providing assists, indicating that he could be the ideal option to replace Son at left-wing.

Statistic	Average per 90 (past year)
Progressive carries	6.61 (97th percentile)
Successful take-ons	2.69 (94th percentile)
Assists	0.35 (88th percentile)

The only thing that Savinho needs to improve is his end product, having averaged just 0.08 non-penalty goals per 90 over the past year, despite an xG of 0.25 per 90, and if the starlet is able to rectify that aspect of his game, he could be a fantastic signing for Tottenham.

Even in defeat, Manchester United’s opening-day performance felt like progress, but Ruben Amorim’s side followed that one up with a draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage, and it is clear there is still much work to do.

Whether the Red Devils succeed in welcoming further additions before the closure of the transfer market remains to be seen, but negotiations are ongoing with Belgian side Royal Antwerp for goalkeeper Senne Lammens, that pressure point of a position at Old Trafford, while Amorim has made it clear that he seeks a central midfielder too.

Man United have succeeded in refashioning their frontline, but with Mason Mount fit and catching the eye, Amorim has made the decision to drop Bruno Fernandes into a deeper midfield berth.

The skipper remains effective and influential, but it’s crucial that the right profile is partnered with him, lest tactical imbalances become more prominent.

With this in mind, it’s starting to look like Kobbie Mainoo’s time at the Theatre of Dreams could be drawing to a premature close.

The latest on Kobbie Mainoo's Man Utd future

Mainoo is a cherished part of his current Manchester United crop. He’s one of their own. However, Amorim clearly hasn’t warmed to him despite his impressive debut campaign in red.

Indeed, the England international’s reduced playing time under the Portuguese tactician’s wing has led him to consider his future at Old Trafford, and a potential departure before the deadline is now on the cards.

Already, the 20-year-old has played 72 times for Man United’s senior side, scoring as Erik ten Hag’s side defeated Manchester City to win the 2023/24 FA Cup final, but as Amorim alludes to, there is no room at the inn right now.

His departure this summer would be a contentious thing for those of a Man United persuasion, but there’s little doubt that, should he leave, United would act to bring in an exciting replacement.

Man Utd discuss move for new midfielder

According to GIVEMESPORT, Manchester United are interested in signing Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller before the transfer market slams shut, and are engaged in internal discussions over a formal offer.

However, there are some within the INEOS hierarchy with reservations over signing the German international, for he does not boast a similar profile to Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba, a top summer target whose route to Manchester has been closed off by his employers.

Valued at €60m (around £51m), Stiller, 24, could become a more concrete target upon the possible departure of Mainoo, whose exit is indeed edging toward happening.

How Stiller compares to Mainoo

Stiller’s technical quality and completeness in the middle of the park make him an intriguing option for Amorim’s Manchester United side, who could do with some more fluency and quality when directing the flow of their attacking play from X to Y.

A product of Bayern Munich’s youth academy, Stiller has since left for Hoffenheim and then been rehoused once more at Stuttgart, where he played 83 times, scoring five goals and supplying 17 assists while protecting the backline from his anchoring berth.

Looking at how the deep-lying playmaker compares to Mainoo, you begin to see why Jason Wilcox and Amorim are eager to snap him up.

Mainoo was at his career best during that breakout season. The 2023/24 term put the then teenager’s name on the map, all right. However, Stiller’s roundedness suggests he could prove an upgrade on the Three Lions man.

Matches (starts)

32 (31)

24 (24)

Goals

1

3

Assists

8

1

Touches*

90.3

49.0

Pass completion

90%

87%

Big chances created

13

0

Key passes*

1.8

0.6

Dribbles*

0.6

1.3

Ball recoveries*

4.4

4.0

Tackles + interceptions*

2.3

2.9

Duels won*

4.2 (58%)

5.0 (52%)

Mainoo might have a bit more of a robust defensive profile, but Stiller’s press resistance and slick, smooth ball-playing game make him a more Amorim-shaped midfielder in any case. Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte leave plenty to be desired, but the tough-tackling duo do provide the squad with more variation.

Remarked by his Stuttgart teammate Denis Undav to be “one of the best sixes” currently hailing from Germany, Stiller also ranks among the top 3% of positional peers across Europe for passes attempted, the top 2% for progressive passes, the top 10% for assists and the top 8% for shot-creating actions per 90, courtesy of information from FBref.

His creativity and maestro-like skills might appear to be more in line with the talents of Fernandes, and perhaps that is so, but with Mainoo so frustratingly on the periphery in Amorim’s system, does it not make sense for the outfit to target a replacement who differs and who aligns with the manager’s vision?

Given that Liverpool have also shown a vested interest in the German this year, it would appear that his is a profile which could have a positive effect on the development of Amorim’s project.

Mainoo only started 19 times in the Premier League last year, and his 45% success rate in the duel further underscored Amorim’s hesitance about unleashing him from the outset each week.

Praised by Sky Sports’ Dougie Critchley for his “special” skill set, Stiller’s signature could come with the promise of progression, and while many would rightly hope for Mainoo to stay put, his sale would demand a suitable replacement.

And, through the Stiller, initial frustration would be tempered and then some.

New Carrick: INEOS chasing move to bring £100m + English star to Man Utd

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He got there in 103 balls, breaking the record previously held jointly by Travis Head and N Jagadeesan in men’s List A cricket

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Oct-2024

Chad Bowes marked his 100th List A game with a double-century•Canterbury Cricket Association

Chad Bowes scored the fastest List A double-century on Wednesday for Canterbury against Otago in the Ford Trophy. Bowes brought up the milestone in 103 balls, before eventually falling for 205 off 110 deliveries.The record was previously held by Australia’s Travis Head and India’s N Jagadeesan, who both took 114 deliveries each to get to their respective double-centuries. Head achieved the feat for South Australia against Queensland in the 2021-22 Marsh Cup, while Tamil Nadu’s Jagadeesan did it during his record-breaking 277 against Arunachal Pradesh in the 2022 Vijay Hazare Trophy.Playing his 100th List A match, Bowes hit 27 fours and seven sixes as he helped Canterbury post 343 for 9 after they were put in to bat at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.”It might sink in over the next day or two, but obviously a great day here at Hagley and a good occasion to do something special,” Bowes said after his innings. “These things happen naturally, organically. You don’t plan for it or try to do it, so I’m glad it was my day. Probably not [hit he ball] consistently that well, so it was nice to get most of them out of the middle and hit it around the park. It started off really nicely so I just kept going and it was working so I didn’t try to rein it in too much and just kept the foot on the gas.”The 32-year-old got off to a quick start and continued to show his aggression despite losing his opening partner Henry Nicholls for a five-ball duck in the second over. He got to his half-century in 26 balls and brought up his century in 53 deliveries. He took another 50 deliveries to complete his double, before being trapped lbw in the 39th over by Matthew Bacon, who registered a five-for. This was Bowes’ best List A score, comfortably going past his previous high score of 126.Only two other batters in Canterbury’s top seven reached double-figures, with captain Cole McConchie’s 40-ball 27 the next highest score. However, No. 8 Zakary Foulkes gave them a late boost with a 46-ball 49 to take them close to 350.Canterbury bowled Otago out for 103 to complete a 240-run win.

Scotland did themselves no favours, spilling chances in the field – as did Bangladesh – and failing to get their power-hitting going

Vithushan Ehantharajah03-Oct-2024An unwanted 16-match, decade-long losing streak in T20 World Cups has come to an end in the form of a first tournament match win away from home for Bangladesh, in one they were meant to be hosting. Their victory in the first match of the women’s T20 World Cup 2024 was layered, and at times laboured, eventually besting Scotland by 16 runs.It was a gritty affair in Sharjah, and a chastening experience for Scotland, making their first appearance in a World Cup. They managed just five of the 15 boundaries struck between both teams.Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana, playing in her 100th T20I, was right to bat after winning the toss. The logic of having first use of a fresh pitch, and using draining temperatures – a high of 38°C – to sap the energy of the team fielding first was sound.The application, however, was far from smooth. They had to do a lot of running to post their total of 119 for 9, with Shathi Rani’s 29 and 36 from Sobhana Mostary – both career-bests in the format – the most noteworthy contributions.Scotland’s catching was poor, with at least three straightforward chances going down•ICC/Getty ImagesRani’s dismissal – the second wicket – was the first of six to fall in 49 deliveries for just 50 runs. Offspinning allrounder Saskia Horley was the main beneficiary of this cascade, pocketing her best T20I figures of 3 for 13, having only been brought into the attack in the 18th over. But with Fahima Khatun’s 10 off 5 – the only batter to post a double-figure score at a strike rate greater than 100 – Bangladesh were at least able to ask Scotland to chase a run-a-ball score.It did not take long for the run rate to escalate, compounded by the loss of Kathryn Bryce – bowled by an inducker from Marufa Afkter that kept low – to make it 31 for 2 at the end of the powerplay. Ritu Moni’s wily medium pacers kept Scotland in check, and she finished her four overs with 2 for 15, by which point Scotland required 38 from the final three overs.Any hope of getting those rested on an exhausted Sarah Bryce. The keeper-batter should have been dismissed on 29, running past a delivery from Rabeya Khan and then somehow reclaiming her ground after Sultana had first missed the original take behind the stumps, and then botched the second attempt in front of them.A further life came on 38 when her straight heave was dropped in the penultimate over by a diving Rabeya, who made amends three balls later to remove Katherine Fraser for Nahida Akter’s 100th T20I wicket. Aged 24 years and 215 days, the left-arm spinner is the second-youngest to reach the milestone, after England’s Sophie Ecclestone.Sarah finished unbeaten on 49, though not before a third reprieve at cover. That she could only manage one boundary from her 52 deliveries spoke to a broader issue that left Scotland well short of their opponents.Sobhana Mostary top-scored for Bangladesh•ICC/Getty ImagesRani and Mostary set the foundationIt was at the start of the 12th over of Bangladesh’s innings that the charge was on.At 60 for 1, the stage had been steadily built by Rani and Mostary, a union that began midway through the fifth over. The latter had scored the two boundaries on a stand that had reached 38 at the time, with the former having made use of the fielding restrictions in the first six overs to heave over mid-on and slash beyond point for her two. But when Rani skipped down the track to launch Katherine Fraser over mid-off, it was clear Bangladesh were looking to hit the game beyond Scotland’s reach.Alas, Rani would fall four balls later, attempting to clear midwicket, before Mostary was stumped at the start of the 16th, having got herself in a funk that had already resulted in the run out of Taj Nehar. Scotland, to their credit, had kept a leash on matters, operating solely with spin 11 overs from the conclusion of the fifth, enticing errors in the process.But the endeavour to find the ropes did at least keep Bangladesh’s innings moving, as they came within a run of doubling their score in the final eight overs, despite only striking four more boundaries.Fahima makes an impactLow-scoring matches mean that small contributions have a big impact. And few had a more profound effect on this match than the cameos from Fahima in all three facets.Her brace of fours – both lifted over short fine – ensured Bangladesh found the 16 runs that would eventually be the difference between the two sides. After her first delivery of legspin extracted extra bounce to find an edge from Saskia Horley, only to be grassed by Sultana behind the stumps, she slowed it down outside off to drag Horley out of her crease and allowed her captain to redeem herself with a stumping two balls later.But perhaps her biggest moment came in the 15th over. With 50 required from 35 deliveries, Darcy Carter struck arguably the cleanest hit, crunching Moni for what most of the ball’s flight looked like being the first six of the match. Had that come to pass, the complexion of the final throes would have morphed, perhaps into the beginnings of an all-time Scotland victory.Fahima killed that story dead, racing the ball to the fence, tracking it over her shoulder and taking a tumbling catch within a whisker of the sponge. In a match of seven drops, the 31-year-old was the exception – and exceptional.Sarah Bryce batted through the Scotland innings•ICC/Getty ImagesSarah Bryce’s 40-over gameThe late switch of the tournament from Bangladesh to the UAE has thrown many a team’s plans into the unknown. Even the market leaders of women’s cricket – Australia, England and India – are working things on the fly, having never played an international here.Learnings will be taken from anywhere and everywhere, and perhaps the first comes in the form of Scotland’s Sarah Bryce. Having crouched behind the stumps for 20 overs during the hottest part of the day, the keeper-batter then spent the next 20 scuttling between them in a valiant innings that left her visibly drained.It spoke to her fitness and bloody-mindedness that she was still running twos by the end – four in the final five deliveries of the innings. That she should have been out three times came with a sense of cruelty – a dismissal would have at least given her some deserved respite as the chase circled the drain.As one of Scotland’s major players, it highlighted the need for teams to protect their assets in these conditions. With two of Scotland’s three remaining matches occupying the same time slot, there may be cause to shift her down the order to better preserve her energy and talents.Kathryn Bryce makes historyIt was more by accident than design that Kathryn Bryce took Scotland’s first wicket at a T20 World Cup. It should have belonged to Olivia Bell; the offspinner did not feature in the qualifiers but looked set to etch herself in the history books as a clothed flick from Murshida Khatun drifted towards midwicket. Rachel Slater’s drop was perhaps the worst of three in the first innings.Halfway through the next over, Murshida was snared down the ground, Katherine Fraser taking a high catch moving to her right from mid-on. And with that, Kathryn, Scotland’s talismanic skipper, had another line for a CV that is spilling over into the second page.On Tuesday, she was showered with awards at the PCA do for her performances during the English season. Among her four gongs was becoming the first non-English cricketer to be named women’s Player of the Year.That Kathryn was named the ICC’s associate women’s player of the decade for 2011 to 2020 despite making her T20I debut in 2018 says all that needs to be said about her standing, which has now been reinforced.

Manchester United’s business during the ongoing summer transfer window could prove to be crucial in Ruben Amorim’s stint as manager at Old Trafford.

The Red Devils have demonstrated with their Premier League finish in 2024/25 that they’re miles behind where they should be, especially given the money spent in recent seasons.

Former boss Erik ten Hag spent in the region of £600m on players in his three summers in the role, with many of his additions failing to impress in England’s top-flight.

The likes of Anthony, Tyrell Malacia and Rasmus Hojlund all arrived during the Dutchman’s tenure at the club, but all look set to depart this summer after falling down Amorim’s pecking order.

Any funds from such departures will likely be reinvested by the hierarchy to help the current boss in his quest for success, with numerous names already on their list this summer.

The latest on United’s hunt for new attackers this summer

Bryan Mbeumo looked almost certain to be a United player next season, after he agreed personal terms with the Red Devils over a move to Old Trafford this window.

However, despite placing two separate bids for the 25-year-old this summer, no agreement has yet been reached with Brentford, with staff behind the scenes in Manchester said to be growing frustrated.

As a result, attention has been turned to other potential attacking reinforcements, with Southampton youngster Tyler Dibling a key target, according to Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg.

He claims that Amorim’s side have made an approach for the 19-year-old’s signature this summer, but could face tough competition from fellow English side Tottenham Hotspur.

Plettenberg’s update also claims that the forward could be available for a fee in the region of £55m this summer, despite suffering relegation back to the Championship at the end of last season.

Why United’s £55m target is a bigger talent than Mbeumo

There’s no denying that Mbeumo has been one of the Premier League’s most deadly talents in recent seasons, as seen with his tally of 20 goals during the 2024/25 campaign.

The Cameroonian is more than deserving of a big-money move this window, with United the side pushing the most for his signature despite their recent unsuccessful offers.

The player himself has stated his desire to join Amorim’s side during the off-season, but ultimately, no deal can be completed until a fee has been agreed between the two clubs.

Many supporters will still see Mbeumo as the number one option in attacking areas, but they could land themselves a bigger talent in the form of Dibling, should they choose to pursue a move for the teenager’s signature.

Last campaign was his first at senior level, but he wasted no time in impressing, leading to one Liverpool analyst comparing the forward to Gareth Bale after his display at Anfield.

Such a comparison is no mean feat, given the Welshman was arguably one of the division’s best players a handful of years ago, managing to score 71 goals for Tottenham Hotspur across two separate spells.

Despite also being six years younger than Mbeumo, he’s also managed to outperform him in numerous key areas, further highlighting why he’d be a more exciting talent.

Dibling, who’s been labelled “incredible” by former boss Ivan Juric, managed to register a higher tally of progressive passes per 90, along with a higher pass completion rate – having the ability to aid others within the final third.

He also managed to complete more take-ons per 90, along with an increased tally of carries into the final third, showcasing the direct nature he possesses with the ball at his feet.

Games played

33

38

Goals & assists

2

27

Progressive passes

3.8

3.4

Pass accuracy

81%

66%

Take-ons completed

2.2

1.3

Carries into final third

2.4

1.8

Key passes made

1.9

1.8

Fouls won

2.4

1.1

The youngster was a constant nuisance to various backlines last season, including the Red Devils’ winning a penalty against them at St Mary’s, contributing to his tally of 2.4 fouls won per 90.

£55m may be seen as a huge investment for such an inexperienced talent, but it’s a risk worth taking given the levels he’s produced at a below-average Premier League outfit.

He’s already proven that he can outperform Mbeumo in numerous key areas, undoubtedly only going to get better too, playing alongside top-level talents for many years to come should he move to Old Trafford this window.

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Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will be in the market to bolster his forward options during the summer transfer window after the club opted not to replace Kyogo Furuhashi in January.

The Scottish giants decided to allow the Japan international to sign for French side Rennes on a permanent deal, before the deadline passed without any replacement through the door.

Kyogo scored ten goals in 22 matches in the Scottish Premiership in the 2024/25 campaign before he moved to Ligue 1, which shows that the Hoops did lose a big goal threat.

Rodgers went with Adam Idah and Daizen Maeda as his two main options in the number nine position for the second half of the season, but the club are now reportedly closing in on a new striker signing.

Celtic set to sign Premier League youngster

The Scottish giants have opted to bring another first-team centre-forward into the building this summer to compete with Idah and Maeda for a spot in the team.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

According to journalist Mark Hendry, Celtic are set to sign Fulham striker Callum Osmand to add to his number nine ranks in the summer transfer window.

The accompanying report from Celts Are Here explains that a medical has already been scheduled for the 19-year-old marksman, who is available for a compensation fee because of his expiring contract at Craven Cottage, as they close in on a deal for him.

It adds that Rodgers views him as a first-team addition to the squad, despite the fact that he is currently an U21 player for Fulham, and the Celtic boss could unearth his next Moussa Dembele with Osmand.

Why Callum Osmand could be the next Moussa Dembele

Back in the summer of 2016, Rodgers arrived at Parkhead and made Dembele his very first signing as the club’s manager from Premier League side Fulham to bolster his number nine options.

The French striker arrived for a compensation fee after his contract at Craven Cottage expired, which is the same path that Osmand looks set to follow this summer if this latest report proves to be accurate.

Dembele, after joining from Fulham, went on to score a staggering 51 goals in 94 games for Celtic before being sold to Lyon in the summer of 2018 for a record fee of £19.7m for a striker in the club’s history, as shown in the table below.

Celtic’s biggest striker sales
Player	Window	Club joined	Reported fee
Moussa Dembele	Summer 2018	Lyon	£19.7m
Odsonne Edouard	Summer 2021	Crystal Palace	£14m
Kyogo Furuhashi	January 2025	Rennes	£10m
Mark Viduka	Summer 2000	Leeds United	£7m
Gary Hooper	Summer 2013	Norwich City	£5m

Whilst there is a long way to go before thinking about the kind of fee that Celtic could sell him for, Osmand’s form for the Cottagers at youth level suggests that the potential is there for him to follow even further in Dembele’s footsteps.

The Wales youth international scored 14 goals in all competitions during the 2024/25 campaign, including 11 goals in 18 Premier League 2 games for the U21 side, but did not make his first-team debut for Fulham, as they have Raul Jimenez and Rodrigo Muniz as their frontline options.

Osmand has scored 23 goals in 38 games for Fulham’s U18s and 20 goals in 35 matches for the U21s, which takes him to 43 goals in 73 games overall. That is a return of a goal every 1.70 games on average, compared to Dembele’s 1.84 games per goal during his Celtic career.

Of course, there is no guarantee that he will translate those numbers over to first-team football in Scotland, but there was no guarantee when Rodgers gambled on signing Dembele from Fulham either.

The report from Mark Hendry states that the Celtic boss is a fan of the players and believes that he can make an immediate impact in the first-team, which suggests that he has the same sort of confidence that he had in the Frenchman back in 2016.

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Therefore, the Hoops manager could unearth his next version of Dembele with this transfer, because of his potential as a goalscorer, as well as the practically identical path to Parkhead.

Silly season is officially here, and it looks like it’s going to be a long but exciting one for Arsenal.

The areas Mikel Arteta and Co need to strengthen over the coming months are apparent, with perhaps the most significant position of need being centre-forward.

One of the names who has been most heavily linked with the Premier League runners-up in recent weeks has been Benjamin Sesko.

The Slovenian striker looks like he could be one of the game’s next great strikers, but if recent reports are to be believed, the North Londoners are also looking at someone else who could be an even better option.

Arsenal eyeing Sesko alternative

Before getting to the man in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other talented strikers who have been touted for a move to Arsenal in recent weeks, like Evann Guessand and Nick Woltemade.

Transfer Focus

Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.

The former enjoyed an impressive campaign with OGC Nice this season, in which he scored 13 goals and provided ten assists in 42 games, which more than justifies the £25m price tag on his head.

Likewise, the £42m VfB Stuttgart reportedly want for Woltemade doesn’t feel too unreasonable, as in just 33 games this season, the German poacher was able to score 17 goals and provide three assists while also winning the German Cup.

However, the Gunners might prefer a striker with more Premier League experience and a proven track record in England, which is where Ollie Watkins steps up.

According to a recent report from The Athletic, Arsenal have maintained an interest in the Aston Villa star despite failing to sign him in January.

The report claims that the England international, whom Arteta pushed for in the winter window, is still a topic of discussion among the club’s decision-makers, although his price could once again prove to be a stumbling block.

The Villans wanted £60m for him earlier this season, although with profit and sustainability rules still reportedly a cause for concern, there is a chance they’ll accept a lower fee in the coming weeks.

It would be a complicated transfer to get over the line, but given Watkins’ immense ability, it’s one worth pursuing, especially as he’d be a better signing than Sesko.

How Watkins compares to Sesko

So, with Arsenal undeniably needing a new striker this summer, who would be the better choice out of Watkins and Sesko?

Well, when it comes to their raw output, which is ultimately what matters most for a forward, it’s the Villa star who has the far better ratio of goal involvements to minutes played this season.

For example, in 54 appearances, which came to 3578 minutes of action, the Englishman, whom podcaster Rohan Jivan described as “one of the best centre-forwards in Europe,” scored 17 goals and provided 14 assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 115.41 minutes.

In contrast, the Slovenian international scored 21 goals and provided six assists in 45 appearances, totalling 3258 minutes this season, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 120.66 minutes.

Unfortunately for the RB Leipzig star, the comparison only becomes more one-sided when we take a look at their underlying numbers, with the former Exeter City gem coming out on top in the majority of relevant metrics, from non-penalty expected goals plus assists to progressive carries and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected G+As

0.59

0.40

Non-Penalty Goals + Assists

0.76

0.61

Progressive Passes

1.07

1.74

Progressive Carries

1.90

1.78

Shots

2.84

2.50

Shots on Target

1.25

1.10

Passing Accuracy

72.4%

67.6%

Key Passes

0.83

0.72

Passes into the Penalty Area

0.45

0.34

Shot-Creating Actions

1.84

1.93

Goal-Creating Actions

0.42

0.34

Successful Take-Ons

0.35

1.48

Finally, on top of being statistically more impressive, the former Brentford star is also the safer bet, as he’s already proven that he can thrive in the Premier League, and the club needing a major trophy next season, it makes far more sense to go with the known quantity.

Therefore, while Sesko is great, Arsenal should do what they can to sign Watkins this summer, as he may be the missing piece of the puzzle that lands them a Premier League or Champions League title next year.

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