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Celtic’s busy transfer activity continues.

Japanese striker Shin Yamada is set to arrive in Glasgow this week, ahead of finalising a £1.2m move from Asian Champions League finalists Kawasaki Frontale.

He becomes the club’s sixth signing of the summer so far, after Kieran Tierney, Ross Doohan, Benjamin Nygren, Callum Osmand and Hayato Inamura; the latter has also arrived from the J League.

However, following Wednesday’s friendly victory over Sporting CP in the Algarve, while acknowledging that Yamada is on his way, Brendan Rodgers stated that he wants “to add [more] to our front line”, so could his number one target soon follow?

Celtic targeting more firepower

In that same aforementioned interview following the mid-week win at Estádio Algarve, Rodgers stated “we’ve lost a lot of goals” and he’s not wrong, as the table below outlines.

Celtic’s top-scorer of Brendan Rodgers’ second spell

Players

Goals (23/24 & 24/25)

Are they still at Celtic?

Daizen Maeda

43

Yes

Kyōgo Furuhashi

31

No

Adam Idah

29

Yes

Nicolas Kühn

24

No

Matt O’Riley

19

No

Reo Hatate

14

Yes

Callum McGregor

12

Yes

Arne Engels

10

Yes

Luis Palma

10

Yes*

*is expected to depart

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table outlines, three of Celtic’s top five scorers from across the last two seasons combined have departed, after Nicolas Kühn was sold to Como for a reported fee of £16.4m earlier this month.

Meantime, Luis Palma, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Olympiacos, but did score ten times the year before, could be on his way to Lech Poznań, with the Ekstraklasa champions looking to take the Honduran international on loan with a £4m option to buy included, according to journalist Sebastian Staszewski.

Thus, new wingers have to be a priority, hence why Anthony Joseph of Sky Sports believes Celtic remain interested in signing Michel-Ange Balikwisha.

Speaking on Off The Underside earlier this week, he stated that the Hoops have “been monitoring [Balikwisha] for quite a while” and are currently “weighing up” whether or not to pay the £5m it would require to sign him, adding that the Belgian “would like to join Celtic”.

Transfer Focus

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

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Suffice to say, Celtic have a long-standing interest in the Royal Antwerp winger, with Sacha Tavolieri of RMC Sport reporting as long ago as 10 June that the Hoops were “in the race” to sign him and that “discussions regarding personal terms” had already begun.

So, will the Scottish Premiership champions, finally, land their man?

How Michel-Ange Balikwisha would improve Celtic

Since joining Royal Antwerp in the summer of 2021, Balikwisha has made 141 appearances for the club, scoring 29 goals and registering 17 assists.

He was a key figure in the Antwerp side that won the Jupiler Pro League two years ago, scoring ten times that season, claiming the club’s first top-flight title since 1957.

During that same year, Balikwisha scored in the Coupe de Belgique Final victory over Mechelen and the Belgische Supercup as they defeated the same opposition a few months later, also netting the clincher in the Champions League play-off round victory over AEK Athens, before also scoring against Shakhtar Donetsk at Bosuilstadion during the group phase.

Jacek Kulig of Football Talent Scout praises his “pace, dribbling and finishing”, describing these as his primary attributes, while analyst Ben Mattinson labels him “two-footed”​​​​​​​ and “capable of beating a defender”.

Now though, with only one year remaining on his contract, and with Antwerp having failed to qualify for European competition, they are surely looking to cash in while they still can.

The question still remains however: is he a bigger talent than Yamada? Well, let’s assess their respective career statistics to answer that question.

Michel-Ange Balikwisha vs Shin Yamada career statistics

Michel-Ange Balikwisha

Competitions

Appearances

Goals

Assists

Jupiler Pro League

146

33

16

UEFA Champions League

5

1

0

UEFA Europa League

7

10

0

UEFA competition qualifiers

10

2

5

Belgian Cup & SuperCup

13

3

1

Total

181

38

21

Shin Yamada

Competitions

Appearances

Goals

Assists

J League

85

25

5

AFC Champions League

17

2

4

Emperor’s Cup

11

9

0

J League Cup & SuperCup

12

1

0

Total

121

37

9

All statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt

As the table outlines, even though Yamada is a year older, Balikwisha boasts the greater high-level experience.

The Belgian has played in the Champions League, making 22 appearances in UEFA competitions for Standard Liège and current employers Antwerp all told, while scoring one more career goal in total.

Also, for comparison, according to Global Football Rankings, the Belgian top-flight is the eighth-strongest league in the world, with the J League down in 23rd, still 20 places higher than the Premiership, it must be said.

This is not to denigrate Yamada, nor suggest he won’t be a good signing, but Balikwisha, unlike the striker, has proven himself at a higher level, so would surely be worth paying the £5m fee, especially given the wide-attacker is such a position of urgent need.

Related Bad news for Idah: Celtic set to complete another "fantastic" signing

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Posts 1 ByBen Gray Jul 17, 2025

The day started with Zimbabwe on top, but some sensible, and aggressive, batting from Tucker and McBrine made it easy for Ireland in the end

Himanshu Agrawal28-Jul-2024It didn’t quite reach the climax the third evening had promised, but the one-off Ireland vs Zimbabwe Test had most results possible for the best part of the morning session on the fourth day till Ireland killed off the contest. Ireland had been reduced to 21 for 5 after a fiery spell from Richard Ngarava on the third evening, which had left the small band of Zimbabwe supporters in Belfast delirious. But Lorcan Tucker’s second Test fifty and Andy McBrine’s third ensured Ireland silenced them quickly – and took away the match – with a 96-run stand on the fourth morning.That paved the way for Ireland’s first home Test win, and also gave them back-to-back victories in the format, after they had beaten Afghanistan for their Test first win this March.Play began on day four with the sun out, and conditions perfectly suited for batting. It was brighter than on previous days, the zip which the pitch had offered Ngarava and Blessing Muzarabani the previous evening was missing, and Tucker and McBrine capitalised.Lorcan Tucker played positively from the start of the day despite the shaky position Ireland were in•Sportsfile via Getty ImagesZimbabwe maintained an attacking field to both batters for the best part of the first hour, filling up the slip cordon with three catchers. But that left vacant spaces in the outfield, and Ireland’s left-right combination didn’t hesitate to attack when the line was wide or the length too full. The first instance of that came as early as in the fourth ball of the morning, when Tucker reached out to a full ball slightly wide outside off, and drove for four to deep point.The first 13 overs of the day produced 61 runs, with a boundary virtually every over. McBrine was particularly impressive on the pull, with which he got two boundaries – the first off Ngarava to beat deep-backward square-leg to the right, and the second off Muzarabani in front of square, as Ireland chipped away at the target.Zimbabwe bowled Ngarava and Muzarabani for the first eight overs, in the hope that they would repeat their magic from the third evening. But, by then, Tucker had brought up the fifty stand by clipping Ngarava off his pads. It was a chanceless stand between the Ireland batters on Sunday, unlike what we had seen on the previous evening, when the extra bounce and movement had left their top-order batters searching for answers.There was a spot of the incredulous in the 18th over of the innings. McBrine and Tucker ran five runs despite there not being an overthrow. McBrine had punched Ngarava to beat Tendai Chatara to his right at extra cover off the second ball of the over. Chatara chased it all the way to the longer side of the ground, and pushed the ball back just in time. But he had overrun, crossed the advertising boards, and his momentum had taken him quite a way beyond. By the time he returned to throw the ball back, the batters had enough time to run five without really stretching themselves.Blessing Muzarabani picked up Zimbabwe’s only wicket on the fourth day•Sportsfile via Getty ImagesThree balls later, Ngarava finally replicated the threat of the third evening. The ball kicked up off a length at Tucker and looped up off his gloves, but fell just short of the gully fielder.Sean Williams was then brought into the attack in the 20th over, but his left-arm spin hardly made any difference, as Tucker and McBrine ticked along steadily.Tucker brought up his half-century when he hit Muzarabani through the covers for three to start the 24th over, and that shot brought Ireland’s requirement to below 50. Muzarabani did clean Tucker up for 56 two overs later, even as McBrine was beaten on an attempted drive, a flash, and one that kept low to hit his front pad outside leg.Zimbabwe would have hoped Tucker’s wicket would give them scope for a late comeback, but there was no such luck for them. McBrine too got to his half-century – he finished unbeaten on 55 – and in the company of Mark Adair, who scored 24 not out with four boundaries, completed the job.It was the perfect end to what was a fantastic Test for McBrine. He picked up 3 for 37 and 4 for 38 in the two Zimbabwe innings, and had contributed 28 in Ireland’s first innings before the unbeaten half-century in the second, all of which made him the deserving Player of the Match.

Manchester City reached their third FA Cup final in succession with a solid 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at Wembley over the weekend.

The competition is providing plenty of solace to Pep Guardiola amid a campaign of disarray, that’s for sure.

Winning the tournament for the third time would give the Spaniard a jolt heading into the summer.

With Kevin De Bruyne departing the Etihad, plus another few first-team players likely leaving to balance the books, it will be all change in Manchester ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.

Losing out on a fifth successive Premier League title will have hurt everyone at the club, but with the transfer window opening in a few weeks, Guardiola has the chance to build a team that can usher in a new era starting in August.

Man City eye move for Premier League defender

The likes of Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov have settled in nicely following their January moves to England and this could work well in the club’s favour heading into a busy summer, particularly because most of them are now already settled in England.

However, Pep is unlikely to settle for just those four names and could bolster his backline further when the summer window opens for business.

Indeed, according to Football Insider, City are interested in re-signing defender Pedro Porro from Tottenham Hotspur this summer, but the North Londoners will ‘strike a hard bargain’ as per the report.

Transfer Focus

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

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Porro joined City back in the summer of 2019 from Girona, but he didn’t play a single first-team match for the club, eventually moving to Sporting CP.

He joined Spurs in January 2023 on loan, with the club eventually paying £39m to sign him permanently that summer.

They now value the right-back at around £50m which, as City ‘attempt’ to sign him, could prove to be a sticking point in any future negotiations.

Why Pedro Porro could be Man City's own Trent

Following Kyle Walker’s move to AC Milan, Matheus Nunes has been deputising at right-back for the club, which means they are targeting a new defender to play this role from next season onwards.

It is still early days yet, but Porro does have plenty of Premier League experience and has featured in the Champions League.

Particularly striking is that he plays similarly to Liverpool’s outgoing defender Trent Alexander-Arnold. Indeed, according to FBref, Alexander-Arnold is the most comparable player to Porro in Europe’s top five leagues.

The Englishman has registered 113 goal contributions across 351 games for his boyhood side. He loves to get forward as often as possible, often neglecting his defensive responsibilities.

Porro offers the same sort of qualities going forward, no doubt about that. Depending on the system Guardiola plays, he won’t be fazed by his right-back pushing into the final third on a regular basis, especially if someone is there to cover.

The pair have registered similar statistics over a range of metrics in domestic competitions this season, including goals and assists (eight vs nine), shots per 90 (1.35 vs 1.69), crosses (191 vs 142) and carries into the final third (40 vs 35), proving that the duo offer a major attacking threat in the opposition half.

Comparing Alexander-Arnold and Porro in the PL this season

Metric

Trent

Porro

Accurate passes per 90

39.3

33.9

Big chances created

14

8

Goals

3

2

Assists

6

6

Key passes per 90

1.8

1.7

Total duels won per 90

3.1

3.8

Will £50m be a price that Guardiola is willing to pay for another right-back this summer? Or will he be keen to spend this sort of money on improving another area of his squad?

Well, Porro may have endured an underwhelming season for Spurs, but the case could be made for basically everyone in their squad.

Ange Postecoglou has led Spurs to one of their worst seasons in recent memory, but this shouldn’t deter City from signing Porro.

The defender has played 81 times in the top flight for the club, scoring eight goals and grabbing 17 assists in the process. This works out as a goal contribution every 3.2 matches, which isn’t bad for a defender.

This season in the Premier League, the 25-year-old has even created eight big chances for his teammates, averaging 1.7 key passes and even registering 1.2 shots per game for the North London side.

Despite Spurs being poor defensively – conceding 56 league goals this term – Porro has managed to win 50% of his total duels per game while also making two tackles and recovering 4.8 balls per game.

Described as a “titanic” star by The Athletic’s former Spurs correspondent Charlie Eccleshare, Porro also shines when compared to his peers in Europe’s top five leagues.

The Spaniard ranks in the top 5% for total shots (1.49) and passes attempted (69.3) per 90, while also ranking in the top 7% for progressive passes (5.85) and in the top 2% for blocks (1.86) per 90 over the previous 365 days.

The narrative surrounding Porro as simply an attack-minded defender is wrong. Of course, he is much better going forward than simply defending, but as evidenced, he does have a few solid defensive traits.

Walker is expected to return to the Etihad this summer once his temporary move to Milan comes to an end, but if Guardiola wishes to win another Champions League crown with City, an improvement at right-back is needed.

Should he make a few statement signings in the summer, City could enter the 2025/26 season as arguably the favourites to claim back the league title.

Will Porro be in the starting XI? Only time will tell.

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Posts ByKelan Sarson Apr 27, 2025

While the mood around Arsenal’s domestic campaign has turned from disappointment to apathy, it shouldn’t be forgotten just how stop-start this season has been for the North Londoners.

For example, on top of losing their captain for a couple of months and their only two centre-forwards, the Gunners had to make do without their best player for almost four months.

Expecting Mikel Arteta’s squad to be at their best without Bukayo Saka would be like asking Liverpool to be at their best without Mohammed Salah or Manchester City to do the same without Erling Haaland.

In fact, it wouldn’t be hyperbole to place the Englishman among the very best wingers in the world now, so fans should be excited about recent reports linking the club with another international wideman who’s won comparisons not just with Saka but also fellow wonderkid Lamine Yamal.

Arsenal transfer news

Before we get to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the other star wingers linked with a move to Arsenal this summer, such as Nico Williams.

Transfer Focus

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

The Spaniard’s representatives have supposedly already held talks with Andrea Berta and, with a release clause worth around £52m, this feels like a move that could happen, and as he’s amassed an impressive tally of 17 goal involvements in 41 games this term, perhaps one that should.

An even more expensive winger touted for a move to the Emirates earlier this month was Rafael Leo, who looks like he may finally leave AC Milan at the end of the season.

However, while the Portuguese superstar has racked up a brilliant tally of 22 goal involvements in 44 games this season, he could cost up to £86m, which might make a move for him prohibitively expensive, which may not be the case for Kingsley Coman.

Yes, according to a recent report from Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg, Arsenal have maintained their interest in the French winger.

Plettenberg has revealed that the Gunners are “in ongoing communication” with the player’s management and that it now looks all but certain that he’ll be leaving Bayern Munich in the summer.

However, Saudi Arabia “is a very appealing option” for the former Paris Saint Germain ace, and according to reports from last week, he could cost up to £39m, which may be seen as a steep amount considering his game time this season.

With that said, Coman is an undeniably talented player and one who has won comparisons to both Saka and Yamal, so should this transfer happen, he’d undoubtedly improve the quality of Arsenal’s squad.

How Coman compares to Saka & Yamal

So, before getting into some of the other benefits of signing Coman this summer, it’s worth first examining these comparisons to Saka and Yamal and where they come from.

Well, in this instance, they stem from FBref, which looks at players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, the Champions League and Europa League then creates a list of the ten most comparable players for each one and, in this instance, has concluded that the Englishman is the seventh most similar attacking midfielder or winger to the Frenchman and the Spaniard is the ninth.

The best way to see where this comparison has come from is to look at the underlying metrics in which the trio rank closely, including, but not limited to, non-penalty expected goals, shots on target, goals per shot on target, tackles won, expected assists and more, all per 90.

Non-Penalty Expected Goals

0.32

0.29

0.29

Shots on Target

1.29

1.19

1.16

Goals per Shot on Target

0.27

0.28

0.20

Expected Assists

0.34

0.39

0.34

Tackles Won

0.85

0.86

0.89

Moreover, like the two Barcelona and Arsenal stars, the Bayern ace also broke onto the scene when incredibly young, making his competitive debut for Paris Saint-Germain at just 16 years old before winning titles in Italy with Juventus and Germany with FC Hollywood.

It’s this experience, which is almost an expectation, to win which could be incredibly beneficial to have in Arteta’s squad from next season, as for all the talent currently there, none are proven winners in the same way as the “world-class” Frenchman, as dubbed by former manager Julian Nagelsmann, is.

Ultimately, while he might not be a guaranteed starter like Saka is, Coman would undoubtedly bring an immense level of experience and quality to Arsenal’s squad were he to join this summer, and therefore, he’s someone Arteta and Co should be looking to bring in.

Arsenal very keen on signing £39m striker who could be better than Osimhen

The Gunners could now be willing to submit a big offer for a “fantastic” forward.

ByDominic Lund Apr 14, 2025

One Rangers star could well be axed by prospective new owners 49ers Enterprises after internal Ibrox talks, according to a fresh update.

49ers preparing for summer after agreeing Rangers deal in principle

The 49ers agreed a deal in principle to take over in Glasgow earlier this year and are hoping to have completed all the relative paperwork by the summer. One of their first tasks looks set to be to find a new permanent manager, with Barry Ferguson currently doing a solid but unspectacular job in temporary charge.

Related Sam Allardyce gives intriguing response on links to be next Rangers manager

Would he be the right man for the job?

Posts ByHenry Jackson Apr 5, 2025

Whoever gets the job on a full-time basis could be backed by the 49ers in the transfer market, with claims Rangers could spend up to £25m this summer under the new owners.

One of the 49ers’ first signings could be to make Vaclav Cerny’s Rangers loan move from VfL Wolfsburg permanent. Asked if he wants to stay in Scotland with Rangers, Cerny said: “I definitely do. But there are so many aspects that I can’t control. All I can do is be the best I can and keep up my form and numbers.”

However, there could also be a plethora of departures, with midfielder Jose Cifuentes, currently on loan at Greek side Aris Thessaloniki, looking certain to be sold. Now, there has been a fresh update on the future of club captain James Tavernier.

James Tavernier could leave Rangers after internal talks

According to TEAMtalk, the 49ers could axe Tavernier from Rangers in one of their first major decisions in control at Ibrox. A ‘huge rebuild’ is on the cards in Glasgow, and internal discussions are underway over rebuilding the Rangers squad.

Tavernier, thought to be on £30,000-a-week and under contract until 2026, could be sold by the Gers and he is being eyed up by clubs in Italy and the United States.

The 33-year-old has been a regular under Ferguson, who kept the full-back as Rangers captain after taking over from Philippe Clement.

“I don’t feel the need to change that [captaincy]. He [Tavernier] came in last night, and we had a really good chat. I’ve looked him in the eyes, he’s ready to give 100%”, said Ferguson on the right-back.

James Tavernier’s Rangers stats

Games

505

Goals

130

Assists

141

Minutes played

44,596

Trophies

5

Ferguson went on to praise Tavernier again as he approached 500 appearances for Rangers. “We’ve had a few good chats and he’s an important player for me. He deserves a lot of credit for 500 games. It’s part of playing at Rangers. When you suffer defeats or don’t play well, it’s generally the captain who gets it in the neck.

“He’s big enough to handle those situations. I’ve been through it as well, and it’s not nice at times, but I’m afraid that’s the nature of the beast.”

However, by the looks of things, Tavernier’s days at Rangers could be numbered after 10 years in Scotland, making this one to keep an eye on.

The West Indies batter has had an extraordinary year in the format, and looks set to go further, faster

Philip Spooner14-Nov-2024Nicholas Pooran arrived at Kensington Oval on Sunday afternoon fully prepped for the second T20I against England, his 100th international in the format. He gave thanks for another day to showcase his flamboyant batting, knowing there was a time when it seemed like he might never play again.”It’s what I love to do. I just love playing cricket, it’s what I wanted to do from a child and I get to live my dream,” he said.”Everyone knows my story: when I had the accident [in 2015], when many people felt I would never play cricket again. At the time I felt playing cricket again was impossible. When I recovered in the hospital the first thing I asked was if I would be able to play cricket again.”Now I’m on both feet and I enjoy everything I do for West Indies cricket and for the fans who come to see me play. I play for them. When the fans are around that is when the magic happens. There was a time during the pandemic when we had no fans [in the stands]… that felt strange. I always give thanks for my blessings. Having represented West Indies in my 100th T20I is a special feeling… I feel like I can play a hundred more.”Hearing the West Indies anthem and seeing the fans celebrating West Indies cricket is what makes me happy. As a little boy growing up, I used to love to see Brian Lara and hearing Ian Bishop’s voice on TV, that’s what I enjoyed as a young fan… so that inspired me.”Related

• Pooran: 'One bad season is not going to change the player I am' (2022)

• Pooran: 'The complete T20 batsman can bat at 135, 140 and 200 SR'

• How Nicholas Pooran came back from the brink (2017)

Off the cricket field, Pooran is soft-spoken, mild-mannered and engaging. On it, he is vocal and demonstrative behind the stumps with the gloves on and sensational in front of the stumps with bat in hand.Ahead of the England series, he had scored 2251 T20 runs at an average of 45 and a strike rate of 161 in 67 innings in 2024 – a record for most T20 runs in a calendar year. His 165 sixes is also 65 more than the next highest batter on the 2024 list.”In the last 14 months I have been playing really well and winning games. Everything is happening nicely. I’m still pretty young and I believe I still have a lot of cricket left in me.”There is a still a lot I want to accomplish, there is still a lot to win. I believe this is the start for me… I will remain humble, and I will remain grounded and be the best version of myself. I want to continue to put smiles on the faces of my fans.”Sunday was a bit of a blip on this otherwise stellar year of performances. As far as landmarks go, this one was not marked by anything memorable or marvellous. There was no signature special edition “Pooran” jersey with “100” emblazoned on his back, and he did not send the colourful crowd into a frenzy with his 14 off 23 balls in an seven-wicket defeat to England, which put West Indies on the back foot, trailing 0-2 in the five-match series.Eight years ago in the UAE, Pooran made a slow start to his career and recorded scores of 5, 4 and 16 against a potent Pakistan attack. He was the rookie in the camp, but he was surrounded by a wealth of experience, including Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo, Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine — and he learned the ropes quickly.”It was my first match, and I was delighted to get my first cap from the team manager, Joel Garner. Everyone made me feel at home in the West Indies dressing room, and I felt that my journey started.”I wanted to be a household name. I wanted people to want to watch me bat. Whether it’s 7 o’clock in the night or 4 o’clock in the morning. I wanted to put smiles on people’s faces. I want to continue to share the talent I have been blessed with from my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”

Mehidy Hasan Miraz was the hero of the chase, but it was Shakib Al Hasan who set up Bangladesh’s win with an outstanding spell

Mohammad Isam05-Dec-20222:11

Jaffer suggests Shakib deserves more recognition

Shakib Al Hasan should have stolen the headlines for his five-wicket haul in the first ODI against India, but it was Mehidy Hasan Miraz who got most of the attention in the end. Either way, the home side’s dramatic one-wicket win has replaced the FIFA World Cup for prominence in the local media.Brazil and Argentina flags had adorned hundreds of buildings around the Shere Bangla National Stadium. Many spectators came wearing football jerseys. There was the odd Argentina flag in the stands too, with a full house for most of the first ODI – up until when the win looked comfortable for Bangladesh. Then their team slipped and several fans didn’t stay till the end. Those who did, witnessed a miracle. By the end of the evening, Shakib and Co. had made sure they had firmly turned the fans’ attention back to cricket.Related

'I kept telling myself I can do this' – Mehidy

Mehidy the hero as Bangladesh script thrilling win

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It was Shakib who did the star turn in the first half of the game. It was his blockbuster first over, an economical spell and a fine finish that combined to give him his first five-for against India. His 5 for 36 is his third-best figures in ODIs, and also the best by a left-arm spinner against India. The visitors couldn’t recover from his regular blows, and coupled with Ebadot Hossain’s maiden four-wicket haul, India were kept to 186, the second-lowest total for which they have been bowled out by Bangladesh in ODIs.Shakib swung the game with his first four deliveries. Second ball, he bowled an arm ball that zipped past Rohit Sharma, who was waiting for it to spin. Then he had Virat Kohli caught at cover by a sprawling Litton Das.When Washington Sundar and KL Rahul began to put up a bit of resistance, it was time to reintroduce Shakib again. Third ball into his third spell, he had Sundar caught by Ebadot at point. He then produced another wicket-taking delivery to remove Shardul Thakur with a ball that turned to beat his outside edge before hitting the off stump. Two balls later, Shakib completed his five-for with a regulation lbw against Deepak Chahar.Coming into the series, Bangladesh – and Shakib – did not have much to celebrate. Shakib had underperformed in the recent T20 World Cup where Bangladesh were knocked out in the group stage, scoring just 44 runs across five matches and taking six wickets. In the tri-series against New Zealand and Pakistan before the World Cup, in which Bangladesh remained winless and Shakib experimented with a curved run-up, he shone with the bat but he went wicketless in the three matches. And just last week he was hit for five sixes in an over by Nicholas Pooran in the Abu Dhabi T10. Since the end of May this year, he has only 10 wickets in 15 international matches across formats, with an average of 44.70 and a strike rate of 50.40.Shakib Al Hasan had many reasons to celebrate against India•WaltonShakib has had his share of lows over the past few years – from disciplinary issues to concerns around his form – but, at the same time, he’s always played a role in Bangladesh’s big moments. Think back to his 114* against New Zealand in the 2017 Champions Trophy (which came amid murmurs that there were some who wanted him dropped from the XI), or his ten-for in Bangladesh’s maiden Test win against Australia.In T20 franchise teams, Shakib is often picked as a bowling allrounder, and is sometimes called upon in powerplay. In the Bangladesh side, though, the emergence of several fast bowlers in the last few years has given him a breather from always bowling at crucial stages; he often comes on in the middle overs and finishes his spell before the death.His ODI role, though, has remained the same for several years dating back to 2006-07. Shakib almost always bowls in the same periods in this format – late in the powerplay and through most of the middle overs. And since Abdur Razzak’s wane in the mid-2010s, Shakib has assumed a more wicket-taking role. Now he is closing in on 300 ODI wickets, underlining the importance of his bowling for Bangladesh.Shakib’s importance to Bangladesh cannot be overstated: he’s an experienced bowler, one of their leading batters, and a gun fielder. He rarely goes without making an impact with bat or ball for a long period. His confidence never seems to dip. And he also makes sure to turn up against big teams – just like he did against India on Sunday. Mehidy deserved the credit for the heroic finish but Shakib’s five-for confirmed that he remains the primary match-winner in this Bangladesh side.

All the statistical highlights from the third T20I of the four-match series

Sampath Bandarupalli14-Apr-2021122 – Runs scored by Babar Azam in the third T20I in Centurion. It is now the highest individual score for Pakistan in T20Is, overhauling 111* by Ahmed Shehzad against Bangladesh in the 2014 T20 World Cup. Azam’s 122 is also the highest T20I score against South Africa, beating 117 by Chris Gayle in 2007.1 – Individual scores higher than Azam’s 122 while chasing in T20Is. Evin Lewis scored an unbeaten 125 while chasing against India in 2017. Azam also holds the record for the highest score in a T20I chase by a captain.197 – Partnership runs between Azam and Mohammad Rizwan for the opening stand. It is now the highest partnership for any wicket in a T20I chase surpassing the unbeaten 171-run opening stand between Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson against Pakistan in 2016. The 197-run partnership is also the highest in T20s while chasing, going past 194 between Aaron Finch and Jason Roy for Surrey against Middlesex in 2018.204 – Target chased by Pakistan in the third T20I against South Africa. This is now the highest target successfully chased by Pakistan in T20Is, surpassing the 189 chase in the first match.ESPNcricinfo Ltd0 – T20I partnerships for Pakistan higher than the 197-run stand between Azam and Rizwan. It is, in fact, the first ever 150-plus partnership for Pakistan in T20Is, also the fourth-highest for any wicket in this format. The 197-run stand is also the highest against South Africa in T20Is, surpassing 167* between Jos Buttler and Dawid Malan for the second wicket last year.3 – Fifties for Aiden Markram in the T20I series against Pakistan. He is now only the second player with a hat-trick of 50-plus scores for South Africa in men’s T20Is. Hashim Amla was the first player with this feat, in 2016. Markram was involved in a 108-run partnership with Janneman Malan, the first century opening stand for South Africa in T20Is since February 2016.2 – 200-plus totals conceded by Pakistan in T20Is including the 203 for 5 by South Africa on Wednesday. The highest T20I total for any team versus Pakistan is 211 for 3 by Sri Lanka in 2013.

Leeds United are on a roll at the moment. Daniel Farke’s side have gone unbeaten in their last two games, beating Chelsea and drawing against Liverpool, with both games coming at Elland Road.

The game prior to playing the Blues, Manchester City only beat them due to a stoppage-time winner.

At the start of the gameweek, the Whites were out of the relegation zone. Now, a clash away to Brentford in the prime time slot on Sunday afternoon represents a chance for the West Yorkshire side to put even more distance between themselves and the drop zone.

Leeds will not have a full squad for their trip to West London to face the Bees, however.

Leeds’ team news vs. Brentford

Unfortunately for Farke, he has a few players missing for the game against Keith Andrews’ side. Someone who remains sidelined after picking up an injury in November is midfielder Sean Longstaff.

He is yet to recover from the calf injury he suffered against Aston Villa.

The Whites will also be without winger Daniel James. He suffered a long-term injury against Man City, with the hamstring tendon issue keeping him out for at least two months.

Leeds will be hoping to have him back sooner rather than later, but that layoff could be longer depending on whether he needs surgery.

The player who might have made it back for this game was Lukas Nmecha. However, Farke confirmed that the striker’s injury has “still not completely healed,” before going on to confirm that the German is “definitely out” against Brentford.

That is a huge blow for Leeds. Although he missed the game against Liverpool, Nmecha has been one of their most in-form players.

He’s bagged four goals in 14 Premier League games this season, a tally surpassed by no other Leeds player.

Despite these injuries in attack, there is a Leeds forward who Farke might well need to drop after a poor performance against Liverpool.

The Leeds star who Farke must axe

Despite managing such a brilliant result against Arne Slot’s side last weekend, there was one Leeds player in particular who struggled to make an impact.

Chalkboard

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

That was a rarity across the board, with Farke’s side generally impressing.

It was a really poor performance from Noah Okafor. The Swiss star was one of Leeds’ summer additions from AC Milan, but he has struggled to hit the ground running since moving to West Yorkshire.

25-year-old Okafor, who earns £72.5k per week at Elland Road and is one of the top earners, has only managed two goals for the club so far.

Those have come in 12 Premier League appearances, including the club’s 800th in the competition against Tottenham Hotspur.

Against Liverpool, Okafor put in a 5/10 performance and ‘didn’t add a huge amount’, according to Graham Smyth of The Yorkshire Evening Post.

He did struggle to get into the game, having just 14 touches, completing five out of six passes and losing the ball five times.

Touches

14

Passes completed

5/6

Number of times ball lost

5

Duels won

2/6

Shots

2

Expected goals

0.13xG

It was certainly a disappointing performance from the Swiss attacker, who showed great promise in the first few days of his Leeds career, with content creator Alex Moneypenny even suggesting that he is “so close to exploding”.

Perhaps playing as a number nine alongside Dominic Calvert-Lewin is not how to get the best out of him.

If Farke is to drop Okafor this weekend against Brentford, there are options to replace him despite the injury issues.

Wilfried Gnonto is the most likely one, with the Italian getting back to full fitness after a fitness issue himself. Jack Harrison could also slot into the team, although he might not thrive as a number nine, or Farke could even bring teenager Harry Gray into the fold.

Regardless, Leeds will want to keep this impressive, and crucial, run of form going.

Thus, Okafor may be rotated out of the side after a poor showing last weekend, with Farke choosing someone who can have more of an overall impact.

Next Ampadu: Leeds in the race for "explosive" PL star who wants a move

Daniel Farke could sign his next Ethan Ampadu at Leeds United by landing this explosive Premier League star.

ByKelan Sarson 3 days ago

Manchester United’s midfield department has so often been littered with quality, but it’s clear that Ruben Amorim is yet to stumble across his best partnership at the heart of the side.

The 40-year-old has been constantly shuffling his pack, often utilising various different players together, with Bruno Fernandes now seemingly his starting number eight.

He’s started every Premier League game in 2025/26 to date, but has often had to adapt to different combinations with other first-team members in recent times.

Casemiro has been the most consistent player to partner the Portuguese international, with the pair helping the club maintain a five-game unbeaten run for the first time in Amorim’s tenure.

However, with the Brazilian now aged 33 and set to leave in the summer, it’s crucial the hierarchy line up numerous targets to strengthen such an area in January and beyond.

The latest on United’s hunt for a new midfielder

Ahead of the upcoming January window, a whole host of young and talented midfielders have been linked with a big-money move to join Amorim’s United side.

Adam Wharton has been a star who has constantly been on the Red Devils’ radar over the last couple of months, with the Crystal Palace star just one option being considered.

It’s unclear how much a deal for his services would cost this winter, but it’s safe to say it wouldn’t be a surprise if the hierarchy made a beeline for his signature in the coming months.

However, he’s not the only player they’re targeting, with INEOS reportedly now said to be eyeing up a move for the signature of Atalanta midfielder Ederson.

A report from one source claims that the Red Devils is the most likely destination for the Brazilian star, with the hierarchy at the club expected to commence talks with the player and the two clubs.

It also states that such a deal could reach around €50m (£43.7m) this winter, with personal terms not expected to be an issue given his previous agreement with Amorim’s side.

Why United’s latest target would be a huge upgrade on Gomes

As part of the club’s hunt for a new central midfielder this winter, numerous players have appeared on their radar – with Wolverhampton Wanderers star Joao Gomes just one option being considered.

Over the last couple of days, it’s been reported that the 24-year-old would be extremely keen on a move to Old Trafford in the coming months, with his current side sitting bottom of the Premier League.

As a result, a £44m price tag has been mooted for the midfielder’s signature in recent times, which could be a potential bargain for a proven English top-flight talent.

However, given the nature of the hunt for a new deep-lying option, the supporters will no doubt be hoping for a more high-profile and top-level addition to bolster the ranks.

Whilst many fans may crave a deal for a player of Wharton’s calibre, a winter deal may be somewhat unrealistic, with the Eagles potentially demanding up to £100m for his signature.

As a result, a deal for Ederson certainly could be on the cards for Amorim’s men, with the Brazilian certainly a better option than Gomes in the upcoming window.

When comparing their stats from the ongoing campaign, the Atalanta star has dominated in numerous key areas, showcasing why he would be the better addition at present.

Ederson, who’s been dubbed “out of this world” by former England boss Fabio Capello, has completed more of the passes he’s attempted, with more of his efforts per 90 going into the final third.

Such numbers highlight the Brazilian’s ball-playing ability, which could allow him to dictate the play for United for a deep-lying position – allowing Bruno to take up a more advanced role as a result.

Games played

8

12

Minutes played

588

925

Progressive carries

1.4

1.2

Progressive passes

7.5

5.6

Pass accuracy

90%

84%

Passes into final third

6.6

4.1

% of tackles won

53%

51%

Interceptions made

1.6

1.1

Take-on success

50%

47%

Out of possession, the Atalanta star has been just as dominant over Gomes, as seen by his higher tackle success rate and more interceptions completed per 90.

The aforementioned tallies could certainly provide Amorim with the ball-winning option he’s been craving, at a bargain, too given his current asking price.

All-round, Ederson is a more complete option for the Red Devils, with his higher take-on success and progressive carries per 90 tally reaffirming his incredible ability to transition the play.

£43.7m for a player of the 26-year-old’s quality in the current market is an excellent price, with the hierarchy needing to work tirelessly to complete a deal for his signature.

There’s no denying Gomes would be an impressive addition too, but when a player of Ederson’s quality is currently available, it’s a no-brainer as to who the club should pursue in the coming weeks.

Shades of McTominay: Man Utd star is now their "most underrated player"

Manchester United now have a player who has certainly gone under the radar over the last couple of months.

ByEthan Lamb Nov 28, 2025