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“Whoever I’m playing, I want to do a miracle on the ground so that I can make my country proud,” Shivam Dube says after starring role in India’s win over UAE

Shashank Kishore11-Sep-20251:48

Dube: ‘I am always prepared to bowl four overs’

Since IPL 2023, Shivam Dube has been a casualty of the Impact Player rule that has greatly limited opportunities for allrounders to showcase their dual skills. Over the past three seasons, Dube’s bowling numbers read: 3-0-47-1.In a way, this limitation has been a factor in Dube’s hunger to contribute with the ball, and continue to upgrade his skill sets. To that end, the work he has put in at training, especially with his bowling, has been noticeable.On Wednesday, India didn’t to hand Dube the ball. Suryakumar Yadav did, and Dube picked up three wickets across two overs. There was a seam-up that nipped away to nick off Asif Khan, a nip-backer that trapped Dhruv Parashar, and a slower delivery that had Junaid Siddique slogging to mid-on.Related

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“The captain and the coach told me earlier itself that I will bowl [at the Asia Cup] and that they are confident about me,” Dube said at the press conference after India’s demolition of UAE. “My bowling coach [Morne Morkel] has told me a lot of things. I was preparing for this for a long time, that I will get an opportunity to bowl and when it comes, I’ll be ready. What happened today is because of that preparation.”Dube admitted that while his role with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL has largely been that of a power-hitter, he has used the time away to gather plenty of bowling miles. Even if it doesn’t instantly result in him bowling as many overs as he would like to.”The answer lies in your question itself,” Dube said when asked about the Impact Player rule. “The scheme of an allrounder has been reduced. Because of that, in the IPL, there wasn’t a necessity for me to bowl. But, from my side, I was always prepared. Every match, I was ready to bowl. I was working really hard before the IPL also. I spent two months working on my fitness and bowling.”That effort seems to be paying off. Dube credited Morkel for fine-tuning his action and approach. The two have been in each other’s ears constantly at training. Two days ago, Morkel had even stated the importance of having someone of Dube’s abilities prep in a manner that gives him the confidence to bowl in pressure situations.

“Our coach has said something that has always been in my heart and mind: that whenever you go on the ground, whenever you represent your country, you have a chance to do something big for the country”Shivam Dube

“At the England series [in January-February], he told me a few things,” Dube said. “He told me to bowl from outside [wider of the crease] and to bowl slower [from a certain angle]. I have been working on that for a long time. He told me a few things about my bowling run-up too. Because of those two-three things, my bowling is getting better. My pace is also improving and I am getting confidence.”Today’s start was very important. As an allrounder, I am always prepared for four overs of bowling. Whenever I get an opportunity to bowl three-four overs, I am ready for it. I will try and do what the team needs.”There aren’t just bowling tweaks that Dube has been working on. Between IPL 2025 and now, he has worked a lot on his batting too, back at home in Mumbai. One of the aspects he identified was working on improving against the short ball bowled at high pace and into his body. The Asia Cup opener was his first competitive outing since the IPL ended in May (barring three middling games at the Mumbai T20 League where he captained ARCS Andheri).1:55

Why did Suryakumar let Siddique bat despite being out?

“About my batting, I was thinking of adding some of the shots,” he said of his tailored training. “Yes, I can hit in certain areas. But certain bowlers are there who come on me with the short balls and all. I worked [on that] in the IPL. And even after IPL, I have been working on some extra shots that I can bring to the Indian team. And yes, I was working on my fitness because I knew that if I become fitter, then I can bowl four overs or whatever the team requires.”Dube’s selection in India’s XI against UAE reflected the team management’s emphasis on extending the batting depth till No. 8 – a call that, in turn, makes his ability to deliver with the ball even more crucial. Dube revealed that there had been a lot of learning from the coaches and off Hardik Pandya, who isn’t exactly like-for-like but someone whose experience he’s been more than happy to dip into.”Hardik is someone from whom I always learn,” Dube said. “He is like a brother to me. As a cricketer, he has a lot of experience in international cricket and IPL. So I feel I have a lot to learn from him with regards to both batting and bowling. I have never thought about comparison. I just thought I should get something from him with which I can improve myself.”2:21

Can UAE take away anything from this thrashing?

Asked to talk about the quality of India’s opponents in their opening game, Dube was sympathetic, especially the UAE batters’ inability to handled the quality of India’s spinners, Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy.”I can’t say whether they were able to pick or not… I’m not going to say they [UAE batters] are not of the same class,” Dube said. “I will never say that to any opponent because I feel it doesn’t send out a good message. Yes, they [Kuldeep and Varun] are mystery bowlers. Even I am not able to pick them up sometimes [in the nets]. So there is nothing in that.”It was only when Dube was inevitably asked about the next game, against Pakistan, that he chose to be slightly more guarded. “Whether it’s a match with UAE or Pakistan, it’s important for me when I go on the ground and for my team that… our coach has said something that has always been in my heart and mind: that whenever you go on the ground, whenever you represent your country, you have a chance to do something big for the country.”Gautam [Gambhir] sir has always said this. So, keeping that in mind, whether it’s Pakistan or UAE, or whoever I’m playing with in the future, I want to do a miracle on the ground so that I can make my country proud.”

Despite a few early wins this season, Leeds United are already looking like they could get dragged into a relegation fight. Unlike fellow newly promoted side Sunderland, who are seventh in the Premier League, the Whites have eight points and find themselves in 16th.

Perhaps it is too early for alarm bells, but the 2024/25 Championship winners are only three points clear of the relegation zone, and have now lost their last two games.

Their next assignment is huge, with 19th-place West Ham United set to visit Elland Road on Friday night.

If this poor form continues, then the future of manager Daniel Farke could once again come into question for the 49ers regime.

Farke’s uncertain future at Leeds

The 2024/25 campaign was an unquestionable success for Leeds. They were guided back to the Premier League by Farke at the second time of asking, reaching 100 points and winning the title on goal difference.

You would automatically assume that the German boss would be safe in his job at Elland Road, but that was not the case over the summer. There were several reports which suggested the 49ers were ready to remove Farke from his post.

Pundits were also quick to claim that the former Norwich City boss would not be the right man to lead the club in the Premier League. Gabby Agbonlahor told talkSPORT that the German “hasn’t done it in the Premier League, he struggled as a manager,” suggesting they should sack him.

However, those rumours were squashed by the Whites’ chairman, Paraag Marathe. He confirmed at the end of last campaign that the 48-year-old would stay as Leeds manager, saying, “I have ended the speculation. He is my man.”

However, football is a results business, and the Whites must start putting points on the board, or Farke’s job could come under fire again. In recent days, they have been linked with a new boss.

Who Leeds could appoint to replace Farke

It would be a bold call for Leeds to sack the man who got them to the Premier League, after backing him so openly. Yet, as reported this week, they have been tipped to target Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior as his replacement.

Former Leeds fullback Aidy White described it as a “huge gamble,” although his current role in France has shown just how capable a gaffer Rosenior is. He’s handled the jump to a top-flight side well after previously managing Hull City in the second tier.

The 41-year-old, who was born in London, has a positive record in charge of the BlueCo-owned side. Rosenior has managed 48 games for Strasbourg, winning 25 times, drawing 11 and losing the other 12.

One of the things Leeds have struggled with this term is not conceding goals. They’ve let in 13 so far, three more than Strasbourg’s ten. However, six of those came in games against Paris Saint-Germain, which they drew 3-3, and table toppers Marseille, which ended in a narrow 3-2 loss.

It is certainly encouraging that the Whites would be appointing a manager who is much more defensively stable. When he was sacked by Hull, their owner said Rosenior played “a more defensive style of football,” which could work well in Leeds’ favour.

That does not mean that a Rosenior side is ineffective going forward. In fact, this season Strasbourg have scored the second most goals in Ligue 1, with 17, and have the third best expected goals tally of 15.7xG.

Strasbourg – Ligue 1 25/26
Stat	Number	Rank vs. Ligue 1 sides
Goals	17	2nd
Expected goals	15.7xG	3rd
Goals per game	2.12	2nd
Goals conceded	10	=4th
Clean sheets	4	=2nd
Stats from FBref

It is easy to see why writer Zach Lowy thinks Rosenior can become “one of the best coaches of the next 20 years.” There is plenty of upside to his game, given his tactical flexibility and the ability to coach defensively sound sides, yet also pose a great attacking threat.

If Leeds were to sack Farke in the near future, Rosenior could be a fantastic option to first guide them away from relegation and then build towards Premier League stability.

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By
Dan Emery

Oct 22, 2025

Wrexham held on to a valuable point away from home as the Red Dragons extended their unbeaten Championship run, thanks to some heroic defending in a 0-0 draw at Portsmouth. Phil Parkinson's men went to the south coast on the back of a thrilling 3-2 win over league leaders Coventry, and they put in a gritty performance on Wednesday evening to snatch a point from the dominant hosts.

Wrexham lucky to get away with a point

If three words could sum up the opening 45 minutes at Fratton Park, they’d be tight, cagey, and combative. Wrexham began the brighter of the two, showing flickers of the fluid, attacking football that has become Phil Parkinson’s trademark. But for all their energy, clear-cut chances were scarce. The travelling fans urged their side forward, but Portsmouth, resilient and well-drilled, refused to buckle. 

The best early opportunity came when Lewis O’Brien let fly from the edge of the box after clever interplay between Liberato Cacace and Ben Sheaf. His strike was destined for the bottom corner until Josef Bursik, Portsmouth’s alert shot-stopper, flung himself low to tip it around the post. Moments later, Kieffer Moore rose highest from a corner, powering a header goal-ward, only to see Bursik once again deny him with strong hands.

If Wrexham had their spells of promise, Portsmouth grew stronger as the half wore on. Josh Murphy, a constant menace down the flank, began to stretch the home defence. His whipped cross almost paid dividends when Regan Poole ghosted in at the back post, but the defender’s effort fizzed narrowly wide. 

After the break, Portsmouth emerged with a fire in their bellies and immediately seized control. The momentum shifted, and the visitors found themselves pinned back under relentless pressure. Murphy was at the centre of everything as he orchestrated most attacks from the left flank. Pompey came close when Jordan Williams whipped in a teasing cross that sent the Wrexham backline into disarray. The ball pin-balled around the box, and Murphy twice came within inches of scoring, but both his efforts were blocked. 

Against the run of play, just after the hour mark, Wrexham's O'Brien found himself through on goal, following a quick free-kick, but the forward was denied by Bursik in a one-on-one with the keeper. As the match continued to wear on, Werxham dug in their heels as Portsmouth continued their onslaught. However, John Mousinho's men could not breach the Wrexham walls and were forced to share the spoils despite a spirited display in the second half.  

It was a game of two halves. By the final whistle, both teams had given everything. Wrexham had the bite, Portsmouth the flair, yet neither could find that crucial cutting edge. Parkinson’s men will take heart from their resilience, while Portsmouth will rue their missed chances, especially after dominating long stretches of the second half. Wrexham are currently 14th in the standings with 18 points and will get back to action against Charlton on Saturday. Meanwhile, Portsmouth remain winless in their last five games, which includes three losses. They came close to clinching the three points here, but some resolute defending from Wrexham denied them to get back on the winning track. They are 20th in the standings and will play Hull City next. 

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Murphy was the best player on the pitch by a mile. Max Cleworth and Issa Kabore doubled up on him, and yet the duo struggled to contain him. His deliveries from the corner kicks were menacing, but on some days, the ball just won't bulge the net. 

The big loser

Parkinson got it right in the first half, but his team surprisingly went into a shell in the second. This allowed Portsmouth to relentlessly pursue the winner, and the manager was fortunate to walk away with a point from the South Coast despite a thoroughly unimpressive display in the second half. 

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Manchester United have now entered concrete talks to sign AIK Fotboll striker Kevin Filling, and a move could be possible in the January transfer window.

Man United have a reputation of bringing through young players, having named at least one academy graduate in every first-team squad since October 1937, and they have continued to rely on youngsters in the early stages of the new Premier League season.

Senne Lammens appears to have taken Altay Bayindir’s shirt and established himself as the new starting goalkeeper, with Ruben Amorim also regularly calling upon the likes of Leny Yoro, Amad Diallo and Benjamin Sesko.

Sesko’s arrival at the club was met with scepticism, given that on paper the Slovenian looked like another Rasmus Hojliund-type signing, considering he is just 22-years-old and arguably doesn’t have the experience to lead the line for a club like United.

However, after taking a while to get going, the striker has now started to prove his worth, picking up two goals and an assist in his last four matches, most recently setting up Bryan Mbeumo’s first goal in the 4-2 win against Brighton & Hove Albion.

Man Utd enter talks to sign Kevin Filling

According to Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg on X, Man United are now in “concrete” negotiations to sign another young striker, entering talks to sign AIK Fotboll’s Filling, who is valued at around €3m (£2.6m).

The “talented” youngster could be on the move as early as this winter, suggesting the Red Devils could get a deal done in the January transfer window, but there may be competition for his signature, as some unnamed Bundesliga clubs also find the centre-forward “interesting”.

At just 16-years-old, the striker is very much one for the future, but he has already made a breakthrough at senior level with AIK Fotboll, chipping in with two Allsvenskan goals in seven appearances so far this season.

The young Swedish forward has also started to make an impression at international level, making three appearances for Sweden U18s, and he netted a brace in an international friendly against Wales U18s earlier this month.

Of course, at just 16-years-old, Filling is likely to be some way off first-team level at a club like Man United, so it would make sense if he was sent back on loan to his current club or perhaps a smaller English club to gain more experience.

However, at around just £2.6m, it is definitely a risk worth taking for Man United, who should definitely try to get a deal done this winter.

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Posts ByDominic Lund Oct 16, 2025

It might not have been a win, but Monday night’s draw against Everton was about as good a start to Nuno Espírito Santo’s West Ham United tenure as anyone really expected.

The Hammers fought back from one-nil down and looked the more likely winner for large parts of the second half, with Jarrod Bowen, El Hadji Malick Diouf and Crysencio Summerville looking seriously impressive.

However, there were also several players who flattered to deceive, and might be in for a fight to keep their place under the new boss.

In fact, there was one player in particular who should be removed from the team and ultimately moved on as soon as possible by Nuno.

West Ham's underperformers

One of the starters who could have played himself out of the starting lineup on Monday night was defender Konstantinos Mavropanos.

The former Arsenal ace looked unsure of himself for much of the encounter, did poorly for Michel Kean’s opener and maintained a passing accuracy of just 82%.

Likewise, while he wasn’t to blame for the goal, and just generally wasn’t as bad as the Greek ace, Kyle Walker-Peters didn’t exactly impress against the Toffees.

Walker-Peters’ game vs Everton
Minutes	95′
Expected Goals	0.00
Expected Assists	0.03
Clearances	3
Ground Duels (Won)	6 (3)
Aerial Duels (Won)	4 (2)
Lost Possession	11
Fouls	3
Crosses (Accurate)	1 (0)
Long Balls (Accurate)	6 (1)
Shots on Target	0
All Stats via Sofascore

The former Southampton star won just 50% of his aerial and ground duels, lost the ball 11 times, completed just 80% of his passes, didn’t deliver a single accurate cross, misplaced five of six long balls and committed three fouls.

Moreover, the Englishman’s performance was made all the more uninspiring by the fact that Diouf was a monster on the opposite flank and could have had a hat-trick of assists by the end of the game.

Finally, while there were a couple of moments in which he showed his undeniable class, it was an overall frustrating showing from summer signing Mateus Fernandes.

The Portuguese ace amassed a combined expected goal and assists figure of just 0.12, failed to play a single key pass, and didn’t have a shot on target or complete a dribble, generally looking rather average at best.

However, while all three of these players underwhelmed on the night, there was one starter who was even worse, a starter who has to be removed from the team by Nuno going forward.

The West Ham star Nuno has to drop

Given the poor performers already mentioned, it will probably come as no surprise that the starter in question was Niclas Füllkrug.

Chalkboard

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

The German international is a striker with a record that suggests he should be thriving in the Premier League.

After all, before he moved to the London Stadium, the “old-fashioned” striker, as dubbed by Ally McCoist, spent a season with German giants Borussia Dortmund in which he scored 15 goals and provided ten assists in 43 games.

Moreover, although he hasn’t played a game since June, the 32-year-old has won 24 senior caps for Germany, in which he has scored 14 goals and provided two assists.

Unfortunately, this eye for goal has not been apparent in England, as last season he managed only three goals and two assists in 20 games for the Irons, and this season he has yet to produce any goal involvement in six appearances.

It was another disappointing display on Monday, as the Hannover-born poacher looked miles off the pace on and off the ball, failed to make the right runs in behind and wasn’t even holding up the ball well.

On top of that, he seemed to lose the ball more regularly than you’d have expected, and while this all sounds harsh, his statistics more than justify this appraisal.

Füllkrug’s game vs Everton
Minutes	89′
Expected Goals	0.24
Expected Assists	0.05
Goals	0
Assists	0
Shots on Target	1
Touches	37
Passing Accuracy	15/23 (65%)
Ground Duels (Won)	2 (1)
Aerial Duels (Won)	14 (4)
Lost Possession	9
Fouls	1
Offsides	1
All Stats via Sofascore

In 89 minutes of inaction, the German international produced a combined expected goal and assist figure of 0.29, had just one shot on target, took 37 touches – eight fewer than Alphonse Aréola – completed just 65% of his passes, lost 11 of 16 duels, lost the ball nine times and was offside once.

Ultimately, it really was a terrible showing from Füllkrug, and while Nuno isn’t blessed with striker options at the moment, he should axe the German, look to move him on in the winter, and start Callum Wilson up top for now.

West Ham star already looks like "one of the best" in the PL under Nuno

West Ham picked up a point during Nuno Santo’s first match in charge.

By
Jack Salveson Holmes

Sep 30, 2025

Big picture: DC’s home form a concern

Under first-time captain Axar Patel, Delhi Capitals (DC) got off to an flier, IPL 2025 winning their first four matches. But their fortunes took a tumble since their return to Delhi. In their three matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium so far, they have lost two and their only win came via a Super Over.Against Mumbai Indians, they collapsed in a 206 chase despite being in the driving seat until Karun Nair fell in the 12th over. Against Rajasthan Royals, they looked like they were headed for defeat until Mitchell Starc defended nine runs in the final over to take the game to a one-over shootout. Against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, their bowlers couldn’t capitalise on an early collapse.Related

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A drop-off in the form of some of their key players has played a part. KL Rahul scored 185 runs in his first three games (he missed DC’s season opener), averaging 92.50 and striking at 169.72. However, since their first game in Delhi, he has only managed 179 runs in five innings, with his strike rate also dropping to 127.85.In DC’s first four games, Kuldeep Yadav took eight wickets, conceding at less than a run a ball. In the next five matches, his number of wickets have halved, his economy rate has gone up to 7.35 and his strike rate has jumped from 12 to 30. Similarly, Mitchell Starc took nine wickets from his first four outings, but he has only picked up two wickets from the next five games.KL Rahul’s top score in Delhi has been 41 so far, while he has three half-centuries in four away outings in IPL 2025•BCCI

Until now, DC have been in the top half of the points table, but now they need to regroup and rediscover consistency as the battle for the playoffs heats up.

Form guide

Delhi Capitals LWLWL(Last five completed matches, most recent first)
Kolkata Knight Riders LLWLW

Team news and likely XIIs

It’s a very short turnaround time for DC after their last game against RCB, but they are likely to continue with the same combination. They could continue with their tactic of starting with just six batters even if they bat first, as even then they have six bowling options.Delhi Capitals XII (likely): 1 Faf du Plessis, 2 Abishek Porel, 3 Karun Nair, 4 KL Rahul (wk), 5 Axar Patel (capt), 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Vipraj Nigam, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Dushmantha Chameera, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Mukesh Kumar, 12 Ashutosh Sharma/Mohit SharmaKKR made a couple of changes in their last game, bringing in Rovman Powell and Chetan Sakariya in place of Ramandeep Singh and Moeen Ali, and are unlikely to tinker with their combination after the washout against Punjab Kings.Kolkata Knight Riders XII (likely): 1 Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Ajinkya Rahane, 4 Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 5 Venkatesh Iyer, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Rovman Powell, 8 Andre Russell, 9 Harshit Rana, 10 Vaibhav Arora, 11 Varun Chakravarthy, 12 Chetan Sakariya

In the spotlight

With Jake Fraser-McGurk woefully out of form, the expectations will be high on Faf du Plessis to deliver at the top for DC. He played in three of the first four matches of the season, before missing four games with a niggle. He struggled on his return against RCB, and has failed to cross 30 in any of the four matches he played except his half-century against Sunrisers Hyderabad.2:51

Bishop: Need to give Powell, Russell ‘time to tee off’

In his third season with KKR, Rahmanullah Gurbaz has a chance to get an extended run of games, having replaced Quinton de Kock at the top of the order. The opening partnership has been an area of concern for KKR and they will hope that Gurbaz can form a strong alliance with Sunil Narine. Gurbaz was out for just one run in his first game of the season and scored 1 not out in the washout against PBKS, so he will hope for a good outing in Delhi.

The big question

Pitch and conditions

DC mentor Kevin Pietersen said after the RCB game that they had gone for a slow and low surface to counter their opponents’ strength but they will hope for a better batting surface on Tuesday night. The match will be played on pitch No. 5, which is in the centre, so there won’t be a shorter side for the batters to target.

Stats and trivia

• Kuldeep Yadav has bowled three deliveries to Sunil Narine in two innings and dismissed him twice.
• Only R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah and Piyush Chawla (27 each) have more wickets against DC than Sunil Narine, who has 24.
• Only Chennai Super Kings (19.77) have a lower average for the opening partnership this season than KKR (19.87) and DC (24.22)

Quotes

“He’s bowling really good, the lengths he is hitting. And he is mixing it up well. I won’t take any names, but we should keep learning watching other teams play.”

Alexander Isak will not play football for Newcastle United again, but after scoring on his debut for the Magpies, club-record signing Nick Woltemade looks like he has the potential to make that frontal spot his own.

And Newcastle are up and running. The summer transfer window has been and gone, and nobody will be more delighted than Eddie Howe, whose side were rocked and rocked some more by the turbulence throughout, the Isak saga very much the crux of the issues that seeped into the opening games of the Premier League season.

But the Sweden striker has now gone, and for a British-record £125m fee at that.

However, in Woltemade and the proven goalscorer that is Yoane Wissa, unfortunately, injured for weeks with a knee injury before he could make his United debut on Saturday, Howe has restored the core of his formidable frontline.

Three points against Wolves gives Howe his first win of the campaign and a new platform from which to build on, putting behind him the frustrations of the summer transfer window.

Because the Tynesiders, for sure, have undergone some degree of change in the final third.

Newcastle's new-look frontline without Ekitike

Howe’s Newcastle system is greater than the sum of its parts. Isak was (is) a world-class striker, but he’s a Magpie no more, and Newcastle have responded by welcoming two new talents to the fold bearing skills enough to compensate for his sale.

Wissa’s debut will have to wait due to injury, but the former Brentford striker scored 19 Premier League goals last season, and he offers a proven touch that will likely retain, at least, the relative consistency of Isak’s presence in the final third.

But that’s not all. United needed a right winger in 2024 and had failed in a bid to sign Nottingham Forest star Anthony Elanga on transfer deadline day.

One year on, they got their man, signing the 24-year-old in a £55m package. Elanga hasn’t taken off at St. James’ Park yet, but he brings energy and speed and electricity to the team.

Newcastle have responded well to summer setbacks, adding these forwards to the ranks after missing out on other targets like Hugo Ekitike, now at Liverpool alongside Isak.

There was a time when a deal for Ekitike, 23, looked on, but when Liverpool hijacked the Toon’s move and added him to their ranks, it perhaps left many feeling more confident about Isak staying put.

But it wasn’t to be, and Liverpool got both. While Newcastle have repieced their attack together, there’s no denying the blow, and a less-known fact is that Liverpool also pipped the Toon to another talent this summer, one who could yet flower into a superstar.

How Newcastle missed out to Liverpool again

In August, Liverpool announced the signing of Giovanni Leoni from Serie A side Parma for an initial £26m fee, rising to £30m with add-ons.

An 18-year-old centre-back, Leoni is one for the future and the future is now. He’s extremely talented and considered to fall into the same bracket as Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen, another summer target for Newcastle, albeit at an earlier stage in his development.

Leoni hasn’t made his debut for Liverpool yet, and so we cannot draw with any real accuracy the player’s current capacity to thrive in England for a top club. But we do know there was something akin to a goulmouth scramble for his signature, and that Newcastle would have loved to land the shot.

Already blooded as a member of the Italian national set-up, the powerful and tall teenager has been described as “one of the most complete teenage centre-backs in Europe” by talent scout Jacek Kulig, who also hailed him as “the future” of Italian football.

One that got away

The transfers that nearly happened but never did. This article is part of Football FanCast’s One That Got Away series.

Look, for example, how the youngster fared against Malick Thiaw in Serie A last year. Thiaw, 24, signed for Howe’s side in a £35m deal last month, fee including add-ons.

Matches (starts)

22 (19)

17 (14)

Goals

0

1

Assists

0

0

Touches*

66.1

46.9

Pass completion

94%

89%

Key passes*

0.2

0.1

Ball recoveries*

3.0

2.0

Tackles + interceptions*

1.8

1.7

Clearances*

3.5

3.6

Duels (won)*

3.7 (59%)

2.5 (61%)

Errors made

1

1

To have missed out on Ekitike was a blow, no doubt, but Newcastle responded by signing a similarly exciting up-and-comer in Woltemade for a similar price, and they’ve added Wissa besides.

Leoni, however, joins Liverpool for what could prove a shrewd fee indeed. But how firm was Newcastle’s interest?

Well, Parma CEO Federico Cherubini spoke after the transfer of rival intrigue in the defender, saying, “We rejected a higher offer from Newcastle for Leoni.” He then spoke of Leoni’s desire to push ahead with a move to Merseyside, insinuating a preference for Arne Slot’s project.

Newcastle have bounced back from their Ekitike rejection by signing two talented and contrasting strikers. Thiaw, too, has much to offer, but then he has also started no more than 19 league matches in any given season in Italy, routinely pegged back with injury issues.

Leoni, meanwhile, took to life on the senior stage with silky aplomb last season, and there’s a belief within inner FSG circles that Liverpool have signed one of the most exciting young defenders in the business, with TNT Sports commentator Adam Summerton remarking that he’s “going to be a star”.

Though the past few months have been tumultuous for those of a Magpie persuasion, it’s commendable that Howe and his team have knuckled down and welcomed a host of exciting signings to join a title-winning squad.

Isak might have gone, and Ekitike may play for Liverpool too, but Newcastle signed Woltemade and remain a force to be reckoned with.

That said, Leoni looks like a special talent indeed, and it’s a shame that he couldn’t be welcomed to St. James’ Park to help shape the future of this still-rising Newcastle side.

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ByKelan Sarson Sep 13, 2025

It would be fair to say that Chelsea have not had the best of starts to the season.

Enzo Maresca’s side picked up seven of nine points in the Premier League prior to the international break, but dropped two against Brentford on Saturday.

Now, it was a heavily rotated side, but there was enough talent in the starting lineup to collect three.

One of the worst performers was summer signing Jamie Gittens, and while it might sound harsh, he should be dropped ahead of tomorrow’s Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.

Gittens' disappointing display

Now, to be clear, there were several Chelsea players who really let themselves down on Saturday, but when it comes to the most disappointing display, it’s hard to look past Gittens.

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The club paid Borussia Dortmund around £48m for him in the summer in the hope he’d be able to come into the team and make the left-hand side more direct and more dangerous.

Unfortunately, he flattered to deceive in his appearances before the international break and, against Brentford, he looked somewhat out of his depth.

It might sound overly harsh, but we aren’t the only ones who were left unimpressed, as the Express’ Charlie Malam awarded him just 4/10 on the day, writing that he ‘faded out’ after the first 20 minutes.

Unsurprisingly, while it may sound harsh, such an appraisal of the 20-year-old is more than justified by his statistics.

In 56 minutes of underwhelming action, the Reading-born ace amassed a combined expected goals plus assists figure of just 0.04, took just 17 touches, played a single key pass, had one shot, didn’t attempt a single dribble and was offside twice.

In all, it was a terrible showing from Gittens, and considering how much of a step-up in quality Bayern will be, Maresca has to drop him for another of Chelsea’s young wingers tomorrow night.

The Chelsea ace who should start in place of Gittens

While some might view it as being too soon, Maresca should look to start £40m man Alejandro Garnacho against Bayern.

Now it’s undoubtedly the case that the young Argentine should have tracked Fabio Carvalho for the equaliser on Saturday, but when it came to the offensive side of the game, he offered so much more than Gittens in such a short amount of time.

For example, while he didn’t get the assist, it was his driving run and ball into the penalty area that directly led to Moises Caicedo’s thunderous strike in the second half.

Moreover, while there are certainly questions over this temperament that may well be answered this season, the 21-year-old’s footballing ability is undeniable.

For example, despite being just 20 years old at the start of last season and playing for a historically terrible Manchester United side, the Madrid-born gem was able to score 11 goals and provide ten assists in 58 appearances, totalling 3568 minutes.

Appearances

58

Minutes

3568′

Goals

11

Assists

10

Goal Involvements per Match

0.36

Minutes per Goal Involvements

169.90′

That means the “superstar” in the making, as dubbed by journalist Liam Canning, maintained an average of a goal involvement every 2.76 games, or 169.90 minutes.

Moreover, with a goal in the 2024 FA Cup final, against Manchester City, the dynamic attacker has proven he can handle the biggest of stages.

Ultimately, Gittens may well come good for Chelsea, but he has flattered to deceive thus far, and with Garnacho making an impact in just 11 minutes of action, he should get the start against Bayern tomorrow night.

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ByDominic Lund Sep 15, 2025

It was a heist for the ages in Mount Maunganui as New Zealand secured an eight-run win in the first T20I, and with it took a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. But more importantly it was a lesson in fight from the hosts, one the visitors would do well to take note of.For much of the game it had looked Sri Lanka’s to lose. The first instance was when New Zealand were reeling on 65 for 5 midway through their innings, and the second when Sri Lanka were cruising after a 121-run opening stand needing just 52 off 40 deliveries.On both occasions New Zealand fought back, and hard – initially through a 105-run stand between Daryl Mitchell and Michael Bracewell to post a competitive 172 for 8, and then finally through a late strangle that saw Sri Lanka lose eight wickets for 38 runs after being in total control of proceedings.Jacob Duffy was at the heart of the collapse with a three-wicket 14th over, as he set the wheels in motion for a sterling New Zealand comeback – which also earned him the player of the match award. Sri Lanka though will be at a loss for words in attempting to explain how they let this game slip.A collapse for the agesSri Lanka thought they had done enough – and by all accounts they had. A 121-run opening stand in chase of 173 would in most cases have been more than enough. After all, when Kusal Mendis fell for a brisk 46, Sri Lanka needed only another 52 runs off 40 deliveries with nine wickets in hand.Sure, three balls later that equation changed to 52 needed with seven wickets in hand, after Duffy had made sure Kusal Perera and Kamindu Mendis followed Kusal to the dressing room. But, surely not?Nerves were eased a bit as Charith Asalanka joined Pathum Nissanka in the middle to chip away. But when he fell with 28 still required off 16, more doubts crept in. And then when Matt Henry removed Nissanka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa in the span of a few deliveries, all doubt was removed. Sri Lanka needed 19 off 8, but only Wanindu Hasaranga could be counted on to strike the boundaries needed.Hasaranga being run out without facing a ball in the final over summed up Sri Lanka’s disastrous end to the game.Binura leads Sri Lanka’s early chargeMitchell Santner had been concerned about about a “green tinge” on the surface having been put in to bat, and after the first ten overs his concerns seemed warranted as New Zealand had stumbled to 65 for 5.Pathum Nissanka’s 90 from 60 balls seemed to have put Sri Lanka firmly in control•Getty Images

Binura Fernando, playing his first T20I in nine months, proved the most effective of Sri Lanka’s three seamers despite never clocking more than 130kph. He showed admirable control and found consistent movement in the air despite bowling mostly on a good length or slightly further back; the wickets of Tim Robinson and Rachin Ravindra were just rewards, and he might have had another had Charith Asalanka not spilled Mark Chapman at mid-off.Binura’s opening burst of three overs went for just 12 runs, before a Hasaranga double-strike in the 10th over really rammed home Sri Lanka’s early dominance.Mitchell and Bracewell counter brutallyIf the first half of the innings belonged to Sri Lanka, the second was well and truly New Zealand’s. After a couple of overs treading water, Bracewell signalled his intent to shift gears with a pair of boundaries off Maheesh Theekshana in the 14th, before unloading on an off-colour Matheesha Pathirana an over later – a flicked six into the grass banks and a monster loft over wide long-off the highlights in a 22-run over.Bracewell’s power was on total display from then on as Hasaranga and Binura were also both taken for maximums over the next few overs. And there would be no respite for Sri Lanka at the other end either, as Mitchell struck in lockstep with his partner, the pair even bringing up their respective fifties off consecutive deliveries.In total, 107 runs were struck between overs 10-20, with 85 of those coming off the six-over period from 13-19. Only an excellent final over from Theekshana, where three wickets fell for just three runs ensured New Zealand were kept below 180.Pathirana’s off dayFour overs for 60 runs and a solitary wicket marked a bad day at the office for Pathirana, but it’s the three no-balls (and subsequent free hits) that will no doubt have Sri Lanka’s coaching staff pulling their hair out. That one of those accounted for the wicket of Mitchell, when he was on eight, will be particularly grating.Pathirana also struggled with identifying an effective length, constantly bowling fuller than ideal – surprising considering the success Binura had had by hitting the deck harder, not to mention the success Pathirana himself has had with similar lengths in the past.

Nottingham Forest have now joined the race for an “outstanding” defender, and owner Evangelos Marinakis knows the director of his current club very well, according to a report.

Forest set sights on new defender after bolstering attacking options

Securing Morgan Gibbs-White’s future was arguably as important as making any new signing, with Forest no longer facing the difficult prospect of finding a replacement for the attacking midfielder, and they are also set to bolster their wide options.

The Tricky Trees are now set to sign Bologna’s Dan Ndoye, who is set to replace Anthony Elanga following the Sweden international’s move to Newcastle United, but the 24-year-old is not the only winger in Nuno’s sights.

That is according to reporter John Percy, who has revealed the Portuguese manager is now looking to seal a reunion with one of his former players alongside Ndoye.

As such, Nuno’s attacking options are now shaping up nicely, which means the 51-year-old’s next task at hand may be to improve his backline, and a new target has now entered the frame.

That is according to a report from Espreso, which reveals Nottitngham Forest have now entered the race for Red Star Belgrade defender Veljko Milosavljević, who has also attracted interest from the likes of AFC Bournemouth, Everton and Celtic.

Marinakis is said to be good friends with Red Star Belgrade director Zvezdan Terzić, which indicates the Forest owner could play a key role in the negotiations, and there is a feeling he could loan Milosavljević out to Olympiacos initially.

There is a huge chance the Red Star Belgrade defender leaves the Serbian club before September 1st, and his price tag is set to be around €10m – €15m (£9m – £13m).

"Outstanding" Milosavljević could go on to be top defender

The 18-year-old is yet to prove himself outside of Serbia, but the teenager’s exploits in his home country indicate he could go on to be a top defender, with scout Gianni Bellasi being left particularly impressed by his performances.

Bellasi has also praised the youngster for his “outstanding” positioning, and he has already managed to force himself into the Red Star Belgrade first team, racking up a total of 22 appearances.

That said, while Milosavljević is clearly a very talented young player, it would make sense to send him out on a loan deal initially, and a move to Olympiacos could be ideal, given that it would, of course, be very easy for Marinakis to arrange.