After they were placed into administration last Friday, Sheffield Wednesday have now received contact from American billionaire John Textor about buying the club.
The Owls knew the inevitable was coming for some time and it speaks volumes that many around the club will be relieved to be in administration rather than under the ownership of Dejphon Chansiri. His decade-long ownership has finally come to an end following a period in which staff and players went unpaid on a number of occasions.
Whilst there may be some light at the end of the tunnel off the pitch, however, Sheffield Wednesday have suffered on it. Henrik Pedersen’s side have been dealt an automatic 12-point deduction which has left them on -6 points and an impossible battle to stay up in the Championship.
Many have had their say on the consequences that they’ve been handed by the EFL, including Gary Lineker. The former Match of the Day host told The Rest is Football podcast: “They have gone into administration, obviously, and hopefully they can sort it all out. But they have got the 12-point penalty and are now on -6.
“I understand why clubs have to suffer repercussions, but I just think it’s like kicking a club when it’s down and at its lowest. We have had this with other clubs, and it just doesn’t sit well. It’s almost like the fans take the punishment.”
Julian Pitts, Kris Wigfield, Paul Stanley and Begbies Traynor have been appointed joint-administrators and are tasked with finding a suitable buyer for the club, with the EFL ready to relax their 21-day insolvency guideline to fast-track any potential sale.
John Textor makes contact with Sheffield Wednesday
According to reporter Alan Myers, Textor has now made contact with Sheffield Wednesday and their administrators about a potential deal to buy the club.
The American billionaire has also been linked with Wolverhampton Wanderers and it’s clear that he’s looking to invest in English football after selling his Crystal Palace shares in the summer.
That said, Sheffield Wednesday should proceed with caution. Having only just ended a toxic relationship with Chansiri, the last thing they need is another difficult ownership.
Textor stole the headlines when he resigned from his leadership position at Lyon after they were relegated to Ligue 2 amid financial problems. Although they have now been reinstated to France’s top flight and Textor remains a shareholder from afar, his day-to-day role received major protest from fans.
A repeat at Sheffield Wednesday is not guaranteed, but the Owls must ensure that Textor is right for them if they are to add themselves to his portfolio of clubs.
Sheffield Wednesday administrators reveal criteria owners must meet
أكد وليد صلاح الدين، مدير الكرة بالنادي الأهلي، أن بطولة كأس السوبر المصري تحمل أهمية كبيرة، مشيرًا إلى أن المارد الأحمر يستعد للمباراة النهائية أمام الزمالك بشكل جيد بعد فترة من الأداء المميز.
ومن المقرر أن يلتقي الأهلي والزمالك، اليوم الأحد، على ملعب محمد بن زايد بولاية أبو ظبي، للمنافسة على لقب بطل كأس السوبر المصري.
وقال وليد صلاح الدين في تصريحات عبر قناة “أون سبورت”: “بطولة السوبر مهمة فعلًا، واستعداداتنا الحمد لله جيدة، ونحن نلعب كرة جيدة منذ فترة طويلة، منذ قدومي، خضنا حوالي 11 مباراة مع الكابتن عماد النحاس، حققنا خلالها ثلاثة تعادلات وثمانية انتصارات، وإن شاء الله ستكون المباراة المقبلة التاسعة ونتوج بالبطولة”.
طالع أيضًا | مصطفى عبده: الأهلي قد يُكرر الـ6-1 أمام الزمالك في السوبر
وتابع: “الأداء في المباريات السابقة كان دائمًا مميزًا، فنحن نتفوق على أي فريق في الملعب من حيث الاستحواذ وصناعة الفرص، اللاعبون يبدون جهدًا كبيرًا ويظهرون انضباطًا عاليًا في التدريب والمباريات”.
وأضاف: “حتى الآن، غاب عن الفريق عنصر التوفيق قليلًا، والحمد لله حققنا الفوز في آخر مباراة، وأود أن أحيي الكابتن علي ماهر وفريق سيراميكا، فهم فريق محترم وبذلوا جهدًا كبيرًا، وكانت المباراة ممتعة للجميع، ومع ذلك، كنا الأفضل طوال التسعين دقيقة في صناعة الفرص والاستحواذ والجانب البدني، والحمد لله توجنا بالانتصار”.
واختتم: “إن شاء الله، ننتظر دعم جماهيرنا أمام الزمالك في مباراة النهائي، فهم سندنا وذخيرتنا، ونأمل في العودة بالبطولة إلى مصر”.
Liverpool slumped to another damaging, dismal defeat as Arne Slot’s side were dumped out of the Carabao Cup, beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace while finishing the match with 10 players on a dire night at Anfield. Slot made sweeping changes to the team which was defeated by Brentford, with one eye on the clash with Aston Villa this weekend, but the fringe players and academy hopefuls were thoroughly outclassed by Oliver Glasner's side.
The loss heaps pressure on struggling Dutch boss Slot, who has watched his team lose six of their last seven matches, with their only win coming in the Champions League away at Eintracht Frankfurt.
The Reds were the better of the two sides in the early exchanges, with Federico Chiesa, recalled to the starting line-up, squandering two gilt-edged opportunities. But Palace grew into the game and thoroughly deserved to take the lead in the 40th minute.
The Eagles put together a neat interchange of passes on the edge of the Liverpool box, and though the ball fell to Joe Gomez, he scuffed his clearance to Ismaila Sarr, who in turn fired confidently past debutant Freddie Woodman. Palace doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time as they cut through the hosts’ porous defence and Gomez was at fault again as Sarr swept the ball home to send the small pocket of travelling fans delirious.
The Anfield faithful were stunned into near silence for the majority of the match and Glasner could even afford to remove Sarr, who was on a hat-trick, as the hosts laboured to create chances in the second half.
The diabolical night for Liverpool was made even worse after Amara Nallo was shown a straight red for a pull on Yeremie Pino, who was through on goal. And it was Pino who slalomed into the box to thrash the ball home into the far corner to complete the rout. With minutes left the heavens opened, the torrential rain providing the perfect backdrop to Liverpool’s performance – a complete washout.
GOAL rates Liverpool's players from Anfield…
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Goalkeeper & Defence
Freddie Woodman (4/10):
Had to wait until the 30th minute to make a stop, a decent drive from Hughes which he gathered comfortably, but there was nothing he could do about Sarr's opener. Was left woefully exposed for the second and similarly the third.
Calvin Ramsay (5/10):
Started his first senior game in three years after returning from injury, but endured a difficult evening.
Joe Gomez (3/10):
The experienced defender featured in an unfamiliar centre-back pairing, but flapped at the ball when he should have cleared for Palace's opener, and went AWOL for the second, chasing Nketiah around the box, instead of standing firm in front of Sarr. Ended the match wearing the captain's armband.
Andrew Robertson (5/10):
Deployed out of position at centre-back, but was unable to stem the tide in a makeshift back-line. Was clearly frustrated at his side's performance and was booked for a crude lunge in the 54th minute. Subbed off in the 67th minute.
Milos Kerkez (4/10): The left-back was the only player to retain his starting place from the previous Premier League defeat, but it was another innocuous performance and his starting position for the clash with Villa must be in serious doubt.
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Midfield
Trey Nyoni (4/10):
The academy prospect was handed a senior start in midfield as part of the significant line-up rotation, was asked to do a lot of the running, but failed to make a hugely positive impact.
Wataru Endo (5/10):
Started in midfield to provide a solid base, but spent the entire match chasing the ball to very little effect. Was most effective when attempting to break play up, but will be keen to forget this one as quickly as possible.
Alexis Mac Allister (5/10):
Was included to provided much-needed experience in a youthful midfield line-up, but looked lost for the vast majority of his 67 minutes on the pitch, and was taken off without having made a significant contribution.
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Attack
Kieran Morrison (5/10):
The 18-year-old academy forward made his senior debut, lining up on the right side of the attack. Showed plenty of willing running, but not to blame for Liverpool's toothless display and was subbed off in the 67th minute.
Federico Chiesa (4/10):
The Italian forward led the attack, and squandered a brilliant opportunity to open the scoring in the 23rd minute when he fired over from the edge of the box. Will be disappointed with his efforts and seemed anxious, snapping at chances.
Rio Ngumoha (5/10):
The 17-year-old winger showcased his skills on the left side of the attack and did brilliantly to set-up a chance for Chiesa in the 28th minute. Was one of the few players who can claim to have put in a decent shift. Threat diminished in the second half, taken off with four minutes remaining.
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Subs & Manager
Kaide Gordon (4/10):
Would have been pleased to come on, but didn't make a telling pass.
Amara Nallo (2/10):
His second red card for Liverpool in two senior appearances, sent off just 12 minutes after coming on for a desperate last-man challenge.
Wellity Lucky (4/10):
Mixed emotions making his debut on such a poor night for Liverpool.
Trent Kone-Doherty (N/A):
Only appeared with four minutes remaining, not long enough to make an impact.
Arne Slot (3/10):
Another woeful night for the beleaguered Reds boss. He'll point to the 10 changes he made with the massive match coming up against Aston Villa, but his side are devoid of confidence and another damaging defeat just makes the situation worse.
Needing to defend eight off the final over, Avesh nailed yorker after yorker to concede only six runs in the 20th over
Shashank Kishore19-Apr-20251:57
What could have RR done differently in their chase?
For the second game in a row, Rajasthan Royals (RR) stumbled in a seemingly straightforward chase, unable to score nine off the final over. In Jaipur on Saturday night, Avesh Khan’s ice-cool death bowling turned a cruise into chaos, as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) snatched victory from under RR’s nose.Up until 17 overs of their chase, RR seemed set to break their three-match losing streak. But with 25 needed off 18, Avesh got his execution dead right in a double-wicket over that went for just five. He first dismissed a well-set Yashasvi Jaiswal for 74 when he backed away to scythe a yorker-length delivery behind point. Then, four balls later, Riyan Parag’s attempt to play a cheeky scoop to a full ball that reversed in to strike his toe caught him plumb in front.RR went into panic mode, and stumbled at the finish line as LSG celebrated a jailbreak that didn’t seem possible.The last-over dramaFour nights ago in Delhi, RR failed to knock off the two runs they needed off the final ball. Here, they needed four. Shubham Dubey had just been dropped off the previous delivery by David Miller at long-on. This was his shot at redemption, but Avesh stuck his left arm out on his follow-through to stop a straight hit.But there was more to the final over than just those last two deliveries.
Heart-racing, nerve-wracking, and simply unforgettable! #LSG defy the odds and seal a 2-run victory over #RR after the most dramatic final moments
With RR needing eight off five, Shimron Hetmyer swung wildly to get a thick outside edge to third where Shardul Thakur fumbled to concede a second that wasn’t on. Thakur was immediately sent off to square leg because of the misfield. And guess what happened next?Hetmyer played a powerful flick to an attempted leg-stump yorker to a waiting Thakur at backward square-leg.Avesh then nailed a pin-point yorker off the fourth ball before the Miller drama and his own nifty effort off the final ball to seal an improbable win.The thrill before the spillThe spark came early, and it came young when Vaibhav Suryavanshi, all of 14 years and 23 days, strode out for his debut as the youngest player in IPL history when he was brought in as an Impact Player for their 181 chase. And the moment didn’t faze him one bit.Early impressions are that Suryavanshi is fearless. How else can you show that kind of audacity, where you make room and pummel your first ball in the IPL for six over cover? Thakur couldn’t believe it, clearly.Related
Pooran, Marsh getting out 'brought out Markram's best'
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14-year old Suryavanshi kicks off IPL career with first-ball six
Surely that was a one-off. Maybe it was nervous tension. Nope. His second attempt, off just his third ball, was even more audacious. He cleared his front leg, exposing all three stumps, and bludgeoned a six down the ground off Avesh.Fifth ball, there was even more drama. Avesh thought he’d done enough by banging in a short ball that Suryavanshi top edged. Prince Yadav, running back from midwicket, ended up dropping it and Ravi Bishnoi parried the ball to the boundary.Rishabh Pant quickly brought on his trump card, Digvesh Rathi, hoping the youngster would swing at one blindly. Suryavanshi showed smarts in playing him out. But before long, he climbed into Rathi, muscling him for a six over deep midwicket an over after hitting Bishnoi straight down the ground.But on 34, Suryavanshi was deceived in flight by Aiden Markram, who was operating because the accomplished bowlers had been taken to the cleaners by Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who put on 85 off just 8.3 overs. He got one to turn sharply to beat a lunging Suryavanshi. His back foot was in the air, and Pant whipped the bails off.The Suryavanshi show was over, but not before he had left viewers asking for more.Jaiswal soon raised a half-century off just 31 balls – his fourth half-century in five innings – and seemed set to see the chase through. His picking of lengths against spin was impeccable, until one grave mistake gave LSG an opening they burst through.
Walking in after the W pic.twitter.com/mNykuW4bkd
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) April 19, 2025
Samad turns heroTheir bowlers may have given LSG the win, but Abdul Samad’s contribution – an unbeaten 10-ball 30 – was as important.LSG were 54 for 3 when Pant fell cheaply and Samad was held back for him to be able to maximise damage in the end overs along with Miller. This meant LSG summoned Ayush Badoni as their Impact Player to stabilise the innings, replacing Mitchell Marsh.The consequence of this move was that they couldn’t bring in Mayank Yadav, listed as one of the Impact Subs, even if they had him in their plans.Badoni repaid the faith, scoring 50 in 34, to repair the innings with Markram, who top-scored with 66. But it was truly Samad’s pyrotechnics in the end that lifted a floundering innings.Holding his shape and picking deliveries out of Sandeep Sharma’s hand, Samad picked his arc between deep squares and deep midwicket to pummel four sixes in a 27-run final over that gave LSG momentum.In terms of overall contribution, this was worth its weight in gold, one that combined with Avesh’s to strengthen LSG’s position in the top four – all with ten points.
Crystal Palace are closing in on some late deals and look to be nearing an agreement to bring an exciting gem to Selhurst Park, according to reports.
Crystal Palace secure Europa Conference League qualification in Norway
Despite the trials and tribulations that have followed Crystal Palace over the last few months amid their expulsion from the Europa League, the Eagles will play league phase football for the first time ever this season after a 1-0 aggregate triumph against Fredrikstad FK over two legs in the Conference League.
Oliver Glasner has now added continental qualification to winning the FA Cup and Community Shield at Crystal Palace. Post-match, he lauded his side for the character they showed on a taxing night to complete a ‘huge’ achievement by securing their slot.
He said: “It is a huge achievement to go into the group stage. It was our second goal of the season and we have achieved that by the end of August which is great.
“The first one was winning the Community Shield – which we did – and now, with all of the noise of being demoted to the Conference League, we have done that too. We defended excellently and did not give them a chance but on the other side, we know we can and have to play better in possession, but overall it’s important be in the group stage.”
Arsenal’s Reiss Nelson is on Crystal Palace’s radar after their capture of Yeremy Pino and could arrive to offer further attacking depth in the wide areas.
After a frustrating spell in Italy, the Eagles may also offer Juventus defender Lloyd Kelly another shot at Premier League life before the end of the window amid speculation over Marc Guehi’s future.
Speaking of Arsenal, reports suggest that Crystal Palace could now be about to pinch one of their youth talents if reports are to be believed.
Crystal Palace set to agree compensation fee for Dan Casey
According to News Shopper, Crystal Palace are now close to agreeing a compensation fee to sign Dan Casey, who has rejected the chance to stay at the Emirates Stadium in favour of a move across London.
The 17-year-old, who turns 18 on Sunday, registered 20 goals for the Gunners’ Under-18 side last term and is viewed internally as a direct replacement for Jesse Derry following his switch to Chelsea.
Crystal Palace now make contact to sign "incredible" £20m Guehi replacement
The Eagles have made an approach over a deal for a new defender.
ByDominic Lund Aug 27, 2025
With Derry’s compensation fee set to go to a tribunal, the Eagles could inherit a multi-million-pound sum for his services, meaning a profit could be made should everything go to plan.
Ultimately, versatile gem Casey, who can play in attacking midfield or on the right flank, would likely be one for the future once he is to arrive at the club.
Nevertheless, talent that can be moulded for the future can save millions down the line; hence, why the swoop makes a great deal of sense from a Crystal Palace perspective.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has issued a worrying update on Declan Rice after he was forced off during the 2-1 victory over London rivals West Ham. Rice was forced off in the 79th minute of the match at the Emirates and will now be assessed by Gunners medical staff.
Rice shone against Hammers
A goal in each half from Rice and Bukayo Saka secured a 2-0 victory for Arsenal over West Ham at the Emirates Stadium, a win which sent the Gunners to the top of the Premier League table after seven matches. The home side dominated proceedings, with Rice scoring against his former club in the 38th minute, tucking home a rebound after Eberechi Eze's shot was saved by Alphonse Areola. Arsenal's dominance was further reflected in the match statistics, including their possession advantage, which was double the visitors'. Saka doubled Arsenal's lead midway through the second-half, converting a penalty after Jurrien Timber was fouled by El Hadji Malick Diouf. The penalty marked Saka's 100th Premier League goal involvement in his 200th appearance.
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Injury woes mar comfortable win
The only concerns for Arsenal were injury to Odegaard, who was forced off in the first half after a knee-on-knee collision and Rice, who asked to be substituted. Despite the injury, the victory saw Mikel Arteta celebrate his 300th game in charge of Arsenal with a comfortable win against a West Ham side that struggled to create opportunities and sit second-bottom of the table.
Arteta reveals double-concern
After the match, Arteta spoke about the circumstances surrounding Rice's substitution, he said: "Well, he's not alright because he asked me to come off, so that's a shame. So, he had pain in his back and he could not carry on, which is something very unusual for Declan, so we'll have to assess him and see how he is." And there were worries for his captain Odegaard, too: "I think he had a clash knee-to-knee, and immediately he was uncomfortable, I just spoke to him, he's not positive about it, he's got a brace on. We'll have to wait and see from the doctors, but we haven't been very unlucky with that either.
"We haven't had him since the start of the season for one reason or the other, the shoulder twice and then this injury. So we have to wait and see the extent of that injury. We will find solutions but obviously our captain is a player who gives us a completely different dimension with the things that he can do, especially in attack. Let's wait and hopefully it's not that bad."
In terms of his side's win, he added: "The last two games have been very special. Newcastle, because we had a history there, a lot of scars and a lot of learnings to take, we put that right. Then we had West Ham, losing two games at home in the previous two seasons. I told them it was a big opportunity, we’ve had very difficult fixtures since the start of the season, and some very bad injuries as well not helping. Still, the team is performing, playing well, winning today with absolute dominance and without conceding a goal. So, good to get to the international break in this spirit."
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Will England rest Rice?
Rice has been a central figure for England, featuring prominently in their runs to the Euro 2020 final and the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals. He captained England for the first time in March 2024 and was ever-present in their Euro 2024 campaign, where they finished as runners-up. His performances have consistently drawn praise, cementing his reputation as a world-class midfielder. But Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel may be tempted to rest Rice, with England on the verge of qualifying for next year’s World Cup. They need a maximum of five more points from their remaining three games, a win in their next qualifier away to Latvia on October 14, followed by a win at home against Serbia on November 13, would guarantee qualification by winning Group K. But, if England defeat Latvia and Serbia fail to beat Albania on October 11, England would also secure qualification.
Tottenham Hotspur made it two Premier League wins from two under Thomas Frank this afternoon, with a tremendous victory over Manchester City at the Etihad.
The Lilywhites claimed a superb 2-0 win away from home, making it five goals scored and back-to-back clean sheets during the early stages of the Dane’s tenure.
Such a performance repeated the feat from the 2024/25 campaign, winning against Pep Guardiola’s side away from home for the second successive season.
Tottenham Hotspur managerThomasFrankcelebrates after the match
The result is one thing, but Frank will be delighted with his players – evidently executed the game plan perfectly with their counter-attacking and pressing play forcing the Citizens into various mistakes.
Numerous players stood out during the triumph, with the new boss seemingly making an immediate impact in the role and finding a settled side in North London.
How Spurs’ 2-0 win over Man City unfolded
Brennan Johnson opened the scoring for Spurs at the Etihad, making it two goals in as many Premier League outings after finding the net against Burnley seven days ago.
The goal epitomised the direct nature of the Lilywhites against Guardiola’s men, with a ball down the channel leading to a squared pass across the box – before the Welshman put Frank’s men ahead.
Such a goal was originally flagged as offside, but after a VAR check, the visitors burst into a one-goal lead in the 35th minute – just as the side did at the Etihad last season.
However, there was no doubt about the second effort, with Pape Sarr closing down an under-hit pass from James Trafford – forcing the opposition into a mistake, before Joao Palhinha pounced on the loose ball to fire the side into a two-goal lead.
The Portuguese international was making his first league start for the Lilywhites and has certainly staked his claim for a regular place in the side after such a showing.
He’s not alone in that department though, with one other starter deserving of an extended run in the starting eleven after his own performance against the Citizens.
The 9/10 Spurs star who now looks undroppable
It may be early days in the new manager’s spell at Spurs, but he’s already demonstrated he’s able to get the best out of the current crop of players – as seen by the 100% win record in England’s top-flight.
The Dane’s men restricted the hosts to minimal chances in dangerous areas, something that’s no mean feat – after they scored four times at Wolves on the opening day.
Defensively, the likes of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven managed to impress, preventing the potent Erling Haaland from pulling off a single effort on target.
However, the solidity at the back allowed for turnovers and counter-attacks to be created, which saw Richarlison impress once more at the top end of the pitch.
The Brazilian started in the number nine role, but ran the opposition ragged, often running the channels – which saw him register the assist for Johnson’s opener.
Along with his assist, his underlying stats also highlight the quality he provided, despite being unable to add to his two-goal haul from last weekend.
He made just 29 touches during his 78-minute outing, but many of which were as a result of the Brazilian providing the out ball to play off in their direct play.
Minutes played
78
Touches
29
Touches in opposition box
8
Shots taken
3
Fouls won
2
Duels won
6
Assists registered
1
Tackles won
100%
The 28-year-old also registered three efforts on goal, notching eight touches in the opposition box – the most of any player on the pitch between both teams.
Richarlison’s excellent showing saw him also win two fouls, whilst coming out on top in six of the duels he entered – topping off his workmanlike performance at the Etihad.
As a result of his showing, he was handed a 9/10 match rating by Football Insider’s Ben Palmer – putting the icing on the cake on what was a superb outing for the former Everton star.
After such a performance, Frank simply can’t drop the Brazilian, with his arrival evidently handing the forward a new lease of life in his own career in North London.
If he can continue his impressive start to 2025/26, he can certainly nail down the number nine position as his own – potentially playing a huge part in any success this campaign.
Forget Eze: Spurs preparing move for "unstoppable" star who's like Rodrygo
Tottenham Hotspur have moved on to other targets after missing out on Eberechi Eze’s signature.
India will play their Champions Trophy 2025 matches in the UAE. The decision, though widely expected, was finalised after Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chairman, met with Sheikh Nahyan Al Mubarak in Pakistan. Sheikh Nahyan is a senior UAE minister and also the head of the Emirates Cricket Board.”The PCB has picked the UAE as a neutral venue for the Champions Trophy,” PCB spokesperson Amir Mir said.The Pakistan vs India league match will be played on February 23, a Sunday. Apart from Pakistan, the other two teams in India’s group are Bangladesh and New Zealand. India will face Bangladesh on February 20, and New Zealand on March 2. All these games are likely to be held in Dubai.
Champions Trophy 2025 groups
Group A – Pakistan, Bangladesh, India and New Zealand Group B – Afghanistan, Australia, England and South Africa
Pakistan, the defending champions, will kick off the tournament on February 19, against New Zealand in Karachi. Pakistan’s last league match, against Bangladesh, will be played in Rawalpindi on February 27.The second group has Afghanistan, Australia, England and South Africa. The matches for both groups – apart from the India games – will be played across Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi.The two semi-finals are scheduled for March 4 (without a reserve day) and March 5 (with a reserve day). The final on March 9 also has a reserve day. The first semi-final, if India make it to that stage, will be played in the UAE. If India don’t qualify, the game will be held in Pakistan. The final is slotted for Lahore, with the provision of holding it in the UAE if India make it that far.The hybrid model was finalised after the parties involved agreed that, in return, Pakistan’s matches at ICC events hosted by India till 2027 will also be at a neutral venue. In all instances, knockout games such as the semi-final and the final will also be held at neutral venues.The agreement begins with the Champions Trophy, and will apply to the 2025 women’s ODI World Cup in India, and the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. It will also apply to the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup, the first tournament of the next events cycle that has now been awarded to Pakistan.
Leeds United are in the market to sign a new number to bolster their squad before the summer transfer window officially slams shut at the start of September.
Football Insider reported in May that the Championship champions were not planning for Joel Piroe to be their main number nine in the Premier League, despite the fact that he won the Golden Boot last season.
The Dutch marksman scored 19 goals in the second tier to beat the likes of Borja Sainz and Josh Sargent to the Golden Boot, but he may not be the go-to option for Daniel Farke once the window is over.
Leeds have been linked with an interest in Everton’s Beto and Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz as Premier League proven centre-forward options, whilst they have also been linked with Roma striker Artem Dovbyk.
This shows that the Whites are looking to bring in a high-calibre number nine to take Piroe’s place as a starter in the team for the upcoming top-flight season.
The West Yorkshire outfit will be hoping to find a striker who can score goals on a regular basis in the Premier League for many years to come, which means that they are looking for their best centre-forward since Chris Wood.
The strikers Leeds have had since Chris Wood left
The New Zealand international, as shown in the graphic below, scored 44 goals in 88 games for the Whites before his move to Burnley in the summer of 2017.
Since moving on from Elland Road, Wood has established himself as a reliable goalscorer in the top-flight. To date, the 33-year-old star has racked up 89 goals in 263 Premier League appearances for Burnley, Newcastle United, and Nottingham Forest combined.
In the time since the Forest star left the club, Leeds have had Kemar Roofe, Patrick Bamford, and Joel Piroe as their main starting number nine options, whilst Rodrigo is a debatable one as a versatile star who played in midfield, as a second striker, and as a striker at times.
Leeds United’s top scorers since Chris Wood left
Season
Top league scorer
League
Goals
24/25
Joel Piroe
Championship
19
23/24
Crysencio Summerville
Championship
20
22/23
Rodrigo
Premier League
13
21/22
Raphinha
Premier League
11
20/21
Patrick Bamford
Premier League
17
19/20
Patrick Bamford
Championship
16
18/19
Kemar Roofe
Championship
15
17/18
Kemar Roofe
Championship
11
Stats via WhoScored
As you can see in the table above, Bamford is the only one of those players to have cracked over 13 top-flight goals in a single season, with his 17-goal haul.
However, the former England international has failed to consistently deliver in the top-flight, with just 24 goals in 102 Premier League games overall in his career.
The Whites, though, have now been offered the chance to bring in a centre-forward who would be better than all of the strikers they have had since Wood left.
Leeds offered chance to sign prolific striker
According to The Boot Room, Leeds United are one of the teams to have been offered an opportunity to sign Al Hilal number nine Aleksandar Mitrovic before the end of the summer transfer window.
The Whites could see an offer accepted by the Saudi Pro League outfit because the striker may be on the move this summer, due to his side’s interest in bringing in another option in his position.
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This update reveals that Al Hilal are one of a number of Pro League teams in the running to sign Liverpool marksman Darwin Nunez this summer, and his potential arrival has left Mitrovic’s future up in the air.
The Boot Room states that the Serbia international’s representatives have offered him to Leeds, Sunderland, and Fulham, among others, ahead of a possible return to England, a country the player is said to love.
It has previously been reported this summer that Al Hilal would want a fee in the region of £26m for Mitrovic, which provides an insight into the kind of money Leeds will have to spend to get a deal over the line.
Why Leeds should sign Aleksandar Mitrovic
The Whites should push to bring the Serbian forward to Elland Road in the coming weeks, now that they have been offered a chance to sign him, because he could be the club’s best striker since Chris Wood.
As aforementioned, the New Zealand international is the only striker Leeds have had in the past eight years or so who has been able to establish himself as a regular goalscorer at the top level.
Mitrovic would come in as a player who has already proven himself at the top level, with three Premier League seasons with nine or more goals under his belt. The 30-year-old star has also scored a staggering 62 goals in 100 caps for Serbia at international level.
No past or present Leeds striker has scored nine or more goals in multiple seasons in the top-flight other than Wood since 2016, which speaks to the kind of quality that Mitrovic would bring to Elland Road.
Mitrovic (Saudi Pro League)
23/24
24/25
Appearances
28
23
xG
26.60
17.41
Goals
28
19
xG on target
26.26
22.12
xA
2.48
1.33
Assists
5
2
Stats via FotMob
His form in the Saudi Pro League, as you can see in the table above, has also been sensational. The former Fulham star has scored a mind-blowing 47 goals in 51 appearances in the league for Al Hilal.
Mitrovic, who was described as an “absolute monster” by Saudi Arabian news journalist Matt Monaghan, has proven, in Saudi Arabia and in England, that he is a reliable and consistent goalscorer at the top level.
The 30-year-old marksman, who holds the record for the most goals in a Championship season with 43, would be the club’s best number nine since Wood, as he would be the only other forward to have shown consistent quality as a goalscorer in top-flight football.
Therefore, the Whites should be doing everything that they can to win the race for Mitrovic’s signature this summer, as he may be the prolific number nine they need to fire them to safety in the Premier League next season.
The new Rutter: Leeds submit bid to sign "fascinating" £22.5m star
Leeds United have reportedly submitted a bid to sign a star who could be their new Georginio Rutter.
Liverpool are renowned for their savvy operating in the transfer market, having spent wisely across the past decade to reap illustrious rewards.
While the Reds are preparing to fork out a bank-breaking deal for 22-year-old Florian Wirtz, understood to be worth at least £116m, the playmaker is regarded as one of the most influential rising talents in the world, having already conquered his German homeland.
Florian Wirtz
The Bayer Leverkusen star hasn’t finalised his move to Anfield yet, but there’s no question he will be playing in a Liverpool shirt next season, according to Fabrizio Romano.
However, Liverpool don’t always spend record-smashing fees on talented forwards. Indeed, Cody Gakpo has proved himself a worthy Premier League winner, going from strength to strength after his smart £35m signing in January 2023.
With Bayern Munich ceding defeat in the race for Wirtz, they have turned their attention to alternative targets – including Gakpo.
Surely, Liverpool can’t let their 25-year-old star leave.
Cody Gakpo's Liverpool future
Gakpo still has three years on his Liverpool contract, and after kicking on in Arne Slot’s system last term, will be confident that he can hit another level over the coming year.
Cody Gakpo and Ryan Gravenberch with the Premier League title.
Bayern seem to share the sentiment, but after receiving information that Liverpool have set an asking price of €100m (£84m), will likely shelve their curiosity.
This is good. Liverpool should not entertain the notion of selling their Dutch forward after his “monster” campaign, as has been said by journalist Declan Carr.
24/25
49
18
7
23/24
53
16
7
22/23
26
7
3
On the surface level, Gakpo hasn’t really made significant gains in regard to his output, but there’s no question he’s sharper, slicker and more effective in his nailed-down berth on the left wing.
Gakpo has the minerals to play well at centre-forward, but Liverpool are gearing up to sign a similar profile better suited to number nine.
Liverpool's Cody Gakpo in action with Bayer Leverkusen'sJeremieFrimpongand Bayer Leverkusen's Exequiel Palacios
Slot knows what he likes in a forward, and if he can sign a Gakpo-esque star with more of a centre-forward’s flair, the Merseysiders would move a confident step closer toward defending their crown.
Liverpool still in race for new forward
According to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Liverpool are still in the running for Eintracht Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike, though Chelsea have also retained their interest as Manchester United enter the race.
The sticking point? Frankfurt want €100m (£85m) for their striker, and their director, Markus Krösche, has actually declared, “If the price isn’t right, then he will stay with us.”
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
With the plan confirmed for Darwin Nunez’s summer sale, Liverpool need to sign a striker, and if a deal can be engineered for Ekitike, they might just hit the jackpot.
What Hugo Ekitike would bring to Liverpool
Ekitike, a product of Paris Saint-Germain’s academy, only scored four goals across 33 matches for PSG’s senior team before making the move to Germany, signing for Frankfurt for a €35m (£30m) fee.
Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike
But his present transfer price tells you everything you need to know about his journey over the past year and a half, having finished the 2022/23 campaign (as a loanee) with a strong burst of prolific form before notching 22 goals and 12 assists across the past season.
But how does he compare to Gakpo? And why, more importantly, does that matter? Well, both forwards are rangy and loose-limbed, with a confident, striding gait that owes to their underlying power and confidence on the ball.
Gakpo’s physicality as a 6 foot 4 sensation has seen him rise to become one of the foremost forwards in the Premier League, and it’s an attribute that the 6 foot 3 Ekitike must harness too.
Of course, the underlying data also suggests how Ekitike, growing into his skin as a high-level goalscorer, also boasts a wealth of creative qualities.
As per FBref, he ranks among the top 10% of forwards across Europe’s top five leagues over the past year for assists, the top 6% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for both progressive carries and successful take-ons, and the top 19% for ball recoveries per 90, the latter of which underscores his energy and movement.
With dynamic and fluid players such as Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush and Ousmane Dembele, PSG superstar, among Ekitike’s most statistically similar players, as per FBref, the France talent’s likeness to Gakpo is clear, for both players can operate between focal and wide attacking roles.
Hugo Ekitike for Frankfurt.
To be sure, Ekitike is not the finished product and needs to make further steps in his development if he is to justify such a price tag as £85m – or thereabouts.
But he’s immensely skilled, balanced and vibrant in his football. As per Sofascore, he made 12 big chances in the Bundesliga last season, also showing his combative side with an average of 4.2 duels won per match.
Analyst Ben Mattinson has also dubbed him “one of the best strikers out there”, which makes a telling comment on his current level and, indeed, how much better he could yet become.
Moreover, Ekitike has played the lion’s share of his career as a central striker, but across the four matches fielded on the left flank, he has scored one goal and provided two assists for his teammates. Thus, he’s blessed with a positional dynamism that furthers the argument of him being Slot’s new version of Gakpo.
In a mirror image, however, the Frenchman’s prowess lies as the focal frontman, with his qualities at variance with Gakpo’s in the best way, a way that could raise Liverpool’s level and propel them toward more silverware, more success.
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