Tim Boon, the former Leicestershire and England Under-19 head coach, has been recruited as a coach and high-performance consultant by Sri Lanka Cricket, on a one-month contract effective from May 8.Boon, who was also England’s team analyst under Duncan Fletcher during the 2005 Ashes win, will work as a batting consultant for the Sri Lanka Women’s senior and A-team squads, as well as the men’s emerging team and the Sri Lanka Under-17s.According to a SLC press release, his programme will include “technical and tactical sessions aimed at improving the players’ overall batting approach and individual performance”.His stint dovetails with that of R Sridhar, India’s former fielding coach, who earlier this month conducted a “comprehensive 10-day fielding programme” for both top men’s and women’s cricketers in Sri Lanka.It is a continuation of SLC’s policy of recruiting overseas coaches on short-term contracts. In 2024, Rajasthan Royals’ high performance director Zubin Bharucha conducted a brief programme aimed at raising batting standards. Wasim Akram and Jonty Rhodes have also been hired to run brief bowling and fielding programmes respectively, in the last 10 years.

Tottenham have reportedly held initial talks over signing a Real Madrid star who’s becoming disenfranchised with life under Xabi Alonso, but it’s actually not the often linked Rodrygo or Arda Güler.

Spurs were linked with surprise summer move for Rodrygo

Thomas Frank’s side, ideally, wanted to bring in two new star wingers during the summer.

While Xavi Simons, Mohammed Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani arrived at N17, with all three capable of playing out wide, Spurs were widely reported to be pursuing another forward towards the final days of the window.

Tottenham saw two bids rejected for Man City winger Savinho, and they were tipped to potentially go back in for the Brazilian in January (Dean Jones), until he decided to sign a new contract at Eastlands recently.

The former Girona star was a top personal transfer target for Frank, who believed he could be “huge” for Spurs, according to Fabrizio Romano, but all hope of signing Savinho in the near future has been quashed by the 21-year-old agreeing an extension until 2031.

With City’s rising star now off the table, it could be worth revisiting a potential bid for Rodrygo.

Tottenham were also linked with a move for the Real forward towards the back end of August, with reports in Spain claiming that Spurs made an approach for Rodrygo amid their pursuit of world-class attacking players (Mundo Deportivo).

Appearances

277

Goals

68

Assists

53

Bookings

11

Minutes played

16,358

The 24-year-old has started just one La Liga match under Xabi Alonso this season and was on the bench yet again for Real’s 5-0 win over Kairat Almaty in the Champions League on Tuesday.

With the 2026 World Cup looming and competition rife for a place in Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad, Rodrygo may not be satisfied with his bit-part role for much longer — which could open the door for Tottenham to swoop.

There were suggestions in the summer that Real could be open to loaning Rodrygo out, and that would suit Tottenham down to the ground, as CEO Vinai Vinkatesham, technical director Johan Lange and the new-look Lilywhites boardroom maintain their plans to sign another wide player in January.

Tottenham are also reportedly targeting Guler, but given his newly-found prominence at the Bernabeu, a move for the Turkey international could prove very difficult.

However, as per a new report, Guler and Rodrygo aren’t the only Real players on Tottenham’s radar.

Tottenham hold "preliminary talks" over signing Federico Valverde

As per reports from Spain, £280,000-per-week Real midfielder Federico Valverde has emerged as a “priority” target for Lange and co.

Unlike Rodrygo, their vice-captain has been selected regularly by Alonso, with Valverde notching three assists from midfield already and playing a key role at times.

That being said, a Spanish media source reports that Valverde is being slowly left in the dark by Real’s new manager, who wants more disciplined midfielders to maintain control of the park.

Valverde struggled in their 5-2 derby loss to Atlético Madrid last weekend, and the Uruguayan is apparently losing some faith in the dressing room.

Lange could take full advantage of this, with the report claiming that Tottenham are “leading the way in preliminary talks” for Valverde despite interest from other top Premier League sides.

Real’s board are also split over selling Valverde, as some believe he could still have a role to play under Alonso, while others think it could be the right time to sell in January and reinvest the funds into more squad upgrades.

The 27-year-old, who boasts over 70 caps for the Uruguay national team, has racked up 32 goals and 34 assists from 331 appearances for the Whites, with Ancelotti previously calling Valverde the “most complete player” in world football.

Newcastle United’s start to the 2025/26 Premier League season has been one of promise mixed with frustration.

Eddie Howe’s side opened with a cagey 0-0 draw against Aston Villa, a match in which they dominated large periods but lacked a cutting edge.

Their second fixture produced drama at St James’ Park.

Coming from 2-0 down against Liverpool, Newcastle looked set to have completed the comeback before Rio Ngumoha’s 100th-minute strike condemned them to a 3-2 defeat.

The pattern continued away at Leeds, another 0-0 stalemate where chances were few.

It wasn’t until the fourth game that Newcastle finally claimed three points, grinding out a laboured 1-0 home victory over Wolves.

That was followed by another goalless encounter, this time away at Bournemouth – a match that underlined both Howe’s tactical experiments and the team’s ongoing attacking malaise.

In those two goalless games against Leeds and Bournemouth, Howe trialled different variations of a back three.

Yet, the results suggest the system still requires tweaking, with Newcastle struggling for rhythm in possession and fluency in the final third.

Newcastle stifled by the system against Bournemouth

Against Bournemouth, Howe’s team took to the field in a 3-4-2-1, aiming to nullify the hosts’ high-pressing 4-2-3-1.

Nick Woltemade, the record signing, led the line.

The German forward showed neat touches and even had a penalty appeal waved away, but he still appeared to be adjusting to the physical demands of English football.

In midfield, Howe rotated heavily. Lewis Miley and Joe Willock replaced Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton, but neither was able to stamp authority on proceedings.

Newcastle’s lack of thrust was reflected in the numbers: just 0.14 expected goals (xG) compared to Bournemouth’s 0.46.

Defensively, there were nervy moments.

Tino Livramento was caught at the back post, allowing David Brooks to score what looked like the opening goal before it was ruled out for offside.

Malick Thiaw also rode his luck, avoiding what could have been a second-half red card.

The raw statistics painted a bleak picture for Newcastle: 4 shots to Bournemouth’s 11 and 390 completed passes to the Cherries’ 498.

One positive came in the form of Lewis Hall, who looked composed on his return to the starting XI after a lengthy injury layoff.

The former Chelsea man provided balance on the left flank and showed glimpses of the technical security Newcastle have been missing in recent weeks. The same can’t be said of one of his teammates, however…

Bournemouth draw the latest example of Willock’s decline

Amid Newcastle’s struggles, the spotlight inevitably fell on Joe Willock.

The midfielder was handed his first league start of the season at Bournemouth, but his subdued display was another reminder of how far his career has drifted from the explosive start he made at St James’ Park.

Willock first arrived on loan from Arsenal in February 2021, tasked with helping Steve Bruce’s side escape relegation.

He wasted no time, scoring on his debut in a 3-2 win over Southampton before embarking on a remarkable run of goals in seven consecutive matches – equalling Alan Shearer’s long-standing record from 1996.

By the end of that season, Willock had eight goals in 14 games, second only to Callum Wilson despite arriving mid-season.

Bruce urged the board to make the move permanent, and in the summer, Newcastle obliged with a £25m deal.

Willock went on to contribute significantly in Howe’s first full campaign, helping Newcastle secure a fourth-place finish and a return to the Champions League.

But since then, injuries have derailed his progress.

Hamstring Injury

12 matches missed

Achilles Tendon Injury

18 matches missed

Achilles Tendon Injury

8 matches missed

Thigh Injury

2 matches missed

Muscle Injury

1 match missed

Calf Injury

2 matches missed

He missed 38 matches in 2023/24 and another seven last season, with one content creator on X remarking that the “explosive bursts of pace” once central to his game have all but disappeared.

The Bournemouth match showed the scale of his struggles.

In the 62 minutes before being replaced by Harvey Barnes, Willock registered no shots, 32 touches, and just 12 successful passes from 15 attempts (80%), as per Sofascore.

Defensively, he was combative, winning six of nine ground duels, but he lost both of his aerial contests and offered little drive going forward.

His match rating of 6.8 reflected an industrious but uninspiring performance.

For a player once hailed as Newcastle’s answer to Shearer in terms of clutch goalscoring, his trajectory has become symbolic of the team’s own attacking issues.

Howe will hope that minutes in the upcoming League Cup clash against Bradford can help Willock rediscover some rhythm, but at present, he looks far from the dynamic midfielder who carried Newcastle to safety just four years ago.

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ByKelan Sarson Sep 22, 2025

Aston Villa have had a rocky start to the 2025/26 season, struggling to find consistency in the Premier League.

Their first win came only in late September against Fulham, and they followed that with a narrow 2–1 victory over Burnley, a result that temporarily lifted spirits at Villa Park.

Despite these wins, Villa currently sit 13th in the league with a goal difference of -1, reflecting the challenges they’ve faced in converting performances into points.

Their upcoming fixtures are equally testing.

The Villans travel to Tottenham Hotspur next before heading to the Netherlands to face Go Ahead Eagles, meaning Unai Emery must carefully manage his squad to avoid fatigue and injury.

While domestic form has been inconsistent, Villa are faring better in the Europa League, sitting third in their group after wins against Bologna and Feyenoord.

These results highlight the importance of rotation and squad depth, particularly when competing on multiple fronts.

Emery has already shown a willingness to trust young players, such as Morgan Rogers, who flourished when given the chance.

With Villa balancing league and European ambitions, this season could be the perfect opportunity to integrate another academy product.

A young midfielder drawing comparisons to one of the club’s most reliable performers over the last decade.

John McGinn's start to the season in numbers

For Aston Villa, few players embody consistency like John McGinn.

The 30-year-old joined Villa from Hibernian when the club was still in the Championship and has been central to their rise to the Premier League and European football.

Known for his work rate, leadership, and eye for goal, McGinn has scored in both the Champions League and Europa League, including the winning strike in a 1–0 victory against Bologna this season.

In the 2025/26 campaign, McGinn has made ten appearances across all competitions, scoring once in the league and twice in the Europa League.

Matches Played

7

Minutes

546

Goals

1

Progressive Carries

9

Progressive Passes

25

His influence goes beyond goals, with last season’s stats underlining his consistency: 49 appearances, four goals, six assists, and 3,306 minutes played.

At international level, McGinn has been equally dependable, earning 80 caps for Scotland and scoring 20 goals.

He ranks in the 86th percentile for pass completion (82.1%) and the 86th percentile for interceptions per 90 minutes (0.69), as per FBref.

No matter the circumstances, McGinn consistently performs, providing Villa with a reliable presence in midfield that stabilises both defensive and attacking transitions.

With Villa facing demanding fixtures and balancing multiple competitions, McGinn’s influence is vital.

His consistency provides the platform upon which Emery can experiment with younger players, confident that the backbone of the midfield remains solid.

The next McGinn who Emery should trust

Aidan Borland, an 18-year-old centre-midfielder, could be Villa’s next player to emulate McGinn’s impact.

Signed from Celtic’s youth academy in 2023 for a nominal fee, Borland has already shown maturity beyond his years.

This season, he has played six times in Premier League 2 (540 minutes) and featured once in the EFL Trophy (90 minutes).

He was also on the bench during Villa’s Carabao Cup defeat to Brentford, a game they lost on penalties after going ahead through Harvey Elliot.

Borland’s style of play mirrors many of McGinn’s traits.

He is an aggressive dueller and tackler, covers significant ground, and reads the game well, frequently making interceptions to break up opposition attacks.

He approaches each action positively, keeps his play simple, and leads by example – characteristics that have already drawn praise from youth coaches.

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Football FanCast’s In the Pipeline series aims to uncover the very best youth players in world football.

Analyst Ben Mattinson described him as a “youth version of John McGinn,” a comparison that Villa fans will find encouraging given the midfielder’s reliability over the last decade.

Physically and mentally, Borland is prepared for the step-up.

His high work rate, intelligence, and composure on the ball suggest he could thrive if given first-team minutes this season.

Emery, known for integrating academy talent effectively, could find a key option in Borland to rotate alongside McGinn or cover in European fixtures.

With Villa seeking to balance league stability with Europa League progression, giving the young midfielder a chance could accelerate his development while providing the team with fresh energy in central areas.

If Borland adapts to the pace and intensity of Premier League football, he could become a player Emery trusts to mirror McGinn’s consistency, leadership, and attacking contribution.

For Villa, nurturing talent from within the academy has already proven successful, and Borland has the potential to continue that tradition, providing both quality and longevity in midfield.

For a club navigating a tough start to the season, the emergence of players like Borland could be key to sustaining performance across competitions, helping Aston Villa challenge for higher league positions while continuing their European journey.

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MatériaMais Notícias

O Corinthians “namorou” alguns treinadores após Vítor Pereira partir o coração da Fiel e trocar o Timão pelo Flamengo. Um desses pretendentes foi o argentino Juan Pablo Vojvoda, comandante do Fortaleza.

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+ Renove o seu estoque de camisas do Timão com o cupom LANCEFUT 10% OFF

Vojvoda sempre esteve no radar da diretoria corintiana, que nunca chegou a formalizar o interesse no argentino. Na época em que buscava treinador, o Lance! informou que o Timão estaria disposto a oferecer inicialmente um valor que é três vezes maior do que o profissional recebe no Fortaleza.

Porém, a confiança no projeto pesou para que Vojvoda renovasse com o Leão do Pici até o final de 2024, frustrando os planos do Corinthians, que acabou iniciando a temporada com Fernando Lázaro. Contudo, o nome do argentino não foi esquecido em 2023.

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Após a queda de Cuca, Vojvoda foi novamente especulado para assumir o Timão, mas o treinador garantiu não ter sido procurado.

– Sou totalmente sincero, não foi procurado pelo Corinthians. Acho que foi bom isso, porque fala de respeito e valores de um clube como o Corinthians. E eu parabenizo isso também – declarou Vojvoda após o empate entre as equipes no primeiro turno do Brasileirão.

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MELHOR DE TRÊS?

O confronto desta quinta-feira (14) será uma prévia da semifinal da Copa do Brasil, já que Corinthians e Fortaleza vão se enfrentar mais duas vezes por uma vaga na final continental.

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Para o duelo no Brasileirão, Vanderlei Luxemburgo não relacionou jogadores importantes, como Fagner, Renato Augusto e Rojas. Mesmo assim, o Timão mira melhorar o aproveitamento fora de casa, já que não vence como visitante há quase dois meses, e também afastar de vez o “fantasma” do rebaixamento.

Wolves manager Vitor Pereira explained why he clashed with the home fans at Molineux after his side went down 3-2 against Burnley on Sunday. This was Wolves' seventh defeat in their last nine Premier League matches as they continue to struggle at the bottom of the league table with just two points. Wolves are also the only club in all of England's top four divisions yet to win a game this season.

• Wolves still searching for first win

  Burnley took a two-goal lead within the first 30 minutes of the match as Zian Flemming scored a spectacular brace. The home team, however, bounced back before the halftime whistle with a couple of goals from Jorgen Strand Larsen and Marshall Munetsi. They fought hard in the second half and at one point, it seemed that they would walk away with at least a point, but Lyle Foster's 95th-minute strike broke Wolves' hearts as the Clarets claimed all three points from the away fixture. 

  With seven losses and two draws in their first nine Premier League games, Pereira's side are still rooted to the bottom of the table, six points behind 17th-placed Fulham. 

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• Getty Images Sport
  

  Pereira explains clash with home fans

  Following Foster's last-gasp winner, the crowd at Molineux started to boo the team. Pereira was also greeted by 'sacked in the morning chants', which prompted the Portuguese coach to angrily confront the home supporters, with staff members stepping in to hold him back.

  At his post-match press conference, Pereira addressed the incident as he said: "We understand the frustration of the people and supporters but what I must say, if we fight united with them, we can win games and compete and achieve our targets – without them, it is impossible. If we win two or three games in a row, things will change. Two months ago they sang my name, because together with the work we did last season, we are competing in the Premier League and not Championship. Now they sing my name to sack me. If I was a supporter, I would feel proud of my team because they worked and showed the spirit, mentality and ambition to win the game, even losing 2-0 [after 30 minutes]."

  He added: "If you fight for 90 minutes to win a game and in the last minute when the other team was trying to get a draw, wasting time to finish the game, defending in a low block to defend the result, even if we draw it was not fair. We deserved the three points but it's football. I feel proud of my players because they showed in a very difficult moment, the mentality, the team spirit, the organisation to try until the last minute to win the game."

• Pereira not worried about his future

  Despite the fan uproar, the 57-year-old remains confident of holding on to his position, as he added: "I'm not worried. It's not about me. It's about the club, the team and the players. My work is to help them to come again mentally strong for the next battle. Sometimes we have very difficult moments in our life that we have to suffer. What I saw in the dressing room was a team suffering. They did everything to get more from this game. 

  "What I said to them was today is a day we need to suffer but tomorrow we need to rise again ready for a fight. This is the mentality of this group. They deserve more than what we are getting in this league. I believe a win can change everything and feel today was the day but in the end, it was not. We must be ready to fight again and need our supporters again."

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  Crucial week ahead

  Pereira signed a new three-year contract at Wolves only a month ago but former Manchester United scout Mick Brown claimed that a decision on the coach's future might be taken during the November international break and that the next few games will determine whether he will stay at the club.

  Wolves are due back in action at home to Chelsea in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, before focus shifts to a must-win game away at Fulham in the Premier League three days later.

Stumps The two faces of India’s new generation of Test batters traded sparkling centuries to dominate England on the opening day at Headingley. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill cruised to hundreds as opener and No. 4 respectively, shrugging off the absence of two modern greats whose retirements have vacated those roles: no Rohit Sharma, no Virat Kohli, no problem.Jaiswal plundered 712 runs in India’s home series against England 18 months ago; here, he provided further evidence of his adaptability. His century was a masterclass in off-side strokeplay: each of his 17 boundaries, including a vicious cut for six over cover, came on the off side, and he took only 48 balls to move from 50 to 100.But Gill’s innings, his first as captain, was even better. He embodied the tempo that he wants from his side, charging to his fastest half-century (off 56 balls) without offering a chance before cruising serenely to three figures. After lashing a cover drive for four to reach his sixth Test hundred, he bowed to a standing ovation from his team-mates on the dressing-room balcony.Related

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• Yashasvi Jaiswal and an exceptional understanding of how to score runs

Gill said on the eve of the series that he would look to lead through his actions and “dominate” with the bat, and backed up his words with an innings that oozed authority. Having never previously made an impact in Tests outside Asia, he looked completely at home as he seized his chance to prove he is not only the future of India’s batting line-up, but the present too.It made for a long, painstaking day in the field for England’s bowlers, who must have rued Ben Stokes’ decision to bowl first on winning the toss on an unusually hot day in Leeds. Stokes himself was the pick of the attack, strangling the debutant B Sai Sudharsan down the leg side on the stroke of lunch and knocking back Jaiswal’s off stump straight after tea.Stokes’ call was informed by the sense that there would be life in the pitch in the first session, but Jaiswal and KL Rahul did not entertain that notion. England’s seamers bowled reasonably full and attacked the off-stump channel but without success, their desperation summed up by a hugely optimistic lbw review when Josh Tongue hit Jaiswal on the pad from around the wicket.Yashasvi Jaiswal brings up his fifth Test hundred•Getty Images

Jaiswal occasionally played and missed, and was struck on the ribcage by a lifter from Brydon Carse, but Rahul looked totally unflustered as he punished width and half-volleys. It came as a shock when he finally offered a chance off a Carse outswinger, his thick outside edge flying straight to Joe Root at slip.Carse’s follow-up ball to Sai Sudharsan, India’s new No. 3, was a snorter which rapped him on the back thigh, and he soon fell into England’s trap. Stokes bowled the final over of the morning session with a leg slip and a leg gully, appealing unsuccessfully for a leg-side strangle with his third delivery; Sai Sudharsan duly obliged one ball later, feathering through to Jamie Smith.Gill started jumpily after lunch, scampering through for a tight single off his second ball and offering a run-out chance off his sixth. He worked Carse to the right of Ollie Pope at short midwicket, whose pick-up-and-throw would have found Gill short of his ground with a direct hit; instead, it ran away to the boundary for overthrows.It proved to be the only real chance of the middle session, though Carse might well have had Jaiswal lbw on review for 45 had he not overstepped. After an itchy start, Gill settled down and looked utterly unflappable for the rest of his innings: he made Chris Woakes look utterly innocuous after lunch, then reached a rapid half-century with a pull off Tongue.Ben Stokes has a few words for Rishabh Pant•Getty Images

Jaiswal battled cramp as he put his foot on the accelerator, marking Shoaib Bashir’s introduction to the attack by slicing his first ball away behind point and later dumping him back over his head for four. As he grew tired, he began to stand and deliver: he reached his hundred by belting Carse for consecutive fours, then snuck through for a single and raised his arms aloft.His innings ended soon after tea, as Stokes angled the ball away off the seam and pegged back the top of his off stump. But the respite was short-lived: Rishabh Pant, playing against England in Tests for the first time in three years, charged at his second ball and belted it over Stokes’ head for four. England’s captain could only laugh.Pant and Gill reined themselves in, allowing Bashir to settle into an economical, if largely unthreatening, spell of 21 unchanged overs from the Football Stand End. But Pant was never likely to wait for long, and started to take on the deep fielders: he nearly miscued a catch to Crawley at short midwicket, but comfortably cleared long-on with a towering straight six.Gill upped the tempo further after his rasping drive off Tongue to reach his century, short-arm pulling six over long leg. And England’s hopes that the second new ball would provide a breakthrough were quickly quashed as Pant toe-ended a slog-sweep through mid-on, then hoicked Woakes over midwicket for six in the final over of the day.

Glasgow Rangers may have a brand-new head coach in the building by the time they next take to the field at Ibrox in the Scottish Premiership after the international break.

The Light Blues opted to remove their previous manager from his post after a draw last time out in the league meant that he had only won one of his seven Premiership matches in charge.

Russell Martin only won five of his 17 games as the club’s manager, as shown in the graphic above, and the Ibrox giants are now looking to find his replacement.

The latest on the Rangers manager search at Ibrox

The Light Blues are aiming to bring in a replacement ahead of their clash with Dundee United at Ibrox after the break, and they appear to be closing in on their man.

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According to journalist Ben Jacobs, Rangers are ‘close’ to reaching an agreement with out-of-work head coach Steven Gerrard to make him Martin’s replacement.

The reporter claims that the English tactician, who left Rangers to join Aston Villa back in 2021, held face-to-face talks with Light Blues chairman Andrew Cavanagh and vice-chairman Paraag Marathe in London earlier this week.

Those conversations went well and the Liverpool legend seems to be closing in on a return for a second spell in the dugout at Ibrox this season.

This change in manager in Glasgow could have ramifications throughout the squad, as it is a clean slate for all the players, and the rarely-seen Clinton Nsiala may end up being the biggest winner.

Why Clinton Nsiala may be Ibrox's biggest Rangers winner

The left-footed central defender was bombed out of the squad by Martin this season and has not played a single minute of competitive football since the 2024/25 campaign.

Nsiala, whose last appearance came against St Mirren in April, posted an Instagram story of himself celebrating and smiling after a goal for the club at Ibrox after the news broke that Martin had been sacked. Possibly a coincidence and unrelated.

The 21-year-old starlet, who joined from AC Milan last year, made 11 appearances in the Premiership during the 2024/25 campaign and showed some signs of promise.

25/26 Premiership

Clinton Nsiala

Appearances (starts)

11 (10)

Pass accuracy

89%

Ground duel success rate

45%

Aerial duel success rate

52%

Ball recoveries per game

2.1

Clearances per game

4.5

Duels won per game

2.6

Stats via Sofascore

As you can see in the table above, Nsiala got a taste of Premiership action last season and had positive and negative aspects to his performances, winning the majority of his aerial duels, but being a bit too weak in his battles on the deck.

At the age of 21, the French gem, who was described as an “exciting talent” by Nils Koppen, has plenty of time left to develop and improve as a player, but Martin was not willing to provide him with chances to gain experience this season.

That is despite Jayden Meghoma, a left-back, and Derek Cornelius, a centre-back, being the only two left-footed defenders in the senior squad at this moment in time.

Martin lined up with Cornelius out of position at left-back and the right-footed John Souttar as a left-sided centre-back in the 1-1 draw with Falkirk last time out in the Premiership, which speaks to the issues that the Gers have had on that side of the defence.

Nsiala, therefore, may end up being the biggest winner from the change in management at Ibrox because Martin, clearly, was not keen on him, but Gerrard may see the lack of naturally left-footed options at the back and provide the youngster with an opportunity.

Gerrard, after all, was the manager who signed Calvin Bassey and gave him his Gers debut as a young and versatile left-footed defender, which may give Nsiala hope that he could follow in the Nigeria international’s footsteps.

Related New Rangers manager could lose Ibrox star as soon as January window opens

Another potential blow for the Gers.

Posts ByTom Cunningham Oct 10, 2025

It will now be interesting to see what kind of decisions the new manager makes, if it does end up being Gerrard, with the current squad once he is in the building at Ibrox.

Chelsea have now joined the race to sign a “top-class” defender, who’s also being targeted by Liverpool, with Enzo Maresca suffering an injury crisis at centre-back.

Blues struggling for options at centre-back

Remarkably, the Blues managed to sign off with a 2-1 win against reigning Premier League champions Liverpool before the international break, despite being very light on options at centre-back, with both Benoît Badiashile and Josh Acheampong being withdrawn due to injury.

Tosin Adarabioyo, Wesley Fofana and Levi Colwill were also absent, with the latter player suffering an ACL injury back in August, which led to widespread suggestions that Maresca’s side should enter the market for a new centre-back.

However, having spent so heavily improving other areas of the squad, BlueCo ultimately didn’t sanction a move for another new defender, which may be a decision they are now starting to rue, given the scale of the injury crisis at Stamford Bridge.

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Consequently, it would make sense for the west Londoners to enter the market for a new centre-back in the January transfer window, and they have now set their sights on a Liverpool target.

That is according to journalist Pete O’Rourke, in a report from Football Insider, which states Chelsea have now joined the race for Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo, who has a whopping £870m release clause in his contract.

O’Rourke goes on to describe Araujo as “top class”. However, he does not believe there is much chance of a transfer going through in January, saying: “I don’t see any move in January for Araujo.

“Obviously, I don’t think Barcelona would want to weaken their squad midway through the season as they’ll have ambitions to win La Liga again and to go far in the Champions League this season.”

Araujo could take Chelsea's defence to next level

At 26-years-old, the Uruguayan may be about to enter the prime of his career, and he has recently started to improve himself at the highest level, making eight Champions League appearances as Barca went on to reach the semi-final last season.

The Barcelona defender, on €240,385 per week, has remained an important player this season, making six La Liga appearances, and pundit Jack Collins has previously suggested he has the leadership abilities to one day captain the Spanish side.

Not only that, but the Rivera-born defender is dominant in the air, placing in the 97th percentile for aerials won per 90 over the past year, when compared to other centre-backs, while also ranking in the 99th percentile for non-penalty goals.

As such, Araujo could be a solid addition to Chelsea’s backline, so they should undoubtedly try to get a deal done in January, but Barca remain in a strong negotiating position, as the Uruguay international is tied down until 2031.

The matches will be played on September 27, 28, and 30 in the lead up to Nepal’s participation in the men’s T20 World Cup Asia qualifier

ESPNcricinfo staff13-Jun-2025Nepal and West Indies will face-off in three T20Is in what will be the first bilateral series between the two teams, in September in Sharjah. Even though the games will be played at a neutral venue, Nepal will be the official hosts of the series.A Cricket West Indies (CWI) statement called the “historic” series a “significant milestone in the ongoing mission to grow and globalize the game of cricket”. The matches will be played on September 27, 28, and 30 in the lead up to Nepal’s participation in the men’s T20 World Cup Asia qualifier later in the year.”This series is more than just a set of international matches – it’s a celebration of the game’s expanding global footprint and a testament to what cricket represents: pride, purpose, and the power of unity,” CWI chief executive Chris Dehring said in the statement. “As a full-member nation, we see it as part of our responsibility to contribute to the development of cricket beyond our borders.”Supporting Nepal in this key phase of their cricketing journey not only builds the sport at the grassroots and international levels but also reminds us of the deep pride and honour associated with representing our nation and wearing our national colours. We are proud to stand with Nepal at this moment in their history and look forward to exciting and competitive cricket in Sharjah.”The statement added that West Indies were expected to field a “competitive squad”.The West Indies T20I team is currently in Ireland for a three-match T20I series, of which the first match was washed out. Nepal, meanwhile, are in Scotland for a T20I tri-series also involving Netherlands.Two-time World Cup champions West Indies are currently ranked fifth in the format while Nepal are 18th.